The night was unusually still. Hana lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to shake the tension that had built up all day. Every creak of the house, every whisper of wind, made her heart skip.
Min-jae sat beside her, quietly going over plans on his phone. His focus was intense, but she could see the worry in his eyes every time he glanced at her.
"You need to sleep," he said softly. "Even a little."
"I can't," she admitted. "Not tonight."
He reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. "Then I'll stay. I won't let anything happen to you."
Hana swallowed hard, clinging to his presence like a lifeline.
Hours later, when the house was shrouded in darkness, a shadow moved outside the window.
Hana froze.
Min-jae was already alert, moving to the window silently. He pulled back the curtain just enough to see.
A figure crouched in the shadows—a person wearing dark clothing, phone in hand, peering toward the house.
"Someone's outside," he whispered, teeth clenched.
Hana's heart raced. "What do we do?"
Min-jae grabbed a flashlight and their spare key. "Stay here. I'll check."
"No," she said immediately, grabbing his arm. "We face this together. Don't go alone."
He hesitated, then nodded. "Okay. Together."
They stepped outside, careful and quiet. The night air was cool, carrying the scent of wet grass. The figure didn't move, but the phone screen glowed faintly in the darkness.
"Who are you?" Min-jae called firmly. "Show yourself!"
The figure froze for a second, then stepped closer into the dim light.
Hana gasped.
It was Yuri.
Her hair fell over her shoulders like a dark curtain, eyes sharp and gleaming.
"I warned you," she said softly, almost sweetly. "But you didn't listen."
"What are you doing here?" Hana demanded, voice shaking, though anger and fear mixed inside her.
Yuri smiled, a chill running through Hana's veins. "Just checking on my favorite little couple."
Min-jae stepped closer to Hana, his presence a shield. "This stops tonight. Whatever you're planning, it ends now."
Yuri's smile widened. "Oh, I'm just getting started."
Before Hana could react, Yuri's phone lit up, and she pressed a button.
Suddenly, a loud alarm rang from somewhere in the yard. Hana's eyes widened. It was coming from the side gate—someone else. Someone she hadn't seen.
Min-jae's hand tightened around hers. "Hana… stay close."
Yuri took a step back, her grin faltering slightly. "You think this is over? You haven't seen anything yet."
Hana's breath caught. Her heart pounded so fast she thought it might burst.
From the shadows near the gate, another figure emerged, moving swiftly, unseen until now.
And just like that… the danger that had been stalking them wasn't hiding anymore.
Hana realized in that moment that whatever was coming, this night would change everything.