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Day 1
Unbeknownst to me, insomnia can also yield interesting scientific results. A desperate night walk through the forest in search of some sleep has procured me with a more intriguing finding. Laying against a fallen tree, there was a man-like creature. His unnaturally pale features, his abnormally long fangs and his heterochromia signals him as non-human. Its true nature is still yet to be determined.
I approached it carefully, ready to fire my gun if needed, but the creature appeared too exhausted to do anything other than bare his fangs and meekly hiss at me. I went to fetch Hyunjin and a wheelbarrow, fearing that the creature would run away before I was back, in order to carry it back into the castle. It seems the creature was too weak to seek refuge while I was gone.
Based on his visibly strong body, sharp teeth and pointed nails, it’s safe to assume that this creature is a predator. Hence, we have securely put him away in one of the dungeon cells. As a cautionary measure, we have also chained him to the wall.
I will start the research tomorrow morning.
Day 2
There’s only a small barred window in the cell dungeon that doesn’t allow for direct sunlight. It seems, however, enough to trigger the creature’s apparent heliophobia. The creature has recoiled as far from the light as it was able to given the restricting chains securely tied to his neck, wrists and ankles. Based on this observation, it’s safe to assume that we’ve encountered a nocturnal lifeform.
I have tasked Hyunjin with blocking the window.
We’ve tried feeding it. Water and stale bread should have been palatable enough for any starving being, but it didn’t touch any of it. Hyunjin’s observation that the creature might be a pure carnivore was clever. However, the creature didn’t touch the raw rabbit meat and leftover pork stew either. As a last resort, we also tried an assortment of vegetables. The creature remains unfed.
It is not unheard of for people and animals to refuse food when sick or even on their deathbeds. We will try to feed him again tomorrow. I cannot allow for such a unique specimen to die in my hands.
Day 3
I made a mistake today. Hyunjin reprimanded me, but he refuses to acknowledge that my mistake has meant two steps forward in our research.
In an attempt at coaxing some nutrients into the creature’s body, I approached it with the same pork stew we tried yesterday. I kept my movements predictable and slow to reduce the risks, offering it a spoonful.
I noticed the creature was not interested in the stew. Instead, he was pointedly staring at my neck. His asymmetrical gaze was chilling, something in me telling me to run away, but I overcame my fears. I should have listened to my instincts, but now I can’t make myself regret my decisions.
The creature lurched forward, his mouth open in a way comparable to that of a hissing cat. His long fangs were directed at my neck. I instinctively fell back with an objectively embarrassing thump. The creature, likely driven by starvation, moved towards me with predatory movements, thus making me its prey.
My saving grace was the rosary I carry under my clothes. The jostling movements were enough for it to be on display. When the creature tried to grab me with its claws, it immediately recoiled at its sight. It hissed, as if pained, and went back to its original position against the wall.
My hopes were that the creature fed exclusively on living prey. This theory, however, has been quickly discarded. I brought a live chicken to the cell but the creature just observed it.
Today’s developments, therefore, have led me to two conclusions.
The first one, and most concerning, is that the creature eats human flesh. I am unsure of how long it can last without properly feeding. I need to find a source. When I asked Hyunjin for ideas, he suggested I kill it.
The second one, and most useful, is that the creature is repelled by my rosary. I have instructed Hyunjin and all of the service to start wearing one as a security precaution.
Day 6
The moral dilemma concerning the creature’s feeding has temporarily resolved itself.
An unlucky stablehand has had an unfortunate accident with one of the horses. We called the doctor in, but he had already passed away by the time he arrived.
The dirt was still soft enough for me to dig the corpse up and bury the empty coffin back in to avoid any suspicions. Although doing it by myself hindered the task, I don’t think I had any other options. None of the service should know about this, and Hyunjin would not have approved, much less cooperated. The moonlight and other night creatures were my only companions.
Tonight’s efforts were fruitful. I was able to observe the creature while it fed. I had hypothesized it would open the corpse using its claws and fangs to access the most nutritive organs, such as the liver or the kidneys, like other carnivore creatures do. I had hypothesized wrong. Instead, the creature bared its fangs and punctured the cadaver’s neck. When I later retrieved the corpse, I was able to confirm that said puncture was done with almost surgical precision along the jugular vein.
The creature sucked on the wound it had inflicted until the cadaver was completely drained. Once it was done, its fangs retracted like felines’ claws do. It makes him seem less dangerous. I have to remind myself that appearances can be deceiving.
Day 7
The creature’s feeding needs pose a difficult problem. For obvious reasons, we cannot rely on different staff members having fortuitous accidents, yet I refuse to let the creature die.
Day 9
The creature has said its first words: Aren’t you afraid? You should be.
The words were a threat, but I have the upperhand. I’m his jailer and his food source, after all, and my rosary protects me.
Day 12
The creature’s fangs are once again in permanent display. It would seem it loses control over them once he becomes hungry enough. It means I’m running out of time.
Day 14
There is one simple solution, but I haven’t seriously considered it until now because of its high risk.
I could be the creature’s food source.
I will calculate an optimal amount and frequency of blood draws without it affecting my health. I hope it will be sufficient for the creature to survive.
Day 15
Hyunjin has refused to help me, but that won’t deter me.
Using a scalpel, I opened a wound on my wrist and withdrew 25 mL. It definitely looks insufficient for three days worth of feeding, but based on my calculations it is everything I can afford without risking my own health.
The creature drank the 25 mL in one gulp. It then asked me if it was my blood. It seemed it already knew it was, but I confirmed it.
The wound is still bleeding, which is a nuisance. The next one must be smaller.
