Taehyung was sleeping soundly, his breathing steady and calm. Next to him, Hyejin lay quietly, her face relaxed in the soft light of the moon coming through the window.

Outside, the wind blew hard, making the window rattle. Hyejin suddenly woke up, her heart racing. She looked at Taehyung, who was still fast asleep, unaware of the noise outside.

Feeling worried, Hyejin got out of bed and walked over to the window. She tried to close it, but the wind was too strong, pushing against her hands. It felt like the window didn’t want to shut, and she struggled to make it stay closed.

After a few moments, Hyejin gave up and went back to bed, looking at Taehyung, who was still peaceful. Even though she was tired, she couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off with the open window.

She lay there, listening to the howling wind, and tried to calm herself down. Eventually, Hyejin closed her eyes again, hoping that the noise would fade away and allow her to sleep peacefully.

A dark silhouette slipped inside, moving quietly through the room.

The shadow lingered near Taehyung, watching his peaceful face as he slept. It felt like it was searching for something. Then, it drifted over to the dresser, blocking out the moonlight for a moment.

On the dresser, a crumpled paper caught the shadow's eye – the ancient map Taehyung had found earlier.

The map was old and worn, with faded lines that hinted at secrets from the past. The shadow seemed to grow darker, clearly interested in the map.

As the morning sunlight slowly filled the room, pushing back the darkness, the shadow disappeared. But even with the light, its presence lingered, like a soft whisper in the air.

Taehyung stirred slightly, unaware of what had happened, but the feeling of unease hung around, making the room feel different somehow.

The map remained on the dresser, untouched, but it felt like the calm before a storm, leaving a sense of anticipation in the air.

Taehyung emerged from the bathroom, shaking off the unease, he approached Hyejin, who was entwined in slumber. Her face was contorted in terror, and he felt a pang of worry.

He sat beside her, concern etched on his face as he watched her brow furrow and lips tremble.

It was clear she was trapped in a disturbing dream, her body twitching as if she were fighting against some unseen force.

"Hey, wake up," Taehyung whispered, shaking her gently. His voice was soft, trying to cut through the fog of her nightmare.

Hyejin's eyes snapped open, wide with fear. For a moment, she just stared at him, her gaze unfocused, as if she was still lost in her dream. Taehyung's heart raced; he hated seeing her like this.

"Okay, princess, time to brush and bathe," he said, forcing a reassuring smile to ease her worries.

Hyejin let out a laugh that seemed forced, her eyes still haunted by whatever she had just experienced. "Okay, my personal worker," she replied, but there was a tremor in her voice that didn't escape Taehyung's notice.

As they parted ways, heading to their respective routines, Hyejin's voice dropped to a whisper, a hint of urgency in her tone. "Tae, be careful today. I had a bad dream."

Taehyung nodded, trying to reassure her. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. Now go to your college; you're already running late." He watched her as she hurried out, the unease still nagging at him.

As he prepared for his own day, he couldn't help but glance at the ancient map on the dresser, its secrets still waiting to be uncovered.

In the kitchen, the warm sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a golden glow over the countertops.

Taehyung's mom stood by the sink, her hands absentmindedly rinsing the dishes, but her gaze was fixed outside, lost in thought.

"Mom, what's wrong?" Taehyung asked, concern creeping into his voice as he leaned against the doorframe, his brow furrowed.

With hesitation she spoke, "I thought I saw... something outside the window last night. Watching us," she replied, her tone distant and shaky.

Taehyung's heart skipped a beat at her words, a knot tightening in his stomach. "What was it?" he pressed, trying to catch her gaze, but she seemed far away.

Her voice dropped to a barely audible whisper. "I don't know. But it felt... malevolent." The way she said it sent chills racing down his spine, and he instinctively glanced out the window, half-expecting to see something lurking in the shadows.

As if on cue, the sunlight outside seemed to fade, casting the room in an ominous gloom, and Taehyung felt a weight settle in the air.

Trying to shake off the unsettling feeling, Taehyung offered a reassuring smile. "Maybe it was just a trick of the light or your imagination," he suggested, but even he could hear the uncertainty in his own voice.

His mom turned to him, her expression softening, yet the worry remained etched on her face. "Perhaps. But it felt so real." With a heavy sigh, she returned to the dishes, but her eyes kept darting back to the window, as if she expected to see whatever had frightened her return.

Once they finished lunch, Taehyung glanced at the clock, noting how the afternoon was slipping away.

Following their daily routine, his mom retreated to her bedroom for a rejuvenating nap, leaving him alone in the kitchen.

As he cleaned up, the silence felt different—charged with the unspoken fear that lingered in the air. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, and the shadows outside seemed to grow longer, stretching menacingly across the yard.

Taehyung took a deep breath, trying to steady his racing heart,  suddenly the landline phone broke the quiet. "Hello, World Wide Handsome here," a cheerful voice said, making Taehyung chuckle.

"What's the matter?" Taehyung asked, his curiosity piqued.

"We're going out today, and you're coming too. No excuses." The caller quickly rattled off an address and hung up before Taehyung could say anything.

Feeling a bit rushed, Taehyung walked into his mom's room, where she was sleeping soundly, a peaceful look on her face.

He left a quick note beside her bed, just letting her know he’d be out, and then he locked the door with the spare key, knowing his dad and Hyejin had extras.

When he arrived at the address, he saw six friends already there, chatting and laughing. The lively atmosphere was instantly welcoming.

"You're finally here!" Jimin shouted, waving excitedly. Taehyung couldn’t help but smile back. As he got closer, he scanned the group and noticed Jen, Yerin, and another girl he didn’t recognize, who was chatting animatedly with them.

"Taehyung, meet Jen, Yerin, and Yuna," Namjoon said, gesturing toward each of them with a friendly smile.

Jungkook added, "Jen's my childhood best friend, Taehyung. Our parents are close family friends." He looked at Jen with a sense of pride, his eyes shining.

Jen's cheeks flushed a soft pink as she smiled shyly, "Nice meeting you, Taehyung." Her voice was warm, and she looked down for a moment, clearly a bit nervous.

Taehyung greeted her with genuine warmth, returning her smile and feeling a sense of ease in the group.

Jimin teased, "Okay, if Jen's your best friend, Yerin's MINE!" He winked at Yerin, whose face turned rosy, and Jimin's eyes sparkled with amusement, clearly enjoying the playful banter.

Hobi chimed in, leaning forward slightly, "We're all good friends now, Taehyung." His enthusiasm was infectious, and the group felt even more welcoming.

Namjoon explained, "Yuna's Yerin's friend from another class. Her interests differ from ours." He glanced at Yuna, who nodded.

Taehyung nodded, absorbing the information, feeling grateful for the introductions.

Suga's impatient remark, "I'm starving, let's go inside already," sparked laughter among the group. As they entered the cozy café, the warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee enveloped them.

Yuna's gaze lingered on Taehyung, curiosity flickering in her eyes, but his attention remained fixed on Jen, intrigued by her shy yet friendly demeanor.

Somewhere else, one spoke with his deep voice, "He found the map." The air was thick with anticipation, the dim light flickering as if reflecting their unease.

The other person, whose voice was smooth and soft, spoke, "What should we do now?" She leaned in, eyes darting around the room as if the walls themselves held secrets.

"I'm thinking," the first one said, his mind racing through possibilities, each more dangerous than the last.

The one with beautiful eyes glanced at the clock, a hint of panic in her voice as she spoke, "We don't have much time." The urgency in her tone sent a chill down their spines, reminding them that every second counted in this high-stakes game they were playing, where one misstep could change everything.

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