Vicious Spirits

by Kat Cho

“Dammit.” Somin huffed. She’d thought she’d hit on something there.

  “I hate to bring it up, but . . . aren’t you a dokkaebi?” Jihoon said to Junu.

  “And?” Junu lifted his brow imperviously.

  “Yeah,” Somin said. Why hadn’t she thought of this herself? It was a solution staring them all in the face. “Don’t you have a bangmangi, too? Could you use it to find Miyoung’s bead?”

  Junu shook his head. “No.”

  “No, you can’t use it? Or no, you don’t want to use it?” Jihoon asked.

  “I don’t have it anymore,” Junu said.

  “Anymore? So you did have one. Where is it now?” Jihoon asked.

  “Not here.”

  “Okay, well, tell us where it is and we’ll go get it,” Somin said.

  “No.”

  “Why not?” Somin wanted to shake Junu. He was usually so chatty, and now he was barely answering them.

  “It’s somewhere I can’t go,” Junu said, turning his back to them. His shoulders were hunched defensively. Classic avoidance pose.

  “Can’t? Or won’t?” Miyoung asked.

  “I’m sorry, it’s not possible,” Junu said. “We’ll have to find another way.”

  “There is no other way,” Jihoon said. “We should have known. You said you were here to help, but you’re still the same selfish jerk we’ve always known. Why don’t you just go?”

  And Junu did. Without so much as a reply, he opened the door and left.

  “Jihoon-ah,” Somin chastised. “Why did you have to say that?”

  “What? He never listens to me. How was I to know he’d do it now?”

  Somin shook her head and chased after Junu.

  She caught up with him as he waited for the elevator. “You can’t just leave like that.”

  “I don’t see the point in staying. None of you trust me. I have nothing to offer you. Why should I be here?” Junu wouldn’t even look at her.

  There was a moment where the words seemed to encompass more than just this moment. But Somin couldn’t think of that right now. She knew that if Junu left, then their chances of saving Miyoung would be leaving with him.

  “Please, your bangmangi might be the only hope we have to save Miyoung,” Somin said.

  “There’s no guarantee of that,” Junu said, finally looking at her. “And even if there was, it’s not in a place we can ever enter. It’s not safe.”

  “Why not?”

  Junu shook his head. “I can’t talk about that.”

  “Please, Junu. I wouldn’t ask this for myself, but it’s Miyoung. She needs us. She’s had everything taken from her. She has no one.”

  “And that’s my fault, right? That’s what you’re trying to say?” Junu turned away from her, but he didn’t leave. He paced a few steps away, then paced back, rubbing his hands over his face.

  “I’m not saying that—” Somin began, but Junu held up his hand. He closed his eyes, and it seemed Junu was having an internal war with himself.

  “Dammit,” Junu muttered, and Somin knew she’d won. “Well, let’s go back inside if we’re going to figure this out. It’s not going to be fun. I can promise you that.”

  “Thank you,” Somin said, but he’d already started back down the hall and she had to jog to catch up with his long strides.

  He stopped in front of her apartment. “Just open the door before I change my mind.”

  16

  MIYOUNG STOOD UP, needing to move. Needing to do something with the anxious energy that was building up inside of her.

  “We’ll figure something out,” Jihoon said.

  “I’ll figure something out,” Miyoung corrected him.

  Jihoon stood and took her hand in his to stop her pacing. “When are you going to realize you’re not alone in all of this?”

  “When the people I care about aren’t being forced to risk themselves because of mistakes I made,” Miyoung said, pulling her hand free.

  Before Jihoon could reply, Junu walked back in with Somin.

  “If we do this, then you need to be aware of a few things,” Junu said. “First, there’s no guarantee that the bangmangi can summon Miyoung’s bead. The magic isn’t all-powerful; it has limits. A dokkaebi usually uses it to summon riches or food from a stash he has close by, usually small, inconsequential things. I’ve never heard of one reaching beyond the world of the living. And I’ve never heard of one summoning something as powerful as a yeowu guseul. So it’s very possible it won’t work.”

