Chapter 10
4204words
Chaerin gripped the knife tightly in her trembling hand, her breath shallow, her footsteps soft against the floor. She moved slowly, carefully, toward Leni’s room.
When she reached the door, she hesitated for a moment. It was the first time Chaerin had ever entered Leni’s room.
Her eyes wandered across the walls—frames filled with pictures of them together. Smiling. Laughing. Moments of warmth now frozen in time.
Chaerin stared at them blankly, as if those memories belonged to someone else.
“They don’t matter,” she whispered under her breath, her face cold and empty.
She turned her gaze toward the bed, where Leni was sleeping peacefully.
Chaerin’s hand shook as she raised the knife.
“Leni…” her voice cracked. “I’m sorry. But I have to do this… otherwise, I’ll never find peace.”
Her breath quickened—then she screamed, raising the knife high above her head.
Before the blade could fall—
“Chaerin! Stop!”
Mr. Paul burst into the room, grabbing her wrist and forcing the knife away. The metal clattered to the floor. He slapped Chaerin hard across the face.
The sound woke Leni, who sat up abruptly, eyes wide with confusion.
“Sister…?” Leni whispered. Then she saw the knife. “Sister… what are you doing?”
Mr. Paul’s voice thundered, trembling with rage. “See, Leni?! She came here to kill you! You would be dead if I hadn’t stopped her!”
Tears welled up in Leni’s eyes. “Sister… why?”
Chaerin’s expression twisted with pain. “Because… if I kill you… I’ll finally be at peace…”
Her voice was hollow—almost not her own.
Mr. Paul’s face darkened. He grabbed Chaerin by the collar and slammed her against the wall.
“You psychopath!” he shouted. “How could you try to kill the one person who saved you!?”
Chaerin’s eyes filled with rage and despair. “No one saved me! I saved myself!”
The words cut through the air like glass.
Leni’s heart sank. The sister she knew—the gentle, broken, kind-hearted Chaerin—was gone. What stood before her was something else… something corrupted.
Then, suddenly, a cold wind swept through the room, blowing open the window. Papers fluttered everywhere, and a book from Leni’s shelf fell open on the floor.
Its pages turned on their own—stopping at a photo of a White
Chaerin’s body froze. Her hand trembled violently, and the knife slipped from her grip, clanging onto the floor.
She fell to her knees, shaking. “What… what have I done?” Her voice broke. “Leni… what have I done?!”
Leni was crying silently now, hands over her mouth.
Mr. Paul stepped back, his anger fading into disbelief.
Chaerin looked up at them, her eyes wild, full of guilt and horror.
“Kill me!” she screamed. “Please… just kill me! I don’t want to live anymore!”
Her voice echoed painfully through the house.
Leni took a step forward, trembling. “Sister…”
Chaerin looked up, tears streaming down her face.
Leni’s lips quivered, but she smiled through her tears. “I forgive you.”
Chaerin stared at her in disbelief. “Why… why would you forgive me?”
Leni’s voice cracked. “Because you’re still my sister.”
The silence that followed was unbearable. Then Chaerin, choking on her guilt, whispered,
“Leni… don’t come looking for me. I’m a curse to everyone around me.”
And before anyone could stop her, Chaerin turned and ran—out of the house, into the night.
Mr. Paul tried to follow, but Leni caught his arm.
“Sir,” she said softly through her tears, “Let her go.”
That night, Leni sat on her bed, crying until her voice broke.
She held the framed photo of the two of them—smiling, happy—and whispered,
“Sister… come back to me…”
Then Chaerin ran into the streets, crying, her heart heavy with guilt.
The rain began to pour, washing the tears from her face as thunder roared above. Her legs trembled as she stumbled through a narrow alley, falling to the wet ground and by hitting on the rock she was unconciousness The cold rain soaked her completely, — broken , lost in the storm.
Meanwhile, back at the store, Mr. Paul sighed deeply, worry written all over his face.
Mr. Paul: “We shouldn’t have let her go… Why is she like this?”
