"Meimei, Mei…" A gentle, almost melodic female voice softly calls out through the darkness that envelops me. The tone becomes more frantic as she repeats, "Mei, Mei, dammit!" Just then, I feel a sharp sting as my face is smacked, and it jolts me awake in an instant.
"Oh my god, I thought I lost you!" The woman exclaims, her voice trembling with emotion. She leans over me, and I catch a glimpse of her familiar features—dark brown, almond-shaped eyes brimming with tears, filled with a raw mixture of relief and desperation. It's as if she has just reunited with someone she feared was gone forever. As she wraps her arms around me in a tight embrace, I take a moment to absorb what I see. We are both clad in sleek, form-fitting black garments that envelop us completely from head to toe, creating an impression of anonymity and secrecy. The material is thick yet flexible, wrapping around our legs, torso, and arms, while the high collars rise to obscure our necks. Our faces are also hidden beneath the dark fabric, though I can see her mask, which was initially meant to conceal her identity, has been pulled up and rests across her forehead. This reveals her face, framed by the stark blackness of our attire. The soft glow of the ambient light from the moon casts gentle shadows across her features, highlighting her expressive eyes and the delicate contours of her cheeks.
"I already sent out a signal they will be here shortly," the strange woman said softly, her voice laced with urgency as she cradled me in her arms. "Don't ever do that again, Meimei," she continued, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears that glistened in the flickering light of the fire beside us. As I lay on the rough, rock-like floor, the coldness of the surface contrasted with the small patch of hay that provided some meager comfort beneath me. I turned my head to the side, straining to make sense of my surroundings. The walls loomed around us, their jagged surfaces shadowy and uneven, illuminated only by the warm glow of the fire, which danced and crackled, casting eerie shapes in the dimness. Despite the warmth it offered, an unsettling chill lingered in the air, heightening my confusion as I tried to grasp where we were.
"Is someone else here?" I wondered, a sense of curiosity washing over me. "Who is she referring to as Mei?" My mind raced with questions as I tried to assess the situation.
"Saff...." my mind turning inward as I searched for a connection with my wolf. The air around me felt charged, yet all I received in return was a suffocating silence. "Saff, enough with the games—focus and scan our surroundings for us," I urged, my voice tinged with urgency. The disorientation I felt was overwhelming; I struggled to piece together the fragments of my memories. "I can't seem to recall what happened or where we are. Do you remember anything, Saff?" But despair settled in as the silence stretched on, pressing heavily against my thoughts.
I felt the sharp impact of a slap against my face for the second time, the sting sharp and jarring. "Stay with me! Don't you dare sleep!" the strange woman urged, her voice filled with urgency and a hint of panic. I grunted in frustration, fighting against the overwhelming heaviness that was settling over my eyelids. Just as I was on the verge of succumbing to darkness, I heard the unmistakable sound of heavy footsteps—multiple pairs, thudding loudly against the ground and drawing closer. Then, I noticed the woman's breath hitch as she let out a sigh of relief, and just like that, the world around me faded away, engulfing me in a suffocating darkness.
I heard the soft, gravelly voice of an elderly man, comforting yet firm as he said, "She will be fine in the next couple of days. She's lucky to have survived this, but remember to make sure she drinks this three times a day for the next month." His words carried a weight, filled with care and concern.
In response, the same woman I had heard earlier spoke up, her voice tinged with relief. "Yes, Doctor Yun, I will make sure," she promised, her tone almost pleading as if to assure him that she would follow his instructions to the letter.
As their conversation continued, I struggled to open my eyes, but they felt so heavy, like they were weighed down by a thick fog. I made another attempt, pushing against the darkness, but just then, I heard the soft click of the door closing. Feeling defeated, I let my eyelids fall once more and ceased my efforts.
I sensed a shift in the atmosphere as the woman beside me, her nose sniffled, and I could hear the tremor in her voice as she cried out in distress. I felt the bed sink slightly as she settled down next to me, her presence comforting yet heavy with guilt. "Meimei, I'm so sorry," she said, her words tumbling out in a rush. "I should have just listened to you, and this would never have happened. How was I supposed to know that he had black shadow guards protecting him from the dark?" Her voice cracked with emotion, and I could feel the weight of her regret in the air.
She then gently wraps her arm around my shoulder, lifting me into her embrace. The soft clinking of a wooden spoon against a ceramic bowl echoes in the room, a rhythmic sound that draws my attention. Moments later, I feel the cool touch of the spoon against my lips, and I instinctively part them to receive the offering. As the rich, warm liquid pours into my mouth, I can taste its bitter depth, and before I know it, my body reflexively swallows. An unexpected lightness washes over me, as though a weight has been lifted, and I slowly manage to open my eyes. As my vision clears, I see the woman's face, etched with concern and relief. "Meimei, oh my goodness, you're finally awake," she gasps, tears brimming in her eyes, reflecting a deep well of emotion. Her voice trembles with a mixture of joy and worry, and I can feel her genuine care radiating from her.
I sat up abruptly, the sudden motion causing my heart to race. Blinking against the disorienting blur, I looked at her—this mysterious woman who seemed both familiar and utterly foreign. Instinctively, I pushed her away, the confusion spilling over as I demanded, "Who are you?" The ceramic clink of a bowl and spoon crashing to the floor echoed in the stillness around us. Her expression shifted to one of deep concern, her brow furrowing as she gazed at me without immediately responding. It felt like she was searching for the right words, but all I could do was press further, my voice trembling, "Where am I?" The questions tumbled out, as frantic as the chaotic thoughts racing through my mind.
"You are my meimei," she finally replied, her tone carrying a mix of urgency and bewilderment that only deepened my confusion. Suddenly, a searing migraine struck me, waves of pain crashing through my skull like a storm. I grasped my head with both hands, desperately hoping to alleviate the throbbing agony. A sharp gasp escaped my lips as another intense pulse of pain surged, making everything around me fade into a haze. In the midst of my struggle, I could hear her footsteps pounding away, driven by desperation, her voice carrying through the hallway, "Call for Doctor Yun; he shouldn't be far!" Her tone was urgent, almost frantic, adding to my mounting anxiety. The moments stretched endlessly, merging into a distorted sense of time, until finally, I heard the presence this 'Doctor Yun' entering.
He spoke to the woman, his voice calm yet laced with concern. "I've never seen anyone with this side effect before. Quickly, boil this medicine and bring it back for her." After what felt like an eternity, I heard her return, breathless and frantic. "I got it! What now?" she panted as she rushed in, holding the medicinal bowl. Before I could gather my thoughts or even focus on her words, the pain in my head intensified once more, pulling me back into the suffocating darkness of a void.
In that overwhelming darkness, a comforting whisper reached me, cutting through the silence. "Phina, don't worry; I am not gone. When the time is right, I will be back." It was the voice of my wolf, steady and assuring. "My strength and power will remain with you. Do not be afraid, and believe in yourself..." As the murmur faded into the background, I heard Saff's voice too, but her words became an incoherent blur, vague echoes that slipped through my grasp. Then, silence enveloped me once more.
When I finally managed to open my eyes again, I was greeted by a room bathed in soft morning light. Sunbeams filtered through the closed windows, casting delicate patterns on the walls. The windows were peculiar, adorned with complex wooden lattice work and covered with paper that diffused the light into a gentle glow, creating an almost ethereal atmosphere. The unfamiliarity of my surroundings struck me, yet there was a strange sense of safety that accompanied the warmth of the sun.