Third person's perspective
The soft, golden tendrils of sunlight crept stealthily through the small gap between the heavy curtains, casting a warm glow across the room that had been shrouded in darkness throughout the night. The dim light painted the walls in muted hues, illuminating the stillness that enveloped the room like a heavy blanket.
The silence was palpable, broken only by the soft, rhythmic breathing of those who had succumbed to exhaustion after a long vigil by So Hee's bedside. Their bodies lay sprawled in awkward positions on chairs and makeshift beds, their faces etched with weariness as they surrendered to the pull of sleep.
So Hee's room was a study in contrast - while the sun bathed the room in its gentle light, the atmosphere remained heavy with tension and worry. It had been a full 24 hours since So Hee had slipped into unconsciousness, her form lying still on the bed as if in a deep slumber. But beneath the surface, unseen by those who slept soundly around her, subtle changes were taking place.
Her breathing, once steady and slow, had now quickened, each inhalation and exhalation coming in shallow bursts. Her hands, previously limp at her sides, now clenched the bedsheets tightly, fingers curling into fists as if grasping for something just out of reach. Beads of sweat glistened on her forehead, despite the chill in the air, tracing a path down her pale skin like tiny rivers of emotion.
But amidst the hushed whispers of sleep, these signs went unnoticed, lost in the stillness of the room. It was only when So Hee broke out of her unconscious state and started crying out for help, that everyone present in the room snapped out of their small nap, along with the fast beeping medical machine noises. "Help! Someone, please help!" she cried out, her voice a raw plea for salvation as she reached out blindly into the void.
Panic surged like a tidal wave throughout her body, her senses becoming overwhelmed by suffocating darkness, choking the air from her lungs and squeezing her heart in a vise-like grip. Her vision blurred with tears as she gasped for breath, the weight of her fear pressing down upon her like a leaden blanket. Frantic thoughts raced through her mind, each one more terrifying than the last as she grappled with the overwhelming sense of dread that threatened to consume her whole. Images flashed before her eyes like fragments of a nightmare, each one a twisted reflection of her deepest fears.
And then, just when she thought she could bear it no longer, she saw it, she saw the mark that she had been carrying in memories for a very long time, but hidden beneath the layers of her recent merry ones. The same haunting mark resurfacing sent her into a state of paralyzing terror, her breath catching in her throat as the memories flooded back with a vengeance. It seemed to mock her, to taunt her with its twisted familiarity, sending her spiraling deeper into the abyss of her own mind. It was as if time had folded in on itself, transporting her back to that fateful night when everything had changed.
"Soo Hee, it's okay! You're safe, we're here with you," KK's voice broke through the fog of her panic, his words a lifeline in the darkness. "Just focus on my voice, okay? You're not alone."
But So Hee's cries only grew louder, her terror too overwhelming to be quelled by mere words. She thrashed against the constraints of her bed, her movements wild and erratic as she fought against the invisible demons that plagued her. PP's heart ached as she watched So Hee's distress escalate, her friend's cries tearing at her soul, so she stopped the nurse from sedating So Hee, and without hesitation, she rushed to So Hee's side, wrapping her arms around her trembling form in a tight embrace. With gentle hands, PP stroked So Hee's hair, her touch a soothing caress against the turmoil raging within.
As tears streamed down So Hee's cheeks, PP began to softly sing a lullaby, her voice a gentle melody that cut through the chaos like a beacon of hope. The words flowed from her lips with a tender sweetness, each note carrying a promise of comfort and solace.
"Close your eyes, my precious one,
And listen to the rain.
Though the storm may rage around you,
Know you can still remain.
When the world feels cold and dark,
And all your candles fade,
Remember deep within your heart,
The light that you have made."
So Hee's struggles began to subside as the sound of PP's voice washed over her, her frantic movements slowing to a gentle sway. With each verse of the lullaby, the tension in her body eased, and her breathing gradually returned to a steady rhythm.
"Stand tall, my child, be strong and bold,
For you have wings to soar.
Even when the skies are gray,
Believe in what's in store.
So let the rain pour down,
Let the wind blow fierce and wild.
For in the midst of the darkest night,
You'll find your inner light, my child."
PP held So Hee close, her embrace a steadfast anchor in the storm of emotions that threatened to overwhelm them both. As the final notes of the lullaby faded into the air, a sense of calm descended upon the room, wrapping them in its comforting embrace.
