Twenty Years Ago

  The warm afternoon sun bathed the neighborhood in golden hues, casting long, soft shadows across the quiet streets. A gentle breeze rustled through the trees, carrying the scent of freshly baked bread from a nearby shop. The sound of children’s ughter echoed from a distance, their summer adventures not yet over despite school being just around the corner.

  Inside a modest home, Aky’s mother stood at the doorway, arms crossed, looking down at her son and his best friend, Yna, who was already tugging at his sleeve, eager to leave.

  “Don’t wander too far,” she reminded them. “And be back before sunset. Summer break is almost over, and you two need to start focusing on your studies.”

  Aky grinned. “We know, Mom. Just one st adventure before school starts.”

  His mother sighed, ruffling his hair. “One st adventure, huh? Alright, but don’t push your luck.”

  Yna nodded enthusiastically. “We won’t, Auntie!”

  With that, the two darted out into the streets, weaving past the familiar houses and vendors selling snacks along the way. The town had always been peaceful—neighbors chatting by their gates, the scent of home-cooked meals drifting from open windows. It was a pce untouched by darkness.

  As they neared Lyn’s mansion, they slowed their steps. The Choi residence was an imposing sight—a grand structure of polished stone and iron gates, surrounded by manicured gardens. But the most unusual sight that afternoon wasn’t the mansion itself, but the figure standing in the front yard.

  Lyn’s father.

  Usually absent, busy with business trips and high-profile meetings, seeing him here was rare. He stood in front of his sleek bck car, speaking to Lyn in hushed tones. His expression was unreadable, but the way Lyn stood—her arms stiff at her sides—told Aky and Yna that something was unusual.

  The two crouched behind a shrub, whispering.

  “What do you think they’re talking about?” Yna squinted, attempting to read their lips.

  Aky tilted his head. “Something about… responsibility?”

  “No, I think he said ‘careful’—wait, was that ‘danger’?”

  Before they could figure it out, the car’s engine roared to life. The heavy iron gates creaked open, and Lyn’s father disappeared behind the tinted windows as the driver pulled out onto the street.

  Lyn turned toward them, her sharp eyes scanning the area before locking onto their hiding spot. With a sigh, she approached.

  Aky wasted no time. “So, what was that about?”

  Lyn shook her head. “Nothing serious.”

  “You sure?” Yna pressed, watching her closely.

  Lyn forced a small smile. “It’s fine.”

  The mansion stood behind her, looming under the perfect blue sky, its windows reflecting the warm sunlight. Everything looked peaceful. Just another summer afternoon.

  Minutes ter, the trio was inside Lyn’s room, carefully slipping out through the back balcony, avoiding the watchful eyes of the household staff. Just as they reached the garden wall, Yna’s grandmother appeared from the kitchen entrance.

  “Yna!” she called. “Where are you three sneaking off to?”

  Yna froze but quickly recovered. “We’re just going for a walk, Grandma! Nothing bad, I promise!”

  Her grandmother gave them a long look before sighing. “Be back before dark.”

  As soon as she turned away, the trio giggled before slipping out and heading toward the riverbank. The walk was familiar—past the rice fields, through the small wooden bridge, following the winding dirt path lined with tall grass. Birds chirped above, and the river sparkled under the sun.

  As they walked, Lyn hesitated. “Maybe we should just wait for Mr. Jang at the snack bar.”

  Aky grinned. “Come on, what’s there to be scared of? The sun is high. Nothing can go wrong.”

  Yna nodded in agreement. “Besides, it’s just a riverbank.”

  They arrived at their usual waiting spot near the river’s edge, sitting on rge rocks under the shade of an old tree. As they waited, Yna suddenly stiffened. “Did you hear that?”

  Aky frowned. “Hear what?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t know… It sounded like a scream. Or maybe a car screeching.”

  Lyn gnced around uneasily, but before they could dwell on it, something caught Yna’s eye in the grass nearby. She moved toward it, bending down to pick up what looked like a small notebook. But before she could reach it—

  “Kids!” Mr. Jang’s voice interrupted, carrying a rge box. “I’ve got something for you.”

