Chapter 1

Pitch-black darkness. The only thing you'll see when life is at its final hour. A hollow flash that sparked curiosity and dread. It was coming, and I knew that all too well. My end, the moment I would leave this world and let all my regrets disappear alongside me. It's when I remember all of them, all my past mistakes. When my brain races, stabbing me with every single one I had. To only leave me bitter. Laying on the ground in a pool of blood, unable to move, only being able to stare at the rocky ceiling above me. Death was the only thing around me, as I took my final breaths. While I lay there, I couldn't think about anything. Nothing made sense, every memory, every thought was vague beyond comprehension. I could only sigh in disappointment while my life flashed before my eyes.

My painful past makes me want to start over. To get a second chance. It would change everything, right? But would it? Would a second chance turn my life around for the better? Wouldn't all my regrets be obsolete if every action I take can be redone? Would life still have a meaning?

Those were the strange thoughts I woke up to. As I wipe away the saliva dripping from my mouth, I glance at the time on my phone.

[11:30am] [24 March 2023]

"Shit!"

I fling myself out of bed and quickly jump in and out of the shower. When I finished drying myself I put on the suit, that I had prepared the day before on my office chair. I locked the door of my apartment before, hurriedly running down the stairs. I hail a taxi and when one stops for me I provide the directions. Afterward, I sigh as I sink into the seat. While looking out the window, I contemplated what the rest of the day holds.

It's been two years since we've seen each other, and it wasn't for a joyous occasion. My right leg was twitching up and down while my mind wandered. The weight that I carried made it hard for me not to feel my racing heartbeat. Today was his funeral. The thought silenced me, leaving me blackly staring out the car window. He's dead.

The silence prevailed as time seemed to pass by at a speed I couldn't comprehend.

"Sir, we arrived." Taking out my wallet, I pay the man and step out of the taxi. As soon as I did, the car drove away and I found myself staring at a building right in front of me.

"There it is." The place where it would all go down. Inside, I would find them and the harsh trial that awaited me. The emotions I was feeling halted me. I was a statue, stuck in a daze at the thought of what would happen in the next few hours. My body ached while my mind screamed. After today, he will be gone, but his memory will live on in the hearts of those who cherished him.

"Sa!" A shout that I couldn't completely hear brought my attention down to the densely pact sidewalk. Someone was pushing through the people and coming closer. Before I could tell, their arms flung around me, and I could feel newfound warmth coursing through my body. "Samuel"

"Where's that brat?" A man paced from one side to the other while occasionally cursing under his breath.

"Are you worried he won't come?" The man halts and looks at a woman seated on a wooden bench by the wall.

"Not in the slightest darling, I just felt like that dunce of a brother didn't know how the raise that son of his. Coming late to something like this shows his lack of manners."

"I don't feel like now is the time to talk like that about your brother, Darius." Darius turns around towards a man who is also sitting on a bench.

"Isn't he more disrespectful for being late, George?" Darius stares at George while tightening his muscles. The frown on his face was clear to see by everyone.

"Disrespect and manners. Since when were you the right person to talk about them, Darius!?" Darius's stance shifted and his frown vanished when he spotted a woman entering the room.

Darius couldn't come up with anything to say to her, but he didn't need to as his wife spoke up for him. "Is my husband some kind of child you can shout at when you don't like his outbursts, Kathleen?"

"Oh, not at all, Maria. My little brother's words just rubbed me the wrong way." Kathleen gave Darius's wife a petty look while she spoke.

"Oh? Well, shouldn't you, as the eldest, be a little more civil and talk it out? Instead of exhausting this entire room with your voice?" The two women had faint smiles on their faces, but their eyes told a different story.

"Oh Maria, we still have so much time left waiting that we can chat about all the manners you two supposedly have." Hearing her words, Maria frowned.

"Let's not start with that again, Kathleen!"

A girl with black hair averted her eyes from the two women and tilted her head. "They started again."

"Seems like they have." Another girl who had blond hair, unfazed by the yelling, seemed preoccupied with something more important.

"He's still not here?" The black-haired girl asked while she looked outside.

"No, still no answer or sight of him." The blond-haired girl sighed as she showed a mixture of sadness and disappointment on her face.

"He'll come, Sarah, I'm sure of it." With a sweet smile, the black-haired girl spoke to Sarah.

Sarah stretched her arm out, feeling the cold touch of the glass wall against her hand. "Yeah, I hope so."

Aimlessly looking around, the black-haired girl's gaze stops. "Looks like James is enjoying the catfight right next to him."

