by Kat Cho
Sinhye’s jaw clenched, and the hand holding Miyoung’s arm tightened. “And what’s that?”
“People who care enough to help him. That’s why you’re here, helpless, unable to do anything. Actually, now that I think about it, you’re trapped. Again.”
Sinhye’s hand whipped out, grabbing Miyoung’s arm. “Don’t push me, girl.”
Miyoung swung out so fast that Sinhye didn’t have time to react. Her fist connected with Sinhye’s temple and sent her careening onto the bed, knocked out cold.
“No. You shouldn’t push me,” Miyoung said.
47
JUNU WOKE SLOWLY, reaching out for Somin. But the bed beside him was empty and cold.
He shuffled into the hallway, turning at the sound of low, murmuring voices. Miyoung and Somin sat at the kitchen table, both cradling steaming mugs of boricha. But neither drank. Junu was about to join them, when Miyoung said, “What are you going to do about Junu?”
“I don’t know what to do for him. I didn’t realize how much he’s kept bottled inside. It scares me a little,” Somin said.
Junu flattened himself against the wall, melting back into the shadows of the hallway.
“He lived for centuries before he met either of us. There’s no knowing what ghosts he carries with him.”
“Sometimes I can forget that he’s lived through so much. Then I’m reminded of it in the way he talks or the way he thinks, and I worry that we just come from different times. Maybe too different. I know how to fight a lot of things, but I don’t know how to fight that.”
Miyoung gave a sad smile. “Immortality is a heavy burden to carry. For immortals and for the people who love them.”
“Is that why you didn’t want to be a gumiho anymore? Because you knew it would be too hard for you and Jihoon if you were?”
Miyoung let out a bitter laugh. “I don’t know. I didn’t give up that life just for Jihoon. I did it for me. But I like imagining what it would be like to grow old with him. To grow old at all.”
“Sinhye can’t hold on to him forever. We’ll find a way to get her out of Jihoon.”
“She has so much hate in her for Junu. It makes her powerful,” Miyoung whispered. “I’m scared she’d rather destroy herself and Jihoon before she lets go of him.”
“We won’t let her do that,” Somin said. “Jihoon’s not just my friend. He’s my family. I can’t lose him.”
“We won’t,” Miyoung insisted. “I won’t let him go. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
“We all have to do whatever it takes,” Somin said.
Junu slipped away, no longer comfortable listening in. There was a low pressure in his chest. Equal parts worry and guilt. He doubted anyone had ever spoken about him with the conviction they had when they spoke of Ahn Jihoon. But then again, had he ever done anything to earn such loyalty? Such love?
She has so much hate in her for Junu. It makes her powerful. Miyoung was right. Sinhye wouldn’t be hurting them all if not for Junu and her hatred for him. He’d brought this on them all. He was the reason for their pain.
Frustration filled him as he shoved his hands into his pockets. His fingers brushed the edge of a business card, and he pulled it out. He was still wearing the same clothes he’d worn to the amusement park yesterday. It was the card from the little girl. The mystery number she’d been so confident he’d call. When you find hidden the one that seeks to harm, you’ll call.
The hidden one that seeks to harm. Sinhye.
Junu cursed under his breath. And he took out his phone to call the number.
48
JUNU SAT ON the bench at the bus stop, glancing up and down the road every time a car approached. It was late enough that he’d missed rush hour, but early enough that the sun still hung low in the sky. Junu wondered, not for the first time, what he was doing here. But like every other time, he reminded himself that there was only one day left to help Miyoung. He had to do something. And he waited some more as he tapped the business card against his leg.
“You’re prompt.”
The woman was younger than he’d been expecting, but perhaps still old enough to be called a halmeoni. She had white streaks in her black hair. Her face was so thin that her cheekbones were prominent under her tan skin. There was something vaguely familiar about her, but Junu couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
“I’ve never gotten such an . . . interesting message before,” Junu said, still trying to place the woman in his memory and drawing a frustrating blank. “I hope you weren’t breaking any juvenile labor laws.”
“I heard you like to use humor as a way to shield yourself. Good to know my sources are accurate.” The woman sat beside Junu on the bench.
“Why don’t you give me your message instead of wasting both of our time?”
“You seek answers,” she said.
When she didn’t continue, Junu asked, “Do you have any?”
“You seek something you lost.”
This piqued Junu’s interest, and he sat up straighter. “Do you know where my bangmangi is?”
The woman chuckled. “I know how you do business, dokkaebi. And I know that you don’t give anything up for free. Neither do I.”
Junu chuckled. Whether or not he trusted this woman, he could at least respect her.
“What’s the cost of your information?” Junu asked; money was no problem for him.
“The cost is a trade.”
“What kind of trade?” Junu asked, suspicion blooming.
“The fox spirit for your bangmangi.”
“And what do you want with Sinhye?”
“Not me—my family’s sansin.”
“Your family?”