Then, as if something struck his memory, his eyes widened.
Mr. Paul: “Wait, Leni… Don’t tell me Chaerin was the one who hurt you earlier.”
Leni didn’t respond. She just lowered her head, tears silently falling down her cheeks.
Mr. Paul: “That girl… damn it.” He exhaled sharply. “Alright, honey, go to sleep. Tomorrow’s Christmas — we have to open the shop early.”
He left the room quietly, closing the door behind him.
Leni sat by the window, the soft glow of the streetlights reflecting in her eyes. The rain outside whispered against the glass as she murmured to herself,
Leni: “Sister… I wish I was strong enough to help you.”
Her gaze shifted to the framed photo of the two of them — smiling, happy, a moment frozen in better times. A tear rolled down her cheek as she whispered,
Leni: “I’m sorry… The One may be with you now.”
The next morning, the world outside felt brighter than usual.
The streets were alive with laughter and chatter — children running around with tiny Santa hats, families carrying boxes wrapped in shiny paper, and the scent of cinnamon and baked cookies floating through the cold December air. Stores were crowded with people shopping for last-minute gifts, their arms full, their hearts light. Red and gold decorations hung from every corner, and the faint melody of Christmas carols echoed from a nearby café. Even the sky seemed softer, painted with pale hues of winter sunlight. For a moment, everything looked perfect — peaceful, warm, and full of life. But beneath all that joy, something quiet stirred — a feeling that not all Christmas lights can hide.
Shibuya — Christmas Morning
Asumi woke up to the sound of laughter echoing through her house. Her parents were decorating the Christmas tree, soft carols playing in the background. The golden light of morning fell through the window, glimmering on the ornaments.
Asumi stretched and smiled.
“Merry Christmas, Mother! Merry Christmas, Father!”
Her parents turned to her, eyes warm with joy.
“Merry Christmas to our lovely daughter, Asumi!”
It was a heartwarming moment — the kind that felt like a gentle hug.
Asumi suddenly gasped.
“Ah! I have to wish everyone!”
She hurried to her room, grabbed her phone, and began calling her friends one by one, her cheerful voice lighting up every call. Finally, she dialed her teacher.
“Merry Christmas, Teacher Wae!” said Asumi in her usual bright tone.
Teacher Wae laughed softly on the other end.
“Merry Christmas, Asumi. I hope you don’t give me any trouble this year — I’ll pray for that.”
“Teacher! I’m not like that!” Asumi pouted. “You should come over to my house, please!”
Teacher Wae chuckled.
“Alright, Asumi. Maybe later. Merry Christmas — see you soon.”
The call ended. Asumi smiled.
“Now, only one left… my best friend, Chaerin!”
She dialed Chaerin’s number excitedly.
Meanwhile, at Mr. Paul’s store, Leni was quietly eating breakfast. The faint ringtone from Chaerin’s room caught her attention.
“What’s that sound? Is that… a phone?”
She slowly stood up and followed the sound until she found
Chaerin’s phone lying on the table. The screen flashed —
Asumi calling. Leni hesitated, then gently picked it up.
“Hello? Who is this?” asked Asumi, confused.
“I’m Leni… Chaerin’s friend. She left her phone here… in my
“In your house? What do you mean — where did she go?”
Leni’s voice began to tremble. Tears welled in her eyes.
“Sister Asumi…”
“Hey… why are you crying? What happened? Where’s Chaerin?”
Leni couldn’t hold it anymore. She told Asumi everything — every painful detail of what happened to Chaerin, the darkness that consumed her, her disappearance… but she kept one truth hidden: the part about Chaerin hurting her mother.
When Asumi heard it all, her heart shattered. Her eyes widened, and tears streamed down her face. She pressed her hand against her mouth, unable to breathe.
Without saying a word, she hung up. The silence that followed was heavier than any scream.
Back at the store, Leni held the phone close to her chest.
“Sister… wherever you are, please stay safe. Please… for me.”
