“Hey, beautiful, where are you going? Don’t run off~”

Hearing the teasing voice behind her, Lin Jianxue quickened her pace.

But she hadn’t gone far before another young man stepped in front of her, blocking her way.

The man spread his arms and whistled, leaning forward slightly as if he were about to pounce on her.

Lin Jianxue jumped in fright and instinctively took several steps back.

Then she realized she was surrounded by two young men, one in front of her and one behind. She had no choice but to retreat into the alley behind her.

As the two men drew closer, Lin Jianxue grew afraid. She turned and ran into the alley.

The woman had done exactly what they’d expected.

The two young men exchanged a knowing smile, then followed her into the alley.

…

Beneath the night sky, a crescent moon hung high overhead. Gray clouds drifted across the darkness now and then, blocking its light.

Staring at the wall in front of her.

Regret, fear, confusion—all rose in Lin Jianxue’s heart.

Lin Jianxue almost never went into alleys, especially not at dusk. And she’d never walked into an already dim alley with night closing in around her.

Only then did Lin Jianxue realize the two young thugs had blocked her in the middle of the alley to make her run farther inside—to send herself straight into their clutches.

It had all been planned. And she’d run right into it like a fool.

“Well, well~ It’s you again, beautiful. Fancy meeting you here. Looks like we’re really meant to cross paths.”

The man’s hoarse voice reached Lin Jianxue’s ears. Her heart suddenly pounded, and a crushing embarrassment filled her.

Lin Jianxue slowly turned to look.

Two black shadows loomed larger and larger beneath the moon, like devils crawling up from hell.

Then Lin Jianxue heard them talking.

“Hey, Brother Sheng… why don’t you go first? Once you’ve had your fun, let your buddy have a turn… heh heh.”

“Look at you, kid. You’re finally learning how to behave. Don’t worry—once your big brother’s had his fun, you can take as long as you like. Go right through till dawn, if you want.”

“Really?!”

“Oh, Brother Sheng! You really are like a brother to me!”

“What can I say? I’m your Brother Sheng. All right, you keep watch here while I go enjoy myself. It’s been ages since I’ve seen a beauty this fresh.”

“You got it!”

Their voices and the footsteps drawing nearer sent her heart plummeting.

Despair and helplessness filled Lin Jianxue.

She regretted it so much. Why had she insisted on having her way and run away from home in a fit of anger?

Why had she dared to walk alone at night, so late?

Lin Jianxue’s legs felt weightless. Her body went limp against her will, and she fell to the ground.

Tears streamed uncontrollably from her eyes.

They traced her cheeks and dripped onto the back of her hand, cold as ice—just like the girl’s heart at that moment.

“My pretty girl, don’t be scared. Just do as you’re told, and it won’t hurt. It’ll feel good.”

The man called Brother Sheng crouched down and gently patted the girl’s cheek.

“Tsk, tsk. Just look at that face—so soft and pretty. I’ve really hit the jackpot tonight.”

Watching the girl tremble, and thinking about what he’d do to her next, Sheng Shizhu smiled, utterly besotted.

“There, be good…”

Sheng Shizhu gently stroked the girl’s cheek, then traced the path of her tears and lifted her chin.

The girl’s youthful, delicate face was full of fear. She even squeezed her eyes shut, like a frightened little rabbit.

“You’re just too cute…”

The more frightened the girl looked, the more excited Sheng Shizhu became—and the more he wanted to defile and destroy everything she was.

With that sick desire in mind, Sheng Shizhu ran a finger along her neck and shoulder, slowly bent over her, and placed his other hand on her thigh.

“Don’t worry. After you’ve played this game a few times, you’ll find there’s a lot of fun in it.

But it’s your first time, and I’m a little big, so… you’ll have to bear with it.”

As he spoke, Sheng Shizhu pressed his whole body down on Lin Jianxue.

Lin Jianxue fought back desperately, but Sheng Shizhu pinned both her hands with one of his.

As the man bent over her, Lin Jianxue’s lips had gone deathly pale. Despair swallowed every other emotion.

“No—no—

Somebody help me!

Please, help me!

Anyone—human, demon, monster, I don’t care—please save me! I’m begging you!”

Lin Jianxue shut her eyes in despair.

It felt like ages had passed. Or maybe only an instant.

Lin Jianxue could clearly feel the man lifting the hem of her clothes. A cold wind brushed the sensitive skin at her waist.

Cold to the bone.

…

“B-Brother Sheng!”

Another young man’s trembling shout came from nearby.

The man’s movements stopped. All the excitement he’d managed to build up vanished.

“What the fuck is it? Why are you freaking out? If you can’t give me a good reason, you’ll be sorry!”

Sheng Shizhu snapped irritably.

“A m-monster…”

“What fucking monster? Did you fry your brain on drugs or something?”

“N-no, Brother Sheng, your face is bleeding… And… your sh-shadow!”

“Aah—!

“Don’t you fucking come any closer!”

In a brief flash of moonlight, the shadow of the man who’d been keeping watch outside grew smaller and smaller, until it vanished.

He ran.

Sheng Shizhu froze. Even though lust had dulled its senses, it was beginning to come to its senses now.

It had been too focused to notice before, but now it felt a faint stinging on its face. Something warm and wet was trickling down its cheek.

Sheng Shizhu finally realized something was wrong. It let go of the girl and touched its face.

“Tss—That hurts!”

At some point, a deep gash had appeared on Sheng Shizhu’s face. Blood dripped from the wound onto the ground, drop by drop, where the dust soaked it up.

There was a deep slash on its arm, too.

As the cold wind blew into the wounds, the pain grew sharper.

The moonlight briefly broke free of the gray clouds and fell into the alley where Sheng Shizhu and the others stood.

From the corner of its eye,

it saw a human-shaped shadow standing to its left. It hadn’t been there before.

A pair of devilish horns jutted from the shadow’s head, and a long tail swayed slowly around its body.

An inexplicable fear gripped Sheng Shizhu. It had completely lost interest in the game it’d been playing.

“I-I was wrong. I won’t do it again! Please, spare me! I’ll never do anything like this again…”

Sheng Shizhu begged for forgiveness.

Its legs gave way, and it collapsed to the ground. It crawled backward, slapping itself over and over.

Then it saw the girl it had lured into the alley open her eyes. Her brownish-gray eyes were so cold beneath the moonlight, so terrifying.

Sheng Shizhu understood…

The one it had abducted this time wasn’t prey for it to toy with, but—

a demon from hell, here to drag it down and pass judgment on it.

A bone-deep chill shot down its spine. Sheng Shizhu scrambled out of the alley.

Only Lin Jianxue, the girl they’d called a ‘demon,’ remained, staring in confusion at the darkness closing in around her again.