Work Text:
It was the year 2020 when The Illness first struck in remote areas of the world. Then, as any illness does, it spread. There was no pattern or traceable reason for The Turning, but after six years of uncertainty, the world began to change and adapt.
The Illness, otherwise known as vampirism, affected a select few. At first it was the world's best kept secret— a silly fantasy found in old books and teen romcoms. Vampires weren't real, that was just children's stories.
Until it wasn't.
The outbreak began in small towns on the outskirts of large populations. The symptoms were not always the same, a headache, feverish skin, sensitivity to sunlight, rashes on the skin, and major fatigue. Then, shortly after March, 2020, the culling began.
Out of utter terror of the monsters that were surviving The Illness, government organizations world wide began to kill off anyone that survived The Turning. Only… The Illness was so widespread, that there was no way to contain it. Those who survived The Illness either became a vampire, or remained human. There was no way to tell which way it would go. And worse than that, over 1 million people died from The Illness.
What was left, after six years, was a world that had begrudgingly accepted that some people were just… Different. Donation centres for blood banks began to boom in an industry that had always needed to beg for participants. For fear of being someone's next meal, it became a trend to donate blood as often as possible. Diet culture thrived. There was a brief period in 2023 where the entire world was holding their breath for the other boot to drop.
Except it didn't.
Now they lived in a society where half the world only went out at night. Where people were crucified for surviving The Illness. Some came out stronger, some came out… Different.
To try and apply rules to the population of vampires now inhabiting the world, countries throughout the globe began to crack down on the laws set in place to protect those who were 'pure'. The Purity Project of 2025 began with mass relocations of vampire civilians against their will. Some countries didn't even allow those afflicted with The Illness to have any rights at all— and those that did.. Well, they were the bare minimum.
They couldn't vote, couldn't run for government, and couldn't attend education facilities meant for the Pure Ones.
Humanity really sucked.
It was during the rise of laws and relocations of vampires, that the really interesting parts of the story came to light: vampires were real; and they had been, the entire time.
Those who had been hiding withing human society for centuries came forward. They claimed they didn't know how The Illness had come to be, but that they were not involved and offered to take in fledglings that were too scared to operate alone.
Covens of vampires that had centuries of knowledge and were bored with immortality had come to be a foundation for the vampire population, creating towns and villages where people could go. They began to create infrastructure, schools, hospitals, and their own government offices. It was like watching a new country be birthed right before the modern world's eyes.
There were some downsides to being afflicted with vampirism. The obvious ones were the lack of sunlight and the blood drinking; but there was more to it than that. Human food barely had any taste. Alcohol, unless mixed with specific herbs, had no effect; and it was still undetermined if those who had Turned from The Illness were actually immortal, like their ancient counterparts.
Some were thrilled, many more were terrified. The suicide rate in The Turned skyrocketed after 2024, as The Pure Ones began to pass legislation to bar vampires from their basic rights. The claim was, as they were no longer of the human species, they no longer benefited from the rights of humans.
A crock of bullshit if you asked any vampire. It wasn't as if they had chosen this, they had simply evolved to survive The Illness.
It was definitely strange, living in a world where your favorite tattoo artist only came out at night, and your local library only opened at midnight until sunrise. But adjusting and evolving to adapt was part of what made mankind unique. And it's with this in mind, that Kim Dokja finds himself standing outside a grocery store at 2 AM in the Songpa district.
What used to be a time of day that would feel frozen still, quiet and sleepy— Was now as busy as a regular Saturday morning. Songpa was Seoul's biggest district after all, it's population somewhere around 640,000 people, and even with the separatists influencing the relocation of vampires, some areas it was simply unavoidable that they would cross paths.
"Ah, did I bring my wallet?" Kim Dokja mutters to himself, patting his pockets right before entering the brightly lit store. He puts on a pair of sunglasses to deal with the brightness before entering, noting the scent of fresh produce and cleaner. Although he had become one of The Turned about six months ago, he couldn't help his old habits.
