Dark Blue - 深蓝の魂 by 珊

Chapter 11

Li Ann woke up to a fresh start and got ready for work again. Life was like a dream for her. She’d met the most charming man ever, and she knows a ghost. What more could she possibly come to? Her mind was just let alone to wander endless thoughts of mindless subjects.

She picked a white blouse and khaki skirt that had just reached below her knees. Her hair was neatly curled slightly at the tips and she used light make up to enhance her features. At that moment, her brother came strolling into her room.

“You get up too early these days,” Dongwan said as he sat down on desk.

“You’ll dig yourself a grave if you work form sunup to sunset. I worry about you Li Ann. I still remember those days before mom and dad died. You were so little and a #### raiser at the same time. Remember that time when you climbed on the roof and almost got killed?” Li Ann smiled over the memory.

“I remember you yelled at me for the entire day because you got in trouble for not watching me.”

“But you told dad that it wasn’t my fault,”

“You would have gotten into trouble,” Li Ann announced. Dongwan laughed.

“Mom would have punished you even more if I wasn’t around to yell at you.”

“You sure saved me from death that time,” Li Ann admitted.

“I saved you more than once and that’s the main truth of it.”

“It was along time ago,” Li Ann reminded him, her smile gentle.

“I’m all grown up now. I have many responsibilities oppa, that’s why I have to get to work now.”Li Ann got up from her mirror desk and kissed her brother on the cheeks.

She walked out of her room with her coat and purse. Dongwan followed her out still protesting to her. He drove her to her workplace and headed on his way to the hospital.

She had forgotten once again about Mike, but of course he hasn’t forgot her. Mike followed her into the office and before she opened the door, she turned around to face him.

“Good morning Mike, how are you today?” she asked in a cheerful voice.

“Good,” Mike replied blankly. Li Ann turned back around and pushed the door into her office. Li Ann let out a small sigh when she looked at the left over paperwork and client schedules left on her desk.

She set to work at once, letting Mike sit there to do nothing. Her phone rang and Li Ann immediately sprang to it.

“Hello?”

“Li Ann, how are you?”

“Andy? Oh, I’m good,” Li Ann smiled back to Mike, letting him know that it was Andy.

She sat back down behind her desk to talk to Andy.

“I want to pick you up for lunch, is that okay?” Andy asked.

“Lunch?” Li Ann asked. Mike rolled his eyes.

“Lunch is great.”

“Alright. Pick you up at noon then,” Andy said as he hung up.

Li Ann smiled to herself.

Mike sighed and stood up.

“I’m going out to walk around. See you later,” Mike said as he left the building.

Li Ann looked back at him oddly, then continued her work. Mike walked out and found his way around to an empty road that led to the cemetery. The morning led to a long grueling pace walk. He didn’t mind.

He wanted someplace quiet to recollect his thoughts. It took him almost two hours to reach the cold and lonely cemetery that he was buried in. Mike walked around until he found his familiar tombstone.

He crouched down and looked at it. His name was carved into the stone. He traced the outline of his name, then glanced down to the ground. The flowers on there were as dead as can be. No new ones were set.

All around him were fresh flowers for the dead, but not his. His were the same flowers from the day of his burial.

How could Ji Yun be like so? Had she forgotten him already? He had to see her. The thought shuddered him that his own wife would abandon his memory like this.

“Sad isn’t it? Nobody comes to visit the dead,” a voice said from behind him, startling him. He turned around.

Brian stood there in his black suit and red tie, his hands held together behind his back.

“You again,” Mike mumbled turning back to his grave.

“Life after death isn’t what it seems Mike,” Brian said walking up closer to Mike.

Mike stood up, his eyes still on the tombstone.

“How is it so then?” Mike asked turning to Brian.

“Let me show you,” Brian said with his chin tilting upwards.

He started walking towards the exit of the cemetery.

“Follow me. I’ll show you the world of the dead.” Mike and Brian walked down the rocky hill of the cemetery and back into town.

