Takedown

Rumi sat detachedly, hugging her knees. She had just arrived in hell, releasing her inner demons. Now there was nothing to hide. Nothing and no one. Almost no one here cared about her. Gwi-Ma periodically visited her in her head, as he did all his subordinates. Rumi’s POV Just sitting around won’t get me anywhere, I know that. But what else can I do when I can’t get out of this awful place? I’m locked up here, and I hope it’s not forever. When Gwi-Ma isn’t bossing me around, I feel freer, kinder. Every time his voice sounds in my head, it’s as if he erases my memories. For example, I don’t remember how I got here. The last thing I remember is our disastrous concert at the Idol Awards. At first, it was still tolerant, until my solo moment, when Mira and Zoey left. How scared I was when, right on stage in front of thousands of fans, they revealed my marks to the whole world. My fear was indescribable, but quite understandable. I didn’t know how the audience would react to my demon marks. Perhaps it would seem strange to them, but no one had ever banned tattoos before. However, the people, as if dazed, paid no attention to it and didn’t even react when I was pushed off the stage. Such indifference and, on the other hand, active mockery towards me was frightening. And the girls shocked me beyond belief. Pushing me off the stage with a sly smile was the last thing I thought they were capable of. At least, that’s what I thought until then. The next moment, the lights went out. It’s hard to imagine that I was standing there alone, dishevelled and without a jacket, in the dark, in full view of the audience, no less shocked than they were. After that, posts about the break up of Hantrix immediately appeared on social media. Just think, our band broke up in front of everyone after so many years of working together. How sad. What a relief it was when I realised that it wasn’t the girls on stage with me. It may sound strange, but I was really happy. However, my joy didn’t last long. I looked at them with relief, and they looked at me with caution, not daring to come closer. — Rumi…have you been hiding from us all this time that you have demon marks? — Zoey’s question sounded hurtful. — I suspected you were hiding some big secret, but not one this important, — Mira said disappointedly, frowning. — No, no, it’s not like that. I can explain. We have to win, I…we’ll strengthen the honmoon, because Jinu said he’d do everything he could to make Saja Boys lose… But apparently my answer sounded unconvincing, because the girls shook their heads and in the next second pulled out their weapons, pointing them straight at me. — So you’re with him too? Now we didn’t look like friends and not sisters. Now we looked like sworn enemies, which is what we should have always been. A human and a demon are incomparable. But still, tears rolled involuntarily from my eyes. We had been together for so many years as one friendly family, and now they were ready to kill me just because I turned out to be a half-demon. «It is not fitting for a hunter to be a demon» No, no, no, not again. That nasty voice of Gwi-Ma, reminding me of my miserable existence. «Can’t you see the marks on your body? Can you see them? CAN YOU SEE THEM???» The purple patterns on my body glowed brightly. They were everywhere, from head to toe. «You are a demon, and you cannot escape your origins» I suspect he was smirking maliciously as he said this. He speaks as if he is proud of it. But I cannot ignore the gradually increasing headache and hold my temples with my hands. Soon the pain subsides, and I can tolerate the remnants, so I just try not to notice it as much as possible. I stare at the same spot for several hours again. How is that even possible, Rumi? End of Rumi’s POV Meanwhile, on earth, one demon couldn’t find peace. Oh, Rumi, Rumi, who made him fall in love with her? Jinu’s POV Where is she? Where could she have gone right after the portal closed? — Rumi! Rumi, where are you? No one answered, my voice echoing in the darkness. However, one of the hunters spoke to me. The one with two small tufts of brown hair. — You’re looking for Rumi, aren’t you? We haven’t seen her since Gwi-Ma attacked her, — she looked upset. Although, didn’t you abandon her yourselves…on my orders? — The portal is closed, does that mean he won’t come back? — the second huntress joined the conversation. She didn’t seem happy either. — Yes, it’s closed, but…— I gathered my strength to voice the most terrible assumption, — but I think I know where Rumi is. And you won’t like this place very much. They exchanged glances, then turned their puzzled eyes back to me. The taller hunter with pink hair frowned even more, making her eyes seem even smaller. I think her name is Mira? — If you know, then where is she? — In hell, — I spat out the words. — Are you saying she’s being held captive by Gwi-Ma? — the smaller hunter was upset. She even started crying, if I’m not mistaken. How impressionable. — Zoey, don’t cry. Don’t. Otherwise, I’ll cry too. Mira moved closer to her and hugged her. But before she could carry out her words, she gave me a contemptuous look. I, in turn, stepped aside. I definitely had no business being there. I was superfluous. Should I find the other members of Saja Boys? As far as I remember, some of them were also destroyed. True, I don’t really care about my comrades as much as I care about the main huntress. Rumi couldn’t have just disappeared. I don’t know how long I stood there lost in thought, but soon I was called. More precisely, Zoey called me. That’s her name, right? — Come with us. You’re not a dangerous demon, since you’re Rumi’s boyfriend, right? — It depends on how you look at it. I answered very impartially. More like so they would just leave me alone. — You said she’s in hell. How do we get there? — the girl got straight to the point. Just a couple of minutes ago, she was standing there crying in her friend’s arms. Bravo, I’m impressed. — It’s not as easy to get there as you