He worked night shifts, which meant that he hadn't realized that he'd even gotten Turned until a little too long after the fact. At first he attributed the lack of taste for human foods to the flu he'd caught. It was only after 8 days that he'd pulled open the curtains and had a full body reaction to the sunlight, that he realized… He'd become a vampire.
The hunger that gnawed in his stomach had been solved after contacting his local blood bank, and once initial Illness cleared his system, he found that he didn't feel too different than before. Other than sunlight burning and creating rashes over his pale skin, sensitivity to brightness, and particular sensitivity to smell— not much had changed.
It was odd, at first. But now, as he passes a small family with a baby in their stroller, he's found that seeing other humans didn't even stir the hunger that always seemed to lurk beneath the surface of his thoughts.
At first, it had been… Well. He'd felt like a monster. He couldn't handle being around coworkers for a short while and he had to change departments at work—
But now drinking blood was just a part of his life. He didn't mind it too much, chalking the blood bags in his trash up to just taking a medicine that kept him alive. He'd tried going without, he'd tried being vegetarian (animal blood) and he'd tried every multivitamin out there. There was something about the high levels of iron and other things in blood that his body needed to survive. Animal blood for whatever reason always left a terrible taste in his mouth and never seemed to do the job.
"Can I help you find something?" Asks a clerk who looks visibly nervous. She's a Pure One, he can tell simply from the scared look in those black eyes of hers. She looks like she couldn't be older than 19, meaning this is probably her first job. Ironic that she would pick the grocery store closest to the nearby vampire town.
Kim Dokja tries to go for a friendly smile, but her eyes simply lock onto his sharp canines. "I'm alright, thank you."
"R-right…" She scurries off shortly after, nearly walking into a tall man dressed in black. He could have been decently good looking, if it weren't for the way he glowers at Kim Dokja like that.
Being unwanted wasn't a new feeling, but the social rejection still hurt, even if it were because of the whole human vs vampire narrative that the world had gone along with. He must be a Pure One too… Dokja thinks to himself, frowning at the man.
He turns back to the ice cream before picking out what he wants. The man from before is gone, and he tries to be as polite as possible when he reaches the counter, the poor girl shaking in her boots. When he leaves, he has the ominous feeling of being followed, and decides to take a few turns around the neighborhood before finding a good alleyway to catch his pursuer.
"You can come out, now. I know you're following me."
The man in black from before appears, glare still set on his face.
"What do you want?" Kim Dokja demands, frowning. Was he about to be kidnapped and crucified like he'd seen on the news? Tied down to a pyre and forced to burn in the sun?
The man doesn't answer, but he prepares himself for the man to attack him. Only… The man just… Doesn't.
"Hello? I asked you a question! Who are you? And why are you following me?!"
"You…" The stranger starts, taking a step closer. "You're one of them."
Them? Thinks Kim Dokja, panicking. Is he a Hunter?!
"You've got the wrong idea! I've never hurt anyone!" He babbles at lightning speed, holding his hands up. "I swear on my life! I would never—"
The man pulls out a large blade from his waist, holding it out in front of himself with determination. Was that a fucking sword?!
He knew that there were Hunters out there, but they were a secret organization tasked with killing vampires that were harmful to others. Kim Dokja barely even saw other humans outside of the grocery store!!!
"Please don't kill me!" He squawks, jumping to the side when the Hunter attacks. He's fast, dodging when Kim Dokja throws one of the trash bins that are in the alleyway at him.
"You don't even know, do you?"
Kim Dokja is frozen in his spot, panic arresting his movements as the Hunter approaches him slowly, his fucking sword still shining menacingly in the moonlight.
Who the fuck was this guy?!
"Who are you?!" Kim Dokja begs, backing up until his back hits the wall. His pulse has kicked up, and all he can hear is this guy's calm heartbeat as he gets into his space. "I— P-please—!"
"You… You don't know?"
Oh god— Not just a Hunter— But a FAMOUS Hunter?!
Bile rises in his throat, threatening to make him sick as his heart drops out of his chest. He's boxed in, he can't escape at this rate—
"No!" He answers, his voice cracking. "I-I don't—" His breath catches as the glinting blade moves through the air. He squeezes his eyes shut, holding his breath and waiting for the sword to gut him like a fish.
