The Accident
Suri rushed down the crowded streets of Seoul, her feet pounding the pavement in a frantic bid to reach the office on time. She was already running late, and the last thing she needed was to get fired from her internship. The stress of meeting deadlines and impressing her bosses weighed heavily on her shoulders.
As she turned a corner, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out to see a text from her best friend, Rachel.
"Hey girl, hope you're doing okay. You've been working non-stop for weeks. When can we catch up?" Rachel asked.
Suri sighed and typed out a quick response, her thumbs flying across the screen.
"Hey Rach, I'm so sorry but I'm super busy right now. I'll call you soon, promise!"
Just as she hit send, Suri's feet flew out from under her on the wet pavement. She landed hard on her backside, and her phone went flying out of her hand. The screen shattered on the ground, and Suri groaned in frustration.
As she struggled to get up, Suri lost her balance and tumbled into the nearby Cheonggyecheon Stream. The icy water enveloped her like a shroud, and she felt herself being pulled under. The shock of the cold water took her breath away, and she struggled to stay afloat.
Suri's world went dark as she struggled to stay above water. She felt a strange sensation wash over her, like her soul was being pulled out of her body. It was as if she was being sucked through a vortex, leaving her physical body behind.
And then, everything went black.
When Suri came to, she was disoriented and confused. She was lying on a cold, stone floor, and her head was pounding with a fierce headache. She tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over her, forcing her back down.
As she lay there, she realized that something was very wrong. The last thing she remembered was falling into the stream, but this didn't look like any hospital she had ever seen. The room was dimly lit, with candles flickering on the walls. The air was thick with the scent of incense and something else...something sweet and floral.
Where was she?
And how did she get there?
Suri's mind was a jumble of questions and fears. She tried to remember anything, but her memories were hazy. She vaguely recalled walking to work, and then...nothing.
As she struggled to piece together what had happened, Suri heard the sound of footsteps outside the room. They were light, delicate steps, and they seemed to be getting closer.
Suri's heart began to pound in her chest. Who was coming for her?
And what did they want?