"Nayoung…" a voice whispered, soft but chilling. "Nayoung…"
Her eyes fluttered open. She was lying in a room she didn't recognize—dimly lit, with walls that seemed to stretch endlessly into shadow. She sat up slowly, the floorboards creaking beneath her weight. The air felt heavy, like it was pressing against her lungs.
"Where… am I?" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
She stood, her feet touching the cold wooden floor as she walked to the door. It groaned as she pushed it open, revealing a long staircase spiraling down into darkness. A faint light flickered below, casting strange shadows along the walls.
Driven by instinct, she descended the stairs, each step echoing like a heartbeat. Voices drifted up from below—two voices she recognized. She paused, her hand gripping the railing.
"...I told you, we don't need her," the first voice spat, sharp and unyielding.
"She's just a burden. Why do you have to take her?" the second one added, laced with irritation.
