CHAPTER 18
Everything is quiet, the atmosphere was heavy. I can hear the sound of the bulb above me and the muffled cries. I can feel my hands clutching the hard object. The ticking of the clock no longer calmed me, in fact, each tick only caused my breath to quicken and my head to hurt. When I opened my eyes, my heart skipped a beat. All I can see was blood and dead bodies. I looked down at my hands and my lips begin to quiver as I stared at my hands covered in blood while holding a knife. Did I, did I kill them?
I noticed somewhere along the way, the man had gotten a lot closer and now he was standing in front of me. I can feel my heart skip once see the man was master Park. He was covered in blood as well and full of bruises, and cuts. He held my trembling hands and bring them to his lips. I was crying nonstop while uttering the same words against my will. My body was moving on its own. I was saying blurry words that I can't get.
"It's alright. It wasn't your fault." Master Park whispered and hugged me.
My thoughts came back to reality once I felt a heavy pressure on my back. I realized that master Kim just pinned me on the ground like I was a criminal or somethin'. I didn't struggle. My mind is still dazed. I can't understand why those flashbacks suddenly flashed in my mind while I'm being captured by the masters again. And why did I kill those nurses against my will? What is my reason?
I know the masters know about it but they want me to remember all those painful memories by myself. Why?
Master Kim placed me on his shoulder like my weight is nothing to him. I stared at my tied hands and my tied feet. I have captured again everyone. How many times I've been captured?
Once we are inside, master Kim throw me down on the floor. I whimpered in pain. My body was still recovering from the pain but I guess I'll never be healed if they keep struggling with me like this. The little girl who freaking lured me back here kneel on top of my head. She was looking down on me with her hair brushing my forehead.
"He's pretty uncle." The girl said and master Kim chuckled.
'Cover your face.' The student who helped me whispered through my ears. Cover my face? Why would I cover my face? And how, if my both hands were tied together-- oh, I can. I raised my tied hands and covered my face just like what he said.
But another flashback kicks in. I'm sick of these freaking flashbacks! I don't care about my past. I just wanted to get out of here and go back to the city!
I put down my hands and found myself inside of the freaking locker. I opened it and master Han suddenly jumped in front of me. He smiled and held my hands.
"I'm glad we can still play like this in this fucking ward."
I came back to reality when someone pulled my hands away from my face. I looked up and see the girl smiling at me. "Why is he crying?" She asked and wipe the tears away from my eyes. I didn't even notice that I was already crying. But, why the heck I'm crying for? Did I cry because master Han jump in front of my past when I was coming out from the locker?
The reality and the past don't make any sense. If I want to know more then I should get that three objects right?
But the thing I wondering about is why I should cover my face? It doesn't make any sense. What's the point of covering my face? I get up and looked over to master Kim and I found him walking away. What? Why is he walking away?
"You did a great job there cookie." I jumped once I heard someone say from behind me. I looked over to my shoulder and found the gardener.
"What?" I asked. The gardener kneel over me and was about to untie my hands and feet when the little girl pushed him away.
"Don't untie him! Father will be mad!"
"Fuck off!" I got stunned when I see the gardener hit the kid away from me. The gardener hurriedly untie my hands and feet and pulled up.
"Get away from him!!!" The girl screeched.
It's too loud that it hurts my ears. I covered my ears the same as the gardener. I felt his hand grab me and then pulled me out of the mansion through the kitchen. I even see the maids covering their ears as well as the other servants.
"Wait! How about them!"
"Back for them when you prepared!" He hissed.
We manage to make it outside but I feel my whole world crash down as we meet Mr. Lawrence holding a shotgun. "I knew it, traitor!" Without hesitation, he aimed his rifle at the gardener and shot him. The gardener flew away and I was stunned for a second before running to the gardener but Mr. Lawrence yanked the back of my collar. I struggle to get free but with his rifle, he hit my stomach. I groan in pain, crouching down and holding my stomach.
"The masters are still in search. They search for you, you know. You ruined the ceremony you freak! You should be there but you escape!" He shouted and start dragging me inside.
"Let me go! I'll swear to burn this sick place with you!" I yelled as he dragged me inside. I can see the servants and maids looking at me. The maids were looking at me like they are guilty because they can't help me.
"Let you go? Ha! I rather cook you alive than let you stroll around." Mr. Lawrence laughed.
