The events of the previous night lingered in Jin Soo's mind. All day, he felt watched, as if shadows around him were somehow alive, waiting for him to slip up. Eun Ha's warnings echoed in his thoughts: Stay hidden. Stay quiet. But he couldn't ignore the feeling that something inside him was awakening—something tied to these creatures.
Later that evening, Jin Soo sat on his bed, gazing at the strange, faintly glowing mark on his palm. It had appeared after the encounter with the shadow creature. He hadn't told Min Jae about it; he wasn't even sure how he'd explain this bizarre change in his life to anyone.
Sleep eluded him that night. When he finally drifted off, he found himself in an endless expanse of darkness. There was no ground beneath his feet, no stars above—just pure, suffocating blackness. As he looked around, he saw shadows swirling, moving closer, as if studying him.
A familiar voice echoed from the depths. "So, you've come, bridge between worlds," it hissed, each word dripping with venom.
A towering figure cloaked in shadow began to take shape, with faint, glowing eyes that watched him hungrily. It was the same creature he had seen in the schoolyard, but now it seemed even more terrifying, as if it had been hiding its true form.
"Who… are you?" Jin Soo stammered, fear chilling his blood.
"I am but a fragment of the true darkness," the creature replied. "And you, Jin Soo, belong to us now."
He tried to move, to run, but found his feet frozen. His chest tightened, and a sense of helplessness washed over him. Just as the creature reached out to touch him, a blinding light cut through the darkness.
"Not yet, you don't!" shouted a familiar voice, and Eun Ha appeared, her blade blazing as she swung it through the shadowy tendrils reaching for him. The darkness hissed and recoiled, retreating into the depths.
Eun Ha grabbed his wrist. "Hold on, Jin Soo. This will feel… strange." Without another word, she pulled him forward, and they tumbled through the darkness together.
Suddenly, he felt solid ground beneath him again. He blinked, disoriented, and realized he was standing in a place that looked like his town but twisted and empty, with strange, dark fog drifting around. Buildings were decayed, and the streetlights flickered with an eerie glow.
"Where are we?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"This is the Shadow Realm," Eun Ha replied, scanning the surroundings cautiously. "It's a reflection of your world, a place between life and darkness. And it's dangerous for someone like you."
Jin Soo stared at the empty streets. "Why did you bring me here?"
"Because if you don't understand what you're up against, you'll never survive," she said, her expression serious. "The creatures here—they're drawn to people with your power. You're a bridge, a beacon to them. If you don't learn how to defend yourself, they'll keep coming until you're… taken."
"Taken?" he repeated, horrified.
"Or worse," she muttered under her breath. "Stay close."
They walked through the desolate streets, Eun Ha explaining the Shadow Realm's connection to the human world. It was a place of exile for dark spirits and fallen gods—those who had betrayed the world of light. Jin Soo listened, feeling a strange mix of dread and fascination.
Just as they rounded a corner, a low growl echoed from nearby. A creature emerged from the shadows, its form twisted and monstrous, with red eyes that locked onto Jin Soo.
Eun Ha stepped forward, her sword at the ready. "Focus on me, Jin Soo. Don't look away," she instructed, keeping her eyes on the creature.
The creature lunged, and Eun Ha struck, her sword cutting through it in a blaze of light. The creature shrieked and dissolved into shadow, fading into the air.
Jin Soo was speechless, the reality of this world sinking in.
"This is your reality now," Eun Ha said, turning to face him. "But if you want to survive, you'll have to learn. And fast."
Jin Soo swallowed, nodding, feeling a determination rise within him. He didn't know how he'd been pulled into this, but one thing was clear: there was no turning back now.
TO BE CONTINUED...