Chapter 19: Whispers of the River

The snow crunched beneath Jun's boots as he walked through the quiet village, his breath visible in the cold air. His heart pounded, his chest tight, his fists clenched. They're lying… they're hiding something…

He looked back at Mei's house, the windows dark, the door closed, the silence heavy. Her parents' words echoed in his mind, their faces pale, their voices trembling. "She's gone… she's never coming back…"

His fists tightened, his shoulders shaking. I don't believe it… I won't believe it… He remembered her smile, her touch, her voice. He remembered her standing on the Moon Bridge, her eyes warm, her presence real.

She was there… she saved me… I know she did…

He walked through the village, his eyes searching, his heart aching. He went to the market, his gaze scanning the faces, his voice soft. "Have you seen Mei…? Do you know where she is…?"

The people looked at him, their faces pale, their eyes avoiding his. They turned away, their shoulders tense, their voices low. "No… we haven't seen her… not for a long time…"

Jun's chest tightened, his vision blurring. Why won't anyone tell me the truth…? He went to the old temple, his steps heavy, his voice trembling. "Priest… do you know where Mei went…? She was on the Moon Bridge… she saved me… I just… want to see her…"

The old priest looked at him, his face pale, his eyes wide. His hands shook, his shoulders heavy, his voice cracking. "Jun… let her go… don't go looking for her…" His eyes were hollow, his voice trembling. "The bridge… the river… they are cursed… haunted by shadows…"

Jun's heart pounded, his chest tight. Cursed…? Haunted…? He looked up at the priest, his eyes wide, his voice shaking. "Why…? What happened…? Why is it cursed…?"

The priest's face went rigid, his body trembling. He looked away, his voice low. "It is an old story… a dark story… one that is better left forgotten…" His shoulders were heavy, his words cold. "If you value your life… forget about her… let the shadows keep their secrets…"

Jun's body went rigid, his heart pounding, his fists clenched. Shadows… secrets… His vision blurred, his voice cracking. "But… she saved me… she was real… she was there… I can't forget her…"

The priest's shoulders shook, his face twisting, his voice trembling. "Then… you are a fool… a foolish child chasing a shadow…" He turned away, his steps heavy, his voice low. "Leave before it's too late… before the river takes you too…"

Jun watched him leave, his body cold, his chest tight. His fists clenched, his eyes burning. A shadow…? Mei… is just a shadow…?

His breath caught, his vision spinning, his heart aching. No… that's not true… she was real… she held my hand… she saved me…

He ran from the temple, his steps loud, his breath shallow. He ran to the Moon Bridge, his heart pounding, his vision blurred.

The bridge stood silent, covered in snow, the river below frozen and still. The wind howled softly, the shadows dancing beneath the ice.

Jun stood on the bridge, his tiny hands gripping the railing, his breath visible in the cold air. His shoulders shook, his eyes burning, his heart aching. "Mei… where did you go…?" His voice was small, a whisper swallowed by the wind.

He looked down at the river, his eyes wide, his chest tight. The ice was clear, cold and smooth, the shadows moving beneath the surface. They twisted and turned, their shapes shifting, their whispers echoing.

Jun's heart stopped, his breath frozen, his body cold. The shadows took shape, their forms familiar, their faces pale. He saw her face—gentle and warm, her eyes sad, her lips moving. She was calling his name, her voice soft, her hands reaching out.

His body went rigid, his vision blurring, his chest tight. "Mei…? Is that… you…?" His voice was a whisper, his fingers trembling. "Are you… down there…? Are you… trapped…?"

The shadows moved, her face fading, her form twisting, her voice echoing. "Jun… don't look for me… don't call my name… or the river will take you too…"

His chest tightened, his eyes wide, his breath shallow. "What…? What do you mean…? Why…? Why can't I…?" His voice cracked, his shoulders shaking. "Why can't I… find you…? Why… can't you… come back…?"

The shadows danced, her face fading, her eyes hollow, her voice cold. "Because… I'm already gone… because… I don't belong… because… the river… won't let me go…"

Jun's heart stopped, his body cold, his vision spinning. "No… that's not true… you promised… you said you wouldn't leave me… you promised… you'd stay…" His fists clenched, his tears falling. "I… I'll find a way… I'll save you… I promise…"

The shadows twisted, her face disappearing, her voice echoing. "No… don't… don't come looking for me… or you'll be lost too…"

Jun's body went cold, his breath shallow, his vision blurred. Lost…? But… how…? Why…? His chest tightened, his fingers trembling, his heart aching.

The shadows sank beneath the ice, the river going still, the whispers fading. The world was silent, the snow falling, the sky gray.

Jun stood on the bridge, his body cold, his chest tight, his heart aching. His fists clenched, his shoulders shaking, his vision blurred. I won't forget… I'll find you… no matter what it takes…

The wind howled softly, the shadows whispering beneath the ice. "A promise kept… a love forgotten… a memory erased… a heart to restore…"

Jun turned away from the bridge, his steps heavy, his shoulders shaking. No matter what it takes… I'll bring you back… Mei…

The snow continued to fall, the world quiet, the shadows dancing. The river whispered, cold and cruel, echoing his words. "A promise kept… a heart to restore…"