Chapter 1: The City That Never Forgot

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.

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