Junjao woke up to banging on her door.
"Junjao! Breakfast! Also you need to come with Khun Ruj today for field training!"
She opened the door. Kiet stood there with a tray of khao tom.
"Field training?"
"You'll see! Eat first!" He shoved the tray at her and left.
The khao tom tasted real. She'd learned yesterday that workers at The After could materialize food for enjoyment. It wasn't necessary but it made existence more pleasant. Regular souls needed offerings from the living world to sustain their energy. Different types of spirits needed different amounts.
She checked her phone while eating. A few new messages from her mom and Suay. She scrolled past them quickly.
After breakfast, she found Ruj waiting in the lobby. He was dressed the same as always, dark clothes, that watch on his wrist.
"Ready?" he asked.
"For what?"
"You're coming with me today. Pratya's orders. You need to understand how the spirit world actually works." He started walking toward the exit. "Stay close. Don't touch anything. Don't talk to any spirits unless I say it's safe."
"That's not ominous at all."
"It's practical."
They stepped through the front door. The transition was immediate. One moment they were in the office, the next they were standing on a busy Bangkok street. Silom Road. The tailor shop facade visible behind them.
"Can people see us?" Junjao asked.
"No. We're in the spirit layer. Same location as the living world but shifted. Look."
Junjao looked. The street was full of people going about their day. But there were others too. Translucent figures moving through the crowds. Spirits. Dozens of them.
"That woman there..." Ruj pointed to a translucent elderly spirit standing near a street food cart. "She's waiting for offerings. Someone will leave food at the spirit house down the street and she'll receive the essence."
"How long has she been waiting?"
"Three days according to her energy level. She's getting weak."
"That's sad."
"That's how it works. Spirits without offerings fade. Eventually they either move on to judgment or become hungry ghosts." Ruj started walking. "Come on. First pickup is in Sukhumvit."
They walked through Bangkok. The living and the dead occupied the same space but existed in different layers. Junjao saw spirits everywhere. Some looked almost solid, others barely visible.
"Why do they all look different?" she asked.
"Depends on how they died and how much spiritual energy they have. Natural deaths produce stable souls. Violent deaths create fragmented ones. Age matters too. Older spirits who've received offerings for years are stronger."
They passed a shrine. A spirit sat in front of it, very solid-looking, wearing old-style clothes.
"That's a Joa Tee," Ruj said. "Guardian spirit. He's been protecting this shrine for maybe fifty years. Gets regular offerings so he's powerful enough to maintain form indefinitely."
"Can all spirits do that? Just stay forever?"
"If they have a purpose and enough energy, yes. Most choose to move on eventually. Existing as a spirit is fine for a while but it gets lonely."
They turned down a side street. The atmosphere changed immediately. Darker. Colder.
"Stay close," Ruj said quietly.
Something moved in the shadows. Fast. Wrong.
"What was that?"
"Hungry ghost. Don't look at it directly." Ruj kept walking at the same steady pace. "They hunt in areas with low spiritual activity. Alleyways, abandoned buildings, places where no one leaves offerings."
"Are we safe?"
"I am. You are because you're with me." He glanced at her. "This is why you can't leave the office alone. Your soul gives off unusual energy. Half-alive. It would attract every hungry ghost in Bangkok."
They emerged onto a busier street. Junjao felt relieved to be around people again, even if the people couldn't see her.
Ruj's watch buzzed. He checked it. "Pickup at Chulalongkorn Hospital. Elderly man. Natural causes. Should be straightforward."
"How do we get there?"
"We walk. Or I can open a portal but walking is better for you. You need to see how the spirit world actually functions."
They walked. Ruj pointed out different spirits as they went. A group of Joa Tang, lower-level spirits who looked translucent and weak. A Mae Ya Nang standing near a boat on the river, wearing traditional Thai clothes, her form solid and powerful.
"Mae Ya Nang guard boats and vehicles," Ruj explained. "That one has been protecting that ferry for over a hundred years. Gets offerings from the boat workers every morning."
"She looks strong."
