“Are you sure he is Lila’s neighbour?” Yoshi nudged at Dahyun who shrugged back at the same question for the tenth time.

She sat in the back seat of Nick’s sedan with Sejin and Yoshi on her either side. Lila whereas sat next to the driver’s seat and Nick occupied the driver’s seat.

The car drove along the deserted road, the light rain pattering gently against the windshield and giving the gravel a glittering shine. It appeared as though the grey clouds overhead were shedding tears, which blended seamlessly with the drips on the glass. The lonely roadway was bathed in a warm glow from the occasional flickering streetlights.

Dahyun sighed, her breath fogging the window. “Yoshi, I’ve told you—I saw them chatting over the garden just last week. Lila was holding that ridiculous gnome-shaped watering can, and Nick was pretending to be interested in her begonias.”

Sejin chuckled, his fingers tapping a rhythm on the armrest. “Begonias? Really? That’s the secret code for neighbourly talks these days?”

Dahyun shot him a wry look. “Well, it’s either that or discussing the weather. And trust me, Lila and Nick have exhausted the weather topic.”

The sedan glided smoothly through the suburban streets, the engine’s hum a backdrop to their conversation. Lila, perched elegantly in the front passenger seat, leaned toward Nick. Her laughter reached Dahyun’s ears in fragments. But the words? Those remained elusive, swallowed by the confines of the car.

As the sedan turned onto 73 Wood Avenue, Dahyun stole another glance at Lila. The woman’s eyes were alight with purpose, her fingers tracing invisible patterns on the dashboard. Nick listened, his gaze unwavering, as if deciphering the secrets hidden in her every syllable.

“It’s weird,” Dahyun murmured, her voice barely audible. “I can’t hear a word they’re saying.”

Sejin grinned. “Maybe it’s a magical soundproof car. Or maybe—”

“—maybe,” Yoshi interrupted, “it’s because your mind is too busy decoding their expressions. Sometimes, common sense works like wonder.”

Nick Thorne was not a man who belonged to the mundane hours of daylight. His existence thrived in the crevices of night, where reality blurred into something more elusive—a realm of half-truths and whispered secrets.

Charcoal grey and exquisitely fitted, his suit fit him like a second skin. The material had no creases, as if it had never experienced the humiliation of a hurried dressing. His hair had too noticeable silver strands that suggested he had a centuries-old family. Those who saw Nick wondered if he was a ghost or a sign of impending doom because he was a relic, a living thing but too old.

His eyes were pale grey, like storm clouds before they unleash their fury. They held the weight of something intangible. They were eyes that had witnessed love ignite and extinguish, and secrets buried so deep that even the earth had forgotten their taste.

And the way he said Lila’s name, it was like a key turning in a long-lost lock. How did he know her? Or was it that he knew everyone, their stories etched into the lines on his palms?

The car came to a sudden halt, the tires emitting a satisfying crunch against the gravel road. Nick turned around from the driver’s seat. “We’re at the west of Seogwipo. Yoshi," he smiled, "and Sejin, this is your stop.”

Yoshi and Sejin exchanged a quick glance before unbuckling their seatbelts. “Alright, thanks, Nick,” Yoshi said, opening the door. Sejin nodded in agreement, adding, “See you guys later.”

The sound of the car doors opening and closing broke Dahyun’s train of thought. She watched as Yoshi and Sejin stepped out, their figures quickly swallowed by the shadows of the surrounding trees. They waved back at them with a smile.

The car felt emptier, the air heavier as the doors shut behind them.

Nick shifted the car back into gear, and they were on the move again. The rhythmic hum of the engine filled the silence, a stark contrast to the chaotic swirl of thoughts in Dahyun’s mind. She glanced at Lila, who was staring out the window, lost in her own world. Nick’s eyes were fixed on the road ahead, his expression unreadable.

The journey continued in silence, the city lights of Seogwipo gradually giving way to the quieter outskirts. The car finally slowed down as they approached their destination. Nick pulled up to the curb, the apartment building looming ahead. Dahyun took a deep breath, feeling a mix of relief and apprehension.

As the car came to a stop, Dahyun opened the door and stepped out. “Thanks for the ride, Nick."

“No problem, Dahyun,” Nick replied, giving a brief nod. “Take care.”

"See you tomorrow, Hyun. Good night!" Lila cheerfully called out to Dahyun before offering a small smile and turning her back.

As she walked across the empty road, her eyes followed the silhouettes of Lila and Nick, slowly fading into the distance as they approached their apartment building. The otherwise silent street was interrupted only by the distant hum of passing cars. Dahyun observed as those two vanished into the building, the door closing behind them with a soft click.

