It smelled like...paradise. The sky was clear blue again and the clouds fluttered enormously in the sky. The warm breeze made Jin’s dark brown bangs tickle his face. This is my heaven. His hand reached up to the sky feeling the warmth of the sun against his skin. What could possibly be better?

Beep-beep-beep-beep.

“Jin.” He heard Mi-ri’s voice but he could not see her. Mi-ri look, isn’t it beautiful? He turned left and right but their was no sight of her.

“Jin.” Mi-ri whispered softly. “Can you hear my voice?” She asked while rubbing her thumb against his hand near the hospital bed.

Jin nodded. Yes, where are you?

Mi-ri noticed his eyelids twitch. She gasped turning to Chan-gyu who sat on the small sofa with Nam-joon resting one head on his shoulder and Zico slowly dozed off with his arms crossed almost falling on Chan-gyu. “He’s responding.” He quickly stood up to join Mi-ri.

Zico and Nam-joon bump heads waking both of them up. “Man get off of my side!” Nam-joon pushed him.

“Fuck you and your side.” Zico mumbled half asleep.

Both Chan-gyu and Mi-ri held one of Jin’s hands. “Jin.” Chan-gyu’s voice earned a greater response from Jin as he began to shift his head.

There was a bright light and Jin took a look back at the clouds, the blue sky, the warm sun, and the pillow of flowers beneath him before heading deeper into the light. Guys, are you there?

Jin’s eyelids fluttered open seeing nothing but blurriness around him.

Beep-beep-beep.

“Hmm…” He struggled to sit up but Chan-gyu pressed a hand on his chest.

“Easy. One step at a time Jin.”

He looked around with half lidded eyes. “W-where am I?”

“The hospital.” Mi-ri answered.

His gaze turned from Chan-gyu to Mi-ri who only half smiled at him. “Mi-ri? You okay?” She nodded.

“Everyone is alive, especially you. The doctor said you were very lucky.” She nodded.

“What happened?” He managed to ask. Both Chan-gyu and Mi-ri looked at each other, where do they even begin?

“Jin,” Mi-ri began, “What do you last remember?”

He stopped to think about it for a second. “I remember…”

The bright lights in the room caused him to close his eyes. Jin opened them again to find himself in a strange room with an old man who had dark tinted round glasses on so he is unable to see the man in the eyes. The man raised a hand feeling Jin’s facial structure. “Very-very nice.” He smiled. “You are a very beautiful boy. You’ll do just fine.”

Pain surged through Jin’s brain bringing him back from the vivid memory. “Ah!” He rubbed his forehead.

“It’s still too early for you to recall anything now Jin, just get some rest.” Chan-gyu propped his pillow before settling Jin back down on it. “I’m sure you will feel even better tomorrow morning.”

Jin nodded slightly letting his eyelids grow heavy and let himself be comforted with deep slumber.

Mi-ri sighed. “I can’t believe he survived that.” She closed the door behind her letting Jin sleep in the room with Zico and Nam-joon keeping him company.

“Well,” Chan-gyu walked the corridor with her, “the woman’s fangs barely penetrated the skin. The little bit of blood she drew from Jin was enough to cause her body to malfunction and die.” He looked deep in thought as if he is still trying to wrap his head around the speculation, if it was true. Chan-gyu still had to speak to the Coroner about it.

“That is strange though.” Mi-ri pondered too. “What if Jin’s blood type isn’t the type she needs? What if it is a specific blood type?” She questioned.

Chan-gyu snapped his fingers. “That could be it. The first victim’s blood type was A, so was the second victim except this time Jin is blood type O. So far there has only been two victims and Miss Rin is already deceased. Maybe blood type A is just what she needed. But it could be something far more important than blood type.”

“What makes you say that?”

“She isn’t the only one who has caused this type of trouble, but Miss Rin's murders are the cruelest we have record of so far.” His cell phone began to ring. “Excuse me a moment.” Mi-ri nodded while Chan-gyu slightly retreated to answer the call. “Hello?”

“Hey Chan-gyu.” Officer Kim began. “Sorry about what happened to your younger brother. How is he?”

“He is fine. He has woken up recently but needs more rest.”

“Listen,” Officer Kim began, “sorry to bother you but we wanted to take the strange girl to the hospital to get her a check up but she is not willing to comply.” He lowered his voice, “I think this girl was raised by cats.”

Chan-gyu furrowed his brows sensing how ridiculous it sounded. “Wh-what? Why do you say that?”

