When Minjae came in next morning before the opening hour, he entered the back room and found a ghostly figure still typing away on her laptop. He tilted his head to the side and waited in the door frame for her to notice him. Her eyes were half closed and at times it seemed her hands were not even touching the keyboard. He watched her thinking that maybe she had a rough night but if that was the case he would have been called in.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrGeQ84sPY
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"What happened to you?" He finally asked.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSE2GydzM7T
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Fei sighed heavily as she turned off the laptop. She placed her hands on her lap and pouted before her head hit the table.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGGp8QnTXT
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Minjae frowned and quickly checked if she hit herself hard enough for it to show.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1PmX08WGD
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"I'm so tired," she mumbled loud enough for him to hear.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ360Mb5faWn
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"But you don't have to sleep, noona. You do it just because you want the time to go faster." He whispered next to her head. She groaned in reply and glared at him from the corner of her eye.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWT9RunqDj
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"Go open the library." She said wanting nothing but to go upstairs and forget what happened last night. His face was still haunting her and memories that she had pushed in the back of her mind were coming back at incredible speed.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSZmM51ySt
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEzWoI7P0I
Minjae puckered his lips annoyed that she was acting as if he didn't help her yesterday.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gGhL55CK8
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKoeVQr7Pz
"Come out then. With Hikaru still in the warehouse somebody will have to stay at the counter during the day." He commented knowing she strongly disliked to interact with people.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwN9WLWTGt2
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhPPh1QxhG
She groaned again but did get up and followed him into the staff room (or more like the space behind the counter, because it was a small square space). She noticed a list in one of the cabinets and sighed heavily.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavAFxYcyGv
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiCBMILhpa
"Can you go and bring these books up? We need to make some errands."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLy8RCLqbq
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfWyD0iZIz
Minjae took the list and nodded. A piercing scream was heard suddenly and both Minjae and Fei sighed.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UPRjkTNJi
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmkGSF5TNg
"Check on Hikaru too. We don't need people to hear him."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0OIqhcBvg
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Minjae nodded and left for the warehouse. The entry was on the ground floor, in the very back. Most people were not going that way since trending books were in the front part of the library.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIWDYE8RkK
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNDlbTxXVs
It was an average sized building but once inside, it seemed bigger and wider than on the outside. As a customer, the first thing you could see was the counter and whoever was working at the moment. If you looked towards your left, there was nothing but a wall and a coffee machine free for the people who wanted to study or read there. The first thing you saw when you looked to the right was the long bar table where young people could sit and charge their laptop or phone. It could accommodate about four people on each side plus the two heads. After you passed the table, you came across three sofas arranged around a high table where was the glass case containing an artefact: a very old arrow. Everywhere else were bookshelves. If you were sitting on the sofa parallel to the bar table, you could see directly down the corridor to the warehouse. The stairs were placed parallel to the counter. Upstairs were mostly books and small reading spaces. For the most part, it was a personal and comfortable library where background music was rarely played. They had a computer in the staff space but it was more used for business than anything else. Instead, upstairs there was a gramophone that was admired by everyone who passed it by. It was still working and Fei would every so often put on records for her pleasure. Customers liked it because it made them feel like they were transported back in time. The name of the library was not chosen by Fei or Minjae but by the person who handed them the library.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQitTrcuf6P
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeheMsvj12
It was half past ten and Fei just stood there thinking about her life. Hikaru's whimpers were still audible to her sensitive ears but she could also hear others trying to calm him down. He died rather painfully, burned by the sun and then drowned into the cold sea. And yet being alive was more painful than dying.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gEeRvwmT0
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Fei shuddered at the current of cold air coming from the front door. They had an early customer and she had to get a grip on her mental state. In order to get encourage herself she slapped her cheeks lightly and turned to face her customer.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrW8LgKKRLx
