Bab 42: Everything comes to an end

In a single month, Ji-ho was able to record the songs for her album titled 'Alive.' Long awaited by the fans, Sunflowers was officially released with an MV and it broke the record for the fastest billion views by a new artist. The music critics and fans alike lauded the singer and what she had been able to do with Lee Tae-Hyun's beautiful song.

On the other hand, Blue, Iris, and Dan-bi were looking at a bleak future in prison. Ji-ho's lawyer had assured her that with the amount of evidence she had gathered, not even money would be able to absolve them of their crimes. The young woman was happy because she accomplished what she came to do for Jessica. Now what?

"We'll leave tomorrow," the reaper told her. His brother had given him a month's deadline to leave and that day was tomorrow.

"Just like that?"

_________

Sun Young-mi and Seung-ho had disappeared off the face of the planet, leaving their families, friends, and fans perplexed.

Only their lawyer had been informed beforehand of their supposed departure to a foreign nation. He was left with a sizeable fortune and the task of seeing to it that the three famous celebrities embroiled in the court case were sent to prison.

Now Park Ji-ho was back at the facility, sending off Jessica to her next incarnation.

"Thank you, unni. I wanted them dead but I suppose I'll have to be happy with this outcome."

Park Ji-ho smiled at the ghost. "It's better this way, Young-mi. Death is too easy a punishment for those people."

"You're right. I hope they rot in prison for the rest of their lives."

The gateway of rebirth beckoned for Jessica. It was an enormous gate the size of a five-storied building and it glowed softly with a soothing white light. Ji-ho watched the ghost step through the light and disappear inside it.

____

Surrounded by spider lilies, Ji-ho was facing her next client.

"Hi, what's your name?" She asked the ghost whose shyness was evident by her nervous body language and refusal to make eye contact.

"Ava," she answered after a furtive glance at Ji-ho. "Ava Robinson."

"Tell me your story, Ava."

____

Ava came from a world where humanity had evolved strange abilities and mastered interstellar travel. She was a student at the prestigious Starfield Academy for Space Cadets. Known for admitting only the smartest and/or the most athletic students, Ava had studied hard and qualified to study a five-year course on star navigation. Her parents had been thrilled when they'd found out that their shy Ava had been accepted by Starfield. Too poor to afford her study expenses, they'd sold their belongings and moved into a shady neighbourhood where rent was dirt cheap. Her parents worked two jobs to support themselves and afford Ava's educational expenses. They had faith that when she became a navigator, a better life was awaiting them.

However, their hopes and dreams would be soon be crushed by the terrible reality that awaited Ava at Starfield.

"Your classmates did what?" Ji-ho said with surprise.

"They- they sold me to space pirates."

In which world were there such gutsy students who dared to sell off their classmate like she was some factory commodity?! Ji-ho was flabbergasted. "What about your teachers? Friends? Did nobody do anything about it?"

Ava shook her head. "No one knows what happened to me because the transaction was made in secret."

"And how did you end up here?"

"I was lucky. My captors and I were swallowed by a black hole while escaping from some bounty hunters."

She considered that lucky?!

"Ava, what do wish for me to accomplish?" Ji-ho asked the shy ghost.

"My parents are still living in a slum after having sacrificed so much for me. I wish for a better life for them. I wish for them to be proud of me on the day that I become a navigator on the Draconus."

"A navigator..." Ji-ho smiled tightly. There had to be a shortcut right? She wouldn't have to study for five years right? It sounded like a lot of math and physics. She hated math and physics! "Ava, what is the Draconus?"

The ghost beamed happily when Ji-ho asked her that question. "The Draconus is the best starship in the Tri-Alliance fleet! It is every navigator's dream to be recruited by one of the five Angel class starships. I for one have always wanted to join Draconus because of its history during the Purge wars where-"

"Ava-"

"-Admiral Caleb defeated the force that was heading towards-"

"Ava!"

The ghost realised she was going off on a tangent and blushed meekly. "Sorry."

"So let me get this straight," Ji-ho told her. "One, you want to become a navigator on the Draconus." The ghost nodded. "Two, you want your parents out of the slum."

"I want them to live the rest of their lives in comfort."

"Right, I'll see what I can do, Ava." No promises because Ji-ho hadn't the faintest clue about what she was up for. Revenge and showbiz suddenly seemed so much less daunting when compared to this.

____

After sending Ava away, Ji-ho came face to face with the gorgeous man who shared similarities with Seung-ho, an observation Ji-ho could make now that she was really examining his face up close.

"Park Ji-ho, try not to wake me up this time."

"What do you mean?"

The reaper had his hands behind his back as he led her towards a portal.

"Do not put yourself in unnecessary danger so that I won't have to teleport to save your life. Do you understand?"

"I do. But why?"

"Because I said so."

"That's not going to cut it, mister reaper."

None of his other employees were like Park Ji-ho. A healthy amount of respect, fear and distance was maintained between them and him, their boss.

"Were you not.. truly awake as yourself?" Ji-ho asked as she remembered what he had said about having no memories of her prior to the kidnapping.

"Yes."

She could tell he wasn't going to say anything more about it. But from what she understood, it seemed that the reaper wasn't going to remember her till she awakened him by getting into serious trouble.

"One more thing, reaper-nim."

"What?"

"I don't think I'm smart enough to become a navigator. What happens if I fail the task?"

"You won't fail, miss Park. You'll integrate with the subject you possess, thus gaining her abilities as well as retaining yours. It'll be a walk in the park for you."

Was she getting praised by her boss? Ji-ho felt her ego inflate. This time, she challenged herself to get through the task without the reaper's aid.

"Are you ready?"

"Ready."