think, — I said, standing right in front of her and smirking. I probably look like a very pretentious demon, but whatever, — Usually, Gwi-Ma himself summons us. There are few, if any, demons who can go there just because they want to, and, alas, I am not one of them. — Okay, what other ways are there to get there? I paced back and forth several times, trying to relieve the tension, but it didn’t go away, only growing with each passing minute. — I don’t know. It was so easy to say. So easy. But how easy is it to trust hunters when you’re a demon yourself? — I don’t know anything. I don’t hear his voice. So it seems to me that he has temporarily lost his power over everyone on earth. Of course, it was inaccurate, but no one was stopping him from voicing his frightening assumption. He turned away from her. Maybe he shouldn’t have turned his back, lest someone stab him with a knife? — I understand you, it’s hard for you. It’s hard for all of us without Rumi. Our leader and your girlfriend. Let me help you? — Zoey must have looked small and helpless. Maybe if I didn’t have a girlfriend, and if I wasn’t a demon, I might have trusted her. But not now. She took a couple of timid steps forward and stopped. She didn’t dare come any closer. And rightly so. — I’m Zoey, — the girl held out her hand for a handshake, — in case you didn’t know. Ha, of course I knew your name. I think you know my name too, but I decided to repeat it anyway. — Jinu. I decided not to respond to her handshake. It’s hard for all of us to trust each other. I decided to leave this deadly place. — Wait, where are you going? I didn’t have time to answer her, and I didn’t want to. Darkness engulfed me. End of Jinu’s POV He’s sure Zoey is thinking, «What did Rumi see in him?» She and Mira went home. There was nothing to do in the arena. What was the point of cleaning up when the honmoon had disappeared and Gwi-Ma could return at any moment? Without a leader, the two of them couldn’t cope. Zoey’s POV Mira and I came home, and our first thought was — no, not the sofa. Without Rumi, even our sofa is no longer the calm and cosy place that can protect us from all adversity. — Mira, what are we going to do? I didn’t want to cry. Okay, I really wanted to, but I held myself back. I didn’t let myself fall in front of the others, even though they didn’t care anymore. Rumi was our rock, our support, our protection. Without her, we couldn’t strengthen the honmoon, which meant we were practically doomed. — I don’t know, Zoey, — Mira plopped down on the sofa. Her face usually didn’t show much emotion, but now it was completely poker faced. She was trying to hold on, at least not to show that she felt as bad as I did. And if Rumi was really in hell, then most likely she felt even worse than all of us put together. I didn’t look at my friend anymore. After taking a shower, I just went to my room. I didn’t even feel like eating after what had happened, even though I’m a big foodie. If we don’t restore the honmoon, the end of the world will come very soon. I went out onto the terrace and looked at the city. Seoul at night is truly stunning in its beauty. If I weren’t a huntress, I wouldn’t have seen the outline of the torn veil. It glowed red, signalling danger. Ordinary people might think that today the sunset was just later than usual, that even the clouds were as red as blood. I don’t even know which is scarier: the blood moon or the torn honmoon? However, one does not exclude the other. If we are destined to die, so be it. I remained standing on the balcony in just a t-shirt and shorts, not afraid of getting cold. Getting sick in such a situation seemed simply unthinkable. I stood there, horrified by the consequences of our decisions. Could it all end so simply? A tear rolled down my cheek. I didn’t wipe it away. Suddenly, I felt a strange warmth. Something settled on my shoulders, wrapping me in protection from the night chill. Someone’s breath touched my cheek, and the cold wind no longer pierced the wet path. Who had wiped it? My surprise knew no bounds. When I turned my head, I saw someone I never expected to see here. — Mystery? What are you doing here? He was standing too close to me, and I blushed. It couldn’t have been any other way. I started to get very nervous, constantly tugging at the hem of my loose shorts. — Aren’t you cold? — Mystery’s voice was as mysterious as he was. His name spoke for itself. If, of course, it was his real name. — N-no, are you? Stupid, stupid, stupid, Zoey. Answer normally, without hesitation. You wanted him to pay attention to you, didn’t you? Well, enjoy it. — I’m toughening up, — he said, deliberately drawing out his words as if tasting them. I wonder what that’s like? Silly girl, don’t think about that. Just focus on the conversation, that’s all. I decided to shake my head from side to side to get the bright blush off my cheeks. I don’t look sick, do I? Apparently I do, since this shy guy slowly touched my shoulder with his hand. Only now did I notice that I was wearing his denim jacket. Stop! Mistery doesn’t wear denim jackets. I moved away and took out my weapon, pointing it at the demon. He raised his hands without resistance, not intending to fight. — Right away? You’re not even going to fight? — I said with a playful smile, not knowing where this coquetry came from. I began to gracefully approach him. — Your words work better than other threats. Mystery, on the contrary, began to gradually move away from me, but I kept up, approaching him step by step. But even when he was almost cornered, he didn’t stop smirking. — Catch me. He disappeared in a red haze, leaving it behind him. Damn him. What an attractive demon he is. And even if I am cursed a hundred times, I will not change my opinion that he is damn handsome. My eyes literally popped out of their sockets every time I saw the demon. — He’s so incredibly handsome. All right. Want to play? Let’s play your game. Patting myself on the cheeks, I started running across the rooftops. After him. We