Chung-Cha's Perspective

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"Honey, dinner's ready!"

"Wow, dear! This is delicious!"

"Mum, leave some steak for me!"

Dozens of plates emerged on the table as I raced down the bumpy stairs. The delicate scent of roasted beef, paired with fried chickens, welcomed my eyes. It lured my family over for a lavish dinner.

We filled the room with joy as my parents gave me a mammoth part of my favourite dish, all swimming in their natural oil. The pinkish meat of fried chicken, mixed with the various colours of vegetables, invited my eyes. I could not wait any longer and launched myself at the table.

It took me three minutes before gobbling everything down into my trunk as we watched the latest news.

"We're coming into live here in Seoul, South Korea, giving you the latest news. Another group of vampires, who call themselves 'Brood', wreaks havoc once again around the Seogang-ro 8-gil street. Since vampires have taken over the world, we will see them soon in various places, including South Korea. Their leader, Min-."

Before the anchor could even finish her sentence, my mother pulled out the remote and slammed her fingers on the power button.

"Mum, it wasn't even finished! I want to watch the news!" I retorted, while munching over the remaining leg of my chicken.

"You don't have to watch those….," my mother answered, as she gathered the plates from the table. "Chung-Cha, be sure to clean up. And Happy birthday."

"Happy birthday, Chung-Cha. My beloved daughter. You're finally eighteen!" my father greeted me as well, while puffing his mouth with those sea creatures I had not heard of.

Both of my parents squeezed my body tight as they could and gave me the tightest embrace. I returned their gesture and hugged them as my energy could, while wiping my teary eyes.

"Too bad Joon-Woo isn't with us," I expressed, while heaving out a sigh.

"Well, honey, if he's here, he would've finished all this meat without leaving some room for us!" my mother commented, which led everyone to burst out into tears.

"Ah, speak of the devil!" I remarked, while reaching out for my pockets.

Something violently vibrated inside my patch, telling me I had received mail. After taking out my cellular phone, a text coming from Joon-Woo welcomed my eyes.

"Hey, idiot! Happy birthday! Sorry, I can't meet you right now! My pops told me to fish for today! And we're currently fishing around Seonyudo! He told me that the new dock offered him a job around this place! I'll let you visit once I see you tomorrow, 'kay?"

Another text entered my mailbox after hearing the previous one. "And don't forget to leave the chicken skin to me! I know you hated those!"

Joon-Woo also sent me a picture of the place I had talked to in the mail. I also sent him one with my parents as we celebrated my birthday. I wanted to call him, but he said that he planned on working non-stop to help his father.

"That little brat always impresses his father," I mumbled, while wiping off the grin on my face.

I could not help but laugh at the odd messages he had sent. Within a few seconds, I replied to Joon-Woo about the chickens. We were all running out of those before he could even remind me.

"Mother, when could I go to school?" I asked. "I want to meet new people… It's not like I hate seeing your faces or Joon-Woo's…. But the three of you, excluding Joon-Woo's dad, are the only ones I've seen, besides some fishermen outside. Don't get me wrong, but Mr. Yeon-Jin is a kind man! It's just weird he always gives me fish every seven in the morning."

"I want to meet new people! I want to explore the world, to know what it's like to have a job and relationships! I want to feel that, mum, dad!" I continued, while clasping my hands.

The only people I saw were the neighbours outside Yeoeuido-dong, a park exclusive for villagers like us. Since the world became chaotic, our family went into hiding around this park... Well, that was what they told me.

And I believed all of that. My parents would do nothing to harm me. If they told me that this place could protect me from harm, I would listen to them... But….

"I want to become a person…. Is that possible?"

After a few seconds, my parents gave me their answer. The two of them shook their heads and rested their hands on my shoulder. I just looked them in the eyes, unsure of what to say.

"Sweetie, the world is a dangerous place…. And believe me, we want you to go around... But-,"

"Your mother is right," father said, interposing what my mum exclaimed. "If the world changed into a better place, we would go to the city. Since it's right in front of us, we'll enrol you in a university. Are you fine with that?"

"I understand."

Just like that, the evening ended without a second to spare. The moonlight shone above our ceilings, giving us a faint light that the world needed. It was a blissful night with a pinch of heaviness brought by my heart. I went back to my room on the upper floor and covered myself with a fluffy blanket. Despite turning eighteen, I never became mature and independent. I almost feared that the day would come when I would be alone in this world.

"I know it's for me... But why do I feel sad?" I asked myself, while gazing at the starry night.

My mind wanted to rest, but I couldn't sleep. It was as if those boggling thoughts hindered me from closing my eyes. And if the morning came, my life would run the same.

Maybe…. just maybe…. I wanted more than this. There was no point in idling around in this place. However, my consciousness screamed at me, telling me I would never abandon my parents.

.......

Blaring sounds echoed in our surroundings, which jolted me awake from my sleep. I glanced at my side and thought if that was my alarm clock. But upon glaring at the deactivated machine, the sounds kept banging inside my head.

Two footsteps raced upstairs, eventually knocking my bedroom door open. My parent's faces greeted my eyes, but they were not happy to see me.

"Mum, Dad, what's happening? W-Why are you two panicking? Are there burglars outside? Were those gunshots?!"

I bombarded my parents with questions that never got answered. The two of them snatched my arms and dragged me to the living room. My father opened up the forbidden closet and took a rifle inside. He placed the bullets inside and removed the safety pin of the gun, while looking outside.

My mother went to me and mumbled, "Chung-Cha, listen to me, sweetie. I-I can't explain what's happening. But the vampires are here…. We need to run right now!"

