[Prologue]

Boom-crash!

Lightning strikes through the dark clouds with a flash, followed by thunder so loud it seems to split the sky. At that moment, a delicate figure hiding in the corner beside the large bed appeared briefly before vanishing.

In the pitch-dark room without a single light, Belita’s trembling form, curled up tightly, revealed itself with each intermittent flash of lightning, before disappearing back into darkness.

Her heart pounded at the eardrum-shattering explosions. She prayed for those terrifying thunderclaps to stop.

Please… Stop!

Though shaking like a leaf, Belita’s gaze remained fixed on the large door. The thunder isn’t the only thing making her tremble in fear.

That man might open that door at any moment.

Click, creeeak.

Gasp!

The door she desperately hoped wouldn’t open creaked open with a chilling sound. Her heart began to race madly. She curled up tighter and covered her mouth. She prayed desperately for no lightning to strike. She hoped he won’t see her hidden in this darkness and will turn back.

However,

Boom-CRASH!!! Flash!

Unfortunately, the sky flashed brilliantly with a deafening explosion, as if to mock her. As the dark room momentarily brightened. A pair of piercing yellow eyes stared directly at her, as if knowing her location all along. The moment their eyes met, she became paralyzed with fear, almost unable to breathe.

Thump, thump, thump….

The closer the footsteps get, the tighter her chest becomes. Her heartbeat sounds louder than the pounding rain. She trembled convulsively, trying to make herself even smaller between her legs.

Suddenly, the approaching footsteps stop. In the terrifying silence of complete darkness. Just as the fear completely overwhelms her mind—

Boom-crash! Flash, flash!

The cruel thunder and lightning once again awakened her fear and revealed her presence. In that instant flash of light, she saw black shoes. Almost touching her feet.

Ah…. Her head spun and vision blurred. She felt like prey before a hungry predator. Her whole body trembled and tears streamed down. The continued terror became unbearable.

The cruel lightning flashed again, impatient. As if warning of an even louder thunder to come. Because of this, she met the beast’s piercing eyes. He grabbed her chattering jaw.

The suffocating silence of waiting for both the unpredictable thunder and his next move drove her mad. Rather than endure this endless time, she wished she would just faint, but even as her head spun, consciousness refused to leave.

Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, his words came before the frightening thunder. Yet her heart still plummeted to the bottom. His low, eerie voice was as terrifying as the thunder.

“Belita. Why are you in a place like this? Did you run away from me again?”

“Hic, sob!”

An unchecked sob escaped. Though she quickly bit her lip, the man’s fingers forced their way between her teeth. As his thick fingers entered her forcibly opened mouth, playing as if it amused him, he spoke in a languid voice.

“If you’re going to run away, hide somewhere I can’t find you. Why hide where you’ll always be caught? It’s like you’re asking me to come find you, so I do.”

No sooner did the man finish speaking than another deafening thunder crashed as lightning flashed.

“Eek!”

Lost in thought, she jumped violently at the booming sound, nearly having a fit. Her heart plunged to the floor at the man’s expression visible in that instant of light. Her rigid body went limp at his bared teeth in a grin.

Her weakened body swayed helplessly.

Where had it all gone wrong? Was it trusting him, fooled by his proper appearance? Or was it mistaking him for her savior?

She should not have been deceived by those meaningless smiles he occasionally showed. She shouldn’t have done something as stupid as entering his room that day, frightened by the constant thunder. And that day, she shouldn’t have accepted him so readily. She shouldn’t have thought it was her duty as a wife.

“Where will you hide tomorrow? Well, keep running wherever you want. I quite enjoy this game of hide and seek with you.”

“Mmph….”

Belita obediently opened her mouth to the man who now kissed her as if she belonged to him. Because meaningless resistance only provoked his anger.

Now, her desperate wishes had changed.

She prayed for this night to pass quickly. No, please, if only the frightening thunder would stop. No, if only one of these two terrors would ease her fear… She wished again and again.

“Now, let’s go to bed. Come here quietly.”

The man’s lips curved up as if drawn, as he soothed and coaxed her. The man who picked her up as if handling a beloved wife was her ‘other’ husband who unfailingly visited on thunderous nights.