It was as if fire buzzed under my skin, the familiar thrill I got every time my feet rushed over the rain soaked streets, my lungs burning up due to the lack of oxygen and my limbs hurting because I couldn't run anymore.

'no entry for creepy bitches'

I couldn't decide wether I wanted to cry or to laugh - not that I had the time for either.

This thing was still behind me - way too close behind me - and all my mushed up brain could think about was the ecstasy resting heavy in the pocket of my cheap jacket.

I rushed past oblivious passerby, fighting the urge to just throw myself onto them and beg them to help. I learned my lesson a long time ago; they can't help you if they can't see it.

'It' was in this case nothing more than just a shadow, hovering over the streets like heavy fog, seeping into every alley I turned.

close

sososo close

Only one turn and I'd be in front of his house.

I jumped up the stairs to his rich-people-house - palace would be a more fitting word - banging on the entrance door with my fists furiously.

"Jesus Christ." Taemin groaned when he opened up, "No need to destroy my door, stud."

He obviously ignored my drained state and I glanced over my shoulder, seeing the shadows retreating slowly. They won't enter the house.

"You've got my stuff?" He snarled and I nodded panting, pulling out the plastic package that consisted the drug I've been delivering especially for this dude for a while now.

He snatched it roughly, stuffing money into my hands in exchange and smashing the door shut right after.

Not that I was mad at him for doing this. I wouldn't treat myself nicely either.

I looked back, exhaling shakily while checking if this thing - whatever it was - was still around, but the shadows were nowhere to be seen. Only luxurious houses, clean streets and rich people who were ogling me shamelessly.

I stuck out my tongue at a woman, who was standing a few feet away with her poodle, fully knowing that I was only making a fool out of myself.

I stood there for a moment, trying to regain my composure, before I eventually made my way to the nearest subway station.

I don't take the subway that often, because it seems like these things I see - I refuse to call them ghosts or monsters - are mostly in the underground, bu today I didn't have the power to walk and the next bus station was too far away. Let's just pray nothing will happen.

When inside the train, I slumped down onto one of the seats, pulling up the hood of my jacket to cover my face and protect my eyes from the piercing artificial lights. Ugh. Headache.

These things seemed to happen more and more often - me being hunted by some ugly ass monstrosity that is. It hadn't always been like this. At least I think so. I can't remember the first time I saw these things.

I never told anyone about it. I never stayed with any of my foster families long enough to build up a relationship and didn't have friends I could actually talk to about any personal things.

I mean, who else was I supposed to tell about this crap... Yoongi?!

The mechanical voice announced that the train arrived at my station and I got off, holding my head down while maneuvering through the crowd.

"Look who we have here, Y/N." A snide voice commented from afar and my head shot up in the moment Yoongi stopped in front of me, "You have the money?"

I nodded, putting some of the cash Taemin had handed me out, showing it to the older boy.

Yoongi and I are... uhm... colleagues? Well, I wouldn't go as far as saying we're friends, but I do spend most of my time with the raven haired guy.

His cat like eyes scanned me, a knowing look on his lean face, "You gonna go to school today?"

I shrugged and didn't answer, just made my way out of the subway station, praying that I'd be spared from any more scary incidents today. I really just wanted to get out of here.

Yoongi scoffed behind me, "Thought so. We gonna meet up with the boys then?"

'The boys' meant a group of crackheads - I mean actual junkies - whose members changed frequently, no one actually knowing the name of the other or caring about it at all. You know these drunk people that annoy kids in the park? Well, that's them.

"You go." I muttered, feeling tired, just wanting to lay down and do nothing, "Imma go home."

Yoongi shrugged, not actually caring, since his sole reason of meeting me was to get the money and he soon disappeared out of my sight.

Yoongi is the kinda boy you parents warned you about. The one that'd make you cross the street just to not having to walk past him, the one that literally screams 'DANGER!'.

I guess Chungha wouldn't be that happy if she knew I was hanging out with guys like that and, really, if I had a say in that I wouldn't. But it's a cycle you can't escape once you've gotten into it.

Making quick money by doing something easy but illegal? Sounds promising if you do it once, especially for someone like me. But now try and get out of this story. Lmao no, you won't.

I scoffed while thinking this, spotting the small house at the end of the street, which was my destination.

Behind it, the sun was starting to paint the sky red and I walked around the building, taking the back door so that Chungha wouldn't notice my presence.

Chungha is my comparably nice foster mom - a young woman with the wish to make the world a better place, starting with playing baby-sitter for a lost orphan like me.

I closed the door to my tiny room as quiet as possible, before opening the window and letting the cool air fill the place.

My arms wrapped around my knees, I sat on my bed and watched the sky change from a saturated orange, to red, to pitch black.

Chungha didn't come to check on me today either. I made clear that I didn't want it.

"Fuck off and act like a good person with someone else." 

a forced smile

"Why won't you let me help you sweetie?"

"Are you deaf? I said fuck off."

More hadn't been needed to make her leave me alone.

I closed the window when it got too cold and my gaze fell back onto my bed. I was torn between wanting to sleep and sparing myself from the nightmares.

Eventually, the need to rest won.

◆♤❦

The shadows were everywhere

They seeped into every pore of her body, into her heart and soul

She screamed, but her voice was muted

The shadows moved, winded themselves like a snake, until they manifested into the shape of a man in front of her

She couldn't see his face, but he extended his arm towards her

She too, reached out to him, but when her fingers touched his, the shadows started winding themselves around her hand, then her arm and finally throat

Blood ran down her nose, mouth and ears as soon as the shadows squeezed down

So much blood

Too much blood

She didn't feel the pain when his laughter chimed up in her head

◆♤❦

dear lord what happened

xx