Chapter 4

Since long ago, whenever I felt frustrated or had ominous premonitions, I would visit the temple in the mountains.

There was a monk there who, in his younger days, used to roam around exorcising evil spirits.

Ever since a Taoist priest told me as a child that I had divine abilities, I would occasionally visit the monk to chat about this and that.

The monk recognized my abilities and taught me many things.

In my current situation, I felt like the monk would surely have some advice for me.

—

Breathlessly, I climbed the steep mountain path and finally arrived at the temple.

The scent of incense, which I hadn’t smelled in a long time, tickled my nose.

The temple yard was quiet, with only warm sunlight peacefully pouring down.

I carefully opened the door as I headed toward the Main Hall.

—

The monk was sitting there with a serene expression.

As if he had heard my footsteps, he slowly opened his eyes and spoke.

“You’ve come.”

His voice was low but strangely resonant.

I cautiously brought up the story I had been suppressing in my heart.

I told him about the dead rats scattered in the yard, the horrifying scene, and the chilling feeling that the old man’s prophecy might have come true.

—

The monk listened quietly without saying a word.

As I finished speaking, he slowly nodded and closed his eyes.

“The more your heart is troubled, the more you fail to see what you must see.”

His words were brief, but they struck a chord deep within me.

I tilted my head, pondering his words.

Then, the strange events I had experienced a few days ago suddenly flashed through my mind.

—

The night my younger sister disappeared, the encounter with the vengeful spirit, and the eerie words the spirit spat out while laughing at me.

I told the monk in detail about what had happened that day.

—

The monk’s face hardened as he listened.

With a startled expression, he clenched his lips and remained silent for a while.

“Fox Valley…”

The monk murmured softly.

The word sounded unfamiliar and chilling.

I noticed the monk’s gaze had changed, becoming unusually intense.

—

Then, the monk grabbed my hands and spoke urgently.

“It seems the time has come for you to make a decision.

Go to your father and ask him about Fox Valley.

If he shows even the slightest hint of suspicion, don’t hesitate to come back to me.”

The monk’s serious expression made my heart sink.

—

‘Fox Valley.’

The name felt eerily ominous.

I vaguely remembered hearing about it from my father when I was young, but he always brushed it off, saying it was nothing and changing the subject.

—

“Monk, what exactly is Fox Valley…?”

I asked in a trembling voice, but the monk firmly pressed his lips together and shook his head.

“For now, hearing it from your father is the priority.”

The monk’s resolute tone left no room for further questions, so I bowed and left the temple.

—

Everything felt cold as I descended the mountain path.

Even the sunlight filtering through the leaves felt eerie.

My mind was filled with the monk’s grave expression and the name ‘Fox Valley.’

—

When I arrived home, the chickens were peacefully pecking at feed in one corner of the yard.

The spot where the dead rats had been was now cleanly cleared.

Everything seemed peaceful again, but a storm was raging inside my heart.

—

‘Fox Valley… What on earth happened there?’

I let out a deep sigh and knocked on my father’s door.

“Come in.”

I slowly opened the door and entered the room.

My father was sitting at his desk as usual, going through the accounts.

—

“Father, do you… know anything about Fox Valley?”

Before I could even finish my question, my father’s hand froze.

The hand holding the ledger seemed to tremble slightly.

When he looked up, his face was stiff and unyielding.

—

“Fox Valley? There’s no need to know about such a place.

Stop talking nonsense and go do your work.”

My father’s voice was colder and harsher than usual.

His abrupt tone made me feel like I couldn’t breathe for a moment.

—

But my father’s stubborn attitude only fueled my curiosity.

He was always someone who listened to his children, so why was he reacting so sharply now?

It was clear he was desperately hiding something.

I looked straight into his eyes and spoke again.

—

“Father, do you really not know anything? The monk said…”

But before I could finish, my father cut me off with a sharp shout.

“Enough! I told you to leave!”

He waved his hand dismissively, practically shooing me out of the room.

I had no choice but to leave, my hands trembling as I closed the door.

—

I sat on the porch, lost in deep thought.

My father’s cold face and resolute voice lingered in my mind.

‘What is Fox Valley that he’s so desperate to hide?’

Sinister imaginations began to spiral in my mind.

—

“Older sister, are you busy?”

I turned my head to see my younger sister had quietly approached me.

Her big, sparkling eyes and bright smile made her look like a little puppy, so I forced a smile and replied.

“No, not really.”

As soon as I answered, she grinned and clung to my arm.

