Hotel Blue Moon

Chapter 4: A Day Out Turns Dark

The sun dipped low over Seoul, casting a golden hue over the city as Luna and Jong Suk settled into the cozy, dimly lit living room of Luna's apartment. They were sprawled out on the couch, popcorn between them, watching a cheesy horror movie that was more laughable than scary.

"Come on, how can anyone be scared of that?" Luna scoffed as the film's protagonist tripped over her own feet for the third time, desperately trying to escape the painfully slow-moving villain. "She deserves to be caught at this point."

Jong Suk chuckled, tossing a kernel of popcorn in his mouth. "Right? And what's with the dramatic music? It's like they're trying too hard to make us care."

Luna grinned, shaking her head. "If I ever get chased by a ghost that slow, please remind me not to run in heels."

"Noted," Jong Suk replied, smirking. "But I have to say, you'd make it look way more stylish."

"Oh, obviously," Luna shot back, pretending to toss her hair over her shoulder. "I'd be the chicest ghost-hunter-slash-victim out there."

They continued their banter, the movie long forgotten as they teased each other over their hypothetical reactions to supernatural encounters. For Luna, it was a fun diversion—something she never took seriously. Ghosts were, after all, just the stuff of movies and overactive imaginations. Or so she thought.

After the movie ended, they decided to take a break from the screen and explore Seoul. The weather was perfect for a night out, and the city was alive with energy. The bustling streets, the laughter of passersby, and the neon lights glowing like stars made it impossible to resist.

They wandered through the lively neighborhoods, stopping at street food stalls to sample skewers of spicy rice cakes and fried dumplings. They debated over the best places to grab late-night coffee and argued about the most Instagram-worthy spots in the city. The day was filled with the kind of lighthearted joy that made everything else fade into the background.

But as they reached a quieter part of town, the atmosphere shifted.

Luna was still laughing at one of Jong Suk's jokes when she felt a cold shiver run down her spine. She stopped in her tracks, the laughter dying on her lips.

Jong Suk noticed and turned to her, concern knitting his brows. "Hey, you okay?"

Luna opened her mouth to respond, but something else caught her eye—a shadowy figure lingering near the entrance of an alleyway. It was a man, or at least, it looked like a man. His features were indistinct, blurred at the edges as if he didn't fully belong in the world around them.

For a moment, Luna blinked, thinking her eyes were playing tricks on her. But when she looked again, the figure hadn't moved. In fact, it seemed to be staring right at her.

"Jong Suk... do you see that?" Luna asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jong Suk followed her gaze, squinting into the dimly lit alley. "See what? There's nothing there."

Luna's heart skipped a beat. "You don't see the guy standing there? He's just... staring at us."

Jong Suk frowned, stepping closer to her. "Luna, there's no one there. You're probably just imagining things."

But Luna wasn't so sure. The figure was still there, still staring, and as the seconds ticked by, it began to move—slowly, deliberately—toward them.

Luna's breath hitched in her throat. She took a step back, her pulse quickening. "I swear, he's right there. We need to go."

Jong Suk glanced at the empty alley again, confusion and concern etched on his face. "Luna, there's nothing—"