jungwon
the night was eerily quiet, a heavy silence pressing down on me as i sat in the living room, staring at the flickering shadows on the walls.
my new house was supposed to be a fresh start, but it felt more like a prison, the air thick with an oppressive sense of dread. i tried to shake off the unease, telling myself that ghosts weren't real, but deep down, i knew better.
it started with the usual sounds: creaking floorboards, the faint whisper of a breeze that seemed to come from nowhere. i clenched my fists, my heart pounding in my chest. then i heard it—a soft, mournful wail echoing through the halls. it was her again, the lady ghost who had made my nights a living nightmare since i moved in.
i felt a chill run down my spine as the wailing grew louder, more desperate. i didn't dare move, my eyes fixed on the doorway as a faint, translucent figure appeared. she was weeping, her hands covering her face, her shoulders shaking with sobs. i could barely breathe, my throat tight with fear. every instinct screamed at me to run, but my legs felt like they were made of jelly.
"please," i whispered, though i knew she wouldn't hear me. "please, just go away."
she didn't. she never did. instead, she floated closer, her sobs growing louder, more anguished. i couldn't take it anymore.
with a sudden burst of adrenaline, i grabbed my phone and bolted out of the room, my fingers trembling as i dialed the only person i could think of: ken.
he picked up on the second ring, his voice groggy. "jungwon? it's late, man. you good?"
"ken." i gasped, my voice shaking. "i need help. s-she's here again."
there was a moment of silence on the other end, and then his tone shifted, becoming more alert. "the lady ghost?"
"yes." i whispered, glancing over my shoulder. "i can't stay here. i can't do this."
"okay, okay," he said, his voice soothing. "you don't have to stay there ... at least, not on your own."
"how about this: i'll come over, and we'll face this together. we'll stay at your place and show that ghost we're not afraid!"
the relief was immediate, washing over me like a wave. "oh thank god-" i breathed. "i'll be waiting."
"i'll be there soon. we'll conquer this together."
i nodded, even though he couldn't see me, and ended the call. the thought of having ken by my side gave me a bit of strength.
as i waited for ken to arrive, the image of the crying lady ghost lingered in my mind, but the fear was slowly ebbing away, replaced by a glimmer of hope.
maybe, with ken's help, i could finally find a way to deal with her and reclaim my life from this haunting nightmare. together, we would face the fear and take back my home, without the damn lady ghost.
as i paced back and forth in the living room, trying to keep my mind off the ghost, i heard the unmistakable sound of ken's car pulling up outside. i rushed to the door, flinging it open before he even had a chance to knock.
"hey." ken said, giving me a reassuring smile. "ready to face her together?"
"more than ever!" i replied, stepping aside to let him in.
we settled into the living room, setting up our sleeping bags and trying to make the place feel less like a haunted house and more like a slumber party.
