The cool night air was crisp against Kim Sera's skin as she tugged the straps of her paragliding gear into place. Beneath her, the city lights stretched like a sea of stars, twinkling against the inky darkness. Her heart raced—not from fear, but exhilaration. Sera lived for the thrill, the kind that sent blood pounding in her ears and made her feel alive.
"You're crazy, you know that?" her friend Minji called out, shaking her head with a grin. Minji stood at a safe distance, a camera in her hands. She was the grounded one in their duo, always content to watch while Sera chased danger.
"Crazy is better than boring," Sera quipped, flashing a confident smile. She adjusted her helmet, the strap digging slightly into her jaw as she pulled it tight. The sheer drop ahead of her was terrifyingly beautiful. This was her escape—a way to break free from the suffocating expectations of her family and the polished, scripted life of a wealthy heiress.
"I still don't get why you need to do this at night," Minji muttered, lowering the camera. "Do you know how many things could go wrong? You could get caught in a tree, lose your bearings, or worse, land in some restricted area."
"That's half the fun," Sera replied with a wink. She wasn't reckless—at least not entirely. She'd studied the wind patterns, the landing zones, and the conditions. But life without a little risk wasn't life at all.
Minji sighed, crossing her arms. "Just don't make me have to explain to your parents why their precious daughter went missing in the mountains, okay?"
"Relax, I'll be fine," Sera assured her. She took a deep breath, letting the cool air fill her lungs. With one final glance at Minji, she ran toward the edge of the cliff. The ground disappeared beneath her feet, and she was airborne.
The wind roared past her ears as she soared into the night. The city lights glittered below, and for a moment, everything felt perfect. Free. Unchained. The harness pressed into her shoulders, a small price to pay for the euphoria of flight.
Sera steered the glider with practiced ease, adjusting to the shifting currents. She could hear Minji's faint cheers fading behind her as the distance between them grew. This was her sanctuary, her rebellion against the suffocating world of formal dinners and corporate obligations.
But the winds had other plans. A sudden gust hit her from the side, tilting the glider sharply. Sera's heart leaped into her throat as she struggled to regain control. Her fingers gripped the handles tightly, her knuckles white against the black straps.
"Damn it," she muttered under her breath. The gust was stronger than she'd anticipated, pulling her off course. She squinted into the darkness, searching for her planned landing zone. It was supposed to be a clear field at the base of the hill, but now the landscape below her looked unfamiliar.
Panic threatened to creep in, but she pushed it down. Focus, she told herself. You've trained for this. She adjusted the glider again, trying to steer back on course, but the wind wasn't letting up. Instead, it seemed to be dragging her toward the dense forest to the north—an area she'd deliberately avoided on her map.
"Not good," she whispered. Her breathing quickened as she scanned the ground for a safe place to land. Trees stretched endlessly below her, their dark silhouettes blending into the night. Her heart pounded in her chest as she realized she was headed straight for uncharted territory.
Branches snapped as the glider skimmed the treetops. Sera yelped, lifting her legs to avoid getting caught. She wasn't going to make it to the clearing. With a final, desperate pull on the handles, she aimed for the narrowest gap in the trees she could find.
The landing was anything but smooth. The glider snagged on a branch, jerking her backward before she tumbled to the ground. She hit the forest floor with a thud, the impact knocking the air from her lungs. For a moment, all she could do was lie there, staring up at the shadowy canopy above.
"Ouch," she groaned, sitting up slowly. Her body ached from the fall, but nothing felt broken. She unstrapped herself from the harness, wincing as she moved. Her phone was still tucked safely in the pocket of her jacket, but when she tried to turn it on, the screen remained dark.
"Perfect," she muttered. The forest was eerily silent, the kind of quiet that made her skin crawl. No chirping crickets, no rustling leaves—just an oppressive stillness that set her nerves on edge.
She brushed dirt off her jacket and stood, her legs shaky beneath her. The glider was tangled high in the branches above, out of reach. Even if she wanted to call for help, her phone was useless out here.
"Okay, Sera. Think," she said aloud, her voice sounding too loud in the silence. She needed to find her way back to civilization, but she had no idea where she was. The forest seemed endless, the trees towering over her like ancient sentinels.
As she took a cautious step forward, a faint sound reached her ears. It was soft, almost imperceptible, but it sent a shiver down her spine. Footsteps. Slow and deliberate, they echoed in the stillness, growing louder with each passing second.
"Hello?" she called out, her voice wavering. There was no response. She turned in a slow circle, her eyes scanning the darkness. The footsteps stopped, and for a moment, there was only silence.
Then, a figure emerged from the shadows. Tall and lean, with an aura of quiet menace, he stepped into the moonlight. His eyes glinted like molten silver, and his expression was unreadable. Sera froze, her breath catching in her throat.
"Who are you?" she demanded, her voice trembling despite her best efforts to sound brave.
The man tilted his head, studying her with an intensity that made her feel exposed. "You're not supposed to be here," he said, his voice low and smooth, like velvet wrapped around steel.
Sera's heart hammered in her chest. There was something about him—something otherworldly. His movements were too fluid, his presence too commanding. She took a step back, her instincts screaming at her to run.
But before she could move, he was in front of her, faster than she could blink. His hand shot out, gripping her wrist with a strength that made her wince.
"You've crossed into dangerous territory," he said, his voice a whisper that sent chills down her spine. "And now, you belong to us."