  Somin started to speak, but he shook his head to stop her.

  “Plus, I haven’t used my own bangmangi since I first became a dokkaebi. I don’t know if I have the skill to help Miyoung find her bead.”

  “It’s our only hope,” Miyoung said.

  “I know, but it’s a shaky hope at best,” Junu said.

  “But you’ll still go get it? You’ll at least try?” Somin asked.

  “I’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning,” Junu said.

  “Why?” Jihoon asked. “If you say we only have days, why not go today?”

  “I have to make some preparations first,” Junu said vaguely. “And if I’m going to do this, it means you all have to trust me. No second-guessing how I do things.”

  “Fine,” Somin said.

  “I’m going with you,” Miyoung said.

  “Are you sure you’re up for that?” Somin asked.

  “Of course,” Miyoung said, but her declaration was weak and breathy.

  “I’ll move faster without you,” Junu said.

  “This is my life you’re talking about,” Miyoung said. “I should do something.”

  Instead of replying, Junu pushed against her shoulder. Miyoung fell back, plopping onto the couch. “You’re too weak. It’s a long hike to get to the bangmangi,” Junu said. “You’ll have to trust me on this, whether you like it or not.”

  “Fine, I have a headache. I’m going to go lie down.” Miyoung knew she sounded like a petulant child, but she didn’t want to stand around discussing how weak and useless she was right now.

  So she stormed into the bedroom, closing the door behind her.

  She was frustrated at how weak she still felt and tired of depending on other people to solve her problems. Just like her mother. Always like her mother.

  “Miyoung,” Junu said, slipping into the room.

  “Usually when someone closes a door, it means they want you to stay on the other side,” Miyoung said.

  “Yeah, but I was never really good at taking a hint,” Junu said with a smile.

  “Yeah, I know,” she muttered.

  Junu stood by the door, not moving to come farther into the room but not leaving. He seemed to be debating something, so Miyoung finally rolled her eyes and said, “What?”

  “You should know something,” he finally said.

  Miyoung wondered what game Junu was playing here. It had been hard enough to accept that he’d help by going to find his bangmangi, but Junu loved to keep information to himself so he could use it as leverage later. She wondered what price she’d have to pay for what he was about to tell her.

  “There’s a reason I know about the tear,” Junu said.

  “Yes, one of your mysterious confidential sources,” Miyoung said. “I know all about your privacy policy.”

  “Yeah, except this time it doesn’t apply,” Junu said. “Because I made a promise to help you, so I think you deserve to know this, especially since it affects your life. Or the length of it at least.”

  “What are you trying to say?” Miyoung asked, trepidation sparking in her chest.

  “A jeoseung saja told me about the tear. Because it’s affecting the order of death.”

  “A reaper?” Miyoung whispered, and her knees went so weak she had to sit on the bed. “Are they coming for
me?”

  “A reaper?” Jihoon said from the doorway.

  “Does no one respect privacy anymore?” Miyoung complained.

  “I would, except I know you two and your habit of keeping dangerous secrets,” Jihoon said.

  “Where’s Somin?” Junu asked.

  “Her mother just came home. She’s helping with the groceries.”

  “Well, why don’t we invite both of them in here? Since we’re having a party now,” Miyoung said sarcastically.

  “Tell me about the reaper,” Jihoon said, turning to Junu.

  “There’s nothing much to tell. They’re here because of the tear between the worlds. But we’ll fix it before they have a reason to go after Miyoung.”

  “That’s why you said we didn’t have much time,” Jihoon said.

  “We don’t, but we will fix this,” Junu said. “I don’t make promises I can’t keep.”

  “Then I’m coming with you to find the bangmangi,” Jihoon said.

  “What? No,” Miyoung said, standing again.

  “Please, let me do this,” Jihoon said, taking her hand in his. “After everything you did for me last spring.”

