Ghost Behind You

1.17. Yin-Yang Eyes

After stepping out of the bathroom, Rose frantically searched for her phone. She had memorized Zach's number, and the first thought that came to mind after discovering the ominous marks on her body was to call him. Maybe he had a solution. If these marks were indeed drawing the witch to her, it was best to deal with it before nightfall. Once that eerie, long-haired ghost appeared in front of her, it would be too late.

This is unbelievable, Rose thought as she waited for Zach to pick up. Did ghosts really have this kind of power? The strangest part was that only she could see the marks—she wasn't even sure if Zach would be able to see them. At least the mirror couldn't reflect them. If it were just an ordinary mark, she could explain it away, like some kind of UV reaction causing melanin to darken the skin. But this was no ordinary mark, and that made everything more disturbing.

When Zach finally answered, he was in the middle of dinner. After listening to Rose's description, he paused for a long time. "Hmm, I see," he said. "I'll come over to check it out. Is it in a spot that others can see? I mean... where are the marks on your body?"

"Ah, just my arms and legs. It's fine," Rose said, blushing slightly.

"Good. Do you want me to bring you some food? I can pick something up."

"No, thanks. I'm not really hungry," Rose replied.

After hanging up, she felt a bit more at ease. She changed into her pajamas and examined her arms again. The marks seemed even more prominent now—dark streaks across her pale skin. They stood out sharply but still didn't show up in the mirror.

When Zach arrived, he brought a few rolls with him. "The staff said we can't take the complimentary dinner to-go. They're probably trying to limit portions. Shame—the food was really good tonight."

"Thanks, but the bread is fine," Rose said with a forced smile.

"Come on, don't be so down," Zach said, noticing her unease. "It might not be as bad as you think. Let me take a look."

Rose stayed still, holding up her arm. "Not sure if you'll be able to see it."

"Just as I expected..." Zach leaned in and examined her arm closely. "Exactly what I thought."

"You can see it?" Rose asked urgently. "What does it mean?"

"I'll need to check the other spots," Zach said.

Feeling a bit self-conscious, Rose sat on the bed and rolled up her pants to show him her legs.

"You really don't have much body hair, do you?" Zach remarked absentmindedly as he examined her skin.

"Huh?" Rose was taken aback, then nodded. "I don't have much. But I didn't ask you to check that! Focus on the marks!" she said, raising a fist in mock annoyance.

"Right, right—just the marks," Zach quickly corrected himself.

"Haven't you seen enough yet?" Rose's face flushed. "Tell me what's going on already." She pulled down her pant leg, feeling awkward.

Zach sat across from her. He instinctively reached for a cigarette, then hesitated, remembering they were in her room.

"You can smoke. I'll open the window," Rose said, eager to hear his explanation. "Just tell me what's happening."

"Thanks," Zach said, lighting up a cigarette. After exhaling a puff, he glanced out the window. It was around six-thirty, still light out, but in another hour or so, it would start to get dark.

"Alright, here's what I know about these marks," Zach began. "But keep in mind, this is just a legend. While the outcome of the legend isn't great, it doesn't mean things will turn out that way for you."

"Stop sugarcoating it," Rose interrupted. "Just tell me—does this mark mean I'm in danger?" Her voice trembled slightly, betraying her biggest fear.

"To be honest, yes," Zach said gravely. "This mark could indeed be dangerous—potentially life-threatening. It might even spread across your body like a disease." Seeing the look of despair on Rose's face, he quickly added, "But there's hope. The fact that you can even see the marks is a good sign. Most people wouldn't be able to, which suggests you're not beyond help. Plus, it means your eyes aren't ordinary. You've had encounters with the supernatural before, whether you remember them or not."

"What do you mean by that?" Rose asked.

"I mean, your eyes can perceive the energy that ghosts emit. You see things others can't. In other words, you have what's known as 'Yin-Yang Eyes,'" Zach explained.

"Yin-Yang Eyes?"

"Yes. They're eyes that allow people to see ghosts. Some people are born with them. One of the signs is that they lack body hair—just like you."

"You're saying my eyes can see ghosts?" Rose asked, still skeptical. "But I've never seen anything like that before. And earlier, you mentioned that even regular people can see ghosts under certain conditions."

"That's true," Zach agreed. "But you've probably seen them before without realizing it. Ordinary people only see ghosts when the spirits want to be seen. But your eyes can see through any disguise—ghosts can't hide from you."

"But I'm not seeing any ghosts now!" Rose protested. "You said they're everywhere—if I really had these Yin-Yang Eyes, shouldn't I be seeing ghosts all the time?"

"Do you really want to see them?" Zach asked, a mischievous glint in his eye. "I can help unlock that potential if you're curious."