Minsu's heart skipped a beat at the thought. What if everything she had believed about her aunt's disappearance was wrong? What if the whispers weren't about her aunt at all—but about her?
Her mind reeled with possibilities. The idea that someone was looking for her, had been expecting her return, sent chills down her spine. She had thought her aunt's disappearance was the key to everything, but now… now she wasn't so sure.
Hyowon, sensing her unease, turned to her. "Are you alright?"
Minsu forced herself to meet his gaze, though the unease in her chest was threatening to boil over. "I don't know," she whispered. "Something's not right. Why would they say I was the 'wrong person'?"
Hyowon's eyes narrowed as he processed her words. "Maybe it's not about what we're looking for. Maybe it's about who we're looking for."
The weight of his words hung heavy in the air. Minsu swallowed, her throat dry. "But why would they say that? And why would they know my name?"
Hyowon didn't answer right away, as though weighing the implications of her question. Finally, he said, "Whoever is behind this, they've been watching you. Watching us. From the very moment you came back to this village."
The thought made Minsu's skin crawl. She had been trying to find answers about her aunt, but it seemed like someone was already ahead of them, pulling the strings from the shadows.
"What do we do now?" Minsu asked, her voice trembling slightly despite her efforts to stay composed.
Hyowon stood, walking toward the small shrine altar. "We wait for them to make their next move."
Minsu didn't like the idea of sitting idly by, but there was nothing more they could do for now. The silence of the night outside, the eerie stillness of the woods, seemed to press in on them from all sides. The trees creaked in the wind, and the shadows of the forest seemed to stretch longer with each passing second.
As Hyowon paced back and forth, his thoughts seemed to be elsewhere, his eyes constantly scanning the room as if waiting for something. Minsu couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. That the answers they sought—about her aunt, about the village, about everything—were just out of reach, hidden behind layers of mystery and danger.
Suddenly, a soft sound broke the silence—a faint rustling, followed by the sound of footsteps outside.
Minsu's breath caught in her throat. Were they already here?
Hyowon's eyes flicked toward the door, his body tensing. "Stay down," he whispered urgently.
Minsu did as he said, crouching low behind a small stone pillar as Hyowon moved quietly toward the door. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat like a drum signaling the arrival of something ominous.
The footsteps drew closer, stopping just outside the shrine. Then, a voice—low, too soft to make out clearly—whispered, "We know you're in there."
Minsu's breath caught. Whoever it was, they had found them.
Hyowon motioned for Minsu to stay quiet, his hand inching toward the small blade tucked in his belt. The voice from outside spoke again, clearer this time, and Minsu's heart sank as she recognized it.
"You're looking for the wrong person, Minsu," the voice said.
It was the same voice from before. The same voice that had sent a chill down her spine.
Minsu's thoughts raced. How did they know her name? Who was this person?
Another rustle outside. Hyowon's grip tightened on his blade. "Get ready," he whispered to Minsu.
Minsu nodded, her heart thudding painfully in her chest. They couldn't just sit here and wait for whatever was outside to make the first move. They had to act. She had to act.
With a deep breath, she stood up slowly, her hands steadying her shaking legs. She stepped toward the door, the weight of the decision heavy on her shoulders.
"We're not the ones who are lost," she called out into the night, her voice shaking but firm. "Tell us who you are."
For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Then the voice spoke again, almost amused.
"Very well, Minsu," it said, the words dripping with cold amusement. "If you insist on digging, we'll show you what lies beneath."
Minsu's heart raced, the unease in her chest growing stronger. Whatever was behind this, it was far worse than she had ever imagined. She wasn't just looking for answers about her aunt anymore.
She was looking for the truth about herself.