Sirens song

Chapter 18: "Why."

The silvery light of the full moon filtered through the water, illuminating the depths of the sea. Seonghwa swam gracefully through the water, enjoying the peace and tranquility that came with being underwater. As he swam, he hummed a soft melody, his voice carrying through the watery realm, filling it with a soothing song.

As Seonghwa began to swim deeper into the heart of the sea, a faint glow caught his attention. He slowed his swimming, curious about the strange light. As he drew closer, he realized the source of the glow was a large rock, covered in bioluminescent algae.

Seonghwa approached the rock cautiously, running his fingers along the glowing surface. The feel of the algae against his skin was strangely familiar, causing his heart to quicken. He recalled stories of similar rocks, ones that were said to hold ancient secrets and magic.

As he continued to explore the glowing rock, Seonghwa started to hear whispers. They were faint and indistinct, like the voices of long-vanished spirits. Intrigued, he swam closer to the rock, trying to make out the words.

The whispers grew louder, the voices becoming clearer. Seonghwa could make out fragments of sentences, though he couldn't quite understand their meaning. It was as if the rock was trying to tell him something, something important.

Seonghwa pressed his ear close to the surface of the rock, straining to hear the whispers better. The voices were still fragmented, but he could now make out a few words - 'Danger,' 'Love,' and 'Choices.'

Seonghwa pulled away from the rocking, confusion and concern warring on his face. The whispers had become clearer, but they were still maddeningly cryptic. "Danger, love, choices," he repeated to himself, trying to make sense of the ominous words.

As Seonghwa contemplated the whispers, a chill ran down his spine. The realization suddenly struck him that these weren't just random whispers, but a warning, a message from some force unknown. The thought of danger made him uneasy, but the mention of love and choices was even more troubling.

Seonghwa knew that the whispers were a message meant for him, a message about his life and his future. He couldn't shake the feeling that the rock was trying to tell him something crucial, something that could change everything. He looked down at the glowing rock, its light bathing his body in a soft, silvery glow.

Seonghwa took a deep breath, steeling himself. He knew he couldn't ignore the whispers, he had to understand what they meant. He placed his hand back on the rock, his fingers tracing the glowing surface once more. "Tell me more," he whispered, his voice soft but determined.

As Seonghwa's fingers pressed against the rock, he felt it shiver under his touch, as if it was responding to his plea for more information. The whispers grew louder, the voices more urgent. "Run," they said, their voices echoing in his mind. "Danger, death, run."

Seonghwa recoiled at the words, fear and confusion coursing through him. "Run from what?" he thought aloud, his heart pounding in his chest. The whispers remained silent, the only response being a strange thrumming sensation that traveled up his arm from the rock.

Seonghwa felt the presence even before he saw it. It was like a shadow looming over him, a dark, menacing energy that made him shiver. He spun around, his heart racing in his chest. There, in the distance, he saw a dark figure moving swiftly towards him through the water.

Seonghwa squinted, trying to make out the details of the approaching figure. The dim light made it difficult to see much, but it seemed human in shape, though unearthly in a way he couldn't quite place. The figure moved through the water with a speed and grace that was unnatural, a haunting specter closing in on him.

Seonghwa's heart raced in his chest as the figure continued its approach. He turned and attempted to swim away, to flee the menacing presence. But to his horror, his body didn't move as quickly as he wanted. It was as if he was swimming in thick, viscous liquid, every movement labored and sluggish.