Echoes in the forest | Minsung

Untangling threads

The past week had been an emotional rollercoaster for Han Jisung. Ever since his last encounter with Lee Know, he had been clinging to the sporadic messages they exchanged. Each ping of his phone brought a mixture of relief and tension. Lee Know's messages were a lifeline, a thread connecting him to the mysterious boy who had become a central figure in Jisung's thoughts.

"Hey, how are you holding up?" Lee Know had texted one evening, the message a small comfort in the chaos.

Jisung replied quickly, "I'm okay. Still thinking about everything. What about you?"

Lee Know's response came almost immediately. "Busy with stuff. Trying to stay safe. I've been thinking about our last conversation."

The brief exchanges were mostly mundane but carried a heavy undercurrent of unspoken tension. Lee Know's words were guarded, hinting at a deeper struggle that Jisung could only guess at. His worry grew with each passing day, especially as the news of a new corpse found in the forest near their campsite spread through the community. It felt like the darkness was closing in around them.

When Chan, Changbin, and Seungmin gathered to discuss the new developments, the mood was grim. They had all seen the headlines, the photos of the grim discovery, and the fear that gripped the village.

"We need to talk to someone who knows more about this," Chan said, his brow furrowed in concern. "My dad is a police officer. He might have some insights, even though he's been weird lately."

Jisung nodded, anxiety twisting in his stomach. "We should definitely see him. Maybe he can help us understand what's really going on."

They arrived at Chan's house late that afternoon, the sun casting long shadows across the front lawn. The air was thick with apprehension as they approached the door. Chan's father greeted them with a curt nod, his demeanor noticeably tense.

"What's this about?" Chan's father asked as they stepped inside, his eyes scanning their faces with a mixture of suspicion and irritation.

"We came to talk to you about the new corpse found in the forest," Chan said, trying to keep his voice steady. "We need to understand what's happening."

Chan's father's face tightened. "You shouldn't be involved in this," he said sharply. "It's dangerous, and you don't need to be digging into things that don't concern you."

"But Dad—" Chan began, but his father cut him off.

"No, Chan. This isn't a game. There are things happening that you don't understand. It's better for you to stay out of it," he said, his voice rising with frustration.

Jisung felt a chill run down his spine. This was unlike Chan's father, who had always been supportive and protective. His sudden hostility felt out of place, almost like he was hiding something.

"We just want to help," Seungmin said, his tone pleading. "We've seen things ourselves. We know there's more going on here."

Chan's father's expression softened slightly, but his eyes were still clouded with worry. "There are powerful people involved. People who control things from behind the scenes. It's not something you can just walk away from once you're in."

The room fell silent, the weight of his words hanging heavy in the air. The group exchanged uneasy glances, their concern mounting.

"Why are you so against us finding out the truth?" Chan asked, his voice trembling with frustration.

"Because it's dangerous," his father replied, his voice filled with an edge of desperation. "Young people like you are the ones they target. They don't want any interference."