James's face soured as his level of annoyance rose. He reaches for his jacket beside him and starts searching through it until he finds his earphones.

"I wonder how he does it living with Maria and Darius as parents." The black-haired girl laughed a little to herself but stopped when she looked at Sarah.

Despite everything she said, Sarah kept her eyes on the busy road outside. With a sigh, the black-haired girl looks up at the ceiling. While the black-haired girl tapped her finger on the floor, Sarah stood up and ran for the front door. the black-haired girl noticed this and lowered her gaze. As she looked outside, Sarah was running towards a man with a completely oblivious expression.

"You want to talk manners, huh, You want to act like an adult suddenly, saying you should be on time. Then why, why weren't you there then, huh? Why were you not there at their funeral when everyone expected you to be there, and you didn't come?" Kathleen was taking deep breaths after yelling at Darius. When she felt like she could talk again, she continued tapping his chest, while a few tears dripped down her cheeks. "You! You're guilty, not him. You didn't even dare to show your face instead of being late."

Kathleen directed her anger at Darius and Maria, but these two were well aware of the consequences, so they refrained from retaliating against her.

"We had our-" When he tried to say something, Kathleen got even angrier.

"You! You!" Before Kathleen could lash out even more, she felt two hands fall on her shoulders. As she glanced over her shoulder, George came into view. "You surprised me."

Faintly smiling at him, his hand comes closer. With gentle movements, he tenderly brushes away her tears from her face. "Let's stop this. I don't think now is the best time to keep bickering. We've also had many conversations about this and already concluded it many times. So, let's stop lingering in the past. At least he's here now."

"Alright." Kathleen stumbled over her words, her voice wavering slightly, but she ultimately managed to get them out.

With a smile, George turns his wife around and looks at her. "Why don't you go to the restroom again and wash up? While I take care of the rest."

"Right, I'll go do that." Kathleen does as he says and heads back to the restroom she had just left a few minutes ago.

"I'm sorry about my wife. We're all on edge and it got to her head. I hope you can understand." George's sincerity was evident, prompting Maria to quickly accept his words without delay. "let's forgive and forget."

"Thank you for understanding, Maria."

Maria relaxedly waved away all his worries, her gesture revealing her lack of ill will towards Kathleen's words. "Everyone has a heavy load on their shoulders. I can't keep holding a grudge in these circumstances, right, honey?"

"Yeah, yeah, forgive and forget." Darius's words spilled from his lips, but his disinterested gaze revealed his lack of engagement in the conversation.

"Are you not listening or what?" Maria couldn't believe how her husband was acting. She shot him a stern look, hoping to convey her disapproval.

They couldn't help but follow Darius's gaze, their curiosity piqued by his strange behavior.

Sarah swung open the door and ran out of the building. She quickly maneuvered through the crowded sidewalk as she headed directly toward the motionless man on the opposite side.

"Samuel!" Sarah called out to him, but her gentle voice couldn't reach him. 

As soon as she got close, she wrapped her arms around him tightly, not wanting to let go. "Samuel, I missed you." 

Sarah's unexpected action pulled me out of my daze. As I gaze down at her, embracing my torso, a smile spreads across my face. "It's been a while, sis."

When she nodded, I could feel the motion against my chest. "How was your trip?" As soon as I heard her question, an intense jolt of pain surged through my head before my mind momentarily wandered back to the office where I had been working for the past few months. I thought for a moment before I spoke, feeling a strange sensation nagging my brain. "It was an enjoyable experience." 

My attention was drawn to the mirror wall on the building Sarah exited from while we were conversing. Through it, I could see people casting glances in our direction.

"Shouldn't we go inside? It should have started by now." I wanted to take her off me and move towards the building, but in my attempt, she tightened her grip around me. "No."

"Sarah, we can't keep them waiting." Confused by her action I looked at her while her head was against my chest. "It still hasn't begun, so let's stay like this for a while longer."

"Wait." I exclaimed. "It hasn't even begun yet, I should be an hour late?"

"There was a delay or something, but that doesn't matter right now. I'm happy just you're here." As her head pressed against my chest, I could feel the quivering of her body, sending a wave of shivers through me. "Why did you have to come back now?" she muttered under her breath, sadness clear in her tone.

As I stared at her, my mouth hung open, a mix of words and sounds trapped inside. I knew fully well how she felt.

"If you came back earlier, we could have, but now dad he's." she stuttered as she looked up at me, tears streaming down her cheeks, leaving glistening trails. I gently placed my hand on her head and pulled her close to my chest.

