Ming Soo opened his eyes slowly. His vision was a haze of swirling shadows, his limbs heavy like they were bound by chains. He tried to move, but pain pulsed through him, reminding him that something wasn't right. He lay on the cold ground, definitely not the comfort of his bed. Confused, he blinked rapidly, trying to clear the fog in his mind.
"Wait... wasn't someone carrying me?" he thought.
Then, he felt it.
A shift in the air.
The atmosphere darkened. It was suffocating. The very air seemed to press down on him like a hand around his neck. He felt it before he saw it, a presence. Ancient. Terrifying. It watched him. He couldn't see where it was yet, but his instincts screamed. If he moved, he would die.
Fear rooted him to the ground.
With all the strength he could muster, he raised his eyes. That's when he realized, this wasn't his house. Not even close.
The sky above was black and thick with fog, yet something glowed faintly. It wasn't sunlight, not really. It felt wrong, corrupted. The world around him pulsed like it was alive, breathing. And in the distance, towering above everything, was a shadowy figure seated upon a throne made of writhing black matter.
It stared at him.
Eyes like dying stars, cold and empty. The being didn't move. It didn't need to. Its presence alone was enough to strangle the soul.
"You are quite bold," it finally spoke, its voice smooth and calm, but it carried an unspoken threat, like velvet wrapped around a dagger. "I like you."
Ming Soo couldn't blink. Couldn't breathe. He was frozen in time, staring into a void that stared back.
"Kid," it said again, leaning forward just slightly. "What do you want? Money? Girls? Fame? Or…"
A slow, wide smile stretched across its face—far too wide. It could swallow the world with that smile. And it meant every word.
In that moment, Ming Soo was convinced: he was in hell.
Something wet and cold clung to his skin. He looked down.
A black, fluid-like substance rippled beneath him, reacting to his movement like it was sentient. It crawled over him, alive.
"Revenge?"
That one word hit him like a thunderclap.
His heart pounded.
His vision cleared for a moment.
The devil chuckled. It noticed.
"I see. A loss, then." The figure tilted its head. "Someone close to you? Someone… irreplaceable?"
Its eyes narrowed. "Your mother?"
Ming Soo clenched his jaw, his teeth grinding together. His fists trembled.
"I thought so."
The entity leaned forward. "Someone took her life… So, you want revenge?"
It sat upright, voice calm yet filled with power.
"I can help you. I can give you the strength you need. Power to burn cities, to crush those who wronged you. And… I'll ask for nothing in return."
Ming Soo stood.
The fear was still there, but it was buried beneath something stronger. Resolve.
He brushed the liquid off and squared his shoulders. His voice was steady, clear:
"I see."
He met the creature's gaze head-on.
"I'm sorry to disappoint, but I'm not interested."
He bowed, low and respectful.
"I will not disgrace myself by making a deal with a devil."
The smile vanished.
"A devil?" it echoed, its tone suddenly ice.
The air snapped.
"Let me go home," Ming Soo said, his voice trembling now. "Please."
The creature leaned on one hand, face darkening.
"Kid," it said, slowly. "I'm sorry if I made it sound like I was asking."
Its smile returned, wide and wild.
"I'm commanding you."
"What...?" Ming Soo whispered.
Then his breath caught.
His mother's body hung in the air, impaled through the chest by a massive black spear. Her lifeless eyes stared down at him. Her blood dripped into the black fluid below.
"No… no…"
"Who the hell do you think I am?" the entity laughed. Its voice was thunder, its laughter like glass breaking inside his skull. Blood dripped from Ming Soo's ears.
He staggered forward, tears blinding him. Every step was agony. The ground pulled at him, trying to drag him under. He fell. He crawled.
Finally, he reached her.
He touched her hand.
It was cold.
Too real.
He screamed.
Real World
Ming Soo's eyes shot open, his chest rising with a desperate gasp.
He was back.
He blinked rapidly, staring at the ceiling. It was familiar, his aunt's house. The scent of incense and disinfectant grounded him. His ears rang.
He looked to the side. His aunt was sobbing in Lornad's arms.
"Why are you crying?" he croaked, voice weak. "Did someone finally tell you you're ugly?"
His aunt gasped and rushed to his side, wrapping him in a crushing hug, sobbing even harder.
"Ming Soo!" she wept. "You're awake! You're alright!"
She pulled back, tears still falling. "I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. If I hadn't been so stubborn"
"What are you talking about?" he asked, frowning.
"You died," Lornad said, standing nearby with arms crossed.
"Shut up! He didn't die!" his aunt snapped.
"What do you call a guy whose heart stopped, body cold as ice, no pulse, no breath? Yeah, dead," Lornad replied, deadpan.
"I died?" Ming Soo asked quietly.
"No, sweet, you didn't," his aunt said quickly. "Don't listen to him."
"I'm not making it up," Lornad muttered. "So, Ming, what's the afterlife like?"
"Lornad!" she snapped.
Ming Soo sat up slowly. "Well, there was a devil. A scary one."
The room went quiet.
"Aunt…" he said softly, "do you believe in devils? Demons? Angels?"
"She does, because she is one," Lornad quipped.
"Out," she said firmly.
Lornad held up his hands and walked to the sitting room.
Ming Soo turned to his aunt. "What did he mean by that?"
"He's just joking," she said, trying to smile.
"So… you believe in them?"
"I do."
"Oh. I figured you were an atheist or something," he chuckled. "Guess not."
She straightened. "I've always believed."
"I had a dream," he whispered. "It was terrifying. This devil tried to deceive me. He used… revenge."
He gave a weak laugh.
"He offered me power. Said I wouldn't have to give anything in return." He paused, his voice shaking. "I said no."
He smiled proudly. "Ain't I awesome?"
Then he fell silent.
His voice cracked.
"Then he… he showed me Mom. She was…"
Tears fell freely now. "He hanged her on a spear. Threatened me."
His aunt froze, body tense, her eyes wide. She remained silent for a long moment before finally wrapping her arms around him.
"I'm so sorry," she whispered, tears slipping down her face. "I'm sorry you went through that."
"It's alright," Ming Soo said softly. "It wasn't your fault."
His aunt pulled back, eyes heavy with guilt. Her lips trembled.
"Sung Ming Soo…" she began. "There's something I've always wanted to tell you."