The Vampires Obsession

Humans are the worst kind of creatures in this world.

They are feckless, irksome, slow, pathetic, and questionable beings. I don't see anything special about them-except that whenever they do something stupid, I'm amazed by how they can somehow become even stupider.

And yet, I can't believe I have to get one now. I need to take a human and make them my slave.

"Fuck!" I cursed in frustration.

I've been sitting on the railing of this tall building for a while now, watching the people below. They're all the same, so I don't understand why I'm making this so difficult for myself. I could just grab someone and introduce them to Father so this whole ordeal would finally be over.

Suddenly, I sensed a presence behind me.

"Just say the word, Brix. I'll pick one for you," Oscar said as he stood beside me, gazing at the distant crowd. "Just a reminder, Brixton-Father gave you until tonight."

That irritated me even more.

If I didn't choose someone by tonight, Father would make the decision for me. And I knew his taste in humans. He always chose the most annoying ones.

No. I could find someone tonight. I'd make sure of it.

"There!" Oscar exclaimed, pointing at a woman wearing an elaborate outfit and carrying a sword. "Looks like her sword has powers, Brix. Don't you hate weaklings? This is your chance!"

I watched as the woman stopped when a little girl approached her and asked for a picture. She bent down to the child's level, flashed a peace sign, and pouted her blood-red lips.

"That's a costume, Oscar," I said, clicking my tongue.

"It's good enough!" He even gave my shoulder a light punch. "Didn't you say you hated ordinary things? If you pick her, you can make her wear costumes every day!"

I simply shook my head.

"Good thing I've already got one," he added. "Celeste."

In the blink of an eye, a woman appeared beside him. She bowed politely, and the idiot grinned like a king.

Well, that's how it should be. We were vampires, after all. We deserved to be treated like royalty.

Fine. I just needed to get myself a slave, too. I wanted to enjoy having one of my own.

"You smell good tonight," Oscar told her.

Celeste stepped closer and held out her arm. Oscar took it and sniffed her skin repeatedly before he finally gave in to his hunger and sank his teeth into it.

"Damn. You taste fucking good."

I swallowed hard when I saw blood dripping onto the floor. Quickly, I turned away.

"Get a room, Oscar," I muttered as his hands began trailing down Celeste's bare thigh.

"No." He paused before pulling away from her. "Go now, Celeste. Have a good night's sleep, baby. I'll need you tomorrow."

"Yes, Master Oscar."

Celeste vanished in an instant.

Oscar wiped his mouth and turned toward me, but I kept my eyes fixed on the crowd below.

I didn't want to be reckless when choosing my slave. I wanted someone at least a little special. But perhaps they really were all the same.

If I kept being picky, the night would pass, and I'd still be without a slave.

"I see. You've finally made up your mind," Oscar whispered gleefully.

I had no choice.

I studied the people below once more when a woman running at full speed caught my attention. A man was sprinting ahead of her, clutching a bag that clearly belonged to her.

"You see that, Oscar?" I asked, pointing at the woman chasing after her belongings. "That's how stupid humans are. That thief has a knife hidden behind his back. He wouldn't hesitate to stab her just to keep that meaningless bag."

"That bag must have a lot of money in it," Oscar remarked.

"Exactly!" I chuckled, shaking my head. "She's willing to risk her life for money."

I raised an eyebrow when another woman suddenly joined the chase. She tripped the thief, sending him sprawling onto the ground. Then she swiftly snatched the bag and smacked him in the face with it.

"You're huge, and yet you steal?!" she shouted at him.

She turned around and returned the bag to its owner. The woman thanked her and even offered her some money, but she refused.

I couldn't help staring at her smiling face.

My attention snapped back to the thief when I noticed him getting up.

The next thing I knew, the brave woman had collapsed to the ground, a knife buried in her back.

I watched as she struggled to breathe, her eyes blinking hazily. Strangely, though, I couldn't sense any fear coming from her-not the kind of terror a human should feel when facing death.

