---
She only wanted to take a shortcut home.
She didn't know it would change her life forever.
---
The streets of Seoul were quieter than usual. The cold air nipped at Seo-rin's cheeks as she walked alone, her phone battery long dead and the shadows stretching deeper with every step.
Her shift at the café had run late. Again. And with the buses no longer running, she'd decided to cut through a back alley to reach home faster.
She'd taken this path once before. But tonight, the silence felt heavier.
Thicker.
Wrong.
Still, she kept walking. The alley was dimly lit, framed by flickering neon signs and the distant hum of traffic. She tightened her grip on her tote bag and quickened her pace.
Then she heard it.
A sharp gasp. A scuffle.
A muffled scream.
Seo-rin froze.
She should have turned around.
But her feet betrayed her, dragging her forward until she reached the corner. Curiosity—or maybe fate—pulled her in.
She peeked.
And everything changed.
---
A man knelt on the ground, blood dripping from his mouth. His hands trembled as he tried to crawl backward.
Standing over him was another man.
Tall. Broad-shouldered. Dressed in black from head to toe. His aura was lethal.
His gun—silver, polished—gleamed in the dim light.
Seo-rin's breath caught as the man pulled the trigger.
One silent flash. One lifeless body.
She covered her mouth with both hands.
Too late.
He turned.
The stranger's gaze locked onto hers through the darkness—dark eyes sharp as razors, face emotionless… and beautiful. Dangerously beautiful.
She took a step back.
"Didn't your parents teach you not to spy, sweetheart?"
His voice was smooth. Cold. Laced with warning.
Seo-rin turned to run. Her legs barely moved.
But he was faster.
In an instant, he was behind her. A gloved hand gripped her wrist, yanking her back before she could scream.
"No witnesses."
Her heart slammed against her ribs. "I-I won't tell anyone! I swear!"
He looked at her. Really looked at her.
There was a pause. A flicker of something in his eyes.
Curiosity. Recognition. A dangerous kind of interest.
Then—
Darkness.
Everything faded.
---
When she woke up, the world was no longer familiar.
Silk sheets. Smooth marble floors. No windows. No exits.
Just a single heavy door... and silence.
She sat up quickly, her chest heaving. Her wrists weren't tied, but the fear wrapped around her like chains.
Where am I?
The door opened.
And he walked in.
The same man from the alley—this time without the gun. Just calm eyes, black gloves, and a quiet power that made the air feel heavier.
Seo-rin backed up.
"Why am I here?" she asked, voice trembling.
He set down a tray of food. "Because you saw something you shouldn't have."
"I didn't mean to— I didn't even know—"
He cut her off.
"You're in my world now."
A pause.
"And in my world… accidents like you don't walk free."
Seo-rin's eyes filled with panic. "So what now? You're going to kill me?"
He stared at her for a moment.
Then… the faintest smirk.
"Not yet."
---
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