The streets of Korea were quieter now, the rush of the day replaced by the soft murmur of the night. Taenus walked along the familiar route to her apartment, her footsteps light but hurried, eager to get home. The wind was colder than usual, biting through her thin coat, but she didn't mind. The quiet of the evening was soothing, a stark contrast to the crowded café and the tension of her workday.
As she passed by the corner shop where she always stopped for her favorite drink, she heard voices ahead. Two people were walking toward her, speaking in hushed tones. Curiosity got the best of her, and she instinctively slowed her pace to catch their words.
"Did you hear? A woman was murdered last night," one of the voices said, trembling with a mix of fear and excitement.
Taenus' heart skipped a beat, her breath hitching as she continued to listen. A woman killed? In this neighborhood? The thought made her uneasy, but the second voice dismissed the first with a chuckle.
"Don't be ridiculous. It's just a rumor. People like to say things, you know how it goes. Don't believe everything you hear."
Taenus swallowed hard, trying to shake off the uncomfortable feeling gnawing at her chest. It was probably just another wild story, like the ones that floated around the neighborhood from time to time. Nothing to worry about.
Still, as she continued walking, the words lingered in her mind. A woman murdered... the thought seemed so out of place in her peaceful world. Her footsteps slowed, but she quickly shook her head and pushed the thoughts aside. It was just a rumor. Nothing more. She was being foolish.
The apartment complex came into view, and Taenus breathed a sigh of relief. She was almost home. Her hands fumbled with the keys as she unlocked the door and stepped inside, the warmth of her small apartment enveloping her. The familiar scent of her old books and the soft hum of her space heater helped calm her nerves.
She kicked off her shoes and set her bag down on the couch, sinking into the comfort of her space. But as the night deepened and the city outside quieted, the lingering thought of the rumor refused to leave her mind. It wasn't just the strange story—it was the unsettling feeling that had settled deep within her.
Taenus curled up on her bed, her thoughts spinning. She told herself it was nothing, just idle gossip, but a part of her couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was wrong.
What if the rumor was true?
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