Chapter 6: A Hundred Years of Waiting

“Not good! A living man eating a ghost—it’s a soul-devouring fiend!” The medium’s paper figures were shredded by the blood mist, and she fell, badly hurt. The paper figures scattered like leaves, torn apart by the wind. The medium groaned, clutching her side. I wanted to help, but all I could see was Tyler’s face.

“Ty!” I lost control, my vision turning blood-red, blood tears falling and splattering on the ground. The tears burned, sizzling where they landed. The world narrowed to a single point—Travis.

“Travis, give me back Ty!” I clawed at Travis. Hatred filled my heart; I could no longer hear the medium and old man shouting. Kill him! Kill him! Even if I become a vengeful ghost and can’t reincarnate! Only hatred remained. My attacks grew fiercer. I must kill him! Avenge Ty and myself!

My hair came undone, black strands growing wildly, wrapping Travis tightly. I reached into his mouth and tore out his soul. Travis’s soul reached desperately for his limp body. I tore off his arm; screams filled my ears as his body collapsed. Travis screamed in pain, but it was nothing compared to what Ty and I suffered. I wanted to tear him apart, but the medium’s yellow paper froze me. Travis escaped. But before he got far, lightning trapped him in a thunder circle. He ran around, crying out that he was wrong and would change.

Heaven’s punishment finally arrived. The thunder circle glowed, trapping him like a bug in a jar. He screamed, begging, but no one listened.

“Those who walk crooked paths go to the thirteenth blood pool of hell.”

It was the old man’s voice. A spell entered the circle—"pop"—the sound echoed. The circle stopped, and only a red mist remained, soon blown away. Travis was gone, but my Ty was gone forever.

I fell to my knees, the weight of loss crushing me. The silence was deafening. My heart felt hollow.

“Girl, you were too hasty.”

The old man sighed and shook his head. He looked at me with pity, but I didn’t care. I’d do it all again.

“I don’t regret it.”

I couldn’t just watch Tyler die, waiting for so-called heaven’s punishment. My voice was steady, my resolve unshaken. Love and vengeance, bound together.

“Fine, I’ll do another good deed.”

The old man moved his fingers, and a light flew from Tyler’s body into my palm. A flash of red, and a new red cord connected me and the light. The cord glowed, warm and bright. I held it close, hope blooming in my chest.

“This is a remnant of Tyler’s soul. If you keep it safe, when your resentment fades after a hundred years, you can reincarnate together! You two will have another lifetime of love.”

The old man waved, smiling as always. His smile was gentle, almost teasing. I felt a spark of hope, small but real.

“You two… pick good parents next time! I’ll hold a ritual for you to help you move on.”

The medium added. She winked, her voice softer than before. I almost smiled.

“I think you have a bright future—maybe I’ll take you as a disciple.” The old man looked at the medium like a true immortal. But before she could smile, he added, “Die early, reincarnate early—see you on the other side!”

“Geez, bad luck!” The medium quickly stopped smiling, looking at me and Tyler, ignoring the old man. She made a face, muttering under her breath. I couldn’t help but laugh—a small, broken sound.

I looked at the light in my palm, bowed deeply to the old man, then to the medium. I whispered a thank you, my voice lost on the wind. The old man tipped his hat, the medium nodded.

Back at Tyler’s home, his parents sat in the living room, anxiously waiting, probably for Travis. When they saw me, their faces froze, holding each other, trembling. I must have looked too much like a vengeful spirit. Their fear was almost satisfying, but it didn’t erase the pain.

“I know you were involved in my death. Retribution will come.”

I released Tyler’s remnant soul, hoping they’d say goodbye, but he just stayed in my palm, unmoving. Since that was the case, I took Tyler and left. The house felt emptier than ever as I turned away, the sound of their sobs fading behind me.

“Ty! Travis!”

Behind me came their wailing—they knew, they knew both sons were dead. No chance of revival. Their grief echoed through the night, a reminder that every action has a cost. I felt a flicker of pity, but it faded fast.

Epilogue

A hundred years is a long time for people, but not hard for me. At first, I often showed my vengeful spirit face, scaring bad people into kneeling and swearing to reform. Lately, maybe it’s just my imagination, but there seem to be fewer bad people and bad things. I feel a bit comforted. A small piece of peace.

I wandered the world, sometimes drifting through city streets, sometimes sitting in quiet cemeteries, watching the world change. I liked to think I made a difference, even if only a little. Sometimes, I almost felt alive again.

Once my resentment is gone, I can reincarnate. I look at the remnant soul in my palm, suddenly worried—can this little light reincarnate with me? With an incomplete soul, what will it become? I have to ask the old man.

I cradled the light, whispering to it, hoping Tyler could hear me. I waited, year after year, for the old man to return. I missed him, in a strange way.

The last time I saw him was forty years ago, when the medium was dying and he was waiting outside to catch her soul as a disciple. But the underworld lord got there first, saying Mrs. Black was needed for the next world. The medium took the job, and the old man kept wandering the world helping souls and looking for a disciple. I watched from the shadows as the old man and Mrs. Black argued, their voices fading into laughter. Even in death, some things never change.

“Sir, can Ty reincarnate like this?”

“Just wait, the time is near.”

His answer was always the same, mysterious and vague. I learned to be patient. I waited. I hoped.

“Wait for what?”

“Mariah!”

Behind me came a familiar voice. I turned—it was Ty, the complete Ty! He looked just as I remembered—eyes bright, smile wide. My heart soared.

“The time has come, go now!”

The old man waved his sleeve, and suddenly we were at the bridge to the afterlife. After drinking the medium’s special soup, she said that in our next life we would be peaceful and loving, together till old age.

We stepped onto the bridge, hand in hand, ready to begin again. The world behind us faded, but hope shone ahead—bright, unbreakable, and ours.