That afternoon.

  "Wake up! The sun is high in the sky!"

  My mother's sharp voice pierced through the blanket and stabbed my eardrums. My consciousness became crystal clear in an instant. It made phone alarms seem like nothing in comparison.

  I frowned under the covers. Suddenly, a strange feeling washed over me. My head felt somehow fuzzy, and my body was as heavy as lead.

  The morning air was cold, but I felt an odd heat along my spine. As if someone was breathing down my back. This didn't seem to be merely because I'd overslept.

  Staring at the ceiling, I let out a chuckle.

  "Mom... you should really be a weather forecaster."

  As I tried to stretch, one side of my back tingled strangely. Like cold fingers sliding down my spine. I furrowed my brow at that odd sensation-a chill that rose and then became warm.

  Vague memories of last night's dream surfaced.

  A deep, dark pit. The voice that echoed from there was low and bizarre. It called my name.

  'Kang Chul...'

  It was like many voices whispering at once. But it wasn't my voice.

  It seemed to ask, 'What is it that you desire?' There was a strange intimacy in that voice, not a threat.

  'What... was that just a dream?'

  As I tried to sit up, I felt a cool sensation creeping up my back. For a moment, my breath caught.

  "Damn, it's probably just fatigue."

  I shook my head and got out of bed. No need to worry about strange things.

  My eyes fell on the job application schedule stuck to the wall. A row of red Xs marked the dense list of company names. Each X felt like another piece of my heart crumbling.

  'It's been this way since middle school. Always the ordinary guy. The one who gets beaten. The one who gives in. I hated being that person.'

  I stared at my reflection in the mirror for a moment. An ordinary face, an average build you could see anywhere, but my eyes were different. A desperate longing to change someday.

  'I need to hang in there until the cosmetics company interview next week.'

  Hurriedly getting dressed, I spread strawberry jam on the toast that popped out of the toaster. The sweetness on my tongue felt somehow more intense than usual. After downing a glass of milk in one go, I rushed outside.

  I pulled out my bicycle and pedaled hard. The scorching sun burned my hair, and the heat rising from the asphalt wrapped around my ankles. The honking of cars made my head spin. Sweat trickled down my forehead, but I couldn't stop.

  It had been a month since I started working part-time at the convenience store after being discharged from the military. I'd sent out dozens of resumes, but not even a single call back.

  'This is reality.'

  'But I can't live like this forever. If only I could become stronger...'

  Yet I couldn't just give up. There were still too many things I wanted to do to crumble now.

  Stopping at a crosswalk, the news on the convenience store's digital display caught my eye.

  [Last night, an unusual meteor shower was observed over Seoul... Particularly in the Gangnam and Seocho areas, multiple teal-colored meteors were witnessed. Unexplained disappearances have also been occurring in the same areas, prompting police investigation.]

  I looked up at the sky for a moment. Despite the pouring sunlight, the teal light of last night's meteor shower seemed to flicker before my eyes.

  Different from ordinary meteors? A strange excitement bubbled up at the thought of something extraordinary happening in my ordinary life.

  According to the report, six citizens had gone missing since the meteor shower last night. The missing were all ordinary office workers or students, and their only common point was that they were near the areas where meteors had fallen.

  News I'd passed over mindlessly at the time.

  The air conditioning breeze brushed my face. Arriving at the convenience store, I changed into my uniform and stood behind the counter.

  "One pack of cigarettes, please."

  A customer's voice snapped me back to reality. My fingers moved automatically, pulling a pack from the display.

  "Here you go."

  I scanned the barcode and completed the transaction. I could process such tasks mechanically.

  Just then, the manager's voice erupted behind me.

  "Hey, Kang Chul! Set up the parasol and chairs out front!"

  My shoulders twitched at the military platoon leader-like shout. His voice always contained nothing but commands.

  'Son of a... He knows my name, so why is he always talking down to me?'

  A curse circled in my mouth, but I swallowed it and headed to the storage room.

  "Yes, sir."

  I brought out the parasol and folding chairs and set them up in front of the store. Sunlight poured over my head, and the metal chairs were too hot to touch. The sun hung red-hot in a cloudless sky.

  "Did you see the meteor shower yesterday? It was totally awesome."

  A high school girl standing at the counter said to her friend. I unconsciously tuned into their conversation.

  "I think one of them fell near my apartment. It was really fantastic, like a blue flame cutting through the sky. I went to check this morning, but there was nothing there. Just police."

  "They say it's related to the disappearances. Scary."

  The girls' voices faded as they left the store. A sense of unease washed over me. Seocho-dong, where I lived, was also mentioned in the news.

  Time flowed to the tick of the second hand. I swallowed lunch and passed the afternoon into the threshold of evening.

  Outside the window, the sunset reflected on building glass, making the entire city look like it was on fire. I took a sip of iced coffee with a sigh.

