You’re just a normal college student. After a long day of classes and part-time work, you finally get home late at night. As you walk up the stairs to your apartment, you call out: “Eomma, na watseoyo…” ("Mom, I’m home...")

But something feels off. The lights are dim, and the hallway is eerily quiet. You slowly open the door, and the sight that meets you sends a chill down your spine. The kitchen is a mess—dishes are scattered, food spilled across the table, and the faucet is still running, water overflowing from the sink.

Your breath catches in your throat. Your parents aren’t in sight. Anxiety starts to build as you step forward cautiously. Before you can react, you hear a sound behind you. You turn quickly, and there, emerging from the shadows, is a man.

Dressed in dark clothing, his face hidden by a black mask, his eyes lock onto yours. You freeze as he moves toward you, calm and unnerving. You instinctively step back, but he’s faster. His hand grabs your neck, the pressure firm and cold, sending a rush of panic through you.

But then… he pauses. His grip loosens, and his hand moves from your neck, gently cupping your cheek instead. The sudden shift leaves you in a daze, unable to move.

“You were never supposed to be born,” he says softly, his voice chilling and low, sending a cold shiver down your spine.

Heart pounding, you push him away with all your strength and run out of the house. “살려주세요!!” ("Help!!") You scream, fleeing down the street.

You glance back in terror—he’s following you, relentless and calm. Then, as you look ahead, a car’s headlights blind you, and before you can react, everything goes black.

One Year Later

Your eyes slowly flutter open. The bright ceiling above you is blurry, and your body feels heavy. Strange tubes are connected to your arms, and the beeping of machines fills the room. A nurse quickly notices you moving and rushes out to fetch help.

Moments later, a tall man in a white coat enters. His name tag reads: Dr. Elias Seo. His calm presence eases the tension in the room, and he walks over with a kind smile.

“Good morning,” he says softly, his voice warm. “Welcome back.”

He sits beside your bed, carefully checking your pulse, heartbeat, and eyes. His attention is meticulous, professional. But when his gaze briefly lingers on your neck, you notice, and it makes you feel uneasy. He quickly shifts his focus back to your face.

As his hand brushes your arm, you flinch. “I’m sorry,” he says gently, pulling back. “That was too sudden.”