In that moment of solitude, a peculiar sense of detachment washed over Dahyun. The night air caressed her skin with a cool embrace, contrasting sharply with the comforting warmth of the car she had just left. Pausing briefly to collect her thoughts, she finally pivoted and strode away, the soft echo of her footsteps accompanying her on the journey back to her own apartment.

Home, sweet home.

…

Lila fumbled with her keys as she and Nick stepped into her apartment, the door closing with a click behind them. She always fumbled with her keys. She fumbled the last time too, right?

It was late. The evening had been delightful, with lots of laughter and Enlai's antics. But with no route back home, they almost thought they'd have to walk the entire distance, reaching home at dawn. When they had no other means to get home, Nick appeared like an angel—almost as if their prayers had been answered. 

But now, in the silence of her home, the atmosphere felt different; tense, almost suffocating.

Nick leaned against the wall, watching Lila walk about the room. "That was quite a drive, wasn't it?" he asked, his voice casual but with a hint of something she couldn't quite place.

Lila nodded, attempting to overcome the unease that had fallen over her all of a sudden.

"Yeah, it was fun," she said, her voice empty even to her own ears. "Everyone seemed to have a good time."

“You seemed a bit quiet, though. Is everything okay?”

Lila forced a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m fine, just tired, I guess.”

“You know, Lila, you can tell me if something’s bothering you. We aren't just neighbours; we are friends too.”

Nick's words were hardly audible, fuzzy. Lila felt her head spin, the apartment's walls suddenly seeming too close. She stepped back, her thoughts racing across the last several days. Something inside her pushed her, giving way to a primal need to run.

Without thinking, she turned and dashed to the door, her breath coming in short, rapid gasps. But before she could reach it, Nick's hand sprang out, trapping her arms in a vice-like grasp.

“Lila, stop!” he commanded, his voice sharp. Turning her to himself he breathed hard.

“Focus on my eyes. Just my eyes!”

Lila’s heart pounded as she stood in the dimly lit room, the shadows dancing ominously on the walls. She couldn't move and Nick’s intense gaze gave away on her, his presence both commanding and unsettling. His dark black eyes turned emerald, then ruby and finally glowing yellow.

The glow seemed to creep inside her soul, graze and grit through her skin. The air felt heavy, each breath strained. She could feel that whatever was about to happen would change everything, just like that day.

Her eyelids grew heavy as she followed his instructions. The world around her began to blur, the edges of her vision softening. She felt a strange sense of detachment, as if she were floating above her own body.

“You’re doing great,” Nick continued, his voice a steady anchor in the growing fog of her mind. "I want you to listen to my voice and only my voice. Let it guide you.” His left hand found a home on her neck, fingers caressing her nape. The words kept flowing steadily, like a mantra.

Lila felt a profound sensation of serenity sweep over her, and her head bowed gently as her senses descended more into a trance. All of her anxieties and fears vanished in that instant, and her body felt limp as Nick gingerly held her up to make sure she wouldn't collapse.

“Good,” Nick continued, a hint of satisfaction in his voice. “Now, I want you to remember that night. The night you tried so hard to forget. Can you see it, Lila?”

Lila's body shuddered as the memories began to resurface, like ghosts emerging from the depths of her heart. Bits from that fatal night played out before her eyes like a reel of film; The mantis crawling, the man's frightening form shrouded in shadows, the claws of fear wrapping her heart, and the piercing scream that rang through the darkness.

"That's correct. It's all coming back to you now, right?" Nick scoffed. "You totally blurted us out that night, thanks to my dim-witted brother. He tried to take over and failed. So here I am, stepping in to rescue the day. What would he do without me?"

Lila's lips gently parted, releasing a soft groan. Fear, rage, and an unnerving sensation of calm washed over her. It was all bitter, an aftertaste or a regurgitation up her throat.

Nick took another step closer, his face inches from hers. “Do you understand this, Lila?” he asked, his voice menacing. “You belong to me now. And you will do whatever I say.”

Lila nodded.

Nick’s smile was one of triumph. “Good. Now, when I count to three, you will wake up, forgetting all of this and ready to follow my every command. One… two… three.”

Lila’s eyes fluttered open, the room coming back into sharp focus. She was on her sofa, inside her home. She could feel a strange sense of clarity, as if a fog had lifted from her mind. With a serene, accepting face, she raised her gaze to Nick.

"Did I fall asleep in the car again?"

“Yep,” Nick chuckled, his grin widening. Bending over, he ruffled her already messy hair, “Home sweet home Lila.