He waits…
And waits…
N-nothing? Kim Dokja opens one eye slowly. The man is standing so close that he can feel his breath on his face. The sword has been lowered, returned to its sheath. What the actual fuck is going on?!
"W-wha.."
"Quiet." The Hunter snaps, glaring into his eyes before scoffing and looking around. "For fuck's sake…" As if something answered whatever he'd been silently asking, the Hunter backs off. "What's the date?"
"Th-the date?"
"No, the fucking flavor of ice cream you picked— YES the fucking date!" The man snaps with frustration.
Kim Dokja flinches a little before pulling out his phone to bring up the calendar and turn it to the Hunter. "It's June 13th…"
"Year?"
"Who doesn't know the—"
"Year?"
"T-two… Two thousand and twenty-six…"
"Shit…." He curses and runs a hand through his hair. "I went too far…"
Went too far? You got that right, pal! Who the fuck runs at an innocent civilian with a damn sword!??? "Who the fuck are you?" He asks with a little bit of bravery, feeling like he might throw up at the dangerous look it earns him.
"Yoo Joonghyuk." He answers finally. The Hunter, Yoo Joonghyuk, looks behind them back the way they came. "We have to get going, there's not much time."
"What? Why would I— H-hey!" The Hunter grabs his arm, leaving little time for any argument before dragging him through the alley and back to the street. It was busy out, 2 AM was a common time for the Turned to be roaming around.
"Tch! Don't argue, just walk." Something about the urgency in Yoo Joonghyuk's voice is enough to spur Kim Dokja into action though. Without thinking, and with his ice cream starting to melt, he leads them back to his bachelor apartment.
"What's going on? Who are you, really?" Something wasn't adding up. And he didn't mean about there being a Hunter targeting him. The way this guy walked, hackles raised and eyes shifting every few seconds.
"Just shut up for a second and give me your phone."
"What? No."
"Give it."
"No way! I don't know you!"
"Give." And with that his phone is wrestled from his pocket.
"Hey!" Kim Dokja tries to fight back but the man holds him back with one hand on his chest. "What are you doing?!"
"Calling someone."
"Don't call weird people with my phone!"
"Shut up."
Things don't get better from there. Kim Dokja paces the apartment anxiously, eating his ice cream while the stranger in his apartment (why on earth did he bring him HERE?) uses his phone.
"…No. He has no idea." Yoo Joonhyuk answers the voice on the other line. "Alright. I'll see you soon."
When the man hangs up, Kim Dokja turns to the stranger with uncertainty. "Are you here to kill me?"
The man does not answer, starting to look around the apartment instead. He ignores every question and demand that Kim Dokja has until the vampire has lost his temper and grabs him by the collar.
"ANSWER ME!"
"Keep it down." Yoo Joonhyuk snaps before sighing. "Pack what you can, we need to get out of Songpa before dawn."
"We?" Echoes Kim Dokja, frowning and confused.
"Did I stutter?"
"No, but you could explain a little, don't you think?"
"There isn't enough time to."
"What does that mean? What's happening?" Kim Dokja thinks of his family, on the other side of Seoul. Should he call them? Should he—
Before he can make a decision he's corralled over to his bedroom door where a book bag is shoved into his hands. "Pack."
"Pack, what?" Kim Dokja looks around his plain little room that was mostly used to sleep. "Clothes? What about—"
"Yes. Just pack anything important. Like I said, we're leaving Songpa before dawn. Or do you want to burn to ashes?"
"Are you threatening me now?"
"If I were threatening me, you wouldn't be asking that question. Now hurry up." He looks down at his watch and scowls, Yoo Joonhyuk's brow furrowing under dark midnight hair.
"Fine." Kim Dokja gives up on the questions, accepting his terrible undecided fate. He'd never dare to hurt a human, not before the Turning and not after either. But here he was, watching through his own eyes as he packed his laptop, some clothes and his phone charger.
