Greetings, readers!

It has been a long time since I last published a new story, hasn't it? So now, celebrating Christmas and New Year, as well as illutia mist's third anniversary, I present to you this story!

In case if you're wondering, Fridays in December takes real timeline in December 2010. Just don't get confused if you read this story later in 2011 and so on, look at the calendar in whatever year you are (except for 2010), and find that the days and the dates are different from the ones mentioned here.

And last but not least, I hope you enjoy this!

Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice. I do own the plot of this story.

Revised: September 28th, 2013.

-o-O-o-

Fridays in December

-o-O-o-

December 1st - Wednesday

December had arrived.

And so had the busiest month of the year.

"Mikan! We need help here!"

"Coming!"

Welcome to Alice Gift shop, a place where you could buy any kind of adorable and even peculiar gifts for people you cared about or despised, or solely for your pleasure. Usually, it was open from Monday to Saturday, from 9 am to 5 pm, not including the time for preparation which usually took thirty minutes or one hour. But every December, the owner of the shop, Anna Umenomiya, would open the store from Monday to Saturday, from 8 am to 7 pm and hire a few part time workers for this month only. It was only normal because the amount of people visiting the shop increased radically, and so did the profit. Oh, the joy of December.

This kind of month was also the perfect time to find a part time job to do aside from summer holiday, and I was more than happy to be accepted in this shop filled with cute dolls and wonderful stuffs in the end of November, thanks to my classmate, Sumire Shouda, who also happened to be working in the same shop. Another positive thing about this shop was that the owner didn't restrict the kind of uniform we wore. We could put on ordinary clothes, like shirts and jeans, as long as they were tidy and acceptable. The only part of the uniform we should wear was the work apron. There were many colors of them, so we could choose the color we liked.

My part time work might only last until the last day of December, but it mattered to me. No matter how much the amount of cash I got, I would accept it with pride.

"Mikan, can you place these new toys in the cabinet over there?"

Putting the last music box into the showcase, I gave a brief look at the cute fluffy teddy bear dolls crowded in a box which was just dropped beside me and smiled at Nonoko Ogasawara, my senior co-worker and, of course, a permanent employee in this shop. "Sure!"

"Be careful not to get it dirty," Nonoko reminded.

I grinned and picked up the box. "I won't!" I assured her and trotted to the pointed cupboard.

When I arrived there, I saw half of the cupboard had already been filled with other kinds of animal doll. There were tigers, lions, dogs, pigs, monkeys and many more. Currently, Nobara Ibaragi was setting up small pots of decorated Christmas trees on top of the cabinet. She smiled when she noticed my presence. "How's your work going, Sakura?"

"Great!" I replied earnestly and proceeded to place the bear dolls in the available place. "It's quite busy, but I have fun."

"It will be even busier on the second and third week." She climbed down the portable steps. "I hope we will also have many customers this year though. No matter how tiring it is, it's always nice to see their happy face."

"Yeah," I agreed and emptied the box quickly. "It's too bad that I have school. My shift is only on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. And it's only from 4 pm until 7 pm too."

Nobara chuckled. "I thought all girls your age prefer hanging out with friends than working."

"My situation is rather complicated," I admitted, heaving a sigh. "But I also like it here. I don't mind working longer." That last sentence was true enough. I really didn't mind it. Besides, this job only lasted one month, and I even worked only at certain days. It also paid well.

"Don't be a workaholic, girls," Nonoko chimed in. "Enjoy your youth while you still can. Once the glowing period passes by, you will realize how much time you've spent in vain and eventually regret it."

I could only smile. Perhaps Nonoko was right. But I had a good motive to take this job.

The reason? Well, I needed money to buy Christmas gifts for my friends. I also wanted to help my brother, especially in financial. Ever since our parents died a few months ago, he was the one who supported the household expenses and also my school tuition. He worked as an accounting manager and was very busy every day. Sometimes he even brought home his paperwork and had to work on it all night. Sure, we had money from our parents' life insurances, but he insisted on using it for when I entered the college.

