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[ M] - [Anıl Emre Daldal]

The sky had deepened into night, and shadows blanketed the streets.

Ni-ki frantically inquired at every shop he passed, his worry mounting with each fruitless search. Eventually, he stumbled upon the dark, grimy alley where Vienna had been dragged.

The sight that greeted him was grim: Vienna's school bag, textbooks, pencils, and mobile phone were scattered haphazardly across the muddy ground. Her skirt and the red string hung limply amidst the debris.

With trembling hands, he collected Vienna's belongings, stuffing them into her bag. He carefully wound the red string around his fist, its significance heavy with unspoken promises. His heart raced as he pressed on, determined to find her and bring her back from the shadows.

A jagged streak of lightning cut through the pitch-black sky, casting an eerie light on Ni-ki's ghostly pale face. He ventured deeper into the alley, the wind whipping a white scrap of fabric to his feet. It was a piece of cloth he recognized from his bathroom, hanging innocently from the clothes rack.

As he pushed through the tangled underbrush, Ni-ki found Vienna huddled in a corner, her body a fragile, trembling form. Her once pristine school uniform was torn and stained, her skin marred by countless bruises and scratches.

She lay there, a stark contrast against the muck, as if she were a lone, bloodshot eye abandoned in the dirt.

Ni-ki knelt beside Vienna, his hands trembling as he removed his shirt and gently wrapped it around her frail form. She shuddered at the touch, her breathing shallow and barely noticeable.

"It's me..." he whispered softly, brushing the disheveled strands of hair from her face. Vienna's eyes, once full of fear, met his with a vacant gaze.

For a fleeting moment, the weight of her despair seemed to shatter, and in that instant, she succumbed to unconsciousness.

Ni-ki gently wrapped Vienna in his shirt, his movements tender despite his growing urgency. Cradling her in his arms, he made his way back to his motorcycle.

The alley lay desolate, illuminated only by flashes of stark white lightning that cut through the dark sky. As he straddled the bike, the heavens opened up, unleashing a torrential downpour.

With the rain lashing down and the wind howling around them, Ni-ki sped into the night. The motorcycle surged through the storm, the two of them enveloped in the relentless downpour, as though they were submerged in an ocean of rain.

The girl in his arms felt like a lifeless burden, her body slumping and sliding off the motorcycle with each bump. He clutched her tightly, his voice barely above a whisper, a desperate attempt to reassure both her and himself.

"It's okay. Everything's going to be fine. Trust me, everything's going to be fine."

But there was no reply. She lay still and unresponsive, as if already beyond reach.

To him, she had been a beacon of purity amidst the filth and chaos of his existence. And now, that light was extinguished.

Ni-ki pressed his face against her cold, pale skin, his anguish spilling out in a heart-wrenching howl.

The rainy season felt endless. Yet, despite the storm's fury and the wind's unceasing howl through the night, morning arrived to restore the world's familiar chaos.

The city was still there—loud, disordered, and entangled in its own complexities.

As dawn broke, a deceptive calmness cloaked the world, masking the chaos and pain that had unfolded.

The next morning, Vienna awoke and stumbled to the mirror in Ni-ki's room. She winced at her reflection, her face marred with cuts and bruises, dark circles under her eyes, and disheveled hair from the bullies' assault.

Overwhelmed with self-loathing, she began to sob uncontrollably, feeling every inch of her body was tainted and monstrous.

The sight of her reflection only deepened her despair, making her feel trapped in a nightmare of her own making.

Upon hearing Vienna's sobs, Ni-ki rushed to her side, pulling her into a comforting hug.

She mumbled through her tears, "I look scary."

"No, no," Ni-ki said softly, "You're divine."

Vienna shook her head, "Don't lie... you said you loved my long black hair, but now it's all gone."

Ni-ki bit his lip, struggling to keep his composure. He gently released her from the hug and took the scissors, carefully trimming her hair. What had once fallen gracefully below her shoulders was now cut to just above her nose.

As Vienna brushed through her newly shortened hair, Ni-ki also took the scissors and began cutting his own hair.

With a satisfied smile, he turned to her and said, "We're matching now."