The other woman screamed for help, but the crowd merely stood there, watching as if they were witnessing a scene from a movie.

"Pathetic humans," I whispered.

My gaze followed the fleeing thief.

"What a hero," Oscar commented.

I stood up and stretched my limbs before jumping off the building. I landed directly in front of the thief, who froze the moment he saw me.

I noticed his trembling hand. The same knife he'd used to stab the woman was still clenched in his grip.

"Why are you shaking?" I asked calmly.

"Don't come any closer!" he threatened.

Before he could run away again, I was already standing in front of him.

I thrust my hand into his chest and ripped out his heart.

If I were anything like my bloodthirsty brothers, this man would have been drained of every last drop of blood by now.

I shook my head in disgust.

I was picky about the blood I drank. And this ugly human? Absolutely not.

The man crumpled to the ground. I dropped his still-beating heart beside his body.

"Damn. Can I have it?" Oscar asked as he caught up with me.

I didn't bother answering.

Instead, I walked toward the stabbed woman, who was still surrounded by a crowd of useless spectators. I gently lifted her into my arms and carried her away.

People stared as I passed, but once I was far enough from the crowd, I broke into a run.

"She's dead," Oscar commented, wiping the blood from his lips.

I gently laid the woman down and placed my hand on her head.

Then I gasped.

As I delved into her memories, fragments of her life began unfolding before me. I witnessed the experiences that had shaped her, the pain she had endured, and the reasons behind her strange calmness in the face of death.

When I finally withdrew my hand, I nodded to myself.

Now I understood why she hadn't seemed afraid to die.

"D-Don't tell me-"

"I found my slave," I declared with a smirk.

Chapter 1

There was nothing more infuriating than being woken up by loud, obnoxious banging outside my door.

It had been months, but I still wasn't used to having my sleep interrupted. I tried covering my ears with a pillow, hoping the noise would stop, but the pounding only grew louder.

"Astra!" my aunt yelled from outside.

I had no choice but to get up. Still half-asleep, I opened the door, which I was certain would break if she knocked one more time.

Couldn't she just wake me up nicely? Did she really have to beat the door down?

"Ouch!" I complained as Aunt Ophelia's heavy hand landed on my head like a block of iron. She was wearing her favorite red floral dress again.

"Good morning to you, too, Tita," I greeted her flatly.

"What time do you think it is? Do you think you're some kind of princess, Astra?" she scolded, raising her hand again.

I dodged it just in time.

I wanted to snap back at her. I'd never felt like a princess in this house, not even once. But I held my tongue.

"Make breakfast. Then go clean Eliyah's room."

"Wait... I have classes, too-"

"I said clean Eliyah's room!" she cut me off, narrowing her eyes. "I don't care if you're late or don't go at all. Why do you complain so much? Do you think living here is free?"

I winced at her barrage of words.

"Ma! Get me a towel!" Eliyah shouted from somewhere inside the house.

"Move it," Aunt Ophelia warned before turning away.

As soon as she left, I slammed the door shut and stretched my limbs. Then I began making my bed.

My room wasn't particularly spacious. It had only a single bed, a cabinet containing my few belongings, and my favorite thing in the world: an old dresser I'd had since childhood. I'd cried just to stop Aunt Ophelia from selling it.

My life felt like a twisted fairy tale. My parents had died, leaving me to live with a wicked relative who treated me more like a servant than family.

And, of course, there was her bratty son, Eliyah, a grown man with the mind of a child.

We'd never gotten along.

But unlike the heroines in fairy tales, I wasn't an angel. I wouldn't let narrow-minded people walk all over me.

"Astralla!" Aunt Ophelia shouted again.

"What is it now, Ophelia?!" I shouted back sarcastically.

I chuckled as I made my way to the kitchen.

Aunt Ophelia was sipping what would probably be the first of five cups of coffee that day while scrolling through her phone. As usual, she held it far from her face and tapped the screen with a single finger.

Oh, old people.

