Page 33 of Vicious Spirits

“This is where you keep it, isn’t it?” Somin asked, not even bothering to look contrite. “All that magic stuff.”

“Magic stuff?” Now Junu couldn’t help but laugh. She made him sound like a second-rate magician.

“Should it all just be sitting out here like this?” Somin stared intently at the chest like it was a thing that had greatly offended her.

“I know what I’m doing.”

“Do you? Why was that dokkaebi so mad last night? You sold him something bad, didn’t you?” Somin shook her head, judgment in every movement. “And it’s one thing when you put your own life at risk with your business, but what about the other people you’ve hurt?”

“Are you saying you regret last night?” Junu asked quietly.

“What part of last night?”

He closed his eyes and tried to ignore the uncomfortable fire that rolled through his chest. “I guess I’m asking if you regret coming here last night.”

Somin chewed on her lip. Giving the question far too much thought. The answer wasn’t an easy one for her, and Junu had wanted it to be.

“I’m sorry that you seem to have been forced to do things you regret,” he said, unable to stop his voice from becoming ice cold.

“Can’t you just give me a minute?” she asked. “I killed someone last night.”

“You protected us from amonsterthat wanted to kill us.”

“A monster?” Somin asked, her eyes dark as they watched him. “You mean a dokkaebi. Like you.”

Junu shook his head, but the words to deny it didn’t come out. “He would have killed me. And then he’d have killed you, too, just for fun.”

“I know that,” Somin whispered. “Doesn’t make it any easier.”

“So why are you still here, then?” Junu asked, frustration biting at him. “Why did you stay all night if you feel that way?”

“I don’t know,” she admitted, turning back toward the chest.

“You think so little of me. I didn’t mind when I thought it was part of a game we were playing. But if I truly disgust you so much,then perhaps we should just call an end to all of this. Whatever it was.”You don’t want that, a voice inside him said. But he’d always moved on when things got too complicated. And things with Somin were like trying to make his way through a minefield. He told himself it was time to walk away.

“Maybe you’re right,” Somin said, though she didn’t quite meet his eyes when she said it.

Say something, dammit. Stop her, that voice inside him said. But he didn’t. He watched as she jerked the door open. Was that a pause? Or was she just getting her bearings as the bright sunlight flooded the foyer? Before he could come up with an answer, she was gone.

He clenched his fists. Partly to direct his frustration somewhere and partly to stop himself from going after her. What had he wanted her to say? That she believed in him? That he was worth crossing a moral line for? It was better this way. She didn’t belong in his world. Ending it now would save them both time and heartache.

He started back to the kitchen. He’d make some breakfast, then take a shower and wash all of the doubt away.

He was only halfway through frying an egg before he threw it in the trash and went after Somin.

15

SOMIN COULDN’T STOPthinking of Junu. Of random things he’d said. Of the way he looked when he’d finally fallen asleep. His face serene, almost innocent.

But Junu had been right. There was no reason for them to see each other anymore. Even if Miyoung was living with him, it’s not like Somin went to all of her friends’ homes. After all, she’d been friends with Oh Changwan for three years and never set foot in his house.

It was better this way, she told herself for maybe the dozenth time since she left Junu’s apartment. And she believed it even less than the first time she’d thought it.

Somin rubbed the heel of her palm over her chest. It felt tight, like it was bound by something. But her loose T-shirt was hardly even touching her skin. Still her heart strained in her chest and her breaths felt labored.

She felt light-headed, too. Probably from the heat. Except, she wasn’t hot. Wasn’t even sweating like she usually was after walking from the bus stop to her apartment building in the middle of summer. In fact, she realized as she hugged her arms around herself, she felt chilled. Goose bumps ran along her arms as she shivered.

It was then she realized the empty street was eerily silent,even for a Monday morning. With only the sound of the dull thud of her sneakers as they hit the pavement.

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