met and parted, but never stopped moving. It was as if we didn’t need to cross paths. To touch each other. Okay, I have to stop. Otherwise, legends will be written about this. By the way, why not write a song about it? I think the girls will approve. The sudden thought cheered me up, and I took a running start and almost caught up with the demon. However, he disappeared again. What a fool, he left his denim jacket with me, which had slipped off my shoulders at the beginning of the journey. I returned to my balcony in the penthouse. I had Mystery’s denim jacket in my hands. I sniffed it; it smelled like him. Smiling, I decided to put it in the wash and return to the sky. It was already much darker, and the red colours were no longer so visible. Goodbye, bloody sky, hello dark night. End of Zoey’s POV The night really promised to be fun. For example, at Mira’s. Mira’s POV When I told you I didn’t know, I really didn’t know what to do, Zoey. — You know, Zoey, I was thinking, we could make Jinu show us the way to hell, or destroy Saja Boys. At worst, we could go straight to the demon king. He loves souls. We’ll definitely come up with a solution… I was walking to your room. And all the while I was talking, I was standing at your door, waiting for you to come out and talk to me. But you never came out. You didn’t even say a word. The silence was a bad sign, so I decided to take action. — Zoey, I understand you’re upset right now. But let’s talk and discuss everything calmly, okay? The repeated lack of response and complete silence were very stressful. I pushed the door open, hoping to see you. Even if you’re sad, we’ll get through this together. Zoey? — Zoey. Zoey? Zoeeeeyy!!! I looked for you everywhere. You weren’t in your room. Maybe you were at the fridge, so I quickly ran to the kitchen, but you weren’t there either. When I lost hope, I got really scared. We lost Rumi, I can’t afford to lose you too. I couldn’t find her anywhere. Did that mean she was gone? Zoey couldn’t have just run away like that. Calming my inner panic, I decided to look for her outside. — Mira? I turned around. No one was there. I didn’t have much time, so I moved on. — Miraaa, — someone’s sickly sweet voice was more annoying than inviting. Whoever it belonged to, I swore I would kill them. — Mira, are you busy? Apparently, it wasn’t going to be that easy to get away from them. My conscience tells me I wanted it to be different. If you don’t want to do it the nice way, then you’ll have to do it the hard way. I spun around abruptly. A little way away from me stood two muscular guys. Probably anyone else in my place would have jumped for joy, but I didn’t even bat an eyelid at those beautifully pumped muscles. Not yet, anyway. — Well, well, we meet again, Mira, — said Abby, swaying his hips slightly. At the same time, he was getting closer and closer to me. — What do you want? — I snapped. I’m sure I had a displeased look on my face and angry eyebrows. — Forgive him, he’s just a little…out of it, — Romance whispered in my ear. My whole body tensed, but there was no need to be afraid. I am a demon hunter, after all. I instantly drew my weapon and aimed it at the nearest demon. To my great surprise, he didn’t even blink. What’s wrong with you, damn Romance? — Be careful with that weapon, Mira, — damn, he even has a nice voice. — I don’t need your advice. — Should I pay attention to you? Mira, why does Romance get everything? — Abby looked down indignantly, imitating the hurt feelings of a small child. You’re not a baby. Despite all his antics, he kept up with me, ending up almost right next to me a few seconds later. Damn it, I just want to walk in peace. Who else is going to look for Zoey besides me? — Let’s take a walk around town. Do you want that? — Leave me alone, you moron. — Abby, why are you so hard on the dame? She might be afraid of you. — I’m not afraid of him! — the answer came out instantly. I almost interrupted Romance. Damn those pink-haired demons, so attractive. Even though I had a weapon in my hands, it didn’t seem to stop anyone. I had to act. I swung at one of them. I didn’t care who I hit, as long as it was one of them. Romance took the blow. Damn, he seemed more sane than the other one. Abby seemed a little surprised at first, even slowing down. I thought he was going to attack me in revenge for his friend, so I prepared to defend myself. However, the demon just looked sympathetically at his friend and continued what he was doing. — So, you like to get rid of people you don’t like right away? Was it just me, or did he smile? — Why are you silent, don’t you have anything to say? Or…are you embarrassed? Come on, be brave. I don’t bite. Yeah, yeah, I’m embarrassed. I’m as shy as Zoey. A brilliant plan instantly formed in my head. Once I’m done with one, I’ll do the same with the other. Smiling seductively and hiding my spear, I walked towards him. It took an incredible effort to suppress my pride. — Do you like bold or shy people? I don’t know how it looked from the outside. Probably, if any of my friends found out about this, they would have a lot of questions. However, Rumi and Jinu are dating. But who said there are no questions about them? — I prefer you to them. It’s not that I was particularly surprised. It was just unexpected…nice to hear him confirm his words. In the form of actions. My resolve began to soften a little, and my interest in Abby heated up like chilled soju in the heat. Not very quickly, but not as slowly as it could have been. As I got closer, it became harder and harder to resist him, but I still found the strength to deliver a stunning blow with the spear that had appeared. The guy lay almost dead. Of course, I could have killed him with one blow, but for now, I just knocked him out. No, no, not that. He had abs…I really hope I don’t look like some kind of obsessed fan with drool running down my chin. I wonder where he worked out? I want that too. I decided to take one last look at them before leaving. Romance looked