The doorbell tinkled as they entered the bar. It was packed full of inebriated patrons dancing to loud music. Yerin led Lutter across the bar toward a corridor. The access was barred with a chain holding a plaque on which was written: "Personel Only".
Yerin ignored the warning and went inside. Lutter looked at her and shrugged before following behind her. After a few turns, they reached a door. There was a digital lock on the side. This didn't stop her either as she punched a code and the door opened.
Lutter was greeted by a garden full of plants and flowers. In the middle of the city, the sight was like an oasis in the desert. There was a single white table with two chairs resting in the center of the garden.
After they sat, Yerin reached in her backpack and pulled out a smartphone. She then proceeded to launch a call.
"Yes, hello. I am in your garden." She spoke once the person on the other side of the line picked up.
....
"No, No. Don't worry about it. I want two hamburgers and two bottles of beer." She said in an annoyed tone.
....
"Hurry up. I am starving." Yerin spoke imperiously.
....
"I hanging up." She put back the phone inside the bag and lean back on her chair.
"So, Mr. Lutter. I believe that's your name. I am not sure as my mind was muddled when we met last. How am I still of this world?" Yerin asked directly.
It wasn't because she was nonchalant about death that she wasn't curious about how she escaped it.
"You are quite straightforward Mlle. Yerin. Yes, I am indeed called Lutter, you aren't mistaken. As for how you are still among the living... There are simple and complicated answers."
"I want the simple version," Yerin said after a moment of silence. She was massaging her temple. She felt as if someone was pounding repeatedly inside her brain.
"Very well. You were going to die. I had two options. 1. Leave you to your fate. 2. Save you by making you slightly different. As you can guess, I chose the second option. Because of this, you are back in full health. There is a hangup though. You are now going to crave sexual gratification. Much in the manner of a junkie. This is a consequence of saving you." He paused and observed her reaction.
She didn't answer with the stereotypical disbelief or nervous laughter. Instead, she seemed to be considering every single word he uttered.
"I see." That was the only thing she said.
"You don't believe me?" He asked curiously. Her lackluster response was new to him.
"No, no. I do. You must have been in that condition when I met you 4 years ago." Yerin spoke softly. "So what is going to happen to me?"
"As I said, you will crave sexual gratification. This is the nature of the curse. If you do not satisfy it you will enter into a mindless murderous phase. Without a large amount of bloodshed, you won't regain your mind. Still, all is not bad. As you continue feeding the curse, you become more and more powerful and resilient. At that point, supernatural feats of physical prowess are easy enough to accomplish." He said casually.
"Where does this curse originate?" She asked, more curious than ever. Yerin was surprised despite her bland reactions. She had just discovered a whole new facet of reality. Naturally, she wanted to know more about it.
"For tonight, that will be enough information. Before we go any further. Do you need me to kill you?"
Yerin tilted her head, puzzled. "Why would I want that?"
"Most people do after learning what type of existence they have become and what they would be forced to do," Lutter said.
Yerin nodded in understanding but said:
"No, I don't particularly want to die yet. It's merely an odd condition I will have to carry."
Lutter looked into her eyes seriously before determining that she meant what she said. She wasn't horrified by the prospects he told her about.
Creak.
They both turned toward the door that had just swung open. A girl with long golden locks and spotless blue eyes came in with two burgers and bottles of beer.
"You took your time," Yerin said to her.
The other girl's lip twitched briefly before settling the order on the table.
"How many times did I tell you not to intrude in my garden Yerin?" The girl was exasperated.
"So many times that my ears bled. This is the only proper and silent place in your establishment. Why not let me enjoy it too." Yerin answered in an obvious tone that grated at the girl's patience.
The girl released a breath as if she just accepted her fate.
Lutter watched the interaction, amused.
The girl turned toward him and introduced herself as Yerin had instantly started tearing through the burger. She didn't seem to have the intention of introducing her.
"Hi, I am Mira, her only friend." She spoke pointing at Yerin.
"Hello, I am Lutter Veran. Nice to meet you." Lutter spoke charmingly, his smile blinding.
Mira was breathless for a moment. She had never seen a man this attractive in her life. But she was not an ordinary person seeing as she was friends with Yerin. As such, she quickly regained her composure and shook his outstretched hand.
"So how do you know each other?" Mira asked him.
"We met at a party organized by her father many years ago." Lutter smiled and answered. Instantly Mira's eyes became round.
She was surprised. Her reaction made Lutter raise an eyebrow.
"It's you-" She started before she was rudely interrupted. It was Yerin who had just finished her burger and was drinking a small mouthful of beer.
"Don't you have a bar to... you know...tend to?"
"Fine, I am leaving." Mira shook her head at her friend's lack of manners.
"Nice to have met you, Lutter." With a grimace at Yerin, she left the garden.
"I take it she now how we met ?" Lutter spoke suddenly.
A trace of embarrassment made its way on Yerin's face. She wasn't embarrassed by the circumstances of their meeting. It was more the fact that she told someone about it.
"How much does she know?"
"I told her that I slept with a man I had just met at a party when I was 16. And that it was my first time. That's it. She must have linked that man to you just now."
"I see..." He chuckled softly.
"So...How have you been?" He asked after he ate his burger.
"How does a rich girl like you end up in a shady place Like the one, I just rescued you from?"
"Hmm...Simple. Not long after the party, I left home. You could have called me a runaway, had someone tried to find me..."