  Aky’s face lit up. “What is it? What’s in the box?”

  Lyn still had her doubts about Mr. Jang, but even she couldn’t help feeling curious. Yna, momentarily distracted from the object in the grass, ran toward them.

  The box looked ordinary—just a simple wooden crate with no markings. Mr. Jang set it down and opened it, revealing three smaller boxes, each beled with their names.

  Inside were art materials—colorful paper for cranes, tiny empty bottles for their folded creations, popsicle sticks, watercolors, brushes, and even paper dolls for the girls. Aky’s set included an old cartoon character robot made of paper, like a small puzzle.

  Excitement sparked in their eyes.

  “These are amazing!” Yna beamed, holding up her paper doll.

  Lyn turned her paper doll in her hands, intrigued. “I’ve never had one of these before.”

  Aky, busy assembling his paper robot, grinned as he carefully folded and tucked in the st piece. “Mr. Jang, what about your secret? You promised to tell us!”

  Mr. Jang, the kind old man who owned the snack bar, chuckled as he leaned on the counter. His small store was a well-loved spot, nestled at the edge of the vilge, with its signature blue-and-white striped awning and rows of snack jars filled with colorful candies and crispy crackers. The scent of freshly grilled fish cakes and warm red bean pastries wafted through the air, mixing with the ughter of children who often stopped by after school.

  He wiped his hands on his pin blue shirt and adjusted his cardigan before leaning in slightly, as if about to share a great secret. “I have a hidden toy shop deep in the forest, just beyond the river. But no one must know.”

  Lyn, who was carefully unwrapping her delicate gss marble from the tiny box it came in, raised an eyebrow. “Why does it need to be a secret?”

  Mr. Jang only chuckled, his eyes twinkling. “That’s part of the mystery. Some things are best discovered on your own.”

  Mr. Jang dusted off his hands and stretched. “Well, kids, I better get going. Got some important things to take care of.”

  Aky pouted. “Aw, already? You didn’t even tell us more about your secret shop!”

  Mr. Jang chuckled, ruffling Aky’s hair. “If I tell you everything, where’s the fun in that?”

  Lyn tilted her head. “Will we see you again ter?”

  “Of course,” Mr. Jang assured them. “But for now, go on and enjoy your snacks. The bar’s all yours.”

  With that, he gave them a small wave and turned, disappearing down the path leading into the forest. The children, still excited about their new toys, headed toward the snack bar, their ughter trailing behind them.

  Aky looked up from his toy, intrigued. “A secret toy shop? Do you think it’s real?”

  Yna, who had been examining her small wooden spinning top, smiled. “Maybe he just wants us to keep pying and imagining.”

  They sat outside under the shaded umbrels, their fingers busy with the tiny treasures Mr. Jang had given them. Aky’s paper robot was now fully built, its tiny arms and legs stiff but oddly charming. He made it march across the table, knocking over Lyn’s gss marble, which rolled toward Yna’s p. Lyn sighed but let it go, watching as Yna excitedly spun her top on the smooth surface of the pstic table.

  “Look!” Yna beamed as the top danced in perfect circles before slowing down. “It spins so well!”

  Lyn, meanwhile, held up her marble against the sunlight, admiring the swirls of blue and green inside. “It looks like a tiny ocean,” she murmured.

  Aky snickered. “Mine’s better. It can fight!” He dramatically made his paper robot ‘attack’ Lyn’s marble with a pyful swipe of his fingers. Lyn shot him a gre before flicking his toy aside.

  Just as they were settling into their little world of make-believe, Yna suddenly gasped. “Wait—I lost my grandmother’s comb!”

  Aky blinked. “What? Where did you st see it?”

  Yna frantically patted her pockets and looked around their table. “I think I dropped it near the riverbank when we were pying earlier. I had it when we left the house, but now it's gone.”

  Lyn frowned. “Are you sure? Maybe it fell in your box.”

  Yna shook her head, already standing up. “No, I think I remember now. I must’ve dropped it when I was picking up pebbles. I’ll go get it!”

