Suddenly, her world came to a halt.
In an instant, darkness enveloped them. This wasn't just a warning; it was a statement of something heavy, something more than their lives at stake—perhaps even their hearts. The tension in the air was like a roof threatening to collapse at any moment.
Under the dim light of the moon, Selene gazed at Kael. Her eyes, deep and full of fear, seemed like a storm slowly crumbling her soul. Every breath carried a weight, and her hands trembled, no matter how hard she tried to control them.
"Kael…" Selene's voice was soft, almost a whisper carried by the wind. "I'm scared... that when I close my eyes, I might never wake up to see the sunlight again."
Selene could no longer hide her fear. It felt as though a wall had exploded inside her chest—the world had opened a deep sadness. The darkness of the night and the soft breeze brushing against her skin felt like a cold embrace, but despite all that, the fear she felt consumed her.
Kael, who had been steadfast, was frozen. Every word from Selene hit him like it tore down his defenses. His body was stiff and cold, but the emotions rising within him were uncontrollable. Every joy he felt from her presence was replaced by an intense promise he couldn't take back.
In response to Selene's fear, all of Kael's hidden emotions suddenly surged. He wasn't prepared for this. But the overwhelming urge to protect her—and the new, unexplainable feelings rising within him—drove him forward.
"From now on," Kael said, their faces almost touching. His breath grazed the side of Selene's cheek, and every moment they shared in proximity gave way to an unexplainable feeling—a desire for safety. "Don't ever distance yourself from me."
Every word from Kael felt like a vow, and Selene felt like she had become part of a world she could no longer avoid. Now, her fear overshadowed the body of a warrior—fear that she could no longer conceal.
"Why?" Selene asked, her voice low and filled with fear. "What—"
Then, a sound from the ceiling interrupted the silence. It was like an old threat returning from the shadows. Without hesitation, Kael moved—shifting from protector to someone ready to fight any danger.
His eyes sharpened, and he quickly positioned himself in front of Selene. In a flash, his hand reached for his gun, and every vein in his body ignited with alertness.
"Stay behind me." Kael's voice was firm, full of authority, no longer the cautious Kael—but now the warrior willing to sacrifice for Selene's safety.
Selene froze, her body still wrapped in fear, but her eyes full of obedience, though hesitant. "Kael… what is that?" she asked, her hand gently gripping the side of the bed.
"There's someone outside," Kael replied, never taking his eyes off the ceiling, alert to every movement. "We can't afford to be careless."
Kael scanned the room with sharp eyes. The darkness crept like smoke, spreading into every corner. The only sound that could be heard was the rush of their own breath—and the tension in their chests.
The silence… was deafening.
It felt like they were being watched. Like someone was hiding. Like they weren't truly alone.
"Kael, isn't it—" Selene started to speak, but Kael immediately silenced her with a serious look. There was weight in his gaze. Something hidden. And fear, not for himself, but for her.
"We don't have time for questions, Selene. Listen to me. I'll help you."
Kael's tone was firm. No hesitation. But underneath his voice, there was tension.
"But... what if there's someone else inside? What if we're not the only ones here?" Selene spoke again, softly, as if not wanting anyone—even the unseen watcher in the darkness—to hear.
Their eyes met. Selene, full of anxiety; Kael, trying to hide whatever emotion lurked beneath.
"I don't know yet who else is here. But one thing's for sure..." Kael turned, his gaze piercing into the dark. "Something isn't right."
SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT. AND IT'S BEGINNING TO EMERGE FROM THE SHADOWS.
He moved toward the window, his steps careful, as though walking on the edge of a cliff. The wind stirred again—not cold, but chilling with a hint of smoke. Was it a fire? Or the memory of something long lost?
Selene stayed behind, her feet frozen. She didn't know whether to step forward or run away.
"Kael... be careful," Selene whispered. Her voice was barely audible, but it carried a weight.
Kael didn't respond, but Selene could feel the tension in his shoulders and the heavy burden of secrets he carried. The air grew heavier. A cold breeze drifted in through the window, bringing with it the scent of rain, earth… and danger.
Kael glanced back at her. There was something like sadness in his eyes, but his voice remained steady.
"I'm here, Selene. I'm not leaving you."
He stepped forward again, grabbing the padlock and securing the window. A quick but calculated move. He wouldn't let anyone get in—or out.
"Kael," Selene called, her voice filled with questions and fear, "Why does it feel like... something bad is going to happen? What's going on? Why are we here?"
Kael sighed, his gaze meeting hers again, and in that moment, the wall between them shattered.
"There are things I can't tell you right now," he murmured, his voice laced with pain. "But what you mustknow—what you can hold on to—is this: I'm not leaving you. Not now. Not when you need me most. Not even when everything else falls apart."
