"THE SHADOW AND THE NIGHT CRAWLER"
In the quiet, humid sanctuary of a parked car, the world of fame and duty vanished. Under the dim glow of streetlights, Baekhyun and Ethan finally surrendered to the undeniable pull between them. As they lay together, skin against skin and hearts racing in sync, the K-pop idol made a desperate, whispered vow that changed everything:
"Please be mine... I'll do everything for you."
While Baekhyun found a new reason to stay in the Philippines, his sister, Jin Ae, was pulled deeper into a different kind of darkness. Her obsession with the Sigbin—a creature of shadow and ancient blood—has reached a fever pitch. With the guidance of her grandfather, she has identified a mysterious vigilante known as The Shadow, believing his supernatural skills are the key to finding the monster they have hunted for generations.
THE CONTINUATION:
"Yes, Hal-abeoji," Jin Ae continued, her eyes fixed on the surveillance feed. "His skills mirror the creature exactly. I'm certain this vigilante is the key—he will lead us straight to the Sigbin."
Her grandfather's voice crackled over the line, heavy with both age and expectation. "Then do whatever is necessary, my child. You must take charge of this expedition. Your brother, unfortunately, seems to have no stomach for our family's true legacy."
"Hal-abeoji, give him time," Jin Ae replied, though her tone was cool, lacking any real sisterly warmth.
The old man sighed, a sound like dry leaves skittering on pavement. "I only hope one of you is fit to replace me. But the company—and the family—cannot thrive on hope alone. Our luck is tied to the shadows. We must secure at least one Sigbin to ensure our prosperity continues."
Jin Ae's heart hammered against her ribs. The desire to prove herself burned like a fever. As her grandfather turned to leave the study, she spoke up, her voice ringing with a new, sharp edge.
"Hal-abeoji... what if I am the one who captures it? If I bring you the creature, will you name me the next CEO?"
The old man stopped in his tracks. A moment of silence passed before he erupted into a dry, mocking laugh.
"You make me laugh, Jin Ae," he said, looking back at her with eyes like cold flint. "Stop living in illusions. No woman in the history of our bloodline has ever successfully hunted that beast. I prefer a man at the helm of this empire. That is the way it has always been."
He turned and disappeared down the hall, the heavy thud of his cane echoing behind him.
Left alone in the dim light, Jin Ae didn't cry. Instead, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small glass vial filled with a glowing, greenish serum.
"I'll prove you wrong," she whispered to the empty room, her grip tightening until her knuckles turned white. "I will claim my right to the throne, even if I have to bleed the shadows dry to do it."
Baekhyun stood on the porch, checking the address one last time before knocking firmly on the door. When it finally swung open, a disheveled, sleepy-eyed Ethan stood there, blinking against the morning sun.
"Good morning! Rise and shine," Baekhyun chirped with a radiant smile.
Slam!
The door was shut in his face before he could breathe. Baekhyun blinked at the wood grain. "Did I say something wrong? Was the greeting too much?" he muttered to the door.
Inside, Ethan was leaning against the frame, his heart hammering against his ribs like a trapped bird. How did he find me? he panicked, clutching his chest. When the knocking started again, he took a deep breath, plastered on a nervous smile, and opened the door just a crack.
"Good morning... rise and shine to you, too," Ethan stammered. "What... uh, what brings you here?"
"I just wanted to see my wife," Baekhyun said, his grin widening into something mischievous.
Ethan's brain short-circuited. He's lost his mind, he thought frantically. He's calling me his wife. Stay calm, Ethan. Maybe he's at the wrong house. "I think you've got the wrong place," Ethan said, forced cheer in his voice. "There are no women here, and certainly no one who goes by 'wife.' You should probably check the next street over."
Baekhyun didn't budge. He stepped closer and pointed a finger toward Ethan's throat. "My wife has a very specific hickey right there on his neck."
Ethan's eyes went wide. OMG! I forgot! He felt the heat rush to his face as he realized the mark from last night was on full display. In a panic, he grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled it up to cover his neck, but that only made it worse.
"And," Baekhyun added, his voice dropping to a playful silkiness, "he has another one right on his chest."
Ethan looked down, saw the second mark, and tried to slam the door again. But Baekhyun was faster. He caught the edge of the door, his hand overlapping Ethan's. He leaned in, his face inches from Ethan's, and stole a quick, searing kiss.
"You're mine now," Baekhyun whispered against his lips. "There's no escaping me."
Before Ethan could protest, Baekhyun slipped past him into the house like he owned the place. "Hey! You aren't welcome in here!" Ethan cried, though his heart wasn't really in the protest.
The Precinct:
Back at the station, the air was thick with the smell of stale coffee and paperwork.
"Aki, did you hear about the victim?" a colleague asked, breaking Akihiko's concentration.
"The criminal is still out there," Akihiko replied, his voice tight. "Do we have the autopsy report? I need to see it now."
A policewoman named Olie walked over and dropped a blue folder onto his desk. "Here it is. The report for Mrs. Feliciano—the latest victim of the 'Night Crawler.'"
"Thanks, Olie," Akihiko muttered, opening the file.
"Are you guys free later?" Mario called out from across the room. "Michael is treating us all to drinks at the bar. His son just graduated Magna Cum Laude."
"I'm in!" Olie cheered. "How about you, Aki?"
Akihiko didn't answer. His eyes were fixed on the folder, but his mind was back in the shadows of the previous night. He hadn't just 'seen' them; he had followed them. He remembered the silhouette of the car rocking, the muffled sounds, and the sight of his best friend Ethan in the arms of the K-pop idol. The jealousy and confusion were a knot in his stomach that wouldn't untie.
"Aki? You okay, bro?" Mario asked, noticing his friend's thousand-yard stare.
Olie leaned in closer. "Are you even with us, Akihiko?"
Akihiko snapped out of it, closing the blue folder with a sharp thud. "Yeah... yeah, I'm fine. What were you guys saying?"
The Berbalangs are mythical creatures in Filipino culture, described as ghouls who eat human flesh. They feed by digging up corpses from graveyards or by hunting living humans using flight and other supernatural powers. They are associated with the culture of the smaller towns of Mindanao. The lore of Berbalangs has similarities with that of Aswang creatures.
The Family Legacy
Back at the family estate, the atmosphere was heavy with tradition. Ethan found his grandmother waiting in the hallway, her expression etched with a quiet gravity.
"My child, your Hal-abeoji needs to speak with you," she said softly.
Ethan leaned in and gave her a warm, protective hug. "Is this about the hunt?" he whispered. "About finding that creature?"
His grandmother simply nodded, her eyes filled with a concern she couldn't hide.
Just then, Baekhyun's voice rang through the corridor as he called out for his grandfather. Before he could reach the study, Jin Ae stepped into his path, her gaze sharp and calculating.
"Brother," she intercepted, her voice low. "A word. Now."
The Heart of the Forest
Deep within the woods, where the trees grew so thick they choked out the sun, stood an ancient, weathered mansion. On the wide veranda, a man stood completely naked, his skin pale against the dark wood as he stared into the dense greenery.
"This hunt is not as easy as I thought," he growled, his voice vibrating with a primal hunger. "When? When will I finally face him?"
A soft rustle of silk followed his words. A woman dressed in an elegant, traditional kimono stepped out from the shadows of the house. She stood beside him, her face a mask of calm.
"Mōsukoshi mattekudasai, anata mo kare ni aimasu. Seikakuna toki ni," she murmured. (Wait a little longer; you will meet him soon. At the right time.)
The man's eyes darkened as he looked toward the horizon, sensing that the "right time" was drawing closer with every heartbeat.
TO BE CONTINUED...