Chapter Text
Nighttime had always been the most peaceful part of the day for the people in South Korea's countrysides. Lacking the advancement that brought the leisure of malls, clubs, office buildings, wifi, phones and more (you get the drift), the only things the locals did was work, go to school or sleep. After all, they were just mere farmers, or even students for the more priviledged kids. Rarely anyone went out past dusk and usually turned in early, readily awaiting a new day of the same ol' routine. A completely mundane, yet somehow satisfying lifestyle.Tonight, however, was one of those nights where it wasn't so peaceful. Somewhere in the wee hours, lightning flashed across the sky, and the first drops of rain descended in heavy downpour, battering against windows and metal roofs as loud as a jackhammer would. Despite that, no one had trouble sleeping, not even when the thunder rumbled on and on.
Everyone here seemed to be so at peace with their lives to feel bothered about such minute happenings. It wouldn't come as a surprise if they could get past a hurricane without stirring.
That same night, a whole town even managed to sleep through the sudden, shrilling series of howls that came from the woods.
~
Leaves rustled.
Twigs snapped.
Crickets, birds and frogs broke apart from their abundances almost instantly the moment they sensed the ground beneath them quake from an unnatural force. Seconds later, two shadows zipped right by them across the unmarked path, sprinting through the darkness with tremendous speed.
There was no telling how long they'd been running for. Never seeming to slow down, only moving faster with each passing moment.
The creature in the lead peered over his shoulder, catching a glimpse of the looming figure hot on his heels. Even in the darkness, he couldn't miss how much bigger, and how much stronger it was compared to him. The sight sent chills all over him like a thousand needles pricking at his skin, triggering a rush of adrenaline through his body that made him snap his focus back on the trail ahead, pushing himself to go faster.
It didn't help that he had no idea where the hell he was going, what he's running from, or why he's even running in the first place. But from the menacing look in his pursuer's daunting scarlet eyes alone, he knew exactly what would happen if he stopped. Another round of goosebumps found its way up his spine.
Admist the jitters and nausea stirring in his stomach, he couldn't help but wonder what he'd possibly done to land himself in this situation. Had he unknowingly stepped into a territory that wasn't his? Had he just been at the wrong place at the wrong time? Or was there a reason he's been targeted? As curious as he was, he sure didnt mind not getting to find out.
Thunder continued to crackle in the distance as the rain poured on and on, drenching his now heavy, silver fur and stinging his eyes. He struggled to keep his feet on the ground, with the earth gradually softening from the brewing storm it was like he was threading on ice. Mud coated his toes, soaking them more and more with every step he took, making it harder to maintain his balance the quicker he went.
But he couldn't let himself stop, not when he could still hear it, it's footsteps thudding behind him. They were getting louder. Getting faster. And closer.
Way too close.
A whimper of desperation slipped from his throat as the reality of his plight suddenly dawned on him. He takes another blind turn, skidding frantically through the endless mass of trees and willing himself to ignore the sharp sting of branches cutting at his flesh. His heart pounded furiously as he worked to speed up, fighting the dipping temperature that threatened to freeze his muscles.
He couldn't get caught again. Not now, not after how hard he'd tried to escape to begin with. Yet at the same time, he wasn't going to lie to himself either; there was no denying the odds of how that night was going to end for him.
Lost, tired, hungry and without a single idea on where he's going, he's practically done for.
He was loosing too much blood. He could already feel himself slowing down, legs about to cave, body giving in to the fatigue that was overcoming him. He couldn't go any faster. And it was catching up.
Running sure wasn't going to save him. He had to find another way.
As lightning lit up the sky and his surroundings for a fraction of a second, the creature nearly stopped dead in his tracks at the sight he saw in the distance: they were approaching the unmistakable edge of a cliff. Beyond it was nothing but darkness. A dead end.
But as he got closer, the black emptiness before him slowly began to fade away, gradually bringing into view another cliff right on the other side of where the latter ended, separated by a gap intangible even with his night vision. That didn't seem to stop him, though; being his only option of escape, he was determined to make the jump, albeit how slim the chances of success were.
So he charged for the ledge, and using up the last burst of energy he had left, he leaped.
Time appeared to flow in slow motion the moment his feet sprung from the ledge, he could practically feel every jolt of emotion playing out inside him; the anxiety, the exhaustion, the excitement, everything came down on him all at once, turning the seconds into tense hours.
He could see it - the edge of the opposite cliff. Every inch closer he got, the further he stretched out, screaming silently in his mind over and over that he was gonna make it. Breath caught in anticipation, he braced himself for the landing.
But it never came, and just as sudden as time had seemed to cease before, back it warped into its natural pace, as if he'd run straight into a glass wall where his illusion ended and shattered it.
Barely a heartbeat before his paw could even brush the earth, he stopped short, falling chest-first right into the face of the cliff. A strangled whimper forced itself out of his lungs, the impact of the collision knocking the wind right out of him and setting his torso ablaze with pain. Shooting out his claws, he scrabbled fiercely against the slimy cliff face, eagerly searching for purchase in an attempt to keep himself from falling.
In the heat of his ordeal, almost completely did he forget about the beast-like entity that had been behind him, and at the sudden jerk of the rocky surface under his body, every single nerve in his body froze.
It had jumped right after him. And now it's on the other side.
Footsteps began approaching again. From the ledge emerged a shadow, bulky and monstrous, black from head to toe except for the glow of two scarlet orbs. For a fleeting moment, he could see the shadow's shape starting to change, shrinking, the colossal outline of its arced frame morphing into a smaller, squarish set of shoulders. Human shoulders. The red disappeared.
"Well, well, well. Look what we have here."
The creature quivered all over, in both fear and agony as he struggled to hang on. Yelps of despair escaped him when he slipped on a foothold, stomach churning sickly from the momentary drop he felt towards the raging, crashing stream beneath him.
"Want a little help, kid?"
Whipping his head to stare up at the mysterious person above him, he delivered his answer in a low, brutal growl. Laughter followed, full of mockery and amusement.
"Well, suit yourself then."
A shape extended from the figure, an arm, raising high above its head, and under the faint glow of moonlight, the creature caught the glimpse of long, hooked talons, gleaming maliciously at him.
In that moment, several thoughts raced through his mind. Out of those, one made him lower his gaze back down to the surging body of water below, watching with pondering eyes as it raced through the bank, smashing into timeworn rocks mercilessly.
He didn't know what came over him then. But he was running out of options.
With a last glance at the shadow, he took a deep breath.
And let go of the rocks.