Chapter 19: Chapter 18 - Echoes of the Unknown

Orla:

The next morning, I found myself alone in Nara’s apartment. The city buzzed outside, but inside, it was just me and my thoughts. I had a lot of those lately, especially after yesterday’s unexpected encounter with Milo. I couldn’t seem to get him out of my head, and that made things even more complicated.

I paced around the living room, glancing at my phone every few minutes like it held the answers I was searching for. I hadn’t told Nara about Milo yet, and the weight of that secret was beginning to press down on me. I knew I needed to say something, but how?

When Nara finally came home from her early morning meeting, I was sitting on the couch, absently scrolling through random shows on her streaming service. “Hey,” I greeted her, trying to sound casual.

“Hey,” she replied, dropping her bag on the console table at the entry and kicking off her shoes. “How was your week at the stables?”

“It was… good. Intense, but good,” I said, fumbling with the remote, my mind still elsewhere. “I’m really getting back into this whole riding thing. It’s been a while since I’ve worked with horses.”

Nara smiled warmly. “I’m glad to hear that. It’s good to see you doing something you love again.”

“Yeah, it is,” I said, hesitating for a moment before continuing. “So, I met some interesting people yesterday.”

“Oh?” Nara plopped down on the sofa beside me. “Like who?”

“Well, you know, just some of the crew, the other trainers… and Milo,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant.

Nara raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a smirk. “Milo Lee? The K-pop star? He’s the one you’re training, right?”

“Yeah… that’s him,” I admitted, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. “What do you know about him?”

Nara leaned back, tapping her chin thoughtfully. “Well, he’s originally from California, moved here to become a trainee then ended up joining ADRIIFT on a reality show. He’s got serious training in taekwondo—that’s probably why his dancing is so sharp. Oh, and his voice? It’s amazing. Deep, rich—definitely one of the things that make the group stand out.”

I nodded, processing the information. “How old is he?”

“Pretty sure he’s 23,” Nara said, giving a small shrug. “Why?”

I hesitated for a moment, thinking about the age difference. 23? Not too far off from my own 26—still a little young, but not unreasonable. Before I could overthink it, I found myself blurting out, “Is he single?”

Nara’s eyes widened suddenly. “You sure are asking a lot about him. Is there something I should know?” she teased, giving me a playful nudge.

“No, no, it’s nothing like that,” I stammered, though I knew I wasn’t fooling her. “It’s just… I met him on the flight to Seoul. Before I even knew who he was.”

Her eyes widened. “Wait, what? You met him on the plane?”

“Yeah,” I admitted. “We sat next to each other, talked a bit. He was… really nice. I didn’t even realize he was famous until later.”

Nara stared at me for a long moment before saying, “No wonder you were so cagey about this the other day.” She chuckled softly before adding, “I get that you’re trying to move on from Logan and all, and honestly, you should. But falling for a K-pop star? That’s playing with fire, Orla.”

I rolled my eyes, feeling defensive. “I’m not falling for him, Nara. It’s not like I’m planning anything. I just… I don’t know. There’s just something about him that stands out.”

Nara sighed. “Of course he stands out. He’s an idol—the kind of guy who’s on posters in half the bedrooms of teenage girls. I get it. But their lives aren’t normal. They’ve got packed schedules, constant pressure, and fans who can get intense. If this goes anywhere, Orla, you’re just setting yourself up for heartbreak."

“I know,” I muttered, staring down at my hands. “It’s just… I felt like we clicked, you know. Plus he didn’t know anything about me. About Logan, about my past. It was… refreshing.”

Nara’s gaze softened further. “Right. But, Orla, you need to focus on yourself right now. I mean, If you’re looking for a distraction, some fun, then I could introduce you to someone. Someone normal, who won’t come with all the complications.”

I leaned back against the couch, letting out a heavy sigh. “It’s not like that though, really. I was just curious."

Nara raised an eyebrow, her smile turning playful again. “Curious, sure. Whatever you say.”

“I’m serious,” I said firmly. “Besides, like you said, his hectic schedule wouldn’t even allow it. And with work, I have to keep things pretty professional. It’s not like anything would go beyond some harmless flirting, if that.”

Nara laughed, shaking her head. “Well, you’d better keep it that way. Trust me, word spreads fast in this industry. And if Milo is seen getting too close to any woman—especially a foreigner—his fans will go wild. South Korean fandoms are intense. They’re not exactly known for being chill about their idols dating.”

I got what she was saying, and honestly, that’s why I’d made a point to keep some distance yesterday. Still, though, it had taken everything in me not to just come out and tell him I wanted to spend more time together. But maybe she was right—Milo was just a distraction. So I couldn’t let this turn into anything more than a strictly work-related relationship.

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***

The past week had flown by in a blur of intense training sessions. Milo and I spent most of our time at the stables, working on everything from basic riding to more advanced stunts. The days were long, and by the end of each one, I was too exhausted to think about anything other than getting some sleep.

Despite the hard work, there hadn’t been much time for anything beyond our professional relationship. Milo and I exchanged the occasional smile or glance, but there was never a moment to just sit and talk like we had on the flight. It was frustrating, but I knew this was what we had to do to keep things professional.

As we wrapped up another long day of training, Joon approached us, looking as serious as ever. “Good work today, both of you,” he said, nodding in approval. “I’ve got some news. Tomorrow, we’re moving on to location filming outside Dae Jang Geum Park. You’ll be riding through rough terrain, so be prepared. It’s going to be a tough shoot, but I’m confident you can handle it.”

I exchanged a quick glance with Milo, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. Filming on location was a big step—one that meant we were getting closer to the real thing.

“Great,” Milo said, his voice steady. “We’ll be ready.”