Seeing this, I was really determined to lessen the burden my brother had on his shoulders, even just a little bit. My cooking skill was average and I didn't think I did well at taking care of the house. I tried my best to do what I could do. But still, compared to my brother who was working hard to keep us fed every day and cooking—goodness, his cuisine was delectable—whenever he had time, I felt helpless. I wanted to do something more.

I was indebted to him for everything he had done for me, and I wanted to at least be able to buy the presents for my friends using my own money. Therefore, I could save the rest of the money for unexpected needs in the future. Besides, once again, this was only in December. Once December ended, I had to find another part time job again, or perhaps study to get a scholarship. And no, I never got a scholarship. I was still trying until now.

"Okay, let's finish this and clean up, then we can go home!" Nonoko cheered, thrusting her fist into the air.

Nobara and I nodded simultaneously before we separated to do our next task.

"Mikan!"

I looked up to see the owner, Anna, stumbling into the shop from the back door with a big blue package in her hands. She seemed to need help, and I quickly rushed to her before the box dragged her along to the floor. Placing my hands under the box to lessen the weight she had to carry, I scrutinized the package curiously.

"Children books," Anna breathed. Her hair was disheveled and her cheeks were pink from the cold temperature outside. I could see every breath coming in a short white wisp in every gasp she took.

Poor woman.

Not wanting her to suffer more from the load in her hands, I asked her to let me take the box and gasped when the entire box was finally in my hold. I couldn't resist looking at her in disbelief knowing how heavy it was. "Were you carrying this by yourself all the way here?"

Anna's chuckle was full of mirth. "Of course not! My husband drove me here. I would have been a snowman right now if I had to lug it all the way here on my own."

"Oh." I dared not to ask why she didn't ask her husband to help her bringing the box into the shop instead.

"I knew he's in a hurry, so I told him to go and that I could manage it by myself."

…I had to give her two thumbs up for being able to read my thoughts.

"It's clearly shown on your face," she chirped.

…Okay, was my face that readable?

Anna waved her forefinger in front of me. "There, there, don't think anymore, girl. Now, why don't you place the box in the storage for me? After that, you can go home. I can tell the others to arrange the books in the showcase tomorrow."

I nodded mutely.

"Good." Anna inclined her head in satisfaction and walked away to greet the other employees.

I sighed and headed to the storage myself. Geez, this package seemed to be getting heavier every minute. My arms would disjoin sooner or later if I kept holding it. It was a good thing that the door to the staff room was slightly open. At least I didn't have to bother the other worker to open it for me.

Using my back to shove the door wider, I stumbled into the staff room and staggered to the wooden door far at the right corner that I recognized as the storeroom. This time, I had to put down the box first before I unlocked the door and pushed it open, wide enough for me and the box to get through.

The dim room was filled with piles of boxes, a few of them half-open. The unused cartons were folded and cast aside at the corner. They were piled up neatly so the room could contain boxes as many as possible.

I decided to place the package at an empty corner, so it wouldn't get mixed with the other boxes. This way, it would ease the other employees to look for the box if Anna asked them to get the books.

Satisfied, I wiped the sweat from my temple and turned away to the door. My shift was almost over. I wouldn't want to get locked in this place alone until the next morning.

I barely touched the door when I heard faint shuffling sound coming from behind me. When I turned back and gazed around the room, the sound vanished at the same time, leaving me asking to myself if I only hallucinated.

Perhaps. I might have been too tired already. There were many things I did during these three hours of my shift anyway, and I quite enjoyed it.

"Maybe I need some rest," I mumbled, scratching the back of my head before returning to the door.

Rustle! Rustle!

…I didn't think I just heard things.

I twirled back and looked closely at the piles of boxes in front of me this time. Now, even the boxes looked suspicious to me. I started to imagine a hand would emerge from the box lid and grab the edge of the opened box. Then, in a slow, creepy motion, a woman with long black hair showed up and—

Rustle! Rustle! Rustle!

I gasped and looked at the right corner, where I thought the sound was coming from. The boxes were piled up higher there and I really didn't want to envisage what actually could emerge from—I really needed to stop watching those horror movies. Damn my brother and his hobby.

Creak….

…Was that the sound of rusty door opening or something?