  “Wait, we can go together,” Aky offered, but Yna was already dashing off. “I’ll be quick!” she called over her shoulder before disappearing around the bend.

  Lyn sighed, twirling her marble between her fingers. “She’s so impatient.”

  Minutes passed. The soft rustling of leaves and distant chirping of birds filled the air. The sun was beginning its slow descent, casting long golden shadows across the ground. Aky gnced at the path Yna had taken, frowning.

  “She’s taking too long,” Lyn muttered, shifting uncomfortably in her chair.

  Aky set his paper robot down. “Let’s go get her.”

  They stood up, stepping away from the comfort of the snack bar, the warmth of their toys forgotten. The ughter and lightness from earlier seemed to dissolve as they made their way back toward the river.

  Then—

  A scream.

  Yna’s scream.

  The peaceful afternoon shattered, the sound echoing through the trees, sending a chill down their spines.

  Lyn’s marble slipped from her fingers, hitting the ground with a tiny clink, but she didn’t even notice. Her heart pounded as she and Aky broke into a sprint, racing toward the source of the cry.

  Something was wrong. Terribly wrong.

  The Riverbank's Secret

  Yna sprinted through the overgrown grass, her breath uneven as she raced back toward the riverbank. Her grandmother’s comb—she needed to find it before she got scolded. The setting sun cast long shadows across the ndscape, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. The river, its surface shimmering in the fading light, murmured softly as the evening breeze rustled the reeds along its banks.

  She slowed down, scanning the ground frantically. The tall grass swayed, making it harder to spot anything among the green and brown hues. Her heart pounded against her ribs, the panic rising in her throat until—

  There! A small glimmer amid the grass.

  Yna dropped to her knees, brushing the bdes aside to reveal the jade comb. It was small and delicate, with intricate carvings, the kind that blended too easily into its surroundings. She let out a relieved breath as she picked it up, brushing the dirt off. But something else caught her eye—a small notebook, half-buried in the soil.

  She hesitated, then reached for it, dusting off the cover. The notebook had a simple brown leather cover, worn at the edges, and a tiny metal lock securing its pages. Curious, she turned it over in her hands. It must have been here for some time, but who did it belong to?

  Just as she was about to rise and head back, a hand grabbed her ankle.

  A cold, bloodied hand.

  A scream rose in her throat, but it stuck there, choking her as terror rooted her to the spot. Her entire body froze, her breath coming in sharp, ragged gasps. She didn’t want to look down. She didn’t want to see.

  But something made her turn.

  Her wide eyes locked onto the ghastly sight—a woman, face down in the grass, her matted hair and torn clothes drenched in blood. One arm weakly stretched toward Yna, fingers trembling as if trying to grasp something—her, the comb, anything.

  A strangled gasp finally escaped Yna’s lips. Her vision blurred, her chest tightening as she took one shaky step back, then another.

  And then she screamed.

  Footsteps pounded against the ground. Aky and Lyn appeared, panting as they rushed toward her.

  Aky’s eyes widened as he saw the blood-streaked woman, and without thinking, he grabbed Yna’s arm and yanked her away. “Yna, get back!” His face was pale, lips slightly parted in shock, but his grip was firm despite his own fear.

  Lyn, though startled, was more composed. Her sharp gaze swept over the woman and the area around her. “Who are you?” she asked, stepping closer, her voice steady despite the chill creeping down her spine. “What happened to you?”

  The woman didn’t respond. Her breaths were shallow, her body too weak to even lift her head.

  Lyn’s gaze flickered to the trees, the grass, the path leading deeper into the woods. Something wasn’t right.

  “We should leave,” she said finally, her tone firm. “This isn’t our business.”

  Aky nodded quickly. “Yeah. Someone else will find her.”

  “But she needs help!” Yna cried, her voice shaking. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she looked between them, desperate. “We can’t just leave her here!”

  Aky tightened his grip on her hand. “We’re leaving.”

