Moo-young pressed his ear to the door of the master bedroom and knocked. Knock knock. No footsteps had come this way at all, so dust had piled up thick. No sound from inside, so he knocked once more. Knock knock. It felt like two families under one roof.
"Ghost lady. You home?"
Creeeak. The door opened, and warm sunlight poured in. No matter how many times he saw it, the lighting in this place was truly artistic. And there stood Ghost Lady right in front of it.
"Why no answer when I called?"
She just turned slowly to look at him. A ghost standing firm on her own two feet under the blazing sun. Who was it that said spirits only come out at night?
"Time to go."
Moo-young tapped his wristwatch. It was the day he'd promised to put her on stage for Tiger Thorn Tree, which also meant the day she'd achieve Buddhahood.
"All ready?"
She glided past him toward the entryway without a word. Looked like she was prepared. With Jun-ho's texts blowing up his phone to hurry down, Moo-young crammed his feet into his shoes.
"Hop on."
He offered his back like a piggyback ride. She hopped on naturally, just like always.
Screech—thud!
"What the? Why you walking like that?"
Jun-ho, waiting in the parking lot with Bora, stared in bewilderment. A perfectly fine guy waddling along with his waist bent like that... wasn't it weird?
"Hurt your back or something?"
"Nah, it's nothing. Let's just go. Quick."
Bora, in the front seat, was fixing her lipstick in the rearview mirror.
"You made it?"
Yu-chan had sent invites not just to Moo-young, but to Director Jeong O-seok, Bora, and even Hyeong-ju. It was a big moment in his acting career, so he probably wanted to share his shining instant with as many people as possible.
'A flame burns brightest right before it goes out, or at its peak.'
No telling what decision Yu-chan would make after this play. But whatever it was, this moment would be the brightest in his life.
"He ghosts us with no word, then suddenly out of nowhere..."
Bora muttered in a strangely wistful tone. From what Moo-young could guess, there'd been something more than friendship between her and Yu-chan. Whether colleagues or lovers, he couldn't say.
"He said he needed time to think alone."
Now she had Jun-ho, so it was all just past memories. Bora pouted at Jun-ho's words.
"Making people worry, then popping up with opening night tickets out of the blue? Come on. Still as selfish as ever."
They'd known each other since middle school, so their bond must run deep. Jun-ho chuckled and rubbed his arm.
"Man, the parking lot's giving me chills. Brr."
Yeah. Sorry about that. It was Ghost Lady in the back seat. Still, the guy's senses were sharper than Moo-young expected. Not with his eyes like Moo-young, but he could tell from the vibe or the temperature.
"Let's roll. We're gonna be late."
Moo-young glanced at Ghost Lady staring out the window and urged Jun-ho on. She looked like she was heading to her death. Well, she was already dead, but now she had to truly say goodbye to this world.
"These flowers?"
"Yeah. Pretty color, right?"
A bouquet of red roses at their feet, swaying gently with the car's motion.
* * *
The front of Hado Theater was buzzing, unlike before. The empty parking lot was packed with cars, and crowds had gathered for the show.
"Yu-chan!"
The three found the waiting room amid the chaos. Yu-chan sat there all alone, face stiff as a board.
"Dude, why so down?"
"Oh. You guys came?"
No chit-chat despite it being a while; Bora's grumbling got only a silent smile from him. He must be seriously nervous.
"You'll kill it."
"Thanks. Glad you came. Director, head to your seat first. It's right up front, comfy."
"Alright! Outsiders, please head back to your seats. Show's starting soon!"
They'd barely exchanged words before parting. Moo-young set Ghost Lady down and gave his cheer.
"Fighting. I'll be watching."
Yu-chan beamed wordlessly. Ghost Lady gazed at Moo-young with poignant eyes.
The waiting room door shut, and they headed to their seats.
"Director!"
"Long time no see, everyone!"
O-seok, all dolled up, waved happily. Last time for Moo-young was signing with the agency; for Bora, graduation.
"You punks. No calls or anything."
"Sorry. Been swamped."
"If I didn't know 'no news is good news,' I'd be crying right now. You brats~"
He playfully pinched Moo-young's arm, now sitting right beside him. Amid the lively greetings, the director suddenly whispered to Moo-young.
"Heard you landed a drama with Ro Min?"
"Ah, yeah. That's right."
"Heh heh. Good boy! Attaboy!"
Not just introducing him, but co-starring too. BV Academy flyers would probably add a new line soon: 'Cast in S Network Miniseries—Moo-young!'
"How's Ro Min doing?"
"I scheduled classes, but he's slammed. Once a week is a lot. You're not me—you gotta lead him. Kid's got zero skill but tons of passion."
Moo-young nodded with a laugh. Once filming started, they'd help each other big time. As chatter peaked, the lights dimmed slowly.
"Oh? Starting."
