Chapter 13 - Chapter 13

🌑 Chapter 13: The Echoes of the Diary

The villa was too quiet.

Not peaceful.

Not safe.

It felt like something was waiting.

Hana sat on the edge of the massive bed.

The diary rested in her lap.

Heavy.

Colder than it should be.

Her fingers traced the page.

Slowly.

Carefully.

She read.

Day 45.

A pause.

He brought me white lilies today.

Hana swallowed.

He calls them purity…

Her grip tightened.

But all I see is a funeral.

Her breath slowed.

His mother called again.

Silence.

She didn’t speak.

Hana’s eyes widened slightly.

She just breathed…

Her fingers trembled.

Until I hung up.

The room suddenly felt colder.

They are watching.

A pause.

They are always watching.

Hana shut the diary halfway.

Her chest rising.

Falling.

Too fast.

“…This isn’t just him.”

Her voice was barely a whisper.

“It’s all of them.”

An entire world.

Watching.

Waiting.

Meanwhile—

Hotel Shilla.

Dim lights.

Quiet music.

Min-ah sat at the bar.

Calm.

Unbothered.

Ji-hoon stood across from her.

Didn’t sit.

Didn’t relax.

“The break-in.”

His voice was low.

Dangerous.

“If I find even one trace…”

A step closer.

“…of your involvement…”

Min-ah didn’t flinch.

She swirled her wine lazily.

“You’ll what?”

A smile.

Cold.

Sharp.

Ji-hoon leaned in.

Eyes burning.

“I’ll destroy your family.”

Silence.

“Your father’s accounts…”

A pause.

“…will reach the Blue House by morning.”

Min-ah laughed softly.

“You’ve changed.”

Her gaze flicked up.

“You used to be untouchable.”

A pause.

“Now you’re…”

Her lips curved.

“…desperate.”

Ji-hoon didn’t react.

“Do you really think…”

She leaned forward.

Voice dropping.

“…a girl like her can survive?”

Silence.

“Your mother will crush her.”

A pause.

“You’re not protecting her.”

Her smile sharpened.

“…you’re marking her.”

“For death.”

The air froze.

Ji-hoon’s jaw tightened.

“Watch me.”

Back at the villa—

The lights flickered.

Once.

Twice.

Then—

Dimmed.

Hana froze.

“…What was that?”

Silence.

Then—

A sound.

Faint.

Scratch.

She turned slowly.

Scratch.

Scratch.

“…No…”

Her heart pounded.

The sound—

Came from the walls.

Behind the bookshelves.

Step.

Step.

Step.

She moved closer.

Her hand pressed against the wood.

Push—

It moved.

“…A door?”

The panel slid open.

Darkness.

A narrow staircase.

Going down.

Her breath hitched.

“…I shouldn’t…”

But—

She stepped inside.

Her phone light flickered on.

One step.

Then another.

The air grew colder.

Heavier.

Until—

She reached the bottom.

And froze.

“…What is this?”

A room.

Perfect.

Untouched.

Frozen in time.

A stage.

Red velvet curtains.

A grand piano.

A single chair.

Hana stepped forward slowly.

“…This is…”

Not just a room.

A memory.

Preserved.

On the piano—

A sheet of music.

She picked it up.

Her hands trembling.

For My Last Muse.

Her breath stopped.

“…Last?”

Then—

Her eyes shifted.

To the corner.

And—

Everything broke.

A dress.

Hanging.

Still.

White.

But—

Destroyed.

Shredded.

Stained.

Black ink.

Like dried blood.

Hana stumbled back.

Her voice cracked—

And then—

She screamed.