Chapter 36

"I said run!"

It was too late for that, as the sky thunders, illuminating the place for a brief moment. The men who stood before the woman all dropped dead on the dirt. Chaeyoung wanted to run but something is stopping her. It was like gravity itself increased keeping them on their place.

"Wh-what is this?" Jeong struggled to move. She can't even move a finger. The two cousins dropped to the ground as if they gained tons of weight and can't lift themselves up.

"Chae, Jeong close your eyes." Akira instructed. Unlike the two she's still standing in her two feet.

"Why-"

"Just do it!"

Hearing the tone of their friend, Jeong and Chae closed their eyes immediately.

"Don't open them until I told you so. When you felt like you can finally move run away. Call Mina and escape."

"But what about you-"

"I'll be fine. Just follow what I said. Trust me." After saying the last one, Chaeyoung made up her mind to completely trust her friend. She don't have any idea what is happening but she has to follow the girl.

Akira stared at the woman in front of them. Eyes glowing in red, she felt really pissed. She wanted to fight her but she needs to keep her friends into safety first. The woman finally turned to face them. Akira froze. It was a Mina but something is different on her. She's different. Her eyes doesn't glow in blue. Instead, it was purple, a color she hated the most. The Mina in front of her is a lot younger.

"Who are you?" She asked.

"Doesn't matter I am here to take her." The little kid spoke with her deadly cold voice. The killing intent is leaking around her. It's not yet her real killing intent but the air around them is dense enough. No wonder the two girls can't stand it. This is a lot stronger than the normal Mina has.

"Sorry to break the news to you but I can't do that."

"Why? Aren't we on the same side?" She took a step closer. Akira felt weary. She has the feeling that the kid in front of her is a lot stronger. She can only manage to keep her away for some time. Still, she chose not to faze.

"Ani." She smiled. "Do I even know you?"

"I think you already know who I am. I can read your expression well Akira-sama." The kid smiled grimly. The wind blows with the cold air. Akira steeled herself. It's not the time to get scared by some mere child.

"Father told me to kill whoever gets on my way. Are you one of them?" The child version of Mina is more scary to see. It makes her remember what happened on the massacre ten years ago. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she smirked.

"Chae call her now." She instructed. Chaeyoung still has her eyes closed.

"But I can't move-"

"I'll do something about it but when you do call her immediately. There's no chance to run now." Akira's serious voice makes Chaeyoung more scared. Specially, Jeongyeon who have no idea what the hell is happening. This must be related to Mina. That means it wasn't normal at all.

"Okay." She nodded.

"Good. I want you to promise not to look on our way okay?"

"I promise."

"That's my friend." Akira smiled. A new fire rage inside her. A purpose to fight and stay alive.

Now then let's see what she can do...

...

They are currently having their break when Mina finished her phone call and stood up abruptly. All eyes looked at her in confusion. Nayeon decided to ask first.

"Hey Mina where are you going?" She asked.

"Akira is there." She answered shortly while putting on her jacket.

"Where?" Nayeon paused and turned to her with a frown.

"On your place."

"What?!"

Mina looked at her and then turn to the door and left. Nayeon rushed to get her things too and followed the girl shortly.

"Wait Mina. I'll drive." She took the key from the girl and get inside the car first. Nayeon drove them above the speed limit. Mina doesn't mind. She preferred to arrive immediately too. She tried to call again but Chaeyoung won't answer.

"What are you saying that Akira is in our house? I mean how?!"

"She's the friend that Chaeyoung and Jeongyeon met before." She answered.

Nayeon thought for a moment. She tried to remember everything Jeongyeon told her for the past two weeks and realization hit her.

"Woah I can't believe it. Did she just- aish that sly fox." She hits the acceleration in frustration. The car ran faster that she doesn't even mind she'll hit someone. After some minutes, they arrived at their shared apartment but it was empty.

"Huh? you said they will be here?" She asked in confusion. Mina frowned too. She was going to call the girl again when her phone vibrates first. It was from Chaeyoung.

"Where-"

"Help we're at the park near Jeo-" The line was cutted off. Mina felt an ominous feeling creeping in her spine. The first time she felt scared for the past ten years.

"Do you know where is the nearest park here?" She immediately asked the girl beside her. Her eyes glowing in intense blue.

"Ara I'll lead the way." Nayeon ran first and she followed suit.

...

Akira struggled to block the child's attack even thought she's using her tails already. She manifested eight, if she were to use another one, sure she can do better but her strength will deplete faster.

"You are strong." The kid commented.

"So you are." She chuckled. The smaller Mina tried to attack again but this time, she felt it's much stronger. The impact caused her to step back. She gritted in annoyance, one thing she hates is when she knew it's a losing battle for her. The child did not look like she is struggling on anything. Her attacks is even harder to block and dodge since it can't be seen.

"Chaeyoung did you call her?!" She asked while still trying to protect the two of them.

"I did but the line cut off."

"Shit." She cursed under her breathe. Someone is behind this woman and canceling the signals.

"Aki are you okay?" Jeong asked her in worry. She can't see but can feel the danger that her friend is facing for them.

