The dinner table felt like a set up for a gothic movie. Elegant and exquisite would not be the best words to describe the luxurious dining hall.

You have seen rich people but these people were more than just rich. The whole atmosphere and the setting was making you nervous.

What if you messed up in front of his family?

What if they think you were not perfect for Jiwon and try to cancel the wedding?

What if they try to convince Jiwon to break up with you?

What if—?

There were so many what if scenarios you could not keep out of your head. No matter how many times Jiwon assured you, you still could not calm down. After all they were a bunch of strangers to you––who were going to judge your every move.

You felt a little pressure on your hand, Jiwon reassured you that everything was going to be okay.

Almost every one was present at the dinner table. His grandfather sat at the head of the table. A man probably in his seventies. He had not looked at you yet. You wondered what was going through his head right now since he was the one who opposed your marriage all this time yet finally agreed.

You averted your eyes from him and looked at Jiwon's parents who were sitting just in front of you. His mother gave you a small smile and you returned it back. His older cousin Sana was seated beside them and she was talking with the girl you had seen earlier but not introduced yet so everytime she would smile you returned the gesture too.

“Are you okay?” Jiwon whispered near your ear. He had not left your hand from the moment you two walked down. He was caressing your hand under the table where no eyes could see.

“Just nervous” you said to him. Everything felt overwhelming.

Soon the servants filled the plates with different kinds of food. After the journey and the weird encounter on the road you did not feel like eating anything but you still grabbed your fork and took a bite of the steak on your plate. The meat melted in your mouth as you chewed it slowly.

You stared at Jiwon's plate only to find him eating the salad. You frowned at that.

Jiwon loved eating meat.

Maybe he too was tired like you and did not feel like eating something heavy for dinner.

“Where is grandmother”? Jiwon suddenly asked his grandfather who was eating with such a manner it would put even the royals in shame. At Jiwon's question he stopped his fork midway and looked at him with his piercing eyes.

“She is not feeling well so she is resting” he replied.

“I will see her after dinner” Jiwon stated as he looked at his father who avoided his eyes.

“Which part of ‘She is not feeling well and resting’ did you not understand?” His grandfather arched his brows. His tone had the final authority.

It looked like their relationship was not that good.

Jiwon clenched his jaw but did not ask anything else.

You put your hand on his thigh.

You two had just arrived and had to live with them for a few days. It was better not to argue with anyone.

Dinner was silent after that. Nobody tried to bring up anything. Maybe it was something they followed but it suffocated you.

Small steps.

You reminded yourself.

The mansion felt oddly silent at night. There were no other mansions nor houses near. A solitary confinement in the middle of the woods. The hallways made you nervous as you walked with Jiwon towards your room. It was too big and spacious for a single person. You wondered if you would be able to sleep at all without him beside you.

“I don't think your grandfather likes me very much,” you said to him as you stood in front of your room.

“He doesn't like anyone so you don't have to worry about him” he assured, pulling you in his embrace. “Just a few days and we will be on our own”.

He was right.

Just a few days.

And everything would be alright.

You buried your face in his chest not wanting him to go but you did not want to upset the elders too by not accepting the traditions.

“You should go and sleep. I am sure you are tired” he said while caressing your back.

“Can't you sneak in at midnight”? You joked.

A chuckle left from his lips “I could do that”.

“Now go” you pushed his chest but he held your hands. A frown appeared on his face as he lifted your hand and stared down at the ring on your finger.

“I don't remember wearing you a ring like that” he tilted his head confusedly.

You stared down at the black ring.

“Your sister Sana came by and measured my ring size saying she wanted to give me a diamond ring or something but I couldn't take it off after that. I'll try to take it off tomorrow” you told him.

“Still! This ring is so strange” he said, staring down at the ring.

“Don't worry i will take it off” you assured him and he finally nodded his head.

When Jiwon finally walked off you closed the door. The silence felt so heavy and uncomfortable. You walked towards the bed and sat down. It was late but you still took your phone and switched it on. You haven't talked to your parents since you arrived. The last time you called them you were still in Seoul.

When the screen lit up you dialed your mother's number but the call could not be connected. When you tried to dial again you saw that there was no single.

“Fuck” You muttered in frustration and threw the phone on the bed.

Not even a damn single.

Great.

Just great.

How the hell are you going to survive here?

Your body felt exhausted as you lay on the bed, big enough for even three people.

The ceiling was dark as you stared at it. If only Jiwon could be here with you right now.

