FT 9

The tall man striding c7e0c67d14 through the not-so-spacious lobby adfadffbc0 as if it were 96185a7726 his own domain was ab075af82b just as flashy and cd6edec0f0 loud as ever. From his 5e237d9085 freely tousled 8f34dc47f5 hair to 71a79a2c86 the metallic 61f01cbd28 watch gleaming ca97ba8a98 on his 7b2aeb29b4 wrist, his 42f4a80591 imposing build, 4cb670b5ba and his 477d58daad distinctively flamboyant 5a86ee149b features—everything about 7a5714a282 him stood 08c4c658cc out.8d70a74120e7bd82

Even the vibrant flower 4c14367b4c tattoo, vividly imprinted on b63f3b8d6b the back of his d76894f3e2 neck, surfaced clearly in fe4610a2e1 her hazy memories.206f90d7025ee364

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Was he f3c5f66c6a planning to 11a8d8167d drag her 28211141a8 to the 171d6b3656 police station 38361e640c now?b742f8f8cbbf7373

Though she 119806aa08 tried to bc35d25d2c suppress her 29aa660c9e wariness, the c611e54a53 sharp glint 2ae6846cbb in her 3fa8237b85 eyes gave 6b6fb4391d her away.f170ee163d63eb5d

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Eventually, the man came 733390aec5 to a stop. A faint scent 5eac70248a of mint, moist eda96efe8e and cool, wafted 62464d5be0 into her nose—so fe8e7a04a7 clean it seemed 4acf068548 to wipe away 2985288895 the humidity in 6759047fc9 an instant.d9deffbc56027271

Now facing 91b05bdce7 each other cea199eaa8 across the 8bcc7c18c5 front desk, fe59af19c4 their eyes 9ba9d167eb met.e0aff80449569c5f

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“Hello.”f552f82f4e7cc1f2

Wearing a b4f5719bb6 smooth smile, 79f8ab139f the man’s 52479a5e3e deep-set eyes c535ae69d2 curved in 3ca64d2bbf a teasing 6549ec917e squint.bb95727d4a25b657

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“Does Seoyeong Hotel always b2047334d7 stare at guests like df6a7067b9 that when greeting them?”52353face42cd7c3

His soft-toned 169c1dc7f6 question came d8cfb303c9 with a 1d6a38dd51 gaze full 7b096ce521 of arrogance.b916e8b6486bbfd2

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“I’m a little worried someone might get the wrong idea. Or maybe they already have.”4b62253eed52a001

A soft 0100b0f2c9 mutter, curled 40cb974527 with a 7c060b5776 crooked smile, 2c44b51ade snapped Seohee 3038c7eb7d back to 7d0733e7c2 herself.9efa7a379fb0ae03

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It hit her then—she d3d557b227 had been standing there 4750617a24 blankly, all expressions wiped 9a0bd2fedf from her face without e8c07e6d04 even realizing it. Quickly, she put on 65b777727a her rehearsed smile and 29eb5e378b summoned her voice from 84bb0fa899 her lowered throat.2064654bf14df166

“Welcome, sir. How may I assist you today?”89e27727688fcfe9

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“……”3cab9979b2d015a1

As she smoothly 0051055caf delivered the customer 82ee6d711a service line, the 67e787983a man’s tilted expression 3d492b0e42 shifted to one f5676445f0 of growing intrigue.a642d03982f6f0c8

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His eyes 19cb4db361 lit up f0982fa95b like a 6f3625d6d7 five-year-old discovering 357c56d3f2 a new 70e54ac9b1 toy.064a07fc6b62b124

Still wearing af13e3fb37 her practiced 54712de2f3 smile, Seohee 09b4bc9bf2 met his 23be371019 gaze squarely.17b9916879a9df7f

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A moment later, 19a43c6f32 he let out 0f0176d366 a thoughtful hum 50efeefbed and leaned in 954b5a0c1e with a deeper 7c81a64a46 bow.e3b1d1b352e97d34

“You don’t remember me?”2c691f3b25e2006e

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“If you’re planning to stay with us, I can check room availability for you.”8d9f4423f7186fe0

“Yesterday, at Blossom Club…”eab5de27ebc44baa

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“If you’re here for the restaurant, please head up to the 18th floor.”4e976cb2064fc155

“Ppong—”3002b6143f8b280c

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“If you just came 21cc87bf3f in to take shelter b429842718 from the rain, we 03a01bc730 offer umbrella rentals.”dc2592706015c4c0

