The Next Life (다음 생에 만날래)

The Illusion

Following the sounds of raised voices, I found myself creeping into the library. It was probably no use keeping so quiet since the Mogwai would likely know I was there regardless, but I did anyway.

Throughout the three days I'd been staying at the mansion, tensions had been bubbling just under the surface between its four inhabitants. Though I spent most of my time either alone or with Jisoo, I did, on occasion, bump into the others. Lalisa was the only one who genuinely seemed to not mind my being there, though I still sensed some frustration behind the facade when the others were brought up. Chaeyoung, while cordial when talking to me, always seemed to have some place to be. It was clearly an excuse, but I didn't feel like I was in a position to press the matter. As for Jennie, her glares and low sighs spoke volumes. It seemed she was determined to uphold her promise of pretending she hadn't helped me just earlier that month.

For all that tension within those aged walls, the only surprise was that the conflict I was overhearing hadn't happened sooner.

Jennie's voice cut through the air like a frisbee, echoing in the halls outside the library. "You say that, Jisoo, as though you have been blinded to the fact that the object of our centuries' worth of searching, that malignant scum, is still at large. And yet you hide that human within our walls, like a gemstone worth millions!"

A shiver ran down my spine as Jisoo responded, having gotten used to her softer tone as of late. "You speak of blindness and value as though your myopic mind should have any grasp as to what the concepts entail. Need I remind you of how many times Y/N has flirted with death while acting on our wishes?"

A scoff cut the older ghost off. "Why should the foolishness of a fragile mortal be of any concern to me? To us? To our ultimate goal?"

"That fragile mortal has brought with him what might possibly be our only chance to find that devil!"

"Is he truly, though?" Another scoff filled the library. I remained crouched where I was, a single bookshelf separating me from the pair of increasingly agitated ghosts. "Or have you become so disillusioned by your own feelings to see sense? We place our trust in you to guide us as we risk disintegration for centuries, evading the afterlife, and yet, you would cast all that aside? All for a pathetic human who you've managed to get yourself smitten for?"

"If you must go off-topic, you will do well to watch your tongue!" I could practically hear Jisoo grit her teeth. "As I have reiterated countless times, Y/N is the key–"

"Well, I disagree! The way I see it, you have let yourself fall for the same trap that led to your end all those years ago. You're just as weak as before, centuries of experience and powers be damned."

I heard a whoosh, followed by an angry thud. I pictured Jisoo holding out a clawed hand, lifting Jennie off her feet and slamming her back into a bookshelf.

"Believe me, Jennie Kim, you do not want me as your enemy."

Jennie choked her response out, but I could tell she had a grin on her face. "Is that a challenge? Oh, how I've dreamt this day would come."

The chaos that ensued was difficult to discern from where I crouched. From the centre of the library, books flew off shelves, the very air itself sounded like it contorted and twisted, the thud of a bookshelf hitting the floor reverberated throughout the library.

I wasn't sure what came over me, but the decision I made next was not a rationally sound one.

From my hiding spot, which had mercifully been spared from the collateral damage, I rushed out directly towards the fight. I didn't know what I hoped to achieve. Maybe I thought my being there would help somehow? Stop the fight, or at least distract the Mogwai until something or someone intervened. Half-baked musings by an adrenaline-riddled mind.