Day 18
The creature drank the blood well, but it confirmed my suspicions–it’s not sufficient.
I have to consider that its words are just a ploy for it to regain its full strength. If this happens, it could try to escape. Its power is unknown, thus we must remain cautious.
Day 19
The creature is behaving in a friendlier manner. I must not be deceived, it is a predator and I am its prey, as Hyunjin keeps reminding me. However, its amicable stance is useful to help me with my research.
It has shown me how its fangs retract and descend. I would have liked to feel with my fingers how they retract into the gums, but I have to settle with observing it. As previously described, they function similarly to feline claws, pushed out and in by a contracting muscle. They seem sharp enough to tear through skin, muscle and probably even bone.
The claws, by comparison, are not retractable. They are naturally pointed, although the creature mentioned they can be trimmed to appear more similar to that of humans. This observation makes me think that the creature has lurked in between humans before, presumably in search of prey. The creature definitely seems civilized enough to do so.
Day 27
My investigations have yielded very valuable results. However, I have to acknowledge that I may have miscalculated the amount of blood loss I can withstand, as I have recently started to feel lightheaded and weak.
It hasn’t gone unnoticed to the creature, who has suggested a more efficient method.
If I were to believe its words, fresh blood straight from the source is more nourishing.
I have to consider my options.
Day 29
The creature’s health condition is not improving despite how I have been sacrificing my own. I have therefore resolved to try the method suggested in my last entry.
I have set up some lifeguards. The feeding will occur during daytime, the barred window completely open to allow sunlight in in an attempt to weaken the creature, and I will keep my rosary in my hand at all times, should I need it to stop the creature. Lastly, I have left Hyunjin a note to set the creature free should the experiment take the direst of paths.
My blood levels are already low. I must be careful.
Day 30
The fact that I am writing this entry is, in itself, a success.
Unfortunately, I am unable to recall everything, so the account that follows is partly based on Hyunjin’s testimony and, therefore, must be taken with reservations.
The creature was surprised when I told it I would let it feed from me. I laid out the consequences of taking it too far as a warning, and it seemed to understand them.
I sat down next to it and bared my neck. I could hear my heart ringing in my ears, all my instincts telling me to flee. I am, however, a man of science and logic. I did not let my primitive instincts take over me.
The creature slowly descended its fangs, giving me sufficient time to change my mind. I didn’t, and the creature sunk them in me.
The last thing I remember is the sharp pain of the wound being inflicted, quickly followed by paresthesia taking over my limbs.
It seems Hyunjin found my note earlier than I had anticipated, and he immediately ran to the dungeons only to find me laying down unconscious on the floor with blood staining my collar. The creature was sitting on the opposite side of the cell from me, the only reason for Hyunjin to dare go in and, in his words, rescue me.
I have since regained consciousness and eaten a hearty meal–pork liver stew and wine–to help fight the blood loss.
The most interesting observation, however, is that I do not have any wounds on my neck.
Day 31
The creature, apparently called Chan, has revealed that its saliva has healing properties. This explains why I’m recovering better from yesterday’s feeding than from my usual blood draws.
Day 45
We have found a new routine.
Chan is feeling visibly better, and so am I.
The direct feedings seem to be the solution. I can now focus on studying his its physiology.
Day 48
As soon as the sun sets, Seungmin goes to the dungeons. It’s the best time for him to study Chan, when he’s the most awake and cooperative.
They have established some sort of friendship between captor and prisoner that Seungmin secretly relishes. Chan seems to find his questions and tests and hypotheses amusing, always entertaining Seungmin’s ideas with a dimpled smile.
Seungmin sits on his usual stool inside the cell, his research notebook in hand.
Today is not a feeding day, yet Seungmin offers. There’s some twisted pleasure in the whole ordeal that he doesn’t acknowledge, so he feels disappointed when Chan politely declines.
“I’ve noticed your hearing is sharper than that of humans,” he says, opening the notebook to the last written page. He’s spent the afternoon designing today’s experiment. “I would like to test how sensitive it is.”
Chan is intrigued by this, also curious about his own abilities.
Seungmin pulls a small bell out from his pocket.
“I’ll be making it chime from different points of the dungeon, and I’ll need you to tell me if you still hear it or not.”
“You’ll probably need to go upstairs before I stop hearing it,” Chan replies with a smug smile.
Seungmin, however, is too methodical and starts from where he had originally planned. Every five steps, he chimes the bell, and Chan sing-songs an I can still hear it.
He goes on until he reaches the doorstep to the staircase. Before he can make the bell ring again, Chan yells him to stop. Seungmin turns his head towards the cell, surprised by the uncharacteristic command, but before he can ask what’s going on, a stone-hard arm grabs him by the neck.
“Minho! Don’t!” Seungmin can hear Chan struggling with the chains while he hollers.
“Why shouldn’t I? He’s kept you here like a dog for weeks,” the stranger hisses against Seungmin’s ear. Pure fear is running through his veins, urging him to kick and thrust around to free himself, but the grasp is too tight. “I should feast upon him.”
There’s a loud clatter.
“He’s mine,” Chan says, his voice closer. The chains are dangling behind him, pieces of the wall still clinging to them. “Let. Him. Go.”
“Oh, you got yourself a pet, huh? Well, you do you.”
Seungin’s set free, the sudden lack of pressure against his neck making him fall forward and into Chan’s arms.
Day 56
It has been a week since Master Kim disappeared along with the creature.
Based on the estate of the dungeon cell, we assume the creature managed to set itself free and took Master Kim with him.
Several search parties have been deployed over the past few days, but to no avail.
We can only hope he’s still alive.