Chapter 167 - 27 YEARS AGO - The Visit

Looking tidy, nice and smiling, Nam Joo positioned herself confidently in front of the house's porch, waiting to be received.

Although the place looked abandoned and a bit spooky from the outside, some evidence made her convinced that there was no danger to be expected from the property's residents. A boyfriend's swing, lace curtains, a charming weathervane on the roof, a shelf with little plants in their pots, now withering or being parasitized by weed... It was definitely a house of loving, receptive people.

Maybe they were having financial difficulties, or someone was very sick. That was what Nam Joo could think at the time. Her eyes ran all the time to the trees where pomegranates hung like tinted globe lamps, fat and heavy. But her upbringing would not allow her to pick them up without asking first, so she stood resolute in her position.

Inside the house, Myung Hee peered through the lace curtain, fearful it could be a new illusion or kind of trap. She spotted the intruder, standing at her door, totally unaware of the danger out there. Just standing there like an easy target for the wraiths.

With a sigh Myung Hee reached the door, but her hand shook as she touched the latch, hesitating for a moment. Perhaps, if she ignored the call of the trespassing human, then this innocent person could leave the place without problems. Opening the door was definitely going to create a contact that would touch the life of that human forever.

If only she had her wand with her! But when she got news from how her beloved husband died, she was consumed by her sorrow. She buried her wand to never be able to cast spells again. She just wished to let the magic inside her die by itself… but it didn't work that way. If not by the magical barriers in the house, she'd be dead by now. She took a while to notice their presence, and a long more to be able to identify their doings and true forms. And when she realized all that, it was too late to turn back. This prolonged siege was slowly killing her, but what now, when a human inadvertently crossed their ways?

'But ... and if it wasn't possible for her to leave unharmed by now?'

'Ohhhh ...! What to do?!' This thought filled her head with new emotions, taking Myung Hee out of the lethargy she was in for a moment. She felt panicky, startled and distraught.

Wraiths became aware of the vital and brilliant human's arrival with her hope and desire as she crossed the threshold of the ranch gate.

They saw the human woman as a pulsating figure who emitted light; her clear aura standing out in the dark and depressing scenery they had created over time outside Myung Hee's house.

Wraiths did not see colors as humans do, but they had their own way of identifying feelings and vitality through the halo of light humans emit. That human woman emitted the warm and radiant light type that disturbs them, and soon they realized that in her prominent belly, the light was more intense. She carried a baby with its own energy. They usually would just avoid such type of 'shining person', but they're hungry by now.

Nam Joo opened the umbrella again, thinking that she made a mistake coming there. Her instincts said there was someone inside the house, but perhaps these people weren't willing to receive anyone.

When she was young, before she got married to her high school boyfriend Jeong Geun, she used to hear stories about how delicious were the jams and liquors made with the fruits of the ranch's orchard. The owner used to giveaway these goods to anyone coming to her house. But perhaps, this ajuhmma just died or was very sick… Thinking it could be the reason no one was coming to greet her, she decided to try once more. What if a lonely and sick poor ajuhmma was in need of help?

"Hello?!"

Were the wraiths moved from their places, haggardly, drawn by the easy prey that came with her own legs into the midst of them. How to refuse such a tempting offer? The boldest among them slid like a liquid shadow across the floor, ready to cautiously rise behind the human's back and lunge at her. This type of prey was hard to get, anyway. Two others moved along the sides of the pregnant human, to prepare their lunges as well, and with them, an icy breeze rose and touched the woman's face before them.

'Oh! Is there anybody home? How unlucky! Should not I have come then?' Nam Joo rubbed her suddenly frozen face and shifted to the side, feeling a sudden discomfort in the lower abdomen. Perhaps she had gone too far on her efforts to get a pomegranate?

She looked around, suddenly very aware of the place. It was as if she was being watched. It felt like someone was coming to her, but she heard no steps or anything.

She turned suddenly, having a clear impression of almost being touched. And it almost happened, anyway. But the wraith sneaked around the same time as her, staying all the time behind her.

"Should I ...?"

She rubbed her arms, bothered by the cool breeze, and instinctively coming closer to the house, blocking the wraiths' access to her back. Nam Joo backwardly stepped the first step of the threshold, seeking shelter from the cool breeze beneath the little porch.

Then the door opened slowly, with a delicate, pale hand reaching out, inviting her inside.

Something about it made the pregnant woman feel distressed, her throat dry and her body shivering all over. Or it would be the fact of being outdoors. 'Where in the world is that a proper way to invite someone in?' But there was something urgent in the wave of that pale hand inviting her in.

Apprehensively, but feeling exposed and troubled out there, Nam Joo decided to take the risk and answer the invitation of the stretching hand.

Swallowing hard, she stepped inside.