"She is. Vehicle spirits are some of the most powerful because they get consistent worship. People depend on transportation, they take it seriously."
They reached the hospital. Ruj led her inside. The living hospital was busy, doctors and nurses rushing around. The spirit layer was quieter. A few souls wandered the halls looking confused.
"Recent deaths," Ruj said. "They haven't been collected yet. I'll get them after the scheduled pickup."
They went to a room on the fourth floor. An elderly man lay in bed. His family surrounded him, crying softly. The man's soul stood in the corner, staring at his body with a dazed expression.
"Khun Chaiyot?" Ruj said gently.
The soul jumped, turning around. His eyes widened when he saw Ruj. "You... you can see me?"
"Yes. I'm here to help you transition."
"Transition." The old man looked back at his body, at his crying family. "So I really am dead. I thought maybe I was dreaming. Or hallucinating from the medication."
"You're not dreaming. I'm Ruj. I work for the organization that processes souls after death. I'm here to take you somewhere safe."
"Like a Yommatoot? A soul collector?" Chaiyot's voice shook slightly. "I always wondered if those stories were true."
"Something like that. Are you ready to come with me?"
The old man looked at his family one more time. His daughter was holding his hand, crying. "I'm eighty-seven. I had a good life. But saying goodbye..." He wiped at his eyes even though souls don't produce real tears. "This is harder than I expected."
"Take your time," Ruj said. "But you can't stay here."
After a moment, Chaiyot nodded. "Alright. I'm ready." He noticed Junjao. "Who's this?"
"I'm training her," Ruj said simply.
"Training? You mean she's...?" Chaiyot looked confused.
"It's complicated," Junjao said.
"Death usually is," the old man replied.
Ruj opened a portal. The old man walked through without hesitation. The portal closed.
"That was easy," Junjao said.
"Most natural deaths are. The person has time to accept it. It's the sudden ones that are difficult."
They collected three more souls from the hospital. All elderly. All peaceful. Ruj was efficient but kind with each one. He explained what would happen, answered their questions, made sure they felt comfortable.
"You're good at this," Junjao observed.
"I've had practice."
"How long have you been doing this job?"
"Forty years."
"That's a long time."
"Pratya has been doing it longer."
"How much longer?"
"No one knows. He won't say. Every time someone asks, he changes the subject or makes a joke." Ruj checked his watch. "Next pickup is different. Motorcycle accident. Twenty-three years old. This one will be harder."
They went to an intersection in Thonglor. The scene was chaotic. Ambulances, police, crowds. A young man's soul stood in the middle of the road, staring at his body being loaded into an ambulance.
"I don't understand," the soul said when Ruj approached. "I was just going to work. I had a meeting at nine. I can't be dead. I have a presentation to give."
"I know this is difficult," Ruj said. "But you need to come with me."
"No. No, I need to get to work. My boss will be angry if I'm late."
"Your boss will understand."
"You don't know my boss." The young man laughed, a slightly hysterical sound. "This is insane. This isn't real."
"It's real. I'm sorry." Ruj's voice was patient. "You're dead. Your body is being taken to the hospital but you're gone. I need to take you to The After for processing."
"What if I don't want to go?"
"You don't have a choice. But I can make this easier or harder. Your choice."
The young man looked at Junjao. "Is he always this blunt?"
"I've only known him two days but yes," Junjao said.
"Great. I get the stoic soul collector. Perfect." The young man sighed. "Fine. Let's go. Not like I can give my presentation anyway."
Ruj opened a portal. The young man walked through, muttering about missed meetings.
"Does that happen a lot?" Junjao asked. "People being in denial?"
"About half of sudden deaths. They're not ready. Their minds are still in the living world." Ruj started walking again. "That's why we have counselors at The After. Some souls need days to accept what happened."
"What about the ones who never accept it?"
"They either move on eventually or they become problems. Ghosts who haunt their old lives, spirits who refuse to leave the living world. That's when the Containment Bureau gets involved."
"The what?"