Creeeeaaaakkk…

I darted my eyes up to the ceiling at the right corner and, true enough, my doubt was answered when a square-shaped ceiling door I never knew existed made its appearance by dropping down slowly. The secret entry seemed to have been forgotten for a long time from the screeching sound which resounded painfully in my ears. The sound then stopped with a soft thud as the end of the lid made contact with the highest box. The container prevented the door from opening further, leaving the access to open only until 45 degrees angle.

I gulped down my fear and braved myself to take a step forward to get a better look of what was lying behind the ceiling. As what I had depictured in my mind the moment the hidden door opened, the other side was dark, as in pitch dark, and I couldn't spot any shed of light in there.

…Was it only my feeling or the temperature actually dropped all of a sudden?

Ah, this room had no heater. Yeah, that must be it.

Perhaps it was the mice's doing that the door opened. Yeah, it wasn't unusual to have mice living there since the room behind the ceiling door seemed to be neglected. Seriously, I needed to stop watching those horror movies my brother often brought back. Ah, I had to go back to the shop before Anna got worried and decided to check me out. I guessed I better closed the ceiling door too, just in case someone came here after me, spotted the opened ceiling door, and started asking what I did there. I needed a portable stair to reach the door though.

And luckily, the thing I was searching for was resting right against the wall just beside the door. I wasted no time grabbing the stair and putting it against the highest pile of boxes. Then I climbed each step carefully and reached out my hand to the door once I was close enough.

But I never expected to see a pair of red eyes would be staring down at me from the darkness behind the ceiling door.

Instinctively, my hand did the most logical act in that situation.

Banging the door close.

After that, I practically jumped down to the floor despite the height, quickly set the portable stair back to its place, and ran out of the storeroom.

The next moment when I was finally aware of my surroundings again, I was already inside my house, sitting on the couch, my shaking hands hugging my bag tightly. I could slightly remember approaching Anna, grabbing my bag, and bidding everyone goodbye before running back home.

But what was more important…

What the heck was that? The mysterious pair of red eyes really caught me off guard. They looked like the eyes of a wild animal, staring at me sharply even just for a brief moment before I closed the access. It gave me the creeps.

"Mikan? You're home?"

I raised my head at the intruding familiar voice. I must have been thinking about the bizarre incident so deeply I didn't hear the front door open.

"Brother?" I called, rising from the couch.

On the cue, a familiar figure stepped into the middle room where I was now. His usually neat brown hair was now messy, his blazer was slung over his shoulder, and his other hand was carrying a black office bag. Even though he was tired, he halted on his way and smiled at me. "I'm home."

I couldn't help but return his smile. "Welcome home."

Mikami Sakura, my brother, was the exact clone of my late father, Izumi Sakura—well, his features and his over protectiveness were—while I was the copy of my late mother, Yuka Sakura, with a little hint of my father in my features, like my nose and my lips. I also got his stubbornness, which was a good asset whenever I wanted to fight for what I believed was right and needed to do. Sometimes, I did use it for selfish things though, but they often didn't end well.

"How's your day?" My brother trotted to my direction and dumped his blazer and bag on the couch.

"It's nice. The owner of the shop and the employees are so kind to me," I replied, grinning at him.

"It's good then. Mine's tough," he said as he stretched his arms up. I thought I heard a few faint cracking sounds when he did it.

"Are you feeling cold? You didn't bring your coat today," I asked, glancing at the blazer and coat at the edge of the couch.

He laughed. "Ah, well, that's because I woke up late today that I hurriedly went to the office and forgot to bring my coat."

"You also didn't have breakfast."

"I had lunch."

"Take care of yourself, will you? Mom and Dad will be worried if something happens to you." I jutted my lower lip. "I'll also get worried." He was the only family I had. I didn't want to lose him.

"I will," he reassured, patting my head gently. "What's for dinner?"

I shrugged nonchalantly. "Nothing? I also just came back."

He gave a gleeful laugh and then undid his tie and the first button of his shirt. "Okay, since I went home early today—"

"It's already 7.30 pm."