So Hee's eyes fluttered open, her gaze meeting PP's with a mixture of gratitude and relief. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice hoarse from the strain of her ordeal.
So Hee managed a faint smile in return, her gratitude evident in her eyes as she looked around the room, taking in the familiar faces of her friends gathered around her. Jimin stood nearby, concern etched into every line of his face, while a nurse hovered at the edge of the room, ready to assist at a moment's notice.
Clearing her throat gently, So Hee addressed Jimin with a sense of urgency in her voice. "Jimin," her voice slightly hoarse from her recent panic, "could you please call Namjoon? I must speak with him right away." glancing at him, her eyes imploring him to act swiftly. He nodded, his eyes reflecting his concern as he quickly reached for his phone to make the call.
Turning her attention to KK, who sat on her left, So Hee continued, "And KK, could I trouble you for a glass of water? My throat hurts, and I have this nagging feeling that the wound needs to be checked and possibly stitched again." She forced a small laugh, trying to ease the tension that lingered in the air.
"Of course," he replied softly, his voice gentle as he rose from his seat to fetch the water. "I'll be right back." As KK left the room to fulfill So Hee's request, PP remained at So Hee's side, her hand resting gently on her friend's arm as she offered words of comfort and reassurance. Her presence was a steady anchor in the storm of emotions that threatened to overwhelm So Hee, her touch a soothing balm against the turmoil raging within.
As PP whispered words of encouragement, the nurse approached So Hee's bedside, her expression calm and professional as she checked her wound which was surprisingly still intact and did not require restitching, then she took a look at various monitors and medical equipment surrounding the bed. With practiced ease, she adjusted IV lines and checked So Hee's vital signs, her movements swift and efficient as she ensured that So Hee was stable and comfortable.
Throughout it all, So Hee remained still, her gaze fixed on the ceiling as she allowed herself to be tended to by the nurse. As she lay there, her breaths shallow and her heart pounding, her mind was consumed by the memory of that fateful night. The image of the mark, a cruel and twisted symbol of her parents' and soon-to-be-born siblings' murderers, loomed large in her mind, casting a shadow over her thoughts and filling her with a sense of dread that threatened to suffocate her.
The room seemed to close in around her, the walls pressing in from all sides as if to trap her in a prison of her own making. Every sound, and every movement only served to intensify her fear, amplifying the cacophony of her racing thoughts until it felt as though her mind would shatter under the weight of it all.
Despite the reassurance of her friends' presence, So Hee couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at her insides like a ravenous beast. The same mark that had haunted her for years, the same mark that had driven her to the brink of madness with its twisted significance, was now staring back at her from the depths of her memories, mocking her with its cruel reminder of the past.
She wanted to scream, to lash out at the injustice of it all, but the words caught in her throat, suffocated by the weight of her despair. How could she ever hope to find peace when the specter of her parents and siblings' murderers loomed over her like a dark cloud, casting its shadow across every aspect of her life?
And yet, despite the overwhelming sense of hopelessness that threatened to engulf her, So Hee couldn't help but feel a flicker of something else stirring within her - a burning desire for justice, a primal need to make those responsible pay for their crimes.
The thought of confronting her parents' murderers, of staring into their eyes and demanding answers, sent a shiver down her spine. But alongside the fear was a steely resolve, a determination to see justice done no matter the cost.
With a trembling hand, So Hee reached up to touch the spot where the mark had been branded into her memory, her fingers tracing the invisible lines of pain and sorrow that had been etched into her soul.
~Flashback~
In the serene tranquility of the countryside, where the whispers of nature echoed through the valleys, ten-year-old So Hee embarked on a week-long adventure with her friends and their families, except the Han couple as Mrs Han was 8 months pregnant and soon expecting not just one but two bundles of joy joining their family.
They laughed and played, their youthful energy filling the air with a sense of joy and freedom. On the second night, all three of them even sneaked out of their tents when they confirmed that the adults were fast asleep, and went near the riverside and set up a little fire area where they roasted their marshmallows and exchanged spooky ghostly stories to keep themselves entertained. Later they came back around 5 in the morning, as quietly as they left, and pretended to sleep until they actually went to their dreamland.
Everything was going smoothly, they were enjoying every bit of this trip, but on the third day, as the sun reached its zenith in the sky, KK's dad received a call from the Han house, thinking it was just the parents missing their daughter and wanting to talk to her he passed the phone directly to So Hee.
