Season two, chapter eighty-four

"Hand in hand. You & me.
Today, tomorrow, forever"

ATHENA SAT BESIDE HER BROTHER, Jun-seo, who was comforting Hana. Their expressions were somber, indicating their dissatisfaction with the ongoing situation. Thea realized that none of them were willing to take on the responsibility of eliminating Ma Ju-seok, even if instructed to do so. Their duties mainly involved summoning evil spirits, saving people, and resolving emergencies without resorting to violence unless absolutely necessary, a scenario that had never arisen until today.

Ma Ju-seok's strength had increased as a result of Hwang Pil-gwang assuming control of his body. Thea considered killing him as the only option, but couldn't go through with it, given his past kindness towards her and their close relationship resembling that of a beloved uncle. Athena found Yung's order to be overwhelming, struggling to fully grasp the scenario as she gazed down at her hands resting on the table.

Jangmul, wide-eyed and in disbelief, questioned the group at the table, "They want you to kill him, not summon him?" His tone was clear and filled with surprise as he observed each member's gaze turned downward

"Yes" Everyone nodded in agreement with solemn expressions, indicating a shift in the mood of the room to a more serious tone

"Oh dear. In that case, forget about Ma Ju-seok for a second" expressed Jangmul, appearing concerned as he leaned against the table."What about all the souls inside him? Will they all disappear along with him?"

"I promised Ms. So that I'd save papa" Ms. Chu interjected solemnly, her gaze fixed on the table, conveying a sense of emptiness in that particular moment "Who knew I wouldn't be able to keep my word?"

"Ma Ju-seok only killed Mr. Park and Hwang Pil-gwang" Mun declared solemnly, his gaze unwavering as he addressed his teammates. "But the problem is Hwang Pil-gwang. He took too many innocent lives" Mun then rose from his seat with determination, refusing to obey Yung's commands "We can't do this. Our job isn't only to catch the evil spirits. It's also to return the trapped innocent souls back to Yung" Mun spoke firmly, making a compelling case to the members

"You're right" Mo-tak silently concurred, gazing at Mun with a solemn demeanor. He then expressed, "That is our job as well. But Ma Ju-seok right now..." He shut his eyes in exasperation and emitted a sigh before reopening them. "No. if we fail to stop Hwang Pil-gwang, there will be more innocent victims. That's the truth"

Hana, with a solemn look on her face, interjected, "I agree." She discreetly held on to Jun-seo's hand beneath the table.  "The hell Hwang Pil-gwang created has already begun. Those at the broadcasting station and many other innocent people have already become his victims"

"Yes, we must stop Hwang Pil-gwang at all costs" Mun affirmed, his expression resolute. "But maybe there's an another way. We should try our best to save those souls inside him" he added with a sense of urgency, capturing the interest of all those present

"Another way?" Mo-tak interjected once again, his brow furrowed in skepticism. "Do you really believe that?" He inquired incredulously, causing Mun to let out a sigh of frustration.  "Trying to persuade Ma Ju-seok was our last chance to summon him. However, we failed to do that. It's a pity for all those trapped souls, but we can't take any more risks. Okay?" He queried, directing his gaze at Mun, who was left speechless and unable to offer any further convincing arguments for pursuing a different course of action."Chairman Choi, we need some weapons" he stated firmly while looking at Jangmul, prompting everyone to turn their attention towards Mo-tak, albeit without attempting to intervene and halt his decision

"All right"Jangmul reluctantly agreed, acknowledging defeat with a nod. He resignedly held onto the table with both hands, as he had no choice but to comply with Mo-tak's instructions

Mun glanced at the other team members, observing that they all appeared dejected. He was surprised that neither Hana nor Thea were proposing alternatives. He felt a sense of betrayal, particularly from his girlfriend who had always supported him but was now against him.

"Are you seriously giving up on trying to summon him?"Mun questioned in astonishment, his mouth slightly open as he regarded Thea with a feeling of betrayal. Thea, on the other hand, avoided his gaze and nervously played with her hands beneath the table

"Mun! We're not giving up. This is a choice!" Mo-tak exclaimed with determination, getting up from his seat and pacing towards the boxing ring before returning to the table with evident frustration "We're at a dead end! It's also our job to prepare ourselves for the worst" he declared with fury, his eyes wide in anger and his chest visibly tense. Mun watched him with a mix of emotions, clearly displaying irritation

Thea glanced at Mun briefly before shifting her focus back to her hands. It was clear that she harbored reservations about causing harm to Mr. Ma. Despite her reluctance, she acknowledged that her options for helping him were minimal in the absence of alternatives.