—

“Great! Then… play with me!”

My sister’s innocent laughter always had a way of lightening the darkness in my heart.

It felt like tiny flower petals scattering in the wind.

—

“Older sister, can we go see the fireflies we saw last time?

They’re supposed to be really pretty at night!”

My sister fiddled with the hem of my clothes, her expression pleading.

Her adorable demeanor softened my troubled heart bit by bit.

—

‘Alright, even if it’s just for a little while, I’ll forget everything and spend time with my sister.’

“That should be fine.”

He nodded and said.

“Alright. Let’s head to the riverside then.”

Under the darkening evening sky, I held my sister’s hand and headed towards the riverside. The crimson sunset gently painted the sky and the river. The sound of crickets from the grass was warmly comforting. The river breeze blew softly, cooling my stifled heart.

My sister, excited, walked a step ahead but still tightly held my hand. Before the sun completely set, small flickering lights began to appear among the grass.

“Sister! Fireflies!”

My sister pointed at the grass with her finger and smiled brightly. The small fireflies flying around as if dancing were truly beautiful. Sitting side by side with my sister, we watched the lights.

For a brief moment, it felt like I could forget all my worries. Every time my sister softly laughed beside me, my heart seemed to grow a bit more peaceful.

My sister spread her arms and laughed brightly. Running around the riverside chasing fireflies, she looked utterly adorable, like a little puppy. She reached out to catch a firefly, but it flew away quickly, making her pout.

“Almost got it…!”

Her jumping around in disappointment made me laugh unintentionally. Suddenly, she clung to my arm.

“Sister, carry me!”

Her childish voice melted my heart. Wrapping my arms around her, her small, warm body nestled into my embrace.

“That tickles, sis.”

As I whispered with a laugh, she mischieviously buried her face in my neck.

“Hehe… I love you, sister.”

The sensation of her small lips touching and leaving my neck made my heart skip a beat. My face felt strangely hot.

As the darkness deepened, the fireflies’ light became even more vivid. The light reflected on the river was as beautiful as stars in the night sky. My sister, nestled in my arms, gazed at the fireflies, lost in thought. In this peaceful moment, I could momentarily forget my anxieties and worries.

But deep down, an inexplicable fear washed over me like a wave.

‘How long will this happiness last…?’

Returning home, I heard my father and second brother’s voices from one side of the yard.

“Last night’s events were unusual, so keep a close watch on the yard tonight.”

My father’s low, firm voice was filled with tension.

“Yes, Father.”

My second brother answered shortly, his gaze fixed on the ground. He seemed more withdrawn than usual.

Holding my sister’s hand, I quietly entered my room. As I closed the door, my sister perked up her ears and asked.

“Sister, what are Dad and brother talking about?”

I forced a smile and answered casually.

“It’s nothing. Just… maybe they’re worried about tigers appearing at night.”

But my heart grew heavier. My father’s cold expression when he talked about Fox Valley lingered in my mind. Hugging my sister, I closed my eyes and tried to push away the ominous thoughts. Slowly, my consciousness faded, and I fell asleep.

A loud noise woke me up. I forced my groggy eyes open. A suffocating sense of anxiety hung thicker than last night.

The dawn light seeped through the cracks in the wooden door, but even that light felt cold. Carefully opening the door and muffling my footsteps, I stepped out into the yard.

A pungent, foul smell hit my nose. Turning my gaze, I saw a cat lying sprawled out, its fur torn and bloodstains vivid. Its empty eye sockets and grotesquely exposed insides were horrifying.

The old man’s prophecy echoed in my ears.

‘Rats, cats… next is…?’

“Sister… what’s happening…?”

Startled by the voice behind me, I turned around. My sister, rubbing her sleepy eyes, looked at me with a worried face. I quickly hugged her and directed her gaze away.

“It’s nothing, sis. Just… a bit noisy for a moment.”

But my trembling voice couldn’t hide my lie. My sister grabbed my clothes and tried to look at the ground, but I held her head tighter.

Then, I locked eyes with my second brother, who was pacing across the yard. His pale face alternated between looking at me and my sister, and then, as if he had seen a ghost, he ran towards the main house in shock.

Shortly after, the house was filled with my father’s booming voice.

“You brat, are you trying to scare your sister with nonsense!”

My father’s anger was more intense than ever.

“No matter how much you dislike your sister, she’s still your flesh and blood!”

His scolding voice echoed to my bones. Suddenly, I wondered why my father was so protective of my sister.

‘Why is Father so protective of her…?’