# My Daughter's Shadow
**Synopsis:**
Kang Jin-woo thought the hardest part of being a single father was dealing with his five-year-old daughter Sora's tantrums. He was wrong. When a mysterious night job in a deserted office building starts to cover their expenses, he discovers that ghosts aren't just bedtime stories, and some shadows follow you home... especially when your sweet daughter is the one attracting them.
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# Chapter One
"Daddy, will the monster under the bed eat my toes if I stick them out?"
Sora's soft voice, laced with childish drowsiness, pierced the comfortable silence of their small apartment, an apartment barely large enough for their modest dreams in an equally modest neighborhood. Kang Jin-woo, who was adjusting the pink, star-dotted blanket around his daughter's thin shoulders, froze for a moment, feeling a sudden chill run down his spine despite the room's warmth. A tired, yet affectionate, smile touched his lips. Good grief, where did this child get these ideas? Was it remnants of the ghost stories the old neighbor lady told, or from her own fertile imagination that seemed to grow faster than her small body?
"No, sweetie," he said in as calm and reassuring a voice as possible, gently running his hand over her head of silky blonde hair, inhaling the faint, strawberry-like scent of baby shampoo. "There are no monsters under the bed. And if there were one, I'd kick it so hard it would fly to Mars. I'd make it regret the day it ever thought about getting close to my princess."
Sora giggled, a laugh like the chime of tiny bells, pure and clear, capable of melting the Arctic ice, or at least, the ice around her worried father's heart. "But you're scared of cockroaches, Daddy. I saw you jump on the chair last week!"
"That... that's completely different," Jin-woo mumbled, feeling a faint prickle of embarrassment color his cheeks. "Cockroaches are real and disgusting and move unpredictably fast. Monsters are just imagination... stories we make up to scare ourselves."
"But Mrs. Ahn downstairs says she hears strange noises at night," Sora insisted, her large brown eyes, inherited from her mother, staring up at him with complete seriousness, all trace of sleepiness gone now. "She says it's the ghost of the old tenant who... who disappeared."
Jin-woo sighed inwardly, a deeper sigh this time. Mrs. Ahn and her neighbors obsessed with the paranormal and local ghost stories. The last thing he needed was for his daughter's head to be filled with this unsettling nonsense, especially since his own nights were about to get much stranger. "Mrs. Ahn watches too much TV drama, honey, and tends to exaggerate a bit. Now, close your pretty eyes and try to sleep. You have kindergarten tomorrow, and remember, we're going to the park this weekend if you're a good girl."
"And chocolate ice cream?" Sora murmured, seeming finally convinced, or perhaps overcome by sleepiness and the promise of ice cream. She closed her eyes, clutching her worn-out rabbit doll, "Mr. Fluffy," her constant companion since her mother's death.
Jin-woo watched her for a few extra minutes, listening to the rhythm of her breathing become steady and deep. Her angelic sleeping face melted away any anxiety or fatigue accumulated during the long day. Sora was his sun, his moon, his stars, and everything in between, the anchor that kept him steady in the stormy sea of life, especially after Hae-won... his beloved wife, whom illness had taken swiftly and cruelly two years ago. He shook his head firmly, pushing away the wave of grief and painful memories that always threatened to surface in quiet moments like these. No time for weakness now. He had to be strong for Sora.
He quietly slipped out of her small bedroom, which barely fit her bed and a small wardrobe, closing the door behind him, leaving a small gap for the dim light from the hallway, as if leaving a thin thread of protection against imaginary night monsters. He headed to the small kitchen, which also served as his living room and office in this cramped apartment. A pile of bills awaited him on the small folding table, stacked with desperate neatness, like a small, multi-headed paper monster threatening to devour him whole.
Rent, electricity, water, gas bills, Sora's increasing kindergarten fees, food, clothes that barely kept up with her rapid growth... the list went on and branched out like the roots of a malevolent tree. He worked as a freelance graphic designer, picking up any project he could find online, but work had been sporadic and irregular lately. Competition was fierce, clients always looked for the cheapest and fastest, and they often delayed payments. He was barely making ends meet, living on the financial edge, sometimes borrowing from a few friends or selling some of his old belongings.
