Thought It Was 'The End', Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 102
Shane could never make Adeline cry.
He couldn’t touch anything she loved.
Neither Genevieve, the Bertrand family, nor even Lloyd could suffer a single scratch. Knowing that hurting them would make Adeline sad, Shane couldn’t bring himself to do it.
So now, how could he hold on to her?
Shane had nothing left.
Adeline would slip through his fingers like sand, leaving without any regret.
“No matter where it might be, I’ll come back to you, Shane.”
He knew those words were powerless, but they were all he had left.
Even though he knew it was a lie, he couldn’t help but be happy. He couldn’t help but expect, despite saying he wouldn’t.
***
Running barefoot through the forest.
Her feet, pricked by sharp stones and branches, felt numb, as if the pain had dulled.
Her breath came in ragged gasps, and her lungs felt like they were going to burst.
Her vision was dark. She ran frantically, unable to see ahead. Even when she stumbled and fell, she gritted her teeth and got back up. She could vividly feel the blood flowing from her scraped knees.
The sound of beasts, the cold wind scratching her cheeks, the smell of damp earth mixed with the stench of blood all mingled together, overwhelming her senses.
But above all, the sound of footsteps was the most terrifying.
The footsteps following her were steady. Neither speeding up nor slowing down.
That person is going to kill me.
They’re going to kill me.
Adeline knew this was a dream.
She had experienced it countless times.
Even knowing it was a dream, she couldn’t wake up from the nightmare.
‘No, he’s going to catch up, he’s going to kill me.’
If she stopped, she would die.
She didn’t know who was chasing her. She only knew that if she didn’t run, she would die.
I don’t want to die. Dragging her barely moving legs, Adeline burst into tears. Is anyone there? No one. Please save me. Help me.
Adeline thought of many names.
But she couldn’t call out any of them.
This is a dream. A nightmare.
A persistent dream.
It’s not a premonition. No, this is not my future.
This is not it.
“Haa, ugh, huu, ah—”
She kept running. Her arms, face, and neck, scratched by branches, stung.
Adeline knew that running away wouldn’t save her.
Whether she ran or not, she couldn’t survive.
But she couldn’t give up either, so she gritted her teeth and kept going until the forest ended and a cliff appeared before her. It was a cliff illuminated by the bright moon, offering no place to hide.
The approaching footsteps sounded like the ticking of a time bomb.
Who is it? Who wants to kill me?
Before dying, she at least wanted to see the face of her killer.
Could it be the sorcerer who had disappeared without a trace? Or…
‘It was always the people I loved who killed me.’
Shane, Edwin, or Genevieve.
The Bertrand family abandoning their hopeless daughter.
Or Lloyd, closer than a blood sibling.
She always dreamt of being murdered by those she loved.
Adeline waited for the assailant to appear. She needed to see the face.
No, no.
Adeline panted. She was terrified to see the murderous faces of those she loved.
This dream wouldn’t end until she died.
Then.
Adeline, gritting her teeth, dragged her unresponsive legs toward the cliff. Gathering her last bit of strength, she closed her eyes and ran.
A large hand reached out from behind and grabbed her hair savagely. Her scalp burned as if it were being torn away. Adeline screamed.
“AHH…!”
“Where are you going, my love?”
The sweetly whispered voice clung to her ear like glue. Shane.
Her throat tightened.
“Ha, ha, huh!”
She gasped for air like a fish out of water. Adeline shot up and hugged her shoulders.
Her entire body was drenched in cold sweat.
***
Shane hadn’t come back yet.
