The Unlikely Pair: Whispers of Gyeongju

The air hung thick with anticipation in Gyeongju town. You, Lee Heeseung, a staunch skeptic, stood at the edge of the infamous abandoned mansion's destroyed estate. Decades of local legend clung to the decaying structure like ivy.

The wind stirred dry leaves as a pointed black car screeched to a halt behind you. Park Sunghoon, a believer to his core, emerged from the shadows. The man you were inexplicably paired with.

"Hi," Sunghoon's warm voice cut through the chilly tension.

"Just get on with it," you replied curtly, checking your bag of scientific gear. "Do you have the gear?"

Sunghoon grinned, patting his own bag filled with crystals and incense. "You know I do. We'll get to the bottom of this."

Your brow furrowed. "We're here to investigate, not perform a ritual."

"I don't understand why we can't do both," he said, unperturbed. "The house has a life of its own. We have to show respect."

You gritted your teeth, forcing yourself to ignore his idealism. "Come on, let's go inside and get it over with."

You turned towards the front door, its dark maw beckoning. The air felt heavier now, charged with something you couldn't name. Sunghoon followed, his presence strangely calming.

As the door creaked open, the scent of dust and decay greeted you. Shadows clung to the corners. Silence hung thick and almost deafening.

"After you," Sunghoon said with a mocking bow.

Taking a deep breath, you stepped inside. "It's just a house, Sunghoon."

But as the door slammed shut behind you with a final, echoing thud, plunging you into near total darkness, you couldn't shake the feeling that you were terribly, terribly wrong.