"Excuse me."
"...!!"
The woman flinched, her shoulders jerking as she turned toward me, eyes wide with surprise.
Got you.
The moment I saw her face, I knew I was right. She was the same woman who had bumped into me earlier this morning—and the same one I'd just seen hiding suspiciously in the bushes.
For a second, tension drained out of my body, and I let out a small sigh of relief.
Thank goodness.
She wasn't a ghost after all.
Still, even though I confirmed she was human, an uneasy feeling crawled up the back of my neck. Something about her expression felt… off. Pale face. Trembling hands. Eyes darting around like a cornered animal.
"Hey, are you—"
"Mmph...!"
"…?"
She suddenly covered her mouth with one hand, panic flooding her features. Her body trembled as if she was trying desperately to suppress something.
"What's wrong?" I asked carefully, taking a step closer.
