I was standing in front of Sir Reynold's room.
Carl directly went to Sir Reynold's office to report an important matter. I bet it was about Rica's disappearance and the demon's warehouse. It had been half an hour already when the door finally opened.
Carl looked at me. "The investigation for the demon's warehouse will start tomorrow. "
"Oh.." So I have still days left to enjoy my life as a ghost until I become a demon's food?
Carl then passed me a pouch, "Sir Reynold wanted to give this to you."
A gift?
I reached out for it and was about to take it but Carl did not let it go.
"Do you really want to give it to me or not?"
Carl finally reluctantly let go of the pouch. "In all honestly, I don't see why Sir Reynold has to give you some rewards when all you do is cause trouble for us. You even tricked us."
"When did I tricked you? It was you who tricked me."
Carl turned to the side. His half handsome face was
Lucas looked away, "I promised that I won't let anything happen to you under my watch. So it's expected that I will help." My lips twitched. 'Won't anything happen' my ass...I have almost become a nutritional meal for a demon twice. Anyway, I should consider that paid since Lucas really helped this time despite his attitude of not wanting anyone to know about his past. Based on Lucas's arrogant and loft attitude, he would never want anyone to know his pitiful past. "Yes, yes I understand." Knowing Lucas, I should not tackle on this matter anymore. So I changed the subject. "You came to find me about the next mission?" "Yes and also some other things." "What things?" "I have heard that you encounter a strange situation. Have you truly seen the 'door to the afterlife'?" "What??? Where did you hear that? I have not seen the 'door' Rica mentioned!" I asked flabbergasted. Not a day had passed yet people already knew t
One of the disadvantages of being a ghost was the lack of resources for their kind. Unlike the living, they aren't able to feel anything like hunger, tiredness, and pain. As well as pleasure, fullness, relaxation, and comfort.The Dead doesn't need anything so to find water was such an impossible thing to do.Lucas shook his head, "There's no market that sells water. I have been in the five markets before and visited the three widest ghost market, but there was no such thing as selling water. There's no demand, so of course, there's no supply. We could only ask help from drenched ghost and give us drip by drip."I scratched my head. Rica should have told us in advance this information so that before she left we should have gotten some water from her. Well, it was too late to regr
There was heavy pressure in the air as I walked along the corridor. Unlike before, when Lucas met every people and greeted him, no ghost was in sight. Lucas broke the silence. "Carl, what are you aiming for using the whole people at the mansion and spreading this rumor about the door to the afterlife? I can't believe you told them to search something fruitless." "Is it not entirely useless. Besides, this will give more hope to the dead who are roaming aimlessly without care. Who knows, maybe we will get something out of it. " Carl then turned to us. He spoke to Lucas, "You'll know the rest later. Sir Reynold will explain it to you. And also, the reports you asked for are here already." "You got the result?" Lucas asked with a hint of anticipation on his voice. "Yes, we did. It took quite a time. I bet you owe us again this time." "Don't worry. I always make sure to pay them." ??? What are they talking ab
The both of us turned to Lucas. "You may ask." Sir Reynold amiably replied. "Why I haven't seen Mr. Finch around here? I thought he moved here in City Z. When the ghost market in City C was toppled down by the grim reapers, he told me to meet him here. But I haven't seen him since then. Where is he?" Sir Reynold tilted his head. Another batch of ashes fell down. Seriously, Sir Reynold, please don't move much! "We don't plan to hide it from you. But Mr. Finch is being hunted by a certain grim reaper. We don't want him here because we are afraid he might get tracked here and the haunted mansion would get attacked. " "So...you guys kicked him out?" "We don't kick him out. We just told him he can't stay here until he resolved the matter himself." I was stunned. Ghost can be individually hunted down? "...Why? What did Mr. Finch do that made the grim reaper hunt him down..?" Sir Reynold and Lucas looked at me. "Because Mr. Finch is a broker." It was Lucas who answered. "Huh..?"