Thea observed Mun through the small circular window on his bedroom door, noting his evident distress, especially in light of the previous day's events. She speculated whether he had intentionally given up on assisting Mr. Ma, as no one had come forward to support him the night before. She empathized with Mun, recognizing his determined efforts to find an alternate method to summon Hwang Pil-gwang, despite being fixated on helping Mr. Ma without considering that there may be no other solution. With a heavy sigh, Thea approached the white door, putting on a smile before knocking and entering.

Mun briefly glanced away from the computer screen before returning his attention to it.

"Mun" Thea remarked with a grin as she approached him, noting his persistence in researching information about Ma Ju-seok online. It was evident that he was determined and not ready to give up

"This is where he was last seen before going to the broadcasting station" Mun disclosed as he glanced up at Thea, who was focused on his computer screen "He was near the hospital where we were. He was fighting the evil spirit and wanted to see us" he murmured gently, gazing into Thea's eyes with a doe-like expression "We could've succeeded had I moved a bit faster"

"What's done is done" Thea interjected calmly, brushing some strands of hair from his face as he met her gaze. She reassured him, "You did your best"

"I know how he feels" Mun stated, his gaze shifted towards his desk as he expressed his determination "When I met my parents in Yung... do you really think... Ma Ju-seok became a complete evil spirit?" Mun's gaze then returned to Thea, who felt a wave of mixed emotions when she met his doe-like eyes

"What?" Thea inquired with bewilderment, her brow furrowed as she tightly gripped the back of Mun's chair. As she gazed down at him, she could discern that he remained unconvinced about Mr. Ma's transformation into malevolence

"We didn't even know he was swayed" Mun expressed with distress, shaking his head. He pondered aloud, "What if we still don't understand what's going on with him right now? What if Hwang Pil-gwang hasn't completely consumed him yet?" Mun expressed hope that Mr. Ma's true self still existed somewhere within, longing to be rescued from the darkness that consumed him

"Mun, even the Yung people said that the evil spirit consumed him—"

"But they don't know that" Mun interjected with a pleading look. Thea sighed and released Mun's chair, trying to understand why he couldn't simply give up

"There's no way to know, unless we see inside his mind" Thea started to say with a hint of doubt before halting abruptly and locking eyes with Mun. It dawned on her suddenly what he was considering."Don't tell me that you're thinking about doing that" she exclaimed, her eyes widening as she gazed at Mun in disbelief, determined not to allow him to go through with it

Mun rose from his seat and approached Thea closely, expressing his optimism by saying "We could still have a chance. I need to check for myself" Thea immediately rejected his plea, recognizing his request for assistance but declaring her refusal to help him "I can't give up like this. Please help me"

"Mun" Thea softly took hold of Mun's arm in a warning tone as she shook her head. Mun gazed at her imploringly, gently holding her hand on his arm as he bent down to her level, their faces just inches apart. Thea's breath caught in her throat as he was aware that she could never resist those eyes

"Please" Mun pleaded, gazing directly at Thea. As they locked eyes, Thea hesitated to let him get into trouble, but understood that he would proceed regardless of her agreement. Reluctantly, she sighed in resignation

As they strolled next to each other in matching black tracksuits, Thea pondered whether assisting Mun had been the correct decision. She was aware that they were both acting covertly, keeping it a secret even from Yung. The potential consequences of their actions weighed heavily on her mind, all due to Mun's unwavering determination to save Mr. Ma. Surveying their surroundings, Thea noted the desolate landscape with only grass, dirt, and pillars supporting the bridge overhead.

"We need the territory" Thea stated, coming to a halt in a desolate area located far from their hideout to avoid detection by Hwang Pil-gwang. Mun acknowledged her statement by kneeling down and touching the ground, prompting Thea to do the same. The vibrant lights of the territory eventually engulfed the surroundings. Thea warned, "He will find you through the territory" Watching Mun's expression tense, she noticed his eyes shut before he collapsed to the side. Reacting swiftly, Thea reached out to hold him close against her chest in a protective embrace

Thea let out a sigh as she gazed down at Mun, who was unconscious on her lap, feeling the sun's intense heat on her face. She made a soft groan as she gently placed one hand over her own face and the other over Mun's. It was clear that Mun's awakening would take some time before he regained consciousness. With patience, she continued to cradle him, protecting his face from the sun's harsh rays.

Out of nowhere, she heard a gasp and turned her gaze towards Mun, who had his eyes shut but seemed to be struggling to breathe, as if he were being suffocated by an unseen entity.

