The Next Life (?? ?? ???)

That library. The place where I first met Jisoo, what seemed years away now after everything that had happened. I couldn't help but feel a sense of deja vu as I followed behind Lalisa, through the forest of bookshelves over to the empty space in the centre.

"Jisoo." Lalisa's voice cut through the muffled silence.

Jisoo stood with her back towards us as she looked out the small window in the wall. The only indication that she'd heard us come in at first was the slow lift of her head.

"Were there any issues?"

"They were lured in and ambushed by another Rasetsu, it seems."

The older Mogwai took a deep, contemplative breath, letting her hands fall to her sides. "Thank you. You may go. I wish to speak with the human alone."

"Sure." Lalisa nodded, though Jisoo couldn't see it. She turned to me and mouthed a "Good luck" before turning to leave.

I gulped, taking care not to do so audibly, before pacing towards Jisoo. From what I could sense, she didn't seem to hold any malice, either towards me or anyone else; there was none of that suffocating presence I normally felt when any of the Mogwai did. As such, it was hard for me to predict what was on her mind.

It wasn't until I was within an arm's length from her that she finally turned to face me. Her gaze was trained downwards before she slowly looked up to meet my eyes. I couldn't decipher what she was feeling from her perfect poker face.

"If you're gonna tell me off, let me just s–"

She raised a finger to my lips, silencing me.

"Come with me, Jang Y/N."

With her other hand, she gestured for mine, and I knew what she meant. I reached out to take her hand, and in an instant, the world went black.

When everything came back into focus, we were standing outside on the pavement. I took a moment to take in my surroundings, and that's when I saw it for the first time. At least, the first time since the rebranding.

In front of us stood a building that seemed to shimmer in and out of reality. Although I had seen it do this once before, that didn't make the sight any less breathtaking. Like before, one moment the place was a seemingly rundown, red-brick building, not more than three storeys high. And one moment it was this huge, extravagant, royal-esque hotel. Only this time, there was something different about it. While the basic design was the same, looking like a castle from old myths and legends, it now sported a bluish hue, similar to the tinge taken on by most ghosts, only deeper and more saturated. The large sign on the front of the hotel that used to read "Hotel Del Luna" now read "Hotel Blue Moon", and instead of the old symbol I vaguely remembered, a circle with a line streaking across it, there was now a glowing blue circle, which I guessed was meant to represent the titular Blue Moon.

With a clear of her throat, Jisoo's voice brought me back to reality. "When you enter, ask for Room 77."

"Wha– am I dead? Did that thing kill me? Is that why you've brought me here?"

She breathed calmly. "All will be answered. Now go."

Though my mind was filled with a plethora of questions, I obliged, walking up the small flight of stairs which led to the entrance. As I pushed through the doors, a cheerful yet curt voice greeted me.

"Hello, how long has it been since you d– oh, you're alive." A man, slightly taller than me, dressed in a bellboy's outfit leaned against the reception desk of the lobby I'd just entered. He didn't have that bluish tinge I expected, but I chalked it up to the place and its mystical qualities. "Would you like a room, sir?"