If the outside of the gate was crowded with many vendors. Inside, was a different world. There were many children running around. Some nuns were taking care of them or playing with them. It looked like a peaceful front yard where children would have picnics and have fun. Except that each child has a gun wound in their body. For a moment, I wondered what happened in this monastery for these children to have gun wounds on their chests. Were they massacred by madmen with guns? Just thinking of it was terrifying. Perhaps, it was better to have an accidental death, not a staged one. "Sister Nancy." Lucas greeted a certain nun who was leading a group of children around. Sister Nancy was a small nun in her middle ages. She was stunned to see Lucas. "Lucas!" She hugged Lucas and looked at him with longing eyes. "It has been so long, how are doing?" "I have been well. How about you, sister?" "Same as always. How long has it been since you last visited here? Three years? What have you b
Sister Nancy sighed heavily. "The hunted mansion is too much. They are using two young souls to risk their only essence left just for themselves."I looked at Sister Nancy. I suddenly remembered why Carl and Sir Reynold were having difficulties in buying water from the monastery. Was it because they don't approve of the hunted mansion's ways?Although I only met Sister Nancy so far, I have an inkling that might be the case.Lucas held Sister Nancy's hand. "Sister Nancy, you don't have to worry. We know what we are doing. Besides, you know the haunted mansion. They have ways to heal us in case something happened to us.""But your soul will get tainted. How could you go to the afterlife then?"I was stunned.Once the soul got tainted, they could not cross the bridge? Would the 'door to the afterlife' would not appear for them?"It's not entirely true, Sister. That idea only exists in theory." Lucas disagreed."And your confidence is not entirely a good thing as well. Besides, consuming
There was a long silence.Everyone looked at the back. Their eyes were on the two of us.I stared at Lucas in shock."O-one...t-thousand?" I whispered in a low voice. "Do we have that much money?""We don't.""...." Whattttt?Lucas then smirked seeing my comical expression, "But the hunted mansion has that much.""..."I could imagine Carl's dark face when he learned that we cost them a thousand just for a bucket of water.The fat man gritted his teeth at us. But he did not dare to bid more. Perhaps, spending a thousand tokens for a single bucket was something that Lucas could only do.The other patrons glanced at us curiously. They must be wondering where a big patron came from. I inched a bit away from Lucas. Look at him, not me. I am just a poor girl who was caught in this mess.The bucket of water was auctioned at a high price, naturally, the resident of the monastery was kind to us.After the auction, the priest, the man in charge of the auctioned house, invited us to his office
After I leave the hunted mansion, I walked on the way back to the hospital. I passed by the crossroad where I first met the ghost kid. There was still a bottle of flowers on the corner of the road. The flower had long ago wilted, and the candles were all melted and dirtied. I looked around to find the child, the kid was nowhere. I waited for a bit. In case the child finished playing or was done wandering outside and returned, I can meet him here. The Monastery accepted the children and take care of them without any fee. When I first become a ghost, I was very scared and frustrated. I don't understand many things and I am not aware that I am exposed to a lot of dangers. If I haven't met Lucas, perhaps I might still be wondering and might be caught in demon's traps or be captured by grim reapers. And that child was alone. He wondered outside where he could meet grim reapers and demons unknowingly anytime. It was dangerous to be outside alone. As a kind passerby, I could offer to
That weekend, I crashed at Jia's home and dragged her to my apartment. Colt was sad but since it was rare for me and Jia to have a girl's party night, Colt finally let go of his soon-to-be wife. Seeing them lovely-dovey and could not even be separated for one night, made me feel bitter. Tsk. With beers and snacks, I told Jia about Laurance's offer. "I told you! He liked you!" "I don't want to think that you are right. But...if Laurence really looks at me that way...it would be hard for me to reject him." "I saw that Laurence twice. I could say he is handsome, tall, and rich. What's not to like about him?" "If Colt heard you he would be heartbroken and jealous." "Colt is not here anyway. Why are you having difficulty rejecting him?" "Because he is my boss. If he confesses to me and I reject him, how would I face him afterward? Would he want to see me after that? I think my job is in danger." "Girl, why don't you just accept Laurence? Since the man like you, give him a chance."
It's been nine years since that incident. It was said that a momentary earthquake around the area caused the club to have cracks in the wall and its ceiling to give out. Nevertheless, the people were injured that night and the club has been investigated. That was when the dead body count increased. There were actually people who died in the club because of an unknown incident. But because they were no proof that they were murdered or any motives behind their deaths, it was only branded as an accident. But there was one thing in common, they died while they were in the club. They were only declared dead when they arrived at the hospital. The club was suspended for not reporting this strange anomaly but they were back in business after a month. After all, it was not the fault of the club owner. Some people said it might be related to the accident eight years ago. But after that, there was no incident that happened again in that building. When I mentioned it to Jia, she just shrugge