I tied my hair into a bun and put on my worn-out apron.

This was how every day began, aside from being rudely awakened: cooking breakfast.

I gathered the ingredients and got to work. I might not have inherited my mother's kind heart, but I'd definitely gotten her skills in the kitchen.

As the food simmered on the stove, I glanced at the sink.

I frowned.

I was sure I'd washed all the dishes before going to bed. I hated waking up to dirty dishes.

Had I really forgotten to wash them last night?

"Where did you eat dinner?" my aunt asked from her seat.

"Huh?"

She slammed her phone onto the table.

"Where you eat... rice... last night?" she asked in broken English, laughing lightly. "That's English, right? Or do you still not understand?"

I grew even more confused.

"I didn't eat here?"

Her eyebrows shot up.

"I didn't even know you came home. Didn't I tell you that if you're not home before eight, you shouldn't bother coming back? I locked the door. So, how did you get in? Do you have a secret entrance I don't know about?"

My mouth fell open, but I quickly shut it when the aroma of my cooking reached my nose.

I turned back to the stove and lowered the heat. Then I glanced at my aunt again.

She had already returned her attention to her phone.

I leaned against the sink, troubled by what she'd said.

That was strange...

I couldn't remember coming home last night.

The only thing I remembered was waking up at dawn after dreaming that I'd been stabbed.

Without thinking, I touched my back.

Nothing felt unusual.

"Ma!"

We both turned toward Eliyah, who had suddenly appeared in the kitchen wearing a white polo shirt and nothing but boxers below it. He looked thoroughly panicked.

"Look! She looks exactly like Astra!"

He shoved his phone toward our aunt.

Curious, I stepped closer to see what he was talking about.

My eyes widened.

It was a photograph of me-or someone who looked exactly like me-lying on the ground, covered in blood.

My entire body turned cold.

It couldn't be a mere look-alike. The girl in the photograph was wearing my clothes.

Aunt Ophelia and Eliyah slowly turned to stare at me.

My aunt let out a nervous laugh.

"C-come on, Astra. We may not always get along, but please don't haunt us."

I was too stunned to speak.

Could it be that what had happened last night wasn't a dream after all?

But if that was true... why was I still alive?

I jumped when Eliyah suddenly pinched my cheek.

"She's alive, Ma. I can touch her."

I jerked my head away when he tried to touch me again.

"T-that's not me!" I shook my head frantically. "She's dead. I'm still alive!"

"What do you mean?"

Eliyah checked the photograph again before looking back at me.

"Wait... whose clothes are you wearing?"

He tugged at my shirt.

My heart sank.

These weren't my clothes.

I knew every single piece of clothing I owned, and I'd never seen this one before. It even looked brand-new.

I didn't own any new clothes.

Then whose were these?

"There's still a price tag on it," Eliyah observed with a laugh. "Did you steal it?"

"The food, Astra!" Aunt Ophelia's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "You're not a ghost. I can still hit you. And Eliyah, put on some pants so we can eat."

"But if that's not Astra-"

"I don't care," my aunt interrupted. "Why are you so bothered, Eliyah? Astra is right here. Whoever that girl is, may she rest in peace."

I spent the rest of breakfast in a daze.

Eliyah eventually left for school, leaving me to wash the dishes and clean his room.

We attended the same university, but we never commuted together. Not that I wanted to babysit him, anyway.

After finishing my chores, I went upstairs.

There were only two bedrooms on the second floor, but I was the only one who slept there. Eliyah was too much of a coward to sleep without his mother.

I entered my room to grab some clothes and a towel. Just as I was about to leave, something caught my attention.

Blood.

There was a smear of blood on the window.

My mind went blank.

I stared at it for several seconds before shaking my head and wiping it away. Then I shut the window and headed downstairs to take a shower, desperately trying to push the strange events out of my mind.

After bathing, I stepped out of the bathroom.

"Holy-!"

I clutched my chest when Aunt Ophelia suddenly appeared in front of me.