  He didn’t wait for an argument. Tugging Yna along, he bolted back toward the snack bar. Lyn lingered a second longer, her gaze sweeping once more over the woman, the ground, the trees beyond. Then she turned and ran after them.

  When they burst into the snack bar, panting, Mr. Jang looked up in arm. “What happened?” His eyes darted between the three, nding on Yna’s tear-streaked face. “Why do you look so shaken?”

  Aky bent over, hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath. Yna, still trembling, could barely form words.

  Lyn, calmer than both of them, spoke. “We found a woman. She was covered in blood.”

  Mr. Jang gasped, his expression momentarily bnk. Yna, despite her fear, noticed something—he looked flustered. Doubtful. As if he wasn’t sure what to say next.

  After a pause, he cleared his throat. “Did you see her face?”

  Yna shook her head, still crying. “No. I… I couldn’t see…”

  Mr. Jang sighed, rubbing his temple. “I’ll call the police. You three should go home.”

  They hesitated, but eventually, the exhaustion of fear caught up with them. They obeyed.

  The next afternoon, Aky found Yna sitting at the stairs leading to her basement home. She looked pale, her arms wrapped around her knees.

  “Hey,” he said, nudging her gently. “Forget about yesterday. Mr. Jang probably told the police already.”

  Yna looked up at him, her eyes dark with fatigue. “I couldn’t sleep.”

  Before Aky could respond, Lyn entered his home without warning. “Neither could I,” she admitted, crossing her arms. “I keep thinking about it. What really happened? Should we check with Mr. Jang?”

  Aky frowned. “Not a good idea. We should just let it go.”

  Before they could continue, Aky’s mother called from inside. “Aky! I need you to run an errand!”

  Almost simultaneously, one of Lyn’s maids rushed in. “Miss Lyn! Your grandfather just arrived home and has been looking for you everywhere.”

  Lyn sighed, rolling her eyes. “Guess I have no choice.” She gave one st look at Yna before leaving.

  Left alone, Yna’s curiosity gnawed at her. She had to know.

  She hurried to the snack bar. It was open, but eerily empty. “Mr. Jang?” she called, stepping inside. No answer. A strange silence hung in the air. Something felt… off.

  A thought struck her. The riverbank.

  She ran, slowing down as she neared the spot where the woman had been. But there was nothing. No sign of blood, no trace of what they saw yesterday. Had the police really come? Had they taken her away?

  Still, an unease settled deep in her stomach. Her feet carried her forward, toward the forest.

  She hesitated at its edge. The trees loomed taller than she remembered, the dense foliage whispering with the wind. The further she walked, the dimmer the sunlight became, casting eerie shadows on the moss-covered ground.

  Then she saw it.

  An old shack, worn and crumbling, nestled between the trees. A faint glow flickered from inside, barely visible through the cracks in the wooden pnks. Yna’s heart pounded. Could this be Mr. Jang’s secret toy shop?

  Swallowing her fear, she took a step closer, unaware of the true secrets that y beyond that door.

  The Old Shack

  Yna’s steps slowed as she neared the old shack, her breath hitching slightly. The wooden structure looked even more fragile up close, with its faded pnks and rusted hinges. Vines curled up its sides, weaving through the cracks, and a faint glow seeped through the gaps between the wooden sts. The air felt damp, heavy with the scent of moss and damp earth. Every crunch of leaves beneath her feet sounded too loud, too sharp against the eerie silence of the forest.

  Just as she was about to take another step forward, a voice called from behind her.

  “Yna.”

  She flinched, whipping around to see Mr. Jang standing a few feet away. His face was bnk, devoid of the warmth she was used to seeing in the snack bar. He wore a bck jumpsuit, the kind mechanics donned while fixing cars, smeared with streaks of oil and dust. His sleeves were rolled up slightly, revealing strong, veined forearms. The sight unsettled her—she had seen this suit before but never questioned it. Until now.

  “Mr. Jang!” Yna let out a breath, pcing a hand over her racing heart. “You scared me.”

  He didn’t move, his dark eyes locked onto her. “How did you get here?”

