After laying Mingi on the grass and shooing passersby away, Ara started to concoct her next plan. There she stood, drenched and deep in thought when Ghost Boy came jogging back from scanning the perimeter. "They're gone, the commotion you caused gave them a distraction to escape," he said.

Ara nodded, "That's fine, they're not our focus right now," and waved her hand nonchalantly, the plan was almost complete. 

Ghost Bow frowned, "But they literally were about to kill Mingi-"

"Shh," she told him as soon as she noticed Mingi was starting to stir, coughing up any lake water he had swallowed. Dutifully, Ghost Boy hopped over to the nearby bench, anticipating Ara's next move. His puppy eyes held curiousity, wondering if she knew exactly what she was doing.  Ara honestly wanted an answer to that too. 

She just hoped things would go as planned, even if it had been all thought out literally a minute ago. 

When he finally came back to his senses, Ara cleared to announce her presence. "Ahem."

Alarmed, Mingi heaved up from the grass clumsily. He had been shaken by that near escape, though that didn't take away the fact he looked like a madman in his messy state and she almost felt bad. Almost though, is never enough.

"Hold up! Stand right there!" Mingi held up his plastic knife in Ara's direction. His Chinese takeaway had toppled into the lake, the noodles floating in a sad, gloopy mess. He, on the other hand was soaking wet as well, his Burberry pants drenched in polluted city water. His hair was ruined, but Ara could care less.

She rolled her eyes, "A simple 'thanks' would have been nice," she remarked while she took off her own jacket, a dupe of the very brand Mingi was wearing.

"Y-you pushed me into the water! I could've drowned!" he sputtered.

"I saved your life!"

"By almost killing me!" his grip on the plastic eating utensil wavered, as did his gaze. "How did you know those guys were stalking me? Were you stalking me?"

Ara had to snort, "Oh please, I'm psychic. I can see into the future and predict your impending doom, you peasant," and as she said that she saw Mingi's expression turn paler than before. Perhaps this wasn't the best time for sarcasm. She cleared , "Ahem, actually no I can't. But the psychic part is legit, it's just limited. The point is, those two dudes were about to kill you because you know too much."

This time Mingi frowned, and unknowingly he had lowered the knife. "Know what? That Yunho is missing and no one will tell me about my best friend?"

"No, you panini head," she replied exasperratedly. She side-glanced at Ghost Boy, who had been witnessing the entire thing like a movie. He almost seemed bemused at how ridiculous they all looked. Really? You put me through that all for this guy?

Ghost Boy shrugged, and damn did she hate it when he did that.

Ara turned back to Mingi, "Because you, a six feet tall tree, was walking around the Grimm Market, a notoriously uninviting place infested with dark magicians and witch covens, asking about things you shouldn't," she took a step closer towards him as she pronounced every word. Mingi still seemed weary.

"Which were?" asked Mingi defensively.

"About breaking a curse they so obviously were responsible for!" she snapped. "Why do you think there's so many fishy things about this situation? Think about it, Jeong Yunho is missing and his body is nowhere to be found. Yet Chairman Jeong can't seem to recall much of this and is delirious in his bed, why? 'Cause he's under some kind of spell too or whatever that wife of his has done. And then you have these mysterious men who could shoot daggers out their cloaks, murdering you if it weren't for me. Do you understand?"

She glanced at Ghost Boy again, did I sound like a genius or what?

Ghost boy gave her a thumbs up. Her grandiose storytelling seemed convincing to her at least.

Mingi seemed to be doing quite well at soaking all that info, Ara was impressed. "F-fine, with all that doesn't seem to make much sense, your explanation somehow does make sense," he said meekly. "But how can I trust you? You said you can see ghosts, fair enough. I saw you at the Jeong mansion today, what if you're in on this all and just tricking me into thinking you're one of the good guys?"

She knew it wasn't the best time, but Ara burst into laughter. "First of all, I'm no good guy either because two, I will shamelessly admit that yes, I am doing all this for the money. But it doesn't make me an evil witch who would curse someone or agree to be a part of it, that's just wrong."

Confidently walking towards Mingi, Ara tied her hair back with the wet scrunchie around her wrist, a habit she developed when she wanted to look like she had everything planned out only this was all improv. "Plus, I'm a decent human being and that's why I saved you. Teaming up with you will give me an advantage, and you'll have a better lead to solving your friend's disappearance because you got me. So, do we have a deal?" she held out her hand.

It took him time to consider, but eventually Mingi complied. "Fine, we have a deal."

Ghost boy suddenly leaped from the bench he had been sitting on, cheering supportively like a golden retriever puppy. Honestly, he seemed more alive and animated than most living humans, thought Ara. And with the knowledge that he could physically touch people made everything so much more intriguing.She had to give credit where it was due.

