A massive unfamiliar long dining table draped with white satin cloth. A big fancy chandelier hanging above encasing the table in a bubble of light. I approached the table in light steps without caution. There were empty plates, glasses and utensils placed neatly in the center and at each seat. I took a seat at one of the four chairs feeling as if it was a familiar thing to do.

“Kids, it’s dinner time!” I heard a familiar female voice. The clicking sound of heels grew louder as the person approached. My mom stepped into the chandelier light in a red dress and hair styled in a fancy chignon portraying her elegant beauty. She took a seat across the dining table in front of me. She mumbled something before taking off her black lace glove then placed it on the table. My presence was not recognized until she looked up across the table.

“You startled me Jieun!” She exclaimed in surprise. “Who would have thought that my little baby would be early to dinner for once,” She reached across the table and praised me with a gentle pat on my head.

“As the favorite child I don’t want to disappoint you .” I returned her with a cheeky smile.

“Finally it’s dinner time.” My brother appeared abruptly under the chandelier light invading our little mother-daughter moment. He was wearing a blue blazer with a white shirt underneath paired with black jeans. His hair pulled back neatly. He took a seat right next to mom. “What’s for dinner mother?” He pouted then leaned his head on mom's shoulder while hugging her tightly.

I sneered at the sight.

“What are you laughing at” He glared at me.

“Oh you know… at mama’s little boy.” I roasted him hard.

“Mom she’s being rude to me! Punish her!” He demanded in tantrum mode.

“Your sister is right Junho.” Mom laughed at him.

“I’m starving! What’s for dinner mom?” My sister appeared and took a seat next to me. She wore a flowy floral dress with her hair curled loosely.

“Nice of you to join us Jihye. Now that we are all here let’s start dinner.”

As if it was some wizardry spell, mom clapped her hands twice making food appear on all the plates and water filled to the rim in all the glasses. Everyone grabbed their utensils to indulge into their food. Conversations about how everyone day went spread across the table during each bite. Laughs from mom, bickering is siblings, and this cozy dinner atmosphere made me feel why family is so important, and I would do anything to keep this moment forever.

Suddenly a cold breeze blew across the table sending chills down my spine. Conversation died down immediately, the tapping of utensils hitting on plates stopped, there were no more laughter or sound to be heard. As if time had stopped we froze in place. Cold sweats formed in my palm and forehead. Mom elegant posture broke down as anxiety wore her face. My brother stiffened as his playfulness plastered with seriousness. My confident sister now trembling in fright. We all knew what will become of us. The biggest fear we avoided have came to haunt our life.

“How dare you all start dinner without me?” A calm deep but taunting voice pierced through our ears. The voice came from the end of the table where mom and I sat. The big chandelier light was able to spread brightness to the whole table except where the devil sat. No light will be able to cleanse his sin I thought to myself. So there he sat in our darkness of misery and despair.

“I will kill you all.” The threatening words came out his mouth so gently as if he didn’t mean what he said, but that gentleness is what caused us all the pain and suffering. If his gentle comes with menace I dare not to imagine what comes with his anger.

Suddenly everything went black and those five words echoed repeatedly in my head. The words were taunting as is dragged me into hopelessness, but those all vanish when a candle was lit up out of no where. The light and warmth radiating from it may be small but it was enough to bring me comfort. But not all good thing last. Soon the candle light was blown out and I felt a pair of hands grabbing my neck tight. I struggle to break loose but all in vain. In the distance I can hear screams, cries and struggles of my family. They must be feeling the same pain as I felt. I tried to break loose again even though I know I can’t break free no matter what. Tears trickled down my eyes as my heart came to its last beat. Everything around me became dead silent and my body felt light as a feather. I thought to myself this must be it.

He got us all.

A bright light broke through the cracks of darkness.

“Jieun…. Lee Jieun.” I heard someone calling my name as I opened my eyes. I sat up to gasp for air as my lungs desperately captured oxygen into my body.

“Hey, are you ok?” My eyes are still adjusting to the bright light but I recognized that familiar male voice.

“What happened?” I asked. I started to break down in tears as I recalled the nightmare. My body ached everywhere as if my defeated fight with the devil was real.

“Shhh, everything is gonna be fine now.” He pulled me into his warm embrace.

“What do you mean?” I sobbed. I held onto him tightly feeling as if I had just lost something. Nothing is making sense at this point for me to piece together. My memory is in a haze due to that taunting nightmare. I can only rely on him to fill in the empty blanks, but he avoided my question. I pushed him away from me just enough so that our eyes met. He looked lifeless as if someone had taken his soul away.

“Wait, why are you here?” I suddenly remembered something. “Jiyong tell me what happened?” He smiled at me weakly before he said something that I did not expect.

“I killed him.”