𝐁𝐋𝐔𝐄 𝐅𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐄 , the uncanny counter

경이로운 소문 ── EPISODE SEVEN

kinda graphic (?) self harm scene at one point : as someone who struggled with sh for ages, this is my attempt at trying to bring awareness to it, not trying to glamorize it, or just add it for dramatic effect. so like warning. you can skip the scene if you can take hints if u want

Just as Ha-na got up to pull Mun away, the two disappeared with a puff of smoke. She let out a frustrated noise, running a hand through her hair as she turned back to Yang, crouching in front of him.

She grabbed his hands, speaking fast enough to rival a rapper. "Hey, Hey. Yang. Ha-na to Yang. Snap out of it. They're going to be back soon, and I'll need your help, okay? You said that you have some good experience reading memories, right? Yeah? So, I need you to help with this one. I don't know how just yet, but go with it. We can deal with what he said later, okay? Yang. Yang Ji-woo."

"She called me Su-jin," He whispered. He didn't look up from his hands, watching the way the rain drops collected in the creases of his palm and fingers. "He called me Mason. I called myself Yang, but I wish I was a Kim."

She blinked. She didn't have time to process what he had said as Mun suddenly returned, clutching his side behind the car. He had a cut on his cheek and was breathing heavily. The spirit returned, attacking Yang from behind, but the youngest Counter managed to catch his weapon before he hurt him more.

The truck started up again. The same spirit was in the truck, but it was different to the one fighting Mun. Ha-na managed to free herself from the memory, waking up back in Mun's room. She immediately pushed Yang off Mun's lap, where he had fallen when he slipped into the memory. She desperately tried to wake them up, calling their names and shaking them. It didn't work, causing her to curse before going back in.

The truck's engine was turned on, the Cheong-sun in the memory slowly beginning to start driving towards them. She cursed, grabbing Yang and dragging him out of the way until he got the memo and stumbled to keep pace with her, his mind still hazy.

"We have to go!" Ha-na yelled, running at Mun as she kept her hand entwined with Yang, as if she was scared he would disappear. She grabbed Mun around the waist and freed the three of them from the memory before the truck could run into them.

"Let me go back noona," Mun said, chest still heaving. "I had him. I can catch him!"

Yang slumped onto the floor, laying on his back as he stared at the ceiling.

"He's a level three," Ha-na told him. "You would've died if you fought him."

"I can risk my life if I can catch him."

"Lower you voice." Ha-na told him. She looked at the door. "Your grandparents." She squinted at him. "You can 'risk your life'?"

Mun seemed to calm down a bit, looking away as he took deep breaths, disconnecting his hand with Ha-na's. He looked at Yang, who hadn't moved from laying on the ground. "He called him Sin, right?"

Yang started paying attention to the conversation. "I heard the other asshole say 'Sin'. That's what he called him." Ha-na looked at him. "I'll make them regret... that they let me live."

Yang got up unsteadily. He pointed a finger at Ha-na, not caring that his whole hand shook and he was pointing everywhere except at the woman. "You... don't tell anyone what I said or what... Sin said. None of it." He looked at Mun, who looked at him. "You... you're not going to kill him."

Mun's eyebrows furrowed, sitting up straight as he looked at Yang. "Who are you to tell me-"

"Because I'm going to fucking do it first."

. . .

They walked through the doors to the noodle shop. It had been silent on the walk back. Ha-na told Yang to walk with them, seeing as they were all going to the same place anyway. He was isolating himself, trying to gather his thoughts.