  “Our relationship isn’t a scorecard,” Miyoung said with a scowl. “You don’t owe me anything.”

  “No, but I want to do this,” Jihoon said. “There are still people in this world who love you.”

  “You can’t use that against me,” Miyoung said.

  “What? Me use something against you?” Jihoon said with an easy grin. “That doesn’t sound like me. I’m too charming and easygoing to resort to those games.”

  “This isn’t a joke,” Miyoung said.

  “Of course it’s not; it’s your life. I take that very seriously.”

  “And I’m serious when I tell you that you’re not going. And I won’t forgive you if you do,” Miyoung said, adding a hard finality to her voice.

  “But—”

  “Give it up,” Junu said, laying a hand on Jihoon’s shoulder. “I don’t think you’re going to win this one.”

  Jihoon shrugged off Junu’s hand, but he didn’t try to argue again.

  “I’ll leave in the morning,” Junu said. “Just rest, Miyoung, and don’t worry.”

  She looked up at him, and if she didn’t know better, she’d have said she saw sincere concern on his handsome face.

  “I’ll stop worrying when we find my bead.”

  17

  USUALLY IF JUNU wanted to take a trip, he’d just book some luxury tickets on the mode of transportation he wished. Maybe a five-star hotel. A reservation at a nice restaurant if he had the time.

  But today he wanted to move quickly, which meant he was traveling light.

  He was already annoyed that he had to wake up at such an ungodly hour on a Tuesday. But he supposed this was what he’d signed up for.

  He’d already taken his car out of storage—a bright yellow Porsche 911—it begged for speeding tickets, but he loved it. And if he had to travel hours across the country, then at least he’d do it in style.

  At the knock on his front door, he opened it to find Somin. Déjà vu struck him from the other night, and suddenly he was remembering what had gone down the last time she’d shown up unexpectedly. He was grateful he didn’t blush or else his pale complexion would have given him away.

  “What are you doing here?” he asked. “Want to come along?”

  “No, I wanted to talk to you in private.” Somin stepped into the foyer.

  Junu let a smile spread over his lips, and he couldn’t help glancing at the doorway to the library. “Is that so?”

  “Get your brain out of the gutter,” Somin said. “I need to ask you a favor.”

  “What kind of favor?” Junu asked, wiggling his brows.

  “Can you be serious for one freaking second?” The frustration in her voice wouldn’t have bothered him, but he heard fear beneath it and sobered.

  “Okay, what do you need?”

  “I know Jihoon’s going on this trip no matter what,” Somin said.

  “Miyoung said no.”

  “Yeah, well, whatever conversation they had didn’t work. He told me he’s determined.”

  “Then why are you here? Why don’t you try to talk to him directly?”

  “Of course I tried,” Somin said. “But he’s so bullheaded—” She cut off with a sigh.

  Junu wondered if she realized she was just as hardheaded as her best friend, two peas in a very annoyingly stubborn pod.

  “Since he insists on going with you,” Somin said, “I need you to promise you’ll take care of him. I need you to promise it in a way that will make me believe you.”

  Junu almost laughed at how she phrased it. Like no matter what, she truly thought he could never make her believe in him. It made him more determined to prove her wrong. This time it was easy to be sincere, because he had every intention of protecting Ahn Jihoon. There was no way he’d lose face by letting a mortal die while with him. And maybe Junu did kind of like Jihoon sometimes. Of course, he couldn’t let him know that. They had such a great frenemy thing going on.

  “I’ll take care of him,” Junu said. “If I make a promise, I keep it. It’s how I stay in business.”

  Somin nodded. “Thank you. And please don’t tell Jihoon that I asked you to look after him. It’ll just annoy him.”

  “So what?” Junu asked. “You’re his friend, aren’t you?”

  “He won’t like it if he knows I talked to you about him behind his back.”

  “Am I really so bad that Jihoon doesn’t want you talking about him to me?” Junu asked.

