The thread between us

Ji Ah stirred awake, her breath uneven. That same dream again — but this time, it had voices.

A woman's gentle cry. A man's whisper.

"Ji Ah... We're waiting for you'

She sat upright, chest heaving. For the first time, the dream felt less like a nightmare and more like a memory — raw, broken, and buried deep.

Drawn by something unexplainable, Ji Ah slipped out of bed and walked barefoot through the silence of the night. She didn't think. She couldn't. Her heart moved before her mind.

The hallway of Ryu Hwan's apartment building was dark and still. But the door to his flat—slightly ajar.

No lock.

No barrier.

She stepped inside, quietly closing the door behind her. The room was dimly lit by moonlight pouring through the tall windows. Ji Ah sat down silently on the couch, shadows swallowing her figure. Her mind was chaos.

Footsteps.

She looked up.

Ryu Hwan stood at the threshold of his bedroom. his eyes narrowed, sleep still lingering in his voice.

"You're here… at this hour. What's going on?"

Ji Ah didn't answer. She slowly walked toward the balcony and stood with her back to him.

"You're not human, are you?"

Silence.

Ryu Hwan's eyes sharpened.

Before he could respond, Ji Ah climbed the balcony railing.

"Ji Ah!" he called out, alarmed.

And then—she jumped.

Time slowed.

For a moment, it was as if her soul trusted something her mind couldn't comprehend. He'll catch me.

The wind rushed past her ears.

Then—dark wings burst into existence with a fierce, whispering sound that cracked through the air. Ryu Hwan's eyes glowed a deep, burning red as his massive black wings stretched wide, swooping under her.

In one seamless motion, he caught Ji Ah in his arms.

They soared upward.

His wings beat against the night air with powerful, fluid grace. He landed gently back on the balcony, holding her carefully in his arms.

The wings vanished.

But the red glow in his eyes remained.

Ji Ah, cradled against him, whispered, "I knew you weren't ordinary."

Ryu Hwan looked down at her, voice low. "That's why you jumped? Just to see what I really am?"

He placed her gently down on the floor. Now both of them stood still, the night heavy between them.

They sat together on the couch.

"Why?" he asked.

Her voice cracked. "Because I need you."

Ryu Hwan blinked, startled by her honesty.

Ji Ah looked away, continuing, "You're not like others. I can feel it. You could help me—if you wanted. I need to know the truth about my past. About them. My parents."

Ryu Hwan's eyes studied her, unreadable.

"What do you want in return?" she added. "Take whatever you want. Just help me."

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Whatever I want? Can you handle that, Ji Ah?"

She tensed, but nodded. "Yes. Just… help me find them."

"Do you have any memory? A name? Picture?"

"No," she murmured. "Just dreams. The same one. For 14 years. I feel like someone erased everything else."

Ryu Hwan leaned forward, his gaze more serious now.

"Then give me your birth date. I'll see what I can dig up."

Ji Ah gave a small nod, her fingers curling in her lap.

The clock struck 3 AM.

And in that moment, Ji Ah realized she had placed her fate in the hands of a man who could either save her...

...or destroy everything she had left.

But she had no other choice now.

---

To be continued...