“Well,” Officer Kim nervously chuckled, “she is...please you really need to come and see this yourself. She acts like a kitten! Please come, all the other officers have tried to work with her. Hopefully with you she is more than willing to go to the hospital.”

He sighed in defeat. “Alright, I can go make an attempt, but if she doesn’t budge an inch with me then call animal control.” Chan-gyu hung up.

After quickly telling Mi-ri about a “short emergency” Chan-gyu headed down to get in his car.

“Yes sir, Officer Choi Chan-gyu has left the hospital.” A limousine driver near by was observing Chan-gyu from a distance. The dark window between the chauffeur and his boss began to lower itself.

It revealed an old bald man with dark round glasses chuckling slowly while nodding his head. “Good, very good. He has grown to be a fine young man.” He too observed Chan-gyu with a pair of binoculars in his wrinkled hand. "We will meet soon enough."

“Miss, you are going to have to come with us.” One of the officers tried to reason with the girl who was very sly almost cat like dodging every chance they got to snatch her in their arms. “Why is she so difficult!” He exclaimed annoyed.
She eyed him menacingly while a low growl escaped her lips. He sweated, “What is she a dog now?”

Some of the officers laughed outside of the jail cell. “She was raised feral, get out of there before she eats you!”

Their laughs were silenced by the Commissioner. “Officer Lim stop messing around and grab her. We don’t have all day to worry about some feral cat girl.” He crossed his arms.

The front entrance of the Police Department opened revealing Chan-gyu. He walked close to the gate.

The girl still growled at the other officer but softened her look as soon as she caught sight of Chan-gyu. “Yah, send Chan-gyu in there.” One of the officer’s called out. “Maybe he can tame her.” They all laughed.

The Commissioner turned to Chan-gyu. “If you believe you can do it be my guest.”

Chan-gyu sighed. “Well you guys leave me no choice.” He opened the gate and Officer Lim stepped out.

“Good luck in there.” He sighed grabbing the nearest chair to sit down.

Chan-gyu sighed rolling his eyes turning around to face the girl. Before he could catch a really good glimpse of her he felt a sudden impact on his chest. Everyone gasped thinking she attacked him, but she didn’t exactly.

The girl tightly held onto Chan-gyu's waist and buried her face in his chest letting a few tears escape her eyes. Oh, how long I have waited for you...She looked up to him in tears while he could only stare back amazed but mostly confused.

All the officers were very silent and stared in awe at the scene they were witnessing. “H-he actually did it.” One of the officer’s pointed with his jaw open.

The Commissioner was just as surprised and slowly began to clap and others soon began to do the same.

“Way to go Chan-gyu!”

“Maybe she likes him because he is handsome?”

“Now she won’t be scaring all of our other inmates.” Some chuckled.

“Perfect! Chan-gyu get to see that she gets medical attention immediately.” The Commissioner ordered and Chan-gyu could only bow and obey the order before he could check up on his brother again.

She gasped when Chan-gyu stripped her arms away from him. He began to take off his officer blazer bring it over her shoulders. His large hand warmly grabbed her shoulders and carefully lead her out of the jail cell. “Come on. We need to get you some help.” He spoke to her in a soft manner making her smile a bit as he guided her out of the Police Department.

The light shined on the girl’s eyes as the female Doctor examined her. “Everything appears to be fine, but her eyes, well specifically her pupils look slightly...How do I put it? Odder than the average human being but for all we know it could be a small genetic disorder. From the looks of it it does not seem to be Mydriasis. Her irises seem to have a unique aqua hue to them.” The Doctor looked deep into the girl’s eyes in awe. “Beautiful, it’s like as if the ocean is in her eyes.” The girl could only blink at the Doctor curiously. The Doctor turned to Chan-gyu with a smile. “You wouldn’t mind bringing her time and time again so I could do a few studies of her? Her genetics are truly mesmerizing.”

Chan-gyu furrowed his brows. “I’m not her guardian. She can’t even speak for herself, but do you think she is young enough to be put in some foster care? She looks to be 17.”

The female Doctor sighed. “Officer Choi as far as I know this girl is at her most comfortable when you are around her.” When they first took a step in the hospital the girl had her arms around his waist and when the girl was called to meet with the Doctor she pulled on Chan-gyu’s sleeve to go with her, she wouldn’t even let him wait outside. While the Doctor talked to Chan-gyu the girl only had a bright smile on her face hugging on to his waist. It took almost thirty minutes to convince her he was not going to leave and that he was only going to sit down on a nearby chair. “It is obvious that you are the only person she wants to be around. We will work with her and give her therapies to get her talking and become more independent, but for now we really need your help in taking care of this girl. Can you do that?”

