The sun had barely begun to set, casting an orange glow across the city's skyline, yet Hana's mind was already drowning in the shadows. Lucien's words haunted her, swirling in her thoughts like a storm she couldn't escape. The pendant. The awakening. Fate. She felt as though a part of her, some piece she had not even known was there, was now calling out, screaming to be understood.
"Are you alright?" Jisoo's voice pulled her from her reverie. His concern was palpable, and Hana appreciated it more than she could say.
She glanced at him, his expression tight, brows furrowed. The worry in his eyes was undeniable, but Hana didn't have the answers he was looking for. She barely had answers for herself.
"I don't know," she replied, her voice hoarse. She took a step back from the door, the tension in the air still lingering like a heavy mist. The room felt too small, too suffocating. "I don't know what to think anymore."
Jisoo's face softened. "You're not alone in this, Hana. Whatever that man's planning, we'll deal with it together."
She nodded, though she knew deep down that things were much more complicated than that. The pieces were in motion, and whatever game Lucien was playing, it wasn't one they could simply walk away from. She glanced toward the shattered pendant, the fragments glinting in the dim light. "I didn't ask for this."
"I know," Jisoo said gently, stepping forward and crouching to gather the broken pieces. "But that doesn't mean we can't fix it. Or at least try to."
Hana clenched her fists at her sides. She knew he was trying to be supportive, but there was no simple fix for this. The bond between her and Lucien was ancient, a force she could feel but didn't yet understand. And now, with the pendant shattered, the pieces of her past were coming together in ways she wasn't ready for.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed in her pocket, a sharp reminder that the world outside was still moving. She pulled it out and glanced at the screen. It was a message from an unknown number.
"I know what you've done. Meet me tonight. Alone. – L."
Her blood ran cold. Lucien. Of course.
"I have to go," she murmured, the words tumbling out before she could stop them. She turned toward Jisoo, her hand trembling slightly as she put the phone back in her pocket. "I don't know what he wants, but I have to go."
"Wait." Jisoo caught her arm gently, his grip firm. His expression had hardened, the familiar warmth replaced by something darker, more protective. "I'm going with you."
Hana shook her head, pulling away from his touch. "No. This is something I need to do alone."
He hesitated, then nodded, though his lips pressed into a tight line. "I don't like this, but I won't stop you. Just... be careful."
"I will." The words came out quieter than she had intended. For a moment, she thought she saw a flicker of something in Jisoo's eyes something that resembled fear. It was quickly replaced by resolve, but the look made her pause. She had no idea how deep Jisoo's involvement in this was, how much he understood the forces at play. And part of her feared that he didn't know just how dangerous it all was.
She left the apartment without another word, her footsteps heavy as she made her way to the street below. The evening air was cool, but it did nothing to calm the swirling anxiety within her. Every step felt like a step deeper into the unknown, into a fate she hadn't asked for but was now tied to in ways she couldn't escape.
The city felt different tonight, darker, as if the shadows themselves were watching her. The faintest whisper of wind brushed against her skin, carrying with it a sense of foreboding that clung to her like a second skin.
She reached the alley where Lucien had asked her to meet, the scent of wet asphalt and something metallic heavy in the air. A figure emerged from the shadows, tall and imposing, with eyes that gleamed even in the dim light. Lucien. Of course.
"Here you are," he said, his voice smooth and rich, carrying with it a weight of authority. "I knew you'd come."
Hana couldn't bring herself to speak immediately. Her heart pounded in her chest, her body tense. Despite everything despite the anger, the confusion there was still a pull toward him, an invisible thread that refused to be severed. It wasn't just the past life, she realized. There was something more. Something primal.
Lucien stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. "I wanted to make sure you understood what's at stake here, Hana. You've unlocked something... ancient. Something you're not prepared for."
"I don't care about your games, Lucien," she said, her voice stronger than she felt. "If you think I'm going to just roll over and accept whatever this is, you're wrong."
He smirked, a dangerous, knowing smile that sent chills down her spine. "Oh, I'm not asking you to accept anything. In fact, I don't think you have much of a choice. The cycle is already in motion. All I'm asking is that you accept your role."
"I don't have a role," she snapped, though her words lacked conviction. "I'm not part of your plans anymore."
"Ah, but you are," he said softly, his gaze never leaving hers. "Whether you like it or not, you are. The bond we share... it's not something you can break, Hana. Not now, not ever."
A faint ringing sound echoed from behind her, and before she could react, Lucien's hand shot out, grabbing her wrist with a grip like iron. "They're here."
Before she could make sense of his words, the alley was filled with shadows—dark figures stepping out from the corners, their movements precise and unnerving. Hana felt a knot tighten in her stomach. More of his men? Or was there something else at play?
"What are you doing?" she demanded, pulling against his grip.
"I'm giving you a choice," Lucien said, his voice cold. "You can fight, or you can come with me. But make no mistake, Hana. You're going to have to choose."
A soft gasp escaped her lips as she turned to see the figures closing in, their faces obscured by the darkness. Lucien's hand tightened around her wrist, pulling her closer, his voice a whisper against her ear.
"Make your choice."