“Candles?”

“Yup.”

“Cinnamon?”

“Got it.”

“Paint with brush?”

“Right here.”

“Feathers?”

“That too.”

“Broom?”

“Right there.”

“The other spices?”

“Got them.”

“Well, that looks alright.”

We went together through the list I gave Daesung and everything was crossed out. He even gave me back the rest of the sum I lent him. He’s either extremely naive or extremely stupid not to buy himself something with the rest of the money and lie to my face the prices had gone up from last time I checked. Guess luck decided to put on those shiny golden shoes of hers and take a stroll down my destiny’s lane in order to cheer up any inhabitants along the way. If only I could get that joy too and not what the people around me gave with their fake smiles and winks after I helped them with their case.

I loathe humanity. Daesung on the other hand seemed to love being in the world shaped after an ’s sadistic imagination. 

I grabbed the cinnamon and ground it to a fine powder. The strong fragrance made Daesung sneeze. He retreated away from my concoction, with his arms wrapped around the broom. For some reason, spirits love cinnamon. I mixed it with water and soaked the long black feathers inside the bowl. I could feel Daesung’s gaze penetrating my head, eager to ask a question.

“Grandma, what are you doing?”

And I was right. Ignoring the kid, I grabbed the paintbrush and dipped it in red paint. I didn’t feel that good to trace a circle on the beautiful wooden floor, but there was no choice. I framed the circle with a square and proceeded to scribble something that may have looked like an alien language to the kid. He put his face near mine and I could see from the corner of my eyes his dumbfounded expression.

“Are you a witch or something?” I pushed him away before his foot would ruin my work and spread the wet red paint.

“Whatever you say.” Our hands connected while I pointed towards the candles “Give it to me.”

He stretched after them as I let go of him. It’s funny how warm his skin felt under my cold touch. My fingers took a hold of the white candle and placed it inside the circle. I lit the candle with the lighter Daesung handed me without being asked. The kid was proving to be quite a puppy, one that deserved to be spanked from time to time.

I mentally paused.

Not that kind of spank! I shook my head in exasperation.

I told Daesung to get out of the room. He reluctantly followed my command and closed the door behind him. I picked one of the feathers and let it burn as the ghostly figure forced its way back to me. It was like watching a show on a broken TV. The image was cut in several places.

“Tell me... are you from here or from somewhere else?”