Prologue - Hee-Sook
I look left and right as I run down the street, my heart beating fast as I turn right and run down the dirt path.
“You’ll never be able to get away from me!” the bandit yells.
Whimpering, I continue to run down the dirt path, trying to get as far away from him as possible. Our small town has been raided and there is no live soul in sight. Just me and the bandits men.
I grip onto the bottom of my hanbok, the chima, so I don’t step on it as I run away.
“Help!” I scream. “Someone help!”
Maybe someone is still alive and will be able to help save me.
The bandit laughs and I can hear his footsteps coming closer as I continue to run. My heart beat increases as I move my legs faster. I quickly turn left, running into the wall and groaning in pain as my whole right side aches from the impact.
“Got you,” the bandit whispers in my ear as his arms wrap around my body.
I scream, kicking and thrashing around as I try to get away from him, but his arms tighten around me.
“Please,” I beg.
I feel something sharp against my side and before I can realize what it is, I jerk my body, pain slashing through my sideand I scream once again.
“Foolish,” he spats. “But I’ll still be able to have fun with you.”
Tears stream down my face as the pain intensifies and the terror manifests inside of me from his words.
“Please,” my voice sounds so broken.
He hums, his breath so close to my ear. “No.”
I open my mouth but before I can say anything, another voice speaks up.
“Let her go,” he declares.
The bandits arms tighten around me, the sharp object pressing into my wound. I whimper and suck in a breath.
“I was here first. She is mine. You can have her after I’m done with her… if she’s still alive,” the bandit chuckles.
“I cannot allow you to do that,” the man in front of me says.
I stare in his direction. My eyes narrow as I try to get a look at his face, but through the pain, tears, and darkness, I can’t make out a single feature on his face.
“What are you going to do about it?” the bandit asks. “I have her in my arms and you don’t.”
“Are you afraid?” the man in front of me asks as he draws his bow and arrow.
“No,” I manage to get out.
There is some strange calmness that washes over me as I look at the figure in front of me. Like I’ve known him my whole life and can trust him with my life.
Before I can blink, the man lets go of the string to his bow, the arrow whizzing past my head and hitting the bandit behind me. His arms let go of me and I take a step forward as I hear his body hit the ground.
“Are you okay?” the man in front of me asks.
But before I can get a word out, my legs give out and I fall to the ground. Pain engulf my body from the wound and impact of the ground.
“Hee-Sook!” the man yells as he runs towards me.
Tears run down my face as I watch him drop to the ground in front of me, grabbing hold of my body and pulling me into his embrace.
“I have you Hee-Sook,” the man whispers as he gently rubs his thumb across my cheek and holds me close to him. “You are safe now.”
