Yuzuha carefully unpacked the items she had brought from her previous house. As she placed them down, a framed picture slipped from the bag, crashing onto the floor with a dull thud. Heart pounding, she knelt down and picked it up. Her breath hitched as she stared at the image—her beloved dog, Inui, sitting beside her and Inui. They all looked so happy.
Her vision blurred as tears welled up in her eyes. Her lips quivered, and a choked sob escaped her throat.
"W-why?Why did that monster kill my innocent dog? He was the only family I had left..." she whispered, clutching the frame to her chest. Her shoulders trembled as she broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.
The sudden ringing of her phone jolted her back to reality. She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and glanced at the caller ID. Aoi.
Taking a shaky breath, she picked up. "H-Hello..." she answered, struggling to steady her voice.
"Yuzuha? Are you crying? What happened?" Aoi's concerned voice crackled through the receiver.
"Someone... killed my dogs yesterday."Yuzuha whispered, her voice breaking as fresh tears streamed down her face.
Aoi fell silent for a moment, processing the weight of her words. Then, with a determined tone, she spoke.
"I know how much they meant to you, Yuzuha. But listen, if you let grief consume you, your body and mind will suffer. You have to fight through it. Reality is cruel, but you need to keep moving forward."
Yuzuha inhaled sharply, trying to ground herself in Aoi's words. "I... I don't know how to move on from this."
"That's why you need a distraction. I arranged a party at the club tonight. Come with me, just for a bit. You need some fresh air, and maybe it'll help."
Yuzuha exhaled slowly, nodding to herself. "Yeah... I'll come."
"That's my girl." Aoi said with a small laugh. "See you at the club.
Night at the Club
The heavy bass vibrated through Yuzuha's chest as she stepped into the dimly lit club. The flashing neon lights bathed the space in an eerie glow, casting long shadows that danced across the crowded dance floor. Eyes turned toward her the moment she entered.
She wore a dark blue silk dress that hugged her figure, its short hem revealing her long legs. Her sleek black hair cascaded down her back, reaching her waist, and her honey-colored eyes shimmered under the neon lights. A light touch of makeup accentuated her features, making her look effortlessly ethereal. She walked with quiet confidence, the click of her heels echoing through the room.
"Damn, she's even prettier in real life," one guy murmured to his friend, eyes fixated on her.
The club was packed—young and old, dancing, drinking, lost in their own worlds. Some whispered sweet nothings in dark corners, while others slipped into the VIP sections, a place only the elite could access.
Yuzuha frowned. What kind of club is this? She had assumed it would be a regular venue for fun, but the atmosphere felt... different. Too exclusive. Too dangerous. Is this even legal?
Her thoughts were interrupted when a well-dressed man—probably a businessman—grabbed her wrist.
"Come with me, pretty girl. You'll enjoy it,"he said, smirking.
Yuzuha's stomach twisted in disgust. Forcing a polite smile, she replied, "No, thank you."
But he tightened his grip. "Come on now, don't be shy. I know how to treat a woman."
Her patience snapped. She yanked her hand away. "How many times do I have to say I'm not interested?"she hissed.
The man's expression darkened. Just as he raised his hand as if to strike her, Aoi appeared, grabbing his wrist mid-air. Her eyes were filled with cold fury.
"Hey, old man, don't make a scene here. Find someone else and leave Yuzuha alone,"Aoi said icily. "Or I swear, I'll break your damn arm."
The man gritted his teeth but backed off, muttering curses under his breath as he disappeared into the crowd. Aoi exhaled, rolling her eyes.
"You always attract trouble, don't you?"
Yuzuha forced a small smile. "Guess I do."
Aoi smirked. "Well, let's enjoy the night, baddie."
As they moved through the club, Yuzuha's gaze landed on a shadowy figure sitting alone in a corner. He wore a long black coat and a matching mask. The dim lighting only made his presence more ominous, but what sent chills down her spine were his piercing blue eyes, glowing like an abyss.
A shiver ran down her body. Who is he? Why is he staring at me like that?
She shook her head. If he were the murderer, he wouldn't be stupid enough to show up in public.
Still, she couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that he was watching her too closely.
Inside the club's restroom, Aoi leaned over the sink, gripping its edge tightly. Her pupils were dilated, sweat dripping down her temple. Her breathing was uneven.
"You fucking bitch, Yuzuha... Everyone always looks at you. It's never me..." she hissed under her breath.
Frustrated, she reached into her bag and pulled out a small box. She opened it, but her hands clenched in frustration.
"Shit. No more pills... How the hell am I supposed to survive without them?"
She bit her lip, her body craving the relief of the drugs. She squeezed her arms, moaning under her breath. "I need it. I need to feel something..."
The restroom door creaked open.
A tall man, easily over 6'4", stepped inside. He wore a long black coat, a mask covering most of his face, but his ocean-blue eyes glowed unnaturally.
Aoi turned, her desperation momentarily replaced by intrigue. "You wanna fuck?"she asked, leaning against the sink. "Go get a motel."
The man chuckled darkly. "Not interested. But I do have something you want."
At the mention of drugs, Aoi's eyes gleamed. "You have some? Give them to me."
The man pulled out a small packet, dangling it between his fingers. "Tsk, tsk. Nothing comes for free."
Aoi scowled. "I have no money. You want my body instead?"
His gaze turned cold. "Stop flattering yourself. I just need information."
Her lips curled into a smirk. "About who?"
"Yuzuha," he said flatly. "Tell me everything about her. Record your conversations. Every detail. If you do that, I'll make sure you never run out of supply."
Aoi hesitated before grabbing the drugs and the card he offered. Her fingers trembled, but she nodded eagerly. "Deal."
As she left, the man smirked under his mask, whispering to himself.
"No one escapes the Dark Shadow. Yuzuha... where will you hide when both the outside and inside betray you?"