séance

vii

tag and run

holding the one and only flashlight tighter in her hands, jennie guided her three friends and the taxi driver deeper into the pitch black woods.

if they hadn't decided to go to the crime scene this would have never happen.

the taxi they took got lost among the hungry eleven pm forest and broke down as soon as fear and panic crashed in.

“l-let's just turn left this time..” stutter the taxi driver.

“we wouldn't have gotten lost if you didnt turn the taxi to the left. just shut up.” said lisa who was ahead of him. taking off the the rubber band from her wrist and ponytailed her hair as they go.

behind her, the girl who had been silent since the very start of the calamity. no matter how much she whispered to herself that things will be okay and they'll get back home safely, jisoo couldn't manage to kick out the nauseous lump in the crook of her ribs.

inhale and exhale at every breath, she gripped chaeyoung's hands unconsciously. making the younger jumped slightly in surprise.

“oh my god, i am so sorry..” whispered jisoo, letting go of her hand and gestured a huge regret.

chaeyoung let out a laugh, “no, no.. its fine, i just thought it was some kind of spooky forest spirits that want to make me as dinner. here,” she offered her palm at jisoo.

“is it okay? my hand sometimes gets clammy when i m scared,”

again, chaeyoung let out a laugh. “no worries,”

and so jisoo grabbed her hand tightly.

//

“guys.. who's that?”

jennie immediately lowered the speed of her pace and turned her head at her friends. 

at first it was too dark to be seen. but as the clouds shifted and the light of her flashlight aim the spot, it was as if they wished they had never saw it.

it was a girl, sitting on the ground with her legs folded up to her chest. her gown smeared with soil and what it seems like to be gore. face painted with dust and dirt and death.

it was no human.

//

the voices in their heads and body shrieked run. but chaeyoung lifted her palm, cueing everyone to stay stoic.

the teen witch took some dry leaves from the ground and crushed them in her grip.
the girl kept still.

“what do you need?”

the girl laughed hoarsely. “dont mind me, princess. i'm just chilling here, minding my own problems.”

instead of continuing their path, chaeyoung took out some matches from her pocket and lit it up. the fire sparks gently upon the thick darkness and evolving from green to yellow.

it took the girl off guard. “h-hey! careful with that!”

“tell me which way to get out of this forest and i'll consider on turning this fire down.”

the girl rolled her eye. she then clasped her hands before her chest and closed her lids for a brief minute. “there, i've opened the way for you. the spell was such a weak noobie.”

chaeyoung furrowed her brows, “..the spell?”

“yeah,” the girl said in an isn't-it-obvious tone, “you're lost because some other ghost bitch casted the curse. i mean, you couldn't just get lost in this tiny woods out of nowhere.”

and the light of the flashlight exploded as the only thing that left was darkness.

vii| tag and run