One lonely night, I stepped outside for some air because my mind was too heavy, too cluttered.
I was walking, glued to my phone, not paying attention to my surroundings until I realized I had wandered far. Somehow, I had ended up in an unfamiliar place. It was dark, the air was chilling, and an eerie silence filled the space. It wasn't a cemetery, but it sure felt like one. A sudden, inexplicable heaviness pressed down on my shoulders.
"Shit... did something climb on my back? Hahaha," I muttered, forcing a laugh. Deep inside, though, I was terrified.
l ignored the feeling and quickened my pace until I saw a faint light ahead.
But before I could reach it, something caught my eye. A woman-stunningly beautiful-stood there. Her skin was so pale it was almost translucent, and even in the darkness, she seemed to glow. She wore a long, white dress, her figure ethereal, like a ghost.
"What the hell? First, the heavy feeling on my back, and now a white lady?!" I whispered nervously, trying to dismiss my fear by walking faster.
Just as I looked away, she waved at me.
"Huh?" I stopped, confused but oddly amused. If she were a ghost, she wouldn't wave, right? Trying to calm myself, I waved back with a smile. Moments later, I was out of that unsettling area.
When I glanced back, she was gone. I wasn't sure how to feel-scared, worried, or relieved? Why was she there? Could she have been a ghost? No, that's impossible.
A few minutes later, I found myself in a crowded area. I sat on a bench, letting the cool breeze brush against my face. I closed my eyes and smiled, relieved that some of the weight in my head had lifted.
I had my eyes closed for barely a few seconds when a loud crashing sound broke through the air-a car accident, maybe? l quickly opened my eyes.
"What was that?" I muttered, scanning my surroundings. A crowd had gathered near an apartment building, surrounding something-or someone.
I was about to stand up to check the commotion when an old woman suddenly appeared in front of me.
"Oh shit!" I yelped, falling back onto the bench.
"W-what do you need, ma'am?" I stammered, my voice shaky.
She approached, and I noticed she was blind, leaning on a cane.
"Oh no, I'm sorry! Please, take a seat," I said, sliding over to make space for her.
She sat down without a word.
"Sorry about earlier. You startled me, and I almost cursed-"
"Heaven," she interrupted.
I froze. "H-Heaven?"
"Do you see that?" she asked, pointing toward the crowd.
"See what?" I followed her gesture, confused.
"He committed suicide," she said calmly.
"What?! What do you mean?" I exclaimed, panic rising.
"He jumped from the building. This isn't the first time it's happened," she continued.
Her words didn't make sense. How could she know what happened? She was blind and far away from the scene.
"Believe it or not," she said, "this is the 99th time it has happened. That man is the 99th to commit suicide in this area."
"What the fuck?!" I whispered, horrified.
"In less than a month, a hundred men have killed themselves. Yes, all of them men," she added.
My body went cold. I couldn't speak.
"But don't worry, child. You seem like a good person," she said softly.
I nodded, still trembling. "But... why? Why would they all kill themselves?"
"It's because of my granddaughter. Heaven," she said. Her voice was sorrowful yet tinged with bitterness. "She was only twelve when she was brutally raped and murdered. She cried for help, but no one came. People saw, but they turned away. No one even brought her to the hospital."
I clenched my fists, my heart aching with anger and sorrow.
"That's why all the men die. She cursed them. She curses all men," the old woman explained.
I took a deep breath. "But... how? Does that mean all men are doomed? Even me? I've done nothing to her!"
She shook her head. "Don't worry. You haven't wronged her."
I sighed in relief, but then l remembered something.
"Wait... you said 99 men have already died. Does that mean all of them were involved in her death?"
"Not all of them," she replied. "Most of them didn't even know her. The deaths increase when people pay her attention."
"What do you mean 'pay attention'?" I asked nervously.
"Anyone who notices her dies. That is her curse," she said.
I stared at her, biting my lip as fear crept through my veins.
"How do they notice her? Didn't you say she's already dead?"
"She is dead. But her spirit still roams. She reveals herself to men," she answered.
My stomach dropped.
"She was the one you saw earlier," the old woman said.
The blood drained from my face. My body froze.
"A-a-am I... going to d-d-die?" l stammered, tears streaming down my cheeks.
"No. You're different. And that's not why they die," she replied.
"Oh, thank God..." I gasped, wiping my face.
"But... what's the real reason? How do they die after noticing her?"
The old woman turned to me, her milky-white eyes locking onto mine. A creepy smile spread across her face as she whispered:
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