How could they have died? Father could have been sick but what about Sayuri? She shouldn't have died.

While Wakana is thinking about the reasons, Ari is staring at the man sitting on the opposite seat. The man hasn't seen them. He's gazing out of the window with a lost look in his eyes.

On his neck, there are two puncture holes.

The man will die soon. Ari leans forward and touches his index finger once. The man jumps in his seat, looking around. But he can't see anyone. Confused, he frowns deeply and takes his hand to his chest.

That's enough. Ari leans back and closes her eyes, closing her mind to every noise. The man will live. The poison will move to someone else.

And slowly, it will change the other creatures.

Pestilence will start soon.

***

After a few hours, they arrive in T City. The sun is a sick shade of grey. Wakana's heart is heavy. Where should she go first? The police station? Her apartment? Her elder sister?

"Who do you want to see first?" Ari asks her when she sees her frowning. Debts can be burdening. If she lets go of Nakashima Wakana, she's sure that they won't meet again. Probably not soon. "Let's go to the place that is closest to this station."

"My sister's office." Wakana takes a deep breath. "She should be there right now."

"Okay," Ari replies calmly.

They walk toward the exit. Nakashima Wakana is lost in thoughts, literally being guided by Ari who has nearly recovered her strength. Ari observes everything as she passes by people, objects, and every other creature silently. She glances at the newspaper that a man on the bench is reading.

The date… It's already been ten years.

Ten years since she gave birth.

Ari doesn't show any reaction on her face. She takes Wakana out of the station quietly. After they are on the road, she asks her sister's address.

The office isn't far from where she used to live.

It's funny. She has expected so many things to have changed in ten years. And they did change. But the person who changed the most is herself.

Did Adira find their daughters? She did sense him when he passed over the river of death. Maybe it wasn't her. It could have been one of the forsaken ones. There were others: Noras, Aren, and Cina.

They reach the office. It's gone. The law office has been replaced by an entertainment agency.

"I don't understand…" Wakana's lips quiver uneasily. "Did something happen to her?"

Ari sighs. This little guardian is rather… "What about her place?"

"She lived on C Road." Wakana tells her quickly, "Maybe she still lives there."

"Maybe." In ten years, a lot of things change. Ari doesn't say much to the ghost. She takes her straight to the apartment building on C Road. The apartment is locked. They pass through the door and find the apartment empty.

"She doesn't live here anymore," Ari comments.

"Then, where…" Wakana looks down at her feet. Her tears disappear into the air before they could fall on the floor. "Did she also die?"

"She would have a grave if she did." Ari says to her, "Is there anyone else you want to meet?"

"There is." Wakana creases her forehead. "He might not be in this country anymore."

After all, Choi Minho is from K Country.

"That's something." Ari exhales, "I can't wander with you to another country. I am afraid that this is where we must part."

Wakana realizes that she's been dragging Ari with her when she promised to take her to her daughters. "I am sorry. I should have taken you to your home… No, we can still go there. Your place isn't far from here."

"No." Ari shakes her head. "I am fine now. I can go by myself. Besides, there are things that will come to pick a fight with me. You will get in trouble."

"But you still look…" Wakana stares into her silver eyes. "Your eyes have lost all colours."

"It's my true form." Ari smiles at her. "You have helped me a lot but you are so clueless about things. That's a little sad."

"Clueless about what?" Wakana knits her brows. "Well, I didn't know you had pestilence in you. Please keep good control over it. We don't need an apocalypse right now."

"Not for me or you to decide." Ari stares at her. "Since you have rejected reincarnation and came back from purgatory, took a dip in the river of death, and walked back to the mortal world, you have lost all the chances of reincarnation. You will exist as neither dead nor living."

Wakana can't care less about it. She announces proudly, "I don't care. I would choose the same thing again."

"That's good. You aren't alone. There are creatures like you in this world… creatures who have lost their chances at salvation." Ari muses, "Your kindness has helped me and I don't like any debts. So, let me tell you this. You still have a chance at salvation… and your salvation is love. Maybe you already know who or what it is. If you know it, you should hold on to it."

Salvation? Wakana doesn't care about it either. What can salvation do? Can it bring back her father and sister? "Thanks."

"And —" Ari places her finger between her brows. "It's payback for bringing me out of the river. It will hurt a little. I guess it's still nothing for bringing me out of my prison."

There's tearing pain in her skull. Wakana lets out a loud cry. Her sight turns black. Wakana writhes on the floor. The hot pain sears through her veins. She raises her chest, feeling her gifts being torn apart. The pain reminds her of the awakening, breaking her, rebuilding her, only to break her again.

The door is closed. The woman is gone. Wakana's screams are unheard until they become so loud that it reaches someone on the other side of the city.