“Just sleep” you told yourself as you finally closed your eyes, hoping to find some solace in your sleep.

After some time, when sleep had finally taken over you, a shadow slipped inside your room from the window and the room had started to fill with blue mist.

The shadow stood near your sleeping form, its hand stretched out to touch your skin.

•••

Something wet clinged beneath your feet.

Confused, you stared down but could not see anything apart from the darkness surrounding you. You blinked your eyes, trying to adjust the darkness but no there's nothing you could see. A chill went down your body as you walked ahead slowly.

“Jiwon” you called out.

But there was no answer.

Where did he go?

And where were you?

The darkness surrounding you started to clear slowly, leaving only blue mist in the air. An uncomfortable feeling started to bloom inside your body as you continued to walk through the blue mist. You lifted your hand to touch anything but only the mysterious mist. Fear bloomed in your heart but you had no choice but to walk ahead.

“Jiwon” you continued to call his name but no matter how loudly you called out his name there was no answer. You were probably alone trapped in this mist.

What was happening?

Why was it happening to you?

It was strange yet similar.

Something like this had happened before.

“Jiwon, where are you?” you slowly whispered under your breath.

A tear escaped from your eyes as you looked everywhere like a mad woman, trying to find someone, trying to find Jiwon.

Suddenly you saw a shadow ahead of you. Your heart raced as hope filled your body. You walked faster towards the shadow but with every step it felt like the distance only grew for you. You frowned, not understanding why that person was not trying to reach out.

Your hand won't reach that shadow but it was there. Silent, watching, observing and waiting.

There was a desperate need inside you to reach out to that shadow, silently waiting for you. You could feel its eyes on you but couldn't reach you. The mist grew thicker, making it impossible to look ahead. You tried to clear it from your vision but it was as if that mist was only here just to consume you.

In between the mist, there was a soft touch on your body from behind. You gasped and turned around but could not see anyone. But the touch felt so real and warm, leaving your skin burning.

A touch so familiar yet it felt forbidden.

Your breath was shaking. Confusion swirled in your mind as you started to look around for that shadow again.

There was someone.

Someone watching you, touching you yet not getting close enough to you.

“Someone help me please” You desperately whispered and a sharp pain clutched your heart. A pain so sharp it felt like you were stabbed. You placed your hand over your heart but there was nothing yet the pain felt so real.

“Y/N” a voice called your name. It's low and husky.

“Who?” You whipped your head around to see that person but again there was no one.

The blue mist had now surrounded you completely, as if trying to swallow you.

“Y/N” a cold breath against your neck, sending shivers down your body.

There it was again. That feeling of being touched by something forbidden.

You exhaled a deep breath and stayed rooted in your place.

“It's okay, it's just a dream” said the voice again.

A dream.

It was just a dream.

Then why did it feel so real?

The warm breath.

The shivers running down on your body.

Or the sudden grip on your waist.

Your vision was foggy, filled with blue mist as you could feel two hands roaming their way on your body.

The touch was warm and igniting making you forget about everything else.

Large hands surged upward on your body, leaving you breathless. It was suffocating, uncomfortable yet every part of your body tingled at the sudden touch. When the mist-like hands reached your throat you bent your head backward, feeling something invisible supporting you.

It was touching you, feeling you up, wrapping itself around you like a vine.

The mist swirled around you. The hands around your throat caressed the skin gently.

You closed your eyes, wanting to wake up from whatever nightmare it was but the touch on your body felt warm, as if something alive was touching you.

One of the hands slides down your body, slowly caressing your neck and then reaching over your breast. You gasped at the firm touch while the hand slithered down your waist till it reached your abdomen. The fingers move in circles to feel your skin more.

If it was a dream then why did it feel so real to you?

The touch made you arched your back, leaning on the shadow standing behind you more. A warm breath fell on your neck, so alive and so real.

How could it be a dream?

But shadows don't hunt anyone in reality.

Does it wrap itself around someone like it would devour them?

Neither its hands would grip your body so intimately.

The hand around your throat remained motionless while the other one slither between your thighs.

You abruptly opened your eyes, still foggy from the unexpected dream. You breathed heavily while getting up from the bed. The room was basked in darkness, only a little bit of moonlight was seeping through the window. You looked around the room but there was nothing, only your loud breathing could be heard.

You gulped and ran your fingers through your hair.

A nightmare.

It was just a nightmare.

But it felt too real.

Just what was happening with you?