Beneath the Starlit Shadows.

s Jihoon pulled her down to the floor, the sounds of shattering glass and the heavy pounding of footsteps

grabbed her arm and dragged her toward the back of the room. "Stay c

e was suffocating. In the chaos, she had forgotten that she was a part of this dangerous world now. T

ootsteps growing louder behind them. They reached a small, windowless door at th

ow alley behind the building. Her legs wobbled, but she didn't have t

already scanning the surroundings, his eyes flicking to every shadow an

king, Hana r

down the alleyway, past garbage bins and darkened doorways, Jihoon's grip never loosening from her. Every momen

doorway, a small, inconspicuous café tucked in the corner of the block. In

e he made his way to the back. Hana could only watch as h

rling in her head. Her gaze flicked to the bracelet on her wrist again. The charm glinted under the low lights of the café. It

ihoon returned, his expression hard

e led her through a back exit of the café, and the

h his pace, but the exhaustion was starting to catch up with her. She had never been a part of anything li

outskirts of the city. The street was eerily quiet. Jiho

m, and the atmosphere seemed to

here?" Hana asked,

with a scruffy beard and tired eyes was sitting at a table, papers scattered around him. His appearance

tanding as they approache

here for your help. I

nd glance, his eyes narr

hoon repl

g her up. The air felt suddenly colder, as if everyt

ly, eyes flicking toward Jihoon. "There are people out

hat does that mean? Wha

pid footsteps echoed outside. Jihoon cursed, his

breath. "I'll buy you som

fierce. "Stay with me. No matt

urgency in his eyes the kind of urgency that she had come to associate with the dan

slipped into the alleyway behind the building, the distant sounds of shout

in it no

p but wonder if there