Contract With The Great Sage [Bound By Blood And Bracelet]

The Ghost Girl

That same evening, after everything that happened, I went outside to play near the big tree behind our house. I saw some children from the neighborhood playing and my heart felt happy. I wanted to join them so badly. I ran towards them with a big smile. “Can I play with you?”

But the moment they saw me, their faces changed. One boy pushed me away hard. “Go away, ghost girl! You’ll bring bad luck to us!”

Another girl spat on the ground near the tree and said, “Don’t touch anything! She’s dirty with ghost things.”

They all ran away laughing and left me standing there alone. Tears filled my eyes. I felt so small and unwanted. I touched the tree gently and whispered, “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to scare them.”

That was when a sharp edge on the tree bark cut my hand. Blood started coming out again, more than before. The sweet smell of my blood spread in the air.

Suddenly, a soft voice called from above the tree. “Little sister… you smell so nice. Do you want to play with me?”

I looked up. There was a little girl older than me sitting on one of the branches, smiling at me. She looked lonely too. I thought she was a normal child just like the other kids.

“Yes… I want to play,” I answered innocently.

The girl’s smile became wider, too wide. Her arm suddenly stretched down from the tree like rubber, long and creepy, reaching straight for me. “Come… let’s play together forever.”

I got scared and tried to step back, but her hand grabbed my arm and started pulling me up towards the tree. I screamed.

Just then, I felt strong arms pull me back down to the ground.

It was my grandmother. She quickly pulled out some talismans from her pocket and threw them at the ghost girl. The ghost screamed and disappeared into the tree.

Grandma hugged me tightly, her body shaking. “Seowu… my poor child. How many times have I told you? Never let your blood flow openly. Your blood… Attract them and make them crazy.”

She tore a piece of cloth and gently bandaged my bleeding hand. Her eyes were full of love and sadness.

“Listen to me carefully. You are not cursed. You are special. One day, someone will come to protect you. A person whose fate is tied to yours. He will stand by your side and keep all these monsters away. Until that day comes… you must stay strong, okay?”

I nodded, still crying in her arms.

That night, as Grandma tucked me into bed, I held the yellow umbrella close to my chest and whispered to myself,

“Will that protector really come…? Will he really care about a girl like me?”