11

Abby didn't make a single sound when Zoey explained what had happened in the many hours the two mankaes had disappeared. He only looked— everyone's faces, especially Baby's— should have seen it earlier, Abby knew how Baby was with his impulse.Mira had killed Abby, and he should have stayed dead.

But Baby sacrificed his soul to reform him when he shouldn't have. You never mess with the living and dead, and he knew that Baby knew that. Although, demons reformed, unable to die a second time.

Romance and Mystery were sitting next to Baby, running a hand through his hair and holding his hand, respectively. Jinu was devastated listening to the story, Rumi rubbing his back.

Hell, even Mira was quiet— glasses in hand, staring into the bunch of signed paperwork on the coffee table.

They all blamed him, didn't they? If only Abby could've prevented Romance's death by taking all the hits instead. The Saja Boys could have easily moved on as a 4-member group.

Zoey cleared her throat as she wrapped up the story— everyone had kept their promise of not panicking, so there was still silence spread over the area. She went to the kitchen to get water.

On cue, Baby was exhausted and dirty, so he left inside to bathe and get some needed sleep. Mystery followed, probably to go listen if he needed an ear to rant to.

Rumi left from overstimulation. She thought better in silence. Mira pretended nothing happened, going back to signing papers.

Jinu caught Abby's eye— that translucent shine he would become for a second. The effects of being a sword-bound demon were weird. Nothing made sense right now: Abby had just learned that the new honmoon took its sweet time to form, which gave Baby enough time to reach Gwi-ma.

Which meant he was still alive. Growing and raging, or maybe diminished? Abby hoped it was the second. The first reminded him of the thrashes he got for minor mistakes. What would have Gwi-ma done to him if Abby had gone back to the Underworld after losing to Huntr/x? He didn't want to imagine it.

And the worst thing right now? Abby couldn't open his goddamn mouth. It was glued shut when he went to Jinu, stuck when he saw Zoey over the counter, unable to form words when he saw Romance shed a tear while lying in bed. It always went like this when he wanted to speak up.

Abby's heart jumped when he heard the glass door slide open, swatting smoke out of the way like it would make a difference. He glances back, seeing Mira walk up to him.

"Hey." She leans over the safety guard beside him, glancing at the cigar but not saying anything about it.

Abby tried to nonchalantly blow the rest of the smoke out. "Sup." Mira shook her head, looking out at the Seoul skyline.

There was something in her expression— how it was hardened more than usual, like she was trying to stop her jaw from quivering. The skyline reflected in her gold-framed glasses.

Abby wanted to speak but couldn't.

"Hey, um," Mira looked over, interlinking her own hands, "I just wanna... apologise for slicing you to pieces."

Abby blinked in response. Fuck. He nodded, taking another drag from genetics. Heat rose in his face as he noticed Mira looking at him, expecting a verbal answer.

Instead, he stared off into the night sky.

Mira raised an eyebrow, wondering what was wrong with the ooga booga muscle man, "You good? 'Cause I don't feel the urge to rip my ears off, and that's concerning me."

Abby stifled a chuckle, taking a drag out of the cigar and offering it to her. She eyed it weirdly and declined.

Well shit, she's not leaving him alone.

"I..." His voice came as he released the smoke from his mouth, dry and hoarse before clearing it, "Don't smoke often anymore, this is.. an exception."

"Didn't answer my question, but okay." Mira replied, "I've vaped for a short while, so I get where you're coming from."

Abby frowned, looking at her with a 'seriously, you?' expression.

Mira rolled her eyes, leaning her face on her hand, "Long time ago. I was a dumb teenager and I thought it was cool. Luckily I never got addicted, but I have a spare somewhere in my drawers."

"Preserve your vocals, you're a hunter."

"That's rich from you," Mira clapped back, "You haven't even accepted my apology yet."

So that's what she wanted? Abby went silent again.

Mira noticed again, looking at him, "Hey, are you actually okay?" She put a hand on his shoulder and there was a slight twitch in the sparkle of his eye— the same that had been there when Zoey was telling them the story, when she apologised to him.

"You're like.. selectively mute.." She mumbled, scratching her head. She stepped back, glancing down like the balcony flooring had wisdom.

It was silent again as Abby got a few more puffs of his cigar before tossing it off the ledge. "What's that?"

"Oh, uh," Mira took her chance to speak before he went radio silent again, "It's like being anxious to speak in certain situations, usually not by choice— fear, trauma, all that stuff..."

Abby's throat tightened. Mira pursed her lips, "Sorry, it's not a big deal. I'll– I'll go, it's late. Goodnight,"

Abby nodded her off and went back to staring at the city. He looked at the patterns on his arms which had now deepened, barely visible. They weren't iridescent like Rumi's, but he was happy they were gone.

Abby couldn't accept Baby sacrificing his soul for his, and he wouldn't. He'd get that soul back even if he had to rip it out from Gwi ma's fucking hands. Because Baby deserved his soul, more than Abby did.

" Hello,  Kwan, " A familiar voice whispered, purple lighting shooting around him, rolling over the floor, "I know you need me, and we will meet soon.  Wait patiently,  my follower. "

Kwan— Abby shuddered as his patterns flashed purple. He realised it was getting a little chilly, and it was late anyway. He should get to bed.

Author's note: heyyyy everyone!!! Omg I can't believe my last update was on Sept 17, so much stuff has happened since then 😭

Literally got dumped by the guy I had my first kiss with, got 1.5/10 in chemistry 😭, and it's almost 2026! Just wanted to thank each and every one of my readers because you guys made my summer vacation so fun and reignited my passion for writing (although I do cringe at the early chapters of this book and write a bunch of bs)

May all of you have great New Year!