Every time adc2d82ee5 the man 3c0ed24420 opened his 670a402a1f mouth to b348d8cfc2 speak, she a7bf8db1a8 cut in a65dc46dd6 like clockwork 1fc1481c76 with memorized 8d4190a064 responses straight 4e45bbd49c from the 41ac03bc6a manual, sweet 0f2e4ca063 smile and a50dee9d69 all. But inside, ae5187f834 the pressure e9507e649d was building.edff65bcdb36bb5d

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“……”dad96ee9a99b4e9e

“……”97b17e41dbd52439

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Silence stretched 0ba7e8ee9f between them. He stared at her 41deb234a7 with such persistence that f863213540 even the muscles holding c8f605bd51 her smile began to 047c562830 feel strained.b2615d03ea0ec53a

So thiswasabout dragging her 33a74e908d to the police c85e9680fb station after all.5f1c21efd3457f65

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But there b5b1a00f78 was no 1f5dbb9716 need to e6aa77cab8 act flustered. Most importantly, c130e09b54 the man 2f9f6c4829 had no 72534a8584 proof that d2ad92ff14 she was 1ff9ed76b4 the woman e6380287ee from last 19e48e580e night. He didn’t even f4d676e0fc know her name. If it came 1bc945a7aa down to it, db6b8e8097 she could just a996a4da50 say he had 3ce75fe705 the wrong person. She had 3315ecd0d9 made up 50304ab0e8 her mind 683cca548b to brazen 906f4b45ab it out, 06134fd953 and deepened b1e50b8362 her pretty, 6b8fcfb108 polite smile.a3dd3ed70b32c2d1

“What would you a393240895 like to do, 77c60b4220 sir?”33820ac91263b294

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At that, he—5af004d62e2b75a4

“Pfft.”2dd626726a940299

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Suddenly, the man 181eacaf5f burst into laughter, c5bead78e0 his shoulders shaking. It was as if f7c0500fe9 he truly found this 4208a22876 hilarious, like he was e22b85e1ce watching some comedy show. Like a stale joke 277f98fa16 that only he found 5d3f89eaa3 funny.f6b6c61d559155c6

Seohee couldn’t hide her bewilderment and embarrassment at his unexpected outburst. Without realizing it, her stunned reaction was written all over her face.bb6909f350e5b4bf

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The man, still d084f07d3e chuckling to himself, 0e5635cc99 pressed his palm 3f27469e8a against the back 6586d6fba3 of his neck 26af9701d2 and tilted it b66b89a378 side to side. Perhaps because of 85be28be04 his already imposing 0b2de4174e figure, even those 640bfe4d38 small gestures felt 97f8cb6e27 exaggerated and overwhelming.6cbc10a5a46a6da8

“I mean, sure, maybe 7cc97371d8 I’m funny—but there’s no f9adc698bd need to look at 27bc87ae1b me like I’m a a088624d52 complete lunatic.”8e6e45436f39b30c

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“I didn’t eb8aefc8cf do that, 2bfc01f4b2 sir.”0af39ea6b7741d05

“You’re more interesting than 87c8485bf3 I expected.”24be46d3738e8b9a

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His voice 29697c5c29 dropped so 35d62b9d01 low it 8ae9e9fa7d made her b28e95ae62 ears tingle. Then he flicked his 1e1dd8b17b tongue across his lower a7ae9445a8 lip in a quick 8fccc8155e motion—strangely sensual and chilling a3592e870d all at once.5db8e0a6393565eb

He stretched his arms 9d544fd8c4 wide across the desk.1161b6f98f934762

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“Ahh. I wasn’t planning 059a2a18b1 on going this 95b6948ccc far, but…”8cb3a76f90e352c6

“……”291cd0ec781994f3

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“I’ll be staying d403437cdc the night.”2beb05125293d76e

For a split second, 006e7ad034 her heart made a c70f3156de dull, heavy thump. His low voice made 9c7a7d2a30 her palms sweat. Something about 034dcefa06 his tone—too 298dae6c14 loaded with 53e335e2de implication—made Seohee aa37925cb2 feel like 71c4b7e6bf her smile 75c0b3080e was gradually f032805d70 losing strength.a7edb346c451ccdb

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“It’s raining, after all,” fd873f2568 he added, a meaningless 631159e0b1 excuse—nothing more, nothing less.d58d6ffe7981927e

