Yui walked briskly back to the library, trying her best to shake off the adrenaline that still clung to her skin. The encounter with the mimic spirit had been messier than expected, and her heart hadn't quite settled yet. The fact that she was now involved in some supernatural ghost-hunting business with Baek Woo-jin was still strange. Even stranger? How she hadn't completely freaked out about it yet.
She pushed through the double doors of the school library and tried to act casual, like a normal teenager who hadn't just crossed paths with a spirit hell-bent on stealing souls. She sat back down at her usual spot, pretending to flip through her textbook, but her mind kept replaying the image of the ghost, its chainsaw raised menacingly.
"Hey, you're back." Min-jun's voice broke through her thoughts. He sat across from her, peering over his book at her with a strange kind of concern.
"Yeah, bathroom line was long," Yui said without even thinking. She tried to sound casual, but the tremor in her voice gave her away.
Min-jun raised an eyebrow. He clearly didn't buy it. "Uh-huh. You sure you're okay? You've been a little off lately."
Yui stiffened, gripping her pencil tightly. "What do you mean by 'off'?"
"You've been... distant. Not like yourself." He bit his lip as if trying to soften the words. "Is something going on?"
Her heart skipped. If only he knew. If only anyone knew. She couldn't talk about Baek Woo-jin, or the deal she'd made with him, or the terrifying reality that her life had just been hijacked by death and the grim reaper. It was one of those things no one could understand. Not even Min-jun, her closest friend.
"I'm fine," Yui said, forcing a smile. "Just tired. You know, stress and stuff."
Min-jun didn't look convinced. "Okay… but if you ever want to talk, I'm here."
Yui offered a half-hearted nod. "Thanks."
For the next hour, they sat in silence, working on their project. But Yui couldn't shake the feeling that Min-jun was watching her, waiting for her to crack. She was getting good at pretending, but the truth was, she felt like she was living in a nightmare that wasn't going to end.
Finally, the bell rang, signaling the end of the day. Yui packed her bag quickly, eager to leave before Min-jun could press her further.
"See you tomorrow, Yui," Min-jun called after her.
"Yeah, see you." She didn't look back.
By the time Yui stepped outside, the evening air was crisp. She glanced up at the sky, wondering if she'd ever have a normal life again. She was about to head home when she heard a familiar voice.
"Yui."
She froze. Her pulse quickened.
Baek Woo-jin stood by the gate, as if he'd been waiting for her. He had that cold, distant look in his eyes — the one that told her everything was about to get more complicated.
"You're late," Yui snapped, though she was secretly relieved to see him. At least in his presence, she didn't have to pretend to be someone she wasn't.
"Had some unfinished business," he said, his voice flat.
Yui raised an eyebrow. "What does that even mean?"
Baek's eyes narrowed slightly. "I've got a spirit that's causing trouble in your neighborhood. We need to deal with it."
"Right now?" Yui asked, exasperated.
"Yes, right now," he said, his gaze steady. "Are you coming or not?"
Yui hesitated for a moment. The last thing she wanted was to face another dangerous spirit, but it seemed like her life was now a never-ending cycle of encounters with the dead. With a sigh, she nodded.
"Fine. Let's get this over with."
They walked side by side, Baek leading the way through the winding streets. As they approached her neighborhood, Yui couldn't help but notice how much darker it seemed. It was as if the shadows themselves were growing restless.
Baek stopped in front of a dilapidated house, its windows boarded up and overgrown vines creeping up the sides.
"This is where the spirit is?" Yui asked, looking at the eerie house.
Baek didn't answer. He just stepped forward and opened the gate, motioning for her to follow.
Inside, the air was thick with tension, the silence almost suffocating. Yui's skin prickled as she glanced around, feeling the presence of something malevolent lurking nearby.
"Stay alert," Baek warned, his tone serious.
Yui nodded, clutching the pendant Baek had given her. It was still warm in her hand, and she was beginning to understand just how much power it held — and how much danger came with it.
As they moved deeper into the house, they heard a low growl, followed by a guttural voice. A shadowy figure emerged from the darkness, its eyes glowing red.
Yui's breath caught in her throat. This wasn't a typical spirit. It was something far more sinister.
Baek stepped in front of her, his scythe materializing in his hand, gleaming in the dim light. "Stay back."
The spirit lunged, but Baek was faster. He swung his scythe, and the spirit screamed in agony as the blade made contact. The house seemed to shake with the force of the blow.
Yui took a step back, her heart pounding. This was it — the real deal. No more pretending. This was her new reality.
END OF CHAPTER FOUR