Part 6

The story Shina told me about how she came to be curse by her stepmother scared me. All of a sudden I wasn't so sure I wanted to help her anymore. What if the evil spirit decided to haunt me? Torture me? Forever? I did not deserve to suffer for eternity for a simple mistake! I started to try and think of an excuse. Anything to get out of the house, book a flight and leave the country. I was pretty sure that spirits were tied to places. If I left Shina wouldn't be able to follow me!

My resolve strengthened, I took a deep breath and told the lie: Shina, I'm going to a friend of mine who knows things about the occult and spirits. Maybe he can help us.

Shina said nothing and just stared at me with sad eyes. Did she know? Was it getting warmer? I smiled my most reassuring smile at her and grabbed my coat.

"I'll be right back", and I fled the house.

I drove straight to the airport and bought the first ticket that took me out of the country.

As I sat in the plane I thought of Shina and I felt bad. But in the end it was me or her.

And I choose me.