But as So Hee took the phone, her heart froze in her chest at the sound of desperate pleas and cries for help emanating from the other end of the line. Confusion and fear gripped her like a vice as she struggled to comprehend the gravity of the situation unfolding before her.
"Uncle, something's wrong," she stammered, her voice trembling with fear as she handed the phone back to Mr. Bhuwakul. But before he could hear anything the call abruptly cut off, leaving the group in a state of stunned silence. Mrs. Manobal then stepped forward and asked the frightened kid about what she heard, So Hee's reply stunned them all, So Hee's voice trembled with fear as she recounted the terrifying ordeal, her words coming out in a shaky whisper. "It was Mom," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "She, she was crying, and she asked for help, but then there was this sound, like, like a gunshot? And then the scream..." Her voice trailed off, choked with emotion as the memory of her mother's desperate cries echoed in her mind.
"I don't know what I heard or what Mom said," she continued, her words rushed and panicked. "But I'm really scared, Auntie. Is Mom and Dad safe? Are my siblings okay?" Her voice rose with each question, the fear and uncertainty threatening to overwhelm her as she started crying and hugged her aunt tight.
Frantic with worry, Mr. Bhuwakul and the other adults wasted no time rushing back to the Han household, their hearts pounding with dread as they feared the worst. Through the heavy downpour they drove as if their life depended on it, but nothing could have prepared them for the bone-chilling sight that greeted them upon their arrival.
Mr. Han lay motionless on the floor, a pool of blood spreading beneath him like a macabre halo. Mrs. Han, her pregnant belly swollen with life, knelt beside him, her cries of anguish piercing the air as she begged for mercy from the merciless intruders who had shattered their peaceful existence. But as if her pleas went to deaf ears, the intruders showed no hesitation before shooting straight in between her eyes and rushed out of the house sensing the presence of people other than them.
So Hee stood frozen in shock, her eyes wide with horror as she witnessed the brutal aftermath of the attack. But amidst the chaos and despair, one detail burned itself into her memory with searing clarity - the tattooed pattern on the shoulder of one of the assailants, a symbol of their cruelty and malice.
The men of the group scrambled to run after them and to try and catch the murderers of the Han family, the aunts tried calling for help and tending to the wounded, but because fate was never on their side, the replies that came were, "We are sorry miss, but because of the rain the roads are blocked and the minimum it would take us to reach there would not be less than an hour, so if try stopping the bleeding and we'll try reaching as soon as we can." and upon reaching they didn't take even a minute to declare them dead.
At that exact moment So Hee made a silent vow to herself she would not rest until she had avenged the deaths of her beloved family members until she had brought their killers to justice and ensured that no one else would suffer as they had.
In the days that followed, after the respectful funeral that her family deserved, So Hee threw herself into rigorous martial arts training, honing her body and mind into weapons of vengeance. Her friends, unwilling to let her descend into the abyss of darkness and hatred, stood by her side, offering their unwavering support and companionship.
But as they plotted their revenge, they knew that they would need more than just brute force to take down the ruthless criminals who had destroyed their lives. PP delved into the world of computers, using her skills to gather information and uncover the truth behind the attack. KK studied psychology, mastering the art of manipulation and deception to get inside the minds of their enemies and extract the information they needed.
Together, they formed a formidable team, united in their determination to bring justice to the Han family and ensure that no one else would suffer at the hands of their enemies. And as they set out on their quest for vengeance, they knew that nothing - not even death itself - could stand in their way.
Author's note:
Finally, I published this chapter, writing this was really a trick task, I had a story for So Hee's past, but writing it down in words was really difficult, I needed you guys to know what happened, how it impacted So Hee, how her friends got involved, how not only these three were closely knitted, but also their families, why they studied specific subjects and not anything else and why did they need to train themselves to such expertise. So I guess most of the things got cleared here, and in the following chapters it will make even more sense, and just a reminder all this is still hidden from the Black Syndicate members. Also, there is way more shit going to be revealed so be prepared for this rollercoaster story, which is going to be filled with mystery, thriller, adventure, revelations, betrayals, and many more things happening.
Stay tuned, and please just bear with the delayed updates for two to three more weeks and then I promise to update regularly.
For now, I just hope you enjoy reading this, also, do comment your views and please don't forget to vote!