Love in a Forbidden World

Nightfall. Cathan's house.

The room is silent, dimly lit by a small lamp. Cathan sits alone on Mike's bed, clutching a picture frame of the two of them. His fingers gently trace over Mike's smiling face as silent tears stream down his cheeks. He wipes them away and exhales deeply, then slowly rises to his feet.

As he walks out of the room, a flicker catches the corner of his eye. He pauses, glancing toward the hallway.

>"...Someone?" he murmurs, unsure.

He heads toward the living room and scans the space—but no one is there. The silence wraps around him again like a blanket. Shaking it off, he grabs his coat and steps outside.

The night is cool. Cathan walks aimlessly until he passes the neighborhood park—once filled with laughter when he and Mike played there. He slows down, eyes wandering over the familiar structures. His gaze halts at a bench.

A man sits there, pale and unmoving, staring at him with an unnerving expression.

Cathan freezes.

Their eyes meet briefly.

A chill creeps up Cathan's spine.

He looks away and walks on.

Later.

Cathan stands outside Hotel Del Alma. The majestic building looms before him, but he hesitates to go in. Instead, he wanders into the garden and sits quietly on a bench beneath the starlit sky.

He looks upward, a soft smile forming on his lips.

>"Are you watching me, Mike?" he whispers, his voice low and wistful.

Just then, he feels movement again from the corner of his eye.

He turns.

Nothing.

Then—

>"Cathan?"

He turns around. Scarlett stands a few steps behind him.

He quickly rises. "Oh, Scarlett… What are you doing out here?"

>"I saw you from the window," she says gently, walking toward him.

They sit together. Scarlett reaches out and places her hand over his.

>"Are you okay?"

Cathan smiles faintly, masking the grief in his heart.

>"I will be."

Scarlett's expression falters. She slowly withdraws her hand and exhales.

>"I… I think you should quit."

Her words cut through the silence.

Cathan's smile fades. 

>"What do you mean? Why are you saying that?"

She avoids his gaze.

>"You know that once my mission is complete, I'll have to leave this world. So… I'm thinking of finishing things quickly and going."

Cathan lets go of her hand, stunned.

>"But… what about me? What about us?"

Scarlett looks away.

>"There is no us, Cathan. You're just a human."

His expression darkens.

>"Just a human?" he repeats coldly.

>"How can you say that… when I came here for you?"

Scarlett looks at him, puzzled.

>"Cathan… You were chosen by the heavens for this job."

>"No."

>"What do you mean?"

>"I was chosen by you, Scarlett."

Her eyes widen, confused.

>"Me? That's not possible… I don't have the authority to do that."

Cathan's voice becomes resolute.

>"I don't care. I'll never leave your side, no matter what you say or do. No one can separate us."

Suddenly, the hotel's lights go out. Complete darkness.

Scarlett stands up.

>"Something's wrong. I'll go check."

She rushes inside.

Hotel Alma

The corridors are dark and eerie. Scarlett's footsteps echo as she hurries through the halls. Her eyes widen—every spirit's room is wide open.

One of the staff members runs up to her.

>"Miss! All our guests are gone from their rooms!"

Scarlett's voice rings with anger.

]"Who opened the doors?!"

>"I-I don't know, Miss!"

Panic setting in, she turns and dashes back outside to where she left Cathan.

But the bench is empty.

>"Cathan?" she calls out.

A loud scream pierces the night.

Scarlett teleports to the street.

Alleyway.

A terrified woman runs, looking back in horror. She stumbles and falls to the ground.

Cathan approaches slowly—knife in hand, a sinister smile twisting his face. His eyes are pitch black.

>"P-please don't kill me," the woman begs, trembling. >"Please, I beg you…"

He lifts the knife.

Scarlett snaps her fingers—teleporting the woman beside her.

>"Run," she commands.

>"You still have a long life ahead."

The woman sobs, nods, and flees.

Scarlett turns to the possessed Cathan.

>"Who are you? Turn around."

Cathan turns slowly.

Her eyes widen.

>"His eyes… pitch black…"

She realizes instantly—he's possessed.

Her rage flares.

>"How dare you enter his body?!"

Cathan sneers.

>"Why can't I?"

"You're not an ordinary spirit," she says, frowning.

He strokes the knife along his cheek.

>"Good to see you, Soul Reaper."

>"Get ready to disappear," Scarlett warns, stepping forward.

Suddenly, a surge of dark energy flows into Cathan. He screams in pain—but then grins as if enjoying it.

Scarlett's eyes narrow.

>"This aura… It's too strong. I need to think."

In the blink of an eye, Cathan appears before her.

He grabs her throat and lifts her off the ground.

Scarlett struggles.

Cathan smiles wickedly.

>"I see… I chose the right body."

To Be Continued...