Her tears fell as she looked out the window, the soft snow beginning to fall outside.
Asumi sat on her bed, trembling.
“Chaerin… Chaerin… if only I knew back then…” she whispered.
“If I’d stayed by your side when I first met you, maybe you wouldn’t have gone through such a horrible life.”
Her voice cracked as she wiped her tears.
“I’m sorry, Chaerin. I’m so sorry.”
She buried her face into her hands, crying as Christmas lights flickered outside — bright, but hollow.
At Shibuya.
Asumi came out of her room, her face pale, eyes red from crying. Her parents noticed immediately.
“Dear, what happened? Why are you crying?” her father asked softly, setting down the decorations.
Asumi wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and said,
“Dad... I want to meet Chaerin. I want to go to Seattle.”
Her father frowned. “Are you out of your mind? No, I can’t allow that. You’ll stay here with us. It’s Christmas, Asumi—I don’t want to scold you today.” He pulled out some cash and handed it to her. “Here. Take this and buy whatever you want, sweetheart.”
Asumi didn’t argue. She just nodded, her lips trembling.
“Okay… Dad.”
At Leni’s Store.
Mr. Paul entered Chaerin’s room and saw Leni sitting on the bed, crying silently. Her tears dropped onto the floor one by one.
Mr. Paul’s face softened. He walked up to her and gently wrapped his arms around her. “Oh, Leni… don’t cry,” he said in a trembling voice. “After we close the shop today, we’ll go find Chaerin and bring her back. Alright?”
Leni looked up at him—his eyes weren’t filled with anger this time, but with pity and warmth. She forced a faint smile through her tears. “Okay, Sir.”
“Now go on,” he said, patting her head gently. “Get dressed. It’s almost time to open the shop.”
Leni nodded and wiped her tears. “Yes, Sir.”
At Asumi’s house.
Still unable to sit still, Asumi picked up her phone and called Chaerin’s parents. After a few rings, her mother answered.
“Asumi! Merry Christmas to you and your family,” Chaerin’s mother said, her tone polite but tired.
“Merry Christmas to you too, ma’am,” Asumi replied softly.
“Um… how is Chaerin doing?”
There was a pause on the other side. Then her mother sighed—a long, heavy sigh that made Asumi’s heart tighten.
“Asumi…” she said quietly, “we kicked Chaerin out of the house.”
Asumi froze. “What? Why?”
Her mother’s voice trembled as she continued, “She tried to kill me, Asumi. She’s not the same girl you knew. Ever since… everything came out—those videos, that scandal—she’s changed. The school expelled her. Everyone knows. I don’t even recognize my own daughter anymore.”
Tears streamed down Asumi’s face. Her throat closed, but she managed to whisper, “No… no, that can’t be true.”
Chaerin’s mother’s voice grew cold and distant. “The old Chaerin is gone, Asumi. She’s become something else. Evil. If someday you find her… please, don’t go near her.”
The line went dead.
Asumi stood frozen, the phone slipping from her trembling hands. Tears poured down her cheeks.
“Chaerin…” she whispered in disbelief, her voice breaking. “What happened to you? How… how could you become like this?”
Her body collapsed onto the bed as she sobbed uncontrollably.
The bright sounds of Christmas laughter outside faded, leaving only the sound of her broken heart.
Teacher Wae come to Asumi house, Asumi parents greeted her
"Merry Christmas teacher, please come in" then Teacher Wae said " Where is Asumi ?" Asumi mother said "She is in her room"
Teacher Wae going towards at Asumi’s room, carrying a small wrapped gift in her hands.
Asumi’s parents greeted her warmly at the door.
Asumi’s Mother: “Merry Christmas, teacher. Please, come in.”
Teacher Wae: “Thank you. Where’s Asumi?”
Asumi’s Mother: “She’s in her room.”
Teacher Wae: “Alright. I brought something for her — I’ll give it to her myself.”
Teacher Wae walked slowly down the hallway. The faint sound of muffled sobbing reached her ears.