Seeing him, I felt my heart tightly squeezed. My body shook. As if I was struck by lightning, I remained dazed and rooted in the ground.It was a strange face that I haven't seen before. But...why...why the sight of him affected me so much?I felt like crying, yelling, rampaging, and crying all over again. As if a pandora's box was opened and all my crazy emotions that I have kept were released. It was an emotion that I could not define.However, what I knew was that the feeling of loss I have suddenly found its meaning- longing.I have never felt such longing before. As if the empty hole in my heart found its piece. It was as if I finally found a light in the darkness where I have been wandering for so long.My nose went sour and my sight blurred. I held back my tears.I don't understand why these overwhelming emotions suddenly came out. But I know it was all related to this man.The man crouched down and checked my ankle.Our surrounding was chaotic. There were people screaming, ob
Jia then told everyone in the group. "I think you guys already have fun. How about we call it a day? Let's all go home."I looked strangely at Jia. Was she hinting at everyone to leave?Is something about to happen?"The night is just starting. When things heated up we will go to the dance floor. Don't leave yet." The group was hot-blooded and wanted to dance all night until dawn.Jia tried to convince them but they were determined to get wild this night.Jia turned silent, she was a bit frustrated.I pulled at her sleeves, "Why are you hinting them to leave?""Well, based on the story of this place I am now sure that there is a demon here. A vengeful one. It has been hiding for eight years after it killed the students. Now, it must have been hungry and looking for victims. What is strange though is that there is no news of accidents that happened here even though this place is running for a year."I don't doubt Jia. So I made a guess. "Could it be the owner is covering it up?""Perha
I asked the group which university they were from, what course they were in and etcetera.My social skills were okay. I could answer and ask questions effortlessly. However, it was just that I don't make deep connections with other people aside from Jia. So oftentimes, after making friends, I won't contact them afterward."It is the first time we saw you two here. Don't you go clubbing in this area?" One of them asked."Honestly, it is the first time we went to the club. We are still adapting to college life." I replied. Some of the people here were seniors. They were kind and gave me advice on what to look out for in the club. Such as not accepting drinks from strangers.We got lucky that we met such a nice group. Even Jia seemed to open up too.They were talkative and kept us interested. At least with them, we don't have to be bored and dance on the dance floor.One of them even opened a spooky topic."Hey. Do you guys know that before this became a club it is a dormitory eight yea
Jia sighed, "That's right. I can see some things that other people don't."I expected it. But I am still surprised."...Can you see ghosts and spirits?""You can say that."I clenched my fist. "...Then can you see if I am haunted?"Jia was surprised. "...Haunted?""I have always felt it. It is always in my dreams, at the bottom of my heart, in the depth of my consciousness. I am haunted. But the problem is I don't know what is haunting me."Jia turned silent."...Is it a person?" I asked.Jia did not answer."Is it my mom?"Jia looked away. "There's no one behind you. You are not haunted by some ghosts.""Then what I am haunted with? What is it? What is making me restless?"Jia shut her mouth tightly. But I could see her struggling.Her hesitation and strange reaction made me think of something ridiculous.Could it be that...Jia was hiding something from me? Could she know about it?However, Jia just looked me in the eyes with pained and complicated emotions."I can't tell you, Kelly.
Another year had passed since then. Although I can't explain this feeling of loss and this emptiness in my heart, as if a deep hole appeared and was never filled, I continued my daily life. I figured that when I wasn't busy with something I end up dazing and thinking about what I lost. It was confusing and all the thinking made my chest hurt. To distract myself, I studied hard at college and work part-time in my free time. My busy schedule kept me going. My thoughts and my unexplainable emotions were put aside. Jia was worried for me ever since I broke down at my graduation. She tried to cheer me up by visiting some other places and letting me meet some new friends. However, even Jia was not good at making friends. She sometimes end up screwing it up or my awkward silence and blank stares made the people we met looked strangely at us. In the end, only our friendship remained. "I am not really interested in meeting other people. I am already busy at school and at my part-time
One year later.... I watched our Principal make an emotional speech for the graduates. The teachers were all proud and smiling. While the students were bored and wanted to finish the speech soon. When the Principal finally congratulated us and ended the speech, the graduates cheered up. The whole venue was filled with loud cheers. I just stood there in a daze, feeling everything was unreal. Today is my graduation from senior high. After I woke up from the coma, I have undergone treatment for two months before I got discharged. When I tried to go back to school, I learned that the entire school got banned and the Miguel family who tortured me so much had been punished severely. Alejandro and Claire were in jail while the recent news about Ella was that she had killed her husband and she was facing a trial. The old man's relatives won't let her go and will make her life worst. She won't be able to bother me anymore. Many things changed after I woke up. The things I wanted to b
A/n: This chapter is fixed. *** Sir Benjamin also looked sad. "Lucas has included this in our deal. I have to make sure you return even if I have to force you. Please accept our last goodwill for you." My tears fall. I understand Sir Benjamin and Lucas' concerns and sacrifice. They were only thinking about me. But my heart and soul were really unwilling. And how could I turn back on Sir Benjamin and Lucas' great effort? Sir Benjamin wanted to use his last remaining energy for me while Lucas was willing to endure a long journey mainly because of me. I looked down at Lucas. He was still unconscious and the black veins in his face reduced a lot. He was not frowning in pain anymore, he looked peaceful as if he was asleep. Would it be the last time that I would see him? Wouldn't I be able to even say goodbye? "You bad man...We can't even say goodbye to each other..." I hugged him tightly as my tears fell on him. Sir Benjamin stood up and turned his back on us. He looked at the