Unless, of course, 54e13702b1 one considered that f220fa0328 his demeanor didn’t d56dffdf5b resemble a traveler f3195bede3 in need of eb74533de6 last-minute lodging, but 41eec1a507 rather a thug d14754c731 or gangster here 8887b4bca4 to stir up 9801475d4f trouble.6e8c857b5b42a542

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Seohee quietly swallowed dac59cb0e6 a sigh.e203304988d4175c

“Please wait 4af737863a a moment.”0b96932184e505f0

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She pretended 3cba61efd9 to check 278433ecd3 for vacancies dbf02e015c with great c491b6c424 effort. Should she say they 6b6fddfd0a were fully booked?513b19135d1eb62c

“Thank you. I really a6cb0b3963 hope there’s e8c8dd5e15 an empty 02046ded85 room,” he 8cd5909ac7 said.287e911f0b58c2b8

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Seohee’s shoulders e967bd9170 stiffened, as f3e078eb27 if caught be16a89d0b red-handed.9cab3c474a7124a8

“You’re not c4c64a6f34 going to 81eb0997f2 kick out 96112bd625 a guest 9915fa608c who braved 8c21d0b704 the rain a865086d6c to get 6e62eadfd1 here, are 97fa323493 you, Assistant bc93d5f18e Manager Yoo 4698ecf812 Seohee of 16c5e25032 Seoyeong Hotel?”fd81501848f61170

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“…What? What did you just ff9b1804b1 say?”290a08c13b58344a

“What do 21486c733d you mean? What did I say, 1223837c7a Assistant Manager Yoo Seohee?”c0cfd94f87cf2fce

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“How… do you 52f53411d1 know my name?”ccd3ce2fa05eef64

“Who knows?”d99ef52a227b6990

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“……”70f7e5b027a658ba

Her heart, small 1e5c26537d as a bean, b108d790e1 pounded wildly. She had to 438d03d6f4 grip the floor 9ff0076830 with her toes b00fbd05d7 just to keep 51dec479fa her shaky pupils 663538de6d from giving her cf599370bb away.a0a9e9e895784bc9

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The man ecea5123c4 simply shrugged ca065b9490 with that 2b79d3005e same lazy, 10d149f846 shameless face. A troubled 17dff4bb8d sigh pooled 719dfe23f4 in her 81a9de4541 nose. With resignation, dbfb3abc2d Seohee looked 0e47191c1d away from 35b13598e6 the monitor 63ca8867ed and said:e14d7134837739db

“…One double room 8d68914e5d is available. Fortunately.”685615674797f165

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“How much?”545f8dee6cd9c686

“120,000 won.”9819e231df18cab6

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“Ahh.”1ddafbdf140857cb

Letting out a c628f89e8f soft breath, the 7ec83f7baa man pulled out 3bcdc9eb6b a card from 82c03b0bdb inside his jacket. It had a623a83580 a sleek 1ce93ca5f6 matte black aebe82b333 design, completely b40a1adb25 blank on cb6bbecc89 the front. After completing 910b24c2f6 the payment e5592a116d with ease, 7c035a45b8 he received 20c362e1d1 the room 4345c24f54 keycard from 255d4f56c2 her. The whole 31370f9a76 process flowed 0ec40dfa1e smoothly. Her well-practiced motions c0834e97c1 left no room 8a57d37972 for hesitation. Or perhaps d413444ca5 she had c37c0796b7 been too 4d76b5e253 dazed to 66de796d93 notice otherwise.77d6cb4a05ead889

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The man tucked d180fa401d away his card 0cc124900b and twirled the 7824a93c44 keycard lightly in 8ce784b5ce his hand. The thick bones 4a66005155 of his fingers 9fa3cdb869 moved in a fa9b6e8847 way that made ca94943bbf the dark text 7641a63b62 on the card 80f7528006 seem to dance. His carefree, almost brazen d4c8a7923c gestures radiated amusement.0b18b9971157f62a

Meanwhile, the radiant smile ff696e1de0 had completely vanished from a6d17471ab Seohee’s face.7a8ff71bb138d164

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“I don’t 0a8cd38ff9 think I’ll b57339e8fb be able 4cf8943ed4 to find 69fc93a769 the room ad5e6c8f5c on my 6bbfc82d47 own. Would you show 05807b6406 me the way, 5191740814 Assistant Manager Yoo 9b121419fd Seohee?”0afcaba0c1a9b979