Afterwards, Vienna got dressed in her school uniform, meticulously combing her hair until the dark strands framed her face like a neat curtain. She took a seat at the table and began eating the steamed pudding laid out before her.

"Must you go to school?"

"Yes," Vienna replied in her calm, measured tone. "There's no way for me to take a leave of absence."

"There are still some injuries on your face."

"I'll say that I was bitten by a centipede, which is why my face is swollen." Her voice remained subdued, like a still pool of water.

Ni-ki remained silent, his gaze fixed straight ahead. He had been avoiding her eyes, allowing Vienna only to see his side profile.

But Vienna understood. Last night, he had held her tightly, his tears mingling with hers as he silently wept. Though he had paused occasionally, it was only a matter of time before his sorrow would overcome him once more.

"Let's go." Vienna gently held his hand.

In the darkness of the night, she had also clung to his hand. Last night, when it seemed as though she was deeply asleep, Ni-ki had tried to get up from the bed quietly. However, before he could even sit up, Vienna had already grasped his hand tightly. She knew what he was trying to do and refused to let him leave.

On the way to school, Vienna again told Ni-ki in all seriousness that he wasn't allowed to seek revenge.

"No, Vienna, give me a name and I'll carve their skin off their bones."

"Ni-ki, I said no. A rotten fruit falls on its own."

She also mentioned that she knew a police officer and planned to report the incident to the authorities. Vienna emphasized that Ni-ki couldn't let anything happen to him, reminding him of the promise he made to always stay by her side.

Ni-ki merely grunted in acknowledgment, signaling his agreement.

The two fell into silence, each consumed by their own worries. With the graduation exams looming, the pressure to make a final push was mounting. Students immersed themselves in their revisions, barely noticing Vienna's red and swollen face.

When Sakura saw Vienna, she was initially shocked. However, Vienna's explanation eased her concern, and she began to chat with Vienna, "When I was young, I was bitten by a poisonous spider. My forehead swelled up so much that I looked exactly like shinchan."

Vienna remained in her seat throughout the day, burying her head in her books to shield her face from others' gazes.

When Jungwon approached her desk and started chatting with Sakura, she lowered her head even further, avoiding the conversation. Fortunately, the stack of books on her desk provided enough cover to obscure her face from his view.

Sakura, sensing Vienna's discomfort, quietly took a seat beside her, refraining from engaging with other students. Occasionally, Sakura would make small talk with Vienna, offering her a bit of comfort and companionship.

"Titanic 3D just came out recently!"

Vienna responded slowly, "It's probably really difficult to get tickets, isn't it?"

Just then, her mobile phone started ringing. It was Shotaro. Vienna lowered herself until she was completely hidden by her desk before answering.

"Vienna."

"Yes?"

"Be very careful when you're heading to and from school," Shotaro instructed in a serious tone.

"Okay."

After giving his advice, Shotaro's tone lightened up, "How's your studies coming along?"

Vienna replied in her usual composed manner, "Alright."

"Did you run into any trouble that needs my help?"

"No." Vienna shook her head out of habit as she spoke.

"That's good to hear. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call me."

"I will."

Vienna emerged from beneath her desk. Around her, the students were discussing the raincoat man who appears at night. She pulled out her exercise book and resumed practicing her questions.

However, Vienna struggled to focus on her questions no matter how hard she tried. She was tormented by the thought that Ni-ki might search for Hana despite his promise, and she knew that Ni-ki suspected she wouldn't report the incident to the police, despite her assurances.

Her fears were well-founded.

Despite spending the entire day searching for Hana, Ni-ki was unable to find her. The pain and grief in his heart intensified, gradually turning into a profound hatred for Hana.

It was afternoon break.

Vienna sat cross-legged on the cool bamboo mat. Ni-ki sprinkled small droplets of water around the mat to lower the room's temperature. With the water added, the room felt slightly cooler.

Ni-ki sat down beside Vienna on the mat and said, "Let's sleep."

Vienna lay on the bamboo mat, closing her eyes. Ni-ki settled next to her, gently closing his own eyes. The electric fan whirred softly, its gentle breeze providing some much-needed relief from the heat. Gradually, the room's warmth began to fade.

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