Martoons

Cast of characters

Miss No

*

“Let’s go! Let’s go!” Miss No yelled. “There’s a ghost in that building!”

Like a blur, she whizzed around to the passenger side but the door was locked. Cupping her hands around her eyes and trying to peer through the window, it was steamed up from the inside.

Her faithful cabbie was likely snoozing – as he tended to when she made him wait forever. She rapped on the window but suddenly stopped herself.

* How come? *

For some reason she felt naked and shivers shot up her spine.

I’ve forgotten something.

She did a quick rewind. Ah ha – my handbag! I have to get it – my house keys are in it and my cab fare.

Whatever’s lurking around in Central – whatever I saw – I’ll just have to deal with it. I need my handbag!

She scampered back to the roll-up door. Something flashed and she looked up. The light in the third floor spare classroom, which had never worked, was now on.

It’s the alcohol again, girl… Shaking her head disbelievingly, she went to unlock the rolling door but then realized she hadn’t even secured it in her mad panic to leave.

Scurrying up to the third floor, she was picturing exactly where the handbag was in her office – down at the foot of her chair.

Rushing along the final hallway and passing the spare classroom, she was struck by a blast of cold air.

Oh yeah, that light that mysteriously decided to turn itself on…

She looked and reached in to flick it off but while doing so, peered across the room and instantly her stomach knotted up: The room’s window, which had been seized shut forever until now, was now open – not just cracked, but halfway and the room’s temperature was dropping quickly.

A stark realization struck No: Open windows are typically where ancestors’ ghosts enter and exit on their anniversary ceremonies.

Then her rational sense regained control: Ancestors’ ghosts, aigo! How can anyone believe such nonsense?

* What does No truly believe? *

She braced her fists against the cold blast and went to close the window. Yet, then she noticed the surplus filing cabinet’s drawer was open.

She cautiously approached it and saw the case of soju inside – with several bottles removed. She suppressed a gasp, rolled the drawer shut and went over to the window.

What she saw stuffed into the window sill gave her the shivers: Aigo – a cigarette butt. To make matters worse, it appeared fresh.

Her mind quickly processed the situation: The only explanation was Mr Go.

Yes, sure – and sadly – he was dead. He’d died in his apartment by lighting himself on fire.

On his way to the after life, his ghost had flown down here to Central, opened up a normally jammed-up window, entered to retrieve some soju for the long journey, smoked a cigarette, visited the washroom and left.

Yes, it all made perfect sense.

* Does it really though? *

She stood there stunned, contemplating this occult possibility. All this would also explain the dreamy washroom hallucinations she had only moments ago.

Her mind had been on another plane, where the spirits were.

She strained to close the window but couldn’t budge it. Then she broke out in a hysterical laugh, which drowned out the whistling of the cold breeze coming through the gaping portal.

You know what? She began lecturing herself like a mother to a little girl. I think someone here is very tired.

I think some silly person had a little too much to drink. There’s no such thing as ghosts and I think someone here better grow up.

Now, go get your handbag and get the hell out of here. Head home and get your beauty sleep! It’s time to put this awful night to rest and see what tomorrow brings.

After a final futile struggle, she gave up on the stiff window and hastily marched over to the door, flicked off the light and headed toward her office.

Suddenly she stopped dead in her tracks. Coming through the crack in the bottom of her office door were pulsations of feint light. She gasped, “Oh my God! The ghost hasn’t left yet. He’s in my office!”

* Will No come face to face with the ‘ghost’ of Mr Go? *

*

Tomorrow: Miss No braves entering the room with the ‘ghosts’ to retrieve her handbag.