Prologue

The scent of roses lingered in the cold midnight air. A single black petal fluttered down onto the cobblestone path, glistening under the dim streetlights. Sora tightened her coat around her trembling frame, her heart pounding as she stared at the bouquet placed on her doorstep.

Midnight roses. Again.

A shadow moved in the distance. Someone was watching.

"Who are you?" she whispered, but the night swallowed her voice.

Little did she know, this was only the beginning of a mystery that would change her life forever.

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Episode 1: The Mysterious Letter

The clock struck midnight. The streets of Seoul were unusually quiet, bathed in the eerie glow of streetlights. The air smelled of rain, and a soft breeze carried the faint scent of roses—roses that did not belong in the city.

Sora leaned against the window of her small apartment, staring at the dark sky. Her life had always been ordinary—college, work, and a routine that never changed. But tonight, something felt different. The silence outside wasn't comforting; it was unsettling.

Her phone buzzed. A message. Unknown number.

"Check your doorstep."

A chill ran down her spine. Who would text her at this hour? She hesitated before walking toward the door. Taking a deep breath, she unlocked it and peeked outside. The hallway was empty.

Then, her eyes fell on it.

A single black envelope, sealed with wax in the shape of a rose.

Sora picked it up cautiously and stepped back inside, locking the door. She sat at her desk, her fingers tracing the seal before breaking it. The letter inside was written in elegant, old-fashioned handwriting.

"Welcome to the game, sora. Midnight is only the beginning."

Her heart pounded. What game? Who sent this? Her hands trembled as she checked the envelope again, but there was no sender, no clue.

Suddenly, a knock echoed through her apartment.

She froze. The letter slipped from her fingers.

Knock. Knock.

Slowly, she turned toward the door, her mind racing. Should she open it? Call someone? But before she could decide, a deep voice spoke from the other side.

"Sora, don't be afraid."

She knew that voice.

Raven.

Her childhood friend, the boy who had vanished three years ago without a trace.

She rushed to open the door, but the hallway was empty. Only a single black rose lay on the ground, its petals glistening under the dim light.

Sora's breath hitched.

Raven was back. But why now? And what did this letter mean?

As she picked up the rose, a whisper seemed to echo through the empty hallway.

"Midnight Roses never fade…"

A shiver ran down her spine.

She quickly stepped back inside and locked the door, her mind in turmoil. Her hands shook as she reread the letter. Was this a joke? Or was someone watching her?

She checked her phone, trying to call Raven’s old number, but it was still disconnected—just like it had been for the past three years.

Sitting on her bed, she clutched the black rose in her hand. Its petals felt oddly cold. Her instincts screamed at her that this wasn’t a coincidence. The scent of roses still lingered in the air, stronger than before.

Somewhere in the distance, church bells rang. Midnight had passed, but the night was far from over.

This was just the beginning.

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Episode 2: Whispers in the Dark

Sora barely slept that night. The black rose lay on her bedside table, its petals as dark as the ink on the mysterious letter. She stared at it, feeling an odd sense of unease. Who had left it? And why did it have to be his voice at the door?

Raven had disappeared three years ago, without a single trace. No goodbyes, no explanations—just vanished. And now, in the dead of night, his voice had returned with a chilling message.

As dawn broke, Sora forced herself out of bed. She had class in an hour, and no matter how much last night haunted her, she couldn’t let it mess up her life. She got dressed, stuffed the letter into her bag, and stepped outside.

The streets were busier now, filled with students and office workers. The usual city noise gave her some comfort. Maybe she had imagined everything. Maybe someone played a cruel prank on her.

At university, she met up with her best friend, Minji, in the café.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Minji said, stirring her iced coffee. “Didn’t sleep?”

Sora hesitated before pulling out the black envelope. “I got this last night.”

Minji’s eyes widened as she took the letter and read the message. “This is creepy. Who sent it?”

“I don’t know. But… I heard Raven’s voice at my door.”

Minji froze. “Raven?”

Sora nodded. “But when I opened the door, no one was there. Just… this.” She placed the black rose on the table.

Minji stared at it. “This is weird, Sora. Maybe someone is messing with you. Or maybe—” she hesitated, lowering her voice, “—maybe it really is Raven.”

Sora clenched her fists. “That’s impossible. He’s gone.”

