I woke up with Jongdae shaking my shoulders. I lost consciousness.

"What happened, Baek? Where's the client? I just went to the pantry not more than five minutes then I found you lying on the floor! Did that guy hurt you? Just wait here, I'll go chase him--"

"Calm down, I'm fine."

"No you're not! Look at what that guy did to you! I'll call the police, just wait here." Jongdae said as he went outside looking to his left and right, his phone pressed against his ear.

I look to my surroundings to find papers scattered all over the place, the studios is in complete mess. I tried to recall what happened but I can't remember everything. All I can vaguely remember was that Mr. Zitao's eyes turned white as he mumble something.

A few moments later, police came and asked me about few things but cannot find anything faulty because I did not sustain any injury, there are no stolen items, etc. We also found it really weird because when the police checked the CCTV footages, it seems like it was tampered as there was a missing timestamp on the main camera and only blurry images on the other cameras.

The police are still talking to us when Chanyeol came rushing in the studio. He checked up on us and scanned me if I got hurt but I told him that I'm fine. It was only three in the afternoon but Jongdae told me that I should call the day and get some rest. He'll close the studio early and clean up the mess. I feel sorry for him and thankful at the same time for understanding me. Chanyeol also called and inform his boss that he got an emergency and will just explain it to him the next day, and then drive me back to my apartment. I honestly don't know what kind of good deed I've done in my past life to deserve good friends like them.

***

"Are you sure you're okay?" Chanyeol asked.

"Yes, I am. Don't worry too much." I assured him. He's been asking me the same question from the time he came rushing to the studio till we got in my apartment.

Chanyeol sigh. "Alright, whatever you say. Just sit on the couch, I'll make us something to eat."

"Thank you so much, Yeol. You're my angel." I sent him my signature puppy eyes. I don't know but he really likes that shit and it always works one hudred percent of the time whenever he's mad, and it kinda involves me...... so, yeah.

I was checking on my phone to read Jongdae's messages when at the corner of my eyes, I saw a shadow standing at the corner of the kitchen, just behind Chanyeol who's taking something from the fridge. But when Chanyeol moves to that corner to take the cutting board, it just vanishes. Like Chanyeol didn't even see it! I got shivers so I tried to dismiss the thought that I just saw a ghost or a bad entity. Screw Jongdae for ghost compilation videos yesterday! Or maybe what happened earlier today really took a toll on me.

Chanyeol stayed for a while until he decided to leave and call it a night. It's not that he lives far away from my place - he literally lives two units away from mine. I used to tell him that it's way cheaper if we could be roommates, plus it looks stupid that he's lounging and spending most of his time in my apartment and went back to his at night when he's about to sleep, but he's adamant to have his own space and say that it's best for his sanity? I don't even know what does it even mean... He's my best friend but sometimes I don't even know what's going on inside his head.

As I lay on my bed, I still have this feeling that someone is watching me, especially with the lights off, so I decided to just sleep with the lights on, hoping that I would survive the night.

*****

The following day, Chanyeol drove me to the studio as I left my car at the building's parking lot. I came to a serious Jongdae, looking something on his PC monitor.

"What's with the serious face? What's wrong?" I asked.

"Well, yesterday after you and Chanyeol left, I watched the CCTV footages but didn't find anything. However, when I checked the audio on cam 4, there's a vague voice that was caught, I guess that was the guy's voice. It's so weird because the audio seems like it came from a deep tunnel. I'll play the audio for you."

Jongdae play the audio and it's indeed weird. But as I listened to the weird and creepy audio, it's as if I could here Mr. Zitao's words while pointing his finger at me.

"....... With the power bestowed upon me, I cast this spell, to feel the same emotion he made other people. Love confession could never be utter, heart would never be at ease......"

"Huh? What is that?" Jongdae was confuse.

"Those are the words that he, Mr. Zitao said. He even said something about the third full moon and a man in black, or something will show up, then after that everything went black." I explained.

"You mean that guy who looked like a panda cursed you?" I look at Jongdae trying to comprehend what he just said. "He said that 'I cast this spell' right?" I nodded, "Then that was it! He put a hex on you!"

I was trying to sink that information in my head when I saw a black figure standing outside our studio. By the looks of it, it looks like a guy but I didn't saw his face, then as someone passes by that guy, he's gone.

All thoughout the day, I was just thinking if everything that is going on right now is real. I don't know if I would still live once the guy that Mr. Zitao mentioned confronted me, is it an executioner or something? I don't know. All I know is that I can feel the vain on my head thumping.