"I thought you weren't coming out," she said, lightly shoving me aside as she entered the bathroom. "When you leave, close the gate. And don't let Tati out," she added, referring to the dog.

I returned to my room, only to freeze when I saw that the window was open again.

I was certain I'd closed it earlier.

I tried convincing myself that the wind had somehow pushed it open, but that window was old, rusty, and stiff. It wouldn't budge without considerable force.

"It was Aunt Ophelia. She opened it," I muttered to myself.

I sat in front of the mirror and began combing my long, black hair.

I had inherited my mother's lips and my father's height. My round eyes had shed only a few tears in my entire life.

Suddenly, I began feeling feverish.

Weak.

Despite having eaten breakfast, I could feel my strength slipping away. I hadn't been sick in a long time, but something was definitely wrong with me.

I forced a smile at my reflection, only to notice that my lips had unconsciously formed a pout.

Then I dropped the comb.

My reflection had disappeared.

I squeezed my eyes shut, praying that I was simply imagining things.

When I opened them again, my reflection had returned.

"Wake up, Astra. This isn't some fantasy dream. It's a nightmare," I muttered.

I put on my uniform, grabbed my bag, and deliberately avoided looking at the mirror again.

Before leaving, I made sure the window was locked.

If I found it open again tonight, I'd sleep downstairs with Eliyah.

I'd been living in this house for months, but only now did everything feel... different.

As I descended the stairs, dizziness forced me to grip the railing.

"Astra?"

My aunt was watching me from the living room.

"You're pale. Are you feeling sick? Maybe you should skip school and just clean the house instead."

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself.

Staying in that house would only make things worse.

I continued downstairs, although my body felt hotter with every step and my throat had grown unbearably dry.

I went to the kitchen to get a glass of water.

"Astra..."

I dropped the glass.

It shattered against the floor, sending shards scattering in every direction.

Goosebumps rose along my arms as I looked around.

No one else was there.

But that voice...

It had sounded so close.

As though it had come from inside my head.

"What happened? That's coming out of your allowance!" Aunt Ophelia scolded when she saw the mess. "What's wrong with you? You were perfectly fine earlier. You've been here for months. Don't tell me you're still adjusting!"

I bent down to pick up the broken pieces, but she stopped me.

"Forget it. I'll handle it. Just go."

Too exhausted to argue, I nodded and left.

I took a tricycle to Riverside University.

I was already a third-year student taking up hotel and restaurant management. Despite her harsh treatment, Aunt Ophelia still allowed me to study.

For my mother's sake, she always said.

"Astra?!"

I froze.

Dahlia, my only friend, was staring at me in complete shock.

"You're alive?"

"If I were dead, why would I be at school?" I muttered.

She approached me and pinched my arm.

"But... what about that girl on Facebook?" She pulled out her phone and showed me a photograph. "This is what you were wearing yesterday."

I gasped.

"I... I don't know."

All the strange things that had happened that morning came rushing back.

Was I being haunted?

I'd never believed in ghosts, but what other explanation could there be?

"You don't look okay."

Dahlia placed a hand on my forehead, only to snatch it back a second later.

"You're burning up! Are you even human?"

"You're exaggerating," I replied with a nervous laugh.

But deep down, I was afraid she might be right.

The sunlight seemed harsher than usual, burning my skin with an intensity I'd never experienced before.

It wasn't even noon, yet I felt as though I were boiling alive. Perhaps I should have applied sunscreen. My skin felt like it was blistering beneath the scorching rays.

"Hey, girls!"

A guy approached us.

"Oh, Kristan. Thank goodness you're here," Dahlia said, crossing her arms. "Tell Astra to go home. She's burning up, but she insists on attending class."

Kristan turned toward me.

"Hey-"

"Hold it!" I interrupted him. "You're not my boyfriend."

"What if you die? What's the point of him trying to win you over for months?" Dahlia snapped.

The noise around me became unbearable.