He sat down on the worn wooden chair, which creaked in protest, and ran a hand over his tired face. He felt exhaustion seeping into his bones, not just physical fatigue, but spiritual weariness too. He needed a miracle, or at least, a steady job with a good, stable income. Anything to provide Sora with a better life, a life where she didn't worry about monsters under the bed or bills piling up on the table, a life where she could buy chocolate ice cream without him feeling guilty.
As he stared hopelessly at the harsh numbers printed on the bills, his mobile phone suddenly rang on the table, loud and startling in the night's stillness, making him jump. He quickly picked it up and looked at the screen. Unknown number. He hesitated for a longer moment this time. He usually ignored unknown numbers; they were often annoying marketing calls selling loans or insurance he couldn't afford. But something, perhaps the sheer desperation he felt looking at the bills, or maybe a ridiculous flicker of hope, made him answer.
"Yeoboseyo?" (Hello?)
"Am I speaking with Mr. Kang Jin-woo?" A deep, formal male voice came from the other end. The voice was devoid of any expression, cold and flat, like an old news anchor reading a report about a distant disaster.
"Yes, this is he. Who's speaking?" Jin-woo tried to sound more confident than he felt.
"My name is Manager Yoon. I'm calling you regarding a job opportunity that might interest you. We obtained your information from... a reliable source who values your unique skills."
Jin-woo raised an eyebrow. His unique skills? What skills did he mean? Designing simple logos? His ability to assemble IKEA furniture without having extra screws left over? "I currently work as a freelance graphic designer. Are you looking for a designer? Is it remote work?"
"Not exactly, Mr. Kang. The job we're offering is of a slightly different nature. It's a night security guard position in an office building in the Gangnam district."
Gangnam? An office building? That sounded normal enough, even surprisingly so. But why were they calling him, a graphic designer barely covering his expenses? "Night security? I'm not sure I have the required experience... I've never worked as a guard before."
"Don't worry about the experience, Mr. Kang. The requirements are very simple. All you need to do is be present in the building from 11 PM to 6 AM, five nights a week. You conduct an inspection tour of the designated floors every two hours. That's all. No need for extraordinary physical strength or combat skills."
It sounded too simple. Suspiciously simple. Like a shiny lure hiding a rusty hook. "And what is the financial compensation for this simple work?"
"The salary is very good, Mr. Kang. Much higher than the average night security salaries in Seoul. We can discuss the exact details and figures if you're interested in applying."
"Much higher?" Jin-woo repeated, feeling his heart start to beat faster, like a bird trapped in his ribcage. This was exactly what he needed. An opportunity like this could change everything. But doubts began to creep into his mind like worms. Why was the salary so high for such simple work? And why him specifically? Was there a problem with the building? Was it dangerous? "Why me specifically? How did you get my number and information? And what exactly is this building? Is it safe?"
"As I mentioned, the source is reliable and preferred to remain anonymous. As for the building, it's the 'Dae Young Building'. A bit old, yes, but still standing. We need someone reliable and quiet, someone who... doesn't ask too many unnecessary questions, and understands the nature of quiet night work."
'Doesn't ask too many unnecessary questions.' That line, delivered in that cold, calm tone, sent a faint but unsettling shiver through Jin-woo's body. It sounded like something out of a cheap horror movie, or perhaps the beginning of an investigation into a mysterious disappearance case. An old building, a mysterious night job, a suspiciously high salary, and someone who doesn't ask questions. An almost certain recipe for potential disaster.
But he thought of Sora sleeping peacefully in the next room. He thought of her smiling face. He thought of the pile of bills threatening to drown them. He thought of the refrigerator that was almost empty except for some kimchi and rice. Could he really refuse this offer? Even if it was strange and suspicious? Wasn't this what he had been hoping for? A chance?
"I... I'm interested," Jin-woo said, his voice sounding hesitant and faint even to his own ears. "When can I start? And what are the other details?"
"Excellent, Mr. Kang. We were hoping you'd say that. Can you start tomorrow night? We'll send you the address details, the contract, and the basic work conditions via email within the hour."
"Tomorrow? So soon? Isn't there an interview or training?"
"We urgently need to fill this position immediately. Don't worry, everything is explained in the contract. Does this pose a problem for you?"
"No... no problem," Jin-woo sighed, feeling like he was jumping off a cliff in the dark. "I'll be there tomorrow."
