The Wraith Alliance

Taenus awoke to the sound of her phone buzzing beside her bed. The screen lit up with a text from Eunseok:

"Be ready tonight. I've got a surprise planned for us."

She stared at the message, hesitating. Eunseok's surprises always felt like an attempt to fix something broken between them. He had this way of sweeping in with grand gestures after disappearing for days, never fully explaining himself. But she wanted to believe, to hold onto the idea that maybe tonight would be different.

The weight in her chest only grew as she got ready. She slipped into a simple dress, but the excitement she had once felt for Eunseok's surprises was now overshadowed by an uneasy sense of dread. She grabbed her purse and glanced at herself in the mirror—her reflection still looked unsure.

When Eunseok arrived, he was already leaning casually against his car, the same grin plastered on his face. His confidence radiated, but Taenus couldn't ignore the coldness behind his eyes.

"You look good," he said, as she climbed into the passenger seat.

"Thanks," Taenus replied softly, trying to push the tension from her mind.

The car sped through the streets, but the silence between them only made her more anxious. Eunseok noticed, his gaze flicking to her from time to time, though he said nothing.

"Why do you always look so tense?" Eunseok finally asked, his tone almost accusatory. "It's like you're waiting for something bad to happen."

Taenus swallowed. She wanted to tell him what she really felt—that she was afraid, not just of the dark, but of him. Of how he always seemed to pull her in, only to leave her wondering where she stood. But instead, she forced a smile. "I'm fine. Just a little tired, I guess."

Eunseok didn't seem convinced but didn't push it further. The car continued on, farther from the city center and into unfamiliar territory.

When they stopped in front of an abandoned building, Taenus' unease grew. The structure loomed in the darkness, its windows boarded up, graffiti scattered across the walls.

"This is… the surprise?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Eunseok grinned, though it seemed a little too forced. "Relax, Taenus. It's just a place to get away from everything. I thought we could be alone for a change."

Her heart raced. "Eunseok, I don't know…"

He looked at her, the edge of impatience in his expression. "What's wrong with you? You act like you're scared of me. I'm not going to hurt you, okay?"

Taenus froze at his words, the air thick with tension. She had always tried to push away the growing feeling that something about him wasn't quite right, but this was too much. Her instincts screamed for her to turn around and leave, but she hesitated, unsure of what to do next.

Eunseok stepped out of the car and walked toward the building. "Come on, stop acting like a scared little girl. We're just having some fun. You need to loosen up."

Taenus sat frozen for a moment, staring at his back. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to feel the thrill he promised her, the excitement of escaping her ordinary life. But something in her gut told her to stay cautious.

With a deep breath, she finally followed him, though a part of her was already questioning her decision.

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