Hotel Blue Moon (Inspired by Hotel Del Luna)

Chapter 27: If all else fails

(This chapter contains mentions of violence and blood. Reader discretion is advised.)
(Please play the music while reading for a better experience.)

Aghui bellowed, laughing at Ae Ra's corpse laying on the stone. Her eyes darted to Do Hwan, who was still holding the sword. She waved her hand, and Do Hwan's eyes immediately glazed over, closing it. He slumped down on Ae Ra's body, a green light emerging from his back and vanishing into the air.
"Now he is back at where he started." Aghui snickered. "And now he will beg for his death." 
Do Hwan opened his eyes, and he immediately saw Ae Ra's body in front of him. The blood from her body continued to pool around her, and he looked down at his hand which held the sword and his hands drenched in blood. 
"What? Ae Ra..." Do Hwan cradled Ae Ra's body against his chest, sobbing. "What did I do!?" 
Aghui's sneers were interrupted by the Grim Reaper who plunged the sword through her back. She staggered but looked back at Grim Reaper with contempt. 
"Why don't you let me enjoy the moment?" Aghui cracked her neck, and Grim Reaper pushed the sword through harder.

Chan Seong ran to Do Hwan who was still hugging Ae Ra, now weeping. It took every being of himself to not punch Do Hwan in the face but seeing him holding Ae Ra's lifeless body especially held him back.
"How could you do this?" Chan Seong whispered. 
"I don't know..." Do Hwan still held Ae Ra, quietly crying. "I... don't know." 
"Do Hwan, what do you notice?" Chan Seong asked, rather curtly. Do Hwan shook his head. He didn't know what Chan Seong wanted.
"Ae Ra's soul isn't here. Her spirit would have been visible right now to us! Why isn't she here?"
Do Hwan composed himself and looked at Chan Seong. He was right. Ae Ra is dead, and that means she should be here spiritually. So why wasn't she visible?

Ae Ra felt the most excruciating pain she had ever experienced in her life and suddenly it was all gone. It felt like she could move again, as she wriggled her fingers slowly first. Ae Ra opened her eyes to find a gold ceiling, adorned with a crystal chandelier, that reflected the gold walls on its crystals. Ae Ra got up from the floor and looked down to see her shirt soaked through blood but she felt no pain at all. Memories from the cave rushed to her mind and the last thing she remembered was Do Hwan stabbing through her heart.
"Am I in a spirit world? Shouldn't I be beside my body?" Ae Ra mumbled to herself as she looked around the place. 
The crystal chandelier swaying from non-existent wind. Ae Ra looked up at it, mesmerized at the way it moved. A low hum filled the air and Ae Ra closed her eyes, listening to the voice as it eased her a bit. She turned around to find where the music came from, but there was no one around. 
"That's strange... I definitely heard something." Ae Ra hesitated before moving to the golden door adorned with all sorts of gems. The low hum now turned to a melodic tune, echoing throughout the room and seemed to be coming from beyond that door. She paused in front of the door and laid her hands on them, gently pushing. The doors creaked open, the music abruptly stopped. As Ae Ra walked in, her blood-soaked shirt and jeans transformed into a beautiful and elegant white gown. She was surprised by the sudden change but continued to venture into the room in slow steps.
"Jung Ae Ra." A voice boomed. Actually, it sounded like multiple voices overlapping each other. She looked around to find the source but in vain. 
"Who is that?" She questioned back, clenching her fists. Ae Ra then realized there was nothing to endure more now that she is dead and suddenly felt brave.
"You have sacrificed your life to awaken the Great King Jumong. We commend your bravery." The voices echoed. Ae Ra once again could not find where the voice came from.
"Show yourself instead of talking from the shadows!" Ae Ra protested. 

In the furthest corner of the vast room, Ae Ra noticed the ground cracking and splitting, dust everywhere. Ae Ra covered her face with her elbow, turning away. She could hear the ground crack, rocks falling and eventually, everything stopped. Ae Ra slowly raised her head to find several men standing in front of her, clad in military clothing she only saw at museums and historical dramas.
"It is us who spoke to you." The soldiers answered in unison. Ae Ra let out an awkward smile. All of a sudden, the soldiers split into two rows like the sea did for Moses, and a man on a white horse walked towards her, dressed like a General. Ae Ra realized this was King Jumong and instinctively kneeled, bowing to the King.
"Rise, child." His voice was as majestic as a lion's roar. Ae Ra stood up, unable to meet his eyes. 
"You decided to sacrifice yourself so you can bring me back. What was the reason to do such a thing?" King Jumong asked, with a smile. Ae Ra slowly looked at him but immediately kept her head down.
"There is an evil force lurking in the world, your Highness. We need your help destroying it."
"It is not your problem anymore, you realize that, do you not child?"
"I do. I want everyone to be safe, even when I'm gone." Ae Ra paused. "Please tell me what I did wasn't in vain."
King Jumong laughed heartily at Ae Ra's words. Ae Ra looked at him, perplexed.