Chapter 1 - Prologue (2/2)

”Die, you undeserving b*tch! If it weren't for you, DongHyun Oppa would never have done this to me!”

SoYoon could see the venom in GaHyun's eyes. It was unbelievable. She clearly felt no remorse for what she had just done, acting like she was the victim, glaring at her with those vicious eyes…

”Ahh!”

A piercing scream resounded. People were running this way. But not a single person tried to stop GaHyun.

SoYoon suddenly realized how naive she had been to have kept quiet about GaHyun, trusting that her friends would know better. The knife continued to penetrate her body, but SoYoon could no longer feel the pain. Weakly, her eyes rolled back into her head.

From her open bag, two books had fallen out. One had been meant for Joo DongHyung. She had intended to smack him over the head with it. The other was a library book she had borrowed on the last day she had gone to school. It was a novel about Alice, who searched for the answers to her parents' mysterious deaths and the crazed men who loved her—a story of a strange place called Wonderland. She was supposed to return the book tomorrow.

”Look at you now!” GaHyun laughed maniacally.

Sensing the delight in her attacker's laughter, SoYoon suddenly felt a surge of hatred. She collected all her remaining strength, grabbed GaHyun's ankle, and twisted it sharply.

”Stay out of my life forever… What—what the?!” GaHyun said in surprise.

GaHyun quickly escaped SoYoon's grasp, but a red line remained where her hand had been. SoYoon, entranced by the mark, stared at it. Even as her vision blackened around her, that mark was still visible in the darkness.

Clank!

The blade hitting the floor was the last sound SoYoon heard. Then something heavy seemed to push her body into the ground.

***

Beep, beep, beep…

The repetitive sound of machines was becoming bothersome.

SoYoon opened her heavy eyes slowly. People in white gowns were approaching her, saying something she couldn't quite hear. Strange machines surrounded her. She could smell hints of chemicals in the air.

I must have been taken to the hospital after I passed out.

Relieved, SoYoon closed her eyes again.

I survived… What a relief.