A gentle morning breeze drifted through the city, slipping in through the open window and filling the apartment with cool, fresh air.
Standing before the mirror, Rien folded the sleeves of his shirt and straightened his collar. He quietly examined his reflection for a moment before a faint smile crossed his face.
He turned away from the mirror and walked to the couch, sitting down calmly.
Just then—
His smartphone began to ring.
Rien glanced at the screen.
A calm smile appeared on his face as he answered the call and raised the phone to his ear.
"Good morning, Writer."
His voice was as composed as ever.
I smiled as I heard his voice.
"Good morning, Rien. It sounds like you're enjoying your time in South Korea... in this reality."
Leaning back in my chair, I continued typing across the glowing screen of my tablet.
Rien let out a quiet sigh.
"I'm simply doing what I should."
His answer was as calm as always.
I smiled.
"That's exactly why I called."
My fingers continued moving across the keyboard.
"I think it's time to add a little spice to this story."
Rien slowly stood and walked toward the window.
He quietly closed it before speaking again.
"I'm listening."
I glanced at the watch on my wrist before returning my attention to the tablet.
The words continued to appear one after another beneath my fingertips.
"I'm about to give this story a new direction."
I held the phone closer to my ear.
"You're no longer standing outside the Fourth Wall."
Rien turned toward the living room and stopped halfway.
"What do you mean, Writer?"
His voice remained perfectly calm.
A faint smile appeared on my face.
"You've had enough peace."
"It's time for you to face something... far more troublesome."
I paused for a moment.
"I'm going to merge this reality with another."
Silence lingered between us.
Rien heard footsteps outside the apartment.
His attention briefly shifted toward the front door before returning to the call.
"What exactly are you planning?"
I smiled.
"I call it... Reality Expansion."
"The method I used to let you break the Fourth Wall and enter this world has become obsolete."
"My existence is moving to a higher plane."
"And your world..."
I chuckled softly.
"...is about to become much larger."
"Have fun."
Before Rien could reply—
I ended the call.
Then I stretched my arms above my head with satisfaction.
---
Rien slowly lowered the phone.
The apartment fell silent.
Then—
BANG.
A heavy knock shook the front door.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
"Open the door..."
A man's rough voice echoed from the hallway.
Rien turned toward the bedroom.
Jin-Ah was still asleep beneath her blanket, completely unaware of the noise outside.
Without saying a word, Rien walked toward the entrance.
He looked into the small security monitor beside the door.
His expression didn't change.
Outside stood a man.
Or...
Something that had once been a man.
Blood streamed endlessly from his shattered nose.
One of his eyes had burst from its socket, hanging against his cheek by strands of flesh.
His lips and chin were drenched in fresh blood.
Between his broken teeth...
He slowly chewed on what looked disturbingly like human flesh.
Crunch.
Crunch.
Crunch.
The sound echoed through the tiny speaker.
Rien continued watching him in silence.
Then he quietly stepped backward.
He sat down on the couch.
Taking a slow, deep breath, he stared at the ceiling for several seconds.
Finally...
He stood once more.
From the corner beside the entrance, he picked up a wooden baseball bat.
His grip remained relaxed.
Without hesitation—
He unlocked the door.
The handle slowly turned.
The door creaked open.
Rien looked directly into the creature's ruined face.
"Yes?"
His voice was calm.
Almost courteous.
The creature raised its head.
Its remaining eye locked onto Rien.
Its tongue slowly slid across blood-covered lips.
It looked him up and down like a starving predator studying its prey.
Finally, it spoke.
"I'm... hungry."
Its voice was hoarse, wet, and unnaturally distorted.
Rien looked at it for a long moment.
Then he gave a small nod.
"I'm quite certain..."
He rested the baseball bat against his shoulder.
"...you don't want the tacos I just made."
The man lowered his gaze to his own body, a hungry smile spreading across his face as he took another step closer.
"I'm hungry..."
His voice was hoarse, and he repeated the words with unsettling hunger.
Rien glanced at him, then briefly looked back toward Jin-Ah, who was still sleeping peacefully inside the apartment.
Without a word, Rien stepped aside.
In one swift motion, he grabbed the man by the hair and yanked him backward, throwing him off balance.
The baseball bat swung through the air.
CRACK!
The impact echoed through the corridor.
The man was hurled onto the floor, motionless.
Rien quietly looked down at him for a moment before giving a slow nod.
"I suppose that's understandable."
A faint smile crossed his face.
He stepped back into the apartment, closed the door behind him, and calmly locked it.
A while later, Jin-Ah slowly woke up.
She rubbed her sleepy eyes before noticing Rien sitting quietly on the couch, a cup of coffee in his hand.
A lazy smile appeared on her face.
"Good morning, Eiffel Tower."
She let out a soft yawn as she stretched.
Rien looked at her and gave a small nod before taking another sip of his coffee.
"Good morning."
His voice remained calm.
"You should get dressed. Change out of those pajamas."
Jin-Ah blinked and looked at him with a puzzled expression.
"What's the hurry?"
Rien gently placed the coffee cup on the table.
His gaze remained fixed on her.
"We need to leave this place."
His tone was calm, yet unusually firm.
Before Jin-Ah could ask another question—
A bloodcurdling scream echoed from outside the apartment.
The sound tore through the building, followed by distant cries and frantic footsteps.
Jin-Ah's eyes widened.
She instinctively turned toward the front door.
"What... was that?"
Her voice was filled with confusion.
Rien met her gaze without the slightest change in expression.
"Go change your clothes."
His calm voice contrasted sharply with the chaos outside.
Jin-Ah hesitated for a brief moment.
Then, seeing the seriousness in his eyes, she silently nodded and hurried toward the bathroom.
The apartment fell silent once again.
Only the faint ticking of the wall clock remained...
...while somewhere beyond the door, the screams continued to echo through the building.