After several hours of flight, the plane finally landed. Slowly, the passengers began to wake up, yawning and stretching after the long journey. As soon as the doors opened, the group grabbed their carry-on bags and stepped out of the aircraft, ready to explore whatever awaited them.
As Misuk stepped off the plane with her belongings and her two puppies, an eerie silence surrounded her. The airport was completely empty — no lines of passengers, no staff walking around, nothing like the usual bustle expected in such a busy place. Cold lights lit the massive abandoned terminal, and the only sound echoing through the space was the soft thud of her footsteps against the polished floor.
Frowning, she kept walking, her near-black eyes scanning every corner. Something was very wrong.
"Why is there no one here?" she muttered to herself, a chill running down her spine.
As she passed through the automatic doors to the outside, the feeling of unease only grew stronger. The streets were deserted, and the few neon signs on nearby buildings flickered weakly. No cars passed by, no one walked the sidewalks — only silence, oppressive and heavy, making the city feel strangely unfamiliar.
"This isn't Los Angeles…" she whispered, narrowing her eyes as she looked around, searching for any sign of life.
Suddenly, a loud bark shattered the silence. Faísca, one of her puppies, bolted ahead, racing toward a nearby street.
"Faísca!" she called out, heart pounding.
Without thinking, she grabbed Snow's leash and ran after her other dog, disappearing into the empty streets of that strange city.
After several minutes of running, Misuk finally stopped when she saw what Faísca had found. Her dog barked insistently at a large horse trapped under a heavy stone. The animal was trying to move but looked exhausted and terrified.
It was a Shire horse — large and powerful — with a glossy black coat that contrasted against the white markings on its legs. Its long dark mane hung messily over its eyes, which were wide with fear and pain.
Misuk didn't hesitate. She rushed over and pushed the stone aside with effort. As soon as the weight was lifted, the horse rose quickly, tossing its head and snorting, still shaken by the ordeal.
She stepped back slightly, watching it closely. Despite its fear, the animal seemed grateful, its deep, dark eyes locking on her for a few seconds before glancing around the desolate surroundings.
"Easy, boy…" Misuk murmured gently, approaching cautiously. Her near-black eyes studied the horse carefully as she extended a hand, letting him feel her presence before touching him.
The long dark mane still fell over his face, half-covering his frightened eyes. That's when she noticed an injury on one of his legs — probably caused by his desperate attempts to escape the rock.
"It's okay. I'll help you. Just stay still…" she continued, her voice filled with calm kindness. "I promise I won't hurt you."
The horse neighed softly, still unsure, but when he felt Misuk's gentle touch, his labored breathing began to slow. His tense muscles slowly relaxed, as if he understood she meant no harm. Faísca and Snow, now calmer, cautiously approached, curiously watching the scene unfold as a soft breeze stirred the horse's long mane.
Misuk frowned again, her eyes scanning the strange scene before her. The silence around them made everything feel even more unsettling. How could such a strong horse be alone and injured in a place that was supposed to be full of people?
She looked around, searching for any sign of movement, but the streets remained empty. The wind blew softly, sending a few strands of her short hair across her eyes.
"What could've happened here…?" she murmured to herself, another chill crawling up her spine.
Nothing made sense.