“Well, what are we waiting for, then?” Emmett says, already halfway inside Eomma’s SUV with Boris in his arms. “Get those butts moving, people!”

Leaving Mr. Pyo drenched and dejected on the pavement, we make for the temple.

Eomma drops Auntie Okja at Tokki Elder Lee’s place to grab some sleep potion. The infusers call the mixture Knock-Out Juice, because it sends you into a deep slumber within seconds of swallowing. My parents sometimes use it at the clinic for saram patients who are extra suspicious about our methods. Add a few drops into their tea, and bam, they’re not complaining anymore.

Auntie Okja meets us at the temple, and my parents, Emmett, the scholars, Areum, and I assemble near the elevators. We haven’t discussed it yet, but there’s a gigantic elephant among us. Who’s going to be the one to step into room 44 and drink the potion in order to meet the dokkaebi? Who is willing to confront their deepest fears in exchange for the last fallen star?

As soon as we jump into the elevator, my eomma clears her throat. “I know this situation could affect the fate of all mortalkind, but it is first and foremost a rescue mission for my daughter. So I’d like to be the one to face the dokkaebi, and I hope everyone can respect that.”

“No, I’ll do it,” Appa says, his forehead creasing into a maze.

“No, I will,” I say. “I’m the one that created this entire mess. Let me be the one to fix it.”

Eomma and Appa both shake their heads adamantly.

“No. Not a chance.”

“Don’t even dream of it!”

By the time the elevator bell dings for level 44, everyone (except Areum and Boris) has volunteered for the mission at least once, and we are no closer to deciding who will be going under.

Eomma gets frustrated and snatches the vial of Knock-Out Juice from Auntie Okja. Her perm is frizzing up like she’s been plugged into an outlet. “The potion is in my hand now, so the decision is mine. And I’ve decided that I’ll be the one to do it. End of discussion.”

She makes a zipping motion over her mouth, and everyone mutters but doesn’t argue. I know why Eomma has volunteered. She wants to save Hattie herself, to make sure her daughter comes home safely. And as much as I want to right my wrongs, I don’t argue anymore. I’d probably just mess up the rescue mission. After all, I’m the one who got Hattie into trouble in the first place. As much as I hate to admit it, letting Eomma do it is in Hattie’s best interest.

“Fine,” Auntie Okja finally says, also relenting. “But let’s go over the rules of engagement.”

We all huddle outside room 44 and agree on the details until the plan of attack is clear: