Page 52 of Gumiho Kiss
“False alarm, sir.Please carry on.”
The policeman’s eyes narrowed in recognition.“Wait, aren’t you?—”
Chin Sun raced out of sight, then climbed atop one of the pavilions to get a better view.She counted fifteen masked intruders, five household servants, and two police officers, plus Mr.Park and Min Joon.The servants were still trying to put out the fire, but the flames had spread to the building’s rafters.The house’s residents must have already fled.
Unless ...
Chin Sun sprinted across the rooftop tiles and jumped off the far side.She landed with a thud, pain shooting through her ankles as they absorbed the impact.When she reached the nearest servant, a thin ahjussi urging the others to move faster, she barked, “Where are your masters?”
The servant turned to her, expression shifting from despair to tremulous hope.“Gwishin, is that you?I’m so glad you’re here.They—they couldn’t get out in time.Please help!”He gestured to the burning building helplessly.
Chin Sun bit back a curse.The blaze was too great now; the pavilion wouldn’t last much longer.Anyone inside was probably unconscious from inhaling all the smoke—if not already dead.She tore around to the back and forced her way through the window, avoiding the flames as best she could.
She was in a woman’s quarters.Two men and a woman lay in a heap on the floor, their clothes singed but still intact.Chin Sun grabbed the nearest person and dragged her toward the window.Her muscles strained from the effort, sweat pouring down her back, but she wasn’t about to give up.Not when innocent lives were at stake.
Smoke filled her mouth and stung her eyes.Through blurry vision, she shoved the woman through to the other side, then turned to gather the next victim.
She was coughing so much she could barely concentrate on anything but her growing need for air, her surroundings becoming hazier by the second.Licks of flame fell from the ceiling, sending sparks across the floor.Chin Sun pushed one man out and was about to grab the second, but he opened his eyes and stood up with a sneer.
Chin Sun yelped and jumped back as his face shifted from that of a young man to an ahjussi.
“Don’t think I’m that easy to get rid of,” he growled.“There are a million ways to dispose of a gumiho.”
The goblin looked up at the ceiling, which looked on the verge of collapsing, and shoved Chin Sun to the floor.She tried to get up, but he tipped the large clothing chest nearby onto her leg, pinning her down.
She cried out, trying desperately to pull free, but all her strength had left her.She could barely see anything beyond vague shapes, and her mind was getting fuzzy.
The goblin’s dark laugh penetrated her swimming thoughts, and she thought she glimpsed a crow disappearing out the open window.
As Chin Sun lay immobile, fighting to stay awake and come up with some way out of this, a large shadow appeared before her.The grim reaper?Had he returned because of the goblin?Or was he here to take her to the land of spirits?
Chin Sun reached forward eagerly, hoping he’d show mercy since she’d died to save the lives of others.The shadow pulled the clothing chest off her leg like the weight was nothing.Then he wrapped her in his arms and carried her out as her eyes closed.A peaceful feeling came over her, along with a wonderful, woody scent.
Chapter18
The Rescuer
Hazy images filled Chin Sun’s vision as she passed in and out of consciousness.Which were dreams and which were real, she couldn’t tell.Aunt was there, encouraging her in her needlework, scolding her when she lost her patience.Sang Mi and Sang Ook, too, laughing as they played in the courtyard.Uncle’s face beaming with pride as her writing improved.
She tried to hold on to those moments, those happy times when life was simple, peaceful.That was the reality she wanted, the only one that mattered.Except?—
Another face crossed her mind, one that tugged at her heart in an entirely different way.It was hard to make out at first; all she caught were fleeting glimpses before darkness swallowed it up again.A distinguished jawline.Thin lips.A faint scar over an eyebrow.Piercing eyes.
A face she didn’t want to leave this world without seeing one more time.
Chin Sun came to with a gasp, the faces in her mind fading.She found herself at the back of a dark alley, clay huts on either side of her.A ginkgo tree stood proudly at her back, its fan-shaped leaves stretching toward the stars.She could also hear a faint trickling of water; the river must be close by.
She took in her surroundings in an instant, her focus soon latching on to the alley’s other occupant, who was staring at her with crossed arms and a strange, unreadable expression.
Chin Sun’s hand went to her face, relief billowing over her when she found her mask still in place.But the movement made her wince, drawing her attention to her hands.The cloth coverings she usually wore on them were gone, exposing tender red flesh beneath.She could feel several bruises forming on her back and legs, but nothing appeared to be broken.
“How are you feeling?”rumbled Mr.Park’s voice.
A shiver went through her, though she couldn’t tell if it was from fear or ...something else.“I—I’m fine,” she stuttered in the deepest voice she could manage.She rose to her feet and glanced around again.“How did I get here?”
Mr.Park unfolded his arms and strode toward her.“I brought you.”His tone was very matter-of-fact, giving away nothing.
“You?Then ...was that you in the fire?”
