The oil light on my bike was flashing, warning of insufficient fuel. I was still far from Nam-gu. What bad luck. Mumbling incoherently, I slowed down and stopped beside the road. Annoyed, I slipped out my iPhone, intending to call the tow company.
"Why's it so slow? Huh?" I tapped frustratingly at the phone when I noticed my battery was dying. "No, no. Please don't!" I shook my phone in vain as it went dead in my hand. I stared at the black screen.
I was so active for the last two days that I forgot to charge my phone. (Censor)! Now what? Should I hitchhike? But what about my new bike? I groaned feeling distressed.
I can't leave it all by itself in the rain. As I shook my head and peered around, I discerned an old abandoned road on the other side of me from the highway. I couldn't merely sit here.
Considering my chances, I ran across the highway, pushing my bike along. Good thing there weren't numerous cars at this time of day.
I paused at the entrance of the old pathway. It was a neglected dirt road, surrounded by large trees. Even if no one lived there, at least I would be able to take shelter in the rain. I cautiously plodded up the crooked path.
It is raining heavily now and I positively hate getting wet. A few moments later a modest colonial house came into view. Relieved, I saw it had a dull light on. There was someone still living in the ramshackle house.
I leaned my bike against the wall and walked to the rickety door. I hesitated, holding my fist in the air. I could defend myself even if there were psychos living here. But the place was so rundown.
Will they have a shower? I wanted to clean myself up and I was famished too. I hope they include vegetables at the very least. I knocked on the door, silently praying their shower was still working.
"Hold on a second," an elderly woman's voice called. So this place didn't belong to psychos? I stood back as she unlocked her door with a smile. I bowed. "Sorry to bother you, but my motorcycle is out of fuel, and my cell phone's battery is dead. Can I use your phone or stay until the rain stops?" I asked respectfully.
"Clearly you may. Oh look how dirty you are. Come inside," she invited with a wrinkly smile.
I followed the woman inside. "I don't have any of those modern appliances they have today, but I do still have a bath where you can clean up. You can dry your clothes by the fire," she dictated.
I gazed at the bathroom. You consider that a bath? It was a wooden basin. "Thanks," I said bluntly. Taking the landline, she spoke heartily. "Where were we? Oh yes. You said you broke in this morning?" I froze. That didn't sound commonplace.
"You observed me all day? What do you mean I'm a tiresome old lady? What? That's the reason you want to kill old people? What kind of a motive is that? You will be in my shoes one day too, you know." I was too surprised to laugh. Was she speaking to a murderer on the phone? And lecturing him as well?.
"Where are you? Why are you calling me? In my house? In the closet?"
"Gosh." This guy's idiotic honesty stunned me. I facepalmed.
"Hold on a moment, I think I hear something." She gripped the phone in her hand and spoke into the air. "Hello, dear. I can't play with you now; I'm too old. Why don't you ask the visitor instead?" I squinted suspiciously. My eyes tingled as I activated SENSE.
There, hovering beside the old lady, was a boy ghost holding a kite. "Ha," I sighed. "What a plucky woman. She didn't even flinch," I murmured in admiration.
"Don't worry," she continued speaking to the landline, "It's just a child ghost." We detected a screech coming from the house.
The boy snickered. [Stupid man. What a miserable coward,] he mocked. He floated around, pulling his kite behind him. "Calm down, he's harmless. Yes, yes. Don't cry," she comforted the killer. I stifled a laugh.
What a failure of an intruder. "I completely forgot. We never introduced ourselves? I'm Kim Hana. What is yours? Lee Hoon? What a nice name." Both the ghost and I giggled. This was the best.
Another knock came from the front door. "Hold on , dear. There's someone at the door. Don't worry, I'll be back as soon as possible." She put down the receiver and opened the door.
I wasn't thinking about the bath at all. I wiped the tears from my eyes. "Welcome. Can I help you?" she questioned the latest guest..
"Yeah. I'm here to kill you." All laughter gone, I studied the newcomer. He had on a black raincoat, and dark pants. He wielded a large axe while flashing a grin.
[I wonder if she'll play with me when he kills her,] the kid asked eagerly. How should I know?
"Oh dear," she said regretfully. " I'm afraid you are too late. Someone else got here before you."
"Huh?" Raincoat looked baffled at her.
"Yeah, she's mine so hands off!" a voice shouted from the hallway. Everyone knows where you are hiding, so you can come out already. I sighed.
"See? So, do you want a cup of tea while you wait?" she offered.
This lady has my respect. The raincoat guy nodded and came in. He leaned his axe against the wall and pulled off his shoes.
[Aw. He didn't kill her. Who am I supposed to play with?] He floated towards me. [Will you—?]
"Don't even bother," I said, scarcely looking. He moaned and started playing with himself.
"Hello, Lee Hoon? It's just an axe murderer. I'm brewing tea. Do you want some too? Why don't you come out of the closet and join us?"
"Heck no! There's a ghost on the loose!" he shouted fearfully.
"Wait a minute. You have a ghost in here?" the axe murderer glanced around in fright. The ghost spitefully drifted round him, striking him with his kite.
"Yeah. It's a mean kid. He's doing his best to bully you," I finally spoke. The axe murderer shrank back. Snorting disdainfully, I stared at him emotionlessly. I denied Hana's invite for tea and went to clean up.
The bath didn't take long because I couldn't bear it. The basin was so uncomfortable. Hana has washed my clothes and is drying them in front of a fire so she prepared some second-hand clothing for me. Presumably her husband's. I sat critically examining the axe murderer, who is called Bitgaram.
