At first, the caller's voice was low—almost a whisper.
"Jina."
I frowned slightly, pressing the phone closer to my ear.
Then the voice came again, louder this time.
"Yen."
I froze.
"Sorry… what did you say?" I asked, my heart beginning to race.
"It's Yen."
"Yen?" I screamed, staring at my phone as if it might suddenly explain everything. I quickly placed it back to my ear.
"Yen? What happened? I thought you were—"
"Dead," she completed the sentence calmly.
"I'm not dead, Jina. I'm perfectly fine."
My knees weakened, and I sank slowly onto the bed.
"Then where are you?" I asked, my voice trembling.
"What really happened? Or… should we talk later?"
"Yes, Jina," she replied.
"I want us to meet. I'll send you the address."
She paused for a moment before continuing.
"And I'll tell you everything that happened to me. Everything."
My breath caught.
"But please," she added, her voice suddenly serious,
"keep this to yourself. Don't tell anyone that you spoke to me. Let people continue to believe that I'm dead."
"Yen, how—" I began, then stopped.
"I'm not saying I don't believe you. Things are already going wrong, I know that. But how will I recognize you if I see you?"
"Jina," she said softly,
"I am Yen. When we meet, I'll show you everything—pictures, proof, all you need to know. Just please… don't tell anyone."
"Okay, Yen," I said quietly.
The call ended.
I stared at my phone for a long time, my thoughts racing.
Yen?
Yoon said she was dead.
Jan said she was alive.
Now… she had called me herself.
Nothing made sense anymore.
A message suddenly appeared on my screen.
An address.
She added that she would send a taxi to pick me up and that I shouldn't bother getting a ride myself. Not everyone knew the location, she said. She told me to message her whenever I was ready.
My chest tightened.
I couldn't tell if I was scared or curious—or both.
She told me not to tell anyone. I would have told Jan. At least, I would have asked her what to do.
I sat silently on the bed, holding my phone, when a knock came at the door.
Before I could respond, the door slid open.
It was Yoon.
"Jina," she said gently, stepping inside.
"I came to check on you."
She looked at me closely.
"Are you okay?"
I quickly placed my phone beside me, face down.
"Yes, Yoon. I'm fine," I replied.
She studied my face for a moment.
"Yoon," I said after a pause,
"I want to ask you something."
She nodded.
"About Yen," I continued.
"How do you know she's dead?"
Yoon went quiet.
She looked at me for a long moment before answering.
"Jina… I know because I saw it."
"You saw it?" I asked.
"Were you alone, or did someone else see it too?"
She hesitated.
"Jina," she finally said,
"I wasn't the only one. But you're free to ask someone else."
"Someone else?" I repeated.
"Yes," she said softly.
"Someone you feel safe talking to. You can ask that person."
The moment she said that, only one name came to my mind.
Raven.
I looked at Yoon, still processing everything.
She stood up.
"I just wanted to check on you," she said quietly.
Then she left the room.
I stared at the door long after it closed.
Then I stood up and went straight to the window.
Relief washed over me when I saw him.
Raven was there.
I rushed outside toward the tree.
He opened his eyes and, for once, didn't wait for me to call him down. He climbed down calmly, his gaze immediately drifting to my neck—then back to my face.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
I touched my neck instinctively and nodded.
"Yes, Raven. I'm fine. Just… a small accident," I lied.
He didn't say anything.
"Raven," I said quickly,
"I need to ask you something. It's important."
He waited.
"Where is Yen?" I asked.
"I heard Yen is alive."
"Yen is alive?" Raven repeated, surprised.
Then his expression hardened.
"No," he said firmly.
"Yen is dead. She was kidnapped… and later found dead."
He looked at me closely.
"Didn't your friend tell you?"
When he said your friend, my mind immediately went to Jan.
"Jan never said Yen was dead," I replied.
I hesitated.
Should I tell him about the call?
What if Yen was truly alive?
What if telling Raven put her in danger?
I stared at him, for long.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Raven asked.
"Is there something you want to tell me?"
"No," I said quickly, turning away.
"Nothing."
"Jina," he called after me.
"Please… be careful."
He climbed back up the tree.
I watched him lie comfortably on the branch, staring into nothing.
Then I turned and went back inside, locking my door behind me.
Remove trust.
Raven's words echoed in my mind.
What should I do?
My phone vibrated again.
Another message from the same number.
"Jina, I've contacted the taxi.
He's on his way."
My heart jumped.
I hadn't told her I was coming.
I didn't even say today.
I stood up slowly.
What should I do?
I walked into the bathroom, splashing water on my face.
Then a thought struck me.
Hae.
Yen's brother.
What if Yen was truly alive… and this was her chance to finally speak?
What if I refused to go, and something happened to her again?
Would I be able to forgive myself?
My chest tightened painfully.
I took a quick shower, my mind spinning with endless thoughts—fear, doubt, hope, confusion—all tangled together.