Kala was walking home alone. After only a few steps, a loud crash from the direction of the road startled him. Instinctively, he ran toward the source of the sound.
When he arrived, he saw a girl on the ground with her motorcycle pinning her down. Kala quickly lifted the motorcycle aside and helped the girl to her feet.
"The road's slippery after the rain, Han. Be more careful when you're riding," Kala said.
"Yeah… yeah," Jihan replied with a sigh.
After the motorcycle was upright again, Kala pushed it since the engine wouldn't start. Jihan walked beside him, keeping him company. The night atmosphere made things feel even less safe.
"Thanks, Kal," Jihan said sincerely.
"Ah, you're acting like I'm some stranger," Kala replied casually.
Jihan turned her head, staring at Kala with a strange expression.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Kala asked, confused.
"You… what's going on with you? I've been seeing a black bird sitting on your shoulder. I know you understand what that means," Jihan said quietly.
Kala fell silent for a moment and took a deep breath. "It's a sign of misfortune. Clearly, I've been followed by a spirit. At first, a ghost asked me and the others for help. But now… we're the ones getting terrorized. One of my friends was almost slashed by a katana."
"I'll help you," Jihan said firmly.
Kala quickly shook his head. "Don't, Han. I'm scared something bad will happen if someone else gets involved."
"Then what? I can't just stand by. I'm not letting you fall deeper into darkness… especially if it means something could happen to you," Jihan said, her voice trembling with worry.
Kala didn't reply. A moment later, an idea crossed his mind. "You really wanna help me?"
"You're still asking?" Jihan replied, determined.
"There's a guy at your school named Rahesa Adinarta. Find out… if he has a twin."
"Hesa? He's a member of the student council. Pretty popular, so yeah, I know him. But why do you want to know about him?" Jihan asked.
Kala stared ahead. "That guy looks exactly like the spirit that's been haunting me. I can't get it out of my head… what if they're twins? If that's true, I might be able to ask him directly."
~~~~~~~
It was already nine at night when Kala was still watching TV in the living room downstairs. A horror movie was playing—something he rarely watched. Usually, he preferred videos on his phone. But tonight, he strangely felt comfortable staring at the screen.
Sretttt…
Kala froze mid-bite, his hand suspended. He glanced toward the source of the sound.
"What was that…," he muttered.
He pressed his ear toward the TV, thinking it might've come from the movie. But the more he listened, the more he realized—this sound was too real.
"A sliding door? My balcony uses one of those. Did someone open it? A cat? But I don't have a red cat," he muttered with a nervous chuckle.
He turned off the TV, plunging the room into silence. Then he slowly walked upstairs, taking the steps one by one. His breathing echoed in the quiet, each step making the knot in his stomach tighten.
When he reached his room, his body froze.
He was right. In front of his study desk, a figure in a black hoodie was already sitting, waiting.
Kala didn't dare move. His heart hammered wildly. At first, he thought it was Gantha, but his instincts immediately rejected the idea. The air was different—colder, heavier, sinister.
The figure slowly pulled back its hood. Lavender-colored hair spilled out, catching the dim light in Kala's room. The figure picked up the compass watch lying on the table and held it up as if showing it to him.
"You know… this watch can take you to the future… or the past," the figure said, voice cold, echoing unnaturally. "It can even bring you to my dimension."
He turned slightly, giving Kala a thin smile that sent chills down his spine.
"But this watch…" he paused, flipping it in his hand, "never loses its original function. Guiding direction. When you're lost. Your friend was really kind to give this to you, even though he had no idea how special this thing is."
Kala forced a smirk. "So that's why you're after it—so I can't go into your dimension, huh?"
The figure shook his head. His smile widened. "You misunderstood. I can pull you into my world anytime I want. I don't need this watch. I have no intention of taking it."
Kala glared, now defiant. "Then… what do you want?"
The figure didn't hesitate. "You."
"You think I'm gonna go with you?" Kala scoffed.
The figure chuckled softly, the sound making the room feel even smaller. "Relax… I know you won't."
He leaned forward slightly. "I just want to warn you. Don't mess with my place… or the others."
Kala let out a cold laugh, though inside he was trembling. "The villa, right? You guys attacked us just because we entered your territory. Fine. We'll bring offerings to apologize."
The figure shook his head. "It's not that simple, Kala. I don't want offerings… I want a game."
Kala's face drained of expression. Horror crept up in his eyes. "What do you mean?"
"Why ask again?" the figure said, voice dropping even colder. "I already told you… what I want…"
He stepped forward, his smile stretching unnaturally.
"…is you."
Kala froze, unable to move. The figure approached slowly, suffocatingly, then whispered with a haunting voice that shattered the silence.
"Sakala Astanika…"
Hearing his full name like a curse made Kala's skin crawl. Something terrible was coming.
The air temperature dropped sharply. Cold seeped into his bones. Thunder cracked outside the window as if the sky itself acknowledged the horror.
Kala trembled, but his mirror-image only looked more delighted. His smile grew wider, eyes gleaming as if Kala was a prized possession he had finally earned.
To him, Kala's fear was the finest form of entertainment. But unfortunately, he had work to finish tonight.
~~~~~~~
The clock on Kyungmin's wrist read 9:13 p.m.—far too late for someone his age, but he had just finished his extra lessons. He let out a long sigh, exhaustion and unease mixing in his chest.
"Kyung, we're gonna hang out for a bit. You coming?" Jeff called out.
"No, Jeff. My parents are strict. They've been texting nonstop asking where I am," Kyungmin said.
"We're planning to watch a movie," Jeff replied casually.
"This late? What are you even watching—horror?" Kyungmin tried to joke.
"Of course. It's like a mini courage test."
"Yeah, more like asking for death," Kyungmin muttered.
"You sure you're okay with not coming?"
"Yeah, go ahead. Be careful," Kyungmin said softly.
Jeff waved. "Alright, see ya."
"Yeah."
Now alone, Kyungmin walked down the quiet street. The pavement glistened from the recent rain, reflecting dim streetlights. The air was cold, but that wasn't what made him walk faster—it was the eerie sensation that someone was watching him.
Suddenly, he noticed someone ahead. A familiar figure walking farther down the road. He blinked, trying to focus.
As he got closer, the pale face became clearer—Kala.
But something was wrong.
Kala walked straight, aimlessly, eyes blank, expression lifeless. His face was stiff, pale, empty—like a broken doll. Not human. More like a corpse forced to move.
"Kala!" Kyungmin called out, voice trembling—half relieved, half terrified.
No response.
"Sakala, where are you going?" He quickened his pace, voice urgent.
Kala didn't stop. His body moved as if being pulled by invisible strings.
"Can you hear me? Kala!"
Panic clawed at Kyungmin's throat. Each step felt heavier, as though the ground itself resisted him. But he didn't stop.
"Sakala… listen to me! What's happening to you!" his voice cracked.
Suddenly, Kala halted. Kyungmin froze as well, breath hitching. A spark of hope flickered—finally, he heard me.
But that hope shattered instantly.
From behind the thin mist creeping along the road, a hooded figure appeared. Silent. Weightless. Suddenly standing right beside Kala.
The figure wrapped an arm around him.
Kyungmin stood paralyzed, trembling violently. His mouth opened but no sound escaped. He could only watch as Kala was pulled into the mist, his expression still empty, void of life.
And in an instant, they disappeared.
Only the cold mist remained, sweeping across the now unbearably silent street.
Kyungmin collapsed to his knees. His hands shook uncontrollably, eyes burning as tears welled up.
"…Kala," he whispered, voice breaking in the stillness.