"—I'm going to cook something for both of us," he finished as if I had never interrupted him and made his way to the kitchen. I followed him. Once we set our feet in the kitchen, he strolled to the refrigerator and started rummaging through the raw ingredients stored inside. "What would you like to eat?"

"Omelet."

"Omelet it is," he sang and took out the pan from the wall cupboard.

While my brother made the omelets, I prepared the table and took out plates and cutlery. Occasionally, I would make an amused sound when he threw a half-done omelet into the air and caught it back easily with the pan. After that, using his other hand which was occupied with a spatula, he would give me a victory sign and grin, and I would laugh.

It was true that our parents were no longer with us, but every day was still fun though it wasn't as merry as before. Brother tried to be at home as often as he could and, somehow, that made me worry whether he could get a girlfriend in the future or not if this kept going on.

Christmas was also approaching.

"Brother…"

"Mhm?" he hummed, placing the omelets on each plate and grabbing the ketchup bottle in the middle of the dining table.

"Have you found a girlfriend?" I just wanted to tease him when I asked him that. What I didn't anticipate was a huge amount of ketchup being spread on the omelet in the next moment. "Brother! You put too much ketchup!"

My brother quickly flipped the bottle and closed it. When I looked at his face, I saw a blush spread across his cheeks.

He faked a cough and regained his composure, though he couldn't wipe off the red color from his cheeks. Heh. "W-why are you asking that?" he asked, fidgeting in his seat.

"Well…" I took the fine omelet which didn't have too much ketchup on it, and cut the edge a bit with the spoon. "You're already twenty five and your status is still single. Besides, don't you get bored spending every special occasion like Valentine or Christmas only with your sister?"

"Says the seventeen year old girl who's still single herself," he retorted.

"I'm still seventeen." I chomped on my omelet and pointed my spoon at him. "You're already twenty five."

"Age has nothing to do with getting a girlfriend," he grumbled, savoring his own omelet and making a face after the first bite. "It's because of you that all I can taste is ketchup. You ruined my masterpiece."

I snorted. "Right. Masterpiece."

He gave out a light chortle. "Anyway, I'm already happy just being able to accompany you," he said sincerely. "In working days, I hardly can spend more than four hours with you since I often work overtime. Even on Saturdays or Sundays, it's either I'm too busy finishing the remaining work, or plainly tired to open my eyes or move my muscles." He gulped down the food in his mouth before continuing, "Imagine I did that to my girlfriend. She would break up with me in less than one month."

I held back a smile. "I start to suspect that you have a sister complex."

A grin etched on his face. "I love my sister more than anything."

"Gah! Stop that cheesy line! It gives me goosebumps!"

He only laughed harder. "Love you, Sis."

And that was how we spent the rest of the night, talking and teasing each other until we decided we were too exhausted to continue and sleeping was the most tempting thing to do. We bade each other goodnight before we walked into our separated bedrooms and hit the bed.

By then, I had completely forgotten about the strange incident on my first day working at Alice Gift shop.

-o-O-o-

December 3rd - Friday

I didn't dread today. No, I didn't.

I was just nervous, since this was the second day I worked here. Yeah. That was all.

But geez, my heart wouldn't stop beating at all, and all of this because I was reminded of what happened on my first day working here. The picture of the frightening pair of red eyes suddenly showed up in my head when I remembered I should go to Alice Gift shop after school. That was enough to ruin my good mood today.

I sighed and stared at the plain white door in front of me, contemplating whether I should make my presence known or sneakily skip today's shift. I was afraid the pair of crimson eyes was just an omen for me. But then again, I didn't check it thoroughly last time. They could be just shining red spheres that were being kept there for a long time, and I mistook them as eyes. Besides, the ceiling door was still a part of the storeroom.

Yeah. It could probably be just some kind of lamp for decoration.

A pair of eyes… hmph… haha, Mikan, you really had a great imagination!

"If you keep on standing here, you'll be freezing."

The voice startled me out of my thought. I quickly turned around, and put on a smile at the sight of a familiar blue haired girl. "Ah, good afternoon, Nobara."

"Good afternoon to you too." Nobara smiled back and reached for the doorknob. "I have been watching you since minutes ago. You look like you're in trouble. Why didn't you walk in?"

