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“In order to release Sinhye’s soul from Jihoon’s body, an immortal soul must be sacrificed. The energy of that sacrifice cut her soul free. As Yena’s soul was still tethered to the mortal realm, her act of letting go was enough to break the bond between Sinhye’s soul and Jihoon’s body.”

“Then what am I supposed to do now?” Junu asked. “If I’m here, then does that mean I’ve died as well?”

“No, you merely came to the brink of death,” Hyuk said. “If there is one who wishes to hold on to you, then you can return to where you came from.” The reaper motioned to the shadows that surrounded them, and Junu realized he meant for Junu to step into that unknown place.

“How will I get back?”

“If she holds on, then you’ll find the way.”

Junu wanted to ask more, but Hyuk took Yena’s and Sinhye’s joined hands in his. He led them into the shadows, and soon their forms dissolved into the darkness, leaving Junu alone.

He stood alone now, the silence almost overwhelming him.He peered into the darkness himself before reaching out. His hand was devoured by shadows, and he jerked it back, making sure it was still whole. It was still there.

“Hello?” he called, and nothing echoed back, not even his own voice.

“Hello?” he tried calling again. And this time he thought he heard something. “Can anyone hear me? Is anyone there?”

And he saw movement in the dark. Something superimposed on the nothing that surrounded him. It shifted. It came closer. And then Junu saw a man. He had salt-and-pepper hair under a dark cap. But his face was younger than Junu expected. A young man whose face was thin, ravaged by illness. Still, there was a glint in his gaze. And Junu recognized the shape of his eyes.

“You’re Somin’s abeoji.”

“I’m here to take you to her,” he said, holding out his hand. “She is holding on to you. She is waiting for you.”

Junu nodded and stepped into the dark after Somin’s father.

65

SOMIN COULDN’T LETgo of him even as Miyoung called her name. Even as she heard Jihoon moan and regain consciousness. Even as her friends told her that they couldn’t find a pulse. That they had to leave Junu’s body. She wouldn’t let go.

“Somin-ah,” Miyoung said. “We have to get Jihoon to a doctor. We have to make sure he’s okay.”

At that Somin finally studied her friend. Jihoon leaned heavily against a boulder. The bleeding from his wound had stopped, but he looked awful, with his washed-out face and bloodshot eyes. And she knew that they couldn’t stay. She knew that they had to leave. But she couldn’t get herself to let go of Junu. Like this, he looked like he could just be sleeping. There had been no blood when the blade had gone into him and none when she’d pulled it out. So she could almost convince herself that he was asleep.

“He hasn’t turned to dust. Not like the other dokkaebi. That has to mean he’s still alive,” Somin argued. She’d been arguing this point for almost thirty minutes. As the moon had risen. As the night had deepened.

She wrapped her arms around Junu, trying to find a way to say goodbye. But instead she just whispered his name in small sobs as she held on. “Junu. Junu.”

Somin-ah. Her name tickled her ear. A familiar voice. A flashof salt-and-pepper hair racing through her mind. A glimpse of eyes framed by smile lines.

“Appa?” she whispered.

My daughter. Be happy.

“Somin-ah.” The croak of her name was spoken against her neck this time.

Shivers of hope raced through her. But she didn’t let the tears fall until she pulled back and saw Junu blinking up at her.

“You held on,” he said.

66

SOMIN WASN’T SUREwhat to do with herself. A week had passed since they’d gotten back from the mountain. A week where Jihoon had to stay overnight in the hospital for observation, despite his objections. Somin and Miyoung had told her mother a horrible excuse, that they’d gone hiking and he fell, practically skewering himself on a tree branch.

No one pointed out that Jihoon would never be caught dead hiking.

Miyoung was also recovering, gaining back her strength and looking more like the girl Somin had first met almost a year ago.

And Junu... she hadn’t seen Junu since they’d returned to Seoul. Somin had gone to his house at least a dozen times in the last seven days. And finally, she’d stopped because it had hurt too much to feel the rejection every time his door stayed shut.