Chan-gyu raised an unconvinced brow at the girl who only sat on the medical bed sucking on the lollipop the Doctor recently gave her. He nodded his head in defeat. “Yes I suppose I can take care of her.” The girl’s ears perked up as if she understood and hopped down immediately jumping on Chan-gyu’s lap embracing him looking very--very happy.

The female Doctor laughed. “She enjoys your presence a lot. At least she understands, soon she will begin to speak again and be out of your hands in no time.” The girl gasped at the last part giving a pleading look to Chan-gyu who only began to develop rosy cheeks at her adorable nature.

“D-don’t look at me like that.” He cleared his throat looking away while the Doctor only chuckled at their cute interactions.

The water bottle appeared in the center of the vending machine and a pair of small doors slide revealing the ordered drink. Mi-ri grabbed it and began to snap off the top to take a drink. “Aish!” She sighed making a fist and hitting her back a bit to stop the back pain she has been getting often. Her body needed a bed but she refused to leave Jin’s side tonight.

Mi-ri walked the hall and noticed Chan-gyu. “Oh Chan-gyu,” She began but paused noticing the other girl standing next to him with very revealing clothing that were more suitable for a hooker than an innocent girl like her. As soon as the girl caught sight of Mi-ri calling over to Chan-gyu she defensively hugged herself to his arm. “Uh, who is this?” Mi-ri asked curiously.

“I’m her surrogate for as long as she begins to speak again. The Police Department noticed her hanging around hookers and she needs help.”

Mi-ri looked at him surprised. “And they chose you for the job. Oh so that's what you meant when you said you had to leave because of a 'short emergency'.” She chuckled slightly.

Chan-gyu scoffed. “I can be a good person...sometimes.” He rolled his eyes. “According to everyone else I am the only one that ‘can tame her’.”

Mi-ri looked at both of them clearly amused. Chan-gyu with his regular bored looks but this time with a cute girl smiling and hugging onto his arm. “Interesting. Wait till Jin sees this.” She cupped her blushed cheek just thinking about him eager to see him when he wakes.

Chan-gyu’s cell phone began to ring. “Can you watch her for a moment?” He ripped the girl’s embrace from his arm while Mi-ri just intertwined arms with her.

“Sure no problem.” Mi-ri gently patted the girl’s tensed back. “It’s okay just come sit here with me.” She spoke in a soothing voice while the girl surprisingly obliged but kept her eyes glued on Chan-gyu afraid to blink. Mi-ri noticed. “What? Are you afraid he is going to disappear?” She chuckled but was surprised by the girl's sad stare and nod. “You understand what I’m saying?”

Chan-gyu returned to them. “Listen Mi-ri, I am sorry to burden you but can you watch after her for a second?” The girl’s face began to grow worried as she stood up, Chan-gyu pinched the bridge of his nose slightly frustrated. “I need to go do something very important at the Police Dept.” The girl tugged on on Chan-gyu’s sleeve.

He sighed bringing his large hand over her’s giving her a small forced smile. “Don’t worry I will come back.” He assured her in a sweet tone that Mi-ri was stunned to hear. I have never heard him like that before, it’s charming. Mi-ri blushed at their interaction. The girl slowly nodded and let herself be sat down again. “Please do not hesitate to call me over any news about Jin.”

Mi-ri shook her head. “Right. Be careful!” She called out to Chan-gyu while he ran disappearing behind a corner.

The girl only sat their saddened and worried again. Don’t stray from me too long.

Officer Choi appeared once again at the Police Dept. “Over here.” Officer Kim signaled near the Coroner’s office. “You have to hear this.” He spoke amazed.

“Please have a seat Officer Choi.” The male Coroner motioned towards a chair which Chan-gyu hesitantly took.

“What have you discovered about the Miss Rin’s body?” He questioned.

The Coroner exhaled sharply taking off his glasses pinching the bridge of his nose. “Where do I even begin.” He chuckled. “This is something I have never seen before but it is quite intriguing and extraordinary. We are dealing with a high quality drug here.”

Chan-gyu looked confused. “Wait, you are trying to tell me a drug made Miss Rin look and act like a complete monster?”

The Coroner nodded. “Yes. I am not sure what the drug is called but I believe you may have to do undercover work now Detective.”

“Detective?” Chan-gyu raised a brow.

“That’s right.” A familiar voice called from the front entrance.

Chan-gyu turned back. “Commissioner!” He stood up and bowed. “You have promoted me?”