Every voice seemed to echo inside my head, growing louder until I could barely distinguish one from another.

"How about we take you to the clinic?" Kristan suggested, stepping closer. "If you refuse to go home, at least take some medicine."

I nodded weakly.

He reached out to touch my arm, but before his hand could make contact, something violently flung it away.

Our eyes widened in shock.

Several students nearby gasped as Kristan stumbled backward.

"What just happened?" he asked, rubbing his arm. "It felt like something pushed me!"

Something...

That voice again.

Before I could make sense of what had happened, the school bell rang.

"Thanks, Kristan. We need to go," I told him.

I grabbed Dahlia's hand and hurried toward our classroom.

The moment I stepped inside, I noticed everyone staring at me.

I didn't need to ask why.

They all thought I was dead.

"Astra!" one of my classmates exclaimed. "You're the girl who went viral on Facebook, right? The one who tried to save a woman from being robbed and got stabbed? That was you, wasn't it?"

More students crowded around me.

Their voices quickly blurred together.

"You're a hero, Astra!"

"How did you survive?"

"Is it true that you were stabbed?"

Stop.

Please, just stop.

"Move! Astra is sick!" Dahlia shouted, trying to push everyone away.

But it was too late.

The room began spinning, and everything turned blurry. I couldn't even tell whether my eyes were open or closed anymore.

"Astra..."

That voice again.

I grabbed my bag and bolted out of the classroom, rushing down the stairs and pushing past anyone who stood in my way.

"Astra..."

I ran.

Not to the clinic, but to the nearest bathroom.

I locked myself inside a cubicle and sat on the toilet, desperately trying to catch my breath.

Silence.

For a moment, I thought the voice had finally disappeared.

But I was wrong.

"Astra..."

"Stop!" I screamed, clutching my head. "Get out of my head!"

A chuckle echoed inside me.

I nearly fainted.

The sound reverberated through my mind, each echo intensifying the dizziness that threatened to overwhelm my senses.

"The longer you resist, the more you will suffer."

The voice was velvety yet cold, sending a shiver down my spine.

"Welcome to my world, Astralla Martin."

I was too weak to comprehend what those words meant.

All I knew was that something was terribly wrong.

This wasn't just an illness.

It felt as though my entire body were withering away, yearning for something I couldn't give it.

I forced myself to stand and stumbled out of the cubicle. My vision blurred until I could barely see. Desperate for support, I reached for the sink.

Then-

Something struck me on the head.

My knees buckled, and I collapsed onto the cold, hard floor.

Darkness swallowed everything.

And as consciousness slipped away, fragments of memory began flashing through my mind like shards of light piercing the void.

That night...

I was walking home.

A woman was chasing after a thief.

I ran to help her.

I was stabbed.

In the back.

Blood...

So much blood.

And in that moment, I'd known that no one could save me.

Then it hit me.

The horrifying truth I'd been desperately trying to deny finally became clear.

I hadn't survived.

I had really died that night.

Chapter 2

I didn't lose consciousness when I collapsed onto the floor. My eyes were closed, and my body felt weak, but I was still aware of everything happening around me.

Someone carried me and brought me to the clinic. I heard someone call my name.

It was Kristan.

"I just found her lying on the floor," I heard him explain. His voice was filled with worry. "Damn it! What's with all the questions? Can you just do your job? She's badly hurt!"

I felt my back settle onto a soft bed. Someone gently touched my forehead.

"W-what?" a woman gasped. It was probably the school nurse. "We need to call an ambulance right now!"

"Wait. What's happening?"

I tried to open my eyes, but my vision spun from the intense dizziness and weakness. I wanted to pass out just to escape the horrible feeling, but my body refused to give in.

It was as if it were desperately searching for something and wouldn't stop until it found it.

"Excuse me," an unfamiliar voice interrupted. I tried to see who was speaking, but my vision remained blurry. "I know what to do."

"Wait. Who are you-?"

"I'm a doctor, too," the unfamiliar man replied.