Mike had kept silent all the way. He didn’t know who to follow or trust, but Brian seemed to be the most reasonable person to follow, so he did as told.

The longer he walked with Brian, the stranger the setting and atmosphere seemed. The sun’s color turned an awkward light blue that stung his eyes, and pretty soon they were near a world of black and white.

They were still in Seoul, with people walking around doing their own things, but it was now that Mike saw things in a bluish tone.

He was too speechless to say anything.

“Cool huh?” Brian smirked.

“What?”

“What you see around you is the world of dark blue, the world of the dead. The lost and confused, just like you,” Brian said letting alone a minute for Mike to grasp and understand the concept that there was to understand.

Mike looked around slowly, and instantly he noticed the change. Everything was in a blue color. Light blue, white, navy blue, dark blue, and just blue.

In between the crowds of regular people were figures he didn’t seem to see quiet well. A few stood out from the norms.

They were looking dazed and lost, some of them white skinned, like ghosts. They didn’t seem to hear what was going on around them. Instead they just walk around all day.

Everything seemed to be going backwards at a slow pace, yet people were moving forward and time was ticking still.

“They are the lost,” Brian said quietly to his ear. A girl passed by Mike. She wasn’t looking anywhere but straight ahead and passed right by like she was deaf or blind. Mike shuddered. After a while, Brian poked his arm.

“Come on,” Brian’s head cocked to the side to show Mike that he was going to walk. Mike followed still looking back once in a while at the “lost” souls.

Pretty soon they were walking over a highway bridge. Brian walked casually ahead of him with his hands in his pockets.

The world had came back to normal now. Color was back into view again. Brian stopped in the middle of the highway.

“Why are you stopping here?” Mike asked.

“Oh, I’m kinda busy. I have a client coming in....two minutes,” Brian said looking at his watch.

“Check this out.” Brian looked at his watch as he waited patiently staring at the middle of the road. Mike looked at Brian strangely, then towards the same direction that Brian was looking.

Exactly in the next two minutes, the cars that drove past them were going as fast as any car would on a freeway. A red car out of nowhere headed right into the head of another, causing a head on collision. Mike cringed at the sight.

The sound of the impact was heard as the red car flipped and crashed into a nearby lamp pole. Brian stared amused as he almost tiptoed to see the results. Rubble and glass pieces flew everywhere as other cars stopped by.

“Bingo,” Brian announced as he put his wrist down and continued to look on. A person stood up from under the red car that had just turned over.

His head was covered with blood as he stumbled, but he didn’t seem at all that hurt. He walked clumsily out of the small crowd looking around confused. Brian walked up to him with a smile.

“Hi,” Brian said to the man. The man put his hand down from his bleeding head and looked at Brian strangely.

“What happened?” the man asked still shocked from the accident.

“You’re dead,” Brian smiled. Mike’s mouth dropped open at the whole situation. So this was Brian’s job. This was how he worked.

This was what was supposed to happen when Mike had died, but why wasn’t Brian there.

“I can read your thoughts Mike,” Brian called back from talking to the now dead man. Mike looked up from his thoughts.

“The reason why I wasn’t there when you died was because somebody messed up the pattern, so I couldn’t find you. It happens a lot,” Brian smiled.

“Hey! Will somebody tell me what the hell is going on?!” the man with the bleeding head asked angrily causing Brian to turn back to him. He pulled Brian’s collar and looked angrily back into Brian’s smiling face. Brian broke free and used his hands to brush himself off.

“Simple. Your time is up. Follow me,” Brian said still in that amused state as he turned back to Mike.

“Look Mike, I gotta go, but I’ll be back later to talk to you. Don’t try anything stupid,” Brian warned. Mike nodded as he stepped back.

Brian looked back to the other man and allowed the man to walk past Brian as Brian followed him. Mike turned and walked in the opposite direction.

He couldn’t believe it. He was shown so much in such a short time, it took him a while to believe it all. ...........Andy and Li Ann walked into yet another fancy restaurant.

