As the last muscle of red organ tissue in the vial shrivels into black rot, the goddess plucks something out of the air. It shines like a nugget of gold between her fingers, and she places it carefully on the ground near the Gi cauldron.

The next time I blink, I see a body wearing a long golden hanbok lying on the floor.

My heart soars like an inmyeonjo.

It’s my sister.

It’s Hattie.

28: Nuh-uh, She Didn’t!

“HATTIE!” I CRY.

“Hattie-ya!” my parents shout.

Eomma, Appa, and I run to the body that has materialized out of nowhere onto the floor of the Gi sanctuary.

I fall to my knees, burying my face in my sister’s chest. My parents shed tears of joy and relief, and the feeling is overwhelming, seeing her in the flesh again. It’s only been a few days, but it feels like years since I’ve seen my boss sister. She got so skinny in the Godrealm. Her arms are barely thicker than sticks, and her face is sunken and painted a sickly shade of gray. So much for “safekeeping,” like the goddess had promised. Hattie looks barely alive.

Her eyes flick open like two headlights.

“You’re awake!” I cry out. “I’ve missed you so much, Hat. I can’t believe you’re back. You’re really back!”

Except something feels off.

The light in my sister’s eyes is gone. There’s no Hattie in those eyes. But if Eomma has noticed, she’s not showing it. She hugs Hattie’s limp body to her own, crying into my sister’s bony shoulder.

“Eomma…” I warn.

My hand grasps the cold vial still around my neck, and my eyes flit from Hattie’s body up to the goddess. “Something’s not right!”

The goddess raises an eyebrow. “Hmm, that’s interesting.”

“What do you mean, interesting?”

Hattie twists unnaturally in Eomma’s arms, as if her body is being controlled by a puppeteer. Her eyes lock like a hawk’s on Emmett, and her arms stretch toward him.

“My son,” she croaks, her voice sounding dusty and hoarse. “My son, my son, my son.”

All color drains from Emmett’s face, and he stares at my sister with frightened eyes. “Mom…?” He starts walking toward Hattie, his mouth hanging wide with disbelief.

“No…” Auntie Okja murmurs. “It can’t be.”

“Where is my sister?!” I demand of the goddess, dropping my cheerful act. “You promised her safe return!”

“Gone,” she answers simply. “The young witch’s heart perished, and it seems an opportunistic gwisin has possessed her body. What a shame.” Something changes in the goddess’s face. It’s like her features are shedding their kindliness.