"Mun whats wrong?" Thea inquired with concern, holding his shoulders and gently shaking him to rouse him from sleep. "Are you alright?" She questioned as Mun abruptly sat up, taking in deep breaths. "Mun, are you feeling okay?" Thea asked anxiously as he looked at her with wide eyes and trembling breath, attempting to understand the situation.

Thea observed Mun's impatient approach towards Wi-gen, sharing the details of his experience entering Ma Ju-seok's mind. She expressed doubt regarding Mr. Ma assisting in his escape from Hwang Pil-gwang, feeling hesitant to fully believe the story herself. She was confident that Wi-gen shared her skepticism.

"It was definitely Mr. Ma. He warned me and helped me get out of the evil spirit's mind" Mun stated gravely, though he held optimism that this revelation would sway Wi-gen from her intentions of harming Mr. Ma

"Are you sure it was him who helped you?" inquired Thea, her hands clasped together on the table. She gazed at Mun before rising from her chair with a solemn expression "You need to be careful, Mun. You were in serious danger. You almost died" she admonished, her face reflecting anger. "You could've been trapped in there forever" she exclaimed loudly, while rubbing her temples in frustration

"I'm sure of it" replied Mun, turning towards Thea with a grave expression, although his eyes betrayed a sense of remorse for causing her concern "How could I not recognize his voice? Now, we have hope. It won't be easy, but if Mr. Ma helps us and fights the evil spirit from within, then there will be a way to summon Hwang Pil-gwang" he uttered, casting a beseeching glance at Wi-gen once again

"If it's true..." Wi-gen eventually stated, causing Thea to sigh and glance away while expressing doubt with a roll of her eyes  "...that the soul of Ma Ju-seok still remains, then it could be possible to summon the evil spirit" Mun nodded in evident reassurance as he absorbed her statement. Wi-gen then rose to her feet and regarded both individuals with a solemn expression.  "However, we'd be taking a huge risk for such a small possibility. Therefore, Yung's previous decision still stands. Ma Ju-seok has to be eliminated"

"Wi-gen..." Mun murmured in disbelief. Thea gently placed her hand on his shoulder to offer comfort, causing him to let out a defeated sigh. Despite this setback, Mun was determined not to give up on saving Mr. Ma, a resolve that Thea was well aware of

"Mo-tak!"

"Mo-tak!"

Upon hearing about the severe injuries sustained by Mo-tak during a confrontation with an evil spirit, all individuals hurriedly entered the hideout in search of him. It was not disclosed which specific evil spirit Mo-tak had encountered, though it was conveyed that he had suffered significant injuries and only narrowly escaped from the battle.

"Sunbae" Hana exclaimed as she made her way up the stairs to the storage room where the equipment was stored, her companions following closely behind with concerned looks on their faces

Thea closely trailed Hana as they watched Mo-tak engage in a task with his back turned towards them, obstructing their view. Although his actions were not visible, they could deduce his actions from the sounds coming from the object he held in his hands.

"Mo-tak, are you okay?" Ms. Chu inquired with concern, observing as he placed ammunition on a black bag alongside a firearm. "What are you doing?" she questioned, clearly puzzled

"What happened?" Mun inquired with concern, stopping just behind Thea and attempting to assess the situation

"I ran into Ma Ju-seok" Mo-tak stated in a serious manner, with a distant look in his eyes and visible injuries on his neck and back, indicating that he was not in good shape. However, what stood out to Thea was the firearm in the black bag he was packing

"You ran into him?" Hana inquired with a mix of concern and astonishment, her focus remaining on his actions

"Let me treat you first, okay?" Ms. Chu expressed concern as she examined his injuries. She was prepared to treat him, but Mo-tak disregarded her and proceeded to walk past her with aloofness "Mo-tak..." Despite her calls, he continued on his way

"No, Mo-tak" Mun blocked Mo-tak's path and prevented him from leaving with the gun, determined to prevent any actions that he may regret in the future

"Move, Mun" Mo-tak said in a polite manner, giving him a warning glance as he attempted to move around him

"Why are you doing this?" Mun inquired sternly, his brow furrowed and hand on Mo-tak's chest, preventing him from moving forward. Mun was determined to prevent Mo-tak from leaving in his current state with a gun

"I said move!"Mo-tak escalated his tone menacingly and gently pushed him, causing Mun to stumble against the metal shelf behind him

Thea observed with concern as Mun let out a sigh and Mo-tak proceeded down the path, tightly holding onto the black bag that held a firearm. It was evident to her what his intentions were with the weapon, leaving Thea feeling uncomfortable.