"I am." But I can't hold it much longer if she'll continue to attack me like this. It's hard to fight when you have someone to protect in the battlefield. Sparing a hand to shield and another to attack is not really her forte.

Chaeyoung bit her lips. She felt useless at the moment. She hates herself for always being the one protected. Akira is her friend and she's betting her life for them. It's always been the same. Ever since she was a kid, someone will protect her. If not Mina, the other- Wait there was another?

Suddenly, her headache came. A pain shot up on her brain like she was being stabbed inside. She grunted in pain and crouch down. Flashes of memories played in her mind.

"Chaeyoung run!"

"Then I will hold onto this"

"Okay. I Akira promised to help my friend Chaengie."

"Father don't!"

"Good kid stay still okay?"

"NO!"

"You will forget that this ever happened."

"Goodbye Chaeng"

After the flashes of event, Chaeyoung gasped and tried to catch her breathe. Jeongyeon heard her laboured breath and scooted closer to her. She was having cold sweats and her body is trembling. Jeong noticed it and asked her worriedly.

"Are you okay?"

Chaeyoung didn't answer. Instead, she opened her eyes and saw the fight in front.

"M-Mina." She stuttered. The child in front of them has the same face of her unnie ten years ago. She can't believe it herself. Looking at her makes the memories triggered again. She was forced to go back to the time Mina and her separated. She collapsed on Jeongyeon's arms, freaking her cousin in panic.

"Chaeyoung!"

Akira heard her and immediately turned to them in worry. She saw Chaeyoung who's unconscious in Jeongyeon's arms. That distraction made the kid to land an attack on her. Good thing that she managed to dodge in the last seconds but still her arms got caught on it and was now heavily bleeding. Fuck! She gritted her teeth in pain.

"What happened?" She asked, still prioritizing the two behind her.

"She suddenly lost concious-" Jeong looked up on her. Her eyes widened seeing the red tails coming from the woman's lower back. She don't know if she was seeing it right or she had gone crazy. "Akira y-you..."

"I'm sorry I will explain when we survive this. Please trust me I'm on your side." Akira bit her lower lips when she realized that the older woman discovered her secret. Jeong tried to calm herself and snap out of it. She noticed the bleeding arm of her friend.

"You are injured!" She panicked.

"I am oka-"

"You tend to get distracted Akira-sama." The child tried to attack her again in surprise. Akira was sure that it was her end when suddenly the kid stopped moving mid air. That's when she noticed the other presence on the other end. It was screaming death around it. Finally!

"Why do kids these days are so aggressive?" The familiar cold voice of the woman with those steeled intense blue eyes. The child decided to pull back. Mina was facing her back but Akira could clearly see the wide smile on those identical lips.

"Good evening sister. Mina is here to greet you." She turned to face the woman with a small smile. Her eyes flickering purple in excitement. Seeing the child, Mina didn't faze. Akira finally slumps down. Her arm is slowly healing back.

"Did that old man missed me too much that he made a fake me?" Mina smirked at the child her.

"Father is waiting for you to return." The kid's way of speaking is calm. She wasn't even scared a bit from the woman in front of her. If Akira were to compare the two, the child seems to be on the upper hand.

"Jeong!" Nayeon rushed to her girlfriends side.

"Nayeonie why are you-" That when she noticed the glowing blue eyes of her lover. "You are-" She trailed.

"I will explain everything after we get you two in safety. What happened to Chaeng?" She turned to the sleeping girl on Jeong's arms.

"She just collapsed." She shortly answered. Jeongyeon's mind is in riot at the moment. She is confused on what is happening, who are these people, why is her friend like that and her girlfriend having a blue eyes. She knew it wasn't contacts. The way it slightly glow in the dim night confirms it.

"Aish it's your fault isn't it?!" Nayeon glared accusingly at Akira.

"Hold up lady how was this my-"

"You brought them into danger-"

"Nayeonie it wasn't her fault." Jeong tried to stop her.

"How can you be so sure-"

"Because she protected us! If she wasn't here do you think you will see the two of us still alive?" She angrily looked at her lover. It wasn't the time to get into fight but she can't help but feel frustrated.

...

"Tell him he lost his daughter from the moment he chose his madness." Mina took a step forward. She's slowly releasing her killing intent.

"Hmm but did you know? You're stubbornness will cost your friends lives. He even specifically appointed me to kill her." She crossed her arms and looked at the woman behind her who's still unconscious.

"Do you really think I'll let you?" Mina's demeanor turns into a darker shade.

"Ani that's why I am here." She smiled and slightly bow.

"So you think you can defeat me?" Mina snorts.

"Of course I can. I was made to replace you after all." She grins and shaw her gummy smile but the feeling wasn't sweet at all.

"Oh isn't that sad on your part?"

"Hmm not quite. Why? do you feel sad now? I can't feel it though." She frowned and acted dumb. Mina let out a sigh. Well if she was her clone, surely she can't feel emotions too.

"I don't feel sad. I think it's the excitement of killing you with my bare hands."

...