She gently pushed the door open and said with a soft smile,
Teacher Wae: “Hey… dumb Asumi…”
But the smile disappeared the moment she saw Asumi sitting on the floor, crying uncontrollably.
Teacher Wae: (rushing to her) “Asumi, are you okay? What happened? Why are you crying?”
Without saying a word, Asumi threw her arms around her teacher and sobbed into her shoulder.
Asumi: “Teacher… Teacher… Chaerin… Chaerinnn…”
Teacher Wae: “Chaerin? What about her?”
Through broken words and trembling hands, Asumi told everything — about Chaerin’s downfall, how she changed, how people called her evil, and how everyone had turned against her.
When Teacher Wae heard it, her eyes filled with tears. Her voice trembled as she spoke.
Teacher Wae: “It’s okay, Asumi… Don’t cry, dear. Pray for her. Wherever she is, may she stay safe…”
But deep inside, Teacher Wae’s heart ached.
In her classroom, Chaerin had always been the quiet one — gentle, polite, and full of light.
She couldn’t believe that the same girl had fallen into such darkness.
Teacher Wae placed her hand softly on Asumi’s head.
Asumi: (whispering) “Teacher… I hope we can save her…”
Teacher Wae didn’t respond. She just looked out the window — the Christmas lights reflecting in her tears — and silently prayed for the girl she once knew.
At Seattle, Lenis Store
the counter crowded with customers buying cookies and cakes, the air sweet with sugar and cinnamon. Mr. Paul and Leni moved like a small, practiced team, passing plates, wrapping boxes, smiling at greetings.
Mr. Paul called over the bustle, “I think we’re going to make a lot of money today.”
Leni’s face lit up. “Yes, sir… and don’t forget — after this, we’re going to bring Chaerin back.”
The words filled her with joy; she tightened a box with hands that trembled a little. “Yes, sir. I will bring my sister back.”
A few minutes later Chaerin phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and, careful with the pastries in her hands, answered without saying “hello.” The voice on the line knew her instantly.
“Who are you?” Erika’s tone slipped into the call like ice.
Leni’s throat went dry. “Why did you call her?” she managed.
Erika’s laugh was a flat blade. “So — Leni. It’s you. Feeling good? After I get Chaerin back, I’ll make sure you’re dead.”
Leni’s heartbeat stuttered. “So it was you who told Chaerin to kill me?”
Erika laughed again, cruel and casual. “See, dear Leni — actually, I really hate you. I’ll use Chaerin to kill you. I hate you so much. Now step aside. Give the phone to Chaerin.”
Something hot and dangerous rose in Leni’s chest. “She’s not here. Last night she ran away from my house. And you — you freak, devil — stop torturing my sister.”
Erika’s voice hissed: “Or what? You going to kill me?”
Leni steadied herself and answered quietly, with a hard little courage: “No. As everyone says — if people die, their sin dies with them too.”
The line went dead. Erika had hung up.
Mr. Paul glanced up as Leni lowered the phone. “Leni, come here.”
“Yes, sir. I’m coming. Sorry about that.”
Across town, something shifted: Erika felt an edge of panic for the first time. If Chaerin died, Erika whispered to herself, she would die with her — their fates tangled by the same poison.
She frantically hunted for Chaerin, calling everyone she could think of. No one knew where Chaerin was.
Her voice, for once, broke with a raw, unfamiliar fear. “You stupid brat Chaerin — where the hell did you go?”
Chaerin woke up in a narrow alley, rain falling over her face. Her body ached, her hands were covered in blood, and beside her lay a shattered mirror. When she looked into the broken shards, her reflection was fragmented — distorted, hollow.
Then, memories hit her all at once — her mother’s scream, Leni’s tears, Erika’s whispers.
She grabbed her head and cried out in agony.
“Why... why did I do all this? Why, Leni? Why did you forgive a trash person like me?”
Her voice cracked under the weight of guilt. Her shaking hand reached for one of the sharp mirror pieces. And Chaerin begin to quote scripture:
“If my right hand causes me to sin… then cut it off.”
