Agora Hills

2

​Mina resided in a desolate, abandoned town known as Agora Hills, which had become a haven for creatures like her. The town was a place where they could be themselves, unrestrained from the judgment of the outside world. As the moon rose high in the sky, the creatures would come out to play, running wild through the empty streets, and reveling in their true forms. 

The mall was the epicenter of their nocturnal gatherings, and every night, it would come alive with a mixture of blue and purple light. The mall's heart was a stage, surrounded by old-fashioned TV sets that would flicker with static. Here, the creatures would host fashion shows, strutting down the runway in flashy clothes, their laughter and cheers filling the air. 

As the night wore on, the creatures would continue to frolic around the mall, relishing in the joy of their newfound freedom. For Mina and her fellow creatures, Agora Hills was more than just a town, it was a sanctuary where they could truly be themselves.

Mina, however, also enjoyed solitude. She would often retreat to the darkest corners of the town, a place eerily similar to backrooms. Here, she could relax and reveal her true form. Her appearance was striking, a beautiful blend of the ethereal and the eerie. Her eyes glowed like moonlight, her skin was as pale as snow, and her hair flowed like a river of midnight. But there was a darker side to this beauty. This was where they would drag humans who dared to disrupt their peace. They would feast on them, wash off the blood, and then return to the mall, ready for another fashion show as if nothing had happened. A routine they do every time.

To the human world, Agora Hills was just a small, forgotten town. But to Mina and her friends, it was a sanctuary. It was a place where they could be themselves, away from the prying eyes of humans. It was a place where they could experience the surreal, the whimsical, and the macabre, all in one night.

.
.
.
.
.

Back to the present.
Jeongyeon sat at her desk, her headphones on full volume. The rhythm of the music made her bob her head as she worked on her homework. The world outside her headphones was a blur

Once she finished her homework, she glanced at the clock. It was time for their routine midnight call. She dialed Mina's number, oblivious to the connection between the news and the number she was dialing.

"Hey Mina, guess what?" Jeongyeon started, her voice full of excitement, "I finally finished that dreaded math assignment."

Mina's soft laugh echoed through the phone, "That's great, Jeongyeon! I knew you could do it."

"Hey Jeongyeon, how's your day going?" Mina asked, her voice as sweet as honey.

"Oh, you know, the usual," Jeongyeon replied, a hint of exhaustion in her voice. "Paperwork, paperwork, and more paperwork."

Mina laughed, the sound like the tinkling of wind chimes. "Well, don't work too hard, okay? You should take a break sometimes."

Jeongyeon smiled, comforted by Mina's words. "I'll try, Mina. I'll try."

As Jeongyeon and Mina's conversation continued, the former began to share more about her day-to-day life. She spoke about her mundane college life, the silly arguments she had with her best friend Jihyo, and even the most trivial incidents that happened to her. Mina, on the other hand, listened attentively, her interest never wavering. She found Jeongyeon's stories fascinating, a window into a world she could only imagine.

"Oh, you wouldn't believe what Jihyo did today," Jeongyeon began, a hint of amusement in her voice. "She started a debate in the cafeteria about whether pineapple belongs on pizza."

Mina laughed softly, her voice like a gentle breeze. "And what do you think? Does pineapple belong on pizza?"

Jeongyeon scoffed playfully. "Absolutely not! It's a crime against pizza."

Their conversations were always like this, full of laughter and playful banter. Mina cherished these moments, they were her escape from the surreal world she lived in. Jeongyeon's voice was a comforting presence in her life. It was a stark contrast to her own soft-spoken nature, but it was a contrast she adored.

"So, we'll talk at 9:30 pm? tomorrow?" Jeongyeon said.

"yes, and you hang up first," Mina would respond, giggling.

"No, you hang up," Jeongyeon would insist, and they would both laugh, their joy echoing through the phone line.

As the days passed, Mina found herself growing more and more attached to Jeongyeon. Their late-night conversations were like a breath of fresh air in her mundane routine, and she eagerly anticipated them with an eagerness that slowly turned into an obsession. With every call, she felt a wave of emotions wash over her, and she found herself lost in Jeongyeon's words and laughter. The sound of her voice was music to Mina's ears, and she cherished every moment they spent together, even if it was just over the phone.

Jeongyeon slowly put her phone down with a smile on her face as she put her headphones on blast again as she lay down on her bed and closed her eyes.
---
.
.
.
.

---
In the other room, Jeongyeon's sister is sleeping soundly amidst a bunch of clutter while the evening news flickers on the TV screen. The anchor's voice echoes solemnly, "Another woman has gone missing under mysterious circumstances. The last known contact she made was a phone call to a number that was traced back to the abandoned town of Agora Hills. The missing woman has been identified as Choi Seo Young, a 20-year-old college student."

The screen then showed images of the desolate town, the eerie silence of the deserted streets amplifying the sense of dread. "Agora Hills has been abandoned for years, and this recent development has left the authorities baffled, the town has been linked to other missing cases before, and the police are urging anyone with information to come forward" the anchor continued.