"Dare to touch a poor innocent ghost without his permission?" Suddenly, someone kicked Sasa in the stomach, sending her sprawling to the ground.
Karl’s heart raced as he looked to his savior.
The figure was a striking ghost with black hair, His long lashes curled delicately, framing his light green eyes. His thin, handsome face was accentuated by long hair tied neatly in a bun, revealing his fair forehead. He wore a pristine Arctic white robe, cinched at the waist with a green belt, where a sleek black diary was tucked away.
He turned to Karl with a soft smile. "You okay?"
Karl nodded, overwhelmed with gratitude. "Thank you... brother," he replied, tears welling in his eyes.
"No problem. You’re not safe here; let’s get outside," the handsome ghost said gently, concern lacing his tone.
Karl hesitated for a moment, glancing around for his stupid wife, but she was nowhere to be found. With a reluctant sigh, he knew he had no choice. He nodded his head, thankful to have someone looking out for him in such a dangerous moment.
Karl followed him as he led the way, the foggy bar atmosphere slowly fading behind them.
"My name is Hugo... what about you?" he asked, glancing back at Karl.
"Karl," he replied, staring down at his fingers, still trembling from the earlier encounter.
"Oh, Karl! I didn’t expect to see a witch taking advantage of you like that..." Hugo said, closing his eyes in frustration. "I’m here to find my wife."
"Wait, what a coincidence! I’m here to find my wife too!" Karl exclaimed, his surprise evident. It felt good to find someone who understood.
"My wife is so crazy," Hugo continued, shaking his head. "She got angry with us and hasn’t come back home today. I’m worried sick, and she doesn’t seem to care about us..."
"Why are all wives the same, brother Hugo?" Karl said, his voice breaking as he wept. He gently squeezed Hugo’s hand, desperate for comfort. "I haven’t heard from mine since morning."
"Oh my god, you’re so pitiful..." Hugo said, pulling Karl into a side hug. "I heard about you and your wife... I feel bad for you."
"No need to feel bad for me, brother Hugo... it’s fine anyway," Karl said, forcing a smile.
"God! Roman, leave my hands! I need to find her!" Kaelan shouted, his frustration bubbling over as he tried to shake off the grip of his manager plus friend.
"No, you can’t, Lan! You’re my artist! I can’t let you go down the wrong path. If your fans find out you’re in love with someone, they’ll break their fandom with you..." Roman replied, shaking his head, his expression serious.
"So what?" Kaelan snapped back, determination hardening his voice. "Can’t I fall in love? I can and I will declare proudly that I’m in love! If they break their fandom just because I’m in love with someone, then they can’t be my true fans. They might like me for my acting, but in my personal life, I have my freedom! Let go of my hands, Roman! Even if I don’t work in the entertainment industry, I’m still good at what I do. If I replace you..." His voice turned cold, leaving the threat hanging in the air.
Roman’s eyes widened in shock upon hearing Kaelan’s words.
"Lan..." Roman’s throat tightened with emotion, his eyes beginning to glisten. "I just want what’s best for you..."
"Roman, don’t get all emotional and fool me," Kaelan retorted, his voice firm yet tinged with frustration. Roman hesitated for a moment before releasing Kaelan’s hands, knowing he had to respect his friend’s wishes.
However, when Kaelan finally came down, he realized she had already left, a sinking feeling settling in his stomach. Behind him, Roman let out a sigh of relief.
Ruby had no idea that someone was trying to find her as she slipped away with Angeline by her side.
"I didn’t expect you to be so amazing back there, Ru!" Angeline said with a grin as they walked past the fort, the excitement still lingering in her voice.
"I didn’t expect it either," Ruby replied, managing a small smile. "But let’s put that aside. Do you know any good restaurants around here? I haven’t eaten anything all day, and I’m starving." Ruby’s stomach rumbled to back up her words, and she realized how dry her throat felt too.
Angeline chuckled. "There’s no restaurant nearby, but in our town, I know a place you’ll love. The food’s good, and they serve it hot," she said, giving Ruby an encouraging smile.
Ruby sighed in relief, though a flicker of worry remained. She hadn’t eaten anything all day, and though she was finally about to have a meal, the thought of her living situation crept back in. Even with food and water, she had to hold back from eating or drinking too much. The public washroom near her place was barely usable—cramped, old, and anything but clean. Just the thought of it made her shiver.
She couldn’t keep living . She needed a place of her own, somewhere comfortable with a proper bathroom.
"Alright then, let’s go!" she said, her eyes lighting up at the idea of a warm meal.
Ruby took off her scarf, breathing a sigh of relief.
"I’ll return it once I wash it. Is that okay?" she asked, looking at Angeline.
"No problem," Angeline replied with a smile.
After a long walk, Angeline finally led Ruby to a cozy restaurant near the bar. It was medium-sized and decorated with soft RGB lights, giving it a warm, inviting glow. The name "The Homy Dine" was displayed above the entrance. The walls were transparent, almost like a floating cube and most Shop’s, showcasing the neatly arranged tables and stylish decor inside. It had a modern, yet comforting feel that made Ruby instantly relax as she looked around.
Angeline and Ruby sat at an empty table near the door, and a server quickly approached them.
Ruby, not too familiar with the menu, leaned over and asked, "Can you order for us? I don’t know much about the food here."
Angeline nodded, flipping through the menu as Ruby curiously scanned the dish names, trying to make sense of them.
Just then, the lights in the restaurant dimmed.
—To be continued...🪄