Selene fell silent. For a moment, the silence seemed to swallow the room. But amidst the fear, beneath the darkness, there was one certain thing—Kael… was there.
And he wouldn't let Selene face the dark alone.
"N-NO?!" A scream shattered the silence of the night. Selene's voice tore through the darkness, a blade that cut into the very soul of the night itself.
She jerked upright from the bed, gasping for breath.—fast, as if being chased or trying to escape. The room was dark. The moonlight barely pierced through the thick curtains. But to Selene, it was darker than night. It felt as though the shadows had a life of their own, with eyes watching… waiting.
A chill crawled down her spine. She clutched at the blanket, nearly tearing it from how tightly she held on—like it was the last thread tethering her to reality.
Her body was cold. Sweat clung to her skin like a curse that refused to let go. Her heartbeat pounded like a massive drum—loud, fast, unstoppable.
Her fingers were trembling, almost numb, and her chest tightened with the weight of a fear she couldn't explain.
Seconds passed. Silence. Yet within that silence, the noise in her mind was deafening. Was this still a dream? Or had she woken up?
Then, slowly, the images returned.
In her dream, a cold wind swirled through an abandoned hall. Its ceiling had crumbled, and the floor was littered with shattered glass—like fragments of a broken throne.
Selene knelt at the center of the shadows, surrounded by moving silhouettes with glowing red eyes in the dark.
Voices whispered through the air—soft but heavy, like curses hidden in the wind:
"Everyone is lying…"
"Everyone wants to steal your crown…"
"Your blood…"
Each word was like poison in her ears.
In front of her, Kael slowly appeared.
But he wasn't the Kael she knew. Not the gentle face that gave her comfort. Not the man who had been her strength—
But another version of him she couldn't recognize. His expression was cold, emotionless. He was dressed in a black robe from head to toe, just like the shadows surrounding her.
And in his hand—a long sword, gleaming under the moonlight that filtered through the broken ceiling.
He approached Selene slowly. Silent. Showing no sign of mercy.
She wanted to move. To run. To scream. But she couldn't. It was as if invisible chains held her down—questions, fears, and memories.
She swallowed. Her throat was dry. Her voice trembled.
Kael… are you going to kill me?
No answer. But in his gaze, she saw something she couldn't understand—or accept.
He raised the sword.
A moment. A heartbeat.
And he thrust the blade into her chest.
There was no blood… only memories. Laughter. Promises whispered beneath the rain. And in the last second before she awoke, a whisper echoed in her mind:
If it really is him… why now?
Selene clutched her chest. There was no wound, but the pain was real.
Slowly, she rose, grabbed her shawl, and walked toward the window. She drew back the curtain, searching for any sign of peace. But even the night breeze still carried the chill of the dream.
Just when she thought it was over… something moved at the edge of her vision.
A shadow. Quick. Like it just passed by.
Or maybe… just a figment of a mind still trapped in a nightmare.
Before she could move, she heard a soft knock at the door.
She froze. Turned her head.
"Who's there?" she asked, her voice slightly trembling.
There was no answer. Just the silence, stretching on like an empty abyss.
Then, the door creaked. Just a soft, subtle sound, barely enough to catch her attention, as if it were testing her, teasing her. But when she looked, no one was there.
The silence lingered, thick and heavy, suffocating her. The shadows in the room seemed deeper now, darker—like they were closing in. The air felt thick, as though every breath she took was a struggle. Her thoughts spiraled, but they didn't seem to make sense. What was this feeling? Fear? Dread? Or something older, something from the past that had never really left her?
Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw it—a flicker of movement. A flash of dark fabric, barely visible, but there. She blinked, and it was gone. It was too quick to be real. Wasn't it?
She hoped, prayed, that it was just her mind playing tricks.
Her heart skipped a beat. Could it be him? Could it really be Kael? It had been so long since she'd last heard from him, but why did it feel like he was so close—right there, just out of reach? She'd lost him once. She couldn't, wouldn't lose him again.
Her breath caught, and before she even realized what she was doing, her hand reached for the door handle. But she stopped herself.
What if it wasn't Kael?
What if it was something else? Something that had been following her from the shadows all along?
She took a deep breath. Another knock. Louder this time, insistent.
"Kael?"
Her voice barely rose above a whisper, fragile and unsure. She wasn't even sure if she believed herself. Was it a question? A hope? Or something darker—something buried deep inside her that didn't want to face the truth?
The door creaked open—just a crack. And for a heartbeat, Selene thought she saw something. Or someone. Standing there.
But the darkness was too thick.
Her pulse raced. The sound of her heart was deafening, echoing in her ears.
A figure stepped forward.
And then the door slammed shut.