He happily slugged several cups of tea. Hana left Hoon his tea in front of the closet door. He just wouldn't come out, especially now that he knows there's a ghost. To join the conversation, she left the receiver on the kitchen table.
"Your tea tastes amazing. I think I'll allow you to live for a while longer," Hoon complimented. Bitgaram sneered. "That's nothing. While you're hiding like a coward, I'm here eating cookies!"
"Say what! Hey, Hana, why didn't you give me any cookies?"
"Hana isn't here," I said tartly. They're getting on my nerves.
"Who's that guy? Is he also here to kill her?" Hoon asked in confusion.
"Nah. Just a stray," Bitgaram answered dismissively.
Those sonofa— I sucked in my breath sharply and ditched the kitchen. I had lost my appetite. Hana came smiling at me and presented my clothes. "All done dear." I received them with gratitude.
I have never felt so relieved. Since Hoon could suffer anxiety if he wasn't on the phone, I was given two minutes to call the tow company. I wanted to abandon this place as soon as possible.
Bitgaram and Hana stood in the entrance, with her back on the landline. "I'm sorry dear. But I can't remain on the phone with you. And you evidently can't live in my closet forever."
That sent me cackling. The ghost was flicking his kite wistfully at the burly man, who played with his axe while he listened.
"My phone bill will skyrocket for one thing. And, oh dear." She started rubbing her eye. "Darn thing, ugh."
"What's wrong?" Bitgaram asked concernedly.
"What's she doing?" Hoon yelled from his closet. I grimaced while the kid gaped. Hana was poking around her right eye, wiggling her finger around. She subsequently pulled her eyelid and stroked her finger on her eyeball. I got goosebumps all over my body.
"Ew gross! How horrific," Bitgaram exclaimed in disgust.
[Yuck, yuck. So icky. I don't want to play anymore. I'm leaving!] Light swirled round the boy and he vanished. That was surprising.
"I knew old people were gross. I can't stand it. I'm leaving!" The phone went dead and we heard a door slam open. A man in camouflage carrying a laptop stormed out the house. What? Just like that?
"Don't leave me behind." Bitgaram ran up behind him. Hana heaved a sigh of relief. "There. All fixed up. Oh, my. Did they leave? And we were barely starting to become friends too."
"Ma'am. You gained my utmost respect," I grinned as I bowed. She looked perplexed as I took my leave.
The tow truck arrived an hour later. They gave me some petrol, and I went on my way home. This story isn't absolutely worth chronicling, but it was so fun that it produced an entertaining story for my parents.
*
It's been two dreary months since Kang started at the Research Centre. The workplace retained a tranquil, friendly atmosphere, yet tense. Since the interview, Kang hadn't spoken to Dankworth again.
YunHee would relay his orders to the rest of them, but that was the closest they could approach him.
Kang's personal team never worked directly with the animals, to his relief. They were tasked with improving the failed products.
So many formulas and glass tubes lay on his desk. He glanced glumly at them. He genuinely felt that he was only hired as a repairman for the others. He pondered as he studied the paperwork. Until now, nothing has looked out of place.
He had snuck around, even eavesdropped on the supervisors' conversations. To date everything has seemed average. Only YunHee and Dankworth looked out of place.
Is it possible I'm being paranoid? He wondered uneasily. It could be he was just overworked, and this was all in his head.
He took a deep breath and exhaled loudly, feeling livelier. Yeah, we're just being overly cautious. There's nothing to be worried about. I'm just nervous, he convinced himself.
*
YunHee stood nervously before her boss, Dankworth. He regarded thoughtfully at a file on his desk. "I knew hiring Haneul was a brilliant idea. These results are excellent. To think he achieved this much in just two months," he grinned nastily.
She felt her face heat up in envy.
"We all worked hard," she protested. He waved her off. "He perfected formula B-15 that you had scrapped. That boy has talent." He picked up a vial and admired the shiny liquid.
"Not long now. A year at the most," he murmured thoughtfully. YunHee nodded ruefully. She was vainly hoping for a raise, but had to give up when he was in one of the moods.
"Without delay I must obtain the last key. YunHee!"
"Yes, sir," she responded, startled.
"Keep a close eye on Kang. Make sure the science community won't hire him," he ordered.
"Yes, sir."
"We cannot lose him, not until I possess what I desire." He gently shook the vial to achieve his point. YunHee bowed and obediently left to carry out his orders.
Dankworth pulled out his cell phone and called Edrys.
"Whazzup? I'm busy," she answered sluggishly. She was probably asleep, he thought irritably.
"The boy I mentioned, Haneul Kang. I'll deliver him to you in a year."
"Whaa? Since when do you make demands?" she asked contemptuously.
"Please forgive my rudeness," he apologised through gritted teeth. She laughed teasingly on the phone. "I'm kidding. Seriously, what is up with you? Lighten up. One year? As long as he makes the healing potion before then."
"I promise," he swore impatiently.
"Good enough. As for the blood of the Sith, any leads?" she inquired seriously.
"I'm still looking."
"Look faster. Time is running out for our hellcniht Queen. Before this time next year, you better have everything, or our deal is off!" she snapped as the phone went dead.
He scowled at his cell phone. He wasn't any miracle worker. Sith blood didn't fall from trees. Grumbling, he discerned a small object on his floor.
Annoyed enough already, he stamped impatiently to the unknown object and snatched it up, intending to rend it to pieces. He paused when he read the first two lines;
'Otherworld Inspector Nathan McNeill
We resolve all cases that cannot be solved in this world.'
"Oh? How convenient," Liam smiled slyly. So busy was he devising his next plan that he didn't perceive two giant golden eyes keenly observing his every direct action.
"I must inform the king," it thought urgently as it vanished.