[AFYC] Chapter 25

While looking out the window for an escape route, Seo Ah sensed something strange. A peculiar smell brushed past her nose, causing her to tilt her head in confusion and take a deeper breath. All the windows were closed, and the room was sealed tight, so where was this scent coming from?

The second time she inhaled, it smelled like smoke—thick and acrid. As the air filled her lungs, the smell seemed to vanish, as if it had been a figment of her imagination. But then, suddenly, her ears began to ring as if water had entered them. 

First her nose, then her ears, and now her eyes. Every time she blinked, the world around her spun and wobbled as if it were about to collapse. Even though standing upright, she felt as if everything was wrong. Why is this happening...? 

Instinctively, she reached out to grab something, feeling the fabric slip through her fingers like a long piece of cloth. Somewhere far off, she thought she heard a loud thud as if something had fallen, but before she knew it, she was lying on the floor. 

Why am I... why is this happening...? 

Her thoughts seemed to stretch out, and time felt elongating. Was this a dream? The floor felt like it was sinking into a pit that threatened to swallow her whole. But the abyss she feared did not appear beneath her. 

Instead, there was a dull sound, like something breaking, and a face appeared above her in her blurred vision, leaning in from the ceiling. Even in her dazed state, the sight of the man’s grin made her heart plummet. 

“Well, well. We need to air this place out before you completely lose it.” 

She tried to see where he was going, but her neck wouldn’t move. Everything felt distant as if there was a layer of something between her skin and the air. As she struggled to focus, the man’s face appeared again in her restricted vision. 

“Where do you think you’re going, pretty thing?” 

Seo Ah desperately tried to keep her eyes open and to take a breath. I need to get up. I need to move. 

She inhaled deeply, feeling the air enter her nostrils. Slowly, sensation returned to her limbs, which had previously felt foreign, detached from her control. The ringing in her ears began to subside, and the numbness over her skin faded away. 

With all her strength, she turned her body over and pushed herself up with trembling arms. She collapsed several times, but she couldn’t give up. There was no time to think about what had gone wrong. All that mattered was getting out of there. 

The man laughed wickedly. “Time for your medicine. Now’s the perfect moment.” 

As soon as she heard his chilling words, Seo Ah felt herself being lifted. She tried to scream, but without strength in her abdomen, no sound came out. 

A bizarre sensation of numbness enveloped her entire body. 

She was thrown somewhere. The overwhelming force that pinned her down made any struggle futile. Even as she kicked and squirmed, the man simply laughed, straddling her and pinning her arms down with his knees. She felt as helpless as an insect. 

“Ah...ah...” 

“Why did you even bother putting this back on?” 

The man calmly began unbuttoning Seo Ah’s coat, his eyes devouring her with a predatory gaze. Her large almond-shaped eyes were filled with tears as they darted around in fear. She struggled, but her vision was foggy and blurred by the effects of whatever drug she had inhaled. Her small lips trembled, unable to form words, only soft whimpers escaping. 

“So fucking hot.” 

Feeling himself grow hard, the man reached into his pocket and pulled out a small vial. Grabbing Seo Ah’s chin with one hand, he pried open the vial with his thumb. She tried to turn her head away, her legs kicking desperately behind him, but he wasn’t concerned. 

He poured the expensive liquid, worth tens of thousands of Kertes per drop, into her mouth, then clamped his hand over her lips to keep her from spitting it out. Seo Ah’s struggles intensified, but this only excited him more. 

“Mmph...mmpf...” 

“Just a bit longer. You’ll start feeling real good soon.” 

He began to stroke her legs slowly, savouring the feeling.  

“Did you bite?” 

He grinned when she bit down on his hand, but he quickly retaliated by slapping her across the face. 

Smack! 

“Try that again, and you’ll get hurt. No marks, right?” 

He examined her face, touching her rounded earlobe, before whispering, “You’ve never done this before, have you?”