Five years.

Five long years had passed, and yet the city waited—unchanged, unforgiving.

This time, I’ll make you all pay for everything, she thought.

“Madam, do you need anything?” the airhostess asked gently.

“No, thank you,” the lady replied, closing her eyes.

Sleep pulled her under almost instantly.

Darkness surrounded her.

Rain poured relentlessly that night. Thunder echoed as her car lay wrecked on the roadside. Blood trickled down her forehead as pain spread through her body.

“Please… help me,” she cried, struggling to lift her head. “I’ve met with an accident.”

A car stopped nearby.

Hope flickered.

A man stepped out—then slowly pulled a knife from his pocket.

“I will help you,” he said coldly.

“You’ll be free from this world.”

In her sleep, the lady began murmuring.

“Please… help me… someone…”

“Nabi… Nabi, wake up.”

A man sitting beside her shook her gently.

Nabi gasped awake and instinctively hugged him.

“Are you still dreaming about those things?” he asked softly. “Are you okay?”

“Yes,” she whispered, forcing a smile. “I’m okay.”

But her hands trembled.

“Dear passengers,” the pilot announced,

“We’ve reached our destination. Please fasten your seat belts. We’ll be landing shortly.”

The plane touched down.

At the airport exit, Nabi walked out with three men, bodyguards surrounding them protectively. Cameras flashed as reporters rushed forward.

“Please tell us about your new song!” one reporter shouted.

“You’ll know soon,” one of the men replied calmly.

“Don’t worry—and I hope you’ll support us. Thank you.”

The crowd parted, allowing them to enter the car.

“Finally, I can rest properly,” Baek-hyun sighed.

“You were sleeping the entire flight,” Duri teased.

“Come on, don’t fight,” Nabi said lightly.

“Jun-seo arranged a place where we’ll stay for a few days.”

“We’re fine with that,” Jun-seo replied.

“You’re always fine if Nabi agrees,” Duri smirked.

“Okay, okay—stop. Let me sleep,” Baek-hyun muttered.

“It’ll take about an hour,” the driver informed them.

Nabi gazed out the window.

“Everything looks the same,” she murmured.

“Only a few new buildings…”

“It’s beautiful,” Jun-seo said.

“But not more beautiful than our place,” Duri added proudly.

Nabi smiled. “That’s true.”

Tall trees lined the road, forming a green tunnel. It felt like entering another world.

But no one knew what awaited them inside it.

The trees ended suddenly.

A bridge appeared ahead.

Nabi stiffened.

Jun-seo immediately held her hand.

“Don’t worry. We’re here.”

“Yeah,” Duri added.

“We’ll protect you. No matter what.”

Suddenly, the driver slammed the brakes.

“What’s going on?” Duri asked sharply.

“Sir,” the driver said nervously,

“A car just stopped right in front of us.”

Nabi’s expression hardened.

“They’ve come for me.”

She turned to the others.

“You all go ahead. I’ll come later.”

“I’m coming with you,” Jun-seo said instantly.

“No,” Nabi said firmly.

“It’s okay. You go.”

“Are you sure?” Duri asked.

“Yes.”

Before anyone could stop her, Nabi stepped out.

A man in a black uniform exited the other car and opened the door for her.

Nabi got in.

The car disappeared down the road.

“What should we do now?” Duri asked.

“Go,” Jun-seo said after a moment.

“She knows what she’s doing.”

Baek-hyun slept through everything.

They soon reached the bungalow.

As they entered, a small girl ran toward them, clutching a doll.

“Mumma! Mumma!”

Jun-seo picked her up.

“Uncle,” she asked softly,

“Where is my mumma?”

“Dae,” Jun-seo smiled,

“Mumma has some work. She’ll come later.”

“Okay, Jun Uncle.”

Inside, Baek-hyun yawned.

“Baek Uncle! You promised to play with me!”

“My cute Dae,” he smiled tiredly.

