Mudoo - Chapter 13

She almost wished she could just pass out. Maybe when she woke up, she’d be safe and sound under her warm blanket at home.

But nothing in front of her had changed.

Seula stared down at the woman curled up by her feet, then sighed in half-given-up defeat and slid down the wall to sit next to her.

“Why are you doing this to me… I wanna cry too, you know.”

“Hic… sob… hic…”

The only reason she was managing to hold it together was because this woman at least looked mostly human, unlike the black smoky ghosts she’d seen at home or the wrecked spirits she’d glimpsed on the street.

The hoodie and long coat, the face that looked about her age — Seula forced herself to pretend this was just another exhausted office worker.

All she could do now was share this weird space with her until Kang Tae-shin came to find her.

Seula took a deep breath and tried to talk calmly.

“You’re stuck here?”

“Y-Yeah… I can’t get out. I wanna go home…”

“Is this… the back room?”

“B-Back room? I don’t know anything about that… Nobody comes here. Y-You’re the first one…”

Nobody comes here — that alone told Seula this really was the back room.

“There probably won’t be a door.” Kang Tae-shin’s words came back to her.

She looked up at the elevator panel — it still just said ‘Under Maintenance.’

“How long have you been stuck?”

“I-I don’t know. You can’t tell if it’s morning or night in here…”

Seula let out a huge sigh.

“How’d you even end up here?”

“I-I was working late and taking the elevator and… the elevator, it—”

So basically, the same way she’d ended up here too. The woman kept her head down, crying for a while, then sniffled and went on.

“I-I saw this woman… She looked so scary…”

Seula almost told her, ‘You’re the scary woman now’, but bit her tongue. It seemed like this ghost was convinced she was a victim too.

“She looked at me and smiled… like she was happy…”

“Please, don’t say stuff like that. You’re making it worse.”

It was bad enough having a ghost for company, but hearing a ghost talk about seeing other ghosts? Seula thought she might faint.

She forced the topic somewhere — anywhere — else.

“What’s your name?”

“P-Park Doona…”

“Kang Tae-shin.”

“W-What?”

Park Doona flinched.

“You were mumbling that name earlier too… Wh-Who is he…?”

“Kang Tae-shin.”

Seula said his name again. Park Doona shivered like it sent chills down her spine and scooted away.

“F-Feels gross…”

Apparently, just saying his name worked like ghost bug spray. Good to know.

But then Park Doona started mumbling again.

“M-My mom’s probably waiting for me… She always waits up when I’m late… stays up till I get home…”

Hearing mom made something sink in Seula’s chest.

“If you knew your mom was waiting, you should’ve gone home early. Why’d you stay so late?”

“Stupid boss! That jerk, that bastard…”

Seula could only nod. She got it — she really did.

Just then, the elevator that had been ‘Under Maintenance’ made a low hum. Seula shot up, staring at the panel.

“S-Someone’s coming… S-Someone’s coming again…”

The floor numbers were moving. Park Doona peeked up too, eyes wide.

Ding — 4th Floor.

The doors slid open.

And there he was — Kang Tae-shin, standing inside like nothing happened. Seula nearly burst into tears the second she saw him.

“Why are you only showing up now?!”

“Sorry. Took me a bit to find the way in.”

Kang Tae-shin gave Seula a small smile, then turned his eyes to Park Doona — who was now backed into the corner, hugging her head and shaking.

Seula stuck right behind him, whispering.

“Her name’s Park Doona.”

“What do I need a ghost’s name for?”

“You were taking forever, so I was making small talk!”

“Why are you networking with a ghost? You think you’ll get an award for that?”

“Well, who told you to be so late?”

When Seula snapped back, Kang Tae-shin let out a small ahem, pretending to clear his throat. He stepped closer to Park Doona and spoke.

“Park Doona?”

“F-Feels gross…”

“Yeah, well, I’m not thrilled either. Let’s get this over with. Someone’s waiting for you outside. Wanna go?”

“W-Who…? M-My mom…?”

Park Doona slowly lifted her head, her eyes suddenly wide and innocent like a little kid’s. Seeing a grown adult look for her mom like that made something ache deep in Seula’s chest. She’d never had a mom, so she couldn’t even fully understand what that bond felt like.

Kang Tae-shin, who never had an ounce of pity, just tilted his head and clicked his tongue.

“Uh… yeah, about that. Not your mom.”

“Th-Then I don’t want to… F-Feels gross…”

“You don’t wanna leave here?”

“I… I want to go outside…”

“Then keep quiet and follow me. Unless you wanna get dragged out in handcuffs.”

“Heek!”

At the word handcuffs, Park Doona squealed and scrambled to her feet. She kept a careful distance but still trailed after Kang Tae-shin like a scolded puppy.

The elevator — ‘Under Maintenance’ just moments ago — was now working like nothing ever happened.

***

Outside the building, the sharp dawn wind cut straight through Seula’s clothes.

How long had it been since she’d felt fresh air? It hadn’t been more than two or three hours, but it felt like she’d been locked up for a whole day.

Seula stretched her arms wide and sucked in a deep lungful of cold air.

“It’s not over yet.”

Of course, Kang Tae-shin had to ruin the moment. Seula’s shoulders slumped as she glared at him.

“What now?”

“We have to send her off. Park Doona.”

He jerked his chin toward Park Doona, standing awkwardly nearby.

Send her off? Send a ghost where? Seula was about to ask when, out of nowhere, a woman in a strange outfit popped into view — like she’d dropped straight out of the sky.

“Hey there! Long time no see, babe.”

She wore a black leather cloak that looked like a traditional coat and a big fur hat you’d expect on a Russian in winter. Her lips were painted pitch black against skin so pale it looked almost blue. But the most striking thing was her height — she was as tall as Kang Tae-shin, maybe taller.

When Kang Tae-shin didn’t answer, the woman turned her head toward Seula.

“What are you staring at? Never seen a grim reaper before?”

Grim reaper? Well… no, she hadn’t.

Seula clamped her mouth shut and gave a tiny nod. The reaper burst out laughing, bending at the waist like she’d heard the funniest joke in the world.

“Oh, look at her! So cute! Babe, who’s this?”

She reached out, trying to rest a hand on Kang Tae-shin’s shoulder — but he stepped aside just in time, making her stumble a bit as she lost her balance.

“Cut the crap. Just do your job.”

Kang Tae-shin’s voice was ice-cold. The reaper awkwardly fiddled with the knot of her cloak.

“Man, I’ve never met a human who can see me before. Well, except you.”

She stepped right up to Seula, tilting her head to match Seula’s eye level.

“That’s weird. You’re not even close to death.”

“You’re weird too, you know,” Seula muttered, clinging to Kang Tae-shin’s sleeve and hiding behind his back.

“If you keep being this adorable, I will take you with me!”

The reaper stretched out both hands like she was going to grab Seula, teasing her. Seula’s eyes went wide as saucers, which only made the reaper laugh harder.

“E-Excuse me…”

A small voice cut in. Park Doona, still lingering in the shadows, had finally worked up the nerve to speak.

All three turned to look at her. Doona’s head was bowed, her voice trembling.

“Am… Am I… dead?”