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69JbZSq4RJ
"Good morning, I'm here for my book."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfO49gwQz8
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0K5Tn9aWRs
Fei froze. She stared at him with wide eyes and couldn't believe her bad luck.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡea9pYbDNlW
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"Excuse me, but did you hear me?" He asked watching this peculiar woman.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYLLZj5yIt
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"Yes, I did." The answer came immediately, like it was automatic.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBSXLnHezH
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"Oh, ok, good. I came by last night too, remember? I was the one knocking on the door."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddI4vH0MCQ
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JLBMmEo62
"Yes, I remember." She couldn't help but answer even if the question was rhetorical. "What book do you want? You have to give me the title and in case we don't have it or is not for sale, then-"399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVh33TT3C6w
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUoeraLEIa
"You have it, I bought it online. Heroes by Stephen Fry."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrh5XXQlIL
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Fei closed her eyes for a second, not believing how this guy with the same face like the one that broke her heart was buying a book about Greek mythology.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOG9vbrhkz
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9Bh53Henu
"Are you interested in mythology?" She asked making small talk.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs74G5EA8NV
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"Yes, I am and I needed this book last night, it was an emergency." He added attacking her a bit for running from his although he literally begged for her help. "Don't you remember? I told you exactly why I was so desperate."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUw6OSm467
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODtFDUqPU7
"I don't remember and sincerely I don't care. We were closed." She said coldly while processing his order. "I'll give you the book shortly," she mumbled and turned to the desk of books. It had to be there, somewhere.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwBoEsKWrR
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JudYeuYJg
The young man stood there, waiting for his purchase. He could have had the book sent to his address but he was curious to see the library. Now that he was there and he was taking a better look, it was rather empty and silent.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0UtGC309J
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRolUOw0ye
"Are you the only worker here?"399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nJEOKVjVb
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"No."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6lolY5bPe
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HR0lVJSAZ
"Why is it so silent?"399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAVvKGpDw4
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"Because there aren't any clients in."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuGt4evhA0
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48BD5nwOk1
"What about some music?"399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPOsCkIuEF
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxYZ6fuy9m
"Some clients can't concentrate so we decided to stop playing any music. Whoever wants to, can listen to it on their devices."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymEt6aS8g2
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8MqBuPwqX
"Who is 'we'?" He asked growing wittier. She found his book and brought it to the counter with a poker face.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7FRtC1qHt
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"Me and my associate." She replied placing the book in a paper bag and handing it to him. "Any more questions?" She asked sarcastically but he seemed to actually think about it.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnSRUV82zb
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8AcN6MNf1
"Are we really the only people in the library right now? It feels so empty."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBNW84p1mg
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiARbYpIPi
"No, we are not."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXtFVntzS1
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"Hmm,"399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfc674TT2Y
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They stood there in awkwardness as he kept looking around the ground floor.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQk1zOpxg4Y
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"What's that?" He asked finally noticing the artefact.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JFEiMqXrQ
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiohThmvDn
"An arrow." She answered not even glancing where he pointed at.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60xJ9z3r6L
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofiOtL9wtQ
He actually walked towards the glass cover, his eyes wandering everywhere on the way. He gaped at how old and beautiful the ceiling was and how the smell of books made him feel like he was back in his room at his parents' house. His smile was huge and his eyes were sparkling. He was feeling like a curious little kid who found a new playground. When his eyes fell on the arrow, the first thing he saw was the red around the tip.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmkHoLf2KE
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiQOa9Cnaa
"That's blood." A new male voice surprised the customer.