  “I was looking for you,” she admitted, shifting uncomfortably under his unwavering stare. “I went to the snack bar, but you weren’t there.”

  His lips pressed together for a brief moment before he spoke again. “You shouldn’t be here, Yna. The forest isn’t safe.”

  She hesitated before gncing back at the old shack. “I... I just wanted to ask about the woman from yesterday. The one we saw by the river. Did the police come? What happened to her?”

  Mr. Jang remained silent for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, he nodded slowly. “Yes. I reported it. The police took care of everything.”

  Yna frowned slightly. “So she’s okay? Did they find out who she was?”

  “It’s nothing for you to worry about,” he replied smoothly, but there was something forced in his tone, something she couldn’t quite pce.

  She bit her lip, her curiosity tugging at her. Her gaze drifted back to the shack. “Is this... the secret toy shop you told us about?”

  Mr. Jang didn’t answer right away. His eyes flickered toward the shack, and for the first time, she thought she saw a hint of hesitation in his posture. Then, just as quickly as it had appeared, it vanished. A slow smile crept onto his lips, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

  “Would you like to see it?” he asked, tilting his head slightly.

  Yna hesitated. Something in her gut told her to turn back, to listen to Mr. Jang’s earlier warning. But another part of her—the part that had always been drawn to secrets, to the unknown—urged her forward.

  She swallowed, looking back at him. “Can I?”

  Mr. Jang extended his hand toward the door and gestured. “Go ahead.”

  Yna took a step forward, her fingers brushing against the old wooden door of the shack when a loud voice cut through the eerie silence of the forest.

  “Yna!”

  She flinched at the sudden voice calling her name, sharp and insistent. She didn’t need to turn to know who it was—Aky. His tone carried that familiar mix of frustration and concern. Taking a deep breath, she finally turned, spotting him at the edge of the trees. His hands were pnted on his hips, his chest rising and falling as if he had been running.

  Yna hesitated before looking back at Mr. Jang. “Next time, okay?” she said quickly. “Aky’s probably looking for me because my grandma came home and is asking where I am.”

  Mr. Jang’s lips curled into a slow, unreadable smile. “Of course,” he said, his voice steady and calm. “Another time, then.”

  Yna bowed slightly out of habit, then turned and sprinted toward Aky. As she disappeared into the trees, Mr. Jang’s expression shifted. The smile vanished, repced with something bnk, something calcuting. His dark eyes followed her form as she retreated. Slowly, he reached into the deep pockets of his bck mechanic suit, fingers wrapping around something metallic—something sharp. He let out a slow breath, staring toward the road before finally turning back to the shack. Without a word, he pushed the door open and stepped inside, disappearing into the dim glow within.

  Aky stood with his arms crossed as Yna emerged from the tree line, breathless from running. He scowled. “You’re so stubborn,” he huffed. “You should not have come back here alone. What if something happened to you?”

  Yna wiped the sweat from her forehead, still catching her breath. “I was just looking for Mr. Jang. I wanted to ask him about what happened to that woman from yesterday.”

  Aky narrowed his eyes. “And?”

  “He said he reported it to the police. It’s been taken care of,” she replied, gncing back toward the forest. “Oh! And I saw the secret toy store.”

  Aky's brows shot up in surprise. “What? You mean it’s real? Where is it?”

  She pointed toward the direction of the shack. “It’s right in the forest, near the riverbank. It looks old, but I think that’s on purpose—because it’s supposed to be a secret.”

  Aky’s curiosity sparked immediately. “Then let’s go check it out. We should call Lyn first.”

  Yna shook her head. “We can’t. Her grandfather is in the mansion. It’ll be hard for her to sneak out today.”

  Aky frowned, tapping his foot. “Then maybe we wait until ter. But, Yna, promise me you won’t go back there alone.”

  Yna bit her lip, hesitating for a moment before nodding. “Okay... I promise.” But deep down, she wasn’t sure she could keep that promise. There was something about the old shack, about Mr. Jang’s expression before she left, that made her uneasy.

  And she knew she had to find out why.

  END OF CHAPTER 7