"Don't do this. We still have a chance"Mun exhaled deeply as he followed behind Mo-tak. Mo-tak halted midway, casting a doubtful glance back at Mun and staring at him with disbelief in his eyes

"A chance?" Mo-tak repeated in astonishment, clutching the strap of the black bag he held firmly. Thea observed his actions closely, prepared for any potential actions

"I definitely heard him today. Mr. Ma's conscience was still inside him" Mun expressed with desperation, a glimmer of hope shining in his eyes. The rest of the group listened attentively, visibly surprised by his words. "It was definitely his voice. He saved me from Hwang Pil-gwang so we still have a chance. We can summon him and save everyone" he urgently stated, gesturing with his hands as he locked eyes with Mo-tak, pleading, "You might've gotten out of there because Mr. Ma helped you"

"That's enough!" Mo-tak shouted in frustration, clenching his fist and delivering a sudden blow to Mun's face. Mun fell to the ground with a loud thud, eliciting gasps of shock from everyone. Thea hurried to Mun's side, her expression filled with concern as she glared at Mo-tak in disbelief at his actions "Please, just stop! Are you still determined to save him? Are you? Do you know what that evil spirit has done, you bastard!?" Mo-tak yelled with tears in his eyes, his anger evident. He moved towards Mun, poised to strike again, but Thea shielded Mun from further harm. Hana intervened, preventing Mo-tak from escalating the situation further

"We must save him. Why are you giving up when there's a way?" Mun rose from the ground with blood trickling from his lips, his eyes blazing with fury. He exclaimed, "We can summon him and save everyone!"  Mo-tak held onto the collar of his jacket, while Mun did the same, both of them glaring at each other with anger. Mun expressed his disbelief, shaking Mo-tak and breathing heavily,  "How can we give up on him!?"

"That's enough, Mun! Whats the matter with you two?" Ms. Chu exclaimed in exasperation as Jeok-bong and Thea intervened to separate Mun from Mo-tak, with tensions still high between them

Thea tightly grasped Mun's arm, keeping him at a distance from Mo-tak. She observed his rapid breathing, the blood dripping from his lips, and the intense anger in his chest.

"Why are you fighting?" Jeok-bong inquired with a furrowed brow, his frustration evident in the raised tone of his voice. "Fight the evil spirits, not each other!"

"Han-ul!" Mo-tak exclaimed loudly, drawing everyone's attention.  "Han-ul... died" He continued in a somber tone, barely audible but tears evident in his eyes. The room fell silent as Thea gasped, trying to comprehend the shocking revelation

"What?" Mun expressed disbelief, with his mouth slightly open and tears welling in his eyes, as Jeok-bong and Thea released their hold on him to also come to terms with the shocking news

"That scumbag..."  Mo-tak lamented quietly, then continued,  "killed... Han-ul" he repeated with a trembling voice "He... he didn't even hesitate. He killed Han-ul as if he was nothing. He just... he just killed him. But..." he expressed his frustration by tilting his head and gazing directly at Mun, observing tears streaming down his face in disbelief.  "What did you say? We still have what? What more can we do!? Why can't you give up? Why? How many deaths do you need, God Damn it!" Mo-tak shouted through tears. Despite attempts from Ms. Chu and Thea to intervene, Mo-tak advanced menacingly towards Mun, eventually standing in front of him staring with intense anger "Now... I'll do it my way. I will... I will kill him" he declared sternly before picking up the black bag from the floor and departing

"Mo-tak..." softly called Ms. Chu, but he did not respond.  "Mo-tak!" Increasing her volume, she called out to him again, this time following after him. "Mo-tak!"

Mun was rendered speechless, with tears streaming down his face as he struggled to comprehend the shocking revelation that had just been made. There was a sense of disbelief among everyone present as they glanced at Mun before turning their attention back to the spot where Mo-tak had stood before departing.

Shortly after, Hana proceeded to follow Ms. Chu. Subsequently, Mun experienced a breakdown, venting his anger by striking a nearby metal shelf, pressing his arm against the metal and resting his forehead on his arm. He was shouting in frustration and tears. Jeok-bong and Jun-Seo observed him closely, unsure of how to assist. Jun-Seo then discreetly urged Thea to intervene. She silently assented and approached Mun, tenderly placing her hand on his shoulder. Vulnerable and still weeping, Mun sought solace in her arms, to which she willingly embraced him.

