by Kat Cho
Somin screamed.
Before anyone could stop him, not-Jihoon jumped up and sprinted away, out the front door.
39
STILL TOO DIZZY to stand, Somin crawled to Dubu. The dog stood, snarling at the closing door. Jihoon’s blood stained her mouth, and Somin tried to wipe it away, but it was too matted.
She scooped Dubu into her arms. The dog’s growls made her body vibrate, but Somin didn’t care. She hugged Dubu close and knelt beside her mother, whose chest rose and fell evenly, a bruise blooming at her temple.
“Somin-ah,” Junu said, kneeling beside her.
“We have to call 1-1-9, get my mom to the hospital,” Somin said, trying to stand, but found it impossible while still holding a squirming Dubu tight to her side.
“Somin-ah, we have to talk.”
“I have to take care of my mother. And Dubu. She might be hurt. Oh God, what if she has internal bleeding?” Somin didn’t even know who she was talking about anymore as she finally managed to sit up, still cradling Dubu in her arms.
“Somin-ah.” Junu turned her to face him. “You’re in shock. Just take a deep breath. Miyoung is calling an ambulance.”
Somin’s muscles trembled as she let them relax a fraction, letting the wiggling dog free. She finally focused on Junu. And suddenly her anxiety coalesced into a new emotion: anger. “What the hell just happened?”
Junu winced, but Somin didn’t care.
“She’s back,” he said.
“Who is?”
Junu’s brow furrowed as he hesitated.
“Who is?” Somin asked again.
“My evil ex.”
“Your what?”
“These idiots opened some kind of magical jar and let out that damn fox spirit,” Miyoung said, pocketing her phone. She stepped over to them, and Somin could make out the start of a bruise on Miyoung’s cheek.
“The jar itself isn’t magical,” Junu began, then stopped when Miyoung’s and Somin’s eyes whipped to him accusingly.
“So you took Jihoon to some kind of supernatural prison and let him open it?” Somin asked, pushing her fingers against her temples, trying to stave off her headache.
“When we went to find my bangmangi, Jihoon touched the vase before I could tell him what it was.”
“Oh yeah? Or did you purposefully not tell him because you love withholding things and you thought that Jihoon was too beneath you to deserve to know?”
Junu lowered his eyes, and Somin knew she’d hit on the truth.
“Usually a human body is not a good vessel for a spirit. I didn’t even think it was a possibility that Sinhye would get free, let alone get hold of the perfect vessel.”
“What does that mean?” Somin asked.
“Jihoon’s held the energy of a gumiho before. It’s like he was conditioned to hold Sinhye’s soul.”
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell us any of this before.”
“I just figured out what happened. I didn’t realize the tear between the worlds had weakened the lock on Sinhye’s prison.”
“I should never have let Jihoon go with you,” Somin said.
“You can’t control everyone around you,” Junu said. “No matter how much you might want to.”
That caused Somin’s anger to flare. “You’re one to talk when you’re always manipulating everyone around you all the time. I can’t believe I let myself forget that.” The doorbell rang, interrupting her tirade.
“Somin,” Junu said, reaching for her hand. But she turned away from him to open the door for the paramedics.
40
SOMIN DIDN’T KNOW what was stronger right now, her headache or her fear.
Her friend was somehow possessed by an evil spirit. A spirit that wanted to hurt Junu. Would do anything to hurt him, it seemed. What if she hurt Jihoon?
The thought scared Somin so much she didn’t even realize she was pacing until she rammed into an empty hospital bed and stubbed her toe. She cursed, then looked furtively at her mother asleep on the other bed.
She had lain there after the doctors left, staring at the ceiling. “Your appa isn’t back, is he,” her mother had said. It hadn’t been a question.
“No, he’s not back,” Somin replied. And her mother had turned on her side and gone to sleep. As if being awake in a world without the man she still loved had sapped all of her energy.
And leaving Somin alone with nothing but her thoughts and her worry to keep her company. Well, and the ghosts. They floated through the halls, seemingly unnoticed by most. Though some of the nurses seemed more nervous than normal. Things were getting bad. Even if people couldn’t see the ghosts, they could definitely sense them. There was a tenseness in the air here. Less chatter than normal and more people keeping their heads down as they made their way through the halls.