Just what the fuck was going on? And why did this stranger seem to make him want to listen to his ridiculous demands? There was something about his urgency, his coiled frustration in the muscles of his jaw that clenched over each word.
Something… Something bad was about to happen… Wasn't it?
"Where are we going?" Asks Kim Dokja. There's a black car waiting for them out front which wasn't there earlier. He figures he won't get answer, but he feels better asking the questions than just going along like a silent little lamb.
"You ask too many questions." Yoo Joonhyuk mutters before leaning up to the front seat where a weathered older man nods to his whispering.
The car starts and they're off through the 3 AM traffic and to the nearest airport. They're dropped off by the man and Kim Dokja feels as though he's in a movie as they're escorted by a fellow vampire, a guard of some kind, through security and wait lines. By the time Yoo Joonhyuk is leading him onto a plane he's accepted the fact that he is being kidnapped by a stranger and possibly trafficked.
Just as Kim Dokja tries to plot his escape, the hunter grabs his wrist without looking. "Get on the plane or I'll kill you now, instead."
"Instead of what? Later?"
"Just, get on the damn plane." The man says with exhaustion. Something bad was definitely happening, and some how this guy knew about it. And for some reason… He was saving him? Him?
Why not the president or someone important?!
When the seatbelt light turns on, he turns to glare at his captor. "Explain yourself."
Yoo Joonhyuk frowns and looks around, as if their plane was not just the two of them. "Listen to me, carefully. What I'm about to tell you is the truth, and if you choose to not believe it, we're gonna have a problem."
Kim Dokja looks down at the man's sword, still on his hip (mind you, security let him through with that thing..). If he wanted him dead, he would be. The flight attendant closes all the window shutters as the sun begins to rise. She smiles politely to him, Kim Dokja noting immediately that she is also a vampire.
"Fine." He sighs. How much weirder can this bullshit get? Was this actually a dream? What the hell was going on? "Just… Tell me what's happening."
"In about…. Three weeks, the world as you know it is going to change."
"Again?" Kim Dokja can't help but demand. The Illness and The Turning wasn't enough?!
"Yes. The humans… 'Pure Ones' as you call them, have crafted a weapon that can kill vampires. Their plan is mass genocide, in claims of a cure. The truth of the matter is that at this point, there are nearly equal if not more of the population of Korea that are Turning. And while mass executions are regularly looked down on, there is another issue at hand."
Kim Dokja feels his mouth dry up. He tries to swallow the lump in his throat. "What is it?"
"In order to combat the abilities of vampires, the government has been doing some experimenting and developed a… How shall I put it? A drug? No… More of a… Mutation; a forced evolution in human DNA."
"Wait— you said abilities, what do you mean?"
"Don't interrupt." Yoo Joonhyuk scolds before looking down at his hands. "This new mutation is similar to the Illness, except it is lethal to vampires. They plan to release the virus in a matter of weeks. There are many different mutations, but the strongest and arguably most important is called Regression. No one really knows how it works or how to cultivate it; but essentially when the mutated human dies, they can regress through time."
"Are you seriously telling me time travel is real?" Kim Dokja snorts. "I just found out about vampires being real. What's next? Werewolves and the fucking tooth fairy?"
Yoo Joonhyuk doesn't laugh at his joke, making the silence extra awkward. "As I was saying… There are a select few of those afflicted with vampirism that have also mutated. There is a division in those who simply require blood to survive and burn in the sun, and those who have extended longevity and special abilities. The regular ones are referred to as Eorini; and the others are called Kumiho."
"And another thing, how do you know all this?" Kim Dokja asks before frowning. Now that he thought about it…
Wasn't this story sounding a little familiar?
Wasn't there a book he'd been reading a while back, in 2019, that… Had a similar plot?
He puts his head in his hands while squeezing his eyes shut. There's too many thoughts swirling in his head. It throbs aggressively with an oncoming migraine. "So, why me?" He asks when his first question goes unanswered.
"You have something I need." Yoo Joonhyuk says with clear dissatisfaction. "And regrettably, I don't think I can find someone else with it in time."
