When Minjae came in next morning before the opening hour, he entered the back room and found a ghostly figure still typing away on her laptop. He tilted his head to the side and waited in the door frame for her to notice him. Her eyes were half closed and at times it seemed her hands were not even touching the keyboard. He watched her thinking that maybe she had a rough night but if that was the case he would have been called in.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAn7cVMAcX
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"What happened to you?" He finally asked.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tkAG8VWY9
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Fei sighed heavily as she turned off the laptop. She placed her hands on her lap and pouted before her head hit the table.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGvZrrCNkv
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Minjae frowned and quickly checked if she hit herself hard enough for it to show.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGS3pvGV1p
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"I'm so tired," she mumbled loud enough for him to hear.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqdRCGkls3
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"But you don't have to sleep, noona. You do it just because you want the time to go faster." He whispered next to her head. She groaned in reply and glared at him from the corner of her eye.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7P1pBXInKk
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"Go open the library." She said wanting nothing but to go upstairs and forget what happened last night. His face was still haunting her and memories that she had pushed in the back of her mind were coming back at incredible speed.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPCdVD6O4Q
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcUVWEnIfp
Minjae puckered his lips annoyed that she was acting as if he didn't help her yesterday.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcA03AmdpJ9
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"Come out then. With Hikaru still in the warehouse somebody will have to stay at the counter during the day." He commented knowing she strongly disliked to interact with people.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMMKvyNBnO
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She groaned again but did get up and followed him into the staff room (or more like the space behind the counter, because it was a small square space). She noticed a list in one of the cabinets and sighed heavily.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OlhwPrgV6
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"Can you go and bring these books up? We need to make some errands."517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHhiPPlt23
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Minjae took the list and nodded. A piercing scream was heard suddenly and both Minjae and Fei sighed.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGJPaJrkWE
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"Check on Hikaru too. We don't need people to hear him."517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLNZyrzEr1
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Minjae nodded and left for the warehouse. The entry was on the ground floor, in the very back. Most people were not going that way since trending books were in the front part of the library.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKhK7u9jd9
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoSl1NFQEj
It was an average sized building but once inside, it seemed bigger and wider than on the outside. As a customer, the first thing you could see was the counter and whoever was working at the moment. If you looked towards your left, there was nothing but a wall and a coffee machine free for the people who wanted to study or read there. The first thing you saw when you looked to the right was the long bar table where young people could sit and charge their laptop or phone. It could accommodate about four people on each side plus the two heads. After you passed the table, you came across three sofas arranged around a high table where was the glass case containing an artefact: a very old arrow. Everywhere else were bookshelves. If you were sitting on the sofa parallel to the bar table, you could see directly down the corridor to the warehouse. The stairs were placed parallel to the counter. Upstairs were mostly books and small reading spaces. For the most part, it was a personal and comfortable library where background music was rarely played. They had a computer in the staff space but it was more used for business than anything else. Instead, upstairs there was a gramophone that was admired by everyone who passed it by. It was still working and Fei would every so often put on records for her pleasure. Customers liked it because it made them feel like they were transported back in time. The name of the library was not chosen by Fei or Minjae but by the person who handed them the library.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAhyfiZnHO
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgKHGzMtx3
It was half past ten and Fei just stood there thinking about her life. Hikaru's whimpers were still audible to her sensitive ears but she could also hear others trying to calm him down. He died rather painfully, burned by the sun and then drowned into the cold sea. And yet being alive was more painful than dying.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvD0VPhb1k4
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Fei shuddered at the current of cold air coming from the front door. They had an early customer and she had to get a grip on her mental state. In order to get encourage herself she slapped her cheeks lightly and turned to face her customer.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZvnI26KIf
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"Good morning, I'm here for my book."517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw45NxgCHGx
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Fei froze. She stared at him with wide eyes and couldn't believe her bad luck.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOZIilw5nR
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"Excuse me, but did you hear me?" He asked watching this peculiar woman.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqJ65bvdn0
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"Yes, I did." The answer came immediately, like it was automatic.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkD27YNtnM
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"Oh, ok, good. I came by last night too, remember? I was the one knocking on the door."517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZ5EbjAOJJ
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"Yes, I remember." She couldn't help but answer even if the question was rhetorical. "What book do you want? You have to give me the title and in case we don't have it or is not for sale, then-"517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRryctcgEnZ
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"You have it, I bought it online. Heroes by Stephen Fry."517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNesvQlpcm
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Fei closed her eyes for a second, not believing how this guy with the same face like the one that broke her heart was buying a book about Greek mythology.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzfgXuDfr5
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"Are you interested in mythology?" She asked making small talk.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02noif5amM
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"Yes, I am and I needed this book last night, it was an emergency." He added attacking her a bit for running from his although he literally begged for her help. "Don't you remember? I told you exactly why I was so desperate."517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxQ1DTc2i0
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"I don't remember and sincerely I don't care. We were closed." She said coldly while processing his order. "I'll give you the book shortly," she mumbled and turned to the desk of books. It had to be there, somewhere.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylAa3EiA6h
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The young man stood there, waiting for his purchase. He could have had the book sent to his address but he was curious to see the library. Now that he was there and he was taking a better look, it was rather empty and silent.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFXsupkIVO
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"Are you the only worker here?"517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfKfiJX9xm
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"No."517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoD92va7iTn
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"Why is it so silent?"517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqki8nTyX8
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"Because there aren't any clients in."517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgRne1FoeA
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"What about some music?"517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkYmYzWwk8
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"Some clients can't concentrate so we decided to stop playing any music. Whoever wants to, can listen to it on their devices."517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD57cXL8Ate
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"Who is 'we'?" He asked growing wittier. She found his book and brought it to the counter with a poker face.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW37pYdUi2n
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxr2lseBG31
"Me and my associate." She replied placing the book in a paper bag and handing it to him. "Any more questions?" She asked sarcastically but he seemed to actually think about it.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgvQ82asM7
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"Are we really the only people in the library right now? It feels so empty."517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4dbodhVcn
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"No, we are not."517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCi8Gxc9wb
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"Hmm,"517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gVPE3Fkf9
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They stood there in awkwardness as he kept looking around the ground floor.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0LpCyRV4q
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"What's that?" He asked finally noticing the artefact.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHp9kwNLNa
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"An arrow." She answered not even glancing where he pointed at.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡff8oKPORty
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He actually walked towards the glass cover, his eyes wandering everywhere on the way. He gaped at how old and beautiful the ceiling was and how the smell of books made him feel like he was back in his room at his parents' house. His smile was huge and his eyes were sparkling. He was feeling like a curious little kid who found a new playground. When his eyes fell on the arrow, the first thing he saw was the red around the tip.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMKmpbVCEe
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"That's blood." A new male voice surprised the customer.