  As the lukewarm coffee with melted ice slid down my throat, I flipped through the English vocabulary book spread on the table.

  'I really need to prepare properly now.'

  That's when it happened.

  "Give me four more packs of cigarettes."

  A thick voice rang out. The arrogance it contained grated on my nerves. Four bottles of soju were placed on the counter. I slowly raised my head.

  A man stood there. Sweat-soaked bronze skin gleamed through his short, spiky hair. As he moved his arm, a tiger tattoo appeared on his shoulder. His sturdy build made him look even more intimidating.

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  Below his eyes was a thin scar from what looked like a knife wound, and each finger bore unknown symbols. He radiated a rough aura, as if he'd been to prison.

  "Hey, can't you hear me?"

  The man tapped the counter with his finger. The sound scraped against my nerves. I snapped to attention and scanned the barcodes.

  "Ah... yes, one moment please."

  After calculating the cost of the cigarettes and soju, I asked mindlessly.

  "Do you need a bag? It's 100 won."

  "I'll be drinking right out front, so no need."

  The heavy smell of cigarettes and sweat struck my nose, making me nauseous, but I held it in.

  Looking outside, I saw several men already sitting at the table, smoking cigarettes and drinking soju.

  I put the soju and cigarettes on the table.

  "Here you are."

  "Oh, here it is."

  One of the men picked up a pack of cigarettes. I felt a threat in his gaze.

  A chill ran down my spine as I passed by them on my way back to the counter.

  'What do guys like that even do for a living?'

  I heard the tiger-tattooed man speaking to his colleague.

  "What happened to that guy from last time?"

  "Still in the hospital. He won't dare cross us again."

  A cold shiver ran down my spine at those words, accompanied by faint laughter. These weren't just troublemakers; they were something far more dangerous.

  Shortly after, a customer entered the convenience store with a frown.

  "Excuse me! How can they smoke cigarettes like that in front of the store? The smell is too strong!"

  The customer, a man who looked like an aging professor, shot a sharp glance through his glasses.

  I sighed, looking at the men outside, and bowed my head to the customer.

  "I'm sorry. I'll go out and talk to them."

  Dissatisfaction lingered on the customer's face, but I couldn't delay any longer. The cold metal door handle pressed against my palm with vivid clarity.

  'I need to speak properly this time. If I back down, they'll only look down on me more.'

  "You cannot smoke here. This is a non-smoking area."

  My voice trembled, contrary to my intention. The tiger-tattooed man glared at me with furrowed brows.

  "What the hell did you just say?"

  His eyes narrowed with bloodshot anger, and a clenched fist flew toward my face.

  My entire body froze. My heart hammered wildly.

  Instinctively, I closed my eyes.

  'This is it.'

  But.

  Thud!

  The fist seemed to connect, but suddenly everything went quiet. Tension hung in the air, as if time had stopped.

  I carefully opened my eyes. The sight before me caught my breath in my throat.

  Another man-slowly but firmly-had caught that flying fist in mid-air. This man was clearly their boss.

  "You idiot... you think you can use your fists in a place like this?"

  The boss's voice was low and cold, like metal clashing. A dangerous aura lurked behind his chilling smile.

  "If you punch even a scrawny kid like this, what does that make us?"

  At his words, the tiger-tattooed man bowed his head.

  "I'm sorry, boss."

  I exhaled a sigh of relief. But soon the boss's gaze turned to me.

  His eyes were sharp enough to cut through skin. The men raised their glasses as if they were one body.

  The 'clink' of glass hitting glass shook the night air.

  The boss looked at me and said:

  "Consider yourself lucky."

  Those words were a cold warning.

  "You won't have such luck next time."

  I could only watch their backs, unable to say anything. They looked as if nothing had happened as they tilted their glasses again and laughed, but the danger hidden in that laughter remained.

  My heart pounded as if it would burst through my chest. I returned to the convenience store and sat at the counter, but my fingers trembled to the tips.

  My fingers, trying to organize receipts on the counter, moved independently of my will. The scene from moments ago wouldn't erase from my mind.

  'Why am I so pathetic?'

  I hated myself for always being on the receiving end like this.

  'Someday... if I could become stronger...'

  'I want to end this life of running away, like when I was beaten in middle school. If only I had power...'

  The bizarre voice I'd heard in my dream faintly echoed in my ears.

  'What is it that you desire?'

  ＃＃＃＃＃＃＃＃＃＃

  That night, after the rain stopped, streetlight reflections scattered across the wet asphalt. Puddles rippled like small mirrors, reflecting the city lights.

  I was cycling home after finishing my convenience store shift. I had planned to go to a study café, but in my current mood, I knew I wouldn't be able to concentrate.

  Looking up at the sky, I noticed how peaceful it seemed now-the same sky where teal meteors had showered down just last night. Stars twinkled quietly above.

