"stop"
F**k I knew this would happen.
The taxi screeched to a stop far too abruptly.
"Wait"
"sorry, I'm getting down here", I said as shoved the door open before the driver could even turn around, my bag slung awkwardly over one shoulder as I stumbled out onto the airport pavement.
" excuse me "
I stopped and turned back only to see the taxi driver getting out of the car.
"you have not paid for the ride"
"ohhh"
I started digging through my bag and at the same time, I was checking out the time.
09:56am
Late.
I was almost late.
I pulled out a crumpled a 20 dollar bill and threw it to him.
"I'm so sorry for that, you can keep the change", I said as I ran towards the airport.
The glass doors of the terminal loomed ahead, automatic sensors already opening and closing as passengers rushed in and out. I broke into a half-run, heart pounding, mentally calculating boarding time, check-in time, security time
why did everything always happen like this when it mattered most?
I darted through the doors and slammed straight into someone.
"Oof!"
The impact knocked the breath out of me. My book slipped from my hands and hit the floor with a dull thud.
"I'm so sorry!" I blurted out, crouching instantly. "I wasn't looking, I.... "
"It's fine."
The voice was calm, deep, unfamiliar. A hand reached down at the same time I did, fingers brushing the cover of my book.
The Monster's Consort.
The stranger picks up the book and runs his fingers across it as if dusting it off.
Where have I heard that voice before?
I froze for half a second before snatching it back to my chest. I had no time to waste.
"Sorry," I said again, standing up quickly and moved past him but paused again and looked back at him.
I know that face from somewhere.
The stranger only nodded, and started moving past me, as if the moment had never happened. I didn't think about it for long. I couldn't afford to.
I hurried through the terminal, breath still uneven, and finally reached the check-in counter only to stop short when I saw the screen.
FLIGHT DELAYED : 30 MINUTES
I stared.
Once.
Twice.
Then I let out a slow, shaky breath.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
All that running was for nothing.
I sighed and walked towards the counter to settle my boarding details. With my boarding settled and time suddenly on my side, I wandered toward the seating area, my steps finally slowing. The airport lobby buzzed softly with movement and voices, the kind of noise that fades into the background once you sat still long enough.
I dropped into a seat near the window and pulled the book from my bag. I didn't even need to check the page number because I knew where I stopped since this is my third time reading through the story. My fingers flipped there automatically.
---
Another kingdom had already fallen and added to his collection.
You can still see the smoke rising from the ruins as the tyrant king came down from his horse and walked towards his enemies throne room , his boots stained dark with blood that wasn't his. Bodies lined the path like discarded offerings, armor split, banners torn, all extinguished in a single night attack. He runs his fingers across the throne before sitting on it. Usually, he just sent his general and army to take over a kingdom but this one he had to be there because of one person ;the enemy kingdom's general, General Ren Yu.
General Ren yu is dragged in chains and forced to kneel down before the throne that had once belonged to his people.
" well, well, well"
"looks like you're finally on your knees before me ," the king said coldly.
The general didn't look away. Even bound, even defeated, his spine remained straight.
" you have lost "
Behind him, the princess was dragged forward, her wrists bound in silk instead of iron ; an insult disguised as mercy.
"Take her to my chambers," the king ordered.
She struggled, calling the general's name as she was pulled away, her voice breaking as palace doors closed behind her.
The king turned back to the chained man at his feet.
" i have to celebrate, you know "
And that's when the general's face showed a bit of fear but he masked it immediately.
" you are going to pay for this ", the general said with the tone of his voice laced with anger
" and that is what I wanted to see,... you know usually i would have killed you by now but no, that wouldn't be fun. You're not like the others who would have been begging for me to spare their life and that's why you get to live," he said.
"Not because you deserve it. But because I allow it."
---
I shut the book.
Hard.
The sound echoed softly in the lobby, but no one looked at me.
I leaned back in my seat, staring up at the ceiling, jaw tight.
"I hate this part," I muttered.
I'd read this scene three times already. Every time, it left the same bitter taste in my mouth.
Power. Always power.
Why was he so angry at the world? Why did he need to crush everything just to prove he stood above it?
If only
if only he'd been gentler.
If only he'd known how to stop.
I glanced down at the closed cover of the book.
The Monster's Consort.
It wasn't even supposed to be a BL. The original story framed it as tragedy, politics, obsession.
How a king destroyed nations and only later learned to love the princess he spared.
But every time I read it, I couldn't stop thinking.....
"If it were me," I murmured quietly, "I wouldn't choose her."
My fingers tightened around the book.
"I'd choose the general."
I laughed under my breath, a soft, self-aware sound. "And I wouldn't do it like this. I'd change everything. No chains. No bloodbath. No tragic ending."
The announcement system crackled overhead.
"Attention passengers. Flight boarding will begin shortly. Kindly proceed to the departure gate."
I stood, slipping the book back into my bag, and followed the flow of people toward the gate.
-----
The plane was cool and dim when I stepped inside, the narrow aisle already filling. I found my seat, tucked my bag beneath it, and buckled in.
Once settled, I pulled out my phone.
Fan meet schedule: confirmed.
Hotel booking: confirmed.
Transport: confirmed.
Everything was perfect.
Satisfied, I placed my phone away, rested my head against the seat, and closed my eyes.
The engines roared to life.
The plane began to move.
At first, it was normal. Gentle vibrations. The steady hum of ascent. Suddenly
The shaking grew stronger.
The overhead compartments rattled. A few nervous laughs rippled through the cabin, followed by uneasy silence.
"Turbulence," someone whispered.
My fingers curled into the armrest.
The plane jolted.
Hard.
My heart slammed into my ribs as the shaking intensified, sharp and sudden enough to steal the air from my lungs.
"Okay," I whispered, squeezing my eyes shut. "Okay. It's fine."
The turbulence worsened, And Then
It stopped.
Not gradually.
Instantly.
The silence that followed was unnatural, heavy, as if the world itself had paused.
I opened my eyes.
"Your Majesty."
The voice was close.
Clear.
Not from a speaker.
I blinked.
Incense burned thick in the air.
The hum of the airplane was gone.
I was no longer in my seat.
I was no longer on a plane.
And as I looked down at unfamiliar hands resting against cold marble, a single, horrifying thought crossed my mind
This isn't the airport anymore.
Where am I?
Next chapter : the monster opens his eyes