A/N:

Hi!

Sorry for the long Hiatus. I was busy with university.

This chapter will have another part.

Quick recap: YJ and GE are on a case investigating about a demon at Shinhwa High. Her human name was Mi Soo. Jeong Chae Yeong is Mi Soo's mother. And if you remember, Han Yeon Woo is Yi Jeong's mother.

Hope you'll enjoy!

Chapter thirteen: Forgotten People

Part II

Two words.

'We know.'

Two words, echoed in Jeong Chae Yeong's mind.

"Because..."

"I know."

She remembered her. Han Yeon Woo. That pretty girl from eighth grade with the mysterious aura. With whom, no one wanted to be friends with. With whom, only she had the courage to speak. Chae Yeong was scared of the night. Even if it was her own mother's grave, chills ran down her spine to visit her around night fall. But Yeon Woo wasn't like her. Darkness didn't startle her. Death didn't worry her. The dead didn't scare her. Graveyards were her second home.

"It's not when they stop breathing, they truly die. People tend to believe that way…"

She could picture her in their old uniform, standing in front of the tombstone, her eyes shadowed under her bangs, her sweet smile, gleaming under the twilight sky.

' When their tombs are overgrown… fallen to the ground… and no one cares about it anymore… it is when they truly leave the earth… Like a tree fallen, in a large forest, decayed, and forever forgotten… as if they've never existed…"

Chae Yeong remembered mustering up her courage.

"What's your point?"

She remembered her smile, her dimples, enhanced by the last light of the setting sun.

"Your Eomoni, she won't be leaving your side for some time … she'll keep you safe… I know she will."

She remembered how warm tears ran down her cheek. How quickly they dried out. How Yeon Woo stared at the side of the tombstone, and how her long hair swayed, in the cold evening breeze.

…

. . .

How fast time had flown. Coming to think of it, she could scarcely recall her mother's face. There were some photographs back in her ancestral home. But she rarely visited the old house after her marriage. Her new family had been the biggest priority in her life. Her Mi Soo, and her happiness.

Jeong Chae Yeong placed the old photograph back inside the display cupboard, locked its door, and climbed up the stairs. She hesitated at Mi Soo's room for a moment, before forcing a smile.

"Mi Sooah, it's eomma. May I come in?"

…

…

…

Fear. Ga Eul could feel it in every corner of that space; tossed under the bed; curtained over; stuffed inside the cupboard. Glossed over by perfection and left to be forgotten.

Mi Soo's room was neat and tidy, and essentially empty in the sense of psychic energy. The table lamp was on, and focused onto the empty center of her desk. Where some of her books were piled to a corner as the others were stacked away on dustless shelves to its sides. The room was dark otherwise. Her over coat laid upon the chair with her winter cap. Her newly dry-cleaned uniform hanged on a hanger on the handle of her wardrobe. With the frilled bedsheet over the mattress and the fancy bedside lamps on the cabinets, if one would draw out the curtains on a sunny day, and take a picture of that room, Ga Eul supposed, it would sure have an expensive price tag on a property renting site. No one would get the slightest impression that someone had met their demise in there. Not even if they would visit the room after nightfall. For there was no ghost fog, no miasma, no malaise or any other typical indication of a haunting.

That was the thing about demons. They don't easily give away. Dare you find them. But if you'd look closer, you'd notice. The half-finished sentences in her essays, restless doodles on her desk, slightly ripped sleeve of her over coat, nail clippings on carpet, the loose threads of her uniform's hem, the chewed pom poms on her winter cap's strings… Little clues, everywhere. Master had once told that being a psychic wasn't a lot different than being a detective. "You have to keep your eyes and ears open. For both this world and the other one." So, Ga Eul straightened up, and listened. The room was quiet, psychically. Although there were the other noises, same as when she first entered the room, except now dulled, by something similar to the effect the altitude had on one's ears.

Dull. Duller. And pop! Back to normal.

Ga Eul opened her eyes. The room remained the same—silent and dim lit, but she could feel the weight seeping in. The demon was now aware of her presence. She needed more clues. More clues to stir her out.