just great. Even with a bump on his battered head, his crimson hair, damn it, almost like mine, remained clean by some demonic magic. He just lay on the road in a peaceful pose with a blissful smile. You fool, I could kill you. However, I didn’t do it yet. I don’t know why. Maybe I just wanted to admire them? In any case, it’s better to get them off the road. Such beautiful faces shouldn’t be wasted on the road. Maybe I could slip them into the house of some rabid fan? I’m sure they wouldn’t mind. Even if they did, these «important» people would be welcomed into any nearby house. Saja Boys did a great job. They became famous all over the world in just a couple of days. It’s beyond comprehension. I found a house that looked normal. It took some effort to drag these freaks there. Phew, how much do they eat? In principle, I could kill these two and that would be two demons down. Although it wouldn’t have helped much, I still have no idea what drives me, why they are still alive. But I managed to prolong the problem, as the sleeping beauty Romance woke up from her eternal sleep. Whoever I hit first woke up. — Awful awakening, isn’t it, Abby? Abby? — he rubbed the back of his head, which had a little blood on it, then saw me, — oh, Mira, you’re here. The demon smiled his radiant smile, as if I hadn’t been trying to kill him for the past half hour. I couldn’t have left now anyway. I resigned myself to it. There was no point in forcing a smile, nor did I want to. — Yes, I’m here. Just like you. — Did you knock me out? — was that the first guess that came to mind? Am I not as kind and fluffy as you might have thought? I didn’t really want to answer that question. Now, either my brain or my heart wants me to appear to be a sweet and fragile girl, but I single-handedly knocked out both demons. It seems that only now has Romance realised that it’s better not to mess with me. Although, I think they knew what they were getting into. — You’re a very strong girl. An unexpected compliment in this situation. — What about Abby? — I knocked him out too. He fell silent. Yay! I finally knocked the arrogance out of you! I grinned triumphantly. — Although, you know, I think he deserved it, — the guy laughed unexpectedly. I was shocked. Are you happy that your friend got hit on the head too? You’re not the only one suffering. Nevertheless, I smiled too. — Maybe you’re right. For some reason, I suddenly felt ashamed that I had hit Romance on the head. On the one hand, he hadn’t done anything wrong, but on the other, he shouldn’t have stopped me at night. Maybe you wouldn’t have had to hit him on the head. — If you hadn’t come up to me, this wouldn’t have happened, — I said confidently. — You think so? — Romance burst out laughing again. — It’s not funny. — Yes, yes, of course it’s not funny. After laughing a little and calming down, he suggested that I go with him to a party. — Do you think I want to go to a party with you in the middle of the night? — Why not? It’s not late. We’ll leave while Abby is asleep. — Are you competing with your brother? — I decided to tease him a little before leaving. — We’re not brothers. — You sneaky brother! And I thought we were on the same side. Are you going without me? — a voice called from the next room, and half a second later, its owner appeared. Hmm…I guess I should have hit harder. Okay, I’ll make a note for the future. Next time, don’t be afraid to hit that pretty face. — All right, then. I’m not going anywhere with you. Not with you, — I pointed at Abby, then at Romance, — and not with you, — and waving my spear, I approached the door. — Come on, Mira, dear, come with us. I’ll be bored without you. I shook my head. — It’s a private party in the centre of Seoul. Only for idols. «A Private Idol Party». A private evening for idols? I dream of attending this party, but I haven’t had time lately. But in the company of these two fools...it’s a very dubious idea. On one side of the scale is Zoey’s sensible search, on the other is attending the elite private party I’ve been dreaming of. A difficult choice. Maybe I succumbed to the charm of the two demons, or maybe it was my vices, but I agreed. I can’t believe what I did. — Yayyyyy! The boys rejoiced like children. I couldn’t help but smile. Soon we’ll be going to this party. Usually, they promise a good time there. End of Mira’s POV While the world was dying, the fans had no idea. But they are not to blame simply because they are unable to see the honmoon, unlike the hunters and demons. Generations change, as do the three girls whose duty it is to protect people, while the demons wait for their moment. For example, the one who was supposed to bring down the Huntrix group. Jinu’s POV I sat on the edge of the roof, smoking a cigarette. Maybe I shouldn’t have, but I’m too upset. Angry at myself. I’m haunted by the thought that I could have saved her. Rumi shouldn’t have disappeared so easily, she’s a huntress after all. I’m consumed by a terrible sense of guilt. I’m sure it’s worse than death. Gwi-Ma would be too merciful if he gave us all the opportunity to die without the heavy burden of guilt. We all make mistakes, and that’s okay. How many times have I heard that? How many times have I made mistakes and not thought about it? If only I could fix them…save everyone I could. If only…if only I hadn’t agreed to the deal with Gwi-Ma. I could have saved my mother and sister. I would have tried to get to the city by other means, tried to find more money. We would have lived happily ever after. «Yes, you could have saved them all. But you didn’t» — I didn’t… «Do you remember what you did then?» — I left them to starve. «You abandoned them. You left them without a bite to eat and condemned them to eternal poverty» — I abandoned them, — my voice was not my own. I felt nothing but hatred for myself. And for some reason, Gwi-Ma’s voice was stuck in my head, and these words sounded only like his voice. These words do not fit with Rumi at all, who would never say such a thing. Rumi…