"What?! You can't do that!" the nurse protested, sounding as though the man were about to do something inappropriate. "I'm the one assigned here, sir. You can't interfere with my job. I need to take her to the hospital immediately!"

I winced when I felt a sharp prick in my right arm.

That familiar pain...

A needle.

Wait. Was that a syringe?

I hated syringes!

"What did you do?!" I wanted to resist, but before I could do anything, a strange sense of relief washed over me.

The feverish heat inside my body subsided, and the dryness in my throat disappeared.

Just like that, I felt alert again.

I slowly opened my eyes and found two unfamiliar pairs of eyes staring down at me.

"How are you feeling?" the man asked.

"I... I don't know." I swallowed hard.

Then I looked down at the object in his hand.

I immediately sat up and jumped off the bed when I saw the syringe.

"Did you just-?"

I examined my arm where he'd injected me, only to blink in confusion when I found no blood or even a mark indicating that a needle had pierced my skin.

But I was certain he'd injected me!

"I don't think you need to answer that question anymore," the old man said with a small laugh.

"Astra!"

Kristan rushed toward me and guided me back onto the bed. He touched my forehead, and I immediately noticed the shock in his eyes.

He turned to the smiling man who was still watching me.

"What did you inject her with?"

"A sedative," the man replied.

He approached me, and for some reason, I suddenly found myself unable to move.

He leaned closer to my ear.

"It won't last, Lady Astra. When it comes back... it'll be unbearable," he whispered.

Before stepping away, he slipped something into my pocket.

"Mister?" the nurse called after him. "May I know your name? That was incredibly disrespectful!"

The man chuckled.

"Just call me..."

He glanced back at me.

"Mr. Billy. Anyway, I need to go now. It was a pleasure meeting you, Lady Astralla. Until next time."

With that, he walked out of the room.

The nurse stared after him for a few seconds before hurrying out to follow him.

I turned toward Kristan, who was still looking at me.

For a moment, he seemed too stunned to speak. Then he let out a deep sigh, and the worry on his face eased when he realized I was feeling better.

Suddenly, I remembered what he'd done for me.

"T-thank you," I whispered.

He sat beside me again and touched my forehead.

"What is going on today?" he murmured with a soft chuckle. "So many unexplainable things."

He paused before taking my hand.

"But I don't care. You're okay now, and that's all that matters to me."

I managed a faint smile.

"Astra!"

We both turned toward the tearful girl who had just rushed into the clinic.

I barely had time to react before Dahlia threw herself at me, nearly knocking me over and causing Kristan to release my hand.

"Oh my God, girl!" she exclaimed. "You already died last night, and now you're trying to die again?"

I laughed at her dramatics.

Here came the exaggerated best friend everyone needed in their life.

"She's fine now, Dahlia," Kristan assured her.

Dahlia released me and wiped the tears from her eyes. She sniffled before nodding.

"I told you not to come to school!" she scolded, giving me a light smack on the shoulder. "You weren't feeling well earlier, but you still insisted on coming. It's not like you're smart enough to worry about your grades!"

"Hey, easy," Kristan said, stopping her from hitting me again.

"So, are you still going to class?" Dahlia asked.

I didn't answer.

I felt better now, so technically, I could return to class. But remembering what the strange man had said earlier made me uneasy.

This temporary relief wouldn't last.

If not for everything strange that had happened, I wouldn't have believed any of it.

Then I remembered the voice inside my head.

The longer you resist, the more you will suffer. Welcome to my world, Astralla Martin.

What did that mean?

Why was I suffering from this strange sensation? How could I endure something I didn't even understand?

What did that man want me to do?

Wait...

Who was he?

"Ouch!"

I winced when Dahlia smacked me on the head.

"You idiot! Go home and rest!" she snapped. "Or that post I saw on Facebook might come true. Kristan will take you home. Right, Kristan?"

Kristan looked caught off guard.

"U-uh? Of course. I can't let you go home alone after what just happened."