  I wondered if any of those stars would someday fall to Earth. Suddenly, I felt my life was like those stars-hanging in that uncertain boundary between falling and shining.

  After passing the main road, I entered the narrow alley and dismounted my bicycle to push it by hand. The final stretch home was uphill, so I always had to walk it.

  "HONK!"

  My shoulders jumped at the sudden blaring horn. I was already walking on the side of the road, but the noise still grated on my ears.

  As the car brushed past me, a chill ran down my spine-an ominous premonition.

  "Well, well, looks like this bastard lives around here."

  That voice from the black sedan, along with cigarette smoke polluting the night air, made my heart sink. They were the men from the convenience store earlier.

  "Are you guys sure about this? If the boss finds out..."

  "Don't worry. We'll clean up after ourselves. Let's have some fun."

  The boss wasn't there. The three men-Tiger, Dragon, and Snake tattoos-must have followed me secretly.

  The surroundings were shrouded in darkness, and even the nearest streetlight flickered anxiously before going out completely. There was nowhere to run.

  "Following a bicycle is harder than chasing a plane. It's too slow, that's the problem."

  As their laughter spread through the air, their car blocked my path.

  With a screech of tires on asphalt, the doors opened, and three men stepped out to block my way.

  "Kid... I restrained myself earlier because the boss was there, but we still have unfinished business, don't we?"

  The voice of the man with the tiger tattoo carried a hint of pleasure. First was Tiger Tattoo, second was Dragon Tattoo, and third was Snake Tattoo.

  Their expressions carried the excitement of predators who had discovered their prey.

  "Why are you doing this? Wasn't that incident over?"

  I tried to keep my voice steady, but I felt fear climbing up my throat.

  "Over? Do you know who we are? You dare tell us to put out our cigarettes?"

  Dragon Tattoo sneered.

  "Saying such things to the Namyang Brothers is like offering up your life."

  As Tiger Tattoo clenched his fist, his veins bulged. Only then did I realize they were part of the notorious gang I'd occasionally seen in the news.

  "Over? That's fucking hilarious."

  As the man laughed, the harsh smell of soju and cigarettes washed over me. In that moment, Tiger Tattoo's fist flew toward my stomach.

  Fast. I couldn't dodge it.

  Thwack!

  The air was forced from my lungs, and my glasses fell to the ground, shattering. My vision blurred.

  A strong impact struck my abdomen. My body doubled over.

  My legs gave out, and I fell to my knees on the pavement.

  "We smoke cigarettes whenever we want to. Got it?"

  "B-but... in non-smoking areas... you shouldn't..."

  My breathing was rapid, but even through my blurred vision, I wanted to maintain that last shred of dignity.

  Thwack!

  Another kick to my abdomen twisted my body. A bitter taste spread in my mouth.

  'Am I going to die like this...?'

  'Will I end without seeing my mother's face again...?'

  'No, I can't.'

  As the fear of death washed over me, a hot anger blossomed beneath it. The situation I'd endured since I was thirteen.

  Then and now, I was always the weaker one. But this time... I needed to regain my senses.

  The will to survive burned in my chest. Taking a deep breath, I tried to get up.

  But my limbs felt heavy. Even breathing was difficult.

  I couldn't let this happen. I tensed my stomach muscles and took a couple of steps back.

  "Tough guy... let's see if you can stand up after this one too."

  Snake Tattoo's voice held a cruel pleasure. This time, a fist flew toward my face.

  As if in slow motion, I twisted my body to dodge the punch.

  "Oh?"

  The man narrowed his eyes and launched a kick.

  But this time, death's shadow retreated. Reflexively, I grabbed his foot.

  His ankle felt as solid as a piece of wood in my grip. When I twisted with all my might, there was a cracking sound followed by a scream.

  "What the hell is with this guy?"

  Confusion and fear alternated in their eyes.

  "Just go on your way. This will only get worse if you continue."

  My voice carried a strength I didn't know I had. I was surprised at where such courage came from.

  At my words, two of them exchanged glances. But Tiger Tattoo headed for the car trunk.

  The sound of metal plates opening echoed dully through the alley.

  He pulled out a baseball bat. My breath caught in my throat.

  'Now it's really too much.'

  'I can't run away.'

  'I have to end this here.'

  I took a defensive stance.

  Swoosh!

  The baseball bat cut through the air and struck my arm.

  "Agh!"

  The burning pain in my arm shook my entire body.

  Swoosh!

  The second swing of the bat aimed for my head.

  'I need to dodge...!'

  But my body wouldn't listen.

  Clang!

  My vision filled with white light, and my consciousness faded.

  "Grab his legs."

  Rough fingers gripped my shoulders. One held my shoulders, another my legs.