Somin wanted to bring her mother home, but the hospital wanted to keep her overnight for observation, and when Somin had tried to argue, they didn’t budge.
When her mother had first woken up, she claimed she remembered nothing. She didn’t even know Jihoon had been at their house. Somin wondered whether that was true or whether it was her mother’s strange way of protecting Jihoon.
Miyoung and Junu went to search for Sinhye, and despite her intense desire to go with them, she’d been too worried about her mother. So she stayed in the hospital.
Somin was rubbing her throbbing toe when her phone beeped. When she saw Jihoon’s number flash across the screen, she slipped out of the hospital room quietly and swiped to answer.
“Where are you?” she asked, praying that Jihoon had somehow regained control.
“Somin-ah,” rang Changwan’s bright voice. “We’re in Jihoon’s old neighborhood, at that food cart in front of the kalguksu restaurant.”
“Why are you using Jihoon’s phone?” Somin asked carefully. Changwan’s tone was casual and calm, not the voice of someone who was being held against his will. Still, Somin’s heart beat so fast that she thought it would break free from her chest and flop onto the ground.
“Oh, I can’t find mine. I hope I left it at home and didn’t lose it. Again. My dad would kill me; it would be the second phone I’ve lost this month.”
“Why are you calling me?” Somin asked, careful to keep her tone even.
“Oh, Jihoon-ah said I should call and ask you to come out and meet us. Are you busy?”
What game is this fox spirit playing? Somin wondered. “No, I’m not busy.”
“Great,” Changwan said. “We’ll just hang out until you get here.”
There was a murmur of a voice that Somin recognized as Jihoon’s and she strained to listen, but the words were too muted. She didn’t have to wonder long, because Changwan said, “Jihoon says you should hurry.”
Somin checked her phone again to see if Junu or Miyoung had texted her back as she hurried up the street from the bus stop. Her message sat in the chat: I found Jihoon. He’s in his old neighborhood.
But neither had replied. She started to call Miyoung again, when someone stepped out of the corner convenience store and blocked her path.
“Excuse me,” Somin said as she tried to skirt past, but the person moved to block her.
She finally looked up, about to tell them off, and stopped short. Mr. Ahn sneered at her, a half-drunk bottle of soju in his fist. “Where’s that good-for-nothin’ son of mine?” His breath reeked and his words slurred.
I don’t have time for this. “I don’t know.”
“I know he’s staying with you. Mooching off you while he keeps all that money for himself.”
“Mr. Ahn, please, I don’t know where he is, and I have somewhere to be.” She tried to step to the left and he came with her, but she’d anticipated it this time and swerved back to the right, sprinting past him before he could recover.
“Ya!” he shouted afte
r her. “I want my money.”
Somin raised a hand in a wave (when, really, she wanted to raise just one particular finger) and raced down the street. She hoped she wasn’t too late.
* * *
o o o
Somin wasn’t sure if she should be grateful or terrified to find Changwan and not-Jihoon chatting amicably at the plastic stools beside the food cart. The ajumma manning it was lazily stirring the broth that held the eomuk, usually Somin’s favorite. She could smell the scent of fish cakes wafting through the air. It joined the spicy aroma of the tteok-bokki, little rice cake tubules, simmering in a sauce so red it would burn your lips and stain your clothes.
The light from the sign of the neighboring kalguksu store lit the street with a neon glow. EOMMA SOHN. Mother’s touch. It reminded Somin of her mother lying in a hospital bed, sparking her anger.
Not-Jihoon spotted her first. No, Junu said her name was Sinhye, back when she’d had her own body and wasn’t stealing one from Somin’s best friend.
Sinhye let a smile spread on Jihoon’s face. Sharp and predatory. Then she smoothed it out, like an expert actress.
“Somin-ah, took you long enough,” Sinhye sang out.
Changwan turned, a wooden skewer with a half-eaten eomuk clutched in his hand. “Somin-ah,” he said, waving, but he’d forgotten he held the skewer and the eomuk went flying off, falling to the ground with a splat. Changwan’s face fell like a puppy who’d lost his treat.