"See?" Dahlia grinned. "Just go home and rest, Astra. If Ophelia makes you clean, tell her I'll bring her a jar of coffee and some sugar tomorrow."

I laughed.

Unlike me, Dahlia came from a well-off family. Aunt Ophelia spoiled her a little because she always brought her coffee and sugar. In exchange, my aunt would treat me slightly better whenever Dahlia was around.

"What if Eliyah is the one who tells me to clean?" I teased, raising an eyebrow. "What will you do then, Dahlia?"

She didn't answer.

"Wait. Do you have a crush on Eliyah?!" Kristan asked in disbelief.

Dahlia's cheeks turned red.

"Dahlia is picky, Kristan. She has high standards when it comes to men. That's why she likes the most handsome, responsible, and mature guy in the world-my dearest cousin, Eliyah Lavoza!"

Dahlia blushed even harder as Kristan and I burst into laughter.

I still couldn't understand what she saw in Eliyah.

Okay, fine. He was handsome.

But that was all.

Our laughter died when the nurse returned. Her expression was furious.

"The administration doesn't know the man who claimed to be a doctor," she announced firmly, her fists clenched in anger. "The nerve of that man! What he did was a crime!"

"Wait... he's not a doctor?" Kristan asked.

"I don't know," the nurse replied. "But he didn't have administrative approval to treat anyone here. He probably made up the name he gave us, too. This is infuriating! I could be held responsible for what he did!"

"Wait, who?" Dahlia asked, looking completely lost.

"Then we need to catch him!" Kristan insisted. "We don't even know what he injected Astra with. What if the effects are only temporary and her condition gets worse? We can't just let this go, Nurse!"

The nurse hesitated.

"The guards said no man matching his description entered the campus. In fact, no one who wasn't a teacher or student came in today."

"What does that mean?" I asked, thoroughly confused.

"I-I don't know," the nurse admitted with a sigh. "I'll have this investigated, don't worry."

She approached me and touched my forehead.

"But what matters right now is that you're feeling better. Still, we can't be complacent. We're taking you to the hospital."

"No," I said abruptly.

"Wait. Who is this fake doctor?" Dahlia asked, still struggling to understand what was happening.

"What do you mean, no, Miss Martin?" the nurse asked me.

"I want to go home instead," I replied. "I just need some rest."

"But you need to be examined-"

"Can you take me home?" I asked Kristan.

He looked confused but didn't answer immediately.

I took a deep breath.

"Never mind. I can manage on my own."

"Wait, guys! Who is this fake doctor with a fake name? Can someone please answer me?!" Dahlia exclaimed.

I stood up and began putting on my shoes.

"I can't let you go home after what happened, Miss Martin. You're my responsibility," the nurse insisted. "We'll release you after a full checkup. I'll personally escort you. Your fever was dangerously high earlier. You were practically burning! That must mean something."

"I want to go home now," I repeated.

"I'll take you," Kristan offered, standing up.

He took my bag and carried it himself.

"I'll also take care of your classwork. I'll ask the nurse to help me prepare an excuse letter."

The nurse sighed in resignation.

"If that's the case..."

She walked over to a desk and retrieved a form.

"Please sign this. Once you do, I won't be held responsible for anything that might happen to you as a result of what happened today. But I really don't recommend-"

I cut her off by taking the paper, placing it on the table, and signing it with the pen beside it.

Once I was done, I handed it back to her.

She could no longer stop me, so she simply shook her head.

"Hello, guys? I'm still here!" Dahlia reminded us.

I turned toward her.

"I'll explain everything tomorrow, Dahlia. I just want to go home. Go to class now."

Kristan supported me as we left the clinic.

I kept telling him I was fine, but he refused to listen. He seemed ready to carry me the entire way just to keep me from exhausting myself.

Not that I was complaining...

I didn't know what to think about it. I just didn't want him to get the wrong idea.

I'd already told him a long time ago that I saw him only as a friend. That was all we were now-just friends.

