Chapter 1: <Prologue, SAT, the subway, and the time traveler>

Strange place. Strange smell. Strange light.

And strangers.

Loud noises were everywhere. Why am I standing here? My legs gave out and I felt like throwing up. I tried to stand up, but I couldn’t.

Then someone offered me a hand. This pale and slim hand was covered with scars.

I looked up.

“…”

It was such a short moment, but to me, it felt like forever.

He was glowing like a candle in the dark.

Thinking back, perhaps my fate was sealed the moment I took his hand.

***

A piercing scream cut through the air.

It was from a familiar voice.

I felt confused and sleepy, but I managed to remember whose voice it was.

Yes. It was my classmate Mihyun’s voice.

We were assigned to the same examination building, so we would meet at the station in the morning and go together.

I heard the scream again.

“No! Bina!”

Gasp!

I finally woke up from the nightmare. I felt dazed and confused.

I tried to blink a few times. My eyes were dry.

The ceiling was white. I sit up. My arms and legs were wrapped in a wet sheet. My whole body was damp.

Oh! It was such a horrible nightmare. I didn’t remember the details.

I felt relieved. I was starting to feel better when I remembered something important.

I said the words out loud, “That right! SAT!”

I stood up quickly. Today was the SAT!

What time was it? I was sure I set up my alarm. Did I sleep so deeply I didn’t hear it? I can’t believe it! It can’t be!

Suddenly, my mind went blank. I noticed my surroundings.

“Where… am I?”

No one answered.

I should have been at my old home in my tiny shabby room, yet here I was.

I was in a huge room on a giant lacy bed.

What’s this? What’s happening? A, am I dreaming?

I looked down. Thankfully, I was still wearing my own clothes. I caressed my arm and face. They all felt normal.

Then this wasn’t a dream?

I thought about pinching myself, but I shook my head instead. I hated pain.

I looked around again. The furniture looked antique and expensive. I finally got out of the bed carefully. The carpet felt like smooth silk.

I murmured to myself, “Where am I?”

Again, no one answered. It appeared that I was alone.

I studied the room.

The furniture looked so fancy, I was afraid to touch them.

I pinched myself just to make sure. It hurt, but I could think more clearly.

“Why can’t I wake up?”

Should I continue pinching myself until I woke up? No way.

When I looked around, I found something familiar.

“Oh, my coat!”

I ran towards it and grabbed my winter coat. I felt relieved.

I started wearing my coat slowly. It felt warm. Having something familiar made me ease up a bit.

When I looked around again, I noticed a window. I walked towards it.

The scenery I saw shocked me.

“What… what is this?!”

A beautiful forest. It looked like a green ocean.

I rubbed my eyes, but what I saw was real. I wasn’t hallucinating. It looked so surreal that it looked like a computer graphic.

There was no way this was Korea. I had never heard of such a forest in my country. There were mountains near DMZ, but not a flat land of trees like this.

There where certainly no castle like this in Korea!

Then suddenly, I remembered.

That forest.

Yes, that forest…!

I was lost in that forest.

I gasped as I remembered. I was wearing the same clothes while I was running through that forest.

What’s happening? Where did this memory come from?

I tried to focus.

‘Yes, SAT! I was on my way to write my SAT…! And…?”

Suddenly, my memories flashed through me like a waterfall.

***

I got into the subway to get to the SAT building.

I didn’t get to sleep very well the night before because I felt so nervous. I was tired both mentally and physically, but I got up and washed myself anyway. I ate my breakfast and left the house. I thought about taking the bus or a cab, but I was worried about the rush hour, so I chose the subway.

Was that the problem?

However, it was a logical decision. It wasn’t a mistake.

When I got to the station, I stood behind the yellow line. As the subway arrived, the wind blew strongly.

The light blinded me, giving me a sharp headache.

I felt dizzy.

I lost my balance.

People screamed.

Among them was Mihyun’s voice.

That was as far as I could remember.

***

“Did I get hit by the subway?!”

I screamed. Again, no one answered.

I was in a panic, but I realized something odd.

Something’s not right.

If I did get hit by the subway, then I would have died.

But…

“I’m still alive?”

Also, I was in a strange place.

I got hit by the subway, but I was still alive, and I arrived at some European castle. How? It didn’t make sense.

Was there a gate on the subway floor that led to a different world?

“Haha.” I laughed dryly. I went back to the bed and sat down.

What is happening here?

I just couldn’t understand. My memories were all mixed up. I tried to organize them, but it was unsuccessful.

Suddenly, I remembered one more thing.

That’s right. After getting hit by the subway, I first woke up in the forest.

Forest. I was lost in the forest. I was wearing the same clothes I had right now.

When I focused enough, I started to remember clearly.