Now, what did I have to say to this?

"Um…" I twiddled with my thumbs. "I was thinking of… many things?" Nope. That didn't come out too convincing. "The teachers in my school gave me so much homework today, and I also got scolded for spacing out in the class. Hahahaha…" What a lame lie.

Nobara's smile never wavered, and somehow I felt embarrassed for making myself a fool in front of her by telling the stupid fib. "Don't feel so down. Everything will be okay eventually," she cheered while patting my head gently like an older sister. Well, she was indeed older than me by three years and now studying hard in college. I didn't know about her any more than that. I meant, we just met, like... four days ago, when I was accepted to work in the shop.

"Yeah," I said. "Thank you."

I followed Nobara into the shop and emitted a quiet sigh at the warmth which immediately fanned my cold skin. I would never have realized how cold it was outside had Nobara not shaken me out of my self-convincing thoughts. I could have continued doing a monologue in my head for God knew how long and become a snowman before I knew it.

The bell at the front door kept on chiming, notifying how crowded the shop was today. Oh well, it was Friday afternoon anyway.

I quickly made my way to the staff room, took off my coat and bag, crammed them into my temporary locker, and took out the orange pastel work apron. I put on the apron, and was about to walk out of the room when I caught a glimpse of the closed storage room from the corner of my eye.

Well, two days ago was absolutely terrifying, but I couldn't stop myself from doubting if what I had witnessed that day was because my imagination got the best of me.

A short peek wouldn't hurt.

With a determined sigh, I inched closer to the wooden door carefully and placed my right ear on the door.

…

Nope. I didn't hear anything.

I reached for the doorknob and turned the door open. Encouraging myself, I peeked inside, examining from one corner to another, yet I didn't spot anything suspicious.

Then my gaze landed on the ceiling door.

It was still hidden by the piles of boxes just like last time, and if I didn't find it two days ago, I wouldn't even know there was a door at such a place. I wondered if Anna knew about the existence of the ceiling door. She, after all, was the owner. Surely, she did a brief survey before she bought this place.

Maybe I could ask her later.

I closed the door to the storeroom quietly and walked to the shop in a better mood.

The bell was chiming again when I stepped out of the staff room. I curled my lips into a big smile at the sight of customers looking through the goods.

Now, it was time for me to work!

"Welcome to Alice Gift shop!"

-o-O-o-

"Thank you for purchasing! Come again!"

The last customer and her child waved at me, which I returned with a cheery smile. Once their figures disappeared from my view, I heaved a tired sigh and stretched my arms. Three hours of working was finally over. Today was busier than my first day, but it was fun, just like what I had expected.

"Thank you for the hard work, everyone," Anna said as she undid the strings of her apron.

Everyone did the same and started to chat about their day with the others while making their way to the staff room, some of them staying to tidy a few stuffs in the showcase. I was one of those who aimed for the staff room, but still picked up and sorted out disorganized items I came across on my way.

After putting the last turtle doll back into its place, I stumbled into the staff room and took off my work apron. Nonoko gave me a friendly pat on my shoulder, drawing my attention from the locker to her. "Good job," she said. "What do you think about the task? Is it tough?"

I shook my head. "It's enjoyable," I replied earnestly, taking my bag and coat out of the locker before shoving the work apron in. "Like you've said before, it feels great to see the satisfaction and smile on the customers' faces. It also makes me content knowing they're happy."

Nonoko nodded in agreement. "Your next shift is on Monday, am I right?"

I inclined my head briefly.

"Then I'll see you again on Monday." She grinned. "You can still visit us even though it's not your working shift. Perhaps you want to buy a special gift for your important someone," Nonoko teased, winking knowingly at me.

I could feel heat creeping up my cheeks and quickly dismissed the topic with a wave of hand. "Nah, I don't have any boyfriend, if that's what you think."

"I know. Sumire told me yesterday."

I laughed cheerlessly and started to wonder how much things Sumire had told them about me. I just wished she didn't reveal the embarrassing moments in my life.

"Anyway, I'll be waiting for your visit. It's fine if you only come to have a chat," Nonoko added and strolled to the door. It was then I realized she was still in her work apron.