"I'm here now. Let everything out." The sheer number of people staring uncomfortably at her crying made anyone want to retreat indoors. Yet, my mind was empty, and I recognized her need for someone to guide her unsettled emotions back to tranquility.

"Samuel?" Eventually, Sarah brought me back to the present moment. She had her hand pressed against my forehead. "Are you alright?"

I didn't think long about what she asked me, I just simply shrugged it off like it was a stupid question. "Of course, couldn't be better." 

"Are you sure you're feeling okay?" With her other hand, she touched her forehead and frowned. Before I let her say anything else, I remove her hand and walk past her. "I'm fine. You don't have to worry."

While I made my way to the building, Sarah stared at my back, and let out a sigh, before following behind me.

As I entered through the front door, I could see all of them. The room fell silent as they looked at me, unsure of what to say. A young lady with long black hair approached us and was the first to break the ice. "It's good to see you again, Samuel."

"You too, Jean." As we exchanged smiles, her attention shifted to the person next to me. "I'll take her off you." Sarah's grip on my hand tightened even more as Jean uttered these words. I snicker at her reaction before turning in her direction. "We can chat later, but for now, I'll greet everyone."

When Sarah's eyes connected with mine, I detected a momentary hesitation, but soon enough, she released her grip on my hand. "Alright."

I head towards George, leaving Sarah with Jean. 

"Long time no see uncle, I'm sorry for being late." George looks in my direction, and there is a peculiar expression in his eyes. "It sure has been a while and you don't need to worry too much about being late. You're not the only one who makes mistakes around here, after all."

"Right, that's something I was wondering about. What's the holdup?"

"I was told because of an error in their system, they were not expecting us today. However, since our flights are scheduled for tomorrow, we cannot change the date."

"Ah, alright, anyway, is everyone else waiting in a different room?" The smile on George's face disappeared when I asked him this. Unable to muster up any other words, he pats me on my shoulder. "Now that you're here, I should go check how long we'll still have to wait."

"Right." With long pauses, I got words out of my mouth while my eyes stayed on his back until he left the room. I didn't know why he acted like that, but I was certain he just dodged my question.

"Samuel, have you looked at yourself in the mirror?" Abruptly, my attention is drawn to a pompous woman who is unabashedly scrutinizing every inch of my body.

"I hope you're doing well, Maria, but what about how I look?"

"Don't play games with me, boy. Now tell me what you are wearing."

"A suit?" Confused by her words, I glanced down at my body, searching for any clue.

"Do companies here not know etiquette? If you came to work looking like that, I would fire you on the spot. Where's your tie?"

Touching the spot where I should have a tie. I noticed I didn't have one on. "In, forgot." I awkwardly answered her while scratching the back of my head.

As soon as she heard my answer, Maria shook her head disapprovingly. "Butten up your dress shirt more. This isn't a bar where you can pick up girls, and with how you look. You wouldn't even get any." Maria expected a reply but changed her mind and carried on speaking without waiting. "That hair of yours. Did you shampoo it?"

I find myself thinking back to when I woke up. Where me washing up was jumping in the shower for a few seconds. I couldn't say anything to what she said, so I just let out a long um. 

"Are we animals who don't clean themselves?"

"No, we're not."

"Good, then why is it filthy...? Actually, I'm not interested in hearing a response, and what's up with that thing on your face?"

The prickly sensation of an unshaven beard on my chin and jaw tingled through my hand.

"Your dad and my husband learned the hard way that they can't grow one like George, but it seems like you didn't, or did you also forget to shave it?"

Silent I listened on as Maria barded me. "You forgot it, didn't you? Did you also forget that head of yours, or is it still on?"

"Maria, you're interrogating your nephew already, even though you haven't seen him in two years." I looked back and saw Kathleen standing in the restroom doorframe, smiling warmly.

"Aunt Kathleen." As she approaches me, I give her a small bow.

"It's been a while. How have you been?"

"I've been doing fine, thank you." When she walked past me, I could feel the saliva in my mouth. "Kathleen." Upon hearing me, she looks in my direction with a curious expression. I could feel every beat of my heart as my mind raced. Before opening my mouth, I gulp. "It's about Dad. I wasn't told much over text and I didn't know how to ask this, his death. Do we know a probable cause?" 

My hands were joined as I nervously played with them. Even Maria and Darius were interrupted and turned their attention to me when my unexpected words hit a sensitive spot. "He, how do I say this, Samuel he was murdered."

My pupils dilated as my head started spinning. "He was." All three of them looked at the floor, hearing me stutter over my words. 

