Cracks formed slowly on the wooden door, followed by strange, unsettling noises that echoed through the hut. The sound was not loud, yet it pierced through the stillness like a whisper crawling under my skin.
I jolted up from the bed.
Everywhere was dark.
The darkness felt thick, heavy, as though it had weight. My body began to shiver uncontrollably, not from cold alone, but from the feeling that I was no longer alone.
Then the door creaked open.
At first, nobody entered.
The door remained ajar, breathing in the night air. My heart pounded loudly in my chest, each beat echoing in my ears. I held my breath, staring at the doorway, waiting.
Then I saw a figure.
I couldn't see the face clearly. The person walked very slowly, almost floating, using something to cover their face. Their steps were careful, deliberate, as if the ground itself demanded respect.
Gently, the figure dropped a tray on the small table.
Without a word, without even glancing at me, the person turned and closed the door behind them.
The sound of the door shutting felt final.
I breathed in deeply, forcing my lungs to work again. My eyes shifted from the door to the tray on the table.
Slowly, cautiously, I got closer.
My hands trembled as I opened the tray. Inside was food—something that looked like kimchi—but the appearance was unsettling. The color was off, the texture wrong. It looked familiar, yet disturbing, like a twisted version of something comforting.
A wave of nausea rolled through me.
I quickly covered the plate again and crawled back to the bed, sitting upright with my knees pulled close to my chest. My eyes moved repeatedly—from the tray, to the door, back to the tray again.
Fear wrapped itself tightly around my thoughts.
At some point, exhaustion overpowered anxiety. My eyelids grew heavy, and without realizing it, I drifted off.
When I woke again, sunlight streamed faintly through the cracks by the door.
Morning.
I sat up slowly, my body feeling stiff and unfamiliar. The tray was still on the table, untouched, exactly where it had been left. I stood up briefly, scanned the room, then sat back down.
A strange sound came from my stomach—sharp, hollow.
I raised my hands unconsciously, staring at them. They felt heavier than before, like they carried something unseen. As I studied them, the door suddenly opened.
The same man stood there.
"Congratulations," he said calmly. "You have completed your stay."
I stared at him in disbelief. "But… it's not even up to one week like you said. It's only been one day."
The man smiled, a knowing, unsettling smile.
"You have slept for one week."
My eyes widened instantly.
I looked back at the food on the table. Then back at him.
"H… how?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
"That is part of the process," he replied simply. "Now come out."
Still dazed, I stood up and followed him outside.
The fresh air hit my face, grounding me. Before I could fully adjust, Jan saw me.
"Jina!" she cried out and ran toward me.
She hugged me tightly, her arms wrapping around me like an anchor. I hugged her back, relief flooding through me.
"Thank goodness you're here," she said, holding me as if afraid I would disappear again.
I followed her back to the main hut, my legs weak but steady enough to move.
At the cafeteria, Raven walked in just as Minho stood up to leave.
Their eyes met.
Raven immediately stepped forward, blocking Minho's path.
"Where is Jina?" Raven asked sharply.
Minho smiled faintly, the kind of smile that carried provocation rather than warmth. "You think you have a lot of guts, right?" he said, staring directly at Raven. "Soon, we'll know who really does."
He turned to leave, but Raven grabbed his hand.
"What have you done this time?" Raven demanded. "Why can't you and your team rest? She hasn't even started anything yet, and you're already restless."
Minho pulled his hand back and leaned closer. He glanced around briefly to be sure no one was listening.
"If I were you," Minho said quietly, "I would get out of here. Because what is waiting for you… you can't even imagine it."
He smiled again and walked away, leaving Raven standing there, his gaze dark and unreadable.
Raven pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
No connection.
"Damn it," he muttered.
"Raven!"
Yoon rushed toward him.
"Raven," she said breathlessly, "something is wrong. Something is about to change."
Raven turned to her sharply. "Is this about Jina?"
Yoon nodded slowly.
"Go on," Raven said.
"I won't say she's in trouble," Yoon continued, her voice shaking, "but Raven… it's not good. What I felt—it feels like danger."
Raven clenched his fists. "I can't trace her," he said. "Whoever is with her now is extremely powerful. Ancient power. Even if I find her, I can't fight that."
Yoon swallowed hard. "I think you're right. A very strong hand is with her. I don't know what they're trying to do to her… or what they might turn her into."
Raven's eyes darkened completely.
Without another word, he ran out of the cafeteria.
Yoon stood frozen for a moment, then whispered softly, "Jina… how could she trust so easily?"
She exhaled shakily. "I fear for Raven."
Yoon ran after him.
As they disappeared, the surroundings seemed to distort.
The lights dimmed.
The crowd blurred.
Everything wavered, shifting like a ripple across water.
And then—
Darkness.