Fifteen

In broad daylight, a modest, old building stood, shrouded in trees. The scenery looked more akin to a forest than a garden. The building looked quite ancient as if it was abandoned or haunted, but the surface of the whole area was well-kept, indicating that somebody lives there. Leaves rustled constantly in the wind, creating eerie noises that lent a haunted feeling to the place. The fragrance of greenery mingled with a faint scent of incense, drifting from inside the house.

There was no sign of people or vehicles nearby until a red car appeared, slowing as it approached the building. The passengers seemed unsure of their destination, but when they spotted the house, they stopped in front of it.

"This must be the place," said a woman's voice from inside as the window rolled down.

As the driver exited and opened the door of the car, two elegantly dressed ladies stepped out. They were none other than Mrs. Ahn and Mrs. Nam.

"Wait for us outside. We might take a while so feel free to walk around while waiting." Mrs. Ahn instructed the driver and made him understand that they wanted him to wait far.

"Yes, ma'am!" he replied, bowing before stepping away.

Mrs. Ahn and Mrs. Nam exchanged uneasy glances, hesitating as they stood at the entrance. They weren't sure if they'd reached the right address. Finally, Mrs. Ahn knocked on the door. Almost instantly, it creaked open, revealing a middle-aged man with a welcoming smile.

"Hello, may I help you?" He asked very politely.

"Um…We're here to see Mr. Shun. Is this…the right place?" Mrs. Ahn asked, casting a sidelong glance at Mrs. Nam, who stood silent like a statue beside her.

"Yes, you're in the right place. Did you book an appointment?" he asked, inviting them in warmly.

"Oh, yes. It's under the name of Mrs. Nam," Mrs. Ahn replied as they entered.

"Come and take a seat. He's inside his chamber with another client. He'll be ready shortly." The man showed them to a bench, requesting them to sit and wait.

"Let's sit," Mrs. Ahn said softly, pointing at the bench. Her voice betrays a hint of nervousness. She scanned the dimly lit room, noting the sparse furniture, lack of sunlight inside the house, which felt like a horror house in some game. The faint humidity that clung to the air, and the thick incense that transported her to another era—almost as if she'd stepped back to the Joseon period.

After about thirty minutes, the assistant who welcomed them inside, returned.

"Are you Mrs. Nam?" he inquired, looking at Mrs. Ahn.

"No, she is. I'm with her." Mrs. Ahn replied, gesturing to her friend.

"Please, follow me. Father is waiting for you," he said, leading them down a narrow hallway. At the end, next to a small table, they found a man seated cross-legged, eyes closed in deep meditation. A woman stood beside him, who, upon seeing them, bowed gently and gestured for them to sit on cushions by the low table.

"Hello," Mrs. Ahn and Mrs. Nam greeted, bowing respectfully.

The man slowly opened his eyes, studying them intently. After a moment, he spoke in a low, steady voice.

"You're here about your son?"

"Yes, Father," Mrs. Ahn answered.

"Hmmm." He nodded slowly, taking a long breath and asked again, "Can you show me his photo?"

Mrs. Nam glanced at Mrs. Ahn, who subtly nodded. She took out her phone and handed it to him, displaying a picture of her son, Ho Seok. The man held the phone, gazing at the image intently. A slow sigh escaped him, and he shook his head as though disappointed.

"What is it? Is there something wrong?" Mrs. Ahn asked, her anxiety growing.

"You should have come sooner." The man handed the phone to his assistant, giving an instruction in a language which the two of them couldn't understand.

"Why? You…know what…is troubling him?" Mrs. Nam asked hesitatingly as her worries deepened.

"Of course I know! Didn't you also come for the same reason, nearly… fifteen years ago, Mrs. Ahn?" He stared at her while asking, his tone was serious as always.

"Huh? Me? But…" before she could continue, he cut off her words.

"You came to my master. I was his apprentice back then. This human being doesn't forget a person after meeting them once. Perhaps you guys forgot." He smirked proudly.