“Good,” Joon replied, his tone firm. “Get some rest tonight. You’re going to need it.”

The next morning, the crew set up early for the day’s shoot in the Eunwol Forest, not far from the actual historical set in Dae Jang Geum Park. Tall, ancient trees towered overhead, their dense canopies filtering the early sunlight into dappled patches of gold on the forest floor. The air was thick with the scent of earth and pine, and the only sounds were the rustling of leaves and the distant calls of birds.

The atmosphere on set was a mix of excitement and tension. Today was the first day of principal photography, and everyone was focused, knowing how important these first shots were to the entire production. Joon, the stunt coordinator, was already on his chestnut-colored Arab, Yongma, leading the director, Han Dong-hyuk, and director of photography, Jeong Sun-woo, down a narrow forest path. Dong-hyuk and Sun-woo rode in a small, all-terrain buggy driven by one of the set crew, the camera already up, capturing test shots as they scouted the trail.

“This path will work,” Joon said, pointing out specific spots along the way.

“Good,” Director Dong-hyuk added in English, his sharp eyes scanning the forested trail. “We’ll have Milo ride Raven through here for the chase scene. Sun-woo, you’ll follow in the buggy to get those close-up tracking shots.”

Sun-woo nodded, his eyes glued to the camera’s monitor, already visualizing the final footage. The buggy hummed along the uneven path, bouncing slightly as it moved over rocks and roots. Joon made note of potential hazards and where they could safely push the action, marking spots for stunt coordination.

Meanwhile, I stood back with Raven, watching as the crew prepared. My heart pounded in my chest, a mix of nerves and excitement. I glanced over at Milo, who looked calm and composed.

“You ready for this?” I asked.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” he said, flashing a grin. “Especially if you’re nearby.”

I let out a laugh and grinned. “You’ll eventually need to leave the training wheels behind, you know,” I teased.

“Nah, I like this riding just the way it is,” he shot back with a smirk that sent a rush of heat to my cheeks.

It had been this kind of playful back-and-forth between us for the last week, but no matter how much I enjoyed it, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I wanted something more.

Joon and the directors finished their scouting and returned to the group. He approached us, giving final instructions. “Alright, Milo, we’ll start with a few runs through the path. I want you to familiarize yourself with the terrain. Orla, keep a close eye on Raven. Make sure he’s comfortable with the course.”

“Got it, Joon,” I nodded.

Milo gave me a quick smile as he mounted Raven and settled into the saddle. “Ready when you are.”

We started the first run-through with me walking beside them, the forest eerily quiet except for the soft thud of Raven’s hooves on the leaf-strewn ground. The crew watched intently as Milo and I guided Raven through the path, with Dong-hyuk and Sun-woo following closely behind in a larger buggy, their camera crew capturing every movement to set the scene’s marks. Later that afternoon, we’d be getting into costume and shooting preliminary takes, but for now, this was about fine-tuning the choreography and ensuring the terrain felt natural for the action.

At first, everything seemed to be going smoothly. Raven’s gait was steady, and Milo handled him with ease. But as we reached the midpoint of the trail, something changed. Raven’s ears flicked back, and he tensed up, his steps becoming hesitant.

“Whoa, easy,” Milo murmured, trying to keep Raven calm, but the horse stopped abruptly, refusing to move forward.

Joon, following behind on Yongma, immediately stepped forward. “Orla, hop on with Milo. Let’s figure out what’s spooking him.”

I quickly mounted in front of Milo as he scooted back, feeling the tension in Raven’s body as I settled in. “Let’s try this again,” I said, my voice calm despite the worry gnawing at me.

We started down the path once more, but Raven was even more reluctant this time. He seemed to sense something that we couldn’t, and when we reached the same spot as before, he suddenly veered off the trail in a gallop, heading into a darker, more overgrown part of the forest. This was odd because the set location had been specifically manicured for the shoot—trees spaced appropriately, with all branches and clippings removed to prevent any potential injuries. Yet, here we were, moving into an area that seemed untouched and wild, completely out of place.

“This is weird,” Milo muttered. “Where did Joon go? Where did everybody go? This part of the forest wasn’t supposed to be this thick.”

“Something’s not right,” I muttered, gripping the reins tighter as I tried to steer Raven back on course. But it felt like the horse was being guided by some unseen force. His movements were erratic, his breathing quick and shallow.

“You think?” Milo's voice was edged with uneasy sarcasm. “We need to turn back, now.”

“I’m trying,” I replied, pulling at the reins, but Raven wouldn’t listen. The deeper we went into the forest, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. The light seemed to fade, and a thick mist began to rise from the ground, swirling around us like a living thing.

Suddenly, a low, haunting wail echoed through the trees, chilling me to the bone. Raven reared up violently, and before I could react, Milo was thrown from the saddle, hitting the ground hard. I barely managed to hold on as Raven bolted, his fear driving him deeper into the mist.

“Milo!” I shouted, panic rising in my chest, but there was no answer. The fog was so thick now that I could barely see a few feet ahead. Raven’s wild gallop was out of control, and I knew I had to stop him before something terrible happened.

But as I fought to regain control, the eerie atmosphere of the forest seemed to close in around us. The trees twisted into dark, looming shapes, and the mist became a suffocating blanket, swallowing everything in its path.

“Raven, stop!” I pleaded, pulling hard on the reins, but the horse was beyond reason. Just as I thought things couldn’t get worse, that strange, unearthly sound echoed through the mist again—a sound that sent a jolt of terror through me.

Raven bucked frantically, and I lost my grip. I felt myself falling, the ground rushing up to meet me. My head struck something hard, and the world spun wildly before everything went black.