"And what is it, that I have?" Kim Dokja gets an ominous feeling in his chest. He thinks he knows where this is going now, and if he's right then…
"You're a Kumiho." Yoo Joonhyuk answers, his voice getting quieter. "A strong one. I need your help in stopping the war before it happens."
"But I…" He was just a regular guy! He was…
Isn't this how that novel he'd read started too? A man from the future comes back to stop the end of the world from a deadly virus after vampirism has taken hold of humanity?
"But.." He stutters, looking up at the man hopelessly. "I don't even know what abilities you're talking about. Strong? Me? Have you seen me?"
"Yes." Answers Yoo Joonhyuk. "I have. In fact I… I came to find you for a reason. This isn't random. And I need your trust if you want to stop the war from happening."
Of course he wants to stop the war! His family… His friends… Coworkers… Gods he—
Grief takes hold of his heart, squeezing until he can't breathe. He chokes out a sob in confusion, grabbing at his chest. A surprisingly warm arm pats his back as Kim Dokja descends into hysteria.
By the time he comes back around, exhausted from his panic attack— He's leaning on someone's shoulder, half awake. The warmth is still there, resonating against his side. The plane is silent, empty aside from them and the other vampire attendant.
"What should I do…?" He mutters to himself, feeling disassociated. Was that book he'd read over six years ago a prophecy? Had this man come back in time to use him to stop a war?
"For now, you need to rest." Says the man beside him. A hand on his head is the last thing Kim Dokja registers before falling asleep.
When Kim Dokja wakes his eyes are bleary and a jacket is on his shoulders, the seat next to him is empty.
"We need to keep moving." A deep voice on his left says.
Kim Dokja blinks slowly before registering where he is. It wasn't a dream? It was… It was all real? Yoo Joonhyuk turns around, raising a brow at him when he doesn't get up right away. Right. There was an urgent matter at hand.
"Get up, we're here."
"Where's here exactly?"
"Jeju Island." Yoo Joonhyuk answers, taking back his coat when it's handed up to him. He pulls his arms through it quickly before pulling Kim Dokja's backpack out of the overhead compartment. "It's better than the mainland, and there's a small community of Kumiho here. You'll be fine."
"But—" What about him? Yoo Joonhyuk was definitely human, they had a richer scent… Something to do with their blood, according to the recent science. Kim Dokja sighs as Yoo Joonhyuk ignores him in favor of speaking with the vampire woman near the exit that was waiting for them. She smiles politely again, bowing to them as they disembarked the plane. It was only when they left the terminal, Kim Dokja using hiding his skin from the sunlight with his jacket and hood, that something started to feel… Off.
And it had nothing to do with the fact that he was now realizing he'd forgotten to throw in a few blood bags for the trip. Kim Dokja's mood sours as his stomach grumbles.
Nothing seems out of the ordinary, so he ignores his uneasiness and lets Yoo Joonhyuk take point on this, letting himself be led around like a lost child until they had a rental car secured.
"You're quiet." Yoo Joonhyuk says as they climb into the rental car. The sedan was black, with dark tinted windows.
Instantly Kim Dokja felt the relief of not risking being in the sun, he shrugged at Yoo Joonhyuk. "Just… Thinking." He mutters, biting at his thumbnail. If this was just like the book, then the outpost at Jeju Island was supposed to be only appearing after the war breaks out. That meant that the one that came from the future was Yoo Joonhyuk right? He was the Regressor… He wonders idly if this is the first time he's come back for someone…
Or was he just another random person he was trying to use for his own sake?
Could Kim Dokja even trust this guy? He'd saved him from what was likely going to be a bloodbath in Seoul… But he hadn't let him tell anyone or say goodbye… And he'd kind of been kidnapped too…
"You're muttering." Yoo Joonhyuk says into the quiet of the car as they drive. "I'm not kidnapping you, you agreed to come."
"You threatened to kill me, actually."
"But I didn't."
"You tried to, though." Kim Dokja snorts before looking at the man properly. Focused on driving, the man didn't look over. Yoo Joonhyuk shakes his head as if trying to convince himself not to do something like put down the windows and let in the early morning sunlight.