  I heard the trunk opening as if from far away. Cold metal touched my back as I was thrown in like baggage.

  My mind was hazy, and my body lacked even the strength to resist.

  'Is this how people die...'

  Where am I...? A faint voice, like it was coming from underwater, brushed past my ear.

  "I think he's waking up."

  "We haven't finished digging the hole yet... hurry up and dig, then knock him out again."

  "If we've brought him this far, we need to finish it. You know we have to eliminate the evidence."

  "Of course. The hammer and shovel are here. We've done this three or four times already."

  The smell of wet soil stabbed my nostrils. I heard the dull sound of mechanical digging with shovels.

  And again, a powerful impact to my head.

  ＃＃＃＃＃＃＃＃＃＃

  "Hey, young man."

  Along with a deep voice shaking the edge of my consciousness, pain that felt like my skull was splitting came flooding in.

  A shadow approaching gradually in my blurry vision. As I managed to turn my body to look, a man with a rough expression was looking down at me.

  "I just wanted to teach you a lesson, but now the situation has escalated. Did you think you could get away with doing that to our member's leg?"

  The cruelty in the man's eyes looked even more sinister under the moonlight. Under the streetlight, his face was distorted like a nightmare.

  I painfully turned my head to look to the side. I saw a man groaning with a contorted face, clutching his broken leg.

  A baseball bat was lying on the ground.

  'He should go to the hospital... the fact that he's enduring this pain shows how tough these guys are.'

  For a moment, I felt a twinge of regret. But I didn't want to feel sorry.

  "If you have any last words, say them now. You'll be on your way to the afterlife soon, so I'll listen to your dying wish."

  "Scum like you always die first."

  Despite the metallic taste of blood flowing from my mouth, my voice was clear. To think that a single cigarette would lead to this fatal encounter.

  There was no escape. Their gazes were already treating me as a dead man.

  Their cold stares penetrating to the bone. Their merciless determination to take my life approached without hesitation. With trembling lips, I maintained my final dignity.

  "Don't live like this. You'll all fall to hell."

  "This bastard keeps talking back even as he's about to die? Just bury him."

  The man with the Dragon tattoo spat out roughly.

  "Yes. I'll cover his face so he can't speak anymore."

  Tiger Tattoo brought the sharp shovel close to my face. The cold shadow of death enveloped my entire body.

  'Is this how it ends...'

  Suddenly, I remembered the dream I had this morning. That deep, dark pit.

  Now I was truly in that pit. It was as if that voice calling my name was echoing in the darkness.

  I raised my head to look at the sky. Through the clouds, in the middle of the dark night sky, blue-tinged meteors were falling one by one.

  At that moment, a vague memory surfaced.

  This morning's news flowing from the convenience store TV flashed through my mind.

  'Unexplained disappearances continue throughout Seoul.'

  'People who disappeared after the meteor shower... did they die like this too?'

  What had seemed like passing news now felt like a sharp warning.

  The dull sound of the shovel lifting soil broke the silence of the night.

  Thud!

  Cold, damp soil fell on my face, invading my mouth and nose. The smell of earth penetrated through my nose to my brain.

  My heart was beating frantically. As if it would burst through my chest.

  "Farewell."

  The second shovel was raised.

  Thud!

  More soil settled, making my body increasingly heavy.

  'I can't breathe...'

  The cold sensation gradually disappeared from my fingertips. My consciousness seemed to sink into darkness.

  'If only I could really become stronger... if only I could change...'

  The voice I heard this morning echoed in my mind again.

  'What is it that you desire?'

  I answered in my heart.

  'I want to be strong. Strong enough never to suffer like this again.'

  And then, it happened.

  "AAAAARGH!"

  Suddenly, an ear-piercing scream tore through the night sky. The entire mountain echoed with that pain-filled cry.

  An intense red light pierced through the soil and stabbed my eyelids.

  'What's happening?'

  I tried to open my eyes, but my body no longer felt like my own. Like being caught in a deep whirlpool, my consciousness swirled slowly.

  It felt like my body was slowly being consumed by something else.

  And then, at that moment. A sound that shook the earth was heard. It was like thunder, or perhaps the cry of a massive beast.

  The gangsters seemed confused and murmured among themselves.

  "What is this...?"

  "Is that... a meteor?"

  "Look! Something's falling from the sky!"

  The light grew increasingly intense, visible even through closed eyelids. It was as if the teal flames were passing through my eyelids and piercing my retinas.

  The ground shook violently, and a strange sensation enveloped me, as if even the air was rippling. In the darkness, my consciousness was drawn into that sound.

  Something cold and sticky slowly began to wrap around my body. At first, it felt ice-cold, but soon a warm energy spread throughout my body.

  Simultaneously, the voice I heard in my dream echoed in my mind.

  "From now on, you will be different."

  At that moment, my consciousness completely disappeared.