The next morning, all the students gathered once again.
The atmosphere felt different.
Heavier.
More serious.
Mr. Stone stepped forward and looked at everyone carefully.
"Before I assign your next mission," he said,
"I will divide your groups."
Everyone became alert.
"Daniel and Mary — one team."
Daniel blinked for a second.
Mary stood calmly beside him.
"Mary can attack from a distance," Mr. Stone continued,
"And Daniel, you will handle close combat."
Daniel quietly nodded—
But inside his mind…
He was already overthinking.
I'm teamed up with Mary…
David noticed his expression instantly.
A small smile appeared on his face.
He leaned slightly and whispered,
"Thinking too much already?"
Daniel gave him a sharp look.
"Shut up."
David chuckled softly.
Mr. Stone's voice cut through the moment.
"David and Noah — second team."
"David, you support from range. Noah, you handle close combat."
They both nodded.
Mr. Stone continued,
"Daniel, Mary — your mission is different."
"Some children from Nightfall have gone missing."
"They went on missions… and never returned."
Mary's expression turned serious.
"You are NOT to engage in unnecessary combat," Mr. Stone said firmly.
"Your objective is to investigate… and rescue them."
Daniel nodded.
"We understand."
Then Mr. Stone turned.
"David, No — your mission is a city where people are dying at night."
"There is fear everywhere."
"Find the cause… and eliminate it."
David smirked slightly.
"Finally, a real mission."
Daniel quickly said,
"Sir, we can also—"
"No."
Mr. Stone interrupted him immediately.
"Your mission is rescue. Not combat."
"Now go."
On the Way
Daniel and Mary began their journey.
They asked people along the way, trying to gather information.
After some time, they finally found the location—
An isolated place.
Almost forgotten.
As they walked—
Suddenly, Daniel stopped.
"…Did you feel something?"
Mary looked at him.
"No. What?"
Daniel hesitated.
"…Nothing."
Earlier, they had bumped into a man.
He looked normal.
But for a brief moment—
Daniel had felt a strong presence.
Something… unnatural.
He shook his head.
"Let's keep moving."
(Unaware that the man was being controlled by someone far more dangerous…)
By evening, they reached their destination.
And both of them froze.
The entire place was empty.
No people.
No sound.
Just silence.
"…This is not normal," Mary whispered.
They searched carefully.
Every house.
Every path.
Nothing.
It wasn't like people had been attacked.
It was like—
They had simply disappeared.
While searching deeper—
They found something strange.
A large mirror.
Standing alone.
"…That shouldn't be here," Daniel said.
Mary stepped closer.
Suddenly—
A small rat ran past her feet.
Mary got startled and stepped back—
Her hand touched the mirror—
And went through it.
Both of them froze.
"…That's not possible."
This was no ordinary mirror.
Slowly, they stepped inside.
And what they saw—
Shocked them completely.
Dozens of people.
Standing still.
Not moving.
Not speaking.
Controlled.
"…They're all trapped…" Mary whispered.
Then—
A voice echoed.
"So… you finally arrived."
A terrifying ghost appeared before them.
Its form was dark and unstable.
"If you try to fight me…" it said coldly,
"I will kill every single one of them."
Daniel clenched his fists.
Mary raised her bow slightly—
But before they could decide—
The ghost moved.
And in an instant—
The trapped people collapsed.
Mary's eyes widened.
"…No…"
Another figure appeared beside the ghost.
"We needed one hundred," it said.
"But we only have ninety-eight."
The ghost slowly looked at Daniel and Mary.
"These two… will complete it."
It smiled.
"Tell me… who wants to die first?"
The Battle
Daniel didn't wait.
He rushed forward.
Mary supported him from behind, firing arrows.
But the ghost moved too fast.
Every attack—
Missed.
"Mary! Take the smaller one!" Daniel shouted.
"I'll handle this!"
Mary nodded and attacked—
But she couldn't overpower it.
She kept getting pushed back.
Injured.
Daniel saw this—
And his focus broke.
In that moment—
The larger ghost attacked him.
Both of them—
Fell.
Darkness.
Captured
When they woke up—
They were tied.
Unable to move.
The ghost stood before them.
"…Pathetic."
Daniel struggled.
With effort—
He managed to cut the bindings.
He fell to the ground—
And freed Mary.
But Mary was badly hurt.
"I… can't fight…"
Daniel stood alone.
"…Then I will."
He charged again—
But he was too weak.
The ghost overpowered him easily.
The Turning Point
Just as the ghost was about to finish them—
A voice echoed.
"That's enough."
Both of them looked up.
A figure stepped forward.
Bill Williams.
Calm.
Powerful.
The ghost turned toward him—
But it was already too late.
Del moved.
Fast.
Precise.
Within moments—
The ghost was destroyed.
Silence filled the place.
Bill picked up Daniel and Mary.
Both unconscious.
Without a word—
He carried them away.
Back to the medical room.
Where their next awakening—
Would bring even more questions.