My greatest fear came true when I saw a picture of my missing mother, and she was exactly the same person I had seen.
"What is this? What's happening?"
At that moment, I didn't understand what was going on. Thoughts clashed in my mind. The hatred and resentment I had harbored toward her since birth disappeared in an instant. I felt terror and regret for losing her. Tears poured from my eyes without warning, and for the first time, I felt something unfamiliar. Various questions rushed into my mind:
"What is happening?"
"This is a lie, right?"
"It must be a dream, definitely a dream."
"Wake up… Wake up!"
I kept saying these words while slapping myself, trying to escape reality.
"Damn it, what is this?"
And in a moment of despair, I remembered something—the reason I believed my mother had abandoned me with my father was because of my relatives. They were the ones who told me everything about them.
Were they lying? Or did they not know either?
Or maybe… they didn't want me to know?
"I have to find out now!"
I rushed out without thinking, heading straight for the station. But when I arrived, no one was there.
"It's midnight… What am I thinking? Am I an idiot?"
I spent some time there, lost in thought. Should I go back and leave early in the morning instead?
No… I couldn't. I had to know the truth.
And then, a familiar voice called me from behind.
"Isn't that Jin Hyuk? What are you doing here alone at this late hour?"
That voice—it was my store manager, Kim Hyun. A kind man who gave me a job right after I moved to Seoul. I considered him like an older brother.
Without warning, I lunged at him, shocking him completely.
"Hyung, can you do me a favor? Take me to Incheon. Right now, please!"
Despite his surprise, he smiled and told me to get in the car. He kept asking what had happened, and I told him everything. I didn't hold anything back because I trusted him like a brother.
But his reaction caught me off guard. He seemed strangely indifferent. Or rather, like he already knew.
For a moment, I thought he might have known before I even told him. But what dismissed all my doubts was his response:
"So, you're from Busan? I didn't know that before."
… Hah.
What was I thinking? Today must have messed with my head.
"Don't worry, Jin Hyuk. Your brother is always here for you. If you ever need help, don't hesitate to ask. Your brother will turn the world upside down for you."
I smiled for a moment, grateful to have someone as great as him by my side. But I didn't want to drag him into my personal problems, so I stayed silent and continued my search for the truth.
---
[An hour later]
I finally arrived in my hometown, Incheon—the place where I had grown up until I came of age.
I said goodbye to my brother and ran towards my grandfather's house. On the way, I noticed something strange. Many things had changed, so much that the place looked completely different.
But I didn't dwell on it and kept running, my goal in sight.
Before long, I reached the house and felt an eerie sensation. The place was unsettlingly quiet, and the houses—though once full of life—now seemed abandoned.
"What's happening here?"
"…Where is everyon—"
Before I could finish my sentence, a metallic object struck my head. My vision blurred, and I began losing consciousness. The last thing I heard was a voice saying:
"You shouldn't have come back."
---
I woke up some time later in a strange factory, surrounded by a group of bizarre individuals wearing demon-like masks. They carried various weapons.
Where am I? Who are these people? What should I do?
Amid my shock, one of them approached and spoke:
"It's been a long time."
"Phantom boy."
That voice—it sounded familiar.
He stepped forward and removed his mask.
I recognized him immediately. It was Baek Hwan, someone I had gone to high school with. He used to bully people, but I had put an end to that once.
"I never thought the person we were asked to kidnap was the Phantom Boy."
"Don't you think this is fate?"
Someone asked them to kidnap me? That meant someone was behind all this. And it seemed connected to the strange feeling I had earlier.
"Since you're here, let's have some fun before we hand you over."
"I want to see how much you can endure."
Those were the last words I heard before they started beating me.
I screamed. But it was useless.
I endured. And endured. And endured.
Nothing helped.
---
[Some time later]
Baek Hwan finally stopped, clicking his tongue.
"Tch. This isn't fun. I'm going outside for a bit. You, follow me."
"Damn, why is he so stubborn?"
"Is stubbornness hereditary in his family?"
"Even his sister was as stubborn as him."
…What?
At that moment, Baek Hwan's words sent a chill down my spine.
"My sister?"
My little sister, Park Soo Young, was the only family member I truly cared about.
As soon as her innocent, beautiful face flashed through my mind, I broke free, snapping the rope that bound me.
And then, I uttered one word:
"Come at me."
---
[Some time later]
Outside the factory, Baek Hwan and his group were making a call.
After hanging up, one of them asked why he had called Jin Hyuk Phantom Boy.
Baek Hwan answered:
"Back in high school, I fought that bastard and lost."
"I still remember that day because it was the first time I ever felt true fear. For the first time, I was in a fight where I couldn't land a single hit. His insane speed and ghostly presence made me give him that nickname."
"But… that fear I felt before… It's nothing compared to now."
"And that's because of him."
"Him?"
"Don't bother asking. Let's just get back inside."
Baek Hwan opened the factory door—only to be met with a terrifying sight.
His men were sprawled on the ground, blood everywhere. The air reeked of danger.
Terror and panic gripped him.
And as questions flooded his mind, he screamed at the top of his lungs:
"HE'S BACK!"
"PHANTOM BOY IS BACK!"
Then, he turned around—only to find Jin Hyuk standing there, covered in blood from head to toe.
Before he could react, Jin Hyuk struck him down with a single blow.
Then, in his hysteria, Jin Hyuk approached Baek Hwan, placed a hand on his cheek, and whispered:
"You will answer all my questions… or you will die. What do you say, Baek Hwan?"
Terrified, Baek Hwan had no choice but to kneel in submission.
---
[Some time later]
I finally had my answers.
According to Baek Hwan, someone had hired their boss to kidnap me for unknown reasons, and they did it for the money.
As for my sister—his boss had taken her after she had attacked him.
Not much time had passed since then.
I could still save her.
I grabbed Baek Hwan by the throat.
"Take me to your boss."
Just as we were about to leave, a man suddenly appeared with dozens of people surrounding the place.
He introduced himself:
"Hello, I'm Number Ten, Lee Seok Jin."
"It's a pleasure to meet you. And an even greater pleasure to bid you farewell… because you're all going to die."
Baek Hwan collapsed in fear.
"This man… is strong," he whispered.
But unlike him, I stepped forward, faced my enemy, and said:
"Oi."
"Don't stand in my way unless you want to die."