I spent the rest of the next day with a mixture of nervousness and anticipation. I couldn't concentrate in class; my mind constantly wandered to the meeting I'd have in the park. What would "ShadowsInTheNight" be like? Would it be another Marked One? Would he know anything about the Troubles?
I arrived at Central Park a few minutes before three. The sun was shining and people were strolling leisurely, enjoying the good weather. I looked around near the fountain, trying to identify anyone who might be waiting for me. I didn't know what to expect. Would they be carrying some kind of sign? Would they recognize me in some way?
I watched the people approaching the fountain. There were families with children, young couples, and elderly people relaxing on the benches. No one seemed particularly suspicious. I began to feel a pang of doubt. What if it was all a joke? What if no one was there?
Just as I was beginning to think about leaving, a figure approached the fountain and sat down on a nearby bench. It was a young woman, with dark hair pulled back in a ponytail and thick-framed glasses. She didn't look like anything special, but there was something about her gaze, a quiet intensity as she watched the movement of the park, that caught my attention.
Suddenly, he pulled out his phone and typed a text. A moment later, my own phone vibrated in my pocket. It was a new text from an unknown number, the same one that had contacted me the day before. The message read: "Look to your left. The wind will guide you."
Slowly, I turned my head to the left. A gentle breeze began to blow, slightly lifting the fallen leaves on the ground. And then I saw it. A small swirl of wind formed right in front of the bench where the woman with glasses was sitting. It was subtle, almost imperceptible to anyone who wasn't paying attention, but to me, it was like a clear sign.
I hesitated for a moment, feeling my heart pound. Was it her? Was ShadowsInTheNight this seemingly normal girl sitting on a park bench?
I took a deep breath and approached the bench. She didn't look at me directly, but I could feel her attention fixed on me. I sat at the other end of the bench, leaving a safe distance between us.
"ShadowsInTheNight?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
She didn't respond immediately. She stared at the fountain for a few more seconds, as if deciding what to say. Finally, she turned her head toward me. Her eyes behind her glasses were piercing, serious.
"Ryu Hyuk," he said, his voice soft but firm. "I'm glad you came."
Before I could respond, a sudden scream echoed through the park. People started running, panicking. We looked in the direction of the scream and saw... another Trouble. It was bigger and more grotesque than the one I'd faced the other night, and it was wreaking havoc on passersby.
The woman stood up from the bench with surprising agility. "There's no time for introductions," she said, her voice now filled with urgency. "We have to do something."
And before I could even blink, I saw it. A powerful gust of wind erupted from its hands, blasting toward the Trouble with incredible force. The creature was thrown backward, crashing into a tree with a thud.
I stood there, mouth agape, staring at the woman. She was real. The Marked Ones were real. And I was one of them. My life had just taken an even more unexpected turn.
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