“Changwan-ah,” Somin said, and purposefully didn’t address Sinhye. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at your hakwon studying for the suneung exam?”
“The class doesn’t start for another hour,” Changwan said with a bright grin, like he expected Somin to be happy about this fact.
Instead it made her search her brain for another reason to get Changwan to go. She didn’t trust Sinhye to leave him unscathed. He was obviously a tool in whatever sick, twisted game the fox spirit was playing.
And though Somin never liked to take advantage of Changwan’s kind soul, she did it now for his own good. “I am just not in the mood for tteok-bokki or eomuk.”
“They have kimbap,” Changwan offered.
“I just really want Shin ramyeon from the convenience store,” Somin said, pouting. “I’m really craving it, actually.”
“I can go get it,” Changwan offered, jumping up. And Somin felt her chest constrict a bit with guilt. He was so sweet, and if she got her way, they’d be long gone when he came back. But any hurt feelings would be worth it to protect him.
“Thank you, Changwan-ah. And don’t forget the cheese slice,” she said, gifting him with a giant smile.
He nodded emphatically to let her know he’d heard. “Do you want anything, Jihoon-ah?”
“No, I’m stuffed,” Sinhye said, her eyes never leaving Somin.
They both waited until Changwan had jogged down the street before either spoke.
“You could have let him stay. He was so cute. I wasn’t done playing,” Sinhye said, her eyes tilting with malice.
“What do you want?”
“Ah, I see we won’t be exchanging pleasantries.” Sinhye stood up, eating the last bite of eomuk, letting her teeth run along the skewer. “That’s fine. I like to get down to business, too.”
“And what’s that?”
“Not here. Let’s take a walk.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you,” Somin said.
“If you don’t, then I’ll be very upset and I might have to take it out on your sweet friend Changwan.”
Somin didn’t want to believe Sinhye would actually hurt Changwan, but from what Junu had said, it sounded like this fox spirit could be capable of anything, so she nodded. “Where are we going?”
“I don’t know this area that well. So you decide. Somewhere private. And remember that if you try to lose me, I’ll just double back and let Changwan help me with my little task.” Sinhye grinned, and there was no kindness in it.
“Fine,” Somin said, her mind spinning. She wasn’t someone who would willingly walk into a trap. And that’s definitely what this was. But she also hadn’t had time to plan any countermoves. For the first time, she cursed herself for looking down at Jihoon’s computer games; at least they required strategic thinking. But now, when she needed something clever, her mind was a blank. Then she remembered something Miyoung had told her. It seemed far-fetched, but it was better than nothing. “I know where we can go.”
They walked up the steep road, and Somin watched Sinhye closely. She was trying to find some kind of weakness to take advantage of. But if it was possible, Jihoon’s body seemed even more invigorated. Like it was powered by the fox spirit inside.
Somin stared at the abandoned building. Jihoon’s old home. Halmeoni’s old restaurant. She felt a petty satisfaction in the fact that Jihoon’s old landlord hadn’t found someone to rent the space yet. Served him right for pushing Jihoon out of the lease and raising the rent.
Somin scanned the street but tried to look like she wasn’t. It was empty. Had it always been this quiet? Or did it just seem that way because she was so desperate for help?
“This will do,” the fox spirit said.
“Well, I guess I’ll leave you to your nefarious plans, then.” Somin turned to go, but Sinhye was too quick and grabbed Somin’s arm.
“You can’t go before you give me the tour.” A sharp smile, maniacal as a jack-o’-lantern’s, split Sinhye’s face.
Somin’s mouth was suddenly dry. What would happen to her if she went into the building with this gumiho? Would she ever come out again?
“Well, look who we have here.”
Somin’s knees weakened with relief at the sound of the voice.
“Hwang Halmeoni.” Somin hoped her voice sounded steady. She couldn’t give away her nerves. Not now. The old woman stepped out onto the platform outside the medicinal wine store. “Are you well?”
