. . . emma

The boy froze in his tracks, reluctantly pulling his eyes from you and turning slowly to face the owner of the voice. It was hard to see in the dimly lit hallways of the old castle, but Jungwon didn't need to see the person's face to know who it was.

"We're ghosts, Heeseung hyung." Jungwon sighed, hating that he reminded himself that he was merely a spirit, enslaved in the walls of the castle forever. "Everything about us is creepy."

Heeseung gazed at the younger boy. He looked almost human, except for the luminant aura that shimmered around him. He'd only died a few years ago, in a car crash, and while in these past years he'd nearly fully adjusted to being a ghost, anyone could still see it was obvious that he longed to be human again.

"It's not so bad..." Heeseung muttered, as he looked out of the large window, noting the grey skies and the dead leaves tumbling through the wind.

"Yes it is!" Jungwon yelled, startling the older boy, and the ghost of a cat strolling by. "I had friends and family that I can never talk to again. I can't even see them, because I'm stuck in this stupid pile of rocks!" He didn't want to end up crying, but somehow his eyes were burning and tears were already spilling down his cheeks.

Out of anger, he tried to punch the walls that he'd grown to despise, but his fist only went right through the stone, making him cry even harder.

"Jungwon." Heeseung quickly pulled the younger boy into a hug. "Won, it's okay." He petted Jungwon's hair and held him until he calmed down.

- 🎞 -

"Riki! Wait up!"

Your best friend, Nishimura Riki, had run off with your textbooks after finding you studying in the library for the umpteenth time this week. You could hear his laughter getting louder as he sped up.

"Riki, if you damage my books I'll sue you out of existence!" You screeched, turning a corner around a bookshelf and slamming right into the back of your friend.

Feeling a sudden spike of pain, you scrunch your nose up and rub it, trying to soothe the pain. "Ow, what the fu-"

Riki stepped on your foot to keep you from finishing that sentence. "Ms. Minatozaki."

The principal stood in front of you two, her arms crossed and her beautiful features turned down in a frown. She tapped her foot as she looked the two of you up and down, grimacing at your disheveled appearance. "You two have been freshmen for two weeks, and yet, you're always causing some type of disturbance."

"Ms. Minatozaki, I was just trying to study!" You protested, shooting a glare at Riki, who seemed to be trying his hardest to contain his laughter.

"Yes, studying always involves playing tag in the library and wearing your uniform inappropriately." The principal scoffed.

You hurriedly fixed your hair and tie, which Riki had pulled loose, claiming you looked like a "stuck up rich girl." Your friend rested his arm on your shoulder, an indirect blow at your height, and smiled.

"We're sorry, miss. It won't happen again."

"You're right." Ms. Minatozaki smiled. "Detention, tonight. Both of you here by 8pm."

You'd never wanted to commit murder more.