"What is it?'' Iseul remained calmly inquired. Her face was still blank and stern for someone who got the news of their mother's death.
"Animals… There are weird animals, and I feel like they're watching us," Jaehyun stated, his troubled expression clear. He knew this wasn't the time, but the situation demanded it.
It had been two months since that day, and all this time, Iseul had been in a coma. Their mother was declared dead after her body was never found in the debris. The police claimed Iseul got injured trying to protect Jaehyun, dismissing his words as nonsense. Who would believe an Imoogi had attacked them? Even he struggled to believe it. But what about the fights he saw? The strange beings that followed him and lurked around his sister? How could he explain those? Their grandfather accepted his story but still looked at him with doubt.
Jaehyun knew this wasn't the time to dwell on these thoughts, but the strange animals and the way they watched them… it was unnerving. His mind raced, trying to reconcile the absurdity of an Imoogi attacking them with the strange events unfolding before his eyes. It was all too bizarre, yet the fear gnawing at him felt all too real.
"Did they hurt you?" Like a rush of relief flooded out, for the first time. He glanced up at his sister and there was no hint of suspicion just genuine care. For the first time, she had woken up she was showing any kind of emotion.
Jehyun gulped down the lump in his throat, as his eyes brimmed up with tears," N-no" As much as he tried to act strong; the emotions that had been locked for so long. The dam had burst open.
"Good. Bring me something to drink, will you?'' Iseul caressed his head, in a gentle tone just like their mother. Jaehyun was surprised by the sudden shift in Iseul's persona but the mere feeling of warmth. All his life he desired nothing but her acknowledgement; now that she had it he can't lose it.
Iseul was four years older than him, she was the ideal daughter whether it was studying, playing piano or having friends. She was perfect in every way possible, the ideal one among the two, while he; couldn't even get higher than sixty in studies, couldn't play the piano any instruments and friends…
"I will be right back." He can't disappoint her again.
'I wish you were never born.'
Jaehyun rubbed away his tears and let out a bright smile as he left the room. As he turned his face from his sister's gaze it turned grim.
Iseul remained quiet until Jaehyun was out of the room before she parted her lips to speak," Are you still going to stay silent, Grandpa?"
Kim Ha Joon's eyes widened in fear and shock. With staggered steps, he tried to balance himself. He tried to speak up but words seemed to stick inside his throat.
"All of this was my fault, wasn't it? Are you still going to hide the truth?" Iseul continued. The calm front she put in front of Jaehyun was slowly withering away.
Kim Ha Joon sighed, he had warned Choi Yeong long back to abort the child. The eldest born should never be a girl not in Kim's household. The fate that shouldn't be passed to a girl at all. However, he still failed to make them agree. For once, he saw hope. The prophecy said it: only the one who cursed can end it all.
Unfortunately, Choi Yeong was wrong. The fate she fought against to even go to a country far away from her homeland just to protect Iseul failed. She forgot that Iseul will always be lured to create and nothing can stop it not even her. Destiny was written and now was too late to change it.
"Please! I beg you! Let me have her, she deserves to see the world. I can't call myself a mother if I kill her. It wasn't her fault to have such faith. I will protect her no matter what comes." Choi Yeong's plead echoed in his mind. It was sixteen years ago, she had finally learned the gender of her child and the tragedy that shouldn't have come true came true.
"Your mother's death was fated after she chose to have you against our wishes. The firstborn has always been cursed, especially a daughter. I told your mother when we found out about you. She chooses to have you over herself." Kim Ha Joon calmly answered, there was no hint of care or warmth in his tone just the sheer fact that Iseul caused her mother's demise.
"Will Jaehyun be affected by this?" The composed mask that withered away was back in Iseul's face. She stared at her grandpa devoid of emotions, eyes soulless like a night without a moon or stars.
Kim Ha Joon remains quiet for a few seconds, "Yes and no. Jaehyun was not supposed to see those kinds of stuff but he is. It is never a good thing. He will be cursed if it is true." He informed, with a sigh after everything.
"Tell everything I should know."
Kim Ha Joon glanced at his granddaughter, there was nothing but determination. She was just like her mother, level-headed and stubborn. "It started with our oldest ancestor who desired to be a god. No one knows what happened but his desire had a heavy price to pay. Price of his bloodline. We will create and die miserably at the hands of our creation. Nothing can stop that fate."
Kim Ha Joon still remembers the day when he first heard the story of another world from his father. However, it wasn't until he saw the horrible fate of his oldest brother that the haunting truth began to crush him. When Iseul's father suddenly disappeared he already saw it coming but killing a four-year-old before the cursed fate occurred was not something he could do.
Iseul remained quiet, hearing him intently. "Luckily you only lost one of your lungs and some severe injuries but I can't say that for next time to attack you. Pray you die in their hands." KimHa Joon added. He knew it was a cruel thing to say but death was the best option. Monsters are vicious, vile creatures. The one who survived saw a fate that can't be described in words.
"Lucky? Ma died because of me now Jaehyun is in trouble… Tell me will my death solve it? Will Jaehyun be ok?" The cracks in her calm facade started to appear. For a sixteen year old she was suprisingly calm and taking ieverything well. The calm and composed mask slowly starting to crack.
"No. Jaehyun will inherit you power with your death."
Iseul snarled, so that was the solution,"Then pray I don't die—"
THUD!
The noise stopped Iseul sentence in midway as both she and her grandfather glanced towards the door from where the voices came from. Jaehyun stood there frozen at the news. The bottle of mango drink in his hands plopped to the ground at his feet.
"What do you mean, you don't die, Noona?" Jaehyun questioned, his face ghostly pale.
Iseul felt her voice snuck out of her throat, and her heart dropped," Jaehyun…I mean the pain. The pain is killing me, right Grandpa?"
Iseul glanced at Ha Joon,"Yes. Let me call the doctor." He nodded, hurrying out of the room trying to be unsuspecting as much he could.
Jaehyun calm down picking up the bottle from the ground, a soft smirk appeared in his lips as he walked upto her. He handed the bottle to her,"You know, you should pray to die…Nuwa."