Chapter Text
After the brief rest the seven had, they got up and continued walking, at a much slower pace, but doing their best to keep moving.
— We're not safe - Handong kept repeating, muttering and looking sideways every few seconds.
— Dong-dong - Gahyun called out, causing the woman to twist her neck quickly in her direction — We're fine, okay? Nothing's going to hurt us.
Handong looked at Gahyun seriously.
— They're after us, Gahyun - she said — After Siyeon. You know we're not safe.
Gahyun took a deep breath, knowing it was true. She really hoped that this time it was just Handong's paranoia rather than her forebodings, because with two people hurt, they were in no condition to run.
— I really hope you're bluffing this time, Dong-dong - she muttered, too low for the Chinese to hear.
— I hope so too - Siyeon murmured, lightly squeezing her sister's shoulder — We're already in too much trouble to keep running.
They continued walking through the woods, trying to recover all the energy they had spent running while continuing to move, because stopping any longer simply wasn't a viable option.
Suddenly, Yoohyeon felt Handong stiffen completely on her back.
— Handong? - she called out — Is everything all right?
Everyone's attention turned to the two women.
— They're close - the Chinese woman murmured, the concern more than obvious in her tone.
Yoohyeon shivered at what the woman said, frightened.
— Faster! - she said — They're close!
The seven women looked at each other, but ran again, without a choice.
— Closer and closer! - Handong suddenly shouted.
Gahyun sighed as she ran, resigned.
— I don't know if I can run this far in this body - she muttered, raising her voice afterwards — Siyeon-unnie, hold on to my neck!
Nodding, Siyeon leaned even closer to Gahyun's back and slipped her arms from her sister's shoulder to her neck, holding on tight as her sister transformed into her beautiful black wolf form, her amber eyes focused solely and exclusively on what lay ahead.
Minji suddenly exclaimed.
— We can run, but we can't leave Yoohyeon and Handong behind! - she exclaimed — Yoohyeon is human, she won't be able to run as fast as a vampire or a werewolf.
Siyeon sighed, looking at Yoohyeon for a moment, but nodded.
— Go at a human speed, Gahyun-ie - she said, stroking her neck — We can't leave anyone behind.
Yoohyeon sighed, closing her eyes for a few seconds.
-—Minji - she said, looking at her girlfriend — I'm sorry.
— Yoohyeon - Siyeon looked at the woman, worried — You don't have to.
— We could get caught if I carry on like this, Siyeon - she said — I think it's time to stop lying.
— Lying? - Minji was increasingly confused. — Yoohyeon, what's going on?
The woman sighed wearily.
— Ji, I'm sorry - she said, looking into the woman's eyes.
And then, where the tall blue-haired woman had been standing, there appeared a large brown wolf with bright green eyes.
— What? - Minji said in a whisper so low that only the werewolves could hear.
Siyeon sighed, looking sadly at Minji.
— I know it can be difficult, but Yoohyeon didn't do any of this out of malice - she said with a sad smile — I'm sure she'll answer all your questions later, Minji, but right now we really need to go.
Taking a deep breath, Minji nodded, looking at Siyeon.
— Okay - she said quietly — Let's go.
As soon as they started walking, Handong felt the hairs on her neck stand on end.
— Hurry! - she exclaimed, worried — Let's move faster!
The other six women looked at each other, tired, but nodded, trying to speed up their pace. Unfortunately, due to exhaustion, they were unable to go much faster than they already were.
Yoohyeon and Gahyun looked at each other in their wolf forms, then sighed. They knew they could walk faster, but they would lose the rest of the group and were unable to carry three women on their backs at the necessary speed.
They continued walking, and suddenly Siyeon felt the hairs on her neck stand on end. Looking back, what looked like an army of human-like beings with completely white eyes and red necks was getting closer and closer, their long, disproportionate limbs helping them get closer to the seven women faster and faster.
— Shit - the oldest werewolf muttered — We can't go any faster.
And in a completely unprepared act, Siyeon detached herself from Gahyun's back, suddenly falling to the ground and turning around.
The youngest immediately transformed into her human form, looking at Siyeon.
— Siyeon-unnie! - Gahyun exclaimed, turning to see her sister lying on the ground. — Why did you do that, unnie? I was fine!
— Gahyun - Siyeon said seriously — Leave me here and run as fast as you can, do you understand?
Gahyun shook her head, hugging Siyeon to help her up.
— I won't leave you here, unnie - she said — You know that.
Siyeon sighed.
— They're after me, Gahyun - she said — I can defend myself, I'll be fine. Now go. Go far away and stay safe, okay?
— You're coming with us, Lee Siyeon! - Handong exclaimed, still on Yoohyeon's back — You know very well that we won't leave you alone!
Siyeon took a deep breath.
“They could have already escaped,” she thought, sighing. “Now it's probably too late.”
Then, the army of deformed monsters actually caught up with them.
— Shadow - a distorted voice hissed among the monsters — And the other six. I think it's time to finish you off once and for all, before that nonsense happens!
Siyeon, Gahyun, and Handong looked at each other, mortified.
— Who are these guys? - Bora asked, already in attack position.
— The guys who used to chase me when I was younger - Siyeon murmured.
— “The return of those who were said to be missing”... - Yubin muttered — Shit.
Suddenly, the strange beings attacked, their powers so diverse that it was difficult to defend against them.