The curious customer looked up and saw a handsome man whose dark eyes reminded him of two olives. He was dressed in all black and seemed to have struggled somewhere with a lot of dust because the particles reached the customer's nose.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADmfrTgGwo
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"Oh...fascinating." The customer whispered almost gluing his face to the glass.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiXWTltxOp
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Minjae stared at him, watched every little movement and expression on his face and finally spoke.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5xdSmf7eI
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"I believe we have already met once before."517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6ctw6on8Q
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The customer raised his head and carefully analysed his face. His eyes widened when he remembered the same olive eyes glaring at him less than a day ago.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8r5FVz71xZ
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"Right! Wow, what a small world! You're the guy from yesterday at the wedding hall."517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSLrTrw6Zm
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"Kim Minjae," he introduced himself with a bow. "I am one of the associates here at Ethos."517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡec9GHOKpJM
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Minjae waited for a bit but nothing else followed. He saw that the customer kept returning his attention to the arrow and he had to cough twice to regain his attention.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHYAsL177g
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"And you are?"517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEThpe2fBUu
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLVaNoIdmn
"Dohyun. Lee Dohyun. What was this arrow used for if those are traces of blood?"517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMiTxYPDYV
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQ22LB0nVE
"It-" Minjae stopped and looked at Fei. She was standing in front of the coffee machine, watching them. Her focus was mainly on Dohyun. Those clear eyes of hers were so sad no matter how hard she was trying to hide it. From afar she looked hopeless. "It was used to break someone's heart. It pierced right through it, killing her." Minjae explained, his eyes locked on Fei.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDFD1rlRHu
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN88RKgZrke
"That's tragic," Dohyun replied feeling a bit bad for asking now that he found out. His phone vibrated making him pick up. "Oh hyung, I'm on my way. Yes, yes, I got it. I'm coming." He said before he hung up. "Thanks. I'll come back another time for the full story." He said and quickly left. He smiled at Fei as he passed her and it was better that he didn't see her reaction.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8u3IoavIe1
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But Minjae did. He placed the books he brought on the high table and came next to her.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HOA6Mddmp
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"I hate that expression. You used to wear it a lot in the past and I hoped you won't once you forgot about him." He started in a firm voice.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWrm5zKg39
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"How can I ever forget him? He is the only man I've ever loved."517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoGHlSBFYX
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"And he killed you, remember? He watched as you gave your last breath and then threw you into the woods to animals." Minjae continued growing more serious and loud. "You should hate him then pity him and eventually forget him."517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNR78N9FBNV
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She looked into his eyes and saw herself in the reflection. She could still feel the pain as the arrow pierced deep into her heart.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauKOdObM3H
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"Morniiiing! Am I interrupting something?"517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeEMO7ztkG
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The raven stepped back and Fei lowered her gaze.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYkjrnuMR7
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"Even if you were you wouldn't care so what is it?" Fei asked the newcomer.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIlIwmG6O3
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"There is this little problem I have with a reaper. He went rogue." Death himself informed the two.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB17g8A07wh
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Well, Death was too much said. He wasn't death, he couldn't be a state, but he was the head of the death department.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5G5UgFrnZ
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"I sent you her ID so take a good look at her face. I mainly want you to find her and I'll take care of the rest."517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofpQT7WlQ6
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOYe34j2NV
Both Fei's and Minjae's phones beeped at the same time. Seeing the female reaper on the screen with her number and status made Minjae cringe. It wasn't every day that supernatural beings had the will or courage to desert their post. The Underworld was losing power now that the youth believed in different beings and ideas.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdKs9ng3HC
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"Why did she go rogue?" Minjae asked looking at the Head of the Department.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKLi3PKQNz
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kSWdBUrSQ
"For a man." He answered before he scoffed loudly. "She has been part of my team for centuries and never once did she make a mistake. And now, after all this time, she chose to...fall in love. Ha!" He exclaimed surprising the two librarians. "Love is not a word for us. We're dead! We exist in order to be a bridge between the dead and the living and we can't be seen by humans. That's just like going against your country! That rascal..."517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhYlCKb1gQ
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Fei stared at the picture, the poker face of a pretty girl reminding her of how she used to be. She couldn't help chuckle at all the bad things she did and said when she was young and had the energy to fight.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNSjm1uv7T
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"What will happen to her after she is caught?" She asked placing her phone in her back pocket of her jeans and going to grab her trench coat.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnpWJFPw9U
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Death rubbed his cheek as he thought about it.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUrMUaIwUI
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"She will be erased from existence, of course. All data about her even working for us will be deleted and her workload will be split between other reapers." He answered with nonchalance.