"Wonderful. We look forward to working with you, Mr. Kang. Good night." Manager Yoon ended the call with the same formal, emotionless tone, leaving Jin-woo staring silently at the phone, a strange sense of unreality washing over him.
Jin-woo slowly placed the phone back on the table, feeling a confusing mix of relief and anxiety warring within him. A job! A good salary! A real chance! But... night security in an old, mysterious building that apparently no one wanted to work in? He felt as if he had sold his soul to the devil, or at least, rented it out to him for a few hours each night in exchange for his daughter's financial security.
About half an hour later, as Manager Yoon had promised, the email arrived. It contained a brief and somewhat vague employment contract, focusing mainly on absolute confidentiality, not allowing anyone else into the building, and most importantly, not disturbing the 'building's natural nocturnal activities'. What were the natural nocturnal activities of an office building supposedly partially deserted? There was also the address: Dae Young Building, in a quiet, dark back alley in the usually bustling Gangnam district. The location looked strangely isolated on the attached map.
Jin-woo spent the rest of the night in mild anxiety, oscillating between imagining a better life for Sora – a bigger house, new toys, weekend trips – and imagining all the possible horror scenarios that might await him in the unknown Dae Young Building. He tried searching for the building online again, but the information was strangely scarce and unsettling. Just a passing mention of it as an old office building partially evacuated years ago due to unspecified 'structural issues'. He also found a few scattered comments on an old local forum talking about 'strange noises' and an 'uncomfortable feeling' around the building at night, but they were just quick, dismissed rumors.
'Structural issues'. Was that the new polite term for 'haunted by ghosts' or 'site of a tragedy'?
The next morning, he said goodbye to Sora at the colorful kindergarten gate, trying to hide his anxiety with a bright, slightly exaggerated smile. "Be a good girl today, okay? Listen to the teacher and don't fight with the boys. Daddy has a new, important job tonight."
"New job? Will you buy me chocolate ice cream with brownie pieces?" Sora asked, her eyes sparkling with innocent, childish hope.
"Absolutely, sweetie. A mountain of chocolate ice cream with brownie pieces," Jin-woo promised, feeling a sharp pang of guilt that he would be leaving her with Mrs. Ahn again tonight. He had to find a better, more stable childcare solution soon. Maybe he could afford a part-time babysitter with this new salary.
He spent the day desperately trying to focus on some overdue design projects, but his mind kept returning to the Dae Young Building. What awaited him there? Was it just an old, dusty, cobweb-filled building? Or did Mrs. Ahn's rumors and the cryptic forum comments hold some truth? Would he really be alone there?
As evening approached and the sun began to set, Jin-woo started preparing for his first night. He put on dark, comfortable clothes – old jeans and a black zip-up hoodie. He thought for a moment about taking something for self-defense. A powerful flashlight? Definitely, he bought a new one that afternoon. A fully charged phone and a backup battery? Essential. Then he looked around the small apartment, searching for anything else that might be useful. Maybe... maybe some salt? He had heard somewhere, perhaps from Mrs. Ahn herself, that pure salt repels evil spirits and negative energies. He felt ridiculous as he filled a small plastic zip-lock bag with coarse salt from the kitchen and put it in his inner jacket pocket. Then he added a small red cloth protection charm he had gotten from an old Buddhist temple he visited with Hae-won on their last trip together before her illness. He wasn't particularly religious, but a little extra protection couldn't hurt, right? At least it would give him some psychological comfort.
"You're going to a night security job, Jin-woo, not exorcising demons in a Hollywood movie," he scolded himself aloud, then quickly looked around to make sure Sora, who was playing quietly in her room, hadn't heard him and thought her father had officially gone mad.
When it was time to leave, around 10 PM, he took Sora down to Mrs. Ahn's apartment on the lower floor. Mrs. Ahn was a kind-hearted but incredibly talkative old woman who adored Sora and treated her like her own granddaughter.
"Oh, poor Jin-woo, working nights now? That's hard for a single man like you," Mrs. Ahn said with exaggerated sympathy as she took Sora's small hand. "Be careful over there in that old building. Old places like that... they have their own stories and lingering memories."
"I'll be fine, Mrs. Ahn. It's just an office building. Thank you again for looking after Sora. I'll be back before she wakes up."
