The strange message still hovered behind my eyes. A neat row of letters, glowing faintly like an afterimage. It looked like some kind of game interface... but my body wasn't playing along. A wave of heaviness slammed into me—I crashed onto the wooden floor, a loud thud echoing through the room.
Something inside me was moving. Like roots spreading from a growing tree, I felt it crawl through my veins. My nerves pulsed wildly, throbbing in rhythm with my heartbeat. My stomach twisted as if something alive was crawling under my skin.
"What is goi-" I gritted my teeth, digging my fingers into the floor, the tips dragging with a soft swish against the wood.
The pain was unbearable, like something was hammering my skull a thousand times over. My muscles started to loosen, every part of me trembling. I'd been trained to endure pain during military service, unbearable physical pain. I clenched my teeth, curled into myself. It felt endless—like a decade passed in those few minutes until, slowly, it began to fade.
I couldn't even breathe properly. Each breath was heavy, dragging against my lungs. My whole body felt weightless and soaked in sweat. I pressed a hand to my forehead and just lay there, and stared at the ceiling.
"What the hell is going on"
Then suddenly, I caught a sound—like a voice near my ear, or someone whispering beside me. I rolled over, grabbed the dagger lying close, and got into position. My eyes scanned the room sharply, checking every corner.
(Player Registered: Han Jiwoo)
I stilled, closed my eyes, trying to sense where the voice came from. The tone was robotic, but it wasn't coming from around me—it echoed inside my head.
I Held my dagger up "Who are you?"
(Awakening Completed)
"Get off my head you damn thing"
The voice didn't respond. The room went silent, I couldn't feel the presence anymore my body was at its limit, I exhaled slowly, and collapsed onto the floor, brushing the ground to find my phone. My fingers grazed it—I pulled it up to my face and powered it on.
° Notification received.
Click.
{Breaking News: Several people have mysteriously disappeared. Authorities are investigating. Please report if any family members are missing.}
I clenched the phone tight "something bad is about to happen"
I quickly dialed Aunt Soyeon number.
Ring...
She picked up.
"Hello? Jiwoo?"
"Hey... everything okay?"
"Yeah? Do you need something?"
"I... I mistapped. Sorry to bother you."
"It's alright. Get some sleep, okay?"
Click.
I sighed in relief, "She's safe"and immediately tried Hana's number. My thoughts raced through my head as I called her. " Please pick up Hana"
19 calls.
Before I got any response my body moved on its own—I shot up, grabbed my dagger, and bolted out the door, racing toward her house.
The streets were quiet, insects humming, the moon half-hidden behind clouds, casting a pale light over the road. An unusual feeling crawled over me like someone was watching. I ran past the park, my footsteps echoing in the silence. A single street lamp lit up the path in the distance.
Her house was just around the corner, across from the park, mostly hidden by tall trees on both sides. I reached the gate and called out, "Hana, it's me, Jiwoo."
My fingers twitched. I slid past the gate, noticing the lights were still on. Slowly, I turned the lock—thek—and it opened.
Her shoes were still at the entrance. I sensed something was off. Gripping my dagger, I glanced around and stepped inside. The kitchen was a mess, everything toppled over. I moved forward cautiously, scanning the space. In the living room, the TV played the weather report. The remote lay on the floor, like someone had dropped it in a hurry.
I headed upstairs and gently pushed open her room door—it was already slightly ajar. The window was wide open, curtains fluttering in the breeze. I stayed calm, spotting a faint circle etched on the floor—glowing lines forming a circular sigil.
I crouched down my hands shaking slightly reached out to touch it. Then a bright light flared up from the center lighting the room in red crimson.