She looked at her trembling hand.
“It’s this hand… this cursed hand that tried to kill Leni and Mother.”
Then, in a single motion of madness and repentance, she slashed her arm — once, twice, again — until the pain silenced her scream.
Blood mixed with the rain. Her eyes blurred, but she didn’t stop.
“And if my right eye causes me to sin… tear it out!”
Her voice was almost gone — trembling, broken.
“These eyes saw evil… a sin I was supposed to fight.”
She stabbed her eye with the glass shard, collapsing in unbearable pain.
The rain poured heavier — like the sky was crying with her.
Breathing weakly, she whispered,
“Be damned, sin… be damned, Erika. I’ll kill you… I’ll end this in the garden.”
Stumbling, bleeding, half-blind, Chaerin walked through the deserted streets until she reached her school. The gates were closed, but she climbed over, dragging her wounded body through the corridors, leaving a trail of red on the white tiles.
She reached the rooftop. The wind howled, thunder flashed behind her.
Standing at the edge, she whispered,
“It’s beautiful… from here.
If only we’d never met in the garden, maybe things would be different.
Leni… Mother… it’s better if I was never born. Goodbye mother, father, Leni, Mr paul , Asumi and Teacher Wae..thank you every each one of you i love you all,
My sin will die with me.
Humans out there… I once played with sin, and it played me in return. Don’t let it tempt you — for sin brings nothing but a curse that never fades. Remember
“The wages of sin… is death.”
And with a faint smile — half sorrow, half peace — Chaerin stepped forward and fell. At that same moment...
In Chaerin’s old room, far away, a White Lily — the one Leni had once gifted her — stood on the window sill.
A gust of wind blew the curtains open.
The flower trembled… then fell, shattering its vase on the floor.
The petals scattered across the cold tiles — white fading into red droplets from the broken glass.
Erika wandered through the dark, rain-soaked streets, her steps unsteady. Her eyes were wide with rage and confusion.
“What’s happening to me…? What did you do, Chaerin?” she screamed into the night.
“You died, you bastard! Hypocrite! Coward! Weak and pathetic!”
Her voice echoed through the alleyways like a curse. But suddenly, as if the air itself swallowed her, Erika’s body began to fade.
Her anger turned into horror — and within seconds, Erika vanished into thin air.
The street fell silent. Erika was gone too.
Meanwhile, at Mr. Paul’s store, Leni and Mr. Paul were arranging Christmas gifts on the counter when a customer suddenly shouted,
“Hey, turn up the news!”
On the small television hanging in the corner of the shop, the anchor’s voice trembled:
“Breaking News: a young girl has committed suicide tonight. The suspect has not yet been identified…”
Then, the screen changed — showing a photo of the victim.
It was Chaerin.
The world around Leni froze.
Everyone in the store gasped — even Chaerin’s parents, who were there at that moment, cried out in disbelief.
Leni fell to her knees, tears pouring down her face.
“Sister… I’m sorry… I couldn’t save you…”
Mr. Paul rushed to her, holding her shoulders.
“Don’t cry, Leni. Please, stay strong.”
But Leni kept sobbing, her voice breaking apart.
“Sister… Sister…”
The store was filled with nothing but the sound of grief.
At Shibuya
When Chaerin’s parents called Asumi and told her the news, her phone slipped from her trembling hands.
She stared blankly for a moment, unable to breathe. Then she screamed.
“Chaerin! My only friend! Why did you have to do this?”
Her cry echoed through the empty street.
That night became one of the saddest nights for everyone who loved Chaerin.
The Funeral
The next day, at Chaerin’s burial, the sky was gray and quiet.
People gathered around the grave — tears, flowers, and prayers filling the air.
Asumi knelt beside the coffin, her hands trembling.
“Chaerin, my friend… I really love you. If you ever get another life, please be friends with me again. You didn’t deserve this.”
Teacher Wae wiped her eyes.