Still, I could see the difference in the way he treated me.

That was why I got annoyed whenever Dahlia tried to push us together, even as a joke.

"I almost stopped breathing when I saw you lying on the floor," Kristan said.

I kept looking straight ahead.

"I know, Astra. Your feelings aren't going to change. But can you at least promise me you'll take care of yourself?"

I didn't respond.

Suddenly, he grabbed my arm, stopping me in my tracks.

I turned to face him, and his worried eyes met mine.

A pang of guilt struck me for ignoring him.

"I-I'm fine, Kristan," I said, forcing a smile.

"For now," he replied seriously.

"I know you're brave, Astra. I like that about you. No, scratch that. I love that about you."

He gently squeezed my arm.

"But I want you to know when to be brave and when not to be. Learn to recognize the difference, Astra. There's a thin line between bravery and recklessness."

I nodded.

"Noted, Kristan."

"Ow!"

He suddenly released my arm and stepped back as though he'd been burned.

"Damn it. Another weird thing!"

I swallowed hard as that strange sensation began creeping back into my body.

It was returning...

"I-I need to go home now," I said.

Kristan accompanied me to the tricycle terminal. He insisted on escorting me all the way home, but I refused.

I'd already troubled him enough.

I climbed into a tricycle alone and asked the driver to drop me off at our house.

Thankfully, I made it home without incident.

Aunt Ophelia greeted me with her usual raised eyebrows, but I ignored her. Even while she was still talking, I hurried upstairs to my room.

"I told you to stay home and clean!" I could still hear her shouting behind me.

As soon as I entered my room, I locked the door.

I placed my bag on the desk and changed my clothes. Then I stood in front of the mirror and began brushing my hair.

It was something I always did whenever I felt anxious or unwell. Facing the mirror and brushing my hair somehow calmed me down.

From the mirror's reflection, I could clearly see the window.

It was open.

I sighed and ignored it.

But then a cold breeze swept into the room.

The hair on my arms stood on end.

I felt as though someone were watching me, observing my every move.

Moments later, I dropped the brush in shock.

My hands trembled as my vision began to spin again. The dryness in my throat returned, followed by an unbearable tightness in my chest.

"You can't conceal it anymore," a voice said from behind me.

I spun around.

My vision blurred with tears as I tried to stand and walk away, but my legs gave out beneath me.

I fell to my knees and reached forward, clutching the leg of whoever was standing in front of me.

"H-help me..." I begged.

I heard him chuckle.

"Of course. But on one condition..."

That voice.

I'd heard it before.

I clutched my throat, gasping as though someone were strangling me.

The man crouched until we were at eye level.

I looked up, desperate to see his face, but my vision was too blurry. I could barely make out his features.

However, I could clearly see the smile playing on his lips.

He looked delighted by my suffering.

"Call me by my name while you beg. Can you do that?"

Asshole.

"What?!"

He grabbed my jaw so tightly that I thought he might break it.

"Did you just call me an asshole?" His grip tightened. "I am Brixton Cardinal. I am your master. Now, say 'Master Brix' while begging!"

I smirked, finally recognizing his voice.

"Whatever you say, Master Asshole."

He was the voice inside my head.

Then I heard laughter.

But it wasn't Brixton's.

Someone else was in the room.

"Just help her, Brix. She's struggling," the other man said.

Brixton released me, and I collapsed onto the floor, unable to move.

"Let her suffer," he replied coldly.

"Don't be so cruel to her, Brix."

"She called me an asshole, Oscar! That's not how this works!"

"She's still in transition. Who knows? After this, you might be able to control her completely," Oscar reasoned. "And don't forget, Brix. Papa is waiting for her. If you still can't present her to him..."

He paused.

"That's on you."

"Fuck it!" Brixton growled.

I felt myself being lifted off the floor again.

Then his voice sounded beside my ear.

"You are my slave, Astra. Always remember that."

I laughed inwardly.

What a pathetic asshole.

Slave, my ass.