The Love That Remains

"I don't care whether you are a cat or a god." I stare hard at the talking cat. "Stay away from me. I don't want to be anyone's pawn."

The cat mutters something to himself and raises its paw. It points toward the bushes at the edges of the playground. I glance at the direction and see shadows standing on the other side of the bushes.

Ghosts or demons. I can't tell what they are. I am not close enough to see their faces.

"They will be attracted to you like moths are attracted to flames." I hear the cat say. "Do you have the confidence that you can live an easy life?"

I sigh. I have met ghosts, demons, a talking cat and a creature like 'creepy eyes'. What's next? fairies? I hope that they are nice like in children's books.

"You are not like your father or any other Fang firstborn before you." The cat slowly walks to my side. "There are shadows around you. It is getting stronger with time. Soon, It won't just be humans or the dead. Even death will seek you soon."

His words are eerie and hair-raising.

"What do you mean by death?"

"My brother, Death, doesn't like cheaters like you. He will come to take your soul." The cat looks sideways. "Since I helped you, he will come."

I am speechless by his words. Death is his brother and he will seek me because this cat helped me. It means that I am going to die anyway. What kind of life is this?

"I gave you a chance at life." The cunning cat seems to have read my mind. He laughs. "It's up to you whether you want to waste it or make use of it."

"The price is being used by you?" I yell at the cat.

"I will give you what you want." The cat rolls his eyes. "Humans don't like to do anything without benefits."

"Screw it!" I grab the cat's throat. "Send me back to my original life."

"Let go!" It growls.

"I don't want any death god or ghosts running on my trail." I squeeze its neck. "Send me back to my original life." The cat screams and struggles against my grasp. I don't let it go. I hope that nobody is watching me and secretly making a video. I don't want to go to jail for animal cruelty. It's not a real cat. It's a god. I doubt that I can prove it in court.

Suddenly, there is a flash of light. I close my eyes and let go of the cat's neck because of the heat. I fall on my back. Back of my head hits the ground hard. I cry in pain. I open my eyes when I feel a pair of hands around my throat.

A boy...no, a man. I can't guess his age. He has milky porcelain skin, wavy silver hair, and high cheekbones. There is an aura around him... like he is a moon in the dark sky. Despite the anger and obvious disgust in his enchanting heterochromia eyes, I can't stop ogling at him.

"Weak!" He tightens his fingers around my neck. "If I kill you now, you won't resist."

I don't respond. I feel like something is wrong, but I am fine with it. A part of my mind is screaming something, but I ignore it.

"Say, will you follow me?" The man smirks at me. "Will you do anything I say?"

I open my mouth to agree. I naturally want to follow him. He is like a sun and I am the light. Even if he wants me to follow him to eternity, I will follow him.

An image of a familiar boy appears in my mind. Sung Jun is beaming at me, saying something. But the words don't make sense.

"Not so weak." He let go of my neck. "Woman, you have some potential."

He clicks his tongue and presses his index finger between my eyebrows. I try to keep my eyes open, but my eyelids get heavier with time. Before I fall asleep, I hear the words.

"I don't want to take advantage of a fool like you."