The curious customer looked up and saw a handsome man whose dark eyes reminded him of two olives. He was dressed in all black and seemed to have struggled somewhere with a lot of dust because the particles reached the customer's nose.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabKbXrqMk3
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"Oh...fascinating." The customer whispered almost gluing his face to the glass.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcP8xwz7PeF
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Minjae stared at him, watched every little movement and expression on his face and finally spoke.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSi9bngrnS
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"I believe we have already met once before."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGD157JekjL
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The customer raised his head and carefully analysed his face. His eyes widened when he remembered the same olive eyes glaring at him less than a day ago.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFs8VzJhp6x
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fk86ygY3G
"Right! Wow, what a small world! You're the guy from yesterday at the wedding hall."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUdEXQaFgw
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsL4ujmuWAl
"Kim Minjae," he introduced himself with a bow. "I am one of the associates here at Ethos."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEKlrtp7zp
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Minjae waited for a bit but nothing else followed. He saw that the customer kept returning his attention to the arrow and he had to cough twice to regain his attention.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWn7gVfiqd7
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"And you are?"399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpYCKG00XB
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hO25mAYqd
"Dohyun. Lee Dohyun. What was this arrow used for if those are traces of blood?"399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgb09M5Sw8
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnNCT2irT1
"It-" Minjae stopped and looked at Fei. She was standing in front of the coffee machine, watching them. Her focus was mainly on Dohyun. Those clear eyes of hers were so sad no matter how hard she was trying to hide it. From afar she looked hopeless. "It was used to break someone's heart. It pierced right through it, killing her." Minjae explained, his eyes locked on Fei.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFpLxNkXmg
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNInxMa0g5A
"That's tragic," Dohyun replied feeling a bit bad for asking now that he found out. His phone vibrated making him pick up. "Oh hyung, I'm on my way. Yes, yes, I got it. I'm coming." He said before he hung up. "Thanks. I'll come back another time for the full story." He said and quickly left. He smiled at Fei as he passed her and it was better that he didn't see her reaction.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQd9MQEstOk
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But Minjae did. He placed the books he brought on the high table and came next to her.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGI6Y4w35Y
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"I hate that expression. You used to wear it a lot in the past and I hoped you won't once you forgot about him." He started in a firm voice.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvScmYpxR0
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"How can I ever forget him? He is the only man I've ever loved."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgBY52yWna
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"And he killed you, remember? He watched as you gave your last breath and then threw you into the woods to animals." Minjae continued growing more serious and loud. "You should hate him then pity him and eventually forget him."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TMreDzjce
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She looked into his eyes and saw herself in the reflection. She could still feel the pain as the arrow pierced deep into her heart.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4tifYoOAJ
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"Morniiiing! Am I interrupting something?"399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VP3bnMX6v
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The raven stepped back and Fei lowered her gaze.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Rrlj6hkWT
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"Even if you were you wouldn't care so what is it?" Fei asked the newcomer.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxKOHFkFH3
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYG7tnflei
"There is this little problem I have with a reaper. He went rogue." Death himself informed the two.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84JpxKLG6G
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9hGeVRh4X
Well, Death was too much said. He wasn't death, he couldn't be a state, but he was the head of the death department.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFahBKsfqnQ
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKu5qLWkZjf
"I sent you her ID so take a good look at her face. I mainly want you to find her and I'll take care of the rest."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8s03WdoO4N
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHga3aeE273
Both Fei's and Minjae's phones beeped at the same time. Seeing the female reaper on the screen with her number and status made Minjae cringe. It wasn't every day that supernatural beings had the will or courage to desert their post. The Underworld was losing power now that the youth believed in different beings and ideas.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJj9aKsLMbm
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQQhUnFBeO
"Why did she go rogue?" Minjae asked looking at the Head of the Department.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRAdR3OluF
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5USqh863Z
"For a man." He answered before he scoffed loudly. "She has been part of my team for centuries and never once did she make a mistake. And now, after all this time, she chose to...fall in love. Ha!" He exclaimed surprising the two librarians. "Love is not a word for us. We're dead! We exist in order to be a bridge between the dead and the living and we can't be seen by humans. That's just like going against your country! That rascal..."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZhsvxJm3R
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Fei stared at the picture, the poker face of a pretty girl reminding her of how she used to be. She couldn't help chuckle at all the bad things she did and said when she was young and had the energy to fight.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohgpdGsnbi
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmbj1IAM82
"What will happen to her after she is caught?" She asked placing her phone in her back pocket of her jeans and going to grab her trench coat.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyqIoB02bg
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Death rubbed his cheek as he thought about it.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzobq9CfXhh
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"She will be erased from existence, of course. All data about her even working for us will be deleted and her workload will be split between other reapers." He answered with nonchalance.