"Who you will cook alive Mr. Lawrence?" A demanding voice froze us both.
I looked in front of Mr. Lawrence and see master Han. His arms were crossed against his chest and was glaring at Mr. Lawrence. I struggle again and this time he let me go. I back away and run back to the kitchen but master Yang blocked my way.
"I'm asking you, Mr. Lawrence. Who you will cook alive? Is it our lovely Sunie?" He asked again with a demanding voice.
Mr. Lawrence gulped and was unable to utter a word. I backed away from master Yang but he took a step forward. I keep on backing until my back hit Mr. Lawrence. I flinched and quickly back away from him. I heard him hissed and glared at me.
"Watch you're glaring at Mr. Human eater." Master Han said and Mr. Lawrence quickly apologized.
I looked to the living room to find them all settle there. Master Hwang carrying his child with Barbie on his side. They look like a real family- wait, they are a family.
I quickly averted my eyes, looking at the gun Mr. Lawrence was holding.
"You don't dare Sunie." I heard master Han say and Mr. Lawrence give his gun to the masters' butler. "Now, Mr. Lawrence. I'll let this pass but you can't have your gun."
Mr. Lawrence bowed his head before walking out of the mansion. He just walk out like that? I stiffened as soon as I remember the gardener. Sure thing that he wanted to save me. He wanted me to know everything before going into a fight. But Mr. Lawrence got him. I whimpered when someone suddenly pulled my hair and dragged me to the middle of the massive living room. I bit my lip to prevent myself from crying. Master Yang made me kneel in front of them before pulling my hair down to move my head up and looping his arm around my neck like he was choking me.
I watched them, waited for him to hurt me. Another pain after pain, that's the maids' motto.
"How many times are you gonna do this to us? Leaving us behind just like what you did years ago?" Master Han calmly said. He kneels in front of me and grips my chin hard. I whimpered because of the pain. "Is the stitches is not enough for you?"
"I rather die than be stuck here with you!" I said in anger and spit him on the face. "I'll never choose to stay here! I rather die! Just kill me! You don't deserve me!"
Master Han's face darkened and he pulled back his hand and slapped the me in the face with a sickening pop. I felt my right cheek sting. I can't look down, I can't look anywhere, I can't stop my tears from coming out again. I begin to sobs as I let my tears roll down my face. Master Han pulled my hair and I winced.
"You have no right to say that to us! It's your damn fault why we turned out like this! It's your fault why we suffered more than anyone in that fucking ward!" He screams angrily in my face.
"I don't know you! Anyone of you! I don't remember..." My voice tremble as I whimpered, crying like a mess in front of them. I can feel my eyes sting from all the crying. "I don't remember..."
"That's fucking why we making you remember! It's your fault then why don't you make up for us?!"
"Because all of you are monsters! You keep us like a prison and hurt us! If I'm the one at fault, it won't change anything! You are still monsters--"
Another slapped in the face again but this time harder than the previous one. I can feel the blood flowing out from the edge of my lips. I groan in pain.
"You still selfish fuck! It's your dang fault! It's your fault!"
Master Han pulled my collar and hit me in the face. I stumble on the table and fell to the floor. I hissed in pain. I tried to crawl away but master Han grabbed my legs and pulled me towards him. I tried to kick him but he will hold my ankle and to my horror, he twisted my ankle. I scream in agonizing pain. I held my damaged feet while whimpering and crying. Did he just break my ankle? Did he...
"Now Lee Sunie...no escaping." Master Han said, crawling on top of me.
I noticed master Hwang get the wine glass and cut his wrist, he poured his blood into the glass before passing it to master Kim. He did the same just like master Hwang did. They all do the same thing until the glass was already in master Han's hands. He put the glass on the table near us before smiling at me. I can see his fangs peeping through his lips. He looks like a real vampire but worst than a vampire.
"Any words to upset me Sunie?" He asked and held my chin. He tilted my head to the side and leaned on my neck. My breaths quicken as my body begin to tense up. I felt master Han's warm breaths against my skin. He licked my neck before sucking his teeth deep into my skin. I scream in horrible pain. The pain was too much, I can't describe how painful his bite was. I began thrashing away, pulling him away as possible but he won't let me go. I felt him sucking my blood. I cried, sobbing hard while clenching his arms. Soon enough he finally pulled away and bit his wrist until it bleed. He poured his blood in the glass along spitting my blood in it. He get off on top of me but master Leelex pulled me up, holding me like how master Yang held me earlier. Master Han held my chin once again and force my mouth to open. He raised the wine glass with mixed blood in it.
