I walked through the empty streets toward my house.
When I opened the door, Moka greeted me with a soft, affectionate meow.
I smiled and picked her up, holding her gently in my arms.
"Good afternoon, Moka. Did you miss me?"
Her little meow answered for her.
Still smiling, I walked into the kitchen, absentmindedly petting her. I grabbed a glass, poured some water, then added a couple of ice cubes before drinking it in one go.
I took an apple from the table and bit into it as I headed upstairs. In my room, I searched for a book and picked up the one Xia had given me the day we went to the forest.
I went back downstairs with Moka in my arms and sat on the couch.
She jumped from my arms onto my lap.
I smiled again and gently stroked her as I flipped through the pages, reading carefully, line by line.
"…I didn't expect this."
I reread the same paragraph several times.
I couldn't believe it.
The deeper I went, the more my eyes locked onto the text.
My blood ran cold.
My lips tightened.
I couldn't stop reading—
Until suddenly—
A sound.
"—AHHH!"
I shouted, startled.
Moka jumped off my legs just as frightened as I was.
My heart pounded violently, like it wanted to burst out of my chest.
I looked for the source—
My phone.
A call from Kim.
I picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Dark. Can you come to Won Ho's house? We need to talk about something… something that requires you."
"…Yeah, sure. I'll feed Moka and head out."
I hung up.
Damn it… every time I go to those four's house, something bad happens.
I hesitated.
Thinking.
Pacing around my house.
Should I go… or not?
I sighed.
In the end, I went to the kitchen, poured food for Moka, and stepped outside.
I headed toward Won Ho's house.
I knew something was wrong.
I could feel it.
Still… I went.
Ready to face whatever was waiting.
Even though—
My body trembled.
Sweat ran down my back.
My pupils dilated.
I kept walking until I saw it.
That hill.
Surrounded by forest.
And at the top—
A single house.
I climbed the hill, the sound of cicadas and crickets filling the air.
This feels wrong…
I reached the entrance and knocked.
The door opened.
Won Ho greeted me with an excited hug and invited me in.
Inside, the others were sitting at the table, talking.
"Welcome, Dark. Take a seat—I'm about to serve the tea."
I walked over and sat next to Kim.
Won Ho began pouring tea.
He handed each of us a cup.
"This tea…"
I paused.
It smelled like jasmine… and fresh fruit.
But there was something else.
Something familiar.
…Metal.
A faint metallic scent.
The others drank.
So did I.
Won Ho took only a small sip.
"…What's going on?"
Kim started trembling.
She tried to stand—
But collapsed onto the table.
One by one…
The others followed.
All of them.
Except Won Ho.
"What… is happening…?" Xia muttered weakly.
Won Ho smiled.
"I have an important announcement to make."
I stood up abruptly, slamming my hands on the table.
"Talk. What is this tea?"
"No, no, no… first, my announcement."
He raised his hand.
On his palm—
A symbol.
A crystal… entwined with tentacles.
"Cult of Methuselah… the God of Time."
The one who rewinds the mistakes of existence."
My eyes widened.
My legs trembled.
Something inside me screamed—
This is bad.
Won Ho grabbed Airi by the head and threw her against the window.
Glass shattered.
He lifted Minho and Xia—
And slammed them through the table.
Wood exploded.
Kim stared in disbelief.
So did I.
Won Ho…
was never our friend.
He grabbed Kim—
And threw her toward the stairs.
"Sorry, Dark… but it's your turn."
Flames suddenly surrounded the house.
From within them—
Figures emerged.
People in black robes, their faces completely hidden by pointed hoods.
On each hood—
A symbol.
Tentacles forming a sharp crest.
"He demands sacrifices," Won Ho said calmly.
"And you… are perfect."
He gestured toward them.
"These are monks and priests of the Cult of Methuselah. Don't worry… you won't suffer much."
Xia's eyes filled with tears.
Not just anger—
Disbelief.
She grabbed a broken cup—
And stabbed her own wrist.
Blood poured out instantly.
A stream.
The toxins left her body.
She forced herself up.
With pure fury, she lunged at Won Ho, aiming for his neck—
But a priest intercepted her.
A brutal punch to her stomach.
I ran and caught her before she collapsed.
"WON HO, YOU BASTARD!!"
I screamed.
Minho—
Somewhere between consciousness and nightmare—
Saw something else.
Beyond us.
Beyond reality.
An infinite darkness.
And at its center—
Something.
Amorphous.
Indescribable.
It began to take shape.
A humanoid body.
Eight pairs of tentacles as legs.
Three pairs of arms.
A head stretched into a long crest.
No eyes.
Only—
Five mouths.
Its color—
A twisted blend of copper red and pale cream.
Minho couldn't endure it.
He clawed at his own face—
Trying to tear his eyes out—
And then—
He woke.
Gasping.
His hands rushed to his face.
His eyes were still there.
But he couldn't open them.
Seconds passed.
Felt like eternity.
Finally—
He opened them.
And looked straight at Won Ho.
A gaze filled with fury.
And something deeper.
Pain.
"Don't even try it, Minho."
Won Ho grabbed a chair—
And smashed it against his face.
The impact exploded.
Wood shattered.
Blood burst from Minho's forehead instantly.
"WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS, WON HO?!"
My voice broke.
Tears streamed down my face.
Silence.
No answer.
Won Ho grabbed my hair violently.
A weak groan escaped my lips.
"I don't know why you're so special…"
One of the hooded men approached me.
A syringe in his hand.
He plunged it into my neck.
I gasped.
The walls began to spin.
Twisting.
Closing in.
My vision blurred.
My senses faded.
Everything sounded distant.
Echoing.
Won Ho's voice…
far away…
Then—
Darkness.
I collapsed.
Unconscious.