Thea waited patiently for Mun outside the nursing home where Ma Ju-seok's mother was located. Seated on a bench under the shade of a tree, she admired the blue sky. Despite wanting to accompany him inside, Mun preferred to speak with Mr. Ma's mother alone, so she reluctantly agreed to wait outside. Thea greeted passersby with a smile and waved at children who were drawn to her kind nature.

After what felt like a very long time, she got up from the bench upon spotting Mun exiting the building, his eyes visibly swollen from crying. Concerned, Thea walked towards him, holding tightly onto the small purse hanging from her shoulder as she neared him.

"Are you feeling alright?" Thea inquired softly, observing Mun's nod and the slight grin on his face

"Did you wait for too long?" Mun inquired softly, gently taking Thea's hand to walk together, as they often did

"No, you didn't take too long. In fact, I could wait indefinitely for you without feeling weary," Thea reassured with a smile on her face. She shook her head, intertwining their fingers, and felt a surge of butterflies in her stomach upon hearing Mun's chuckle

Mun let out a deep and contented breath as he gazed up at the clear blue sky. "It has been quite a while since we've had a moment to ourselves. We're constantly caught up in battling evil spirits that I've forgotten what it's like to simply be alone with you," he expressed wistfully, casting a sorrowful glance at Thea by his side

"We were still able to enjoy some special moments together," Thea said with a playful smile as she gently nudged his arm, causing him to smile back. "Remember all those times you would move my chair closer to you during dinners to keep Jeok-bong from being too close to me?" she chuckled, fondly recalling each of those instances

"Hey, I was just..." Mun nervously chuckled while scratching the back of his neck and clearing his throat "I was being protective"

"And jealous" Thea said with a sly smile, snuggling closer to his arm as they strolled together on their journey back home

"And jealous" Mun echoed, shamelessly nodding his head with a smile on his face. "Do you remember when you were jealous of the waitress during our last date?" He inquired with a smirk

"She was clearly flirting with you!" Thea remarked with disapproval, recalling the memory. "She repeatedly inquired about your preferences and offered recommendations, all the while smiling at you with adoring eyes. How could you have missed those obvious signs?"

"Alright, perhaps she was," Mun sighed quietly, subtly drawing Thea nearer to him with a slight smile. He playfully admitted, "I didn't realize, as I was captivated by your beauty."

"Cease, you are still responsible for that" Thea laughed, gently moving their hands together in the air with joy, causing Mun to chuckle lovingly

"Hana, where—" Jeok-bong's voice came through the earpiece that Thea was wearing before abruptly stopping as he started to gag, causing Thea to grimace in disgust

"Jeok-bong, what's wrong?" Hana inquired with concern seconds after hearing the noises

"This smell... this smell... it's Ma Ju-seok" Jeok-bong exclaimed with distress, causing Thea to feel uneasy upon hearing that name

Thea glanced over at Mun out of habit, but only saw him smiling contentedly; he had chosen not to wear the earpiece, indicating he was not tuned in to the ongoing discussion.

"Ma Ju-seok?" inquired Hana, visibly shocked, as Thea scanned her surroundings cautiously, checking for any signs of being followed. "He's around here?"

"No. Not there. Here!" Jeok-bong shouted in desperation. Thea glared at Mun as he smirked smugly next to her, causing her to mutter a curse under her breath, knowing he would be annoyed yet again

"Mun. Ma Ju-seok is at our hideout" Thea disclosed urgently, coming to a halt when Mun's smile disappeared rapidly

"What do you mean?" Mun inquired with a look of surprise, gripping her hand tightly for reassurance

"Ms. Chu, Jeok-bong, Jun-Seo, and Chairman Choi are in danger" Thea continued, her voice slightly trembling, hoping that her brother understood the importance of looking after himself

"Understood. Let's go" Mun affirmed resolutely before they both quickly started moving towards their hiding place, holding hands tightly

This singular event signified the impending commencement of the ultimate confrontation, with potential outcomes including their ultimate triumph, demise, victory, or defeat, leaving Thea feeling a sense of dread. She was not mentally equipped to face such a scenario, but remained confident in their ability to achieve success, as they had done in the past.

Author's note;

Hello, I have returned with lengthy chapters. I am pleased to share that this book is nearing completion. However, I am also feeling a bit melancholy as I have developed an attachment to this book. 😭 I have noticed a decrease in the number of votes for recent chapters, so I kindly request for increased support to boost my motivation.💗

Question of the day: Do you all desire additional sections following the completion of this book? ✅

Please share your thoughts on the matter, as I will be reviewing all comments. 💜