Handong, though injured, tried to help, conjuring a magical shield that prevented the attacks from reaching the girls.
— It won't last long! - she exclaimed, seeming to make some effort — I don't know how much energy I have left, but there are so many of them attacking my shield at once! It's not very strong, but it protects against most attacks from outside.”
Gahyun looked worriedly at Handong.
— From outside? - she asked.
Handong nodded.
— We can still attack through the shield - she said, already looking exhausted.
— What the hell are these guys? - Bora muttered.
Siyeon shuddered.
— I have no idea - she replied, her voice almost as low as Bora's. — But they all have the same eyes and the same black and red marks. They've been chasing me since I came of age, and it looks like they're not going to stop.
Bora let out the breath she had been holding.
— I'm sorry, their problem is with me. None of you should have gotten involved in this - Siyeon finished, looking at Handong and Gahyun as she completed her sentence.
Gahyun shook her head vigorously.
— Don't even start with that, Siyeon-unnie - she said seriously — You know very well that we won't leave you alone in the hands of these things.
Handong nodded as beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, the effort to maintain the protections seeming to affect her more and more.
— You're our family, Siyeon - she emphasized — We're not going to leave your side in a situation like this.
Siyeon sighed, concerned for the younger women's safety, but she smiled slightly.
— Thank you, girls, really - she said gratefully — I just... worry about you.
Gahyun smiled slightly.
— We know, Siyeon-unnie - she said softly, — but we'll be fine, I promise you.
Siyeon nodded, still hesitant, looking at the two girls.
— All right - she said — thank you for being with me.
Gahyun and Handong just nodded in response, smiling.
— We're not going to leave you so easily, Siyeon - Handong said. — You're part of the family, we won't leave you alone.
— Thank you - Siyeon said again, smiling.
Suddenly, Handong let out a groan and fell to the floor, exhausted.
— It won't last much longer! - she exclaimed. — They want Siyeon, protect her!
Gahyun looked worriedly at the Chinese girl.
— Dong-unnie - she called — but what about you? They'll come after you too.
— I'll manage, Gahyun - she said, exhausted — Take care of Siyeon first.
Then Handong fell to the ground, exhausted, and the barrier dissolved, causing the girls to be attacked again.
Gahyun spread her dragon wings and took flight with Siyeon in her arms, watching apprehensively as the fight seemed to rage on below.
— HANDONG! - she shouted, flying down from the air.
During the fight, one of the strange beings was practically on Handong's back as she fought two others, about to press its sharp claws against the witch's unprotected back.
Suddenly, a completely black wall appeared behind the woman's back.
— Watch your back - the wall said, slowly dissolving.
— Thanks for the help - Handong said quickly as she continued to fight, acknowledging Yubin's presence with a slight nod.
— No problem - she said, continuing to throw black stakes with her hands at the monsters.
When Handong looked around, the other three women seemed to have decided to join the fight as well. With their fangs fully exposed, Bora and Minji bit everyone they could find, focusing specifically on the neck. Yoohyeon, transformed into her wolf form, jumped, scratched, and bit, attacking everyone she could reach.
While Gahyun remained in the air with Siyeon, Yubin protected Handong's back, who seemed to have the highest concentration of monsters around her.
— Shit! - Handong exclaimed, looking up. — Gahyun, some of them can fly, be careful!
Gahyun took a deep breath, flying higher while holding Siyeon more tightly.
Yubin looked at Handong, spreading a pair of wings that resembled those of a bat.
— I'm going up to help them, if you'll be okay on your own - she said.
Handong nodded.
— They're focusing on Siyeon, not me, - she said — I'll be fine.
Yubin looked at Handong for a few more seconds, but nodded and took off, rising into the air toward the two floating women.
— Watch out! - she said, intercepting a projectile while creating a black barrier — What the hell was that?
— Yubin! - Gahyun exclaimed as she frantically dodged the projectiles that were trying to hit her — What are you doing up here? You should be helping Dong-dong! And since when do you have wings?
Yubin shrugged, pulling Gahyun and, consequently, Siyeon, to the side with her pointed black tail, causing the two women to avoid being hit by a wave of black fire that had been launched.
— I'm half demon, - she said simply, as she continued to hit the enemies with pointed black projectiles — I'm not just a vampire.
Gahyun just nodded understandingly.
Siyeon watched her for a moment.
— I knew you smelled different - she said — I knew you smelled like a vampire, but it was different. I thought I was hallucinating.
Yubin smiled softly, continuing to launch the projectiles.
— Most people don't notice it so much because I usually hide it - she said. — I'm not so used to exposing my demon side, but the fight seemed to need support that I couldn't give as just a vampire.
Gahyun nodded.
— Thanks, by the way - she said, releasing a burst of fire from her mouth toward the enemies — You helped me a lot.
Yubin shrugged, throwing what looked like a whip of darkness at the monsters.
— It's no big deal - she said simply — Siyeon is cool.
The woman smiled.
— Thanks, Yubin. I like you too.
They smiled at each other, and soon Gahyun and Yubin continued to fight, protecting the older werewolf.
The fight progressed quickly, and Gahyun and Yubin's combination was powerful. The two women quickly took down more than one monster at a time, but even their combined strength didn't seem to be enough.
Tired, they continued to fight, doing everything they could to protect Siyeon, but exhaustion seemed to be creeping closer not only to Gahyun and Yubin, but to the other four women still fighting on the ground.