# Chapter 7
Hae-Li slowly opened her eyes, trying to adjust her vision to the darkness in the room. She glanced at the watch on her wrist. It had apparently begun to get dark already.
She had fallen asleep on the sofa sometime that afternoon. Her sister still hadn't come home, and the text messages she'd sent since noon hadn't even been marked as read.
Still feeling weak, Hae-Li got up. She turned on all the main lights, firmly shut every window, and made sure all the exterior doors were locked from the inside. Once the house felt secure, she got ready to shower and freshen up.
Ding!
Her phone screen lit up on the table. A message had come in from an unknown number.
"Take good care of yourself!"
Hae-Li stared at the screen for several seconds. Her throat suddenly went dry, but she tried to push down her panic.
"Maybe they sent it to the wrong person," she told herself, trying to calm down. She tidied the things on the table, then hurried to the bathroom.
After showering, Hae-Li walked toward the balcony in her room. The curtains were still wide open, revealing a dim view of the yard outside. Her gaze suddenly landed on the house next door.
There, on the terrace, a man was sitting calmly and reading a book. Her new neighbor.
Hae-Li let out a short sigh. Since last night's incident, she hadn't had a chance to apologize. Then that morning, she'd been rude and accused the man of being a criminal.
Her thoughts scattered when her ears caught the sound of a commotion from downstairs. Hae-Li's body immediately stiffened. The anxiety she'd managed to suppress now came surging back.
It was already this late, and she was alone in the house. She reached for her phone and reread the message from her sister a few minutes earlier.
"I'm coming home late today. Work at the office is crazy busy. Don't worry, I'm fine. See you!"
Just as Hae-Li was about to step toward the bed, the noise from downstairs grew clearer and more frequent. Without wasting any time, she left the room. Her legs trembled as she descended the stairs one step at a time, gripping the cold railing tightly.
Crash! Thud!
The sharp sound of something falling rang out from the kitchen.
"Who's there?" Hae-Li shouted, her voice trembling slightly.
On instinct, she grabbed a porcelain flower vase from the decorative table near the stairs to use as an improvised weapon. There was no answer from the kitchen, only a frightening silence.
Holding her breath, Hae-Li crept forward and cautiously peered into the kitchen. There, she saw the shadow of a broad-shouldered man sneaking around near the refrigerator.
Hae-Li raised the vase high, ready to bring it down with all her strength. But just as the man turned around . . .
Smash!
The porcelain vase slipped from her hands and shattered across the floor.
"Uncle? Ah!" Hae-Li exhaled a long, relieved breath. The tension in her shoulders instantly eased.
The man spun around in shock, his face deathly pale and nervous. "S-Sorry, Miss. Did I startle you?"
"Why are you here this late at night, Uncle? Dad and Mom are still out of town, aren't they?" Hae-Li asked in confusion as she looked around the kitchen.
"Well, Miss . . . I—" The man stepped forward, approaching Hae-Li.
Instinctively, Hae-Li stepped back. Even though she recognized the man, the fear hadn't completely left her face. The house was empty, and this man had suddenly appeared inside without telling her first.
What was he really after? Why had he been sneaking around like a thief? What was he looking for?