Moo-young straightened up and watched the stage.
The curtain rose, a single bright yellow spotlight descending from above like an angel. Sacred music swelled.
Doong!
"Do you know of Elisha Village?"
'Oh. Yu-chan.'
Yu-chan opened with a murmur to the air. His calm eyes gleamed under heavy makeup.
"A village built on light, but ultimately crumbling in blood. I was its chief. Even now, with everyone gone, I wonder if I still deserve the title."
'Great projection. Solid delivery.'
The director smiled proudly at his student, grown over half a year. From Yu-chan's opener, Hado Theater unfolded the tale of Elisha Village.
"The moment a woman named Marie arrived. That's when it began. The bloody vortex."
Thwack. Lights out, then illuminating a corner. A woman stood there—Marie, with long, red, curly hair cascading down.
'Huh?'
And faintly overlapping her, a vision. Ghost Lady. She stood right atop the lead actress, overlaying her performance.
"Hello? Is anyone home?"
A startlingly clear voice. To others, maybe not, but to Moo-young's ears, Ghost Lady's and the actress's voices blended mystically.
"Who are you? Never seen you before."
"I followed the scent of the tiger thorn tree. Could I trouble you for a glass of water?"
Thwack! From Marie's arrival, the play progressed. Village chief Yu-chan handled narration too, with hefty lines.
'Good for him.'
He'd wanted a key role. Moo-young gradually immersed in the duo's—Yu-chan and Ghost Lady's—performance on stage.
"Cut down the tree? Then this village will run with blood as thick as its berries! Ah! Now I see why God sent me here."
"What the hell's this crazy bitch saying?"
"She's saying don't cut the tree."
"Who doesn't get that? Means shut her up before we cut her head off instead! Idiot!"
Fun to do himself, but watching had its own flavor. Moo-young kept eyes on Ghost Lady's final blaze.
"Cut off my head instead! The blood will stop by tomorrow. But fell the tree, and you'll live in blood for decades."
Slightly different from the actress's lines, but Moo-young focused on Ghost Lady's voice. The lingering resentment of one who yearned for the stage even in death.
"Kill her—!"
Zing! Red lights, shadows flickering everywhere. Strobing turned Marie, the spear piercing her, and the chief into silhouettes.
"Aaaahhh!"
A scream tearing eardrums. The actress's voice underlay, but Ghost Lady's desperate wail hit Moo-young. Like being dragged to hell amid pandemonium.
Gulp.
Even normals felt it? They swallowed at the actress's scream, chills and eerie vibe pulling them in.
The climax peaked—click—lights up, blood-soaked Yu-chan monologuing. Did God exist? If so, such punishment for one tree?
"If testing faith with a mere tree, send me to hell gladly. Better than being lab rats at His feet—I'll spit in His face there!"
Mad rant echoed through seats. Little giant, the phrase fit. How did one man fill the stage so?
"Kill me! Crush me!"
A half-severed tiger thorn tree crashed on the screaming chief. Thud, silence. No sound till lights up. All swallowed by the tree, hushed.
Click—doong. Doo-doong. Doong!
Background music rose; curtain call. Actors lined up, waving. Bright smiles of relief and pride.
"Awesome! Yu-chan!"
"Wooo!"
"Jin-seo! Kim Jin-seo!"
Clap clap clap! Friends and family rose cheering. Moo-young stood, applauding wildly.
The lead stepped forward.
"Kim Jin-seo!"
Actress's name, apparently. Moo-young spotted Ghost Lady flickering behind her, waving like the others—to him alone.
"Yu-chan! You're the best!"
Director joined for Yu-chan's turn. Yu-chan grinned wide at the crowd.
"Let's go!"
Curtain call done, Bora tugged Moo-young, bouquet in hand. She draped it over Yu-chan's shoulders onstage.
"Dude! You crushed it!"
"Haha. Thanks."
Moo-young watched them, hesitating before turning. Eyes met Ghost Lady's behind the actress. He approached Marie's actress with his bouquet.
"You were amazing. Great show."
"Pardon? Oh, uh, thank you."
Perplexed by the stranger's flowers, but whatever. She knew it was for Ghost Lady.
Swoosh—
Ghost Lady hugged the bouquet, waving at Moo-young. Lights flickered.
"Huh? What the?"
Strobing, Moo-young waved back. Lights fully up—Ghost Lady gone.
"Moo-young. What're you doing there?"
"Nothing."
She was gone. Fulfilled her old wish, light-hearted. Bittersweet, Moo-young tilted his head and rejoined the group.
'Weird.'
And Kim Jin-seo, staring piercingly at his back. Glancing between the red roses and him.
"Jin-seo, what's up?"
She just smiled and shook her head at her friends. Felt like she'd seen him before, and would again. Odd.
"Nothing."
Just heat from the play's end, she told herself.
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