My gaze was fixed on my feet, which moved now and then. I raised my hand and pressed it against my forehead. "Where's the restroom?"

"I just came from there. It's that door behind you." I directed my gaze to the door she indicated with her finger.

"Take care of yourself." Kathleen said while I walked away.

"Yeah, will do."

Just as I was about to walk through the door, someone else started talking."Don't overdo it." I couldn't determine the speaker of the last sentence since they mumbled it.

With the door closed behind me, I walk towards the male restrooms and turn on the sink. I create a bowl with my hands and splash water on my face. The words my sister had said earlier replayed in my head. "Maybe I am getting sick."

When I lift my head, I stare into the mirror in front of me. Maria was right. I look like shit. While examining my chin and jaw, I couldn't help but notice the faint stubble of my aspiring beard, which thankfully didn't stand out too much due to my hair color. What could catch anyone's eye instantly were the clear bags under my eyes. 

To style my hair a bit, I make do with water instead of hair gel. After turning off the sink, I sat down upon opening a stall door. Leaning back as far as possible, I gaze up at the ceiling before covering my eyes with my arms. "Dad."

"Samuel, now that you're here, could you please lend a hand?" George said when entering the main hall. When looking around, George's eyes stop on his wife and Maria, both wearing perplexed expressions as they stare at Darius. 

"What happened?" Kathleen turns away from Darius to George. "Oh, what did you say?"

George's eyes surveyed around the room. "Do you know where Samuel is?"

"He went to the restroom. Why do you need him?"

"I was talking with staff, making sure everything was in order, but because of the language barrier, it's not that easy. Oh, and what's with Darius?"

"Nothing special. His previous words just surprised me."

"What was so strange about what I said?" Darius interrupts the conversation upon hearing Kathleen. "No, it just caught me off guard." Darius frowns as his sister speaks.

Kathleen ended up seeing this but didn't know how to react. "Do you think everything will go smoothly, Because Samuel didn't seem well?"

"I think it's going to be fine. All we can do is wait and see, I guess."

"Dammit, Jordan, why did you have to marry a Korean woman, of all things?" Darius curses under his breath, causing everyone else to look at him. "What was that, honey?"

Darius sighs before opening his mouth once more. "Nothing."

Kathleen found her brother's current way of acting quite childish, but she decided not to go further in it. "Anyway, can't you ask Sarah?"

"I considered it, but given how she's been handling the incident, I had decided to leave her alone and ask Samuel instead."

Kathleen moved her gaze and looked at the girl who was sitting next to Jean. "Sarah, how are you doing right now, love?"

"I'm doing better. Why do you ask?"

"Could you assist my husband? He's having some difficulties."

"Sure." Sarah thought for a second before rising to her feet and making her way to George.

"Look, look, Dad a squirrel." In the forest, a little boy beams with joy. He jumped and ran through the leaves scattered all around. With everything he did, his ultimate goal was to see his father's reaction. 

The older man was being accompanied by a small girl, holding his hand. "Sarah, don't you want to play with your brother?"

"No, I want to stay by Papa's side."

"Oh, then make sure to hold on tight."

the little girl looks at the man and nods.

"Samuel, don't do anything stupid. A big bad wolf might come to get you if you run too far."

"If that happens, you will protect me because you're big and strong, and when I grow up, I want to be just like you."

"That's going to mean you'll have to take good care of your sister, otherwise you'll never be as amazing as me."

Opening my eyes, I was still looking at the ceiling. "Big and strong. What a joke. More like small and weak."

As I stand up, I waltz towards the sink and lean on it. My head was ringing, and my sight was shaking. Stopping my gaze, I blankly stared into the sink. The overbearing annoyance lowers when stillness is in my sight.

"God Dammit!" I slam my hand on the sink and gaze into the mirror, confronted by my pitiful reflection. "What's wrong with me?"

In this daze, there was only one thing I could clearly remember. That dream. Since this morning, I wasn't able to get it out of my head. Even through the pain, I could vividly put a finger on it, but when I truly tried, that understanding disappeared.

I straighten my back, gaze into the mirror, and let out a sigh. Ready to leave, I stop once more. The world around me felt like it was becoming heavier. As I attempt to move, I lose my balance and start dropping to the ground. The heat and pain picked up pace, and the shakiness became unclear. It kept going until only darkness was left.

"We can finally go in." George enters the main hall and walks over to his wife, grabbing his bag beside her. When he did this, everyone stood up.

"Big man, we're going in." Darius's hand taps James's shoulder, who is glued to his phone.

