MC was at work the next day feeling extremely tense. Her mind kept going back to the letter she received the night before. It had to be some kind of prank right? There's no way that man could have found her; she'd made sure to leave no trace! Her phone ringing startled her out of her thoughts.

"This is Ms. Cho," she said professionally.

"Wow, you sound like a completely different person during work hours," the voice on the other end teased.

"Zen?"

A chuckle. "Hey."

"What's going on?" she asked. "Is there something you need to ask about the project?"

"No," Zen replied. "It's actually about our plans for later. I found a bar not too far from your job. Does that sound okay?"

"Sounds great," MC replied tiredly. "I could seriously use a drink."

"Is everything okay?" Zen asked with concern.

"Yeah, everything is fine," MC lied. "Working for Mr. Han is very demanding is all."

"Okay," Zen said, unconvinced. "Well, I'll see you around 6?"

"Yeah," she said with a small smile. "See you later."

The brunette hung up the phone. She didn't want to tell anyone about that letter just in case it was some weirdo who thought it would be a good prank. Part of her knew that wasn't the case; she'd been found after a year and a half. MC had hoped that he wouldn't find her at all.

Zen was at home feeling conflicted. The phone call with MC put him on edge. Something was wrong, but she didn't want to say what it was. He didn't want to pry considering they haven't known each other long. Whatever was wrong, Zen hoped it wasn't anything serious.

The beads on his bracelet clacked together as he ran a hand through his hair. Even though he'd only worn it for a few days, Zen could feel the dark voice in his head trying to claw its way into his consciousness. It worried him that his darker half was so powerful; he really was running out of time.

It scared him.

Zen always wondered why he just so happened to be born a demon. His family was as normal as they came! They all had the typical Korean features; dark hair, dark eyes, skin that wasn't too pale. On the other hand, everything about him screamed abnormal. He'd seen the looks relatives gave him when he was a child. He heard the whispers of how much of an anomaly he was compared to the rest of them. He could smell their fear, sense their unease, and it only angered him.

Red eyes looked at the bracelet worriedly. Zen didn't even know how to begin to explain what he was to MC if it ever came up, and he had a bad feeling it would come up in the near future. Deciding that now was as good a time as any, he took off his bracelet.

The demonic aura within him flared to life.

Zen was nearly knocked over with how overwhelming it was; the dark voice in his head was quite angry. Closing his eyes, Zen sat down in a meditation stance. In his subconscious, he saw another version of himself, only feral.

'Finally,' the demonic side of him said as it approached. 'What did you think you were doing with that filthy thing on your arm?'

'Listen, you said you're part of me right?' Zen asked, ignoring its question. 'Well, you're going to do what I say.'

A clawed hand wrapped around his throat. Blood red eyes stared into his bright red ones, and Zen could feel fear creep up his spine. Sharp canines glinted as the demon smirked.

'Well, aren't you bold?' it laughed. 'You aren't strong enough to make any demands of me.'

On the outside, Zen could feel his body changing as he warred within himself.

'You've always hidden behind those disgusting trinkets from those so-called holy people,' it sneered as its hold around Zen's throat tightened. 'But... they won't be able to save you now, will they?'

He could feel his control weakening. Panicked, Zen grabbed the bracelet with a shaky clawed hand and put it back on his wrist. The overwhelming darkness in his mind began to fade, and his hand returned to normal. Sweat covered his forehead, his bangs sticking to it. He got up on shaky legs and decided to take a shower to try and calm down.

A few hours later, Zen and MC met up at the bar he described. It was not overly crowded, and had a relaxed atmosphere. MC liked it a lot.

"So, how's the world of musicals treating ya?" she asked as she sat down across from him at a table.

"Not bad," he replied with a smile. "Getting ready for an encore performance is actually pretty fun."

MC smiled in return.

"How are things at C&R? Is Jumin still impossible?" Zen asked.

"So many cat business ideas," MC replied as she dropped her head on the table lightly. "He's so obsessed with Elizabeth the 3rd that it borders on unhealthy."

He laughed. He did remember seeing a lot of pictures of a white cat on Jumin's desk.

"Jaehee usually handles them all, but I think she's finally starting to put her foot down," MC mumbled. "I'm glad she's standing up for herself, but now I'm caught in the crossfire."

"I'm sure it'll all work out somehow," Zen reassured.

"Thanks," she said as she lifted her head with a small smile.

They ordered their drinks, and Zen was surprised that MC ordered something strong. He usually only ever drank beer because he enjoyed the taste. Getting drunk was pretty much impossible for him. MC was on her fourth rum and coke, and Zen could tell he was going to have to help her get home.

"Zeeeennnnnn~!" she slurred. "You're sho pwetty."

Zen couldn't help but blush. Even though she was pretty drunk, he still thought she was adorable.

"Th-Thanks," he replied. "I think it's time to go home."

"NO!" she yelled fearfully.

Zen raised an eyebrow. Seeing the look of concern on his face, MC drunkenly motioned for Zen to come closer as if to tell him a secret. He obliged her.

"If I go home, the bad man will get me," she whispered in his ear with a giggle.

Zen felt a pleasant shiver go down his spine as her breath ghosted over his ear. She smelled slightly of the alcohol she'd drank, but her overall scent was pretty mellow and sweet. He subconsciously sniffed her again as she pulled away slowly, trying to maintain her balance.

The silver haired man wasn't sure if he should take her whispered words seriously or not since she was so drunk. She went from scared to silly at the drop of a hat. Deciding to just take her home, he got up from his seat and gently helped her to her feet.

"Come on," he said gently. "I'll make sure the bad man won't get you."

"You're shoooo shweeet Zen!" she slurred happily. "Onward, to my apar—hic—apartment!"

Sighing with amusement, Zen led her out of the bar and hailed a cab. After a minute of back and forth questions with MC, she drunkenly gave the cabbie her address. On their way to her apartment, her head began to lull. No longer able to fight off the sleep that clouded her, MC's head fell to Zen's shoulder. He looked down at the brunette and smiled fondly, wrapping his arm around her.

They arrived at her apartment building, and Zen begrudgingly woke MC. As he tried to lead her through the doors and to the elevator, she began to wilt back into sleep. In the end, he picked her up bridal style and carried her to the elevator. He jostled her awake a bit so she could push the button for the proper floor. Grumpily hitting the button, MC went back to sleep, nuzzling against his chest. He chuckled.

When they arrived at the proper floor, Zen gingerly put MC back on her feet so she could lead the way to her apartment. She walked like a zombie; she looked ready to fall into her bed. After making sure the brunette made it to the right door, Zen helped her unlock it and nudged her inside.

"Get some rest," he told her. "I had fun tonight."

"You promised to protect me from the bad man," MC pouted.

"No one is going to hurt you now," Zen told her softly. "Go to bed."

"Fine," she grumped.

As she turned to close the door, another envelope caught her attention. It was taped to the inside of her door. Did someone break into her apartment while she was gone? Zen watched her worriedly as her focus was on the other side of the door.

"MC?" he asked with concern.

Looking at the note in the envelope, MC's hands wrinkled the paper hard. She instantly felt more sober.

"Zen," she pleaded with watery brown eyes. "Please don't go."

Red eyes widened at her scared and tearful expression. His sight moved to the paper in her hands. Gently prying it away from her, he read the note. His expression turned hard as he saw silent tears fall from MC's wide eyes.

YOU CAN'T RUN. I'M ALWAYS WATCHING YOU.