~Sequel to "Bitter Christmas"~

“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ” 

― Norman Vincent Peale

Taeyeon twitched. She was dreaming.

-There she was, standing in front of Tiffany as Tiffany approached, her eyesmile prominent on her flawless features. Taeyeon grinned broadly and opened her arms to receive her. But suddenly Tiffany stopped in her tracks and stared at Taeyeon intently, her eyes piercing deep into Taeyeon’s soul with such ferocity that Taeyeon was stunned. A force seemed to pull Tiffany away from her even though they were not moving. The distance between them increased, but Tiffany never broke off the eye contact, coldly staring Taeyeon down. Taeyeon cried out in desperation, her heart wrenching apart as she reached out for her but-

-Black.

That was all she could see, all she was surrounded by.

Darkness.

It encased her, filling her up to the brim with its intricate weaving, tearing her heart away strand by strand. Her heart appeared in front of her, and she watched it being invaded by the dark tentacles, its blood red shade slowly turning black as it continued to beat, carrying the black all over her body. Reaching out a trembling hand, she placed it on her beating heart, squeezing it desperately, trying to get it to stop-

-And suddenly Tiffany was there, with blood all over her hands as she sliced Taeyeon’s heart into multiple strands with a butcher knife, smiling cruelly as she held up a hand to let Taeyeon watch the blood seep through, dripping from her hand and-

-Now she was behind Taeyeon, whispering incoherent words into her ear as she circled her hands around Taeyeon’s waist. Taeyeon shakily collapsed into her embrace, only to find a knife stabbed deeply in her stomach as pain shot through her and she coughed up a pool of blood-

Screaming, Taeyeon bolted upright, her heart pounding and aching as the dream was etched into her mind, lingering in the dark corners, haunting her relentlessly. She sat there for a few moments, drenched in sweat and breathing heavily. Unconsciously, she raised a hand to wipe off the tears she didn’t even know she cried.

When had I fallen asleep?

Taeyeon groaned a little and stretched out a hand, grabbing her alarm clock as she squinted at it.

11.30p.m.

Wow, there’s only half an hour left….

Looking around, she noticed that the bed beside her was untouched, still neatly in place just like how she had seen it in the morning. Frowning in worry, she scrunched up her nose and let out a breath as her heart clenched automatically.

Where is she?

Taeyeon staggered out into the corridor, her legs still wobbly from her outbreak. Clutching onto her chest, she leant at the edge of the corridor, fighting to get her breath back from crying too long. Her head half-turned and she froze as she took in the scene before her.

Tiffany was sitting in front of the sofa on the ground, gulping down the contents of a bottle of soju. Empty bottles clattered the floor around the woozy Tiffany, glittering in the fluorescent lights which illuminated the dark room. She took another swig before stopping and staring at the bottle. Frowning, she turned it upside down and forcefully shook it, cursing as the last drop of liquor dripped to the floor. Muttering to herself, she reached for another unopened bottle, her eyes bleary from the lack of sleep and the effects of alcohol.

Taeyeon’s heart clenched at seeing Tiffany’s state and she marched over,