The Girl of an Old Mansion

11. Min-ho's Story

By the time Min-ho reached the town, he had already cooked an impressive story in his mind for his friend.

After arriving at the marketplace Min-ho saw his friend and shouted his name at the top of his lungs.

Ji-ho turns around and sees a tall figure rushing towards him. His eyes widened when he looked at his friend Min-ho standing in front of him. Alive.

"How is this possible? I can't believe this! How could he make it to that witch's mansion and return alive? He must have come back without visiting that mansion. Thank God! My money is safe now, I will not have to pay him a single penny. There was no way this poor rat confront the witch of that mansion?" Ji-ho thought.

"My friend, as you can see I've come back alive from the mansion. Now reward me with the money as per our deal."

"Do you really think you can fool me with your lies? I know that must have been wandering the dark forest this whole time. You probably didn't even dare to enter the mansion. So, you just came back asking for the money shamelessly," said Ji-ho in a disgusted tone.

Min-ho kept his cool and tried to explain it to Ji-ho in an easy manner.

"Brother, why are you so panicked? Just as you told me, I've brought something from the mansion that belongs to the witch. See, I got this ring from there, now do you believe me?" said Min-ho.

"It's an easy task to enter the mansion, and you bring back the ring placed somewhere. It's funny that the witch isn't there in your story at all. I will not pay you for this!" Ji-ho laughs hysterically.

"I will explain everything but let's talk somewhere else. This place is a bit noisy."

Ji-ho and Min-ho walk towards Min-ho's place.

Ji-ho asked, "Now tell me what are you hiding."

Min-ho starts to tell his fully cooked story with great interest.

"After our deal I immediately headed to the dark forest and my dear friend there is something really strange about the forest, I finally understand why the people call it the dark forest. Once you enter the forest, there is something weird about the calmness and silence of the forest, as you step forward the forest becomes denser and denser and the only sound you could hear was the awful crackling sound." Min-ho look at Ji-ho.

"W-what sound?" asks Ji-ho hesitantly.

"The sound of bats."

"Somehow I managed to calm myself and continued. Walking in that forest is not easy, it's like walking on a thin ice the moment you become reckless you will presumably end up attacked by those fatal beasts of forest. Keeping these things aside, I kept on walking until I heard the sound of crushing leaves and stopped. I slowly turned around only to encounter a giant tiger looking at me with those hungry eyes. I froze in fear, my whole body got numb. I felt paralyzed."

"How did you save yourself?" Ji-ho asked in a tense tone.

"In that horrific situation I only had two choices either to run as fast as I could for my dear life or be a hero and fight the beast and kill him."

"So, what did you choose?"

"Obviously, option number one. I ran as fast as I could and ended up climbing a big tree to trick the tiger. My heart was pounding in my chest. After running so vigorously to save my life, I was really tired and slept there for a while. The Sun was about to set when I woke up from my nap."

"The haunted mansion was about a kilometre away from where I was. I headed towards it and soon I was standing in front of the dark mansion."

"What did the mansion look like? Was it really horrible?" asked Ji-ho in fear.

"Horrible? It was far worse. The mansion was musty and gloomy, the light coming from the rapid lightning was adding more horror. Even standing in the presence of that mansion made my heart race and I felt shivers run down my spine. I continued to walk past the front door with the howling sound of wind."

"The crooked door was left ajar, I pushed the door with my shivering hands and entered the spooky mansion."

"Everything was silent and still, it was dark from inside however the moonlight shining through the broken windows helped me to move on. My nostrils filled up with a rotten smell. As I moved forward I saw cobwebs, layers of dust everywhere, ripped curtains, chandelier with broken strings of crystals. A single thought of the witch standing before me sent a chill down my spine, somehow I collected my thoughts and started searching for things here and there. Luckily I found a mirror and was relieved that till then I had not been seen by the horrible creature. Grabbing the mirror in my hand I was about to run when I heard something from behind..."

"W...w...What was it?" Ji-ho asked in fear.

"I froze in fear. I didn't even dare to turn around. The sound of footsteps were getting closer to me by the second until they suddenly stopped. After that I felt a phantom hand on my shoulder with a puff of breath on my earlobe. I swallowed my saliva and slowly turned around."

"I was face to face with the witch."

Ji-ho was sweating in fear.

"The sight was so gruesome that shiver curled through the hairs on the back of my neck then cascaded down my backbone. I almost peed in my pants. Frizzy and grayish hair, wrinkled skin, long nails, bloodshot red eyes and those canines. My god!! It was a dreadful sight."

"She then gestured to me to come closer with an awful smile. I was shivering in fear. I wanted to scream, but not even a single word slipped from my mouth. I tried running but she grabbed my arms and whispered in my ear, "Now be a nice guest and let me EAT YOU!"

"Her devilish laugh echoed through the entire mansion. As the witch was about to bite me I smashed the mirror that I had grabbed onto her head.

Fortunately a piece of broken glass stabbed her eye causing her to wail in pain. I used this opportunity to flee, I pushed the witch with all my force and ran as fast as I could until I fainted. When I opened my eyes, it was morning. I recalled last night and immediately walked towards the town."

"This was the ring, I grabbed while fighting the witch. Here take this ring."

"NO...NO...NO keep this ring to yourself I don't want any belonging of that witch huhhhh ... and here is your reward." Ji-ho handed over the pouch of money to Min ho.

The moment Ji-ho left, Min-ho started to laugh hysterically that he fooled Ji-ho.

"I guess I could become a good actor or story writer. What a great story, not bad Min-ho. But it could have been better with more description of the witch such as the witch was roaming everywhere sitting on her broom, the mansion was full of human and animal skeletons blah blah blah. Anyways it's time to pamper myself."

Min-ho walked to the market area to eat something good. He ordered Kimchi and fried chicken soup and emptied the multiple bowls with no effort.

Late at night, Min-ho lay awake thinking about Si-ri. Recalling the moment when Si-ri placed her head against his chest listening to his heartbeat and touching his chest calling him a healthy man. Min-ho's lips curve upwards and his cheeks are glowing pink shade.

"Si-ri, you are too naive and pure. I wish I could meet you more often. How hapless is that, captive in a mansion with no interaction with mundane happiness."

"I know somewhere deep inside you are also craving to see the lights of the outer world. I will surely help you to come out someday. Till then let me sleep, why do you keep coming in my dreams. I know I am handsome but still I am not like other boys. Now, good night." Min-ho murmurs in his thoughts.

It was a starry night with a clear moon scattering the soft silver rays with its coolness everywhere lessening the darkness of night.