Episode 2: Whispers in the Fog

A heavy mist settled over the abandoned hill station, weaving through the trees like silent ghosts. The chilling wind carried a faint hum—almost like a song lost in time.

Naabi pulled her jacket closer, rubbing her arms for warmth. The bonfire in front of them flickered, its light barely cutting through the surrounding darkness.

The group sat in a loose circle around the fire. Laughter and soft chatter filled the air, but something felt off. The moment was too fragile, too forced—like an illusion trying too hard to be real.

Seo Joon-woo, the famous idol and actor, leaned back on his elbows, eyes half-lidded. "You guys realize how cliché this is, right? A group of people in a creepy old hill station at night, a thick fog rolling in… If this were a horror movie, half of us would be dead by morning."

"Well, thanks for the comforting thought," Hye-jin muttered, rolling her eyes. She adjusted the scarf around her neck, glancing around warily.

Jae-min smirked. "If this were a horror movie, you’d be the first one to scream."

"Excuse me?" Hye-jin shot him a glare.

"You heard me," Jae-min teased. "You literally jumped at a leaf earlier."

"That was a huge leaf, okay?"

Laughter rippled through the group, momentarily easing the tension.

Si-won picked up his guitar, strumming a few soft notes. "Maybe some music will lighten the mood."

Joon-woo raised an eyebrow. "You do realize that singing at night in a haunted place is literally how horror stories start?"

Min-kyu groaned. "You’re seriously the worst person to bring on a trip."

"Why? Because I point out the obvious?"

"Because you kill the vibe!"

Joon-woo just smirked.

Naabi chuckled softly, watching the exchange. Her gaze drifted to Greenforest—the man who always stood by her side. He was sitting a little away from the group, eyes fixed on the fog. His quiet presence was steady, reassuring.

She nudged him lightly. "What are you thinking about?"

His gaze softened as he looked at her. "Just… listening."

"To what?"

"The silence."

Her smile faded slightly. The silence.

Now that she focused, she realized the forest was too quiet.

No rustling leaves. No chirping insects. Not even the distant sound of an owl.

Just… nothing.

Si-won’s voice cut through the air as he began to sing. The melody was slow, melancholic—a ballad that seemed to blend into the mist.

Then—

A whisper.

Soft. Barely there.

Naabi stiffened.

"Did you hear that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Greenforest’s brows furrowed. "What?"

She glanced around. The others were still talking, laughing, unaware.

But then—

The bonfire flickered violently, as if something had passed through it.

The laughter died instantly.

A strange pressure settled in the air, thick and suffocating.

Then, the whisper returned.

This time, everyone heard it.

A voice—multiple voices—layered over each other, speaking in a language none of them understood.

The flames of the bonfire flared up, illuminating the terrified faces of the group.

Then, just as suddenly—

The fire went out.

Darkness swallowed them whole.

The First Sign

"Light it back up! NOW!" Min-kyu’s panicked voice cut through the silence.

Si-won fumbled with the lighter, his hands shaking. Sparks flickered but failed to catch.

The whispering grew louder. Closer.

Naabi’s heart pounded. Her fingers dug into Greenforest’s sleeve. Something was coming.

Then—

A scream.

Hye-jin.

She stumbled back, her eyes wide with terror. "T-There! I saw something! By the trees!"

Everyone turned.

The fog had thickened, but through it, a figure stood watching.

No eyes. No face. Just a dark silhouette, barely visible in the mist.

Then, it moved.

A single step forward.

Naabi’s breath hitched.

Joon-woo reacted first. He grabbed a stick from the ground and shoved it toward Si-won. "Try again!"

Si-won struck the lighter. This time, the flames caught.

The bonfire roared back to life, casting long shadows across the trees.

The figure was gone.

But the whispers…

They were still there.

Trapped

"That’s it. I’m done. We’re leaving," Jae-min announced, standing up. "I’m not sticking around to be ghost bait."

"Agreed," Eun-seo said, grabbing her bag.

"We can’t just leave in the middle of the night!" Min-kyu argued. "The fog is too thick. What if we get lost?"

Joon-woo crossed his arms. "Then we wait until morning."

No one wanted to argue.

Naabi sat down, exhaling shakily. This wasn’t normal.

She glanced at Greenforest. His jaw was clenched, his gaze dark.

"You felt it, too, didn’t you?" she whispered.

His eyes met hers. "Yes."

A deep understanding passed between them. Something was watching.

A New Fear

Hours passed. No one dared to sleep.

The fire burned low, casting a dim glow.

Then—

A cry.

A faint, ghostly wail carried through the wind.

It was a woman’s voice.

Naabi’s blood turned cold.

Joon-woo stood up. "What now?"

Then, from the darkness—

Footsteps.

Slow. Heavy. Inside the mansion.

The group froze.

"We’re not alone," Greenforest said quietly.

Naabi’s grip on his hand tightened.

The air felt thick, charged with something unseen.

Then—

A door creaked open.

And the whispering stopped.

Silence.

Not the comforting kind.

The kind before something happens.

Then—

A loud thud from upstairs.

Naabi felt it deep in her bones.

Something was waiting for them.

Watching.

Hungry.

And it wasn’t leaving.

To be continued…

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