I moan in pain once master Leelex pulled my hair down and lets me look up. Master Han poured the blood into my mouth. I almost coughed but master Han covered my mouth.
I badly want to spit it out but master Han's hand was covering my mouth and I can't breathe. I closed my eyes and swallow the sickening blood down my throat. All I could taste was that. It's hard to breathe. Every time I would breathe that sickening blood all I can taste was the metallic smell hurting my nostrils. Master Leelex pushed me violently as he let go of me. I touched my scalp and its sting. I could feel the warm and sticky liquid on my hair. I held my neck and coughed.
"Now love, you can't get out of this mansion even you want to."
I stood up and quickly run out to the front door even my ankle was hurt. I ran down to the stairs but I noticed something crawling out from the ground. It's the roots. I step back as it crawled forward. I step back inside and the roots block the entrance even the windows. I held the roots. I tried to pull it out but it won't budge. What?
What is happening? I ran to the kitchen but even the back door was blocked by the thick roots. Every exit was blocked by the roots. Am I trapped?
I slump on the floor while staring at the blocked exits. Not believing that this is happening. I'm stuck and I can't get out. Now, I need a chainsaw to cut them off. I stood up and grab the knife. I ran to the roots and tried to cut them but it won't cut the roots. I tried and tried. My head starts to hurt again and I scream. I don't know. I don't know why I feel so stressed and angry right now. Yes, I'm stressed and angry. I held my head, pulling my hair out of frustration. I scream like crazy and somehow, this part is familiar. I kneel on the ground, and soon I start to cry like a mess. I heard footsteps running towards me and hear master Hwang speak.
"It's finally coming back. His memory slowly came back. He won't act like this if wasn't." He sounds happy for a reason. He pulled me into his arms, caging me in his arms, hugging me tightly while caressing my hair. He whispered soothing words in my ears and somehow, I felt comfortable.
I looked at master Han, my vision begin to fade. I raised my hand and he quickly walked to me to hold it like I was his lifetime. That was the last thing I remember before I fainted.
-
Two years have passed and I'm still stuck in this place. I don't know what I'm eating anymore, I don't know what I'm doing right now. I don't know what's going on. My ankle already healed but the damage they did to me can never be healed. But I do know that I'm two years stuck in this room. I tried everything to escape but the roots is blocking me and the masters easily captured me. Within that two years, everything has changed. The masters seem more lively than before knowing that I'll be stuck here forever with them. They always visit me in my room and talk to me like normal people do. I was somehow glad that they didn't anything to me those months but they claimed me and that's it. Barbie hasn't changed yet, always a bitch but I noticed that she become bitchier than the last time. She always tells me that she and master Hwang already have a pretty daughter. She told me that I'm nothing but a thing they like to play.
I know that she doesn't have to tell me that. I know the masters only want me to stay here to suffer just like what they felt years ago.
Her daughter will always come to my room and tell me about how much he likes having a baby brother. I told him to tell her parents but she only stared at me then runoff. The next morning, she will come again and talked about the same topic all day. I have enough of her nonsense talking and yelled at her in the face.
She was shocked and sniffled. She began to cry and run out of the room, calling her father. The masters told me to come to the living room where all of them were waiting. Barbie was glaring at me. She then marched towards me and slapped me across the face. The masters didn't react at all. I guess I deserve that for yelling at the new member of their family.
I will say nothing, crying silently and just like that. Back to this room crying like Bell. But somehow I felt slightly relieved especially when the maids come to talk to me. Yeonjun mentioned that it's the daughter's birthday party today and everyone should get ready.
Right now, I was seating lifeless at the table with fruits in front of me. I'm alone here while all the people in the house were in the middle and greeting the daughter, Jinnie. Even the maids even it's against their will. They have no choice. Barbie will look at me then wear her smug face, showing how worthless I am to the masters. Whatever I don't care though. She can have the masters all by herself. She doesn't even care that her loving brother was already dead. She's heartless.
"Ugh, I'm sick of this," I mumbled while watching them with bored eyes.