“I’m exhausted. Later, okay?”

“You’re so lazy,” Duri laughed.

“Enough. Go freshen up,” Jun-seo said.

Later, Jun-seo stayed back with Dae.

“I don’t want to sleep,” she protested, hiding behind him.

“I’ll put her to bed,” Jun-seo told the caretaker.

He carried Dae into Nabi’s room and laid her down.

“Sleep now,” he whispered.

Dae held his hand.

“Stay.”

“I’m here.”

She hugged him and drifted off.

Jun-seo smiled softly.

“She’s just like Nabi.”

Soon, exhaustion claimed him too.

Duri later peeked inside, smiling at the sight.

“They look like father and daughter,” he murmured, snapping a picture.

When Nabi finally returned, Duri was playing games on his phone.

She suddenly leaned close.

“Boo.”

“Aaah!” Duri jumped.

“Yah! When will you stop doing that?!”

“Never,” Nabi laughed, pulling his cheeks.

“Where’s Dae?” she asked.

“Sleeping. Everyone is.”

Nabi nodded and went to her room—only to find Jun-seo and Dae asleep.

She smiled, covered them with a blanket, then quietly changed rooms.

“I’ll sleep in Jun-seo’s room,” she told Duri.

That night, as Nabi lay awake, the city outside remained silent.

But the past had already begun knocking.

Nabi couldn’t sleep.

The room was quiet, but her mind wasn’t.

The bridge.

The black car.

The man’s eyes.

They found me faster than I expected.

She turned to her side, staring at the ceiling.

This city remembers everything.

Somewhere else, a man stood near a window, holding a photograph.

“Nabi’s back,” he said coldly.

A voice replied from the shadows.

“Good. This time… she won’t escape.”

Sleep refused to come.

Nabi lay still on the unfamiliar bed, her eyes fixed on the dim ceiling. The quiet felt heavy—too heavy. Every sound outside made her chest tighten.

The bridge.

The sudden stop.

The black car.

They didn’t even hesitate, she thought. They were sure it was me.

Her fingers curled into the bedsheet.

Five years ago, she had left this city broken, bleeding, and alone. She had sworn never to return.

Yet here she was.

A soft knock echoed on the door.

Nabi froze.

Another knock—gentler this time.

“Nabi… it’s me.”

Jun-seo.

She exhaled quietly and got up to open the door.

Jun-seo stood there, his hair slightly messy, concerned etched across his face.

“You didn’t come back to your room,” he said softly.

“I thought you might not be able to sleep.”

“I’m fine,” Nabi replied quickly, turning away.

Jun-seo stepped inside anyway and closed the door.

“You always say that,” he said.

“But your eyes say something else.”

Nabi stayed silent.

Jun-seo sat on the edge of the bed, his voice lower now.

“What happened on the bridge?”

She hesitated.

“They just wanted to make sure I’m here,” she finally said.

“Nothing more.”

Jun-seo clenched his jaw.

“That didn’t look like ‘nothing’.”

Nabi looked at him then—really looked at him.

“You promised me,” she said quietly.

“You’d trust me.”

Jun-seo sighed.

“I do. But that doesn’t mean I won’t worry.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Outside, the wind rustled the trees, brushing against the windows like whispers.

Jun-seo stood up.

“Try to sleep. Tomorrow will be exhausting.”

As he turned to leave, Nabi spoke.

“Jun-seo…”

He paused.

“If anything happens to me,” she said slowly,

“Promise me you’ll protect Dae.”

Jun-seo turned back instantly.

“Nothing will happen to you,” he said firmly.

“And you know I’ll protect her. With my life.”

Nabi nodded, but fear flickered in her eyes.

Jun-seo left the room—but he didn’t go far.

He sat outside, leaning against the wall, keeping watch.

Across the city, in a dark, silent room…

A man placed Nabi’s photograph on the table.

“She’s finally back,” he said, smiling faintly.

