The fire crackled loudly in the still night, the soft sound of wind rustling through the trees blending with the distant groans of walkers. The group had gathered around the campfire, eating their meager meal, the exhaustion from another long day settling over them.

Ji-hyo, however, was wide awake and animated, her eyes shining with an energy that contrasted the somber mood of the group. As usual, she had something on her mind, and tonight, it was a subject she always seemed to bring up when she wanted to get a rise out of them—ghosts.

“You know,” Ji-hyo started, leaning forward with a mischievous grin, “I think we’re all being watched by something. A ghost, maybe. There are a lot of spirits lingering around these woods. Can you feel it?”

The group paused mid-conversation, looking over at her, some faces amused, others skeptical, and a few downright nervous. Rick furrowed his brow, raising an eyebrow at her. “Ji-hyo, we’ve talked about this before. There’s no ghosts here.”

“Oh, come on, Rick,” Ji-hyo replied, her voice teasing yet strangely confident. “You can’t seriously tell me you don’t feel that cold chill in the air sometimes? I swear I saw something by the trees earlier.” She glanced over at the shadows beyond the firelight, eyes wide with faux fear. “I think it was a ghost. Maybe it’s one of those lost souls from before, who didn’t make it out of this hellscape.”

Sasha snorted, shaking her head. “Here we go again. You really can’t let go of this ghost nonsense, huh, Ji-hyo?”

Ji-hyo gave Sasha a sly smile, her tone serious. “Oh, I’m not kidding. I’ve seen them. You think I’m crazy? But just last week, I saw a figure near the old barn. Pale, glowing… and definitely not human.”

Abraham, ever the skeptic, grunted. “What kind of ghost? The scary kind or the friendly kind that wants to help out with dinner?”

Ji-hyo’s eyes twinkled as she leaned in, lowering her voice dramatically. “Well, it was more like… a sad ghost. The kind that wanders around looking for something they lost. Maybe someone they loved. But when I tried talking to it, it just vanished.” She shivered theatrically, causing a few people to roll their eyes.

Carl, who had been quietly eating, raised his head and asked, “You’re really saying you saw a ghost? Like, a real ghost?”

Ji-hyo nodded sagely, her face full of mock sincerity. “I can see them, Carl. I have... special powers,” she said, making air quotes with her fingers. “I’ve been able to sense spirits since I was little.”

“Great, now we’ve got a ghost whisperer among us,” Daryl muttered, glancing at Rick with a raised eyebrow.

Rick sighed, but there was a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Ji-hyo, you’re not serious about this, are you?”

Ji-hyo shot him a teasing smile. “Not serious? Rick, you wound me! Of course, I’m serious. There are definitely ghosts around here. Sometimes I can hear them whispering at night, just beyond the firelight. Their voices are so faint… but I know they’re there.”

“Whispering?” Eugene asked, squinting his eyes in disbelief. “What do they say, exactly?”

“Oh, they say all kinds of things,” Ji-hyo said, leaning back with an almost dramatic flair. “Mostly, they warn me about things. Like, ‘Be careful, don’t go that way,’ or ‘The walkers are getting closer.’ It’s like they know everything that’s going to happen.”

Beth giggled softly. “You’ve got to be messing with us, Ji-hyo. That’s some wild stuff.”

Ji-hyo flashed her a smile. “Maybe. Or maybe I’m just in tune with a whole other world. I bet you all wish you could see the ghosts I see.”

T-Dog, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke up with a smile. “I think I’d rather see a full meal, but okay, ghost lady, you keep doing you.”

Ji-hyo’s grin widened. “I think you all are just afraid of the unknown. Ghosts aren’t scary—they’re just... misunderstood. They’re not trying to hurt us. They just want to be seen, heard. That’s all.”

“I’m not afraid,” Rosita said with a laugh, “but I’ve seen enough horror stories in real life to last me a lifetime. No ghosts needed, thanks.”

Ji-hyo dramatically clutched her heart, as if offended. “You wound me, Rosita! You don’t believe in the ghosts that walk among us?”

At this, Glenn, who had been quietly listening, spoke up. “You know, if we actually start seeing ghosts around here, I’m going to need a bigger weapon. Like a ghost-killing bazooka.”

The group burst into laughter, the mood lightening for a moment. Even Rick couldn’t help but chuckle, shaking his head at Ji-hyo’s antics.

“But seriously,” Ji-hyo continued, her voice dropping slightly, as though she were finally letting them in on a secret, “I think they’re trying to tell us something. Maybe they’re trying to help us. Sometimes, I hear them telling me things... like we’re not alone, and that the world’s going to change again. Maybe the ghosts are the ones who know the way out.”

Abraham raised an eyebrow. “And what’s that supposed to mean? The ghosts are gonna lead us to a nice cozy cabin where we can drink tea and chill out?”

“I don’t know,” Ji-hyo said with a shrug, “but I think it’s worth considering. You never know what’s out there—alive or dead.”

The fire crackled again, and for a moment, the group was quiet, lost in their thoughts. Ji-hyo, however, was content. Whether or not the others believed her, she didn’t mind. She was used to being the one who saw the world a little differently, the one who wasn’t afraid to talk about things others wouldn’t dare mention.

For her, the ghosts weren’t a terrifying force. They were just another part of this strange, broken world. And maybe, just maybe, they were the key to something even greater.