FALL IN LOVE WITH A MONSTERS [HEEJAKEHOON]

dangerous

Late Night – Forest Path

Sunghoon’s pov:

The wind howled through the dense trees, rustling the branches above as Sunghoon walked through the dimly lit forest path. The shortcut to his hostel was always eerie at night, but tonight, it felt different. The air was colder, heavier—like something unseen was pressing down on him.

He stuffed his hands into his pockets, quickening his pace. The moon barely peeked through the thick canopy above, casting shifting shadows along the dirt trail. His footsteps crunched against the dried leaves, the only sound accompanying him in the silence.

Or so he thought.

A shadow moved.

Silent. Unseen.

A pair of red eyes gleamed in the darkness, watching his every move. The presence lurked just beyond the trees, blending seamlessly into the void, its gaze locked onto Sunghoon’s back.

A predator.

Sunghoon suddenly stopped walking. His body tensed, a strange chill creeping up his spine. He turned his head slightly, scanning the trees. Nothing. Just swaying branches and endless darkness.

“...Weird,” he muttered under his breath, shaking off the uneasy feeling. He adjusted his bag strap and continued forward, unaware of the figure that slithered through the shadows, mirroring his every step.

The red glow flickered for a second before vanishing, but the presence remained. Closer. Waiting.

Sunghoon didn’t know it yet.

But he wasn’t alone.

Sunghoon walked faster, the chilling air pressing against his skin. The shortcut to his hostel was supposed to save time, yet tonight, every step felt wrong. The deeper he went, the thicker the silence became. Even the usual night sounds—crickets, rustling leaves—seemed to have vanished.

His breath came out in small puffs of mist, his pulse quickening. Why does it feel like someone’s watching me?

Unbeknownst to him, the red eyes still followed. Unblinking. Hidden just beyond the trees. The presence moved with inhuman silence, shifting between the shadows, drawing closer.

Sunghoon’s body tensed. He could hear it now. A faint crunch of leaves—too light, too precise to be a wild animal. His throat went dry.

He stopped.

So did the sound.

His fingers curled into a fist. Am I just imagining things?

For a moment, he considered turning around, heading back toward the main road. But then he shook his head. No. Don’t be stupid. It’s just a shortcut. No one’s here.

Forcing himself to move, he kept walking, this time more carefully. Yet, in the shadows, the red eyes gleamed once more.

The thing—whatever it was—was closer.

Waiting.

Watching.

And soon, it would strike.

Sunghoon’s breath quickened. The air around him felt heavier, colder, as if something unseen was pressing down on him. His ears strained for any sign of movement, but the silence was suffocating.

Then—

Crunch.

His body stiffened. That wasn’t his footstep. It came from behind him.

Slowly, his fingers twitched at his sides. His instincts screamed at him to run, but his pride wouldn’t let him. Taking a shaky breath, he turned his head slightly, peering over his shoulder—