  “It’s not just you,” Somin said. Which meant it was still partially him, and that made Junu’s hackles rise. “Recently, Jihoon has felt like he’s had no control over things.”

  “Well, can you blame the guy?” Junu asked. Even he thought that Ahn Jihoon had gone through an avalanche of unfortunate events in the few months Junu had known him. Almost dying. Miyoung secretly putting her own fox bead into him to save his life. Having that same fox bead almost kill him. Losing his halmeoni. And now losing his childhood home. If Junu were one who cared about such things, he’d feel bad for the guy.

  “So, if he thought you were asking me this favor behind his back, then he’d feel like you were taking some kind of control away from him? That’s bull,” Junu said. “He’d care if you were hurting because of him.”

  “I’m not hurting. I’m just a little worried, but I can get over it on my own.”

  “You do this all the time for him, don’t you?” Junu mused. “You bury your own feelings and prioritize him over yourself. That’s not healthy. You need to just be honest with people sometimes. It makes things much easier.”

  “You mean how you’re so honest?” Somin asked, raising a brow.

  “What was it?” Junu asked, not letting her derail him. “What happened to make you put Jihoon before yourself all the time?”

  “What makes you think something happened?”

  “I can read people well.”

  “It’s none of your business,” Somin said.

  Junu also knew when he wasn’t going to get far with a person. And Somin was like a vault locked tight. “Fine, you don’t have to tell me,” he said. “But you know exactly why you give up so much of yourself for him, and maybe it’s time for you to consider whether that’s good for either of you.”

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Somin lowered her head, but not before Junu saw the glint of tears in her eyes.

  “I don’t like seeing you unhappy,” Junu admitted. “Which you might find hard to believe. But at least believe that I’m an observant person. I see that you hide your own unhappiness so you can focus on Jihoon, and it’s rotting your soul,” Junu said, reaching forward to catch one of her tears with his finger. Somin pushe
d his hand away and rubbed at her face with her sleeve. It should have looked like a petulant motion, but it just made Junu want to hold her. Why did she bring out this protective feeling in him? He knew she didn’t need his protection. But if he could protect her, he knew it would make him feel good, like he was somehow proving himself? But to whom?

  “You’re so dramatic,” Somin said. “‘Rotting your soul’! We’re not in an Edgar Allan Poe poem.”

  “Ah, what a nice reference,” Junu said. “You’re paying attention in class.”

  “I know what you’re doing,” Somin said. “You’re trying to distract me from my worries by being annoying.”

  “Is it working?” Junu asked with a wry grin.

  She cracked a smile, and he knew it was.

  18

  “YOU WANT COFFEE?” Junu asked, and it was such a sudden shift in the conversation that Somin blinked in confusion.

  “Come on, I’ll make you a latte.” Junu led the way to his kitchen, and Somin had no choice but to follow him. Her eyes slid to the door to the library before she rushed after him.

  “I didn’t come here to socialize,” Somin said.

  “Of course you didn’t,” Junu said, starting up the espresso machine. He held out the first mug, and when she reached for it, he held on a moment. “What do you wish to accomplish in this life?” he asked.

  “What do you mean?” Somin frowned.

  Junu shrugged and finally let go of the mug. “It’s something someone asked me once. I think it means what’s your most secret, selfish desire.”

  “I want to leave,” Somin said. It surprised her to hear those words coming out of her own lips. She never thought she’d say them aloud. Like speaking about it would feed it. And she’d spent so long waiting for the desire to die from malnutrition.

  “Where would you go?” Junu asked as he picked up the other mug and took a sip.

  “I don’t know,” she admitted. “Just somewhere that wasn’t here. Somewhere I could experience.”

  Junu smiled. “I think I know what you mean. That’s not so selfish. It seems like a good wish.”

  She shook her head and put her mug on the counter. She was suddenly feeling too wired for coffee. “That’s all it is. A wish. It’ll never become reality. I could never leave my mother and Jihoon all alone.”