You’re my bright light in the tunnel of night.

If only you knew — when you're in sight,

I feel a warm I can’t explain,

As if the world begins again.

Just the thought that I might aid,

I’d give my life, unafraid.

To save you, Rumi, I would try —

I hear your heartbeat passing by.

I run across the rooftops high,

The silent breeze, the midnight sky.

I sense, I dream, I see your face —

Perhaps you'll speak, break through this space.

I know I won't hear your reply,

Perhaps a shadow will drift by.

But I will fight to set you free,

And I won’t stray — you’ll count on me.

I need to know you're safe, alive.

You see — before you, I arrive

With nothing hidden, soul laid bare.

I know the dark still holds you there.

I’d give you all I’ve ever known,

Strike down the ones who’ve cast the stone.

With sorrow deep, no words to say,

Forgive me — I’ve not found the way.

I run across the rooftops high,

The silent breeze, the midnight sky.

I sense, I dream, I see your face —

Perhaps you'll speak, break through this space.

I know I won't hear your reply,

Perhaps a shadow will drift by.

But I will fight to set you free,

And I won’t stray — you’ll count on me.

Forgive me, if you can. For everything. For not being able to protect you; for sowing doubt in your mind. For breaking my promise. For revealing your marks to everyone. I stared at the moon, unable to look away. It is beautiful, of course, but it cannot compare to you. You are beautiful, Rumi, even with the demon’s marks. If only you knew what I want to tell you… End of Jinu’s POV Meanwhile, in hell, Rumi was getting worse with every passing hour. Her demonic nature, which the girls so strongly rejected, was gradually taking over her. Rumi’s POV I’m getting worse and worse. This can’t go on. I stood up abruptly and walked away. Why am I thinking about you, Jinu, even at such a difficult moment?

You were the only one who saw me true,

Who didn’t call my love a sin to rue.

I know, we may not be together,

But try to stand in stormy weather

Where I now stand — with love taboo,

A demon’s heart — what could I do?

To hunt is not a path of peace.

In truth, my mercy tends to cease —

I kill with hands so cold, so fast,

Then run to dreams that never last.

You gave me hope — a second skin,

A light that touched the dark within.

You made me feel I’m not mistake,

Like a new violin to wake.

Not like them — sharp suits, unkind,

With nothing warm inside their mind.

I’m not like them — and you agree,

You don’t call it a sin… do you see?

Now the morning starts to rise,

I still see that bracelet in my eyes —

It held our vows, our secret ties,

And dates beneath the twilight skies.

I admit, I’m half demon — it’s true.

Still, I hope I’ll meet again with you…

You gave me hope — a second skin,

A light that touched the dark within.

You made me feel I’m not mistake,

Like a new violin to wake.

Not like them — sharp suits, unkind,

With nothing warm inside their mind.

I’m not like them — and you agree,

You don’t call it a sin… do you see?

— I hope we’ll see each other again, Jinu. «Do you still want to see him?» I had already forgotten about that obsessive voice in my head. But Gwi-Ma periodically reminds me of himself. «He’s not worthy of you» — Why? — I was confused, but I wasn’t going to believe the demon king’s words. «He lied to you. He’s a demon» — There are good ones too. And I know about the lies, he told me the truth himself. «Remember when it was» My memory helpfully threw up a memory right after the concert at the International Idol Awards. After the «public breakup of Huntrix,» I felt terrible. I just wanted to find the girls and make sure it wasn’t them. And when they couldn’t accept my tags either, I went to look for Jinu. — Jinu! Jinu, where are you? Finding him in one of the corridors, I hurried towards him. I walked as if in a fog in the darkness. There was still no light. — Just tell me it wasn’t you, — I literally ran into him because my suspicions were high enough. But I hoped until the very end that it was all some kind of misunderstanding and that Jinu had nothing to do with it. However, he said nothing. He didn’t admit it, but his silence made it clear that he was also involved. — How could you?! — my voice almost broke into a scream. I pushed him, but it was useless. I’m not as physically strong as he is. — It was all a lie. — No! What we had was real. — I lied to you so you would believe me, — the demon turned around, ready to leave, but I didn’t let him. — That’s not true, I know your story. You’re still a good person. You just made a mistake. The guy turned to me angrily, his eyes shining like the sun, but when he turned to look at me, they instantly stopped shining. He always looked at me with human eyes. — I ABANDONED THEM! Do you hear me? I lied to you. I left my mother and sister alone, without a penny, so that I could bathe in wealth and sleep on silk sheets. I made a deal with Gwi-Ma only for myself. — But there is still a human being inside you. And this is just the voice of your inner demon. You have to fight it. — I can’t fight it! — YOU CAN!!! — I spoke with a double voice in my rage. My own…and someone else’s. The other contralto voice didn’t seem to belong to me, but at the same time it was mine. It was a low, commanding sound. Honmoon appeared in red stripes. — Is this victory? You are the same demon as me, — Jinu concluded grimly, — all we can do is live with our pain. — In suffering, — he stared at me intently. His bottomless black eyes were sad, — as we deserve. The demon disappeared, dissolving into a pink haze. Damn demonic magic. Damn Jinu. I remained standing where I had been during our brief conversation. Was this really the end? «See? You remember everything perfectly. Why should I prove otherwise?» Then another excerpt played. At the same performance. I was singing my solo part of «Golden», and after the next chorus, the lights suddenly went out everywhere. The entire stadium was plunged into darkness. It was an almost palpable, oppressive silence. At that moment, my arms were spread out to the sides. I also froze in surprise, not knowing how to react. The next second, I heard the beginning of our new song, which we hadn’t planned to perform. — Did they return «Takedown?» — I muttered to myself, but remained standing in place. Leaving the audience now would not be the best decision. Neither would playing this song. It wasn’t about the song, although we would hardly be able to unite our fans with «Takedown» when we couldn’t even unite ourselves. It was just a burst of random emotions. Random feelings. A response to all the demons. Meanwhile, the music started playing and everyone could hear it. I quickly assumed a new pose. The spotlights came on and I was once again the centre of attention. Mira and Zoey stood on either side of me and we began to dance. But something went wrong from the very beginning.