"I have my reasons."
"…Care to share them?" Kim Dokja prompts, pouting when he doesn't get another answer. He turns on the radio and thinks back to the book. Actually—
Doesn't he still have that?
On his pho— Kim Dokja pats down his pockets and pulls out his phone, barely holding on at 3% battery. "Do you have a charger?"
"There's one at the temple." Yoo Joonhyuk answers before glancing over. "Why?"
"No reason…" He pulls up the app that he uses to read and blinks at the screen. The novel, written by an online author known as tls123, was titled: Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse. Also known as TWSA, it was an online series that he'd been reading since he was in middle school, but after The Illness took hold, the author had stopped updating. Now he stares at the little file on his phone.
There was a new chapter.
Immediately he clicks on it, thanking the gods that he had enough battery to pull it up.
[There are three ways to survive the apocalypse. Everything is fading and becoming unclear now. But one thing is certain. If you're reading this, you WILL survive.]
[This is the last chapter]
He tries to select the last chapter but his phone promptly goes black, dead.
"Shi—" Kim Dokja curses but it's interrupted when the car swerves suddenly on the small road they were driving along. Immediately he grabs the handle over the window and cries out.
"HOLD ON!" Yoo Joonhyuk warns, glaring at something in the rear view mirror behind them.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!"
"We've got company." Yoo Joonhyuk says ominously, before throwing the car in reverse and spinning them around.
Kim Dokja's head hits the seat as he grips onto the handle for dear life. There's another car, and as the windows go down, he recognizes what is sticking out. Guns.
"Joonhyuk!" He squawks in panic, dropping the formalities as they speed off down the abandoned road. There was nothing but trees, road and a sharp drop off the side of the mountain to their right of the car.
"Don't worry, they'll have to catch us first." Yoo Joonhyuk says, which is ominously not helpful for the nausea that rises in Kim Dokja throat. He cries out again as they take a winding turn far too fast. "The temple isn't far from here, if anything happens just get yourself to the top of the mountain and find Lee Jihye."
"W-What? What about you?!" Kim Dokja demands but he already knows, if he has the Regressor perk…. This guy doesn't intend on letting those guys catch him alive. A chill runs down his spine.
"Don't worry about me!" Snaps Yoo Joonhyuk, swerving again as a second car arrives.
"How can I not?!" He tries to remember the abilities listed in the novel. What was it? The main character had been… The Regressor guy; and that man was telling him to run for the hills! "What can I do?! If i get out of this car then I'll burn!"
Bullets hit the back of the car, breaking the windows. Kim Dokja flinches at the light, pulling his hood down.
"Then why don't you use your ability?" Yoo Joonhyuk demands glaring at him like he's lost his mind.
Kim Dokja frowns. "I don't have any!"
"You do! You always know when something's gonna happen!"
"Do I look like a fucking mind reader?!" The car swerves again and they're off the road. without thinking he throws his arm out to keep Yoo Joonhyuk from going through the windshield. They roll down the side of the road and crash into a tree.
Things go black for a few minutes. There's a ringing in his ears.
When Kim Dokja opens his eyes, they latch onto a strange floating window over his partner's head.
Character Profile? He blinks but the window doesn't go away. Whatever the hell that was, he didn't have time. "Joonhyuk? Wake up!" He shouts when he realizes his partner is unconscious. "Shit!"
Kim Dokja can hear their pursuers up the hill. They'll be screwed if they don't get up right now! He shakes his companion again and the man groans.
"What…" A whisper comes from Yoo Joonhyuk, "are you… Waiting for…?" He coughs and blood singes the air with a burning scent that makes Kim Dokja's mouth water.
FOCUS! Bad guys first— Blood lust second!
He shakes his head and thanks the gods that they're sheltered by large trees where they crashed. He doesn't want to think about the bill for the rental car, though.
When he looks up at the enemies coming down the hill he frowns, what are these little blue things that keep popping up?
