The Shadow at the Cliff

After a long journey, I arrived at the coastal cliffs that winter. The cool breeze brushed against my cheeks, and the sound of crashing waves echoed down to the bottom, announcing my arrival. The rocks were irregular, and the ground was sharp, requiring caution with every step. The moment my toes brushed the still water, it seeped coldly in. Here, I tried not to waver, sensing ancient mysteries.

A scent brushed against my nose. Just when I thought the wind had stopped, I felt temptation from a faint flickering light in the distance. Along with the sound of flowing water below, strangely, the sound of rising water above echoed in my ears. It was as if someone were whispering from somewhere, a warning that I was not alone in this serene place.

As I moved a few steps forward, a black shadow was moving alone in front of me. I focused on it, relying on the moonlight. Whatever it was, the shadow did not respond to my movements. As its shape became more defined and reached out, I quickly stepped back. However, the echoes of the sea reverberated, gradually pressing in on me. A cold and eerie touch brushed past my arm. I struggled but could not escape.

In the final moment, I turned and ran backward from the cliff with all my might. I slipped but thankfully found an escape. With the high sound of the sea current and water droplets hitting my cheeks, my vision blurred for a moment, but I focused on gripping the rope with all my strength to climb up.

Sitting on the structure, I turned on my flashlight and saw my trembling self reflected on the screen. However, in one corner of the screen, a hand reaching out from the water was still identical to mine. I was staring at something that made me want to go insane in the tranquil silence of the sea. There was inexplicable evidence.