Another man leaned forward.

“What about the child?”

The first man’s smile widened.

“That child… is the reason she’ll never run again.”

Morning came slowly.

Sunlight filled the bungalow, birds chirping softly.

“Mumma!”

Dae’s voice echoed as she ran down the hallway.

Nabi stepped out of her room just in time to catch her.

“Mumma!” Dae hugged her tightly.

“I missed you,” Nabi whispered, holding her close.

Jun-seo watched from a distance, his heart tightening.

She carries too much alone, he thought.

During breakfast, Baek-hyun yawned dramatically.

“Why does it feel like something bad is about to happen?” he asked.

“Because you watch too many dramas,” Duri replied.

But Jun-seo didn’t laugh.

His eyes were on Nabi—who kept glancing at the window.

At the road.

As if expecting someone.

Later that day, Nabi stood alone on the balcony.

The city stretched endlessly before her.

“I’m back,” she whispered.

“And this time… I’m not afraid.”

But somewhere nearby, unseen eyes were already watching.

The city woke slowly, unaware of the storm quietly gathering within its walls.

Nabi stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her scarf. Her reflection looked calm—too calm. Only she knew how tightly fear and anger were twisted inside her chest.

Five years ago, she stood in this same city, helpless and bleeding.

Never again, she promised herself.

“Mumma!”

Dae ran into the room, holding her doll.

“Where are we going today?” she asked excitedly.

Nabi crouched down and smiled, brushing Dae’s hair gently.

“Just a small outing. You’ll stay with Jun Uncle, okay?”

Dae pouted.

“But I want to come with you.”

Jun-seo appeared at the doorway.

“She’ll be safe with me,” he said softly.

Nabi met his eyes.

“I know.”

But something about her tone made Jun-seo uneasy.

The car stopped near an old street.

Nabi stepped out alone.

The buildings here were older, quieter—untouched by time. Her footsteps slowed as memories flooded back.

Rain.

Blood.

Cold laughter.

She stopped in front of an abandoned hospital.

This is where everything changed.

Her phone buzzed.

Unknown Number:

Welcome back, Nabi.

Her grip tightened.

Another message followed.

You survived once.

Let’s see if you’re lucky twice.

Her breath hitched—but she didn’t reply

Instead, she walked inside.

Meanwhile, back at the bungalow…

Jun-seo couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

“Why do I feel like she’s hiding something big?” he muttered.

“You’re overthinking,” Baek-hyun said, sipping coffee.

“She’s strong.”

“She has to be,” Duri added quietly.

“But even strong people break.”

Jun-seo looked at Dae, who was drawing quietly.

“Dae,” he asked gently,

“Do you remember anything about your father?”

Dae paused.

She shook her head.

“Mumma said he’s sleeping for a very long time.”

Jun-seo’s heart clenched.

Inside the hospital, Nabi walked down a dim corridor.

Her footsteps echoed.

A door creaked open behind her.

“So you really came alone,” a familiar voice said.

Nabi turned slowly.

A man stepped into the light—the same eyes, the same smile she had seen that night.

“You look better than before,” he continued.

“But fear still suits you.”

Nabi’s voice was steady.

“I’m not afraid of you anymore.”

The man laughed softly.

“You should be.”

He leaned closer.

“Because this time… you have something to lose.”

Nabi’s eyes darkened.

“My daughter,” she whispered.

The man smiled.

“And that,” he said,

“Is why this game will be fun.”

The hospital smelled the same.

Cold. Empty. Lifeless.

Nabi’s footsteps echoed through the corridor as she stood frozen, staring at the man who had haunted her nightmares for five years.

His smile hadn’t changed.

“You’re quiet,” he said casually, as if they were old friends meeting after years apart.

“Did you miss me?”

Nabi clenched her fists.

(Writer:- hey guys hoping you like this novel please comment and tell me for more updates don't forget to like and subscribe.)