Ga Eul crouched down, tossed the bed covers over and peeked under the bed. There was nothing except for some old hairclips and cobwebs. She stretched out her hand towards the dark void of its center, until it touched a hard surface of a middle-sized cardboard box, which proved to be much heavier than she expected.

From under the bed a cold breath blew on her skin, making the little hairs rise on the back of her neck. Ga Eul was very well aware that all the windows were closed, but she didn't let that knowledge dwell too long in her head. To further distract herself, she pulled the box even harder. The coldness intensified. The creature from underneath the bed, huffed and puffed icy air on her fingers, sending them numb. With a grunt, Ga eul managed to pull it out. The air shifted. The coldness subsided. Ga Eul looked contentedly down at the box on her lap. It'd probably give them some clue for Kim Mi Soo's return. Allowing herself a deep breath she opened the box only to be disappointed instantly. There was nothing heavy inside it. Just some empty pill containers and a stained roll of bandage.

Ga Eul was about to push that box back under the bed when she accidently looked up. She felt her heart stop in fear. There she was, Kim Mi Soo, on the bed, right in front of her, lying on her belly, chin resting on bended arms and her pale face just millimeters away from hers. 'Thief.' She hissed. Ga Eul sprung backwards, spilling everything in the box on floor. 'Tsk tsk tsk…' Mi Soo tilted her head. 'Now what?' She whispered, unamused. Her blood red eyes locked Ga Eul's helplessly in them. The demon stared at her for a good thirty seconds, and sighed. 'Get lost. Will you?' She murmured. And rolled to lay on her back. She stared at the ceiling lazily as Ga Eul was sprawling on the floor, breathless, her chest heaving and her heart thumping in her ears. The demon closed her eyes and slowly let herself fade away. One second ago, there was her long raven hair flowing down like a water fall, and then it was all gone. Ga Eul finally took a deep breath in. Actually, a few deep breaths to calm herself down. She reclaimed her composure, tugged a wild strand of hair behind her ear and gathered herself to her feet.

'Now what?'

The demon's words echoed in her head. "Now what indeed?" Ga Eul muttered to herself. She looked around the room. Could there be anything, any clue to connect this case with the deaths of the boys? She wondered. Summoning the demon was proved to be useless. Mi Soo wasn't the slightest talkative demon Baekga was. Ga Eul sighed. Maybe they should come up with a better plan, some other day. Probably with better research. She gave the room one final glance and was just about to leave, when a wooden door gave out a creak. In front of the bed, to the right of the desk, on the wall right beside the French windows to the balcony, was a small door, which now stayed a crack open. A bulb flickered inside, painting a twinkling orange strip on the dark wall. The bathroom. Ga Eul almost smirked. How could she have forgotten it?

'Get lost.' Mi Soo's words echoed again. Ga Eul knew better, enough to know that it wasn't merely unwelcoming. It was a warning. But she had no choice. In hauntings like these there was never a choice. It was always now or never. So, Ga Eul made up her mind, and went inside.

It was the average bathroom, with tiled floor, cheap fittings, a bathtub and a shower overhead. The mirror was cracked, as if someone had punched it on the middle, and above it blinked a single orange tube light. Ga Eul closed her eyes and listened, trying to concentrate on the energy inside the room, but a kettle downstairs distracted her psychic senses. She tried again. And again. And again. But she couldn't catch anything. And no one seemed to care about the kettle yelling at top of its lungs. Ga Eul sighed. This was probably the stupidest decision she'd ever taken in her life, but again, she had no choice. She had to close that door behind her. Surprisingly enough, as soon as she closed the door, the sounds cut off. Perhaps that maid did finally switch it off. Ga Eul closed her eyes and concentrated again, and slowly, like viscous treacle, flowing out from a bottle, it came to her in the end. The muffled voices. The echoes from the past. Strictly speaking, which ought not to be there. Which were someone else's memories. Someone who's dead.

Is she still in there? How long has it been?

Ga Eul heard a boy laugh.

Aigoo, the school's about to end. We could have kept her longer…

Another smirked.

Oi! What? Are you going to let her out? Just like that? Aish, we shouldn't have made such a fuss then…

The first complained.

Just wait and see…

A third boy smirked.