Now the woman turned to face him, and at that angle, with that look in her eyes, he knew why she seemed familiar. “You’re descended from that shaman. The one who turned me.”
“She was my ancestor. And my family has faithfully served that sansin for centuries.”
“Then why are you here? That sansin is not a fan of mine.”
“I’m just delivering a message. You met my emo the last time you went to visit our mountain. She’ll wait for you by the cave tomorrow. If you still seek your bangmangi, then she will take you to have an audience with the sansin. But in return, he wants the fox spirit.”
“There’s a bit of a problem,” Junu said. “That fox spirit is currently possessing my friend. If I give her to you, I want her removed from his body first.”
“If she is possessing a human, then she should be expelled soon enough,” the shaman said.
Junu shook his head. “No, he’s an ideal vessel for her.”
The shaman hummed in concern. “How long has she been possessing him?”
“For almost three days.”
“So you must sever her bond to the body,” the shaman said. “There is a way if you’re willing to pay the price.”
“What price?” Junu asked.
“It requires a sacrifice.”
“Like a life for a life?” Junu asked, wondering if he could do it, if he could bring himself to kill again, even if it meant saving Jihoon.
“No, not that simple. The soul you wish to sever from her vessel is immortal, so the soul you must sacrifice has to be immortal, too.”
“Immortal,” Junu repeated slowly.
“Yes, to cut the immortal spirit out of your friend, another immortal spirit must cut its ties to the world of the living. An even trade.”
“Even trade,” Junu murmured. And he knew exactly how to pay back his debt to Miyoung. How to save Jihoon. How to make sure Somin didn’t lose her best friend.
He had to die.
49
JUNU WAS QUIET when he returned. Using a back door that no one knew about but him to avoid any unwanted questions as he made his way to the bedroom door surrounded by bujeoks. When h
e opened it, he wasn’t surprised to see Sinhye sitting on the edge of the bed as if she’d been waiting for him.
“Hello, lover.” Sinhye flashed a sharp smile.
“We need to talk,” Junu said, closing the door behind him and flicking the lock.
“Of course.” She patted the bed beside him. But instead Junu sat in the armchair across the room.
“I have a deal for you.”
“Ah, I was wondering when we’d get to this part.”
“Fine, if you don’t want to hear the deal, I can go.” Junu started to leave, but Sinhye stood up quickly.
“You might as well tell me,” she said.
He heard curiosity in her voice and knew he’d piqued her interest. “I’ll help you get revenge. I’ll help you kill the sansin.”
Now Sinhye’s eyes hardened. She became completely still, like she was waiting for the trap. “And what makes you think I want that?”
“Because you want revenge against those of us who trapped you. But you never thought that you could go up against a mountain god. Not with that mortal body. I can help you.”
Junu had thought this through his whole walk home. There were two things at stake here: his bangmangi and Jihoon. He had to be very careful how he orchestrated this dance. Sinhye had to come with him to the mountain if he was going to trade her for the bangmangi, but she couldn’t know about the second part of the plan or else she might try to run or hurt Jihoon’s body.
“What do you have that could kill a sansin?”
Junu hesitated. If he said it now, there would be no going back. But he knew he needed to do anything to convince her to come with him. If she didn’t come, his whole plan would fall apart. “Dokkaebi fire.”
Now Sinhye looked truly surprised for the first time. “Why would you use that, after what it did to your family?”
“How do you know about that?” Junu asked, surprise distracting him from his mission.
“Spirits talk. And I was trapped in the land of the spirits for a long time. Your mother and father were not restful souls. They lingered a long time on their hate. Perhaps they linger still.”
Junu truly hoped Sinhye was just trying to mess with him. He had no idea what would happen to his soul when he died, but he knew he didn’t want to meet the vengeful spirits of his parents if and when that happened.
“And why would you do such a dangerous thing? That’s not like my cowardly Junu.”
“You don’t know what I’m like anymore. Do you want my help or not?”
“I still don’t know why you want to give it.”
“Because I hate that sansin as much as you do. He wasn’t kind to me either back then. Plus.” Junu paused. This part was delicate, and he needed to be careful. “That sansin has my bangmangi and I need it back.”
“So, what? We get your dokkaebi staff and I get my revenge?” Sinhye sounded like she wasn’t quite buying Junu’s story. He didn’t really blame her. They’d both betrayed each other. They both had proven they weren’t to be trusted.
“Pretty much, and if it doesn’t work, you can just go back to your original plan of making me miserable.”
“You always were persuasive.” Sinhye chuckled. “This sounds like fun.”
* * *
o o o
Junu walked through the dark garage, bypassing the bright yellow Porsche. It was a beauty, but it wasn’t what he wanted right now. This wasn’t the time for being flashy. Not tonight. He pressed the key fob of a staid black Hyundai sedan. And as the headlights flashed, they lit up a dark figure.
He bit back a yelp but couldn’t quite slow his speeding pulse.
