The Shadow Hour
Premise
Jiwoo, a rookie crime reporter, stumbles upon an old police case file from 1999 — a series of murders that were never solved.
Inside the file is a strange silver watch, with the words:
When she does, time stops — and she finds herself in 1999 Seoul, right in the middle of the case.
There, she meets Haeyun, a sharp, cold detective who becomes her reluctant partner. Their chemistry is explosive — constant banter, small moments of care, and an undeniable pull.
But as they work together, Jiwoo realizes something terrifying-
Every murder victim’s name matches someone she knows in 2025.
The final name on the list… is hers.
Jiwoo finds out the killer is not just someone from the past…
It’s someone traveling from the future, trying to erase her existence because she will expose a truth that changes history.
He’s not just a detective — he’s been waiting across timelines to protect her, even if it means erasing himself.
....................................
Save herself in 2025 and lose Haeyun forever.
Save Haeyun in 1999 but vanish from the future.
No matter the time… find me again.
Episode 1: Midnight Watch
[Scene: Jiwoo’s apartment – late night, rain tapping against the window]
Jiwoo (chatting with her friend Mina):
Jiwoo
📲Mina… I found something insane. A police file… from 1999… with a watch inside it.
Mina
📲A watch? Jiwoo, you know I don’t believe in haunted stuff…😑
Jiwoo
📲I don’t know if it’s haunted… but there’s a note with it. It says: ‘Turn me at midnight.'
Mina
📲😬 …Midnight? Are you trying to summon ghosts now?
Jiwoo
📲I’m scared, Mina… but I’m going to do it. Midnight.
Mina
📲😪.... Do whatever you want. I am sleepy 🥱 Goodnight
*********************************
[Scene: Jiwoo’s apartment – clock strikes 12:00 AM. The rain is heavier, lightning flashes outside]
Jiwoo holding the silver watch, whispering to herself
Jiwoo
Okay… here goes nothing.
Jiwoo turns the small dial on the watch. The second hand spins wildly. The room darkens, and the air feels… heavier.
Jiwoo alarmed, stepping back
Suddenly, the walls of her apartment blur. Rain turns to mist. The hum of modern city traffic is gone — replaced by distant echoes of sirens and old cars.
*********************************
[Scene: Seoul, 1999 – outside a dimly lit police station]
Jiwoo blinks. She’s standing on a street that looks the same as the city today… but older. The neon signs flicker with old-fashioned fonts. She shivers as she realizes
Jiwoo
💭No… this… this is 1999.
A man approaches, tall, sharp suit, trench coat slightly wet from rain. His eyes scan Jiwoo with suspicion.
Haeyun
You shouldn’t be here.
Jiwoo
I… I’m sorry, I don’t know how I—
Haeyun interrupting, voice firm but slightly gentle
Haeyun
Stop lying. No one just appears on this street at midnight. Who are you?
Jiwoo hesitant, trying to stay calm
Jiwoo
I… I’m Jiwoo. I… I don’t know how I got here.
Haeyun studies her, his brow furrowed. He notices the silver watch on her wrist, glowing faintly under the streetlight.
Haeyun
Where did you get that?
Jiwoo
(nervously) It… it came with a police file…
Haeyun freezes for a moment, the slightest hint of recognition flickering in his eyes.
Haeyun
You… you have no idea what you’ve just done.
Jiwoo
(alarmed) What do you mean?
Haeyun glances around, lowers his voice
Haeyun
You’re in the middle of a murder case from twenty-six years ago. And… you’re supposed to die if you stick around too long.
Jiwoo heart racing, whispering
Haeyun grabs her arm gently but firmly, pulling her into the shadows of a nearby alley as a distant scream echoes.
Haeyun
Listen carefully. I don’t have time to explain everything. You must trust me… for now. If you’re here, it means the timeline is shifting. And people… dangerous people… are already watching you.
Jiwoo breathless, eyes wide
Haeyun locking eyes with her
Haeyun
Haeyun. And from now on… you follow my lead. If you want to survive, you’ll need me.
*********************************
[Scene: Police Station – interior, dimly lit]
Jiwoo and Haeyun enter cautiously. The station is chaotic: papers scattered, phones ringing. Officers whisper urgently about a murder victim discovered earlier tonight.
Jiwoo thinking, holding her head
Jiwoo
💭This is insane… I’m… in the past… in the middle of a murder case… and this man knows everything.
Haeyun noticing her panic, whispering
Haeyun
Stay close. I’ll explain when it’s safe. But one thing you must remember: don’t touch the watch again until I tell you.
Jiwoo clutching the watch
Jiwoo
Okay… I… I trust you… I think.
Haeyun gives a rare, faint smile — just enough for Jiwoo’s heart to skip a beat. But the tension is thick: somewhere, the shadow of the killer moves closer… watching.
Episode 2: The First Murder
[Scene: Police Station – 1999, late night]
Jiwoo sits on a wooden bench, clutching the silver watch. Haeyun leans against a desk, scanning old case files scattered across the room.
Jiwoo
(whispering) So… you’re saying I came here… in the middle of a murder case?
Haeyun
(serious) Yes. And not just any case. This victim… she was killed exactly one month before she was supposed to disappear in your timeline.
Jiwoo
(eyes widening) …Disappear? You mean… she dies?
Haeyun
Yes. And it could happen to you if you’re not careful.
Jiwoo looks down at the watch on her wrist. It glows faintly, pulsing like a heartbeat.
Jiwoo
💭I don’t even understand what’s happening… why me… why now…
*********************************
[Scene: Crime Scene – alley behind the station]
Haeyun leads Jiwoo carefully. Police tape flaps in the wind. A body lies on the ground, covered by a sheet.
Haeyun pulling back the sheet
Haeyun
Victim: Park Minseo. Age: 24. Found: 11:45 PM. Cause of death: strangulation. No witnesses. No suspects.
Jiwoo
(whispering, horrified) This… this is the same name I saw in the file… from 2025. She dies in exactly the same way.
Haeyun
Yes. That’s why you’re here. Somehow… your presence… has created a ripple. The timeline is shifting. That’s why I think the killer is already aware of you.
*********************************
[Scene: Alley – tension rises]
A sudden rustling in the shadows makes Jiwoo jump.
Jiwoo
Haeyun… did you hear that?
Haeyun calm, protective, moving closer
From the darkness, a figure darts past. Jiwoo barely catches a glimpse — a tall man, face obscured, moving too fast to identify.
Jiwoo
(breathless) Who… who was that?
Haeyun
(grim) The person who’s been killing them… the one who’s now aware of you.
Jiwoo’s hand tightens around the watch. She realizes it’s not just a relic — it’s connected to her survival.
*********************************
[Scene: Police Station – later, briefing room]
Haeyun spreads out maps, crime scene photos, and the old 1999 file.
Haeyun
I don’t usually do this… but you need to know the truth. You… you are connected to all of this. Somehow, you’re part of why the murders are happening.
Jiwoo
(panicked) Connected? I’m… a reporter! I just… touched a watch! How am I part of this?
Haeyun softening, just a little, noticing her fear
Haeyun
I don’t know exactly… but I do know one thing. Whoever is behind this… they’re not from 1999. And they’re tracking you.
Jiwoo swallowing hard, looking at him
Jiwoo
…You… you’ll protect me?
Haeyun’s eyes meet hers. For a brief moment, the seriousness fades into something almost… tender.
Haeyun
As long as I’m breathing, I won’t let anything happen to you.
Jiwoo’s heart skips a beat. She tries to focus on the danger, but the warmth of his words lingers.
Download NovelToon APP on App Store and Google Play