"Containment Bureau. Different department. They handle spirits who cause trouble in the living world. Possessions, hauntings, spirits who attack humans. It's not pretty work."
"The After has a containment department?"
"The After has many departments. Processing is just one part. There's Containment, Holy Spirits Administration, Reincarnation Services, Karma Accounting, dozens more. Bangkok office handles processing and local issues. The bigger departments are elsewhere."
"Where?"
"Distributed. Holy Spirits Administration is in Ayutthaya because that's where most of the old temples are. Reincarnation Services is in Chiang Mai. Containment has offices everywhere because problems happen everywhere."
They walked through Thonglor. More spirits everywhere. Junjao was starting to recognize the different types. Joa Tee near shrines, solid and stable. Joa Tang wandering aimlessly, weak and translucent. The occasional Mae Ya Nang near vehicles.
"That's a taxi spirit," Ruj said, pointing to a Mae Ya Nang standing beside a taxi rank. "Been there twenty years. The taxi drivers leave offerings every morning before starting their shifts."
"Do the drivers know she's there?"
"Some do. Some just follow tradition without thinking about it. Doesn't matter. The offerings work either way."
They passed a temple. Multiple spirits congregated around it. All solid-looking. All peaceful.
"Temple spirits," Ruj explained. "They get so many offerings they're essentially immortal. Some have been around for centuries. They're the strongest spirits in Bangkok aside from the Holy Spirits."
"What are Holy Spirits?"
"Spirits that protect important things. Cities, rivers, mountains. They're assigned by higher authority, sustained by collective belief. You don't meet them casually. They're busy." Ruj's watch buzzed again. "Three more pickups. Stay close."
They spent the next two hours collecting souls. An elderly woman who died in her sleep. A middle-aged man who had a heart attack. A teenager who drowned in a pool. Each one different. Each one requiring different approaches.
Junjao watched Ruj work. He was patient with the confused ones, firm with the resistant ones, gentle with the scared ones. He never rushed them but he never let them linger too long either.
"You're very good at this," she said after the teenager finally agreed to go through the portal.
"It's my job."
"That's not the same as being good at it."
"I've had forty years to practice. If I wasn't good at it by now, that would be concerning."
"Do you ever get tired of it?"
"No."
"Really? Never?"
"The work is meaningful. I help people transition. That matters." He looked at her. "Why? Are you getting tired of following me around?"
"No! I just... I don't know. Forty years of collecting dead people seems like it would be depressing."
"It's not depressing. It's necessary. Death happens whether I'm there or not. At least this way, people don't have to figure it out alone."
They walked back toward Silom. The sun was setting in the living world, golden light making everything look softer.
"Can I ask you something?" Junjao said.
"You're going to anyway."
"Do you ever miss being alive?"
Ruj was quiet for a moment. "Sometimes. Small things. The taste of real food, not materialized memory. The feeling of being tired after a long day. The certainty of time moving forward."
"That's very poetic for someone so stoic."
"I contain multitudes."
"Did you just make a joke?"
"I stated a fact."
"That was definitely a joke."
"Interpret it however you want."
Junjao smiled. "You're funny. In a very serious, stoic way. But still funny."
"Thank you. I think."
They reached the office. Kiet was waiting in the lobby, looking excited.
"How was it? Did you see spirits? Did anything attack you? Did Khun Ruj explain everything properly or was he too serious?"
"I'm standing right here," Ruj said.
"I know! That's why I'm asking her instead of you!" Kiet grinned at Junjao. "So?"
"It was interesting. Overwhelming. But interesting." Junjao looked at Ruj. "Thank you for taking me."
"You'll come again tomorrow. More pickups. More training." He checked his watch. "Now I have paperwork. Report to Pratya. He wants to update you on his research."
"More curse talk?"
"Probably."
"Great. My favorite topic."
Ruj almost smiled. Almost. Then he walked away toward his office.
"He likes you," Kiet said.
"He doesn't know me."
"Exactly. Usually he doesn't like people until he's known them for years. You got a head start." Kiet steered her toward Pratya's office. "Come on. Let's see what the boss found out."
