The blood-stained streets behind them grew smaller as Yeon-ah and the woman walked in silence. The cold evening air wrapped around them, and the sun had long since dipped below the horizon, leaving only a faint afterglow in the sky. The tension from their earlier encounter still weighed heavily on Yeon-ah's chest. She couldn't shake the image of the men lying on the ground, their bodies broken, their blood mixing with the dirt.
The woman, as always, showed no signs of remorse or regret. Her gaze was fixed ahead, her movements steady and deliberate. Yeon-ah struggled to keep up, her mind racing with questions, but she held her tongue. She had learned by now that the woman rarely answered the questions she really wanted to ask.
As the city continued to unfold around them—more crumbling buildings, more signs of a world lost to time—Yeon-ah's thoughts drifted back to the world before. A world where she had friends, family, and a sense of safety. But that world was gone, shattered into a million pieces, just like the debris that surrounded them.
She wondered if she would ever feel safe again.
Suddenly, the woman stopped. Yeon-ah, caught off guard, nearly bumped into her.
"What is it?" Yeon-ah asked, her voice quiet but laced with concern.
The woman's eyes narrowed, scanning the area with a sharpness that sent a chill down Yeon-ah's spine. The silence that had enveloped them felt different now—heavier, more oppressive.
"Someone's here," the woman said, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Stay close."
Yeon-ah felt her heart leap into her throat as she instinctively moved closer to the woman. Her hand went to the hilt of her sword, though the weight of it felt foreign in her grip. She wasn't ready for another fight. Not yet.
They moved cautiously, the woman leading the way as they crept through the shadowy streets. Every step felt like it echoed through the empty city, the sound of their footsteps amplified by the quiet.
Then, out of the darkness, a figure emerged.
It was a man, tall and thin, his clothes tattered and worn. His face was gaunt, his eyes hollow and filled with a deep, unsettling madness. He didn't carry any visible weapons, but the way he moved—slow and deliberate—sent a wave of unease through Yeon-ah.
The woman stepped forward, placing herself between Yeon-ah and the man.
"What do you want?" the woman demanded, her voice cold and commanding.
The man's lips curled into a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. There was something off about him, something that made Yeon-ah's skin crawl.
"You don't need to be afraid," the man said, his voice smooth but laced with something sinister. "I'm just a traveler, like you."
Yeon-ah's fingers tightened around her sword, her heart racing. She didn't trust him. Everything about him screamed danger.
The woman didn't lower her guard. "We don't have anything for you. Leave us."
The man's smile widened, and he took a slow step forward. "Now, is that any way to treat someone who just wants to help?"
Before Yeon-ah could react, the woman's sword was out in a flash, the blade gleaming in the faint light.
"I won't ask again," the woman warned, her voice low and threatening.
The man stopped, his smile faltering for just a moment. His eyes flicked to Yeon-ah, and for a brief second, something dark and hungry passed over his expression.
Yeon-ah's blood ran cold.
But then, just as quickly, the man stepped back, raising his hands in mock surrender.
"Easy now," he said, his tone mocking. "I don't want any trouble."
The woman didn't lower her sword. She watched him carefully, her gaze never leaving his face.
"You've already found it," she replied coldly.
For a moment, the two stood there, locked in a silent standoff. Yeon-ah held her breath, unsure of what would happen next. The man's gaze darted between the woman and Yeon-ah, his smile fading as the tension mounted.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the man gave a slow, deliberate nod.
"Fine," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "Have it your way."
He turned and walked away, disappearing into the shadows as quickly as he had appeared.
Yeon-ah let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. Her legs felt weak, and her hands trembled slightly as she loosened her grip on her sword. The encounter had left her shaken, though she wasn't entirely sure why.
The woman sheathed her sword without a word and began walking again, as if nothing had happened.
Yeon-ah hesitated, her thoughts swirling. Something about the man had felt... wrong. She couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't the last they'd see of him.
"Who was he?" Yeon-ah asked quietly as she caught up to the woman.
The woman's gaze remained fixed ahead. "It doesn't matter."
But Yeon-ah wasn't so sure.
They walked in silence for a while longer, the oppressive quiet of the city pressing down on them once again. But now, there was something more. Something darker lurking just beneath the surface. Yeon-ah couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, even after the man had left.
"Let's find shelter," the woman said suddenly, breaking the silence.
Yeon-ah nodded, though her mind was still racing. She followed the woman as they moved deeper into the city, the buildings around them looming larger, their shadows stretching long and dark across the cracked pavement.
As they approached a large, crumbling building that had once been an office, the woman stopped again. This time, her expression was different—more thoughtful, more calculating.
"We'll stay here tonight," she said.
Yeon-ah glanced up at the building, her stomach twisting with unease. It looked just like every other building they had passed—broken, abandoned, and filled with ghosts of the past. But she knew better than to argue.
They entered the building cautiously, moving through the darkened hallways with quiet, deliberate steps. The air inside was cold and stale, the smell of decay thick in the air. But it was safe. For now.
They found a small room near the back, where the walls were still mostly intact. The woman motioned for Yeon-ah to sit, while she stood guard by the door, her eyes scanning the darkness for any signs of movement.
Yeon-ah sank down against the wall, her body heavy with exhaustion. She closed her eyes, trying to block out the lingering fear that gnawed at the edges of her mind.
But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't forget the look in that man's eyes.