Doctor Demon

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....

Junho examined Jina's apartment carefully. He used an EMF meter and to his shock, it was going berserk. The device in his hand was beeping loudly, indicating that there were ghostly activities going on in there.

Hobin and Jina stood outside the apartment, waiting for him. Jina did not see any more ghosts but she was still scared. She was never attacked like that before and she was shaken up by the experience. As soon as she calmed down, she called her grandfather to investigate.

He finally came out of the house.

"You're right," he confirmed. "A major spirit activity took place there. My EMF went crazy even though all the electrical appliances were switched off. I purified the house and put on several charms on the walls. They won't be able to enter for a while."

"But why did this happen?" Hobin asked. "Is it normal for ghosts to attack someone like this? Or was it a Poltergeist again?"

"It wasn't a Poltergeist," Jina said in a shaky tone. "They were different ghosts. And no. Ghosts don't attack like this in a group. The ones who attack people are very territorial. They stick to one area and haunt that place but these ghosts seem to be random."

"This is making no sense," Junho admitted. "I've been in the business for almost fifty years and I've never seen ghosts act like this. They can be destructive but for them to attack randomly in a group…"

He glanced back at the empty apartment. The unsettling feeling would not go away and he was sure that Jina should not stay alone that night.

"You should come with me for the time being," he told his granddaughter. "Staying here might not be safe. The charms will wear out soon and they'll attack again."

Jina was about to protest but Hobin cut through. "He's right," Hobin said. "You should go and live with your brothers for a few days. Besides, I broke the door. It'll take time to fix this. If you're seeing lots of ghosts here, then there's a chance that they're targeting you."

Truthfully, he was not keen on letting her go and preferred to keep her around him all the time. But danger was lurking around her and he could not risk keeping her there. Moreover, she was safe with her grandfather and brothers who would be able to help her out.

"Fine," Jina agreed reluctantly. "I'll...I'll go and live with the twins for a while."

She glanced at Hobin who was impassive. Doesn't he care that I'm leaving? She wondered.

"I'll go and get packed," she said out loud. Jina went back in to pack, leaving the men outside. Junho turned to Hobin and was studying him carefully. Hobin was a little uncomfortable with the scrutiny.

"What is it?" he asked.

"This...this attack was strange," Junho began. "But I also can't help thinking that maybe there's a connection which I'm missing here."

"What do you mean?" 

Hobin was now a little afraid. What sort of connection were they missing?

"For the past few days, there has been a rise in ghostly activities," Junho revealed. "I've been summoned by at least twenty people to get rid of ghosts and possible poltergeists in their houses. Moreover, the case of the cursed painting is also curious. The trail for the painting had gone cold for a while but it reappeared and also changed its style of killing."

"So?"

"Hobin, I can't help but feel that maybe, all this is connected to you as well," Junho revealed. "Are you hiding something from us?"

"You already know about my powers and even confirmed that I am a human and nothing more," Hobin said curtly. "What else can I hide?"

Junho was now worried. He was not accusing Hobin but the boy's origins were also a mystery. 

"The fact that you fainted during the exorcism is a red flag," Junho said bluntly. "I didn't say anything at that time but I think that the ritual affected you in some way. Don't you think it's time that you start questioning your origins? Who were your parents? What were they doing and the mystery of your birth? Aren't you curious at all?"

Before Hobin could reply, Jina came out of the apartment, ready to leave.

"I'll only stay there for two days," Jina told her grandfather. "And then I'll return. I don't wanna stay there for too long."

Junho nodded and led his granddaughter towards his car. Hobin watched them leave with a heavy heart but Jina turned around.

"Thanks," she said. "For today."

"Take care, Tinkerbell," he smiled. "I'll see you at work."

Jina smiled back and slowly walked away, leaving him alone. Hobin stood there for a while before going back to his own apartment. Closing the door behind him, he slumped against the door and sighed.

Even though she would be back within a few days, he was already missing her. He had grown accustomed to her presence and now that she was not around, everything felt empty for him. 

"Miyoo was right," he realized. "I am whipped."

Hobin walked towards his bed and lay on it, staring at the ceiling. Junho's words were also echoing in his head. He would be lying if he claimed that he had not thought whether Junho's exorcism of Rachel's poltergeist had affected him that day. In fact, Hobin had been avoiding thinking about that.

The ritual must have triggered his memories of his past life but Shinho had told him that there was more. Did he have another past life which was affecting him and the people around him?

Hobin touched his neck and took out a thin, silver chain which was hidden under his shirt. It was a star shaped pendant which his birth mother had left him. His adoptive mother, Doyoung, found it tied to his neck after she brought him from the hospital. There was apparently a note attached to it for Doyoung to not lose this pendant and also to make sure that Hobin wore it all the time.

It was the only thing his mother had left him.At first he used to think of it as a symbol of her love so that he remembered her but now, he felt that it was something more. Did his mother know that he was going to need this? What was this thing anyway?

"I have to find out," he decided.

He was so engrossed in his thoughts, that he did not notice something fluttering outside his window. A small, beautiful blue butterfly was hovering on the windowsill. It floated in the air, watching him before flying away.