episode_0022

Breathless.

With each step hitting the ground, my heart ached as if being squeezed.

But I couldn’t stop.

I didn’t know when that inspector and the blind Ranker would return.

The electric tower comes into view.

And the white-haired Killer was still leaning against the tower, asleep.

I placed both hands on my knees and took deep breaths.

Even though I had run a short distance, my chest pounded like crazy.

My T-shirt, soaked in sweat, clung to my body.

Grasping the shirt, I approached her.

“Anna… you need to escape. The Ranker chasing you right now…”

However, despite my urgent words, the Killer showed no reaction.

Soon, I understood why.

During the brief absence, her pale body had turned pink.

She was breathing heavily, unlike anything I could compare to.

It felt like she was fighting something inside her body.

“Why… why are you like this, are you okay?”

I grabbed her shoulders and lightly shook her.

But unlike when she drank the potion, Anna was unconscious.

This is bad.

If I wait for her to wake up, I don’t know when the Association’s hunters will return.

Given the false testimony and being caught together, I’ll soon be branded an accomplice.

The same red blade that was used for identification before will pierce my throat this time.

There’s no choice.

I slipped my arm between Anna’s armpits.

And with all my strength, I lifted her up.

“…!!”

However, Anna’s thigh briefly left the ground, only to fall back, dragging me down with her weight.

In the process, her sleeve slipped through the loose jacket.

And unlike what Anna appeared, I realized the reason for her heaviness.

Contrary to her slender figure, she had muscular shoulders and a solid core.

It seemed that slicing the opponent’s neck in one swift motion wasn’t just about skill.

Despite being already short, there’s no way I could lift such a body.

But there’s still a way.

A while ago, every time I ran, the sound of a glass bottle rolling echoed from the backpack like a bell.

It meant that the last cocktail was still there.

Usually, it’s a healing cocktail that stops bleeding.

But if a healthy person drinks it, it gives a ‘special buff.’

Without hesitation, I unscrewed the potion’s cap.

And in one gulp, I swallowed the black liquid.

It felt hot, like swallowing lava.

Because it’s a vodka-based cocktail with an alcohol content close to 40 degrees.

But I didn’t stop.

Rather than dying from a slashed throat, it’s better to burn a little.

My drowsy eyes sparkled.

Legs that were weak moments ago were now overflowing with strength.

“—!”

But at the same time, I started to burp.

With each strange noise from my mouth, a sense of drunkenness rose, making me dizzy.

“Of course, the alcohol…”

I slapped my cheek repeatedly.

And confidently approached Anna.

Her body had become lighter, like that of a child compared to before.

Thanks to that, courage surged within me.

Using that courage as fuel, I lifted Anna as she was.

Due to the height difference, her dangling walker seemed like it would sweep the floor.

Is there any other way?

If I want to escape with Anna here, this is the only way.

Before I collapse from intoxication, I quickly moved my steps.

The moonlight illuminated us as if accusing us to the hunters.

Only my footsteps filled the ruined street.

“Even if you get caught later, you must not say you got help from me…”

Anna didn’t respond.

She only shivered with each step I took on the ground.

Thanks to that, I truly felt that she was a human with a beating heart.

That sense of camaraderie somewhat reassured me more than toppling the Killer.

It felt like she was protecting me from falling due to intoxication.

After walking for a while, a familiar landscape suddenly came into view.

I reached right near the house.

There were no monsters, just a peaceful place with streetlights shining.

I brought the most dangerous human in the world to that place.

Laughter and chatter could be heard from all around.

Following the sound, I found myself standing in front of the house.

The man who had been scolded by the enemy’s subordinates a few days ago appeared.

Dressed in a suit, he was smoking a cigarette when our eyes met.

Seemingly taken aback by the sight of me carrying a bloodied woman, he quickly turned his head away.

Without even giving the man a glance, I headed straight up the stairs.

There was no time to reassure the residents.

The potion’s effects were starting to wear off.

My legs felt weak.

Anna had barely stabilized her breathing, and I didn’t want to disturb her by accidentally waking her up.

I went straight to the bed without even taking off my shoes.

Gently, I laid Anna down on the mattress.

Even with that impact, she didn’t wake up.

She just tossed and turned as if in a deep sleep.

“Rest well…”

Only then did I breathe a sigh of relief.

Perhaps due to the potion, I felt no strength in my body.

It felt hazy, like when I first possessed this body.

My whole body was drenched in sweat.

Especially the back, given the contact with Anna, was worse.

