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“Yes, you’re right,” Junu said. “Loyalty has never been my strong suit. But I’m trying to help your daughter now. Isn’t that all you’ve ever wanted?”

That stopped Yena. Her eyes darted back to Miyoung, and they became soft again. “Daughter. I want you to live.”

“Then please, give me back my bead.” Miyoung held out her hand.

Yena started to reach out.

“Please, Eomma,” Miyoung whispered, catching hold of her mother’s eyes. “I need it.”

Yena stared at Miyoung with an unblinking gaze. Miyoung stood still, her arms outstretched as her mother moved toward her with jerking steps.

It was so close. She could almost feel the pulse of the bead. It called to her; it wanted to be reunited. Her eyes slipped toward the bead. It glowed. So bright she couldn’t look anywhere else. She needed it. She didn’t know how she could have been apart from it for so long.

There was a garbled cry from behind her. A sound that wrenched Miyoung from her reverie. She glanced over to see Sinhye wincing in pain, doubled over on her side.

Miyoung turned to find Yena glaring at Sinhye. “Eomma, no, just look at me,” Miyoung said. “Just give me back my bead.”

“No,” Yena snarled. “You shouldn’t have it.” And she turned, fading into nothing again.

“Mother!” Miyoung yelled. She turned in a circle, searching for Yena. Then she raised desperate eyes to Junu. “She’s gone.”

63

“MOTHER!” MIYOUNG SHOUTED.But her mother didn’t return. What were they going to do now? “Eomma!” she screamed so loud that it reverberated off the rocks.

“That’s not going to work,” Sinhye said.

“How do you know that?” Miyoung asked, eyes scanning the pale face that should have belonged to Jihoon.

“As someone who existed as a spirit for a long time,” Sinhye panted out, “I can tell you that shouting for her won’t bring her back.”

“Then what will?” Somin asked.

“You have to give her a reason to come back,” Sinhye said. She crooked a finger at Miyoung.

“What?” Miyoung stepped closer.

“Come here,” Sinhye said.

“Why?” Miyoung asked as she kneeled beside Sinhye.

“Because I’m going to give her a reason.” Then, without warning, Sinhye lunged forward and wrapped her hands around Miyoung’s neck.

Despite her injury, Sinhye was strong. Miyoung fought against the choke hold, gasping for breath. But despite Miyoung’s struggling, Sinhye wouldn’t let go. And Miyoung started to see dots appear before her eyes.

“Let go,” Miyoung heard Somin shout. Hands pulled at her, but Sinhye’s hold was too strong.

“Spirits only react to strong emotions,” Sinhye said as she squeezed tighter. Miyoung felt each individual finger digging into her throat. “To fear. Anger. And loss. Put the thing she loves most in danger and she’ll react.”

The world began to spin. Bright lights blinked into Miyoung’s vision. And just as she felt like she was going to lose consciousness, a coldness washed over her skin.

There was a roar in her ears. Was that her blood trying to rush to her oxygen-deprived brain? No, it was a howl.

Stop!Yena’s voice echoed around them. And Miyoung was finally freed from Sinhye’s grasp. She fell back. And fell. And fell. Until darkness surrounded her.

She tried to grab ahold of something, but her arms felt so heavy she couldn’t lift them. Finally, she stopped falling. Not with the hard jerk of a landing. The sensation that came with falling merely ceased.

“Hello?” Miyoung called out, her voice echoing in a void. “Hello? Can anyone hear me? Somin? Junu?”