The woman gave a gruff chuckle. She sat and started to unscrew a small glass jar. It must be what she’d been inside fetching. Usually Hwang Halmeoni sat all day long on her platform, observing the neighborhood. It’s what Somin had been counting on. The woman started to rub the ointment on her legs.
“What is this?” Sinhye hissed, her hand tightening on Somin’s arm.
Somin lowered her voice so only Sinhye could hear. “If you don’t want to look suspicious, then follow my lead. It would be weird for Jihoon not to say hello to Hwang Halmeoni.”
Sinhye studied Somin’s face. Somin tried to keep her expression neutral. It felt like her lips were quivering, but it seemed Sinhye accepted the story, because she let go and turned to Hwang Halmeoni with an overly bright smile and a bow.
“I’ve missed you two sorely,” Hwang Halmeoni said, her eyes shifting to take in Sinhye as well. They narrowed ever so slightly before returning to Somin. “What brings you back my way?”
“We’re just visiting the old place. We’ve missed it,” Somin said, hoping her voice sounded casual.
“Something odd is happening,” Hwang Halmeoni said ominously, and Somin could feel Sinhye stiffen beside her.
“Have you seen them? The spirits?” Hwang Halmeoni said, and Somin let out a breath of relief.
“Yes, I have, but don’t worry, you’re safe,” she said.
“Oh, don’t worry, I know how to handle a wayward ghost or two. Though I’ve never seen so many at a time before,” she said. “You two take care, and don’t be a stranger after this. I hardly get any visitors anymore with the restaurant closed.”
“Of course,” Somin said with a smile. Then she hesitated. It took all her willpower not to glance at Sinhye. Somin had to tread carefully here. “I hear you’ve kept in touch with Miyoung lately. I’ll bring her by, too.”
Hwang Halmeoni nodded with a mild smile, and anxiety sliced through Somin. Had her message not got
ten across? Miyoung said that Hwang Halmeoni was supposed to call her whenever Jihoon came by to visit the restaurant. Would she do so now? Or had she forgotten about her promise?
“Come on,” Sinhye said.
Somin was barely able to give a bow of goodbye before she was yanked toward the restaurant.
“I thought people from your time were more respectful to elders,” Somin muttered as she almost tripped over her own feet.
“I didn’t mingle with the people that much,” Sinhye said. “Being a monster and all.”
The words might have garnered some sympathy from Somin, but seeing as she was currently being held hostage, she didn’t have much pity to spare for the gumiho.
Most of the doors of the building were locked, but Somin knew a trick with the back door. If you jiggled it in just the right way, then it would come loose. She didn’t know how many times she and Jihoon had nagged Halmeoni to get it fixed.
It looked weird to see the back of the restaurant without any dirty dishware waiting to be washed. Now it was just a cold industrial room with scuffed counters and a wide, dripping sink. There were so many memories Somin could practically hear the echo of voices. As if the space were haunted. Somin’s eyes drifted to the fox spirit. “What now?”
“Now I do my villain monologue,” Sinhye said.
The declaration shocked Somin into silence.
Sinhye moved about the room. It was so odd. Somin was used to Jihoon in this space. It should have looked familiar. But there was a way the fox spirit moved that was so foreign to her. Like watching a puppet master move Jihoon in unnatural ways.
“I was trapped for a millennium. Can you imagine what that feels like?” Sinhye gave Somin a dismissive look. “No, of course you can’t. Betrayed by the one you thought you loved. Kept in that damned jar by his own magic. Floating in a nothingness. But I could hear the whisper of other spirits. I could hear them talking. And one day, I could hear that they were excited. Something had changed. And it was like a veil was lifted. I could feel the energy of the world. I could practically taste it. I knew it would be my only chance to open my prison. But I knew I’d have to bide my time. I didn’t want to be a bodiless spirit floating through the world. I needed a vessel.” She wandered the room, running her hands over the shelving. Opening empty cabinets. Somin winced every time they slammed shut again. “I thought about taking hold of Junu. But a dokkaebi’s body is a strange thing. A vessel already, built especially for his soul. It would not stretch to accommodate another. But your friend.” She gestured down toward Jihoon’s body. “Fits like a glove. I could taste the energy of another gumiho on him. It was all so deliciously perfect.”