I untied the jacket around my waist.

As I was about to take off my t-shirt, I hesitated for a moment.

My gaze fell upon the silver-haired woman sleeping on my bed.

I stared at her intently.

Her beautiful silver hair shimmered like moonlight.

The color gave her an otherworldly, mysterious aura.

“She looks like an angel when she’s asleep.”

I murmured softly.

Slowly, I approached her.

Have I ever looked at Anna for so long?

Her face seemed as soft as dandelion fluff.

Following that softness up, her beautiful white eyelids faintly sparkled.

Suddenly, her embarrassed face from before flashed in my mind.

She was indeed quite pretty back then.

As I thought about her face, I realized how close I had gotten to Anna, close enough to hear her breathing.

And then, my chest inexplicably warmed.

I tried to ignore that feeling and observed her rationally.

There was definitely a wound on her neck earlier.

Thanks to the potion, most wounds had stopped bleeding.

But they weren’t completely healed.

The Ranker’s blade might have been poisoned, so it was better to disinfect it now.

Especially the long scar on her neck.

I felt like I had to treat that one way or another.

Taking my gaze off her for a moment, I fetched a first aid kit.

I rummaged through it, but all I found was a small band suitable for a finger.

It was a children’s band with an unknown squirrel character drawn on it.

I don’t know why a grown adult would have such a band.

I tried to carefully unfold the band to apply it to her wound.

It seemed impossible given its size…

“…”

Was it because I was leaning in to apply the band that I got closer to her?

A very faint voice came from Anna’s lips.

“Sun…”

Was I dreaming?

I leaned in slowly to listen to her lips.

My short hair might have tickled Anna’s face.

A warm breath touched my cheek.

The ticklish sensation of the hair made my body shiver.

Finally, I could hear the words she wanted to say, even if it was in a dream.

“Don’t go.”

Don’t leave…?

“—!”

In that moment of silently repeating those words in my mind,

A black shadow loomed over my cheek.

The shadow embraced me tightly and pulled me towards itself.

“Wait…”

The arm around my neck was too heavy.

Having exhausted all my strength, I couldn’t resist.

The arm that pulled me in tightly pressed against me.

I was stuck to Anna, chest to chest, unable to move.

The blood on her body began to drip down energetically.

The acrid smell of blood stimulates my nostrils.

Perhaps it’s the alcohol’s doing.

I couldn’t push away her arm.

The parts of our bodies touching each other burn hotly.

From her soft thighs to her chest.

The rising body heat from our meeting flesh made me feel feverish.

Gradually, my breath quickens.

Due to my labored breathing, strange moans keep escaping my lips.

To avoid being caught, I covered my mouth with both hands.

Luckily, Anna seemed to be deeply asleep, snuggled up to me with her eyes closed.

“…”

At home, all I hear is the ticking of the clock.

But in my ears, it’s not just that sound I hear.

I hear the breath of a deadly killer.

I hear the heartbeat of the hostage captivated by her.

Memories of watching strange adult videos in my childhood come to mind.

In that video, there was an armed robber and a female employee hostage.

The hostage had a nervous expression as if anticipating what the criminal would do to her.

I couldn’t understand that concept at all, so I grimaced and turned off the video.

But now things are different.

Maybe I somewhat understand the reason now.

Every time our skin touches, the sensitive nerves on my body tingle.

I wanted to get rid of that strange feeling somehow.

I composed myself rationally to resolve this situation.

But the more I focused, the more vivid the sensations became.

That eerie sensation made me even more dizzy.

This is all because of the vodka.

Yes, I wouldn’t enjoy this situation.

I blamed the cursed Black Russian for everything in this situation.

I move my stiff body like a wooden block.

Just pressing my body against Anna’s embrace that I desire.

There’s no strength left to resist anymore.

“…”

Anna mumbles in her sleep as she pulls me closer.

She was calling out for someone longingly.

Eventually, I realize who that person is.

It was Sunye, the girl I saw in her memories.

If Anna is this saddened, she probably died too.

Perhaps her death led Anna to deteriorate so much.

Like me, losing a loved one right before her eyes.

However, despite experiencing the same thing, we were going down completely different paths.

I comfort people.

Anna kills them.

Perhaps due to those emotions, I found myself pitying Anna.

I feel a warm body temperature all over.

Feeling that warmth, I drift off to sleep as well.

For how long?

Sleeping so peacefully.

After possessing, I’ve always seen my comrades die in my dreams.

But on this day, no one appeared in my dreams.

Not even the missed Jisoo.