Chapter 1: The Flicker of Light

Yoon-jae's eyes snapped open, his heart racing like a wild animal. The remnants of his nightmare still lingered that haunted him every night, making his skin crawl. He lay in bed, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath He was drenched in sweat, his sheets tangled around his legs like chains. The memories he tried to suppress lingered, taunting him like a ghost.

Those memories, where a child was cowering in the corner of his room as his stepfather's angry voice boomed, "You're worthless, Yoon-jae! You'll never be good enough!" The memory of his stepfather's fists, his mother's indifference, and the relentless bullying at school all swirled together in a toxic mix.

Those scattered memories, as he slowly sat up, his gaze fell upon the familiar walls of his small apartment, a reminder of his solitary existence. Yoon-jae's thoughts drifted to his past, to the pain and fear that still lingered, its dark tendrils wrapped around his mind like a suffocating shroud. He wondered if he'd ever find solace.

With a deep breath, Yoon-jae tried to shake off the lingering fear and dragged himself out of bed, the weight of his past threatening to crush him. He got ready for school, his eyes avoiding the mirror, afraid to face the reflection staring back.

Yoon-jae's mind wandered back to his childhood. He remembered the feeling of being trapped, of having no escape from the torment. His stepfather's drunken laughter echoed in his mind, making his stomach churn .He had relived the memories he tried to bury

The day passed in a blur of fear and anxiety. School bullies taunted him, their cruel words piercing his soul like knives. He felt like an outcast, alone and vulnerable.

As the sun set, After school, Yoon-jae returned home, his heart heavy with dread. He knew what awaited him. His stepfather, drunken laughter echoed from the living room, a chilling welcome. his stepfather, lunged at him as soon as he walked through the door. Yoon-jae tried to defend himself, but his stepfather's grip was like a vice. Yoon-jae trudged home, Yoon-jae's instincts screamed at him to run, but his legs felt heavy, as if rooted to the spot.

That night, the horror repeated itself. His stepfather's hands groped for him, Yoon-jae's panic spiking as he fought to break free. In a desperate bid to escape, Yoon-jae ran from the house, his feet pounding the pavement He managed to escape, fleeing into the darkness, but the streets offered no solace.

his tormentors weren't far behind. His school bullies, a group of sneering faces, blocked his path.

"Hey, loser!" they jeered. "What's wrong, can't handle a little rough love from your daddy?"

Yoon-jae tried to push past them, but they pinned him against the wall, their fists flying. He felt like he was drowning in a sea of hatred.

School bullies ambushed him, their blows raining down like hail. As he stumbled away from the bullies, Yoon-jae's world narrowed to a single thought of ending it all

He ran, his feet carrying him to the old building on the outskirts of town. The rooftop beckoned, a haunting siren's call. Yoon-jae stood at the edge, the wind whipping his hair into a frenzy as he stared into the abyss. He stood at the edge of the wall, his toes curled over the precipice

In that moment, death seemed like the only escape from the agony.

But then, his phone buzzed, shattering the silence.

A message from an unknown number flashed on the screen:

"Don't give up, Yoon-jae. You're not alone."

A message from an unknown number:

His gentle words were a lifeline in the darkness.

Yoon-jae's eyes widened, a glimmer of curiosity piercing the darkness. Who was this stranger, and how did they know his deepest despair?

Yoon-jae's world was a canvas of darkness, painted with the vibrant colors of his own despair. The shadows that danced upon his walls seemed to mock him, their twisted forms a constant reminder of his own failures. He had lost everything: his family, his friends, his sense of purpose. The only thing that remained was the echoes of his own screams, haunting the empty halls of his mind.

But that message was like a whispered promise,

Yoon-jae's fingers trembled as he replied, "Who are you?"

Yoon-jae's eyes narrowed, unsure if he should trust this mysterious stranger, At first, Yoon-jae thought it was just a trick of the mind, a desperate attempt to cling to hope in a world that had abandoned him. But as the glow grew stronger, he realized that it was something more, something about his words resonated deep within him..

as he waited for a response, Yoon-jae realized that he didn't care who was he. All that mattered was that someone, anyone, was there to listen.

He felt a sense of comfort in its presence. A sense of peace that he had not known in years.

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