Takedown — Hunrix

Takedown, takedown.

So sweet, so easy on the eyes,

But hideous on the inside

Whole life spreading lies,

But you can’t hide, baby, nice try.

I’m 'bout to switch up these vibes.

Zoey pushed me hard on the shoulder, causing me to almost fall unexpectedly.

I finally opened my eyes.

Mira, who was on the left at that moment, repeated her actions. I didn’t sing anymore, leaving it to the two of them. The song really turned out rough.

It’s time to kick you straight back into the night.

'Cause I see your real face, and it’s ugly as sin.

Time to put you in your place, 'cause you’re rotten within.

Before that, the girls walked around me, pushing me. And now they took turns taking off my jacket. The only thing that hid my demon marks.

When your patterns start to show

It makes the hatred wanna grow outta my veins.

Eh

I don’t think you’re ready for the takedown.

My jacket was finally thrown onto the cold stage floor. And they just stood there, smiling maliciously.

Break you into pieces in the world of pain.

A demon with no feelings don’t deserve to live.

I tried with all my might to cover the purple patterns, but no matter how hard I tried, they spread too far. Meanwhile, the idols approached me.

It’s so obvious.

I’ma gear up and take you down.

— We know who you are, — Mira’s slightly hoarse voice sounded right in my ear. My blood ran cold. I was in complete shock. — You’re a demon, — Zoey continued with a sinister smile. — You’re a mistake, — they said in unison. — No! — You’ve been like this since the day you were born. The patterns on my body changed from purple to deep pink. I was stressed. I wanted to scream — and I did. All the glass on the spotlights broke. There was no more light, and no need to be on stage. Without staying a second longer, I rushed backstage in confusion. «Do you understand? You are your parents' mistake. The child of a hunter and a demon» — I am a mistake, — I repeated monotonously, as if not understanding the meaning. «Repeat it» — I am a mistake. «Remember this once and for all. You are a mistake, and you will never be free» — I will never be free. Am I a mistake? End of Rumi’s POV The girl sat there, looking around with a blank expression. Gwi-Ma’s POV I wanted to leave her to suffer in her memories. Finally, there would be lies that never actually happened. But then I had a crazy idea. If it worked with Jinu, it should work on this girl too. She’s a good tool. She would make an excellent weapon against the hunters and the traitor Jinu. Besides, the girl is a hunter herself. That means their weapons won’t work on her. What a brilliant idea! All that remained was to inform the huntress. And it wouldn’t hurt to keep an eye on her, either. The girl was already almost broken. Looking at her, it seemed as if she was breaking from within. I knew how to sow the seeds of discord. She would become the strongest demon of all my subordinates. End of Gwi-Ma’s POV «Come here, little hunter» Rumi followed the silent call in her head. She came and knelt before the ruler of the dungeon. «You will become my greatest creation» — Gwi-Ma did not ask, he demanded. The girl had no choice. She couldn’t control herself anyway. She nodded without enthusiasm. «Find the hunters with Jinu and destroy them all. And then we’ll start harvesting souls» The huntress stood silently, unable to utter a single word. She just stared at one point with glassy eyes. «Who am I talking to? Go, carry out the task» Now she vanished in a bright crimson haze. All the privileges of demons. Meanwhile, the situation upstairs was not happy either. The hunters helped repair the damage at night. And during the day, they also sang. But without Rumi. Without their leader, the team was falling apart, the group was losing its former popularity, giving way to younger bands. Mira fought with the demons closest to her. She came to the more destroyed part of the huge stage, somehow thinking that Rumi might be there. It seemed to her that if she could just find her, everything would be fine. She and Zoey would forgive her for all the lies of these years, and they would recreate the honmoon. The Golden Honmoon could no longer be created in the coming decades or epochs because of the cracks that had appeared in the veil. — Rumi, — Mira called, shouting, but no one answered. There was no sign of anyone. — Harrrr pshshfkkk She heard strange sounds, but quickly realised that she was dealing with the same demons. Had they decided to answer her call? — If I said «Rumi», it means I was waiting for her, not you, dickheads. Idol spoke aggressively, and although the demons did not listen to her, her tone and gestures made her anger clear. The girl’s rage gave her additional strength. Zoey appeared nearby, helping her friend fight off the demons attacking from all sides. After a while, they noticed that people from all over the city were flocking here. The huntresses clearly did not expect such a turn of events, because everyone had been warned that renovation work on the stage would continue for at least another couple of weeks. — Apparently, nothing can stop people anymore, — said Zoey. — But who are they going to listen to? We’re the only singers here, but we didn’t make any announcements. Zoey shrugged uncertainly. She was also curious, so she took a break from exterminating, even though they had already destroyed everyone. No one appeared on stage for a long time. The audience sat in their seats, but their faces showed no emotion. Neither positive nor negative. None of them were dissatisfied with anything, such as the delay in the performance of their favourite idol. It was late afternoon, the sky was gradually darkening, the sun was setting, giving way to the moon that had appeared. The spotlights were working somehow. The hunters thought this was an excellent opportunity to try their hand at creating a honmoon. Of course, they would most likely fail, because the power of three voices was capable of strengthening the veil between worlds. And Rumi was not with them now. She had not been found since that fateful evening. Celine was probably unhappy about all this now. She had hoped that the next generation would strengthen the golden honmoon and thus get rid of the demons forever, and with them, Rumi’s marks. But apparently, the time had not come. There would be no golden honmoon. At least not for the next few epochs, until the veil between worlds was finally restored. The honmoon has thinned so much that demons can freely make forays into the earthly world. But a duet is not as strong as a trio. We need a group leader. Zoey and Mira sang «Golden». Golden words, a song they hoped would be their last. One that would strengthen the golden honmoon. It would put an end to the missing ordinary human souls. It was hard without the lead singer. All their songs were arranged for three voices. When one of them was missing, the song turned into a duet, where you didn’t know who would sing half of the phrases.

