"fuck!" Derrick cursed at the sight of the woman at the door. Will they be beheaded now?
The woman quickly grabbed a vase nearby and smashed it on the wall. She pointed the broken part at them, intent killing flashed in her eyes.
"Who are you!" She asked
They held up their hands in the universal I surrender.
Keeping a safe distance, she roared "who are you I said!, Where did you come from? How did you get here? What have you done to DoHyun? Answer me!?"
They were short of words, not knowing what to do or say.
"Answer me this instant! Who are you!?" She asked again.
Fortunately, DoHyun entered the scene. She had gone out to look for Jie Lan but couldn't find her in her chambers. The loud sound of broken glass caught her attention and she moved quickly.
She immediately shut the door behind to prevent anyone else from coming in.
The sight she beheld was an ugly one.
"Jie" she called out from behind
Relieved, Lan held her arm, putting her behind
"Stay behind me DoHyun, I don't know who these people are"
"Listen Jie.." DoHyun tried to explain
"Don't come closer else I'll hurt you" Lan warned, she wasn't listening to DoHyun at all.
"DoHyun dear, I want you to run out of here and get the guards okay?"
"Ah! Jie, listen to me" DoHyun's pleas fell on deaf ear
Eiden decided to speak up "we're not—"
"Silence!" Lan cut in, "stay back or I'll really hurt you"
"Jie you're not listening, these are—"
"DoHyun go and get the guards while I'm holding them up, go now!" She said in a loud voice.
Gabbie's mind snapped, her subconsciousness just reminded her about her special ability. They would eventually get caught if DoHyun's sister keeps on shouting loudly.
Lan was distracted. Gabbie pulled her shoulder, causing them to look directly into each other's eyes.
From a faint glow, the green color in Gabbie's eyes intensified and like a reflective mirror, Lan's eyes soon caught the glow.
The commotion and shouting ceased. Lan stood still with her mouth hung open.
Seizing the opportunity, DoHyun grabbed the broken vase from her hand and set it aside.
"Calm down" Gabbie said gently before the glow in both their eyes faded.
Getting herself back, Lan held her head and staggered a bit. She glared at Gabbie "what did you do to me!?" She asked
"Your voice was very loud, others would've heard," DoHyun explained.
Confused, Lan faced DoHyun "DoHyun what's going on? Who are these strangers?", Her face perplexed in worry and curiosity.
DoHyun sighed "they're....my friends", she responded reluctantly.
"Y..your friends?" Lan furrowed her brows, "what do you mean? Who are these people?"
She hesitated a bit before answering "come with me Jie I'll explain everything"
By hand, she led Lan to the door
"A..are you leaving them here?" She asked, her face edged with worry
"Yes yes, I'll explain everything to you".
Once the door closed, Gabbie moved ahead and locked it.
Derrick heaved a sigh of relief, "man I thought we were done for"
"Yeah, hopefully, DoHyun's Jie will understand and we won't be beheaded," Eiden added.
In the serenity of Jie Lan's chambers, DoHyun and her Jie sat opposite each other.
Lan was angry "who are those people huh? What have you been hiding from me?" She asked.
"They're my friends" DoHyun replied
"FRIENDS!" Lan scolded "and you brought them here? Do you know if you're caught you will be—"
"Hanged, I know" DoHyun cut it but Lan wasn't finished
"And those 'friends' of yours will have their heads chopped off!?"
DoHyun nodded, "I know" her voice was becoming thinner, she hated being scolded.
"You know all these and yet you brought them in?" Lan asked in disbelief.
"At the time, they were in need of food and shelter, they were refugees who were separated from their family. I just wanted to help"
Her voice was so tiny and the sorry look on her face would make anyone think she was being remorseful.
Lan exhaled deeply, pinching the middle of her brows "your good nature will be the death of you"
The room grew silent. DoHyun still had a lot to say but didn't know how to start.
"If you want to say something then say it" Jie Lan urged her
DoHyun summoned courage, better now than never. "Do you..... remember when I spoke to you about escaping?"
Jie Lan's eyes widened, her brows creased "DoHyun...." She called out helplessly.
She quickly added "I know that before my chances were slim but I need to leave here before my coming of age ceremony and my new friends are willing to help me out.....I need your help too Jie"
Lan looked at the exuberant being opposite her, she has such a wide knowledge and big dream. Lan secretly hoped that DoHyun would wake up soon but she only seems to get hope every hour.
"DoHyun...why can't you just let it be, the rest of us—"
"The rest of you are satisfied" DoHyun cut in, she hated this, this lecture about accepting who you were born to be.
"I'm not, I'm never going to be. I don't want to be a flower maiden for the rest of my life"
"But life here is good DoHyun" said Lan but DoHyun was relentless,
"Then why did my parents hide me for so long?" She asked.
Lan couldn't give a response, DoHyun seemed to have matured over the years. What she desires, is it even possible?
"Jie?" DoHyun called out, she held both her hands and caressed knuckles
"I want to escape here and find my life, my real purpose but I can't do it without you"
"DoHyun..."
"Listen Jie, I know you worry for me but I don't care if I'm going to die trying to find my real purpose, I'd rather die as a normal poor beggar on the streets than die as a rich and healthy Kisaeng
I just want to know Jie, will you help me?