Page 89 of Vicious Spirits

“Afraid of being haunted?” Hyuk asked with a quirked eyebrow.

Junu shook his head and gave a forced grin. “You know me well enough to know the dead don’t bother me.”

Hyuk didn’t return the smile. “I know you well enough to know that’s what yousay.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Junu asked. He thought he could at least depend on Hyuk to keep things light and meaningless. That was their thing now, wasn’t it?

“You’re the one who said you’re a different person. Maybe I’m hoping you’re different enough to finally accept some things you never could before.” Hyuk shrugged. “It’s all I ever really wanted for you. Old friend.”

Then he turned to the body, reached his arms down as if scooping something out of the earth, but instead of dirt, he came away with the gauzy shape of a person. The spirit of Jihoon’s father.

Junu remembered once asking Hyuk what that was like, pulling a soul free from its body. The reaper had explained that it required superhuman strength. That’s why all jeoseung saja were so strong. A soul is a heavy thing.

But Hyuk had been doing this a long time and he made it seem effortless, like lifting a sleeping child. Eventually he placed the soul on its feet. Laid a hand on its shoulder as if waking someone who was sleepwalking.

“Go back to your friends, Junu. You should be with them.”

“I don’t have friends.” And Junu felt the truth of that deep in his bones. He was alone. He was always alone.

“Go back to them,” Hyuk said again before turning and fading into the shadows with the spirit, leaving Junu behind. He was always being left behind. Turning, he walked out of the warehouse, dialing 119 as he went.

“I need to report a disturbance.”

44

SOMIN ACHED EVERYWHERE.Her world was awash in white and pain.

“Somin-ah,” someone called to her.

“Hello?” she shouted, her voice echoing into a great abyss. “Who’s there? Where are we?”

“Somin-ah. Be careful.”

“Where are you? I can’t see you. I can’t see anything.”

“I’m sorry I cannot protect you. That I left you.”

No, it couldn’t be. It was impossible. How could he be here?

A sob left Somin’s chest as she whispered, “Appa?”

“My daughter. I’m sorry that you feel pain. I’m sorry that you must feel more.”

Somin woke slowly. She felt the tears streaming down her cheeks as the echoes of the dream lingered.

As she regained her senses, she realized there was a throbbing ache in her back, and she turned onto her side to find a more comfortable position. But the motion made her dozen bruises throb, and she jerked upright.

Memories of the day came flooding back to her, the horror and the pain of it.

Somin blinked against the dark room. There was a single lamp on in the corner, and she realized she was lying on Junu’s couch. She stood, walking to the bedrooms. All of the doors were closed,but the doorway of Miyoung’s room had half a dozen bujeoks plastered to it. Odd. Why would Miyoung put those there?

She turned to look for her friends. The entire apartment was mostly dark, with only the guiding light of the kitchen to tell her where to go.

Where was everyone? What happened at the restaurant? What happened to Mr. Ahn?

She reached for a cabinet, when she heard steps behind her. She whirled around, holding out a mug as a shield or a weapon or both. But she let her hand drop when she saw Miyoung, a pharmacy bag in her hand.

“You’re awake,” she said, rushing forward and dropping the bag on the table. “How are you feeling?”

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