A gentle breeze caressed the meadow, sending the lush green grass into a soothing dance. Tiny, vibrant flowers sprinkled the field, adding bursts of saphire and ruby to the sea of green. A tranquil stream meandered through the landscape, and beside it stood a charming cottage, nestled beneath the shade of a large plum tree. Two rabbits grazed contentedly on the grass nearby, their small noses twitching in time with their nibbling.

An unexpected, soft crack echoed through the air. The rabbits' ears perked up, and with lightning speed, they darted into their burrow beneath the tree. A moment later, a pair of skinny, bruised legs raced past, kicking up dirt in their haste.

As I ran through the meadow, I could feel the wind playing with my hair, and my smile stretched wide across my face, as if trying to compete with the horizon. My heart pounded in my chest, excitement surging through me like electricity. The artisanal-made carbon-fiber machete I clutched in my hand seemed to pull me forward, urging me to push my limits. I can feel the suplte texture of the grainular leather sheathe slightly rub against my sweaty palms as my arms swing.

Close on my heels, Baek chased after me. His movements were more precise and calculated than mine, a testament to his serious and brooding nature. Despite the intensity of our "game", I couldn't help but feel a warmth in my chest at the thought of him trying to keep up.

As I sprinted past the border where the meadow met the forest, the world around me transformed. The dense trees created a tangled mess of branches, and a thick layer of dead leaves blanketed the ground. Rays of sunlight filtered through the canopy above, casting an otherworldly glow on the forest floor.

I could hear Baek's footsteps grow nearer, and in a daring move, I leaped hard to the side, disappearing behind a thicket.

The rustling of shrubbery...

The snapping of twigs...

My giggles filled the air, bouncing off the furrowed oak trunks like a mischievous melody.

Baek pushed through the bushes in search of me. I held my breath, my heart pounding with anticipation. I watched his head of shaggy black hair swish from side to side from my hiding stop atop a thick, gnarled branch.

I wondered if he would find me.

He looked up at the trees, his eyes searching, and I felt a strange connection to him in that moment, a mix of exhilaration and warmth. I hoped he would find me.

A few branches swayed around me, but I remained hidden from Baek's view. His frustration became evident as he called out, "This isn't funny!"

My giggles betrayed my position, and Baek's head instantly snapped towards the sound. He crept in that direction.

"Dahyun!"

Silence.

"Dahyun! I'm not playing anymore! Give me back my knife!"

With one hand clamped around my mouth to stifle my laughter and the other clutching the blade tightly, I stayed squatting on the branch, planning my escape route. I tried to calm my breath as Baek slowly approached the trunk of the tree I was perched on.

I watched as Baek stared at the rough bark. He was fixated on something. His thin, child-like fingers gingerly scratched at the trunk's surface.

Shoot.

He looked up.

Our eyes met.

Run!!!

I bolted from my perch, sending lush leaves fluttering everywhere. Before he could react, I leaped from one branch to another, feeling a euphoric rush of energy from the pit of my stomach. My athleticsim better not fail me now!

Baek chased after me from the ground, his voice a mix of concern and annoyance.

"Wait! Stop, you'll get hurt!"

"You're too slow!" I taunted, my heart pounding as I continued to leap from branch to branch.

The thrill of the chase and the connection I felt to Baek in that moment was unlike anything I had ever experienced.

Baek's expression shifted to one of worry, and he expertly maneuvered through the mess of overgrown bushes and roots below. It wasn't long before the familiar sight of the stream and our run-down cottage came into view.

The tree branches no longer formed a connected canopy above the rocky waters of the stream-- and the few thin branches that were there were too battered by the stream's misty spray for my sneakers to grip onto. With my eyes on Baek below me, I miscalculated my tragectory and momentum. My foot dug into the moist branch and slipped.

Gravity yanked me down toward the rocky, shallow stream, and I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for impact.

Crack!

Water splashed.

I heard panting and the rush of the stream.

I opened my eyes to find myself in Baek's lanky arms. He grimaced in pain as he mustered the strength to carry me while balancing on one leg, knee-deep in water.

Baek set me down on the stream bank then crawled out of the water.

He tried standing, but fell, wincing in pain.

My eyes narrowed on his leg. His foot. I saw his twisted ankle.

"Oh my— are you okay—" I dropped the machete and helped him sit up.

Baek gasped. "I'm fine." He tried standing again, but couldn't take a single step without falling over.

"Just... help me get to the Gate," Baek groaned through sharp breaths.

"You're right. Of course. Papa can help us," I agreed, putting Baek's arm around my shoulder.

I heaved him up with all my strength.

"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry—"

"Dahyun. My knife."

With my free hand, I grabbed the machete and hooked it around his belt.

"Thank you," Baek said.

I stared at him with big, watery eyes. "Are you ready?"

Baek took a deep breath, gritting his teeth through the pain, and nodded. Together, we made our way back into the forest, away from the warm cottage and stream.

We trudged through the thickets, and soon the ever-imposing, never-ending wall loomed hundreds of meters over us, a cold and stark steel structure that seemed to stretch into the sky. No birds or deer ever got near it, as if the barrier was an ugly scar carved into my paradise. Even the tenacious and audacious oak trees seemed to refuse to grow within 10 meters of the edge.

I've explored every centimeter the wall ever since I could walk. But it didn't matter that I had memorized its every bolt or seam, the wall would always be foreign and eerie to me. The vibrant sea of emerald grass which cradled the quaint cottage that I called my home within its verdant embrace seemed like a completely different world.

Baek and I limped out the forest and into the clearing. The Gate loomed in front of us, an invitation and a warning all at once. Baek leaned on me for support as we approached the grand, mysterious edifice. The tall, black-iron bars stretched upwards like the fingers of an ancient, slumbering beast, their intricate Victorian design casting jagged shadows on the ground. We were dwarfed by their magnitude, feeling both drawn in and held at bay by their imposing presence.

I stopped a few meters short of the Gate, scared to move closer. Beyond it, there was nothing—just a void of utter darkness.

Baek and I stared, silent.

Suddenly, a soft click echoed through the air, and the Gate lazily creaked ajar as if releasing a long-held breath.

Baek reassured me. "It's okay. I can make it from here."

I nodded, slowly taking his arm off my shoulder. He balanced himself, then limped toward the Gate.

"Tell Papa that it wasn't my fault," I said, watching him.

Leaning on the Gate's bars, Baek smiled back at me. "Alright."

He turned to leave, but I called out, "Baek!"

He stopped. "What?"

"I... I'm sorry," I whispered.

Baek's face softened. "It's going to be okay. Papa always takes care of us, right?"

I nodded in agreement. With a final glance, Baek disappeared into the darkness beyond and the Gate slammed shut.