Ga Eul opened her eyes. Inside the mirror there was the girl again, staring at her with a blank expression.

"What happened? What did they do to you?" Ga Eul asked. The girl merely sneered. "What did they do to you?" Ga Eul asked again, in a louder and a clearer voice. Mi Soo smiled. And without any warning she burst out from the mirror and shoved Ga Eul to the floor. One of her clawed hands grasped her mouth not allowing her to scream, while the other gripped around her neck pining her to the door. 'Like this.' Mi Soo whispered. A brief vision of a boy in Shinhwa high uniform flashed in the place of the demon. 'It felt… like this…' Mi Soo smiled. 'Just like this…' It was then Ga Eul noticed all the cockroaches crawling all over the floor. Swarming, out from the drains, out from the basin, through the fanlight, from the shower… Hundreds and hundreds of insects. All over the floor. Ga Eul yelled out a muffled scream as they all stormed towards her. They slipped inside her sleeves, crept under her skirt, went on her hair and all over her body. Thousands of hind legs running all over her skin… Ga Eul wiggled her arms and legs, trying to shoo them away; trying to free herself. She screamed and screamed, cried and cried. But the demon held her in place, unaffected by all the bugs crawling on her own face. It was when Ga Eul was about to pass out, she finally let go of her grip. Ga Eul struggled to her feet and started madly brushing the insects away.

'Bianae.' Mi Soo whispered again. 'I Didn't know you were taken.'

…

…

…

Ga Eul woke up. Her hands still trembled and her heart drummed in her ears. Cockroaches! Ga Eul brushed off her hands and legs. There was nothing. The bugs were gone. So was the girl.

Ga Eul sat still for some time, and listened. She heard Mr. Paws's soft purring, Mr. Kim's full blown television from downstairs, Miss Park's midnight piano session from third floor, and a kettle whistling in high volume somewhere. Otherwise, her apartment was silent. No whispering ghosts, and no annoying demons. Yes, she was in her small apartment. Ga Eul let out breath of relief. That was just a nightmare; a mere residual of her day job.

…

Water

Ga Eul reached out to her mini fridge to grab a glass of water. A cool glass of water is a known and proven method of refreshment.

In a flash, a soft fabric brushed against her hand.

Ga Eul went cold. She stayed still for a few more minutes, concentrating on her breath to recollect herself. Of course, that could probably be some bitten scarf, left by Mr. Paws.

She reached out to the mini fridge again. But the fabric was gone. Her senses kicked in. There was someone in the room. Light. Ga Eul needed a light. She stretched her other hand under her pillow, searching for her phone, but then she remembered, she had left it on the far corner of her desk to recharge.

What to do now?

'Really? Are you that dumb?'

Ah. Yes. The mini fridge. It had a light.

Ga Eul opened the refrigerator door. Just as the cold blue light illuminated a portion of her room, something black, quickly shifted to the shadows.

Yes. The intruder was human. Ga Eul swallowed. There was a thief in her apartment.

A thief.

Probably a man.

She was alone.

'Is there nothing you could do?'

Should I scream ?

'He would probably kill you before help comes'

Should I just run?

'He's blocking the door.'

Ga Eul prerended to scan the fridge. There must be something she could do…

'The marmalade...'

She grabbed the glass bottle. She couldn't find a butter knife last time she had it for breakfast, so she used her pen knife instead…

'Is it still inside?'

'How hygienic of you…'

Thank goodness.

Ga Eul grabbed the bottle of marmalade, and closed back the refrigerator door. She took in a deep breath, and opened the bottle.

Pop

'oopsy … no one eats marmalade in dark…'

'You're making him suspicious…'

Ga Eul swallowed. She took the knife out as quietly as possible.

The black shape shifted.

Ga Eul gripped the small knife tightly.

'Watch out'

Before she could react, the full weight of a man came down on her, and pressed her onto the mattress.

Ga Eul tried to scream, but the man pressed a dark cloth on her mouth, and held it tight. A smell of hospital chemicals filled her lungs.

'Stab him.'

Ga Eul swung her knife. The thief grunted. A trickle of liquid fell on her face.

Did she stab his face?