Minji didn’t argue, but her face remained serious. “Be careful, okay?”

As they left the café, Sora felt a strange sensation—like someone was watching her. She turned around, scanning the crowd, but saw no one suspicious.

Shaking off the feeling, she continued to class.

But later that night, as she walked home, the unsettling presence returned. The streets were quieter than usual, the air colder.

Then she heard it.

Footsteps.

Someone was following her.

She quickened her pace, gripping her bag. The footsteps matched hers, never too close, never too far.

Then they stopped.

A whisper brushed against her ear.

"Midnight Roses never fade."

Sora spun around.

No one was there.

But at her feet lay another black rose.

Her heart pounded as she picked it up.

Attached to it was a small note.

"Find me."

Her fingers trembled.

Was Raven really back?

Or was someone leading her into a dangerous game?

Sora’s breath came in shallow gasps. This wasn’t a coincidence. It couldn’t be. The same eerie feeling from last night returned, wrapping around her like a ghostly embrace.

She gripped the note tighter, her mind racing. There was only one place she could go to find answers.

Tomorrow night, she would return to the old library—the place where she and Raven had spent countless hours before he disappeared.

If this was a game, she was done playing the victim.

She was going to uncover the truth.

No matter what it took.

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Episode 3: The Forgotten Library

The next evening, Sora stood in front of the abandoned university library, gripping the black rose tightly.

It had been years since anyone had stepped inside. The grand structure, once a symbol of knowledge and curiosity, now stood forgotten, covered in vines and shadows. The "No Trespassing" sign swung slightly in the cool night breeze, but Sora ignored it.

Her eyes flickered down to the note tied to the rose.

"Find me."

Raven’s handwriting.

She swallowed hard. Could he really be here? Was this some cruel joke?

Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the rusted gate. It groaned in protest, sending a chill down her spine. Every instinct told her to turn back, to leave this place behind—but something stronger pulled her forward.

The library doors were slightly ajar. A cold draft slipped through the gap, carrying the scent of aged paper and dust. She stepped inside, her footsteps echoing in the silence.

Inside, the library felt frozen in time. Rows of forgotten bookshelves stretched into the darkness, their spines coated in years of neglect. A broken chandelier hung overhead, its crystals catching faint moonlight. The reading tables were coated in dust, untouched.

Memories flooded back.

She had spent countless nights here with Raven, whispering secrets between the shelves, laughing over mystery novels, dreaming about the future. But the last time she had been here… he had vanished.

Her heart clenched.

She wasn’t here for nostalgia. She was here for answers.

That’s when she noticed it—a flickering candle on the center table.

Sora’s breath hitched.

Someone had been here recently.

She moved closer, her hands trembling. Beside the candle lay a stack of old, yellowed papers. The handwriting was unmistakable.

Raven’s.

She hesitated before picking up the top page. The ink was slightly smudged, but the words sent a shiver through her spine:

"If you're reading this, it means you're searching for me. But some things are better left in the dark."

Her fingers curled around the paper.

The next sheet wasn’t a letter—it was a drawing.

A woman.

Long, flowing hair. Eyes filled with sorrow.

Sora’s chest tightened. She knew this face.

But from where?

She flipped to the final page. Unlike the others, it contained just one word.

"RUN."

The candle’s flame flickered violently, as if responding to the message.

Then—

A thud.

A heavy, unmistakable sound from the upper floor.

Sora’s breath caught. Her body went rigid.

Someone was here.

Slowly, she tilted her head upward, toward the spiral staircase leading to the second level.

The shadows shifted.

Her blood ran cold. A figure stood at the top of the stairs, barely visible in the dim light.

Sora’s heart pounded against her ribs.

She took a step back.

The floor creaked beneath her feet.

The figure moved.

A surge of panic gripped her, but she forced herself to stay rooted. She needed to see, to know who it was.

Then—

A whisper.

Soft. Close.

"You shouldn't have come, Sora."

Her breath hitched.

She spun around, eyes darting through the darkness.

But no one was there.

Only the candle remained, flickering wildly as if mocking her fear.

Her grip on the papers tightened.

Someone wanted her to run.

But she wasn’t leaving until she uncovered the truth.

Even if it meant facing the ghosts of her past.

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