"Aren't you going home yet?" I asked a bit loud, hoping she could hear it even with the noise of the other staffs chattering in the room.

Nonoko stopped in her tracks and turned to me. "Nope. I still have a few things to finish here, and Anna looks like she needed some help," she said and smiled. "Be safe on your journey home, okay?"

"Okay…"

After waving at me one last time, Nonoko was out of the room. Soon, the others followed her out. They had their coats and bags with them and it was enough to tell me that they were going home. I stared at the coat in my hands and began to put it on. It wasn't like there was anything more I could do here. Besides, I had to go home and prepare dinner.

"You know… I heard a story about the storage room over there…"

I stopped buttoning up my coat at the vague whisper from my left. Wakako, one of the permanent workers in this shop, was standing in front of her locker, her back facing me. She was currently conversing with another worker, whose name was Luna if I wasn't mistaken.

"Oh? What's that?" Luna asked curiously, leaning her head closer to Wakako.

"Well…" Wakako mumbled as she glanced around warily.

I quickly pried my gaze away from them and opened my locker, pretending I was looking for something. Not long after, Wakako continued speaking to her friend in a low voice I could barely listen.

"A… mysterious sound… ghosts… appear… snacks… gone…" was all I could catch, but it was enough for me to figure out what she was talking about.

There was a ghost in the storeroom.

The conclusion was enough to make me blanch.

While I was petrified in front of my locker, no longer searching for nonexistent things, the remaining staffs began to leave the room one by one. And by the time my brain worked again, I was neglected alone in the room. Just next to the storeroom which was rumored to be haunted by ghosts.

It was so NOT great!

"You're still here, Mikan?"

I turned away to the door and found Anna standing by the doorsill with a box in her hands. "Ah, yeah. Do you need help with that?" I pointed at the carton in her hold.

She huffed. "Actually, yes. Can you help me bring this to the storage—"

Oh, God.

"—there are still other things I have to settle in the shop." Anna lifted one of her knees up to hold the weight of the box. Seeing her in trouble, I couldn't pretend not to notice it and go home, not after she asked me for a little help.

"Uh… sure. Why not?"

I just wished I wouldn't encounter the 'intangible things'.

Once the box was transmigrated into my embrace, Anna gave me a grateful smile and went back to the shop again. And I… was standing unaccompanied, prolonging the immobility, before the fact that I still had to go to the storeroom to place the box slapped me back to reality. Since I had agreed to help Anna, I had to do this, willingly or unwillingly.

I brought this upon myself.

"…Stupid me…" I murmured wryly and directed my feet to the direction of the forbidden door.

Hahaha. Forbidden door. If only the rumor Wakako spoke of a few minutes ago was true, then the epithet would suit the room. And perhaps in the future, more people would call the storeroom by that name.

That was still not funny enough to distract my mind from the dread of meeting the ghosts… if any.

"Quit stalling," I chided myself. "Whether you like it or not, you can't go home before you put this box in the storage." Gulping the fear down my throat, I forced my trembling feet to move steadily. "Don't act like a child, Mikan. It's just a rumor. A rumor. Nothing will happen if you stay quiet and act like it doesn't exist." My voice shook. Not a good sign. "Besides, it might be just lamps, or decorations that can glow in the dark. Yeah." Agh! I really hated things like this!

After what seemed like hours, I finally found myself standing in front of the dim storeroom. It didn't look brighter than before. If any, it looked even darker and fearsome, if only there was no light from the staff room illuminating it.

No. I needed to stop thinking.

Let's just finish this and go home.

I inhaled deeply and strolled into the room, my eyes blindly choosing the most suitable spot to set the box and my feet just moving following my sight. I caught an empty spot in the corner in a brief glance, the spot where I put the box of books a few days ago, and wasted no time heading to the side. Afraid of the contents of the box in my hand, which could have been fragile stuffs, I bent my back a bit and dropped the carton carefully to the floor.

I almost heaved a sigh of relief when the box was delivered safely, if it wasn't because of the sound of door closing behind me and the sudden lack of light in the room.