He nodded. “Of course I promoted you.” He brought a firm hand upon Chan-gyu’s shoulder. “After catching the woman responsible for the killings, you have earned the title as Detective Choi.” The Commissioner smiled bringing Chan-gyu into a short hug. “Congratulations, you begin tonight.”

Chan-gyu smiled and bowed again. “Thank you Commissioner. I will not fail you.”

“Your files over the drug are with Coroner Rhee, he will continue to tell you all information needed to go undercover, I know you will find those responsible over this chaotic drug.” Chan-gyu bowed again before the Commissioner left.

“Shall we continue Detective Choi?” Chan-gyu smiled brightly at the sound of his new title and nodded. “First of all I would give out my condolences to your brother for having to go through such a thing, he was very brave.” Chan-gyu agreed remembering his phone hasn’t rang so Jin should still be resting. “I will be sure you would certainly not believe me for what I am about to say.” The Coroner cleared his throat. “Your brother’s blood was tested in the lab and what we have accumulated from the drug, your brother’s blood, and deceased murderer Miss Rin...”

Beep-beep-beep.

Jin’s eyelids twitched. Jin held his arms out to Mi-ri from beyond the window, he suddenly heard a low growl and looked up into the woman’s dark hollow eyes. He gasped as she pounced on him. While both of them crashed with the rusted staircase, the whole time his brown iris connected with her pitch black eyes. I-I see it, deep in there is the same symbol that man had.

He twisted and turned on his bed, the heart rate monitor began to accelerate but Zico and Nam-joon were still asleep.

Ahh! Jin screamed in pain without any audible sound while she pinned him down below her. It burns! My eyes are burning! Jin tried to look away from those haunting eyes but he couldn’t no matter how hard he tried. No, it’s burning into my eyes!

The monitor was becoming hectic and out of control for being overpowered by Jin’s accelerated heartbeat causing the monitor to explode.

Zico gasped awake. “Huh? What?” Nam-joon muttered with dried silva at the corner of his mouth.

“Jin!” Zico stood up seeing how Jin’s body tossed and turned uncontrollably but he still didn’t manage to open his eyes.

It’s engraving the symbol into my eyes! Jin panicked in unbearable pain.
Zico quickly pressed the red emergency button near by. “Jin!” He held on one arm while Nam-joon tried to hold the other. “Jin wake up!”

Zico? Jin desperately tried to search for him through the darkness. I can’t see!

Mi-ri walked the hall while holding onto the girl’s wrist letting herself be guided by Mi-ri. “If you like Chan-gyu so much I bet you would like Jin too. He is a pretty sweet down-to-earth guy. We met freshman year when I was new to Seoul, I bet you’ll like to hear our story one day.” She blushed and the girl noticed.

Mi-ri likes Jin. She thought in her head. Mi-ri looked back at the girl with a smile. “I would love to hear your story some day too.” Mi-ri giggled. The girl smiled sadly wondering about her past.

“Quickly to room 309!” the nurse rushed with the doctor past the girls.

Mi-ri turned pale in alarm. “That’s Jin’s room.” Without thinking she let go of the girl’s wrist chasing after the nurse and doctor.

Nam-joon noticed the doctor. “It’s about time. What’s wrong with him?” He urged but Zico pushed him away to give the doctor space to do his job.

“What’s going on?” Mi-ri appeared at the entrance gasping in shock at how uncontrolled Jin looked. “Jin!” She called out but Zico too held her back.

Jin! Jin looked around in the darkness. Mi-ri! Mi-ri where are you? Suddenly amidst the darkness Jin saw the vivid image of the symbol and began to run towards it. The closer he got the more the pain eased and a whole mix of colors began to appear in his vision and make an image before him.

Jin’s body settled almost instantly and he constantly began to blink seeing everyone clearly and with very worried expressions and in awe at the same time. “W-what happened?” He weakly asked.

The girl appeared in the doorway and in Jin’s vision. He noticed the aqua hue in her eyes despite being so far away. It looks as if she has the ocean in her eyes, she’s that girl from before, but what is she doing here? She gasped quickly hiding behind Mi-ri afraid of Jin.

“Why-why are you all looking at me like that?” Jin struggled to sit up.

Mi-ri looked as if she was in the verge of tears. “J-Jin, your eyes.” She spoke out weakly.

“What?”

Zico grabbed his phone and turned to the camera app. “Look at yourself.” He hesitantly handed it to Jin almost throwing it at him as if Jin was diseased.

Jin quickly took a look and gasped. His hand quivered while he held the phone. The strange symbol was embedded into his cornea like the first victim. “That-that can’t be…” His breathing accelerated. I-I’ve become a monster.

Notes