"Hey, Baek look at this." Jongdae push himself while sitting on his office chair to my direction and showing me his ipad. "I'm not sure if this it but I hope somehow the information could help you. The thing that panda guy did to you was a binding spell - I guess? Again I'm not sure, but it somehow connects the dot, right?" He gives me a wary smile, I give him an indifferent look. I somehow can see why Chanyeol said that Jongdae is like a version of me - we both talk non-sense sometimes.

"Also, I searched it online that there are twelve full moons in a year and it takes twenty nine or so days to complete each moon phases. Which means, you get at least three months if panda guy said that his binding will be completed after the third full moon, right?"

I somehow felt relieve after hearing Jongdae's last piece of information, but it suddenly washes off as fast as it dawn to me because - WHAT THE HELL IS THAT MISSION?!

I count the days that passes by, hoping that the executioner (that's what I decided to call the guy that Mr. Zitao said. I just wish that he won't kill me! Until that dreadful day finally came.

It was a Sunday morning and it was a little chilly outside. I was craving for a cup of hot latte and croiffle so I decided to go out and buy my cravings at the nearest bakery, and probably buy something for Chanyeol as well. The guy was busy as of lately and would often comes back from work very late. How do I know, you ask? He either inform me through chat before I went to bed or stop by in front of my doorbell camera and tells me that he just got back and forgot to send me a message, and it's quite late and he doesn't to disturb my sleep that's why he talked to me through my my doorbell. He does know that my phone would still notify me right? What's the difference between sending me a chat and recording his message through doorbell camera? I shiver at thought that I sounded like a housewife who knows her husband's schedule and is waiting for him to come home.

But if I'm going to be completely honest with myself, it's actually sweet and endearing................ But! But~ he's my best friend so I shouldn't find it sweet!

I was on my way back to my apartment when I saw the door to the elevator was about to close and runs after it. Thankfully the person inside holds the door for me, and enter inside and saw that the button to the tenth floor is already lit. I was looking inside the bag in my hand, checking if the coffee or food spilled when I ran when all of a sudden the lights in the elevator flickers. I look up to see the lights and then I noticed that the elevator stopped at the fourth floor. I was confuse because I don't remember that fourth floor existed in my apartment building... I mean neither this apartment building nor any of the building establishments existed in the entirety of South Korea should have fourth floor! The lights flickered for a couple of times before I noticed that I was completely alone inside the elevator. Where did the guy that hold the door for me went?

I can feel the elevator floor vibrating, as if I'll get electrocuted any moment from now. The door open by itself revealing an eerily quiet floor that mysteriously appear. The hallway to the fourth floor looks totally deserted and dark, only the light from the elevator could only illuminate certain part of the floor, just enough to know that it was inhabitated. All of a sudden, a light flicker to the farthest end of the hallway, it turned on and off for a few moments before it lights steadily. I can feel my heart jumping inside my ribcage, fear slowly creeping in. The said light at the far end flickers again, and when the light steadies, the same guy earlier in this same elevator stands there, unmoving. The light went flicker off before the second light flicker on. The same man is now a few steps forward from where he originally stands, but I didn't see him move. For the nth time, the light flicker off then the third light flicker on, and that's when it finally clicked in me that the man is appearing where the light turns on. I panicked when I realized that that man is the executioner.

I quickly went and push the close button when the light, I mean the man is fast approaching towards me. I prayed and called to all the gods, saints, and deities that I know to save me from whatever this is, and luckily my prayer got answered. The elevator had closed, thank god! I almost lost my balance but I don't have that much time for more drama. I need to go to my room - or to Chanyeol's unit at least! It feels like eternity to go to my floor, and bolted out of the elevator to my unit, not caring whether the bag of food is okay or what. My life is at steak here!

As soon as I get inside of my unit, the doorbell chimes, and to my surprise the same guy who tries to erase me in this world is standing right in front of my door. Like what the actual fuck?!

"What the hell do you want from me! I didn't do anything so stay away from me! I'm begging you!" I scream at the top of my lungs, pleading as my knees finally gives up. The doorbell wouldn't stop chiming that I have to cover my ears and shut my eyes. Somebody help me! I can't take this anymore!

The incessant chiming stops abruptly. I waited for few minutes before I open my eyes and carefully remove my hands off my ears. I stand up to check my doorbell camera if the executioner is still there. I let out a sigh of relief when there is no one in front of my door.

But I guess I speak too early. Because as soon as I turn around to put the food that I bought on the table, that man - the executioner - is now standing in front of me, with his piercing eyes looking straight to my soul.