"Don't worry about her, she's just like my own grandchild. Just come back safe, and don't let anything... follow you home," she said, patting his arm with a meaningful look in her wrinkled eyes.
Jin-woo swallowed hard, thanked her again, and then left the apartment building, feeling his heart pound in his chest like a war drum. He took the bus heading towards the upscale Gangnam district, trying to read an e-book on his phone to calm his nerves, but the words seemed to swim and dance meaninglessly before his eyes.
He arrived at the specified address shortly before 11 PM. The alley was as narrow and dark as depicted on the map, barely wide enough for a single car, and smelled of a mixture of damp garbage and faint cigarette smoke. And at the end of this alley stood the Dae Young Building, sandwiched between two newer, shinier buildings, like a decaying black tooth between gleaming white ones. It looked... neglected and forgotten. Its windows were dark and dirty, reflecting the dim streetlights like empty glass eyes, and the dull gray paint was peeling off the walls in places like diseased skin. There was a strange feeling of heavy silence surrounding it, as if the building itself was holding its breath, waiting for something.
Jin-woo hesitated in front of the large, dusty glass front door, which was covered in such a thick layer of grime that he could barely see inside. Should he really go in? Maybe he could still turn around and go home. He could look for another job. Any other job, even if it paid less. This place screamed 'danger'.
But the image of Sora's smiling face asking for chocolate ice cream with brownie pieces flashed in his mind again, strong and clear. He sighed deeply and pushed the heavy door, ignoring the small alarm bell ringing in the back of his head.
The door slid open with a faint, painful creak, revealing a vast, dark lobby reeking of dust. The air inside was noticeably cold, stagnant, and carried the faint smell of accumulated dust, mold, and something else... something slightly sickly sweet, like old decaying flowers or cheap old perfume.
The lobby was vast and eerily empty, except for a large reception desk covered with a dirty white cloth sheet, and two old elevators with dull metal doors on the back wall. The only light came from a single fluorescent lamp hanging above the reception desk, flickering intermittently and annoyingly, casting long, dancing shadows that moved like ghosts on the walls and the cracked marble floor.
"Hello?" Jin-woo called out, his voice sounding weak and absorbed in the vast space and oppressive silence. "Is anyone here? I'm the new guard... Kang Jin-woo."
No answer. Only the faint echo of his own voice returned to him, as if the building itself was mocking his presence.
He felt the hair on the back of his neck and arms stand on end. This place was creepy. Much creepier than he had imagined. It wasn't just an old building; it felt like... a dead place.
He cautiously approached the reception desk, his footsteps echoing unnaturally on the marble floor. He lifted the white sheet to reveal a dark wooden surface covered in dust. There was an open logbook and a cheap ballpoint pen beside it. The current page was blank except for a note written in neat, stylized handwriting at the top: "Mr. Kang, welcome to Dae Young. Please sign in and out here accurately. Conduct an inspection tour of floors one through five exactly every two hours. Avoid the sixth floor entirely for structural safety reasons. The key to the guard's room (in the basement) is under the desk. We wish you a quiet and productive first night. - Manager Yoon."
'Avoid the sixth floor entirely'. Why? 'Structural safety' sounded like an obvious lie. And what did 'a quiet and productive night' mean? Was Manager Yoon mocking him again?
Jin-woo bent down and easily found the key under the desk. It was an old, heavy brass key, cold to the touch. He looked around again, at the deep shadows pooling in the corners of the lobby, and felt a strong sense that he was being watched, that unseen eyes were following him. He shook his head firmly. This was just nerves and anxiety. It's an empty, old building, that's all. He needed to pull himself together.
He signed his name and arrival time in the logbook, then headed towards the elevators with steps slightly quicker than he intended. He pressed the call button for one of the elevators. The button lit up with a dim orange glow, and he heard a distant, high-pitched whine, followed by a metallic clanking sound as one of the elevators began its agonizingly slow descent from the upper floors.
As he waited, avoiding looking at the dancing shadows, he heard a sound. A very faint sound, barely audible over the groan of the elevator, coming from somewhere deep within the building above him. It sounded like... the humming of a sad tune? Or perhaps the muffled crying of a child?
Jin-woo froze in place, his ears alert, holding his breath. He listened intently. The sound was suddenly gone, leaving only the d