I stood up and went inside the mansion. If I can't get out of here then I should remember how I escaped in the ward. I know the ward was somewhere in here. Wait, the three objects. I need to find it. I hurriedly head to the youngest master's room. He's the only person I meet that day where I'm holding the three pieces in my puzzle. I open the door and head to his drawer but there's nothing aside from sharp objects. I went to his closet, opening it but all I could find was nothing but dusty old clothes. I was about to close it but I noticed something in his closet. I touched it, running my fingers into the hard concrete. There, I can feel like there's a secret door here. I grasp it but I stopped as soon as I heard someone's footsteps from the halls. I hurriedly closed the closet and run outside from his room. I will find that soon. I closed his door and calmly walked back to the hall.
I wonder what's behind that door?
I walked back outside of the garden and the party was still going on. This is making me sick. I suddenly remember their names. "Yang Jeongsun, Kim Seunghyun, and Hwang Hyunsung," I said while watching the party. Do I need to know their names? But who is this..."Cha Homin. Who is this Cha Homin?"
I noticed the party went quiet as soon the name escaped from my mouth. I looked at them in confusion. The masters turn to me.
I stared at them and just a split of seconds they become other persons and I found myself inside of ward's cafeteria.
I blinked my eyes and find myself back in the reality. I shook my head. That sudden flashback again. I held my head.
"He's stressed. Sunie, love? Are you alright?" I feel master Han sat beside me and held my hand. "Did you say, Cha Homin?"
"Who...who is he?" I unconsciously asked. "I remember the doctor said his name. Who is he?"
I startled when master Hwang suddenly throw the long table was beside him. He angrily marched towards me, he was fuming mad and he was leaking with blood again. I quickly shook my head, apologizing to him if I said something bad. I raised my both hands to shield my shelf and surprisingly, master Park places himself in front of master Hwang with a stern face.
"What are you doing Park? Get out of the way!" He yelled out.
"No," he shook his head. "Is the name of Cha Homin always triggering you? He's long dead by now."
"He's asking of who Cha Homin is! But doesn't asking of who are we to him!"
"Because that's what we want! We want him to remember us on his own!"
I put my hands down, watching them arguing because of me. I looked at master Han that was busy watching his two companions. I stood up and I was pulled by Barbie. She dragged me inside of the kitchen and pushed me.
"Look what have you done! You ruined my baby's birthday! We only celebrated it once in a year and you ruined it because of your shameless mouth!" She screeched and slapped me across the face. "Why the masters can't just move on and throw you away! Why they can't be mine!"
I looked down at my feet. "I'm master Hwang's wife and we already have a daughter but he can't...he can't let you go! The next born will be held after three months and I'm going to carry master Han's child this time!"
"Why are they keeping you locked in here! You can't even bear a child!"
I know, so please shut it.
"You're nothing but a thrash! A worthless person! I hope you stop existing!"
I sigh harshly. I had enough of this. I faced Barbie, my eyes were fuming in anger. How many times she will tell me that? I know, I know it already! Why she can't leave me alone!
"You just make the situation worst! You always love to make the masters get mad!"
Please stop.
"The operation failed again." The man sighs. "He doesn't have anything special in him, unlike his friends."
No! Don't hurt my friends!
"You think I want all of this?! Do you think I want their attention?! Do you think I want to be stuck here with the monsters?! I'm not crazy like you!" I shouted and held her neck.
My vision starts blinking white as I see myself choking the man I didn't know. I grab the knife on the table and harshly pinned the man on the sink. He was looking at me with fear in his eyes.
"I'm not going to be stuck here forever! I won't let myself!" I scream and pushed the knife down on his arm. He scream and I laughed.
I don't know, I don't know what's going on me. My body moves on its own. I can't stop myself. The only thing I see was this man crying in pain. I pulled the knife and strike the knife on his head but before I could do that, someone pulled me away from that man. I scream angrily, thrashing away from their grip. I looked at the man again and my eyes watered. I see the youngest master being pulled by the nurses. He was crying and tried to reach me while shouting my name over, again and again, asking for my help.
"Sunie hyung! Please help me!"
I closed my eyes, trying to calm myself but no matter what I do the rage only increased in my heart. The memory only floods my mind.
I scream the word 'No' and 'Don't hurt him.'
That's the last thing I remember before my vision faded.