I need to get away. 

Her mind was only repeating it over and over again. These thoughts were what kept her going. 

She needed to get away. She needed to escape. She... must stay alive.

She kept running without a direction in mind, only looking for a safe place. Where was that safe place? She herself didn't know. She had long become almost breathless; the exhaustion was written in her face. She couldn't think anymore.

The path that she passed by was damp from the water and blood that trickled from her body. From looking closely, her pure black eyes were almost lifeless, and she almost appeared to be a walking corpse. 

It was a wonder if she had already gone numb and had not noticed her deep injuries or the lack of blood from how pale her face was. 

In her eyes, tears kept pouring out, making her vision blurry. 

She was tired, but she had to keep going. The memory of her mother, the last memory of hers, flashed in her mind. 

"Aerine, run and go to a safe place. Don't stop until you get there. Remember, my daughter, you must stay alive." 

These were the words that Aerine's mother had managed to shout at her while she was on the brink of death as she bade time for her daughter's escape. 

Aerine was almost frozen on the spot as the chill had run up to her spine, but her body was faster than her mind. Before she could process what happened and the bloody image of her mother, Aerine had already run outside and escaped. 

She wasn't away for long when there were already pursuers on her tail, but she never stopped. All the words of her mother kept repeating in her mind. 

Aerine didn't want her mother's sacrifice for her to go to waste. No matter what, she had to escape alive. 

However, the race against her pursuers seemed to be coming to an end. Aerine's mobility was being hindered by her injuries, some of which she inflicted after being hit by something along the way on land or in the ocean, while others were from the long-range attacks of her pursuers. 

Not only that, her exhaustion and loss of blood were finally getting into her head, and her will to continue was waning as each time passed. A large part of her mind wanted to keep going, but a part of her, especially her body, was already surrendering. 

It was only her will that prevented her body from collapsing. She was aware; her body couldn't keep up for long. 

Aerine gasped and almost choked on her sob. She silently prayed. If there was a god, she could offer her everything for them to save her. And... If that was not enough, Aerine didn't care anymore. 

Even a devil... Aerine would gladly offer her soul. 

After persisting for so long, Aerine finally crumbled, and she couldn't feel her legs anymore. She had long been on the land, and Aerine could almost see the light of the tunnel, but she was still short in the end. 

Unwillingly, Aerine slumped on the ground; her loss of blood was truly significant, and she knew that death was already inevitable unless a miracle happened. 

Aerine's lips quivered, and she couldn't help but wilt. Her desperate cries became louder. She wanted to shout that someone saved her, but there wasn't anyone where she was. 

This was still not the mainland but a medium-sized island, much like her home. 

Home. Aerine's tears endlessly streamed down her cheeks. She didn't have a home anymore. 

Everything changed in one night. 

"M-Mom... Mom..." Aerine called for her mother while she was crying; her anguished sobs echoed and shattered the silence of the deepest night. 

She was also apologizing that she couldn't escape in the end. All her mother's efforts were wasted. 

Useless. Aerine insulted herself. She was so useless. 

Amidst her sobs, the sounds of footsteps rang until black pointed shoes greeted her blurred vision. 

Aerine flinched; her dizziness grew, but she was still forced to look up. In actual truth, Aerine was also hopeless and afraid, thinking that her pursuers had finally caught her.

It was only a matter of time before they did. However, once she looked up, Aerine knew, this was a different man from her pursuers. 

Aerine might be an innocent woman who lived far away from civilization, but she still recognized the attire of the newcomer. A formal suit. 

Her pursuers were wearing the common attire of the merfolk, and Aerine couldn't smell the scent of the ocean on him. Instead, something else... Aerine's mouth gaped, and she sobbed once more. 

This time, not from despair but from a newfound hope. 

Seeing her cry foolishly, the man heavily frowned and cocked his head in confusion. 

"Hey..." the man opened his mouth, and a deep voice rang; it carried a dominant air into it as if talking to Aerine were beneath him. 

Aerine wasn't offended, and she only thought it was reasonable. With tears, snot, and blood on her face, she reached out and grabbed the man's pants as she gripped them.

"Please... save me." Aerine's voice was now hoarse from all the crying, but no one could deny the refreshing and melodic voice. 

The man furrowed his brows and looked at where Aerine was holding his pants; they were below his knee. As Aerine's hands had blood on them, the man's pants were stained with blood in return. 

Aerine continued pleading with him that no matter how he tried to remove her hold, she only gripped the hem harder. His face instantly darkened, and he clicked his tongue in annoyance. 

Instantly, two terrifying crimson eyes bore into her, making Aerine's danger sense shoot up. However, she already braced herself for this. As she said, in order to survive, she could do anything, even offer herself to the devil. 

And now... The devil had indeed come. 

"Please... save me... Mr. Devil." Aerine's desperate tone rang in the air, her eyes pleading and begging to be saved. "I offer my soul to you, Mr. Devil. Save me, please... s-save me." 

The crimson eyes flickered with a light slightly, he narrowed his eyes dangerously, and he observed Aerine. 

Truly, Aerine was already on the brink of death. However, her soul was still shining brightly. A faint surprise flashed in his eyes before it was concealed. 

Soon, a sinister smile curled on his lips. 

"Only your soul?" He spoke, this time much ethereal, as though tempting the people that would hear it. There was no doubt; it was the voice of a devil.