The Guide of the Dead

Evan had no intention of leaving. He put out the campfire and quietly sat in the rain.

"What are you thinking? Go!" I rushed over and shook Evan's shoulders, but it was useless.

He had no awareness of my presence.

"Do you know him?" Justin asked.

I didn't answer. I just wanted Evan to take Esther and leave as quickly as possible.

No matter how much I yelled and screamed, it was all in vain.

"It's no use. He can't hear you," Justin said, shaking his head.

"Evan!" I shouted. He still didn't move.

Justin sighed and asked, "Your lover?"

"Can't you help?" I asked. I was a bit irritated.

Justin shrugged and said, "How can I help? I already told you, it's useless."

"Then just shut up," I thought.

"But..."

I turned to look at him.

"You don't know this, do you?"

"Come on, stop teasing," I said.

"A very few people can see you in a mirror," Justin said slowly, emphasizing each word.

I froze.

"As for whether he can, you could try," he suggested.

I vaguely remembered a senior telling me to avoid mirrors when I took the job. Since I was always outside, I had forgotten about it.

The rain began to pour down heavily, with a loud roar.

Even with the loud rain, Esther didn't wake up. Evan just sat there. He was drenched, staring blankly at the pot beside the extinguished campfire. The large raindrops slid down his face, but he didn't move.

I heard a loud noise coming from afar.

Evan was surrounded by a blood-red glow.

"The time has come. It's time to move on," Justin said softly.

I started to panic.

"A mirror!

Where is a mirror?"

I saw the pot Evan was staring at. Standing behind him, I could see my face reflected in the liquid inside.

I saw Evan flinch. He wiped the rain off his face.

"Go! Go!" I shouted at him.

Evan turned around and looked behind him. He was confused. Finding no one there, he turned back to the front. He was puzzled.

He must have only seen my reflection. He was unable to hear my voice.

I started gesturing frantically, urging him to leave.

Evan leaned closer to the pot and smiled wryly. "Am I seeing things? I saw you in the rearview mirror too. Cecilia, I saw you. Do I miss you that much?"

I shook my head and made a heart shape, mouthing the words, "I love you."

I pointed at him.

Then I added, "Stay alive."

Evan froze, staring at me in shock.

I started panicking. The noise in the distance grew louder, and the red glow around Evan intensified.

I began to cry in desperation. Suddenly, Evan jumped to his feet.

"Cecilia, don't cry," he said.

"Go! Go!"

It seemed like Evan suddenly realized something. He rushed to the tent. He picked up Esther and quickly moved them to higher ground.

As soon as he found his footing, the tent and campfire were swept away by a massive flood.

At that moment, the red glow around them disappeared.

The papers in my hands and Justin's, which had turned transparent, started solidifying and emitting a blinding light.