They sat near the window and ordered lunch. Li Ann nervously looked at her fingers as Andy silently glared at her. She was so ladylike. He put his hands forward to touch hers.

“Li Ann, did I ever tell you how beautiful you are?” Andy asked in a sly voice. Li Ann slowly moved her hand back.

“Two times,” Li Ann replied returning his smile.

“I don’t think I’ve ever met anybody as lovely as you,” Andy complimented again. Li Ann only smiled back. All his complimenting was getting a little too unusual for her.

She wasn’t used to so much attention from one guy alone.

“I know we’ve only met for two days now, but I really like you,” Andy continued, his fingers tapping on the top of her hand.

“Andy...I hardly know you,” Li Ann stuttered back nervously with a sheepish grin.

“I know, but I don’t care. I don’t need to know you at all to like you. I know you’re a beautiful person, and that’s all that matters,” Andy said slyly.

“You’re too kind Andy,” Li Ann returned his smile still unsure of herself. Why was he acting so affectionate towards her?

“And I love your scent,” Andy said as his other hand reached under the table to touch her knee. Li Ann shifted around uncomfortably as she sat up straight. She looked away and down to the table top. Andy was slick.

He continued to rub her knee as he sweet talked her into his trap.

“Andy...” Li Ann protested.

“Would you like to come see my home after we have lunch?” Andy asked removing his hand.

“Um, that would be nice. Excuse me please,” Li Ann said as she scooted out of her seat and grabbed her purse.

She headed for the ladies room as quick as she could without running. She didn’t want to think of Andy as that kind of man, but his actions were so different from the other Andy she knew. But then again, she had only known him for three days.

Outside, Andy sat back disappointed and a bit angry that Li Ann was so rebellious. Every girl that he took out took no longer than two days to sleep with him.

Li Ann was different, and he wanted her.

“Andy?” a females’ voice called from behind.

Andy turned around and was surprised to see her.

“Terri,” Andy sounded surprised. He glanced around nervously to look for Li Ann.

“Andy, how are you? You haven’t called me back since we met a couple days ago,” Terri said happily as she sat down next to Andy.

Andy moved back an inch, then glanced towards the direction where Li Ann went. “Terri, um...uh,” Andy stuttered as Terri clutched his arm.

“I missed you Andy,” Terri smiled.

Li Ann wiped her hands clean on a towel then pushed open the door out of the restroom. She stopped when her eyes were laid upon Andy, and Terri who was close to him smiling happily.

Li Ann walked over calmly and looked at Andy questioningly.

“Oh, Li Ann, uh, this is Terri,” Andy said nervously as he scooted all the way back to the window.

“Hi, I’m Andy’s girlfriend,” Terri smiled as she held out her perfectly manicured hand to shake Li Ann’s. Li Ann smiled back and shook her hand.

“I’m Li Ann, Andy’s friend,” Li Ann said. She didn’t sit down. She glared at Andy with her eyes burning with flames.

“I’ll be going now. Have a nice day Andy,” she said quickly as she turned on her heels and headed for the door.

How could Li Ann have been so stupid to trust that Andy was a good man.

Mike was right.

Andy was another one of those.

Why hadn’t she listen to him? Li Ann thought herself to be too foolish to not see through Andy’s seductive acts. It was all just a lie.

“Li Ann!” Andy called as he chased her out of the restaurant. He reached for her elbow but she shook her arm free.

“Leave me alone Andy. I don’t want to see you ever again,” Li Ann said back to him as she waved to a nearby taxi.

Li Ann got in the taxi and didn’t look back at Andy. Andy cursed to himself, then took a deep breath and walked back into the restaurant.

“Sorry about that Terri. I had to tell her something,” Andy lied as he sat down across from Terri.

She smiled back sweetly.

“Are you hungry? I was just about to order,” Andy grinned slyly.

“Sure Andy,” Terri replied with a smile from ear to ear. ...........

Mike walked with his head down tracing the small pebbles that lay on the ground. He walked until he reached his house. He stared at the covered windows.

Everything seemed so dead. The house was completely trimmed and neat, yet it looked like nobody lived in there.

Light showers began to spray down as he approached the door. He walked up to the driveway wanting to see Ji Yun more than ever now, but before he reached the front door, a black BMW screeched up and drove onto the driveway.

Mike stopped and stared at whoever was in the car. Did Ji Yun buy a new car? Instead of Ji Yun stepping out from behind the dark glasses, it was a tall built man, in his early twenties, wearing all black and a leather jacket.

He had on shades as he stared at the house up and down and smirked. Mike wondered who he was. The man tossed his keys into his pockets and started to walk up the path to the front door. Perhaps Ji Yun had moved on?

Perhaps she found somebody new? If so, he couldn’t possibly blame her. Ji Yun was still young and she had her life to live. Only Mike would then had to carry on the burden of sad memories.

Mike stood near the door and waited for the other man to reach the door as well. He rang the door bell. After a few rings, Ji Yun opened the door.

Her eyes widened with a spark as she slowly smiled to the man standing in front of the door. “Hwanhee,” she said his name.

“Hey baby,” he replied back with a devilish grin. She opened the door and pulled him in. Mike stared in shock and confusion at the same time.

He walked in after them.

“You’re not supposed to be here yet,” Ji Yun said pushing him backward a little.

“I couldn’t help it. I’ve missed you so much. After two months of not seeing you, don’t you think I deserve a little lovin’?” Hwanhee asked as he pulled her closer.

“But the cops are still investigating. I don’t want them to have any suspicions,” Ji Yun said as she touched his shirt button.

Mike realized what was happening now. He saw where this was going.

“They won’t. Oh, you did such a good job in killing that sucker,” Hwanhee said as he kissed her neck.

“Yes, I did. Aren’t you proud of me?” Ji Yun said as she kissed Hwanhee back and hugged him tighter. Mike’s face dropped.

His cheeks burned as his eyes began to sting and his fists balled at his sides as he clenched his jaw tightly. He felt as if the hands of Death had just grabbed his heart and swallowed it.“Of course I am. I still can’t stand the fact that he had you,” Hwanhee said as he began to fumble with her buttons on her shirt.

She pulled his jacket back and slipped him out of it.

“Oh Hwanhee, he’s no better than you,” Ji Yun laughed wickedly as she kissed him deeply. “When can you get his money?” he asked between kisses.

Mike’s hearing must’ve gone deaf because he suddenly felt anger towards Hwanhee. His wife had planned all this out with this Hwanhee guy even before he married her?

“Soon,” Ji Yun promised. She jumped on him and wrapped her legs around him. He started to carry her upstairs.

“You backstabbing b**ch,” Mike cursed. Mike stared at them disgusted as he walked out. How could she? He never thought she’d be this evil. She married him so she could kill him and claim all his money?

The thought of that sickened him to his stomach. Mike walked out and down the rocky path towards downtown again. He tried hard not wanting to believe that she would do this to him.

“Did you go dancing in the rain?” he remembered he had asked her that after she came back into the house that night before he died.

“No, it’s raining like hell,” she had muttered back to him as she wiped her hands on her sweater. Just then Mike remembered seeing black smudge being wiped from her hands to her sweater. It was her.

She was the one who had gone out and cut the brake wire. She was the cold-hearted murderer. What kind of women would do that?

She definitely had more guts than he thought to be able to do that. He hated Ji Yun, and he despised Hwanhee.

Whoever Hwanhee was, he didn’t care. He couldn’t wait to rip Hwanhee apart and bury him next to Ji Yun.

But it burned him that he loved her so, and yet all he got in return was his own death. Love became the death of him.

“This isn’t over Ji Yun,” Mike muttered as he stared back at his house before continuing on.

The rain pounded harshly on him although he didn’t think it would. He didn’t want to cry. He was a grown man, and grown men wouldn’t cry, but he felt the edge of his eyes growing red.

He turned around and continued walking.

He had to find Li Ann.

She was the only person that was able to help him, or so he thought.

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[To be Cont]