CHAPTER 20

MOMENTS

“Do I really have to say it using a cliché?” asked Minho sighing.

Sulli stopped struggling and saw the intense control Minho is trying to do.

Minho caught Sulli’s face with both his hands.

“Sulli…I don’t know when it happened and how…” said Minho “But… I think I…might like you more than you like me.”

Sulli took a while to absorb what Minho said.

Minho…likes her?

Sulli’s eyes widened.

More than she likes him?

“That is impossible.” Said Sulli

“What’s impossible?” asked Minho

“You liking me more than I like you.” Said Sulli “You can’t like me more than I like you…that would be…too much… than too much.”

Minho smiled at that…He can only regret that it took him this long to tell Sulli how he feels.

“Oh wait! Heechul Oppa!” Sulli just remembered Heechul flew to the sea earlier.

“I’m sure he lives.” Said Minho “As hunters…we face greater danger than just being thrown at sea.”

Sulli couldn’t believe it…Minho is so confident that Heechul is fine.

“C’mon. I promised you I’ll take you there right?” asked Minho

“There?” asked Sulli

“Yeah…” Minho carried Sulli on his arms and ran towards the beach. Jumping up a really large rock…a rock that looked like it’s 4 stories high.

“Is this the rock you said has the best view of the island?” asked Sulli

“Yes.” Said Minho

“It looked so small from afar…But this rock is huge…” Sulli took a deep breath…”Oh well… it’s already dark.” Said Sulli

“The view is best when the sun rises in the morning.” Said Minho

“Oh…Sunrise…”

Sulli sat down. The sea breeze is so refreshing.

Minho sat beside Sulli.

“Earlier…you told me your mother died when you were 50…and you already live for centuries…how come you still look…on your 20s?” asked Sulli

“We stop aging when we kill our first demon…for a while…for a few days…and then we’ll start aging again if we don’t hunt another demon…we remain young by hunting and killing demons…We call it the blood hunt…shedding demon blood….to strengthen our own.” Said Minho “It’s a continuous struggle against getting old. If you don’t hunt for a week, you’d feel the aging. If you don’t hunt for a month…aging becomes really fast…in less than a year…you’d die…since you should have already died centuries ago if you did not kill your first demon. ”

“So it means…demon hunting…blood hunting…is your way to survive…to keep yourself alive?” asked Sulli

Minho smiled and nodded. “That’s the price we have to pay for breaking nature’s natural cycle. We hunt…continuously.”

“Once demons are gone…when you eliminate them all?” asked Sulli “What will happen to hunters?”

“We’ll slowly die…each of us…” said Minho

“No…” Sulli felt that desperate feeling inside…once the hunters kill all demons…Minho he….will perish soon after

“But that’s fine…” said Minho

“What?” Sulli’s face is full of concern

“I told you why hunters are living right? Hunters only live to hunt…our lives are centered on hunting demons…that’s our goal…our dreams…everything revolves around the blood hunt.” Said Minho “So once all demons die…we will all lose what we are living for…and our mission had ended…”

Sulli clasped her hands together.

No…Minho…what will happen to him…

“Should I wish that the demons don’t die out…so that you can continue to live?” asked Sulli

“There are a lot of demons Sulli. New demons appear each day. I will still live for a very long time.” Minho reached for Sulli’s hand and melted them into his.

“How do…demons get born?” asked Sulli

 She really won’t stop until her question is answered.

“They aren’t born as demons Sulli…they’re born…as humans.” Said Minho.

Humans…

“Some humans have demon blood living inside them…it’s normally inherited from demons in their family bloodline. But then…there are also some which got the demon venom from Demons who tried to kill them…they eventually become demons too if the venom got absorbed by their body. Those that got infected by demons…they are normally as good as dead…they are like living dead bodies.” Said Minho

“So…it can be acquired…or inherited.” Said Sulli

“Yes.” Said Minho “When a person who has inherited demon blood suddenly becomes a demon…we call it awakening…awakening of his demon blood. It’s one of the most horrible scene.”

“What…do you mean?” asked Sulli

“An awakened demon…will forget everything…who he is…what he is…In the first few days to months from the wakening…he will forget anyone he knows…all he will ever feel is darkness… bitterness… hatred…despair…anger…madness…and most of all Hunger.” Said Minho

Sulli closed her eyes.

“Normally…once the blood awakens…the close loved ones will be the first to try and stop the demon… That’s the worst part of all…the demon will not have any sense of control and even recognition.” Said Minho

“So…he will…kill them?” asked Sulli

“And feed on them…normally his first meal is the person closest to him.” Said Minho

“No….” Sulli could not contain the bloody and dark image forming in her mind. “No…”

Minho lifted Sulli’s face making Sulli open her eyes.

“There are demons who eventually could control their hunger, Sulli…who can think…who can manage the darkness inside them…” said Minho

“Eventually…but still…during their awakening…he can’t be prevented from killing the person she loves the most.” Sad Sulli

Minho tightened his hold on Sulli. If Sulli’s blood gets awakened…she may face the same tragedy…and Minho will make sure that does not happen…if she ever gets awakened…he will be there…he will stop her…no matter what will cost