[Would you like to use the skill: Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint?] [Yes] [No]
"What…?" He blinks slowly but then he hears them— the humans that would kill them— they were close!
Without any second thought he activates the weird blue screen, selecting yes. Just seconds later three men in black appear with huge rifles and masks. "Stand down, and we won't kill you." They say.
[This man is lying. He will shoot Yoo Joonhyuk first.] The blue screen reads.
He has no choice but to assume it's true, and moves to block his companion from their sights. "You've made a mistake." He says, the hunger from earlier starting to rear it's ugly head. He could smell his companions blood behind him. And it did nothing but make his skin crawl for how badly he wanted it.
[Dodge, right.]
Kim Dokja doesn't bother asking questions, dodging just as the volley of bullets spray over the car door he'd managed to pick up off the ground as a shield. "Joonhyuk! Some help would be great about now!"
[Close ranged attack incoming, left.]
He throws himself out of the way as a knife slices through his jacket on the left. Finally understanding comes over him, as he looks up a this enemies.
With a deep breath he realizes he's going to have to kill these men.
While reading through every attack, he finds himself moving faster or— well no, the people around him were moving slower. He could predict every attack and found himself disabling one man and taking his knife off him. The guns weren't any use as long as he had the car door to protect himself.
When Kim Dokja is able to, he throws the door at the man in the middle, the biggest one. He slices him on the back as he dodges the second man, holding the guy as a shield when the man opens fire on him again. The man he'd held hostage falls to the ground, blood is covering his white jacket now, making him frown. His mom had bought this for him after the Turning.
"You… How do you know? How?!" The man demands even as Kim Dokja runs away from the spray of bullets that terrorize the trees around them. The blue screens tell him everything he needs and the hunger in his belly pushes him to his limits, unlocking some kind of inhuman strength that allows him to move faster than he thought was possible. He doesn't have to think— just attack.
As if he was dying here today!
The man drops his gun in shock as Kim Dokja grabs the barrel and it breaks in his hand.
"S-stay! STAY BACK!" The coward screams, one companion dead and the other unconscious on the forest floor.
"Hm?" He tilts his head and smiles with a scoff. "You tried to kill me and my friend here… But you're saying I shouldn't?"
The faint blue light from the screen lights up his face ominously as he stands over the man. The light catches on his fangs which throb with the desire to bite….
"PLEA—"
BANG.
A gunshot rings out from behind them. The man collapses with a bullet in his forehead. Kim Dokja freezes, looking back to the wrecked car where Yoo Joonhyuk is holding a pistol.
"They let you on the plane with that thing?" It's the first thing that comes to his mind, the second being the… Rich scent of blood coming from him. Subconsciously, he drifts closer as Yoo Joonhyuk walks up to him.
"You…" Yoo Joonhyuk starts and stops. He looks down at the red stains on his jacket. To the cut in the fabric. Something angry appears in his eyes before he sighs. "You really waited for the last second, huh?"
"Huh?" Kim Dokja asks before looking down at Yoo Joonhyuk's arm. It's bleeding. They should… Fix that…
"Quit your staring." Yoo Joonhyuk mutters, pulling off his jacket one handed. "Help me bind this wound."
Weakly, he just nods. He does as he's told and then stares at the blood on his hands for far too long.
"When did you last eat?"
Kim Dokja blinks slowly, making a pained expression. "I was about to before you so rudely chased me out of my apartment."
"Great." It was not great. It could be worse, but it was pretty miserable for Kim Dokja right about now.
"I'm…" He looks away from all the blood, trying to think of anything else. "I'm sorry, I can't…" He covers his mouth and nose with his hand. Why the hell does Yoo Joonhyuk's blood smell like that?!
Most blood smells rich, but still like iron and pennies.
But this? Something about it… Made his mouth water.
They walk in silence for a while until they make it back to the road. Hopefully at this temple they would get some answers. And maybe then, someone would let him have a fucking snack for the love of the gods!
"What about the rental?"
"Don't worry about it."
"What about your arm? Is it OK?"
"Fine."
"How far are we—"
"I liked you better when you were sleeping."
"Hey!"