Mrs. Ahn's eyes widened in recognition. "You…you were with that father? I had no idea."

"So, where is he now?" She asked curiously.

"He has ascended back to the heaven," the man said, sighing, then turned his attention to Mrs. Nam.

"So, what is your son's name?"

"Nam Ho Seok is his name." the cold sweat on Mrs. Nam's forehead was visible.

He nodded, closing his eyes as though meditating once more. Then, without warning, he shouted,

"YOU! You guys are at fault!"

Both women flinched. Mrs. Ahn stammered, "O-our fault? We couldn't quite get it. How are we at fault?"

"This is more than just any illness. It's an evil presence—a spirit that you let linger instead of addressing. WHAT KIND OF MOTHER ARE YOU?" He yelled out again.

"Huh? E-evil?" Mrs. Nam got scared as well as curious.

"HMMM. NOW it became powerful! So powerful that your son is possessed now. Your son is under its control. THIS IS NOT THE END! It is going to harm other people around him. Make someone else its new target and move to them. Can you guys bear the consequences now? CAN YOU?" His voice rose with urgency, echoing ominously.

"Is there…is there no way to save him? No way to drive it away?" Mrs. Nam clutched her chest, her voice was shaking out of fear and worries. It was getting hard for her to suppress her tears.

"There is! A ritual should be performed." He nodded, assuring them that they have their ways.

"Then, can you please perform the ritual?" She pleaded.

"If you say so. But, one alone won't suffice. At least 360 sessions are required. And your son must be present for each one. Can you bring him here?" he glared at Mrs. Nam with an ominous look.

Mrs. Nam looked stricken. "Huh? But…he won't listen to me. So, how can I?"

"I'll give you some holy water. Once you feed it to him, he'll do everything you'd tell him to do." He leaned forward, his expression couldn't be more serious.

"Oh, I'd be truly grateful!" Mrs. Nam clasped her hands, trembling with a mix of relief and apprehension.

"Deposit ten thousand dollars for the initial payment and during the six months your son will be under protection, you need to pay two thousand dollars monthly," his assistant interjected, handing her a form to fill up.

Mrs. Nam nodded, "I Will!" Then she began to fill it out.

"For now, pay twenty dollars for the holy water." the assistant added.

While they were busy with the form, the man's eyes gleamed as he continued.

"AND! I'm warning you! You all must be vigilant. You might not know whom, when and how it's gonna attack next. Especially! Your son," he pointed at Mrs. Ahn, his voice lowering ominously.

"Whoever got close to her son, is already affected. And your son has a history! So, be careful. He already attracted its eyes. Just one wrong move and it could doom him as well."

He warned her as if he knew the future.

"Huh? Then? What should I do?" Suddenly Mrs. Ahn felt like there was no ground under her feet. She never could imagine she'd have to deal with these kinds of things again. She thought it was over long ago. Then why? Was it a mistake to bring him back? Should they have just stayed in the US? Her mind wasn't working anymore.

"I'll give you an amulet for the time being. You have to always keep it around your son. No matter what he does. Even if he's inside the shower, he can't keep it away. Got it ?" His warning left no room for argument.

"Yes, I understand. Is there anything else I should do?" Mrs. Ahn asked, her voice tinged with fear.

"Six months. He must be married within six months. Only then will he be safe." He announced.

"O-okay," she replied, her thoughts racing. Persuading Jiang to marry so soon would be difficult, but she was determined.

"Don't delay bringing him here," he continued, this time to Mrs. Nam. "Time is of the essence." he said as if he was ordering her.

"Yes, Father," Mrs. Nam replied, her mind churning with thoughts of how she'd meet her son and talk about the matter. Would he even come to meet her after all these years? She wondered.

The assistant handed Mrs. Nam her phone. "Please wait outside while we prepare the amulet. There's also a h

undred-dollar fee for it."

After coming outside, they exchanged uneasy glances, each lost in her own troubled thoughts.