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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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