Waited so long to break these walls down

To wake up and feel like me

Put these patterns all in the past now

And finally live like the girl they all see

Many people watched our concert, even all Saja Boys came. However, some people may not have found it as interesting as the first concert of the golden ones. How to add a little variety… — Oh, I’m done hiding now I’m shining Like I’m born to be. What a familiar voice. The girls turned around and saw someone they definitely didn’t expect. — 'Cause we are hunters, voices strong And I know I believe. It was her. Rumi herself. She didn’t even have any marks on her, but she wasn’t wearing a jacket. Well, that’s not surprising, since it flew off her at the last concert. — Rumi? — Mira tried not to show her sincere surprise at her friend’s sudden appearance. If she showed up, then there was hope.

We’re goin' up, up, up

It’s our moment

Zoey also noticed the new guest as soon as she finished singing her words.

You know together we’re glowing

Gonna be, gonna be golden

It seemed that Jinu noticed her right away too, but he didn’t interfere. He just stared at her the whole time.

Oh, up, up, up

With our voices

Forever unbreakable

Gonna be, gonna be golden

She sang, looking only at the audience. Although, at one point, their silent gazes met, and Rumi was the first to look away, continuing to look at the audience she was so enthusiastic about. At that moment, it seemed to Jinu that this was his entire universe. Rumi, his world. He was afraid of losing her, just as he had lost his loved ones before. But here, he would not abandon her, as he had done then. Still, the girl looked well, despite having spent several days in hell. Had Gwi-Ma not tortured her? The huntresses tried to approach the third, but she stubbornly refused, skilfully dodging them. At the same time, she managed to make it look like it was a pre-planned part of the programme. This time, she showed off her best special effects when she performed a miracle on herself. With a wave of her hand, marks appeared on her skin, and both her eyes took on a bright amber hue. It seemed as if Rumi was lighting the way in the darkness with her own eyes. The beautiful patterns on her body did not go unnoticed. They also took on a neon pink colour, like a strange poison. Fans most likely considered this show to be masterful effects. The smoke, fire, flight, and multitude of hands behind the Huntrix leader left no one indifferent. She certainly knew how to attract and hold the audience’s attention for a long time.

Oh, I’m done hiding, now I’m shining

Like I’m born to be.

Oh, our time, no fears, no lies

That’s who we’re born to be

Rumi’s skin was a cool blue-purple shade, emphasising the colour of her hair. Her hands moved smoothly to the rhythm of the melody.

You know we’re gonna be, gonna be golden.

We’re gonna be, gonna be

Born to be, born to be glowin'

We shine brightly

You know that it’s our time, no fears, no lies

That’s who we’re born to be.

The song was coming to an end, and according to Gwi-Ma’s plan, it was time to begin the harvest of souls, which had not been possible last time. Again, thanks to Huntrix, in particular Rumi, who this time is under the strictest control of the lord of the underworld. Before summoning Gwi-Ma, Rumi decided to deal with the rest. Zoey, Mira, Jinu, and anyone else who decided to stop her. She didn’t believe that the other members of Saja Boys would want to interrupt her. After all, all demons have the same plans. To serve their master under threat of death. But isn’t it better to die than to live forever in fear? The girls, knowing their friend’s stubborn nature, did not give up without a fight, staging a grand battle. At the same time, they did not forget to look as harmless as possible, although, maybe they would all have memory loss, and Gwi-Ma would simply cast his smoke on them? Seeing that the girls were not very successful, the leader of Saja Boys also joined in, gesturing to the team not to repeat his overly rash actions. He really wanted to get his girlfriend back. In four hundred years, this was his first relationship, just like Rumi’s. They were both strong and stubborn, refusing to admit their weakness and attraction to each other. — Rumi, stop, please, don’t make things worse for yourself and us, — Jinu was sure the warning would not work, but he said it anyway for some reason. — It will only be worse for you in hell, — Rumi snapped, dodging Zoey’s knives, — and you know what, Jinu, I haven’t fully utilised my new abilities yet. Before he could blink, she vanished in a flash of pink mist. — All right, you want to play, Rumi? — the demon grinned, — then let the game begin. At that moment, she reappeared in another place from the same mist she had disappeared from. Jinu also knew how to «teleport» like that, so he decided to use his ability, which was useful in this case. He disappeared and did not reappear for a long time. He waited for the right moment. All this time, Rumi was waving her arms for some reason. She certainly wasn’t calling for help. Jinu’s POV The fans' souls lit up with a red light. As far as I know, that colour is for demons. She doesn’t want to hand them all over to Gwi-Ma, does she? I appeared next to her. Silently and unnoticed, like my tiger Depry with Sassy. The magpie with three eyes on its side probably shouldn’t have been given a name, but since she sits on Depry so often, if not all the time, why not? Our silent game of hide-and-seek continued. She is the strongest of all the hunters, and she is also a demoness. An excellent combination, it would be a sin not to look at her. Did she become Gwi-Ma’s instrument of revenge? Both she and I could disappear and reappear endlessly. At one point, I decided to outsmart her and at the right moment I was close to her and kissed her. We were both in the guise of demons, with pink «scars» and amber eyes. A striking couple. Surprisingly, Rumi did not resist, opening her mouth slightly and responding to the kiss. Her lips were strikingly soft, even for a demon. I hugged her waist, pulling her closer, and she wrapped her arms around my neck, not wanting to let go. A perfect couple. —Mmm, Jinu? — I looked at her, and the hunter’s eyes were human and no longer shone with that evil demonic gleam. — Yes, honey? But I rejoiced too soon, because soon Rumi was holding her head with both hands, apparently calling out to the darkness. I also heard Gwi-Ma’s voice. «Don’t rejoice too soon. I can separate you two» Rumi clearly resisted, and for so long that the demon king had no choice but to inflict incredible physical pain on her. This had happened to me before. It was pure violence. First, moral humiliation, then pain, pain, pain. Rumi, hang in there, I’m coming. Ouch. A flash of headache pierced me. Rumi stood up proudly, looked at me contemptuously, and continued to call out to the souls of her fans. I don’t want to interfere with her, no matter what she’s doing, but I will interfere with Gwi-Ma. At any cost, but not at the cost of your life, my dear.

