Minsu stood frozen, her breath caught in her throat as the figure melted back into the shadows. The words lingered in the air, heavy and unsettling. "You're here to find the truth, but you will never be ready for it."
Hyowon's hand gently gripped her arm, urging her forward. "We need to go. We can't let them lure us into a trap."
Reluctantly, Minsu nodded. They couldn't afford to stand still in a moment like this. Every second felt like it could be their last if they weren't careful. They pushed through the dense trees, staying low and quiet. The forest around them was thick with darkness, the path growing more treacherous with each step.
As they moved deeper into the woods, Minsu felt a sense of urgency gnawing at her insides. It was as if the forest itself was closing in, its shadows hiding more than just trees. She couldn't shake the feeling that the person they had just seen was watching them, waiting for them to follow.
The silence was almost suffocating, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves and the soft crunch of their footsteps on the forest floor. Minsu's thoughts raced—Who were they really up against? What did the figure mean by "the truth"? Was her aunt's disappearance connected to all of this?
Hyowon stopped suddenly, raising a hand to signal Minsu to stay back. He turned slightly, scanning the surroundings, his eyes narrowing as though he sensed something was off.
"What's wrong?" Minsu whispered, tension crawling up her spine.
"Something's ahead," Hyowon murmured. "We need to move carefully."
Minsu held her breath, her senses heightening. Every twig snapping beneath their feet felt like it could give them away. But it wasn't the noise of their movements that made her skin crawl—it was the oppressive silence that followed. As though the world had grown still just to trap them.
Hyowon's eyes flicked toward a darkened patch of trees up ahead. A soft breeze stirred the leaves, but no birds called, no insects hummed.
"Stay close," he ordered, his voice low. "Don't make a sound."
They crept forward, moving as quietly as possible. The darkness around them seemed to press in closer with each step, and Minsu's heart raced in her chest. What were they walking into?
Suddenly, a faint, almost inaudible voice reached her ears, carried by the wind.
"You shouldn't have come back."
Minsu froze. The voice was familiar—but it couldn't be. She turned to Hyowon, her eyes wide with disbelief. He, too, looked confused and wary, but his stance remained calm.
"Who's there?" Minsu called out, trying to keep her voice steady.
There was no answer, but the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. It wasn't just the voice—it was the feeling of being surrounded by eyes, hidden in the shadows, watching their every move.
They continued their careful approach, reaching a clearing just beyond the trees. In the center of the clearing stood a stone structure, weathered and old, almost as if it had been forgotten by time itself.
Minsu's breath hitched. The place felt familiar, yet distant, like a forgotten memory from her past. Her mind raced, but she couldn't place it. What was this place?
Hyowon stepped forward, scanning the area. "This is it," he murmured, though his voice was tight with tension. "We're close."
But Minsu felt a sinking sensation in her chest, as though something wasn't right. She stepped closer to the stone structure, her hand brushing against its cold, rough surface. A sudden, sharp pain shot through her head, making her stumble back.
"Are you okay?" Hyowon asked, his concern evident.
Minsu nodded quickly, though the dizziness made it hard to focus. "I don't know… something's wrong."
A voice echoed from behind them, carrying on the wind. "The truth is not what you think it is, Minsu."
Minsu whipped around, but no one was there. The clearing was empty. The voice was gone.
Her heart hammered in her chest. Who was that? What was happening to her?
Hyowon's expression darkened as he reached for her arm. "We need to leave. Now."
Before Minsu could react, she felt a tug on her sleeve, pulling her backward. She gasped, her hand reaching for Hyowon, but he was already several steps ahead.
"Hyowon!" she cried, but her voice was barely a whisper in the thick air.
And then, everything went dark.