c040

The call comes at 8:46.

Seven bodies found near the Han River, in the city park.

They waste no time at all.

Seokga speeds through the impenetrable night in Hyun-tae's hearse (which he commandeered from the boy with a pointed scowl), Hani and the jeoseung saja silent as the car screeches to a halt near the river. His breathing is shallow in anticipation as they sprint through the cherry blossom trees toward the sidewalk lining the river, their shoes beating against the pavement until the bodies come into view. A stray dog is howling as it runs around one of the corpses who still holds a leash in its bloodied hand.

"Well," Seokga mutters dryly and with some relief, "she didn't kill the dog. I'm sure that counts for something."

Hani cuts him a glare as she kneels next to one of the scattered corpses. "Livers missing," she mutters. "Hyun-tae?"

"Souls gone, as well," the jeoseung saja confirms grimly. Despite the caffeine, he looks impossibly tired, his gaze dull and empty.

"How is that possible?" Hani demands. She's staring down at the bodies, looking so thoroughly shaken that sweat beads on her brow. Or perhaps it's from the coffee. "She shouldn't be able to steal souls this quickly. It's unnatural. Gumiho steal souls through kisses. How did she have time to kiss everybody here?" Seokga meets her eye as Hani whirls to him. "And the twenty others. How—how did she do this?"

"I don't know," Seokga replies grimly. He doesn't know whether it's the bodies or the caffeine, but he's restless, tapping his cane on the ground, shifting back and forth. "But you know what to do," he says, even as his chest twists in apprehension. They are in the eye of the storm. It's only a matter of time before the thunder and lightning and pounding rain overtake them.

Hani nods and opens her mouth as if there is something she wants to say—but she swallows her words and closes her eyes. Seokga watches in curiosity as the change ripples over her, as Hani transforms into a sleek fox, her nine tails alert as she raises her nose to the air, sniffing.

The fox glances toward him with wine-brown eyes—Hani's eyes. Follow, they seem to command before she takes off, a blur of red against the darkness.

"She's fast," Hyun-tae says stupidly next to him.

Seokga grips his cane tightly in his hand even as he feels a surge of pride. Hani is fast. "Keep up," he snaps irritably before he, too, is sprinting, following the red streak before him. His breath rattles in his throat as he pushes his muscles to their limit, every stride making them burn. But the caffeine fuels him, and he manages to follow Hani through the winding city, past closed restaurants and shuttered shops, through narrow alleyways and winding side roads. Hani is like a shooting star flying through the night, a shooting star that he wishes upon—wishes for the two of them to come out of this fight alive. Together.

Hani takes them through the city and toward the small warehouse district lining the Han River. Hyun-tae is breathing raggedly behind Seokga as Hani finally slows to a stop in front of a large, decrepit warehouse. The shingled roof is twisted and distorted, half caved in and rusted with deep orange stains. Seokga's eyes go to the door as Hani transforms back into her human form, spiraling upward until she is once again Kim Hani. The huge padlock on the entryway is laughable, protecting a large, rotted piece of wood which serves as the main door.

"She's here," Hani pants, wiping her brow. "I can smell her. But there are other scents, too." She glances at Seokga. "Other Unrulies are inside. I can't tell what sorts—but the scents coming from inside are unnatural."

"And the eoduksini?"

Hani shrugs, still breathing heavily. "The scent of the demon is impossible to discern. There was no smell in the nightclub when it attacked, and there wasn't one in the convenience store. If it does have an unnatural scent, it's somehow managed to mask it. But logic tells me that he's inside. He has to be."

"How many Unrulies?"

"Thirty. Maybe more. Thankfully, no more plague demons." Hani shakes her head. "The Unrulies we can handle. They're easy enough to kill. It's the eoduksini I worry about. Is it possible that he knows we're coming? That he prepared this army to meet us?"

Seokga's stomach drops, but he fights to remain calm. This is no place for panic. "It is," Seokga admits, "but a fight is still a fight. Between the three of us, we are ready. We know what to expect." I hope.

By the end of this, he can either be a god—or dead.

And what if Hani—no. He cannot think like that.

Hani will be okay. She'll be okay.

They'll be okay.

But…

Seokga takes a steadying breath in. This. This is why he has never allowed himself to—to care for anybody the way he does for Hani. Because caring makes everything more complicated. Caring sends jagged blades of anxiety dragging down his spine, thinking of the worst possible outcome and hoping that it never comes to fruition. Caring has his skin dampening with a cold sweat. He is teetering on the brink of horror, digging his heels in and hoping that he does not fall.

Seokga wonders if Hani is feeling the same terror.

He hopes that she isn't. He needs her mind to be clear, her heart hardened. He needs her to walk out of this uninjured. Okay.

He watches as Hani nods slowly, eyeing the padlock. "I don't think we should go in through there," she says, shaking her head. And her voice is even, all smooth strategy. Good. "We need to take him by surprise as much as we can at this point."

"What do you suggest?" Seokga asks, seeing the way she's cocking her head, beautiful eyes narrowed with careful thought.

Hani turns to him, seeming surprised—and pleased. "I do have one idea." She turns, and points to the caved-in roof of the warehouse, jabbing toward the gaping hole in the middle.

"Oh, no," Hyun-tae moans.

The gumiho grins. "We go in through there."