"Oh damn…" I gasped, feeling the panic I had tried to repress emerge again. I hurriedly turned and ran for the door, for my life. Let it be dramatic or silly, but I couldn't risk being killed by lonely haunting ghosts, and I was sure as hell I didn't want to be a part of them.

But damn, the doorknob wouldn't budge no matter how hard I tried to turn it. Was this only an unlucky coincidence or…

"Look what we have here."

I froze.

Was that a male's voice? As far as I recalled, there was no boy working here—

"It seems like the criminal is busted."

I swallowed hardly before craning my head to the left. A squeak was the first thing that escaped my lips when I met a pair of red eyes glinting in the dim room. They were the same shape and wildness I saw two days ago. Pressing my back against the wall behind me was the second thing I did, before I slumped to the floor and breathed roughly from the rising trepidation.

I looked at him from head to feet and from feet to head, taking in this stranger's appearance. Okay, he had a handsome face with red eyes and raven hair adorning his features, but it only convinced me even more that he might be the rumored ghost. Most pretty faces I had seen in the movies usually ended up to be ghosts in the end. He wouldn't show how scary his face was until 'the right time'. And the uncommon color of his eyes, they were just a solid proof that he was a ghost. Absolutely.

Next, he had a pair of long legs, complete with boot-wrapped feet at the end, but that still didn't lessen my doubt of him. Most of ghosts in movies these days had feet, like Sadako. The last weird part was a pair of black cat ears on his head. His attire matched the color of the cat ears and his hair. Whether it was his shirt or pants, they were all black. It seemed a bit off for a ghost. The ghosts in the movies usually wore white.

Still, that didn't diminish the fact that he was a spirit. He showed up out of nowhere with the daunting appearance.

And the door was locked, which meant I was shut in this room together with him.

Now I felt like crying.

"Are you a ghost?" I mumbled, almost inaudibly from the dread.

He lifted one eyebrow and the corner of his lips tugged upward in a creepy smile. "You think?"

I couldn't think of any possible reason why he trapped me in this room and looked as if he would drag me away from this world when 'the right time' had arrived, even with that bored look on his face. Perhaps he was the famous Death who was said to take one's soul when his/her time arrived.

But what could happen to me in this tiny room, without any dangerous objects near me? Could Death obtain one's soul with force without having to wait for a certain occasion to trigger the fateful moment?

…

Oh.

Was he mad because I stared at him straight in the eye the other day? Was it a forbidden thing to do? Did he want my soul for that?

"I'm sorry I looked straight at you that day!" I blurted out and closed my eyes, fearing of what he would do to me soon. "I didn't know it was impudent! I beg you, Death—"

"What did you—"

"—please don't take my soul!" I bawled desperately, clutching my head in my hands. "Please spare me! If you take me now, my brother will be alone and I don't want to see him depressed because I leave this world ahead of him! Please—"

"Little girl—"

"—spare me this time! I didn't have any intention to disturb your peaceful sleep! I just had to place the box over there and nothing more!" I pointed to the direction where I thought I put the box.

"You…"

Feeling tears in my eyes threatening to fall, I sniffed and did the last attempt I could think of to get out of here. "I just want to go home!" I cried at last and hugged my knees in search of comfort.

Silence dawned upon us afterward and my faint sobs were the only sound echoing in the room. He didn't even make a movement to approach me and do what he had to do.

A few seconds later, there was a sigh.

"Why didn't you just say so?"

Eh?

I gasped and lifted my head to look at him, surprised by his answer. But instead of the boy, what I saw before me was the wall of my room. I blinked once, twice, before tilting my head in bafflement and observing my small room thoroughly. It was as neat as the time I left it this morning. The only thing changed was it was dark since the moonlight was the only illumination brightening the room through my window.

My head was pounding. My eyes were heavy. I let out a big yawn and came up with a short explanation for what had just happened to me earlier.

I was asleep and dreaming.

Yeah. That must be it. It was just a nightmare.

I laughed stupidly at myself for taking the nightmare seriously and did the only thing I needed to do.

Sleeping again.

I failed to recognize I still had my bag and coat on until morning approached.