She sighed, "And I do have to tell you that if it weren't for Ghost Boy who is with us right now, you wouldn't be alive either. I'd tell you his name for you to thank him, but apparently he doesn't remember either so we're working on that."

"Kim Ara thanking moi? Have I fallen into an alternate dimension?" Ghost Boy exclaimed dramatically as he nudged her side. Ara had come to realize, when you were aware that a ghost was present, you could almost feel them being there just as much as the living. She couldn't have been imagining it, her heart somehow soaring with glee knowing that he was also happy the plan had worked. The reason as to why she felt the way she felt now was still unclear, but that mystery was for another time.

"Shut up, Casper," she muttered, but playfully. She looked back at Mingi, whose mouth was gaping slightly open.

"Y-you're talking to a ghost? Now?" he looked around frantically.

Simultaneously, Ara and Ghost Boy shook their heads. "Oh boy here we go again..."

"Where are you taking me?" Ara, once again, asked Yunho as he took her by the hand when they crossed the street the next morning. It was rare for him to not return to Jocelyn's overnight, the last time he did so was when he got lost at the zoo and didn't know how to apparate back. But the late-night talk Mingi and Ara had after the entire assasination fiasco was too good to pass on. 

Plus, Ara asked him to stay by her for moral support. 

After drying themselves, Ara insisted on going to Aurora Square to discuss where she said was safer, and was murderer-proof. And so they had brainstormed over hot cups of chocolate, Mingi trying hard to not ogle at the many outlandish customers in the pub, girls with twigs in their hair or bluish skin serving drinks and danced (he had avoided eye contact especially with the blue-skinned ones, Yunho wondered why too), werewolf packs in the middle of watching a football match, some vampire teens blowing creatively shaped clouds from the coloured vape they smoked; a lot of mundane things performed by non-mundane folk, no one had even batted an eyelash at them as always. 

Then they drew the conclusion that Mingi was to meet up with them the following morning, at Ara's address. 

But now they were off to Jocelyn's, at least Yunho knew where he was going. Ara's focus had went back to him, and the first thing that came to his mind was: Jocelyn needed to meet her. The closer they were to the house, the more excited Yunho felt. Ara continued to protest for answers as she stumbled after him, "Ghost Boy, it'd be really helpful if I knew where the hell we were going?"

Briefly he turned around, crinkling into a smile. "My home."

Ara opened to ask more questions, but decided against it when she realised they had arrived. Infront of a dark green doorway behind a small garden of rosebushes and shrewberries. Ara stood awkwardly in front of the entrance. "This is where you live? With who? Who else knows about you?" she bombarded him with questions. 

Yunho held up his hands, "It's okay, I'll explain everything once we go in. It's just," he seemed unsure of how to express it and gave up. "You have to meet her."

"Meet who?"

He took her by her wrist as an answer until Ara was at the door. Unsure of what to do, she knocked on the door. It was a brief push, and it creaked open - a bit too easily. Ara had a bad feeling about it, she looked towards her ghost. "Is she at home?" 

But Yunho definitely felt not right. "Jocelyn?" he spoke. "Jocelyn?" A bit louder and there was no answer. 

Instinctively, Ara pushed the door open and let out a gasp. The living room was in shambles, as if an explosion had happened from within. Yunho had to take time to register the sight, a panicked feeling creeping into his soul. The cabinets that stored Jocelyn's fine china, cutlery, pots and pans - destroyed with its wood scattered on the rugged floor. "J-Jocelyn?" he echoed, voice hollow in fear. 

His room.

But before he could think further, a scream came from his left. Ara. She had opened the door to his bedroom, and was now struggling to close it - because whatever behind the door was gnawing its talons to break apart the hinges. He rushed towards her, and now both were trying to block it out. He was sure he could hear snarling and snapping as well. "What type of dog do you have?" Ara yelled in spite of it all, hands gripping onto the knob. 

"We don't even have a dog!"

That seemed to answer her question, and they were losing their grip. "Ara, you need to let go." 

Ara stared at him as if he had gone mad. "Are you crazy?"

"Let go then run, I'll deal with it," he tried to say calmly. "I'm already a ghost, how much worse can it be?"

"No you crazy-"

The door came off, and they both scrambled away before the unknown creature could attack them. It all happened in a flash, Yunho braced himself - and the creature was shot down, a bloody arrow sticking out of its neck. It really looked like a dog, from an experiment gone wrong. 

Yunho breathed heavily, and saw a familiar figure standing near the doorway. Ara beat him to it. 

"Jongho?"