The dim corridor of the office building stretched before them as Ji-eun and Joon-ho hurried through the silence. Each step echoed in Ji-eun's ears, amplifying the urgency that clung to her every thought. Her pulse raced, her breath shallow as she clutched her bag tightly, trailing just behind Joon-ho. He didn't speak much, only glancing back occasionally to ensure she was keeping pace.
"Where are we going?" Ji-eun whispered anxiously, her eyes darting to every shadow that flickered on the walls. The dark figure from the stairwell still haunted her, its glowing eyes burning in her memory.
"Somewhere safe," Joon-ho responded in a low voice, though it wasn't very reassuring. His brows furrowed, his jaw tight as if he was holding back something more. The casual playfulness that Ji-eun had become accustomed to was gone, replaced by a grim resolve she had never seen in him before. Whatever this was, it was serious.
They reached the elevator, but instead of waiting for it, Joon-ho led her to a side door that opened to another set of stairs. He pushed it open, motioning for her to go ahead. Ji-eun hesitated for a brief moment but stepped into the stairwell, the smell of concrete and cold air surrounding her. The stairwell seemed quieter than usual, as if the building itself was holding its breath.
"Joon-ho," she said, her voice trembling with a question she couldn't fully articulate. "What… what was that thing back there?"
Joon-ho didn't answer right away. His translucent figure flickered briefly, like a candle caught in a draft. He frowned, running a hand through his hair—a gesture that seemed almost too human for a ghost.
"That wasn't just some random spirit," he finally said, his tone dark. "That was something else. Something dangerous."
Ji-eun's stomach dropped. "Dangerous how?"
Joon-ho's gaze locked with hers, and for a moment, she saw something close to fear in his eyes. "I'm not sure yet, but I don't like it. It wasn't supposed to be here."
"What do you mean 'supposed to be here'? Are there rules to this?" Ji-eun asked, her voice tinged with desperation. The questions were piling up faster than she could process them, and the sense of dread only deepened with each answer she wasn't getting.
"Look, not all ghosts are like me," Joon-ho explained, his voice quieter now, as if he was considering how much to tell her. "Some are tied to places. Some are tied to people. Others… aren't so friendly."
The implication of his words hit Ji-eun like a punch to the gut. She had known that the supernatural world was complicated ever since Joon-ho had first appeared in her life, but she hadn't realized just how deep it went—or how dangerous it could be.
"And this one?" Ji-eun asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Is it tied to me?"
Joon-ho's silence was answer enough. He didn't need to say it. The truth was written in his expression—this new presence wasn't just passing through. It was here for her.
They reached the bottom of the stairs, and Joon-ho led her through another door into a dimly lit basement parking lot. The eerie hum of fluorescent lights flickered overhead, casting long shadows across the concrete floor. The air was heavy with the scent of oil and exhaust fumes, adding to the oppressive atmosphere.
Ji-eun swallowed hard, glancing around nervously. She half-expected to see the dark figure lurking in one of the corners, waiting to strike.
"Why here?" she asked, her voice echoing in the empty space.
"We're close to the building's foundation," Joon-ho explained. "Spirits have a harder time reaching this deep. It'll give us some time to figure out what's going on."
Ji-eun shivered, both from the cold air and the weight of what he was saying. She had never realized how much Joon-ho had been protecting her, or just how precarious her situation was. A million questions swirled in her mind, but before she could voice any of them, a sharp noise cut through the silence—a metallic clang, like something had been knocked over.
Ji-eun spun around, her eyes wide, scanning the shadows for the source of the noise. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw movement in the far corner of the parking lot. At first, it was just a flicker of something dark and indistinct, but then it became clearer.
The dark figure from the stairwell was back.
Ji-eun's blood ran cold. The figure seemed to glide across the floor, its steps soundless but deliberate. It moved with an eerie grace, like it was hunting her.
"Ji-eun, stay behind me," Joon-ho ordered, his voice tense as he positioned himself between her and the approaching figure. His form wavered slightly, as if the presence of the other spirit was affecting his strength.
The figure stopped a few feet away, standing in the middle of the parking lot, bathed in the flickering light. Its glowing eyes locked onto Ji-eun, and for a moment, she thought she saw something behind those eyes—anger, maybe even pain.
"Why are you here?" Joon-ho demanded, his voice filled with authority that Ji-eun had never heard before.
The figure didn't respond. Instead, it raised one hand slowly, pointing directly at Ji-eun. The air around them seemed to thicken, pressing down on her chest and making it hard to breathe.
Ji-eun took a step back, her heart pounding so hard she thought it might burst. "Joon-ho… what's happening?"
"I don't know," Joon-ho said, his voice strained. "But we need to get out of here—now."
Without another word, Joon-ho grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the nearest exit. Ji-eun's legs felt like they were made of lead, but she forced herself to move, her mind racing with fear. She could feel the figure's gaze burning into her back, like it was trying to reach into her very soul.
Just as they reached the door, a sudden gust of cold wind slammed into them, sending Ji-eun stumbling. She nearly lost her balance, but Joon-ho caught her, his grip surprisingly strong.
"Hurry!" he urged, pushing the door open.
But just as they stepped through, Ji-eun glanced back one last time—and what she saw froze her in place.
The dark figure was no longer standing alone.
It had company.