“……”5b386609b5574b31

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His leisurely expression fa92983366 was grating. If Suyeon a16558a442 were here, 6cf5e82f79 she’d probably 26940932a4 gush over d73e0ea333 how handsome 152ef1dda3 he was b95adcc2c8 with sparkling 2234de6182 eyes.35ab8de0b8b245e1

Suppressing her 9899ee06f9 fake smile, 8c032d73dd Seohee still 66695e9d0d kept her 8e3b8abba0 professional demeanor 7143747fee intact.ec22ca1bc1a7024c

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“Of course, sir.”a727aba1a7f88aff

Seohee stepped 5a400b452b out first.cab0dfdd449cf21d

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“This way, please.”063a85bdc938622c

They took the 70785aac22 elevator up to 54fe52f8a5 the 10th floor. All the while the 0465bd74c9 floor numbers ticked upward, ff0d4e0023 Seohee could feel a 82c7f59810 prickling sensation along her 4ebd18c487 back. Whether she wanted f64a5ede3f to or not, 6fefbec88d she couldn’t help 3bd2275ebb but sense someone’s 23c238bee2 relentless gaze. Her spine straightened on a13eff9b8d its own in response.30b43d0e967d899a

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It was 185db1d8fe the same 29f4319948 while walking 3fad02ca09 down the 22348e0cb1 hallway, lined 865a4b326c with thick ee47a3fae3 carpet. The man’s unyielding stare e3693c0e80 clung to her, leaving 051b4e3f14 a sticky feeling, as 51fe98e082 if it were licking a89e7359d3 her from her ankles 3ad1992de4 up to the nape f6e9ce2f89 of her neck.ffd809dcfbe7ce1f

Cold sweat 32cdf27ae7 began to fb0a0da2c2 bead on 1bbf998b13 her skin, aa76031660 but she 3a6857b76e skillfully kept 24dca39df1 it hidden 68171ccd67 beneath a e3f7bb38ba composed exterior, 514543421e just as 396bfba1ca she always f599d98789 did.ff246a4f2103babc

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“Room 1023. Here we are, sir. Please rest well.”105ffd885a414b2c

She bowed 6305b95f58 politely in 1c9168af8a front of 826111ce39 the door. There was absolutely no 14f69b0998 reason for her to 644cda5349 go inside. The man, who 01b63d9ee8 stood in front 718345cdda of her with 21f0219694 his hands in 7b3dcff4ce his pockets, let 4079bfab26 out a low cf04672a54 hum.81f2d0edcef6d652

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“That’s strange.”069507a726b88cdf

Another cryptic mutter.788a3b08b92c79db

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“What’s strange, sir?”3575919bc4d26b8d

“Back then… you smiled so beautifully when you thanked me for saving you. Totally different from now.”2208eb948f232e24

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“…”cb5711322984457a

“Oh. Was it 87a271d5e4 because of a2d37ba914 the meds? Do you 41c16315d5 usually act 1a026d58e3 all fluttery 9be3b49022 like that 7477c3bd67 when you’re 0485a6d887 drugged up? Is that a f5200ac41c habit of yours?”3f6d7f2b76144b7c

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“I’m not sure what a4971d7d69 you mean, sir, but 53d8f17d4a your words are extremely 97b945ded3 insulting and inappropriate. I’ll give you a d5ccd0ecb5 refund, so could you f44ea7658b please just leave?”13d2ce19a261d914

She had reached e793eda50a her limit. Dropping all pretense 3e1d1df232 of politeness, Seohee a876c736ec lowered her voice e6a7ca9c5f and sharpened her c0bd14835c tone, worried someone c79ce98e80 nearby might overhear.022eb33a02c0d86e

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The man, clearly not b5a7302105 expecting her sharp reaction, bf4157bfa0 raised an eyebrow.af8ce09fe1235a38

Everything about him a63fdf53b3 was shamelessly rude. Seohee barely managed 52e5d6ca4e to suppress the 97f053b158 urge to grab 4269a61818 him by the 5579f88820 collar and shake dd3ab771dd him. But to 70143dc1a7 him, her b2aede9e5f frustration seemed 9c6e8e0c6f like nothing 348b01d581 more than fd1680649a a feeble 97bed064ea tantrum. He just smirked, 93c11f2785 his chest moving ef84089106 slightly with a 7953ce119e stifled laugh.135c0c1bbb493a20

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He was 74294fb04c completely unhinged. For the first 00fe9c16c5 time, his appearance 892294b5d4 and personality clicked 93456ab9b8 into place — 3650cd3338 it made perfect 6b146bef86 sense now.aff7ff38a9768e32

