Wang Yifan's head throbbed as he pushed himself off the cold, hard ground. The chilling air pricked his skin like needles, and the gray sky above seemed unnaturally lifeless. He tried to stand but stumbled, his legs weak from the strange pull of the portal.
"Where… where am I?" he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
"You're in my world," a calm voice answered.
Startled, Yifan turned to see the red-dressed woman standing a few steps away. Her dark eyes bore into him, their intensity enough to make him shiver.
"Your world?" he asked, his voice trembling. "What does that mean?"
She tilted her head slightly, as if amused by his question. "This is the realm where spirits like me exist. A world that lies between life and death."
Yifan took a cautious step back, scanning his surroundings. The skeletal trees and the thick fog reminded him of a horror movie set. The ground beneath his feet felt damp, almost like a marsh, though no water was visible. In the distance, faint whispers echoed, but he couldn't tell where they were coming from.
"Why… why did you bring me here?" he asked, his voice rising.
The woman took a step closer, her red dress flowing behind her like liquid fire. "I didn't bring you here. The key did."
Yifan's hand instinctively went to his pocket, where he felt the cold metal of the key. He pulled it out, staring at the object that had turned his life upside down. The red ribbon tied around it seemed brighter now, almost glowing in the dim light of this strange world.
"What is this thing?" he demanded.
"It's a key," she replied simply, her lips curling into a faint smile.
"I know that much!" Yifan snapped, his frustration breaking through his fear. "A key to what?"
Her smile faded, replaced by a more serious expression. "It's a key to the boundaries. It allows you to traverse the worlds of the living and the dead. Few possess such a thing, and even fewer survive its burden."
Yifan's hand tightened around the key. "Then take it back! I don't want it!"
She shook her head. "It doesn't work that way. Once the key chooses its bearer, it cannot be passed on. You are its keeper now."
The weight of her words hit Yifan like a brick. He looked at the key again, his mind racing. How had his ordinary life spiraled into this nightmare?
"Why me?" he asked, his voice barely audible.
"Perhaps fate," she said, turning her gaze to the gray horizon. "Or perhaps coincidence. It doesn't matter. What matters is what you do next."
"Do next?" Yifan echoed. "What do you mean? I just want to go home!"
The woman sighed, as if dealing with a stubborn child. "You can't leave until you understand the key's purpose. This world has rules, and it won't let you go so easily."
Before Yifan could respond, a low growl echoed through the fog. The sound sent a chill down his spine, and he instinctively took a step closer to the woman.
"What was that?" he whispered.
She didn't answer immediately. Instead, she scanned the surroundings, her expression darkening. "We need to move. Now."
Yifan didn't argue. He followed her as she walked briskly through the misty forest. The growling grew louder, accompanied by the sound of heavy footsteps.
"Are we being followed?" Yifan asked, his voice shaking.
"Yes," she said curtly.
"By what?"
"A hunter," she replied.
Yifan's heart sank. "Hunter? What kind of hunter?"
"A spirit that preys on those who don't belong here," she said without looking back. "And you, Wang Yifan, are the perfect target."
Yifan's legs felt like jelly as he struggled to keep up. The fog thickened, making it harder to see, but the woman moved with an almost supernatural grace, her red dress standing out like a beacon.
"Can't you do something?" he asked desperately.
"I'm already doing something," she said sharply. "I'm keeping you alive."
The growling turned into a guttural roar, and Yifan risked a glance over his shoulder. His blood ran cold. A massive shadow loomed in the mist, its shape indistinct but terrifying. Glowing red eyes pierced through the fog, locked onto him.
"What the hell is that?" he shouted.
"A wraithhound," she said, her tone grim. "It hunts the living who stray into this realm. If it catches you…"
She didn't finish her sentence, but Yifan didn't need her to. The sheer terror in her voice was enough.
"Run!" she commanded.
Yifan didn't need to be told twice. He sprinted as fast as his legs could carry him, the woman close behind. The ground was uneven and treacherous, but adrenaline kept him moving.
The wraithhound let out another roar, the sound reverberating through the air like a physical force. Yifan stumbled but quickly regained his footing, fear driving him forward.
"Keep going!" the woman urged, her voice steady despite the chaos.
Ahead, Yifan spotted a faint light through the fog. "What's that?" he asked, panting.
"A sanctuary," she said. "It's your only chance."
The light grew brighter as they approached, revealing a circular clearing surrounded by tall, stone pillars etched with glowing runes. The woman reached the clearing first, turning to face Yifan.
"Get inside!" she yelled.
Yifan didn't hesitate. He crossed the threshold, collapsing to the ground in exhaustion. The woman followed, raising her hand as the wraithhound lunged toward them.
A burst of blue light erupted from the runes, forming a barrier that stopped the creature in its tracks. It snarled and clawed at the invisible wall, but it couldn't break through.
Yifan stared in disbelief as the wraithhound eventually retreated into the mist, its growls fading into silence.
"What… what just happened?" he asked, his voice shaking.
The woman lowered her hand and turned to him. "This sanctuary is protected. The wraithhound cannot enter here."
Yifan struggled to catch his breath. "Why… why is this happening to me?"
The woman looked at him, her expression unreadable. "Because you're not just an ordinary human anymore, Wang Yifan. The key has chosen you, and with it comes responsibility—and danger."
Yifan felt a lump form in his throat. His life had changed in ways he couldn't begin to comprehend, and it was only the beginning.
(To Be Continued)