Chapter 43 - Why me?

"Wake up, my dear." The familiar dark voice calls out for her. She snaps her eyes open and sees a red masked man in front of her. Before she can scream, he covers her mouth and whispers.

"If you want your friend to live, don't make a sound." He warns her. "If you scream, I will wash you with his blood. I promise you, my dear."

Her wrists and ankles are tied by ropes. The sweet scent of magnolia is in the air. She has told herself repetitively that she won't be scared. Dressed in complete black attire, he looks like someone sent by death to get her. She can't see an inch of his skin.

He won't make his identity known to her yet. That's how she knows. He isn't here to kill her.

He lets go of her mouth. She stares at him. "Why me?"

"You chose me, my dear Hana."

"What?" She doesn't remember choosing anyone. It is pointless to talk to a delusional serial killer.

He has no intention of answering her questions. It's not time yet. He pulls out a glistening knife out of his leather jacket.

"I am angry, my dear Hana. You know why."

She crawls back until her back hits the headboard of the bed. She turns to her left and tries to run away from him. He grabs her tied ankles with one hand and pulls her back. He digs his fingers in her hair and lifts her head, putting the knife of her throat. "Be good, my dear. I don't have a lot of patience tonight. I have been waiting for a long time. Today is the day of your punishment."

"What do you want?" She grits her teeth. She won't give in to the fear. He isn't here to kill her. She finds some courage due to that.

"My dear, you can lie to the whole world." He lifts her shirt and drives the knife across it. The tip of the knife stops a few centimeters away from her throat. It trails down her body and halts on her belly. "Not to me."

Ahn Hana smiles at him cruelly. "You are just mad that someone else managed to ɨmprėġnȧtė me."

He applies a bit of pressure, digging it in her skin lightly. Just enough for a few drops of blood to pour out. Her breath is caught in her throat. She looks at the door. It is locked from the inside.

That day, she found out two pieces of news - She had a tumor and she was pregnant. It was a miracle. Do Sejin. She thought of him as a miracle that brought her another miracle. She didn't know how much she wanted to have a child until she was pregnant. Her own flesh and blood. A family.

That's why he killed Seol A that way. He sliced her belly and took away her organs. It was a message to her and Do Sejin. He waited this long because he wanted her to understand his message.

"I get it, my dear." She winces when he slams the flat part of the knife on her belly. "Your body was angry with me. After all, I never made love to you when you were not drunk or unconscious."

What is he saying? Her forehead wrinkles. 10 years ago. The only time was that night.

"Oh, you only remember the first time." He removes his gloves. He brushes the peaks of the mounds with his palm once. "See, your body remembers me well. They go up as soon as I touch them."

"When?" She is nauseated and dizzy. She shudders and covers her bosoms with her tied hands. She hears him chuckle lowly.