George doesn't think twice and heads towards the stairs, with the others trailing behind him.

"Wait, Samuel's not back yet." Sarah, who had gone back to Jean, stopped their advance. 

George turned his head to look at Kathleen. "Beautiful. Do you know when he'll be back?"

"He wasn't feeling well. I know nothing more. Why don't we prepare everything and when we are done, you can come get him?"

George acknowledges his wife's words by nodding, then he turns to Sarah and smiles. "After putting my bag away, I'll come back and get him."

George turns around and heads up the stairs to reach the ceremony location, and everyone else follows behind him.

"A bit too many chairs, don't you think?" Inside, Darius counted all the chairs they had placed. He counted around 40 of them.

"I wonder why."

Maria lets out a sigh upon hearing Kathleen's comment. She walked by Darius and went to her husband, who was already on the other side of the room. George placed his bag down next to the stand. That was on the podium. Next to it was a long table with a closed coffin, there was also a portrait placed before it. Kathleen paused beside him, glancing at the papers he held. Observing his wife's inability to look away from them, he places his hand on her head.

"Everything will be alright. It can't get worse than this."

Kathleen looks upward and smiles at him. "Is this your way of consoling a person?"

"Hahaha, What aren't you the one smiling? Anyway, I'll go get Samuel in a few seconds." With papers set down on the stage, George walks back to the entrance. When Kathleen looks sideways, she notices Sarah and Jean by the portrait. Sarah was shaking, and Jean held her hand.

"Your dad sure doesn't look like he was in his fifties. His hair is so beautiful."

"Yeah." Sarah was blankly staring at the portrait of her father while Jean talked.

"Just like you." Sarah looks away from the picture frame and faces Jean. "You think so?" Sarah gazed at her hair strands while holding them.

"Yeah, I still remember the times when my father was wishing he had hair like your dad's and Darius. That bald man wishes he could get his hair back." Sarah laughed at what Jean said.

"Oh, or when your dad and Darius were jealous of my dad's beard."

Sarah gazes at Jean, who continues discussing events from the past few years. "You also look beautiful."

"Ah, thank you, Sarah."

"Who do you think you got your looks from?"

Jean thought for a few seconds before answering. "I think of my mom. They both have brown hair, but I definitely have my mother's eyes and face."

"If you inherited your hair from your father, there's a chance you'll go bald like him."

Jean wanted to scream at Sarah's words. "Sarah, I don't think I'll become bald." With camera mode on, Jean held her phone and stared at the top of her head. The two girls laughed.

With her phone lowered, Jean shifted her gaze to her side. "James must have his looks from his mother." 

"His hair, yes. But if I'm right, doesn't Maria have light green eyes?"

"Yeah, you're right. Black hair from his mother and brown eyes from his father. Now let's do your brother. His eyes are the same as yours, beautiful and blue, but his hair."

"He was born with it. It's a mixture of my mother's and father's." Sarah fell silent as she recalled something.

"He's the only person I know with his hair color. I've seen blond and brown but never blond and black."

Jean looks to her side and sees Sarah staring at the floor, her eyes filled with complicated emotions. However, the absence of shivering gives Jean a small sense of relief.

"Dad, when do we go back home?" James looked up from his phone and turned to his dad next to him.

"Now's not the time to think about that, son."

"My friends want to hang out, so I need to know when we get back."

"We're taking the plane back to England tomorrow and will arrive by noon, probably."

Upon receiving his answer, James frantically typed on his phone.

In the sky above Seoul, fighter jets streaked across the horizon, their engines roaring as they closed in on a UFO hovering at their altitude. "Target is 700 meters away, sir."

"It is imperative that we obtain those images, soldier."

"Sir, yes, sir."

Inside a military base, a commander's gaze never left the giant screen in front of him. "What are you?"

The aircraft rapidly traverses above the target, capturing photographs of the unidentified flying object. 

Upon witnessing the unmistakable images, the commander's thoughts raced. He could not comprehend the terrifying reality that had materialized. "What the fuck is that!?"

While observing people going about their daily lives, A creature with a slender ashen black body floated in the sky. As it smiled, its teeth, sharp as a razor, gleamed in the light. In its hand was a golden pocket watch, and when the button at the top was pressed down, the watch was released and left floating in mid-air. As the hands of the watch swiftly rotate, a vibrant blue hue begins to emanate from it, gradually spreading throughout the surrounding air.

"Hope you survive." Just as the creature finishes speaking, its slender body disappears, leaving behind only the pocket watch suspended in the sky above the city.