Chapter 1 - The First Encounter

The village was quiet under the dull glow of the setting sun. It was a place known not for riches, but for its resilience. Most of the people who lived there were poor, struggling each day to make ends meet. A few exceptions existed, of course, but money was scarce, and with that scarcity came trouble.

Whispers had started to float through the streets—stories of things being stolen, houses being broken into. People grew restless, scared.

"I miss," said an old woman seated near the well, “this village is known for being poor. The people who live here have nothing. Except a few. Because of that—because of the lack of money—there have been many cases of things being stolen.”

Another woman nodded in agreement. "Yes, I’ve heard a few cases of harassment too, especially against women in our area. It’s getting dangerous.”

“But,” the first woman added, her tone shifting, “there’s a patrolling team now. They’re out during the night and day. They’re protecting us.”

The second woman leaned in closer, voice dropping. “ That witch's son is also part of it too.”

The old woman’s eyes widened. “Oh… is that true?”

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Later That Night…

The air had turned cold. Crickets chirped in the dark, and the occasional hoot of an owl echoed through the trees. Two young boys sat huddled under a wooden shed near the edge of the village. One of them, Namha-in, looked out into the night, gripping a flashlight tightly.

“Look, brother,” he whispered to the other. “If we stay up all night like this, we can help make our village safe.”

Suddenly, a soft noise—a footstep—broke the silence.

"Did you hear that?" one of them asked, instantly alert. "I heard something. Let’s check it out."

Nam ha-in nodded and crept toward the sound. “Look behind the wall,” he whispered.

He approached cautiously, flashlight in hand.

Then—footsteps. Someone ran.

“There’s someone there!” one of them shouted. “It might be a thief!”

They both bolted forward, holding the torch high, its beam slicing through the darkness. Shadows danced around them as they looked for movement.

Nam ha-in called out, “Wake up! Look around! Something’s not right—we’ll find you, whoever you

are."

......................

Do Hyun’s breath caught in his throat as he heard the sound again—something shuffling near the boundary wall.

“That side…” he whispered to himself, pausing in his tracks.

His companion stopped beside him. “What happened?”

Namha-in pointed. “That side… someone ran. Then it stopped.”

They exchanged a glance. “Isn’t this house abandoned?” one of them murmured, unease creeping in.

“I should check it,” Do Hyun decided and began walking cautiously toward the old house, its frame barely holding against the night wind. Slowly, he approached the boundary and slipped through the creaky gate.

His footsteps were careful. Quiet. He moved through the shadows, entering the house with a flashlight gripped tightly in his hand.

Inside, the house was cold and dusty, a forgotten relic of the past. The air was thick with silence. He moved forward, eyes scanning every corner.

As he neared the storage room, he raised the flashlight.

He took a breath. Then—he opened the door.

The beam of the torch danced across the walls. Boxes. Dust. Cobwebs. But no movement.

“Oh…” he muttered, voice barely audible, “there’s no one here.”

Of course! Here's your next part rewritten in novel form with a narrator's point of view:

Do Hyun’s flashlight trembled slightly as his hand faltered. There, in the far corner of the room, sat a girl.

She looked like she didn’t belong there—wearing a soft lavender dress, her long hair cascading down her back, and a pair of pearl earrings catching the faint light. Her presence was ghostlike in the dusty, abandoned house.

Do Hyun took a cautious step closer, voice low but firm.

“Who are you?” he asked, scanning her face for any reaction.

She didn’t answer. Her eyes dropped to the floor. Silence wrapped around her like a second skin.

Do Hyun furrowed his brows, his curiosity piqued. “Are you mute?” he asked softly. “Can you talk."

Do Hyun tilted his head slightly, concern growing in his voice. “Are you mute?”

The girl looked at him, hesitation flickering in her eyes… and then, slowly, she nodded.

That single gesture left him stunned. So many questions spun in his mind—Who was she? Why was she here? And what was she running from?

But all he could do at that moment… was offer her a little safety in a place where safety was rare.

“Do Hyun! We found the thief!” a voice shouted from behind the gate.

The sudden call snapped him out of his daze. He turned his head sharply toward the voice, eyes wide, startled by the urgency. When he looked back, the girl had already stood up.

His gaze dropped—her shoes weren’t the kind anyone in this village wore. Elegant, luxury heels, now dusted with village soil, peeked from under the hem of her skirt. A designer bag hung from her shoulder, slightly scuffed but unmistakably expensive. There were more things—an expensive scarf, a bracelet that glinted under the moonlight.

Do Hyun stared, speechless.

Who exactly was this girl?

And why had she come here… dressed like someone who clearly didn’t belong?

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