Chapter 13: White Day Murderer(2)
White Day.
A day when lovers or friends exchange candies.
Lee Hwaseo had looked forward to it, but she couldn’t fully enjoy it.
‘The kids…?’
Red pumpkins and baskets, invisible to ordinary people.
She observed the small ghosts without alerting other students.
It was always stressful.
If people thought she saw strange things, “normal” folks would avoid her.
Unlike her fears, the ghost kids caused no harm.
Instead, they hovered around one person.
The vice class president, a quiet, mysterious girl drawing everyone’s attention—Seol Haru.
‘Shamans in her family?’
She’d asked, risking looking weird, but Haru said no.
Ghosts take interest in people for many reasons, and Hwaseo couldn’t pinpoint why.
The ghosts caused poltergeist activity, and since they were showing themselves, she couldn’t ignore them.
Nor could she assume this was the only phenomenon.
The other side teemed with dangers.
“Halloween-costumed ghosts? I don’t see them.”
“They’re somewhere in the school. And… feel that eerie vibe?”
Late at night.
Hwaseo, now in her exorcist role, and another figure.
The red-haired boy, Han Doryeong, patrolled the school.
As a special agent, Hwaseo excelled at secrecy but wasn’t suited for combat.
That’s why she’d called him, an executioner, for backup.
His exceptional talent, despite his youth, made most evil spirits no match.
“If a student or the janitor spots us, it’ll be a hassle. Then…”
“I know.”
Han Doryeong replied without looking, and she nodded.
CCTV was already handled.
Being seen doing exorcist work was messier, but they were prepared.
“…”
“…”
Silence fell between them.
They kept their distance, expressions uneasy.
Hwaseo wanted to talk, but Doryeong gave no opening.
Resigning, she thought of the blue-haired girl she’d worked with as a class rep.
‘Got her number…’
Her first time getting a number from a girl she wanted to befriend.
It was under the guise of class duties, but studying social customs, that’s how friendships start—no issue.
Smiling at her phone, Hwaseo’s eyes widened.
Before she could shout, Doryeong was already glaring, face twisted.
“Doryeong, time’s stopped. This is…!”
“We’re already in.”
“What…?”
A metallic scent of blood vibrated.
Near the gate’s corner, a blood-soaked body lay.
A familiar face from Class 3, not close but known.
Pale, Hwaseo heard Doryeong’s cold, furious voice.
“It’s no small fry. Hurry.”
“We have to escape. The janitor will keep hunting us.”
“But the gate and windows are locked—how?”
“We’ve been pulled into a phenomenon’s realm. We need to return to our world. The way…”
“What way?”
“We figure it out now.”
Yoo Kishin, regaining composure, spoke, and Kim Dodam, though skeptical, agreed.
He didn’t understand but wanted out.
“It’s happening… but how? Time’s frozen, so it’s not about waiting. Maybe tied to why the spirit appeared…”
Muttering, Yoo Kishin stood as I did.
“Let’s move.”
“…Seol Haru?”
“I noticed earlier—the janitor doesn’t tire. Our stamina’s draining. We can’t stay put.”
Fear held their legs, but my words were undeniable.
As Dodam and Kishin stood, Joo Kihyun trembled, clutching himself.
“Not coming? We’ll leave you.”
“S-Sorry! I’m coming!”
“Keep your voice down.”
“Sorry…”
High-maintenance guy.
Frowning, Dodam stretched.
“I’ll lead. I’m the toughest here.”
“Got it. We’ll watch the sides and back—focus ahead.”
“Okay.”
Yoo Kishin had no athletic ability, and Kihyun was small as a girl.
Dodam was the most reliable.
“Take this. Use it as a weapon.”
“What, Kishin? A stick?”
“Peach branch. Better than a bat against ghosts.”
“…Uh, sure.”
Skeptical, Dodam took it, and we moved quietly.
At corners, we peeked carefully.
Thud.
Occasional eerie noises made them jump, like cute animals.
‘Just me, I guess.’
Unlike their terror, I was calm.
Hm. Might raise suspicion.
I tried different expressions.
Tense? Scared?
My acting wasn’t great, so I settled on blank.
Then, silent Kihyun snapped.
Gripped by fear, he grabbed a chair and smashed a window.
Crash!
“…? What’re you doing?!”
Smack! Thud!
“Stop, Kihyun!”
The heavy impacts didn’t dent the window.
“Why won’t it break…!”
Dodam and Kishin grabbed his arms, stopping him.
We froze, scanning for danger.
“…”
“…”
“Didn’t hear?”
Tense, we waited, but no janitor or footsteps.
Nodding, we moved again.
Nearing a corner, my gaze caught something gleaming.
‘What’s that…?’
Rubbing my eyes, it didn’t vanish.
Staring, I realized.
A knife, reflecting moonlight.
Waiting beyond, unmoving!
Too late to shout—Dodam was turning the corner.
As I reached out, the knife stabbed forward.
“…!!”
Pushed by my arm, Dodam stumbled back, shocked.
The janitor’s crazed eyes locked on me.
– Cute kid, I’ll kill you too, just wait, heeheehee!
“Shut it. Your breath stinks.”
– …?!
Dodging the knife, my hand touched him.
I activated psychometry.
October 31, Halloween.
The day before All Saints’ Day, a festival honoring saints, where adults, elderly, and kids flooded the streets.
Once a year, demons and witches became positive figures.
Vampires, ghosts—kids knocked, and a door creaked open.
“Trick or Treat!”
Seasoned from prior pranks, they thrust baskets out innocently.
The man stared, stepping aside.
“Come in.”
“Trick or Treat!”
“Come in.”
“Trick or Treat!!!”
Candy inside!
The kids rushed in, and the man locked every door.
Hockey masks, a chainsaw, and axe replicas lined shelves.
Kids searched the living room for sweets.
A CRT TV paused on a hockey-masked figure.
He’d paused it at the knock.
Entering his room, he donned a matching mask and grabbed a prepared weapon.
His heart pounded hotly.
“How much…”
His life was dull.
One movie shook his worldview.
Imitation is the mother of creation.
He’d waited for today.
“How fun will this be?”
He stepped into the living room.
And…
“Run, Seol Haru!”
A rough hand yanked my arm, and I let it guide me.
The janitor chased.
I subtly deflected his knife and slipped in a kick.
We wouldn’t escape otherwise.
“Haa… huff… huff…!”
We ducked into a classroom, barricading the door with chairs and desks.
Only then did I notice it was Class 3, Year 1.
‘I get it now.’
I knew the ghost story.
But not how to defeat it.
The question I’d been mulling resurfaced.
Should I reveal my power?
The janitor was boosted here, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t win.
I could, if I pushed.
Maybe I could act without exposing myself.
‘…But.’
That wasn’t a true solution.
Force it, and we’d escape, but Pyo Jiseok wouldn’t return.
Then.
“Hm?”
Something squirmed in the classroom’s corner.