Rumi woke to the soft scent of disinfectant.
Her eyelids felt heavy, but when she finally opened them, she saw a white ceiling… and heard two familiar voices whispering loudly over each other.
"Is she waking up? Mira, move, you're blocking the light!"
"Unnie, I'm trying to check her pulse! I saw this in a drama!"
"Checking a pulse on her forehead does NOTHING!"
Rumi blinked.
"…Zoey? Mira…?"
Both girls froze mid-argument.
Mira gasped and nearly launched herself onto the bed.
"RUMI!! YOU'RE ALIVE!!!"
Zoey pulled the hyperactive maknae back before she crushed Rumi.
"Careful, Mira. She just regained consciousness."
Rumi tried to sit up, wincing. "W-What happened…?"
Zoey placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "You were found collapsed near the practice rooms early this morning. The managers thought you fainted from exhaustion."
Mira sniffed dramatically.
"I told them you're not the type to collapse! You looked like you were attacked by a ghost or something—!"
"Mira," Zoey warned quietly, "please."
Rumi's heart skipped.
If only they knew how close Mira's ridiculous guess actually was.
Before she could answer, the door slid open.
Jinu stepped in.
Rumi tensed.
He was wearing a hoodie and cap pulled low, clearly trying not to be recognized. But his eyes—sharp and concerned—went straight to her.
Zoey noticed immediately.
"Oh, trainee Jinu? You know Rumi?"
Mira leaned in with sparkly eyes.
"Are you two secretly dating?!"
Rumi almost choked on air.
"NO! We're—! He's not—! Mira, PLEASE!"
Jinu cleared his throat, looking away as a faint blush touched his ears.
"I just… found her last night," he said. "She looked dizzy and I helped her to the hallway."
Rumi nodded weakly, supporting his cover.
"Y-Yeah. That's what happened."
Zoey gave a polite smile, but her eyes were too observant—too sharp.
Zoey always noticed things others didn't.
"Well, thank you for helping her," she said. "Rumi pushes herself too hard."
Mira pouted. "Unnie, you should've asked for help! Next time call me! I can fight off kidnappers with my dance skills—HYAA!!"
She attempted a kick.
Almost fell.
Zoey sighed. "Please ignore her."
Rumi laughed softly despite the tension tightening her chest.
These two… they were family to her.
But Jinu's presence reminded her of last night.
She looked at him.
He looked back.
And in his eyes, she could see it:
The truth they were hiding from Zoey and Mira.
The fear neither of them could say.
---
Later That Evening
Rumi was discharged but ordered to rest for two days.
Zoey insisted on walking her home.
Mira insisted even harder, dragging Rumi by the arm.
Jinu watched from the agency entrance.
Zoey noticed him again.
And the way his eyes lingered on Rumi for too long.
"Rumi," Zoey said in a low voice, "who exactly is that boy?"
Rumi's breath caught.
"H-He's just… someone kind."
Zoey hummed suspiciously.
"If anything is bothering you… tell me. You looked terrified last night."
Rumi froze.
Zoey's words were gentle—too gentle.
"Zoey… you wouldn't believe me."
Zoey paused.
"Try me."
Before Rumi could answer, Mira screamed.
"UNNIES LOOK!! A BLACK CAT JUST APPEARED OUT OF NOWHERE!! IS THIS A CURSE?!"
Zoey pinched the bridge of her nose. "It's just a cat, Mira."
But Rumi…
Rumi's eyes widened.
The cat's eyes weren't normal.
They glowed faint yellow—like the creatures from last night.
Her shoulder mark pulsed painfully.
Rumi stepped back, stumbling.
Zoey immediately caught her.
"Rumi?! What's wrong?"
The cat hissed, but its hiss sounded… distorted.
Inhuman.
Rumi held onto Zoey, shaking.
"Zoey… Mira… get behind me."
Mira blinked. "H-Huh? Why? Are we being mugged—?"
The cat's shadow stretched unnaturally long across the pavement.
Zoey's arm wrapped protectively around Mira.
"Rumi… what is that thing?"
Rumi's lips trembled.
She didn't know how she knew.
She didn't know how she sensed it.
But she knew.
"That's not a cat," she whispered.
The shadow rose.
Twisted.
Formed legs.
Zoey gasped.
Mira shrieked.
Just before the creature fully emerged—
A hand gripped Rumi's wrist.
Jinu.
He had appeared out of nowhere, breathless.
"Rumi," he said urgently, "step back."
Rumi stared at him.
"It followed us."
He nodded, pulling out a charm glowing blue.
"It's after you. And your awakening sped up its hunt."
Zoey and Mira clung to each other behind Rumi, eyes wide with fear.
"Rumi…" Zoey whispered, voice shaking. "What… what is happening right now?"
Rumi took a trembling breath.
She turned toward them, heart breaking.
"I'm sorry," she said softly.
"There's something I haven't told you."
The demon rose higher.
Jinu readied his blade.
Zoey tightened her grip on Mira, voice trembling yet brave.
"Whatever it is, Rumi…
tell us after we survive this, okay?"
Rumi stepped forward.
The mark on her shoulder erupted with light.