27
950 Words
The night felt endless.
Ara did not sleep.
Not even for a moment.
She sat in the corner of her room, her back against the wall, her eyes fixed on the door.
The small lamp beside her flickered softly.
Every sound felt louder.
The wind.
The movement of leaves.
Even her own breathing.
Her fingers held tightly onto Jin Woo’s letters.
As if they were the only thing keeping her calm.
“…It’s nothing,” she whispered again.
But her voice trembled.
Because deep inside…
She knew it was not nothing.
—
Time passed slowly.
Very slowly.
The flame of the lamp grew weaker.
The room became darker.
But Ara did not move.
She did not dare to.
Her eyes never left the door.
—
Then—
A sound.
Soft.
Like something brushing against wood.
Ara’s body stiffened.
Her breath stopped.
She listened carefully.
Silence.
Long.
Heavy silence.
Then again—
A faint movement.
Closer this time.
Right outside the door.
Ara slowly stood up.
Her legs felt weak.
But she forced herself to move.
“Who’s there?” she asked again.
Her voice was quiet.
But it echoed in the stillness.
No answer.
Not even the wind now.
Everything had gone silent.
Too silent.
—
Ara took one step forward.
Then another.
Her hand reached toward the table.
She picked up a small knife.
Her grip was tight.
Her heart was racing.
She moved closer to the door.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Her eyes never blinking.
—
Then suddenly—
A shadow appeared under the door again.
Clear this time.
Not just a quick movement.
It stayed.
Still.
Right there.
Ara gasped softly and stepped back.
Her hand shook.
“…Who are you?” she whispered.
The shadow did not move.
Did not answer.
It just stayed there.
As if waiting.
—
Then—
A knock.
Soft.
Slow.
Three times.
Knock… knock… knock…
Ara’s heart pounded loudly.
Her whole body felt cold.
“Open the door,” a voice said.
Low.
Calm.
But unfamiliar.
Ara’s grip on the knife tightened.
“…Who are you?” she asked again.
Silence.
Then—
“Open the door.”
The same voice.
Slightly firmer this time.
Ara shook her head, even though the person could not see her.
“No.”
Her voice was weak, but clear.
“I won’t open it.”
Another silence followed.
Long.
Heavy.
Then…
A quiet chuckle.
It sent a chill down her spine.
“You should not make this difficult.”
Ara stepped back further.
Her back hit the wall again.
Fear filled her chest.
“What do you want?” she asked.
This time, there was no answer.
Only silence.
And then—
The shadow disappeared.
Just like that.
Gone.
—
Ara waited.
Her eyes fixed on the door.
Her breath uneven.
Minutes passed.
Nothing happened.
No sound.
No movement.
The night returned to its quiet state.
But Ara did not relax.
She could not.
—
Slowly, very slowly…
She moved toward the window.
She needed to see.
To make sure.
Her hands trembled as she lifted the curtain slightly.
She looked outside.
At first—
Nothing.
Just darkness.
But then—
She saw it.
A figure.
Standing near the edge of the street.
Still.
Watching her house.
Ara quickly pulled the curtain down.
Her heart was beating wildly.
“They’re still here…”
She whispered.
Her whole body felt cold.
—
She moved back into the room.
Her mind raced.
What should she do?
Who could she call?
Minho?
But it was too late.
Too dark.
And what if they were still outside?
She bit her lip.
Thinking.
Trying to stay calm.
—
Then suddenly—
A loud sound.
From the back of the house.
Ara turned quickly.
Her eyes wide.
Another sound.
Like something hitting the wall.
Her grip on the knife tightened again.
“No…”
She whispered.
“They’re trying to get in…”
Fear took over.
Her breath became faster.
Her hands colder.
But she forced herself to move.
Step by step.
Toward the back.
—
Every step felt heavy.
Her ears rang with every small sound.
The wooden floor creaked under her feet.
The darkness felt deeper.
Then—
She stopped.
There it was.
The back door.
Shaking slightly.
As if someone was testing it.
Pushing.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Ara felt her legs weaken.
But she did not run.
She could not.
—
“Go away…” she whispered.
But her voice was too soft.
Too small.
The door shook again.
Stronger this time.
Ara stepped back.
Her mind was screaming.
Run.
Hide.
Do something.
But her body stayed frozen.
—
Far away, in the capital…
Jin Woo suddenly stood up from his seat.
The scroll in his hand fell to the floor.
His breath became uneven.
A strange feeling hit him hard.
Sharp.
Sudden.
“…Ara…”
He whispered her name.
The unease he had been feeling before…
Exploded into something stronger.
Something urgent.
He turned quickly.
“Prepare my horse,” he ordered.
The servant looked surprised.
“My lord? At this hour—”
“Now.”
His voice was cold.
Firm.
The servant did not argue again.
“Yes, my lord.”
—
Back in the town…
The back door shook again.
This time, harder.
Louder.
Ara stepped back until she hit the wall.
Her eyes filled with fear.
Her hands trembled.
“Please…” she whispered.
The wood creaked.
The lock strained.
Another push—
And the door cracked slightly.
A small opening.
Darkness on the other side.
Ara’s breath stopped.
Her whole body froze.
Because in that small gap…
She saw it.
A hand.
Slowly pushing the door open.
—
The night…
Was no longer quiet.
- Writer