“She was a good friend and a wonderful student of mine.”
After the final prayer, Teacher Wae gently placed a hand on Asumi’s shoulder.
“Asumi, let’s go.”
Asumi nodded weakly and stood up.
As they walked out of the graveyard, Asumi noticed a girl standing near the gate — pale, quiet, unfamiliar.
“I’ve never seen her before,” Asumi thought.
She approached her.
“Who are you?”
The girl looked at her with soft, tearful eyes.
“I’m a friend of Sister Chaerin.”
Asumi’s eyes widened.
“So… it was you on the phone?”
“Yes, Sister,” Leni replied softly.
Teacher Wae looked between them.
“Asumi, who is this girl?”
“She’s one of Chaerin’s friends,” Asumi answered.
Teacher Wae nodded gently.
Leni wiped her tears and said quietly,
“I loved Sister Chaerin. She was the only one who ever protected me from bullies.”
Asumi looked at her with sadness.
“But as you said… Chaerin tried to kill you. Then why did you forgive her?”
Leni smiled faintly through her tears.
“Because I chose forgiveness over revenge. Because The One taught us to forgive others.”
Asumi was stunned by her words — her heart softened, her eyes full of sorrow.
“Come on,” Asumi said after a long silence. “We’re going to Chaerin’s house. Do you want to come with us?”
“Yes, Sister,” Leni replied.
At Chaerin’s House
When they arrived, Chaerin’s parents were sitting on the sofa, weeping.
Her father looked up with tired eyes.
“Who is this girl?”
Asumi bowed slightly.
“She’s Leni, Chaerin’s friend. I wanted to show her Chaerin’s room.”
Her parents exchanged a glance, then nodded quietly.
When Leni stepped inside, her eyes filled with tears.
The room was bright, filled with colors, sketches, and Bible verses pinned to the walls.
She touched the photographs — pictures of her and Chaerin smiling together, laughing under the sun.
“Sister…” Leni whispered. “I will be with you.”
Asumi covered her mouth, crying silently beside her.
Then, Leni noticed something by the window.
She walked closer and saw a White Lily vase on the sill.
A gust of wind blew through the room — and the Lily fell, shattering the glass vase on the floor.
Leni gasped softly.
“Did Sister Chaerin like white lilies?” she asked.
Asumi nodded.
“Yes. It was given by her father. Because she was such a good girl back in Shibuya. The White Lily means purity and innocence.”
Asumi bent down, picked up the flower gently, and handed it to Leni.
“Leni, take this Lily with you. It’s your sister’s flower — take good care of it.”
Leni held it close to her heart.
“Yes, Sister.”
They both looked up at the soft, clouded sky.
The light fell through the window, touching the broken vase and scattered petals.
And in one voice, they whispered,
“We hope… in Heaven… we meet again.”
After weeks of investigation, the truth finally came out.
The victim who had taken her own life was identified as Chaerin Lee, a student of Seattle High School.
But what shocked everyone even more — was what followed.
The government announced the permanent shutdown of Seattle High after uncovering a terrifying pattern:
it wasn’t only Chaerin who had died.
Over 350 students had mysteriously lost their lives right after Christmas night.
The town fell into panic.
Rumors began to spread — whispers about a girl named Erika, who was said to have haunted the school.
Some claimed she could control minds.
Others said she was never human at all.
It was said that students who are friends with Erika all are died.
When investigators questioned the teachers and staff, they were met with confusion.
None of them could recall ever having a student named Erika Sullivan.
No records.
No photographs.
Later, it was confirmed — Erika Sullivan never existed.
Students who passed by the old building late at night said they could still hear footsteps in the empty halls —
a faint voice echoing from the classrooms…
“Chaerin… where are you…?”
The school remains abandoned to this day,
its gates sealed,
its windows shattered,
and its name forever etched in tragedy.
Some say on Christmas Eve,
if you walk past the ruins of Seattle High,
you’ll hear the laughter of a girl —
and a soft whisper carried by the wind:
