Dark Blue - 深蓝の魂 by 珊



Chapter 20




Mike lifted his gaze and see an angry Brian standing in front of him.

Brian’s eyes were lighted with fire as he breathed out fog. Mike stood up slowly and dusted himself. Brian once again shoved Mike all the way back further into the alleyway.

Mike shouted as he tried to push Brian back, but Brian’s strength seemed to be supported by some unseen force of nature.

“I told you to stay away from her!” Brian shouted angrliy.

“What the hell is your problem?!” Mike shouted back as Brian backed off a few steps.

“Look!” Brian said as he pointed to where Li Ann was. She was now in a sitting foetus-like position, clutching her knees closely to her as she closed her eyes and leaned her head back to catch some air. Mike paused for a moment, too, to catch his breath.

“What...what happened?” Mike asked seeming out of breath.

“Li Ann?” he called as he tried to walk towards her. Brian stepped out in front of him, stopping him from going any further.

“Get the hell away from me!” Mike shouted trying to shove Brian aside.

“I wouldn’t get near her if I were you. Unless I want her to die,” Brian replied cooly. It had seemed as if all of a sudden his attitude had shifted from a angry menacing beast to the all around easy going Angel of Death Brian.

“What do you mean?” Mike asked, confused by Brian’s explanation.

“You–...I didn’t tell you this before,” Brian said with a loud sigh.

“What?” Mike asked more concerned for Li Ann that for what Brian had to say.Suddenly Andy appeared from around the corner. He looked down to see Li Ann holding herself, tired and unable to move. He immediately bent down to see if she was okay.

“Li Ann is human, Mike,” Brian replied, looking at Li Ann and Andy.

“Li Ann? Hey, wake up. Are you okay?” Andy asked quietly, tapping her cheek to see if she was conscious.

“I know she’s human!” Mike retorted back angrily.

“Yes, but that’s why!” Brian shouted back at Mike’s stubbornness.

“Why can’t I be with her?!” Mike asked fiercely.

“Because the more time you spend with her, you take more of her energy. She is translucent to you and will eventually die if you get too close to her! That right there– that kiss! You nearly drained her! If you don’t stay away from her, she will eventually be too weak to live,” Brian explained calmly.

“What the f***?” Mike stated back, uable to believe what Brian was telling him.

“Your paths are not supposed to be traversal, but you crossed the line. I warned you already,” Brian said as he started to walk away.

“Wait! You never told me about this!” Mike called after him.

“Oh, but I did warn you,” Brian said quickly.

“And–...” he added.

“– you won’t be able to touch her for a while. It’s a transverse wave passing through.”

“What the hell does that mean?!” Mike asked angrily.

“It means stay away from her!” Brian shouted as he turned around, but still kept his pace.

“Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?” Mike questioned. Brian finally stopped and turned around.

“Because for ghosts, they will take advantage of people. That’s why I didn’t tell you. They have no use for the energy they take, but if they take enough, they can become almost invincible and have accelerated chances.”

“What makes you think I’ll do that?!” he asked a bit angry.

“I learned from experience, and now I hope you will too,” Brian shot back as he started walking again.

“Wait, how will I get her home then?!” Mike shouted back.

“That’s her problem,” Brian replied, suddenly disappearing out of sight.

“Andy?” Li Ann whispered back feeling the dizziness back down a bit.

“Yeah, it’s me. Are you okay? Did you drink that much?” Andy asked with a slight chuckle.

“Mike?” Li Ann asked as she lifted her gaze to Mike, who was now standing behind Andy. Andy looked back, but then turned back to her with a confused look on his face.

“Pardon me, who?” Andy asked. She slightly shook her head as she grabbed Andy’s arms to try to get up.

“Whoa..easy. Let me take you home,” Andy said trying to hold her up. She shook her head violently.

“No, that’s okay,” Li Ann mumbled back shaking him off.

“Li Ann,” Mike called out. She looked over to him.

“I think it’s better if Andy takes you home.” Mike’s voice was full of an apologetic tone. The look in his eyes told her that he meant it.

“Wait,” she said to Andy.

“Please take me home.” Andy smiled in triumph to himself as he helped her to his car. Sitting in steadily, Li Ann waited for Andy to drive her home. She had not thought so much of Mike, but she thought about why she had suddenly just collapsed like that.

Andy pulled the car out of the parking lot and headed towards her home.

“So...why were you dancing by yourself tonight?” Andy asked as they were halfway to her house. She still held her head as she shot him a annoyed glare.

“I was dancing with that man until you came,” she muttered.

“Hey, I’m just doing my part. He’s not supposed to be dancing with my girl,” Andy shrugged.

“What...Your girl?!” Li Ann asked shocked. Andy smiled amusingly to himself as he kept his eyes on the road. He soon stopped in front of her house. Li Ann didn’t wait to walk out of his car, slamming the door behind her. She could barely walk to her front door. Andy wrapped his arm around her waist as he tried to hold her up all the way to her door. She pounded on the front door for her brother to open.

“Oppa! It’s me!” She called out. Dongwan opened the door, but his face frowned when he saw Li Ann’s pale face.

“What the hell did you do to my sister?!” Dongwan asked angrily to Andy, ready to pound Andy right there.

“Hey, hey! Cool down man. I didn’t do anything to her! I just help to bring her home!” Andy said defensively.

“Oppa, it’s okay,” Li Ann said putting a hand against Dongwan to stop him.

“Later Li Ann,” Andy stated as he started to walk back to his car. Li Ann turned her head back to Dongwan and fumbled to walk inside.

“Li Ann? What happened to you?” Dongwan asked concern.

“Nothing oppa, I just got a little drunk,” Li Ann lied as she pushed her way past him and up to her room.

“Li Ann, you know you shouldn’t be drinking. You know you have a problem with that. And where’s my car?” he asked crossing his arms.

“It’s at the club oppa. I’m sorry. I’ll get it tomorrow,” she said as she walked into her room and closed the door.

“Good night!” Dongwan shouted back. He rubbed his sleepy eyes and walked into his room. Li Ann sat down on her bed and began to slowly remove her boots. She was too tired to even try to remove her jacket.

“I’m sorry,” Mike whispered from behind her. She turned her head around and saw him standing there, the shadow overseeing half of his figure. She smiled weakly.

“Here,” she slowly handed him the crumpled up piece of paper. He was too worried about her to even care for it. In fact, he had forgotten about it. He reached for it, trying his best not to touch her hand.

“Thank you Li Ann. I’m really sorry,” Mike said again with a hint of sadness in his tone. She made a face that asked him why he was being sorry.

“I should have never kissed you,” he mumbled lowly. She lowered her gaze to the floor, thinking that he only thought of her as a friend perhaps.

“It’s okay,” Li Ann shrugged it off. “I’m going to have to leave you now,” Mike choked out, looking away from her out through the window.

“Why?” Her question was so innocent, it made him almost feel guilty for dragging her into this mess in the first place. “

I have to Li Ann,” Mike responded, looking at her in a serious way, but added on a smile anyway to comfort her.

The room was dark. Only half of it was visible by the light shown from the moon outside.

“Is there a problem? Did I do something wrong?” she asked worried.

“No, it’s not you,” Mike said lifting his chin up with a wider smile.

“Then why do you have to leave?” she asked blinking her tired eyes to stay awake.

Mike paused to think for a moment.

How would she understand something that isn’t visible to her?

“Because, I don’t want to drag you into the world of dark blue,” he replied.

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[To be Cont]