I don’t want to be a weight,

Make you worry, hesitate.

If you ever call for aid,

I will come through blood and blade.

Gripping tight the microphone,

Like a spy that’s not my own.

I feel like I don’t belong —

But I can’t go where they’ve gone.

Look at me — just look and see,

We’re by the fire, you and me.

We’re standing close, yet still we burn,

And slowly fade — no safe return.

If only we could beat the night,

Without the need to start a fight.

To love you isn’t some mistake,

You shine — a smile the sun would make.

Rumi joined me. We danced and sang, it was like a war. We didn’t even fight, we just talked.

You think that you can do it all,

You’re spinning like a wheel won’t stall.

No trace of doubt in what you do,

No guilt to weigh you down — it’s true.

But tell me — do you still recall,

You always chase a warmer call.

The stars are far, you won’t get near,

Yet try to fly — forget your fear.

Just take a look at me —

Is this all fantasy?

I’m a demon, I can’t pretend.

Can you just try to comprehend?

To strike you down, I might be set —

But say it’s sin — I’ll call your bet.

I won’t believe your holy cries,

Won’t trust your words, won’t trust your lies.

Suddenly, she decided to take things to the next level. The huntress took out her sword and swung it at me. I dodged it nimbly, but I wanted with all my heart for this circus to end. I wanted to save her. When I could, I took her hands and twirled them in the air. It could have been a normal dance, without swords. But this way was even more effective. At times, I managed to reach her true self. The girl’s eyes became more human, a slight smile appeared on her lips. We sang together.

Look at me — just you and I,

Standing close beneath the sky.

By the fire, yet still we freeze,

Slowly fading by degrees.

Wish we’d fight the dark as one,

Hurting neither — harming none.

To love you isn’t some misdeed —

You’re a smile the sun would breed.

Soon she began to kill demons with her weapon, not me. Her sword would have worked on me. «What are you doing? Do you really want to live with these shameful memories?» — Leave me alone. Maybe I do. Gwi-Ma appeared on stage, just like last time. The special effects weren’t new, but like the first time, they inspired a kind of awe. — Maybe you were right, Jinu, — Rumi suddenly spoke in a double voice, — I’m a demon, just like you. All we can do is live with pain and regret. With endless guilt. — That’s not you, Rumi. It’s the voice of a demon speaking through you. — I know this story, no need to repeat it, — she frowned and crossed her arms. I’m sure she can hear his voice now. She’s doing all this on his orders. We’re becoming cold, impersonal beings. Slaves to darkness. — I know I may have been dishonest. I know I lied to you, but I want to make amends, to atone for all my sins. I walked over to her and took her hand. — love you, Rumi, — I squeezed her hands, — and I’m ready to do anything for you. The girl stood motionless, looking into my eyes. I wasn’t being deceitful, I had nothing to hide. Her eyes turned their usual brown colour. — I love you too, Jinu, — the demoness kissed me in response. I didn’t care at all that my boys, the Huntrix members, Gwi-Ma, and the huge audience in the stands were watching all this like a show. Together we are strong, nothing can knock us down. I saw bright blue lights in the souls of the fans. We did it, we managed to ignite them. Now, with their help, the hunters will create a new honmoon, and the demons will be sealed away. Rumi was the first to attack Gwi-Ma with her sword, followed by Mira and Zoey with their weapons. The echoes of their souls helped them with their light. The demon king was defeated, and the girls renewed the veil. It became lighter around us, and the sky was clear and azure. The fans were delighted, and we, Saja Boys, lost to Huntrix in everything, but I’m not angry. I’m not offended, I have Rumi. She and I have already decided what we are going to do now. First, we will help with the restoration of the destruction in the city, and then we will take a walk at night. Together, as a couple. Without judgement or sideways glances. We’re together, and now everyone knows it. I’m glad we don’t hide anything from each other. — Catch up with me, Jinu. Rumi smiled, touched my shoulder and ran straight ahead. I smiled slyly. — Run, Rumi. End of Jinu’s POV