I questioned nothing my parents told me, even if it was something beyond scientific explanations. There was no time for me to ask dad about the rifle in his hands. Father mentioned to me before that he would only use that weapon if we faced a crisis.

Since she instructed me to run, I sprinted outside, following my mother's behind. My father led the way and barged straight to the ruined road.

Dozens of lamp posts leaned against each other, with their light bulbs flickering like Christmas lights. The mowed grass turned into a chaotic mess as if an airplane landed on the lawn.

As I stole a glimpse at the side, my eyes widened in surprise. Those fishermen that greeted me every morning kissed the ground perfectly still at the edge of the park. The water from the river nearly washed away their bodies. Fortunately for them, the fallen trees hindered them from swimming in the river.

"What's happening? A-are they…. dead?"

I did not want to admit it, but I had to ask. Those people lying around the ground did not move a muscle. If they got themselves drunk, some of them would still squirm like a worm…

But they didn't.

"Don't look at them… Focus on your father. Whatever you do, don't look behind!" my mother cried, while holding my hand.

But before I could meet her panicking eyes, a gunshot echoed from the rear. I shifted my gaze to my mother's abdomen, with the bullet zooming straight to her chest. Fragments that belonged to her ribs shattered open, together with blood spurting out from her clothes.

My father rushed to her aid and pushed me aside. He aimed the gun using his dominant hand while he carried my mother with the other.

Upon pulling the trigger, my father killed a man tailing us from behind. The bullet fired by dad pierced the man's head, exploding it open. A fountain of blood emerged on the darkened road, drenching the green grass into a crimson painting.

The three of us finally hid behind a rock from the mysterious enemies that wanted us dead. I, who knew nothing about the occurrences, wanted to ask thousands of questions. But my mother's health was the most important thing in this entire world.

"M-Mum! A-Are you going to be okay?! We need to bring you to the hospital right now!" I screamed, while pressing my hand into the hole in his heart.

My mother desperately gasped for air as she stared at my father and me.

"Don't die, don't die, don't die….Don't die…."

Those were the only words I could say as I witnessed my mother in pain. I could do nothing at all and felt like a dead weight.

"I-It's not your fault..., Chung-Cha. T-Those... Vampires…. hate us…. werewolves… They... despise us... with all their might."

"Werewolves?" I asked. "None of these makes sense at all! What do you mean, werewolves? IS DAD A WEREWOLF?! Anyway, don't talk, mum…. W-We need to bring you to the hospital!"

"Honey…. listen…. I don't have…. much time," my mother said, which grabbed my attention. "This world…. is full of vampires…. and a small group of werewolves... Escape... from this place... and find a meaning for your life….. Be good to others…. find friends…. find someone to protect...so they could protect you too, like your father…. I'm sorry…. If we're not…. going to be there…. for you, Chung-Cha... I'm sorry."

It did not take an elementary grade to understand the meaning behind her words. Tears cascaded from my eyes as I painfully watched my mother's death before me.

My father just held my mother's hand as he let her talk to me. As soon as mum finished her speech, she finally breathed her last breath, with my father closing her eyes.

"I love you," my father whispered, which made my mother smile even at her darkest time.

After saying his goodbyes, my father transformed into something close to a hound. Five claws formed around his hands, with his body lengthening in size. Furs also grew around his skin, covering my father's body. I almost did not recognise him, since he had already shapeshifted into a werewolf.

"My daughter, run as fast as you can…. and don't look back. Can you do that for me?.... For your mother?" my father asked, as he stared into my eyes.

It was unfair for the two of them to ask for such an unreasonable request. However, I did not have a choice and respected my father's instructions.

"Okay, dad…. You'll still enrol me in the university, okay?"

"Yes...The only thing that I'd like you to do...is to not kill anyone. Spare your enemies because hatred can only be vanquished by forgiveness…. And learn how to forgive," my father said in his ultimate words. "Now go... and whatever you do... Don't look back."

After our exchange, I dashed forward and heeded his command. My father ran straight opposite from mine while buying me some time to escape.

I could not grasp everything I witnessed until now. Everything happened so fast that I could not even grieve for my mother's death. And here I was, saving my life with my father, sacrificing his.

However, I couldn't help myself to look back. And so I did.

Gunshots filled the air, with the scent of gun smoke entering my nostrils. And since the sounds came from behind, I finally stopped and looked back, disobeying my father's wishes. By the time that I turned around, my father tumbled to the ground. I couldn't see through all the smoke covering my fore.

"NOOO!" I shouted, while running away from the scene.

I wanted to return to my father's arms and kill myself from the gunshot that took my parent's life. However, if I did that, I would have just wasted their sacrifice for me.

With these heavy burdens aside, I ran straight to the dock and hoped for the best for my future. Unfortunately for me, by the time I drenched my feet, a gunshot ran through my chest. Although the bullet avoided my heart, that shell was enough to injure me for days.

I fell on the slippery ground and let the water wash away my body. The enigmatic man who fired the gunshot was the last moment that my eyes saw before floating away elsewhere. It surprised me that the man never chased me or secured the kill.

.......

After a few seconds, my body became numb. It was as if the sensation left my soul, telling me I nearly escaped death. I could not open my eyes or feel anything at all besides a tingling sensation around my chest.

No memories greeted my mind as I let myself succumb to a night of deep sleep. I did not know who I was or my name. I had no recognition of everything except the words kept ringing inside my head.

"Do not kill…. Learn how to forgive."