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
Seeing my expression, Lucas seemed to get an answer."Although it does look a bit scary, I am still in control. If you are afraid of me, you can keep your distance."I opened my mouth and was about to say something when Lucas turned his back on me. He seemed melancholy. My words were stuck in my throat."The mission tomorrow is important for the both of us. If we succeed, you can have enough tokens to fully investigate yourself. You would not need to hunt demons anymore." He then disappeared.I stared at the empty space where he had been for a while. And then my eyes turned wide.Was he telling me that tomorrow would be our last hunt?Why was he saying this all of a sudden?...Tomorrow arrives quickly.Lucas did not fetch me. I waited until noon but Lucas was still nowhere. I looked for him in the hospital but I can't see him. In the end, I came to the hunted mansion alone. When I arrived at Sir Reynold's office, I saw Lucas at the side of the room.My mouth twitched. This guy...I h
Lucas seemed to hear my thoughts. He handed me the water expressionlessly. "Soak yourself first. That Rica said she was spat out because she was dripping water, right? As long as you are wet, you are not in danger." I gritted my teeth and soak myself with water. If we succeed, this might be the last time I would hunt a demon! I encouraged myself as I was walking to my grave. Carl bid us good luck and went back to the jeep. I was very envious of him. If we could just change roles! However, I know that if Carl could hunt demons like me and Lucas, then there's no need for me. I took a deep breath and followed behind Lucas. The air was heavy and thick. I gnash my teeth as I endured the biting cold from the water and from the demon's aura that seeped through my soul. Lucas suddenly stopped. I stopped as well. We are only a few meters away from the warehouse. "...What's wrong?" Why did we stop? "....Shhh. Listen well." I follow Lucas' words and focused on my hearing. Then slo
I pulled up the empty bucket from the well. Seeing that it was empty, I shoved it back with a disappointed face."...The well is dried up here too. How can we live then?" A man's voice came out of my mouth.I carried the sack bag containing the potatoes that I just dug. My cotton pants that were originally white were now yellowed and grey. The straw sandals under my feet were starting to break down.My whole body aches due to overworking and the dryness on my lips told me that my body was dehydrated.However, I have no choice but to go on despite the thirst I was feeling.I started to walk as my mind wandered. This time, I am not confused as I was before when I was in a demon's stomach. This experience was obviously from the ancient demon. This process started when our souls merge.There's nothing I can do inside here but experienced the same thing that happened with the ancient demon. All I could do was hope that Lucas would come up with something to defeat the demon.I just need to
The men yesterday appeared before me. They were the four strong and big men just minus the man who took my bag. Instinctively, I clenched my hold on the sack. These guys...did they follow me? One of the men stepped forward and eyed my bulging sack. "It seems like you have a good harvest. If we did not see the blood on the ground, we would follow you deeper into the mountain. It's a good thing you arrived alive and well. Now, hand me the bag." I stepped back. These people were determined to steal my food. I don't have any other choice but to run back to the mountain. "He's escaping! After him! We will split the spoils!" They ran after me. It was only the adrenaline rush that was keeping me to run. But if they continued the chase, I would be eventually caught. My straw sandals finally broke and the blister under my feet bleed. The loss of blood and my hunger caused the dizziness to strike me stronger. In the end, I can't outrun the four strong men. They caught me. Being caugh
I don't know when they talked about this, but their plan changed. They become more ambitious. However, there was also a part of me that these people might succeed. They were four strong men, and the beast was only one. I - the man- continued to beg to let me go. I even told them that I would tell them the place where I dug the sweet potatoes. But the men seemed to lose interest in the potatoes, they wanted meat instead. In the end, they locked me up and did not even bother to give me food or water. As I waited for the next day, the hunger was starting to kill me. Without food or water, I was starved there for the whole day. I could only wait for death. But no matter how much I waited, the men did not come back. The next day came, and I was still alive. The starvation was too much that I really wish everything here would end. But no one came to take my life. Even those bastards did not come back. I could only torture myself slowly to death. This continued for three days. I w
I opened my mouth, and shouted as much as I can. 'Lucas, rope! Take the rope!' Lucas! Tie him up! To the pillar! Lucas! However, my voice was so small. The black mass around me was preventing my movements or letting out my voice. How could Lucas hear me then? There's no other way. I need to take control of the demon's mouth. This made me remember the time I was going under phase three when I merged with the demon. That world was my world and the demon's. Since we are merging, it is our world alone. I could only win by defeating that demon in that world. But unlike right now, I have no way to defeat it like in phase three. First because, I am against an ancient demon who had a lot of soul power than I am. Fighting with the demon, was making the demon swallow me a lot easier. Since that was the case, then I could only control things within this demon but not dominate it. Lucas said I could be whatever I am in my world. Since we are merging, I could also at least do a little bit.
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