“Hyuk,” Junu said. “What are you doing here?”
“Whatever you’re planning,” Hyuk said. “You shouldn’t do it.”
“There really isn’t any other option. I’m doing what I must to close the tear.”
“You shouldn’t give your life for this,” Hyuk said.
“And why do you think that I’m risking my life?” Junu asked.
“I don’t know your plan, but I know what the result will be.” Hyuk held out a worn leather notebook.
“Is that what I think it is?” Junu eyed the journal.
“My list. The souls I must reap. And five minutes ago, your name appeared.”
Junu shook his head. “Maybe it will change.”
Hyuk moved closer so he could study Junu. “You don’t sound surprised.”
“What? Of course I’m surprised. It’s not every day a jeoseung saja warns a guy he’s about to die.”
“Yes, that’s true. Which means you should be much more upset.”
“I guess I’m just a really cool guy,” Junu said, trying to shrug off Hyuk’s suspicions.
“What are you planning?”
“I told you, it’s fine. It’s going to work.”
“Yes, I believe it will. I believe that whatever your plan is, you want to die in the end.”
Junu’s pulse leapt at the accusation, and he tried to step around to get to his car. But the reaper shifted, blocking his path.
“That’s ridiculous,” Junu said. “You know me. I’m always out for myself first. Why would I want to die?”
“You know, don’t you,” Hyuk said. “The price it will take to remove her soul from that human body.”
Junu realized he might as well come clean. Hyuk was a reaper, which meant when he was focused on something, there was no deterring him. “You knew how to do it, and you didn’t tell me. Why?”
“Because you’re different now. For as long as I knew you, you always looked out for yourself first, but that’s changed. I don’t know if it’s that human girl or that gumiho. But a part of you cares so much for them that I worried you’d do what you’re about to do.”
“It’s my decision,” Junu said, trying to move to the car again. Hyuk stopped him with a hand to the shoulder.
“Please don’t do this. I do not want to reap your soul.”
“When you come for my soul, can I give you something to deliver for me?”
Hyuk huffed. “That’s not my job.”
“I know, but I need you to deliver it for me anyway. Miyoung needs her bead back, and you need her to get it to close the tear,” Junu said. “I’m trusting you, old friend.” He stepped toward the car again, and this time the reaper let him.
50
SOMIN HAD ALMOST gotten used to the sleek kitchen in Junu’s apartment. She at least knew how to work the complicated espresso machine now. It was still early enough that everyone was sleeping, but Somin couldn’t, she was too anxious. She wanted to figure out a new plan, to find Miyoung’s bead, to get Sinhye out of Jihoon. To help her friends. But no matter how she’d turned things over in her head, she couldn’t find a solution. This supernatural world had too many secrets. She needed Junu’s help, his knowledge, his resources. She wouldn’t give up on her friends.
She carefully carried the steaming coffee to the other side of the apartment. Slowly opening the bedroom door, she knocked lightly.
“Junu?” she whispered, moving to the bed quietly. But as she approached, she realized it was empty.
“He left,” a voice said behind her.
Somin let out a shout, dropping the mug. It shattered, splashing coffee all over the pristine rug. Somin glared at the reaper who now stood at the foot of the bed, pressing a hand to her skipping heart. “You have to warn someone before you do that. Unless you’re trying to give me a heart attack and reap my soul.”
“No, I would never influence a person’s death if it wasn’t integral to keep the order of things.”
“What?” Somin frowned. “No, it was a joke—” She shook her head. “You know what, never mind. Where did Junu go?”
“He’s in danger. And you need to hold on to him.”
Her heart skipped a beat at the ominous
warning, but she took a steadying breath. “What kind of danger?”
“I shouldn’t be here. We do not interfere in the affairs of the living. I almost didn’t come. But he’ll die if you don’t hold on to him.”
“How?” Somin asked.
“He thinks that he can sacrifice himself to help your friend. I believe he thinks it’s what he deserves.”
Somin shook her head. “I don’t understand.”
“He and Sinhye are going to meet with the sansin that cursed them both.”
“He wouldn’t do that. Junu’s too smart for that,” Somin said.
“The sansin has his bangmangi. And I believe he has a plan to sacrifice himself.”
“Now I know you’re lying. Junu would never risk his life like this.” But the empty bed seemed like glaring evidence.
“He’s learned the way to cut Sinhye out of your friend. With the sacrifice of an immortal soul. His soul.”
Somin stopped, finally looked at the jeoseung saja. There was a steadfastness about Hyuk that told her the reaper was telling the truth.
She slammed into the other room. It was empty, too. Sinhye was gone.
“Miyoung-ah!” Somin shouted, running into the living room. Miyoung was already on her feet.
“What’s the matter? Why are you making so much noise?”
“They’re gone. They’re both gone!”
“How? Why?”
“He said Junu’s going to sacrifice himself.” Somin turned, but Hyuk was gone. She’d thought he was right behind her.