Echoes in the forest | Minsung

You

It was Lee Know.

Jisung's heart pounded in his chest as he took a step closer. "What... what are you doing here?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Lee Know didn't answer. He just stood there, watching Jisung with those cold, piercing eyes. There was something unreadable in his expression, something that sent a shiver down Jisung's spine.

"Did you... did you scare the wolf away?" Jisung asked, his mind struggling to make sense of the situation.

Lee Know tilted his head slightly, a small, enigmatic smile playing on his lips. "You shouldn't be out here alone," he said softly, his voice smooth and hypnotic.

Jisung felt a chill run through him, but he couldn't tear his eyes away from Lee Know. There was something magnetic about him, something that drew Jisung in despite the fear gnawing at the edges of his mind.

"I... I got lost," Jisung admitted, feeling a wave of vulnerability wash over him.

Lee Know took a step closer, his gaze never leaving Jisung's. "I know," he said quietly. "That's why I came."

Jisung swallowed hard, his throat dry. "Are you... are you going to hurt me?"

For a moment, there was silence. Then Lee Know shook his head, his expression softening. "No, Jisung," he said gently. "I'm not going to hurt you."

Relief flooded through Jisung, but it was quickly replaced by confusion. "Then... why are you here?"

Lee Know hesitated, his eyes flickering with something that Jisung couldn't quite identify—sadness, perhaps, or regret. "I'm here because... I need you to trust me."

Jisung blinked, trying to process his words. "Trust you? Why?"

Lee Know took another step closer, until he was standing right in front of Jisung. "Because there are things in this forest that you don't understand," he said softly. "And if you want to survive, you need to trust me."

Jisung felt a shiver run down his spine, but he found himself nodding. There was something about Lee Know's voice, his presence, that made it impossible not to believe him.

"Okay," Jisung whispered, his heart racing. "I trust you."

Lee Know smiled—a small, sad smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Good," he said quietly. "Now, come with me. I'll take you back."

Jisung nodded again, feeling a strange mix of fear and relief. He followed Lee Know as he turned and led him back through the forest, the darkness closing in around them like a shroud.

As they walked, Jisung couldn't help but glance at Lee Know, his mind swirling with questions. Who was this boy? What was he doing out here? And why did Jisung feel so drawn to him, despite the fear gnawing at his heart?

But for now, those questions would have to wait. All that mattered was getting back to the safety of the camp.

And trusting Lee Know.

The dark forest seemed to hold its breath as they walked, the silence only broken by the sound of their footsteps on the forest floor. The trees loomed like silent sentinels, watching their every move, and the shadows danced around them, twisting and shifting with each step.

Jisung stayed close to Lee Know, his heart pounding in his chest. Despite the fear, there was something strangely comforting about Lee Know's presence, as if he were a guide leading him through the darkness.

After what felt like an eternity, the trees began to thin, and the familiar shapes of the campsite came into view. The glow of the fire flickered in the distance, and Jisung felt a wave of relief wash over him.

"We're almost there," Lee Know said softly, glancing back at Jisung with a small smile.

Jisung nodded, his anxiety easing slightly as they neared the camp. But before they could reach the clearing, Lee Know stopped, turning to face Jisung.

"Jisung," he said, his voice serious. "There's something you need to know."

Jisung looked up at him, his heart skipping a beat. "What is it?"

Lee Know hesitated, his expression unreadable. "You need to be careful," he said slowly. "There are things in this forest... things that are dangerous. And they're not just stories."

Jisung felt a chill run down his spine. "What do you mean?"

Lee Know looked away, his eyes scanning the darkness around them. "The people in this village... they're afraid of me because they think I'm one of those things. But I'm not. I'm just trying to protect them."

"Protect them from what?" Jisung asked, his voice trembling.

Lee Know's gaze returned to Jisung, his expression deadly serious. "From the real monsters," he said quietly. "And if you're not careful, you'll end up just like the others."

Jisung swallowed hard, his mind racing. The nightmare, the wolf, the strange events in the forest—it was all starting to make a terrible kind of sense.

"I don't understand," Jisung whispered, fear gripping his heart.

Lee Know reached out, placing a hand on Jisung's shoulder. "You don't need to understand right now," he said softly. "Just stay close to your friends, and don't wander off alone again. I'll be watching out for you, but you have to be careful."

Jisung nodded slowly, his heart pounding in his chest. "I will," he promised, his voice barely above a whisper.

Lee Know's expression softened, and he gave Jisung a small, reassuring smile. "Good. Now, go back to your friends. I'll be around if you need me."

Jisung took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. He nodded again, then turned and walked towards the campsite, his mind swirling with questions and fear.

As he reached the edge of the clearing, he glanced back, but Lee Know was already gone, swallowed by the darkness of the forest.

Jisung took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. He stepped into the clearing, the warmth of the fire and the familiar voices of his friends grounding him.

"Hey, you're back!" Bang Chan called out as he noticed Jisung approaching. "We were starting to get worried."

Jisung forced a smile, trying to push the fear and confusion to the back of his mind. "Yeah, I just... went for a longer jog than I planned," he said, his voice sounding more confident than he felt.

"Everything okay?" Changbin asked, glancing at Jisung with concern.

Jisung nodded, his smile faltering slightly. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just needed some time to think."

The others seemed to accept his explanation, but Jisung could feel their eyes on him, their concern lingering in the air.

He sat down by the fire, trying to focus on the warmth and the comforting presence of his friends. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching him from the darkness beyond the firelight.

As the night wore on, the group gradually settled down, their laughter and conversation fading into the quiet of the forest. But Jisung stayed awake, his eyes fixed on the dark trees at the edge of the clearing.

And in the shadows, he thought he saw a pair of glowing eyes watching him, just like the wolf's.

But this time, he wasn't afraid.

This time, he knew that Lee Know was out there, watching over him.

And for now, that was enough.