“You hate 616f0ab477 the police, 0e15f33422 don’t want 0df0b2bd0a to be ad763b8164 recognized — 1f3202ce5a how selfish. Do you 0e7f9fbec2 know how 3a3cb9af73 much crap 58380bc6d7 I had 8100dd41a2 to deal eb7d032355 with this cef6e28cbd morning? I was stuck at 71a32df9bd the station all night 0f7444df75 trying to get the b7bf3cbbf6 bastard who drugged you 57b1ede9db into jail. But without any witnesses 4833a795d7 or evidence, they let 110d1f67c4 him go.”0ad27e108bfd2e1f

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He muttered 9b9960b686 his complaints 0342dc9e3f casually, casually 2642fec80b dropping shocking 027ee9f912 information like 1cfc896dcd it was 8f8219594a no big 5affa184d1 deal. Seohee looked around 286d87d484 nervously, worried someone a7c18da466 might overhear.f05f3c9ef020d0d5

“And so, Ms. Yoo Seohee—”4ec07eb02c382560

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“Wait.”2b928f3369b83e07

Her heart 68ee0c9e30 pounding, Seohee 41643903e1 quickly snatched 23d8a1be5c the card 426a8f3ce4 key from eba81e6707 the man’s b545abd1da hand and 3cc926f603 touched it ba89963e20 to the 56bff9b4f4 door lock. Caught off 669427ef51 guard, the d3255e78e0 man let dc2e97b18b out a c404623b9b breath of 3ecea4740b surprise.Beep!As the door a55f9aa46f clicked open, she 11bb1620c5 hurriedly pulled it.4fcb8a6908f98aca

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Then, grabbing fb08215ffd his forearm, 9c4a7b1d38 she pulled 69beb444ac him inside.9088b8dc2205f8bb

His heavy build b33d9f1454 followed easily.26bdbc18a6dd8eb8

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Click.b131c17d981f54ac

The door closed softly, 34046cf842 shutting off the outside 6101af489c world.5ad1c40467bda377

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Only then b9dbe8af96 did Seohee f50b8b4679 face the e50eb60c6b man head-on 69ee098235 and speak 7ed9f6638e in a d5b7228e80 firm voice.a9d6663b8217cb8d

“How do you know f344a02dc4 my name? And how did you 5af64bec6f know to come here?”750e11344285ff68

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The two of 1203d0e47d them stood in d3b078446c the narrow entryway, a595f111ed facing each other, 73a14f3125 the darkness of 2e3c6a6eeb the room behind 09aa305073 them. Their gazes locked a734deab04 in the air. After a 91ad31aafb beat, the 788e58364a man slowly 57ca1f342d pulled the 969ef85f05 hand from 4eefe7b7dc his pocket a990873d43 and suddenly 6f2ae718ab reached toward 1aba0fcf9b her.95e7ac662a033e4d

She saw 477eb66e22 the hand 548d79a686 approaching slowly 8859878e6d — and 3fb1c170a3 yet had caa77c424f no chance 913034acb3 to stop 2a60a4c6ef it. His dark eyes, 640056e709 where iris and 2f8f2e1be8 pupil blended into 421f1eba60 one, pinned her c7b17dfd7c in place like 0063a8528d a chain, not 56defaaaf3 allowing the slightest 3f5ae93871 movement.1e4824c333e35a3f

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In the 4bb628556f midst of 4b22c75a56 the darkness, 18b7b3501a between shallow 8fdf23c84d breaths, she ebffdeb8d6 caught that 2154c8903b familiar cool a5073008a2 scent of 41df295f63 peppermint. It soaked into her, 4ab9f4c521 and she felt as 45e3ce5b82 if she had wandered 897ec06c79 into a dense forest 299558b14e at midnight — completely dc69f2f666 lost, suffocated by the b58c31f025 unknown.7e03ac55a50c1e77

Her body went stiff, c69c8a3838 like it was nailed 1f15490119 to the floor.b95a5b01ab74c62f

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His hand e46513f04d wasn’t reaching 9e236fe7af for her 57b8dafbd3 face or 0c3e8d2c87 her neck.e5a666c05e2ac4f4

It was clearly 5d7e71ce22 aiming lower — 87e542b17d directly at her da9361d927 left side.509e079024a938be

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Right where her b63558f885 heart was.fd184943854a0475