Pratya's office was messy as always. He was on the phone arguing in what sounded like Chinese.
"I don't care if it's after hours, this is important... no, I won't call back tomorrow... because souls don't sleep, that's why!" He hung up. "Bureaucrats. Even in death, bureaucrats. Junjao! How was field training?"
"Educational. I saw a lot of spirits."
"Good! Understanding the ecosystem is important. You can't navigate the spirit world without knowing who's who." He pulled up a document. "I've been researching your thesis. Found some interesting connections but nothing concrete yet. These things take time. Historical curses are complicated."
"That's fine. I'm not in a rush."
"Good attitude! Meanwhile, you'll keep training with Ruj. Learn the systems. Maybe you'll notice something we haven't. Fresh eyes and all that." He typed something. "Oh! Also, tomorrow you're going to meet someone from the Holy Spirits Department. They're interested in your case."
"Why?"
"Because you're unprecedented. Holy Spirits love unprecedented things. They're basically cosmic busybodies." Pratya grinned. "Don't worry, they're nice. Intimidating, but nice."
"How is this my life now."
"Life? Debatable. But yes, I understand the sentiment." He waved her away. "Go rest. Tomorrow's going to be busy."
Junjao went back to her room. Her phone showed a few new messages but she didn't read them. She lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
Today she'd walked through Bangkok as a spirit. She'd seen the hidden layer of reality that existed alongside the living world. She'd watched Ruj collect souls with patient efficiency. She'd learned that death was just another job and the afterlife was surprisingly well-organized.
It was the weirdest day of her existence.
And tomorrow would probably be weirder.
Her phone buzzed. A message from Kasidetch: Heard you went out with Khun Ruj today. How was it? Did he smile at all or just maintain his stoic face the entire time?
Junjao typed back: He almost smiled once. Does that count?
That's more than most people get. You're making progress. Want to grab dinner? Well, fake dinner. You know what I mean.
Sure. Where?
I'll come get you. Five minutes.
Junjao got up. She looked at herself in the mirror. Still translucent. Still technically alive. Still stuck in the strangest situation imaginable.
But at least she had dinner plans.
That was something.
A knock on the door. Kasidetch stood there grinning, holding two containers of pad thai.
"Got these from the office kitchen," he said. "The staff can materialize whatever you want. Perks of hanging around here. Let's eat on the roof. The view is incredible."
"The office has a roof?"
"The office has everything. Come on."
They went up stairs that shouldn't have existed in a normal building, emerging onto a rooftop garden. The view showed Bangkok sprawling in every direction. The spirit layer glimmered over everything, visible from this height.
"This is beautiful," Junjao said.
"Right? I found it last week. No one else comes up here. It's peaceful." Kasidetch handed her a container. "So. First field day. What did you think?"
"It's weird seeing two worlds at once. Living people going about their day while spirits wander around invisible."
"That's existence. Multiple layers happening simultaneously. Most people never see past their own layer."
"Do you miss it? Your layer?"
"Sometimes. But this layer has its advantages. No bills. No traffic. No terrible bosses." He took a bite of pad thai. "Sure, I'm dead. But I'm also free. That's worth something."
They ate in comfortable silence, watching the city below. The sun had set fully now. The living world sparkled with lights. The spirit world glimmered alongside it.
"Thanks for this," Junjao said. "I needed normal."
"Happy to provide normal. It's my specialty." Kasidetch smiled. "Tomorrow you're meeting Holy Spirits, right? That should be interesting."
"How did you know that?"
"Kiet tells me everything. He's very chatty." Kasidetch looked at her. "Don't be nervous. Holy Spirits are intense but fair. Just be respectful and you'll be fine."
"Are you speaking from experience?"
"I haven't met them yet. I'm just passing on advice Kiet gave me, which he got from someone else. It's secondhand wisdom. The best kind."
Junjao laughed. Tomorrow would bring new challenges. But tonight, she had pad thai and a weird new friend and a rooftop view.
For someone stuck between life and death, it could be worse.
Much worse.