The man tried to grab her arm. His efforts only resulted in cutting his palm.

'Great. Next, how about his arm?'

A bleeding hand grabbed her neck and strangled her breath.

'Stab his arm.'

Struggling for her breath, Ga Eul swung the knife one more time.

Fabric teared. Blood trickled.

The thief let out a cry.

'Neat'

Ga Eul took the chance. Summoned her every might, and pushed the man aside.

'The door'

Yes.

Ga Eul Jumped to her feet, ran to the door, and swung it open.

Run run run

Yes she must run.

But the world was swirling around her.

Run

She felt dizzy.

Run

Her eyelids felt heavy.

'RUN!'

Yes. She must run.

Ga Eul reached for the wall, and forced her steps forward.

Run run run

Along the corridor.

Down the staircase.

She heard footsteps behind her.

Run run run

Along the corridor.

Down the staircase.

Run run run

It was probably the thief.

He was behind her. Chasing after her.

Something flew right past her arm. She didn't know what it was. She didn't care.

Run run run

Down the staircase.

Out from the building.

Run into the night.

'The main street, where people are…'

Run run run

She ran past the crowds, gathered around small shops.

On the cold pavement. Bare feet.

The bright orange lights flew past her.

Her head felt dizzy.

Her legs were giving up.

But she must run.

Was he still following her?

"Miss, are you alright? Need a ride somewhere?" It was an old man.

A taxi driver.

Should she get in?

'Get in.'

She got in.

"Where are you head to, miss?" asked the driver.

Where indeed?

She didn't know.

…

…

…

Forgotten people… that's what she called them, right?

Yi Jeong poured another glass of whiskey. It was supposed to be a light-hearted case. True, it had to do with a demon, but it was supposed to have nothing to do with him. It was Gu Junpyo's case. It had nothing to do with So Yi Jeong. Yet it did. Everything always did. He gulped down the burning liquor in a single breath.

'It's how the things work… Sunbae… everything finds it's way in the end…' said Gyeoul.

Yi Jeong looked up at the demon, who sat on the wooden table, dangling her pale legs, and running her translucent hands through his hair. She was unbothered by the suffocating scent of lavender in the studio.

Is it because she is a demon?

Eomma… what became of eomma? Is she a demon too? A mere ghost? Should I be happy? Or sad?

Eomma…

What did I know about her?

Yi Jeong had thousand questions running in his head, in a continuous tape. He very well knew the demon was able to read his mind, but he didn't expect her to answer them. It wasn't her place to answer them. He was the one who was supposed to find the answers. The only thing the demon could do, was to let him be.

'Sunbae… you know, there're more than a few things that could bring you some comfort…' Gyeoul said, running her hands down his chest. 'Why don't you just give them a try?... forget all of this… just enjoy… life..'

"Stop it." Yi Jeong demanded.

'But Sunbae…. '

"Just stop." He said, and shifted on the bench, further away from the demon.

Gyeoul chuckled. 'I must admit… sunbae is getting quite controlled over your… feelings… but is it because I am the fake one? I wonder…'

Yi Jeong poured another glass for himself. "Stop splitting nonsense and shut up."

'But it's true… Sunbae is no longer… interested in me… is it because she's back in your life?...The real one?'

"I was never interested in you." Yi Jeong said. "Besides, what's between Ga Eulyang and I, is purely professional."

'Yes, yes. Just as when you two were both drunk, back in that day…'

Yi Jeong choked on his liquor.

'That, was… very professional…'

"Get lost, will you?" Yi Jeong said angrily. "I am too tired for your stupid games."

'But, for real, Sunbae… what if the real Ga Eul was here… on this desk… right now? Will you take her?'

Yi Jeong stared at the demon for some time. It had been a long day. And it's true, if not for the lavender, the demon's power (and his desires) would have gotten the better of him. It was one of the reasons for coming to the studio. He didn't want to go wild that night. But, in order to stay sane, and controlled, he had to shut that demon's mouth.

He was just about to recite the command to send her back to sleep, when the door bell rang.

"Young Master?"

It was one of his security guards.

"Young Master Yi Jeong? You have a visitor. Should I let her in?"

– to be continued