Beast in the Hidden Greenery

For centuries, the legend of the monsters dwelling in the forbidden forest known as "Hidden Greenery" has been passed down from one generation to the next. However, despite the persistent belief, these creatures have never been seen for quite some time.

They may have gone into hiding, or maybe they were forced out by humans who deemed themselves as righteous, while labeling anything different or unusual as evil.

Humans have their own ways of distinguishing evil from good. And for Yuri, those who wronged her will always be the villains in her life.  

"Yuri, how are you feeling?" Simon asked with concern etched on his face.

Yuri tilted her head and met his gaze before nodding in response. However, her attention quickly shifted to the raindrops cascading down the car window, mirroring the melancholy that weighed heavy on her heart.

Yuri and her friends had embarked on a camping trip to lift her spirits. Unfortunately, the weather seemed to have other plans, drenching them in a downpour that matched the gloominess of Yuri's mood. 

As they made their way back home, the road was slick with rain. Kevin, their driver, took extra care to navigate the treacherous conditions. The group knew that if the weather continued to be unpredictable, their camping trip would have to be cut short.

Yuri sat quietly in the corner; her gaze fixed on the raindrops pelting the window. Her friends exchanged worried glances and whispered amongst themselves.

"Yuri doesn't seem herself. And this rain isn't helping," one of them remarked.

"Can you blame her? Chase's sudden engagement must have come as a shock," another chimed in.

Strength entered Yuri’s hand, which was neatly placed on her lap.

Engagement.

It was a word she had hoped not to hear for some time.

Against all opposition, Yuri loved Chase for years. Yet now, he was engaged to another woman. Well, Chase was not an ordinary man. He is the heir of the Bimon Corporation, so everyone expected that he would not have an ordinary marriage either. Chase had to marry a woman from a wealthy household.

The woman whom Chase will marry is the eldest daughter of the Governor. She studied at Harvard and is the owner of a Five-star hotel.

Chase, who achieved a lot during his earlier years, and a beautiful young lady who grew up like a princess. It was natural for their parents to come together and create a romantic story with them as the main characters.

But Yuri was different.

She had graduated later than her peers because she had to work and support herself while studying. Her parents had tragically passed away in an accident, and she had been forced to endure a life of abuse under her aunt's care.

Her existence was plagued with misery and agony, until she met Chase and fell deeply in love.

Yuri had no doubt that their love would bear fruit someday. So, she loved him for six years, very desperately.

However, all hopes were shattered as soon as Chase told her that he would be engaged to another woman.

["This is my parents' will, but let me assure you, Yuri, that my love for you remains here in my heart. This is purely a business decision. Even if I were to marry that woman, you will always be the only woman for me."]

“Haaaaaaa…”

Yuri let out a heavy sigh as she replayed the words that had caught her off guard, spoken by none other than Chase.

She couldn't fathom that after dedicating her entire life, her youth, her aspirations, and her physical being to him, he had the audacity to suggest that she become his mistress.

Yuri chewed the flesh behind her lips.

‘I never dreamed of being a mistress,’ she told herself.

Yuri finds Chase to be more dreadful than any monster she could ever imagine. She struggles to comprehend how she could have fallen for such a self-centered man!

As the car pressed on, the rain relentlessly pounded against the windshield, making the journey slower than anticipated. However, halting midway was not an option, so they persevered through the night, careening through the mountainous terrain.

As they delved deeper into the mountain, the incline grew steeper, causing Yuri's companions to question whether their desire to camp further than usual was to blame.

Yet, their self-doubt was short-lived as the car began to shake violently!

Krkkkkl!

 It wasn't just the car, though.

The very ground beneath them was trembling!

‘What’s happening?’ Yuri asked.

Suddenly, the driver let out a frantic scream.

“It’s a landslide!”

There was no time to make a U-turn. In the blink of an eye, a massive heap of rubble crashed into the car, catching everyone off guard!

“Ahhhh!”

Bang!

Rumble!

Bam!

In a split second, Yuri's world turned upside down.

The car jolted violently, as if a seismic tremor had struck it.

 Desperately, she clung to one corner, but the force was too great, and she tumbled inside.

The impact of the seat slamming into her back and the door flinging open elicited a blood-curdling scream from her lips.

“Ahhh! Ugh!”

Pain and disorientation engulfed Yuri, threatening to drag her unconsciousness. She fought to stay alert, gasping for air as she struggled to make sense of what had just happened.

“Haaa…. Haaa… Haaa….”

The half-destroyed car dangled precariously over the edge of the cliff.

It swayed dangerously, threatening to plunge into the abyss below at any moment!

Despite her fear, Yuri gritted her teeth and held on for dear life. However, the ground beneath her feet had been softened by the rain, and she knew it was only a matter of time before it gave way.

“Accck!”

She slipped. Yuri grabbed a piece of metal from the car, but she wasn’t sure how much she could hold out.

Einggkkkkkk! Creaking sounds echoed.

The car leaned further, and Yuri had no strength left. The raindrops also did not help.

“Yuri! Hold on!”

She heard her friends shouting. At least, she was relieved that they were alive.

“Oh my god! Yuri!”

“Get a rope!”

“I can’t see the rope!”

“Flashlight! Give me a flashlight!”

Hearing the restless voices alternating together with the raindrops, Yuri surprisingly did not feel any emotions.

‘If I stay alive, then what?’ she asked herself.

She will go back home and hear news of Chase’s marriage. That would be too painful to bear.

‘It’s okay. You’ll be fine. You don’t deserve him.’

She was tired of hearing the same comforts that never eased her head.  

“Ha. Ha. Ha.”

Yuri laughed. She did not even know why she was laughing in this situation.

Yuri loosened her hold. Her friends shouted at her.

“Yuri!”

“No!”

‘I am afraid,’ Yuri thought while falling. But at the same time, she felt a sense of freedom for an unknown reason.

Yuri closed her eyes.

She wondered how Chase would react if he heard of her death.

That person who she loved so much.

That person who taught her light.

And that person who betrayed her.

With her death, Yuri wished that person to be in agony forever.