Minsu's breath came in short gasps as the darkness swallowed them whole. She could feel Hyowon beside her, tense and ready, but she couldn't see anything—not even her own hands.
A chilling voice echoed around them, neither near nor far.
"You were never meant to return."
Minsu clenched her fists. "What does that mean? Who are you?"
The man's voice was closer now, almost whispering in her ear. "You are the last piece. The final offering."
A cold dread settled in her bones.
Hyowon grabbed her wrist. "Minsu, don't listen to him. We need to move—now."
But before they could take a step, the shadows shifted again, revealing a different scene before them.
A vision.
The village, years ago. Firelight flickered against the trees, illuminating a group of villagers standing in a circle. In the center, a woman knelt, bound with thick ropes—Minsu's aunt. Her face was streaked with blood, but her eyes were fierce.
"You think you can stop fate?" an elder's voice boomed.
Her aunt spat at the ground. "You will not take her."
Minsu's stomach twisted.
A second figure stepped forward in the vision—a younger version of the man before them. He stood beside the village elders, his expression unreadable.
"She is the key," he said. "And the key must return to the gate."
Minsu's heart pounded. The gate. The forsaken key.
Her aunt screamed something, but the vision shattered before she could hear it.
The darkness faded, and they were back at the shrine. The strange man still stood before them, watching Minsu closely.
Now, she understood.
Her parents had been killed to cover up the truth. Her aunt had been hunted because she had tried to protect her.
She had once thought of this village as home, a place of childhood memories and familiar faces. But now, she saw the truth—the kind smiles, the warm greetings, the helping hands—they were all a facade.
The villagers were not protectors. They were predators.
They had been waiting. Watching. Pretending to be kind while waiting for the right moment to claim her.
The man before her spoke again, his voice devoid of emotion. "This village has always been bound by the ritual. Every generation, a child is chosen—a descendant of the forsaken bloodline. The villagers nurture them, raise them, and when the time comes…" His gaze darkened. "They are offered to the gate."
Minsu's breath hitched.
She had been raised for this.
Everything—the whispered conversations behind her back, the strange glances, the way the village had felt eerily untouched by time—had all been because of this twisted tradition.
She was never meant to leave.
She was meant to die.
Minsu slowly stood up, her body trembling from the weight of everything she'd just learned. The darkness that had enveloped them now seemed to recede, replaced by the faint glow of moonlight filtering through the shrine's weathered windows. Her heart still raced, but now there was a sense of clarity, a purpose—though it was a purpose she hadn't asked for.
The man, his expression somber yet understanding, stepped closer. His resemblance to her was undeniable, and it only made her feel more disconnected from everything she thought she knew.
"You have to find the key," the man said, his voice low, almost pleading. "The key is the only way to end this. To break the cycle. But you cannot do it alone."
Minsu glanced at Hyowon, who stood beside her, his presence a steady anchor in the storm of confusion and fear. His eyes were filled with determination, but also a hint of worry for her.
"I won't let you face this alone," Hyowon said softly, his words steady but heavy with the weight of what lay ahead.
The man nodded, acknowledging their bond. "You will need each other. This journey—finding the key, unlocking the gate—is not something one can do alone. The key is hidden in this village, but it has been protected, guarded by ancient forces for centuries. Your aunt tried to shield you from it. But now, you must complete what she started."
Minsu's breath caught in her throat as she thought of her aunt. The woman who had sacrificed so much to protect her. The woman who had fought for her survival. She would not let her aunt's death be in vain.
"I understand," Minsu said, her voice stronger now. "I'll do it. But where do we begin?"
The man gestured to the shadows of the shrine, his gaze distant, as though recalling long-forgotten memories. "The key is hidden in the heart of this village. Beneath the ruins of the old temple. You'll need to follow the path, but beware. There are others who will try to stop you."
"Others?" Minsu asked, narrowing her eyes. The thought of facing more enemies only made the weight of her responsibility heavier.
The man's lips curled into a sad smile. "The villagers. They are not what they seem. They are bound to the curse, and they will do anything to prevent you from finding the key. You must move swiftly and carefully."
Hyowon stepped forward, his expression determined. "We won't let anyone stand in our way."
The man met Minsu's gaze, and for the first time, his eyes softened. "You're stronger than you realize. But remember, the key isn't just a physical object. It's also a choice. A decision. When the time comes, you'll have to decide if you're willing to sacrifice everything."
Minsu swallowed hard. The stakes were higher than she'd ever imagined. But her resolve hardened. For her aunt. For her parents. For herself.
"Let's go," she said, her voice steady.
The man gave a final, lingering look, his face filled with a mix of sorrow and hope. "Be careful," he warned. "And trust no one else in this village."
With that, he turned and led them out. Minsu and Hyowon followed him, the moonlight casting long shadows across the path ahead. The journey to find the key had begun.
And no matter what, they would face it together.