Six months later.
"So you are the new prisoner? The 'Pretty Face Psycho'. Alas! Your face is not that pretty."
In a barren wasteland, surrounded by a high fence with crowned razor blades. The parched playground where even weeds find it a hassle to survive. Few swings and types of equipment were put in like a kid's playground. Unlike the joyous and colourful existence, it has an opposite environment. The depressive ambience matches the gloomy sky.
A few women wearing bluish-grey sweats surrounded one of the swings. A redhead woman stood at the front, her forearms covered in tattoos.
In the middle sat a woman on the swings. Her long straight hair fell down her shoulder to her thighs. Fringes covering her forehead. Her body was frail like a skeleton. With a pale face, she looked like a ghost from the myths. Amid the chaos, her eyes remained on the pages of a tiny book in her hand.
"This bi*ch! Can't you hear us?" One of the women slowly poked her shoulder trying to get a reaction.
Iseul glanced up from her notebook. Her eyes scanned the women surrounding her from head to toe. Instead of saying anything to them, she went back to reading her book. The nonchalant face of her as she turned the pages of her book.
Seeing it, the redhead hissed in anger. With swiftness, she grabbed Iseul's book and tossed it to the ground. Iseul stared at the book on the ground. Without a word, she got up. Her legs reached for the book on the ground.
Iseul squatted to pick it up, when the redhead spitted on the book, kickin it away from Iseul's reach. Iseul kept quiet, drawing her lips into a line. She didn't have to look up at their face to notice to see the mocking faces.
She had already expected this. The world of criminals was cruel. Everyone there was for a murder or crime heinous enough. The hierarchy made in those places was clearer. Isuel kept quiet. Her tongue rubbed against her inner cheeks.
Iseul kept calm, getting up and trying to pick up when it was kicked again. After trying a few more times, Iseul gave up. She stood up. Her eyes met the redhead.
"What do you want?" Iseul questioned.
The redhead eyes narrowed at her. One side of her lips curling into a sneer. Her dark auburn brows raised up. Ilysa crossed her arms, tilting her head to the side she walked up to Iseul side. She stood in front of her, grabbing Iseul's long dark hair.
"Lower your eyes, b**ch." In a low dangerous tone Ilysa instructed. Her hands jerking Iseul's head down.
Iseul kept quiet following her order. Her nails dug into her palm as she stared at the barren ground. Her jaws clenched.
Ilysa glanced around keeping Iseul's head down with her grip. Her eyes gleaming in victory. "Arrogance doesn't suit your w**re face." Ilysa leaned closer whispering in her ear. Her hand finally let go of her hair.
"Put on some good makeup for the newbie." Ilysa instructed her minions as she walked away kicking the notebook for one last time.
The red notebook ended up hitting a wall and falling onto the ground with the pages open. The pristine pages are covered in inks and stains of blood.
Day 13
I have been in this enclosure for thirteen days now. It's worse than they told us about. Rules don't exist for the strongest one. Who am I to complain? I already knew it. No one had shown themselves after that incident. Instead I am dragged.
The forest of crypts. Everytime my eyes close, I enter that world. He basked in the sun and forest of the seaweeds till my eyes reached. The place where Ryong's story begins. Everytime I return from there, I am already drenched with my clothes. Crypt forest.
Day 15
The scenery changed. I stood at the gate which is located right above the waterfall. This was the second scene. Ryong had to swim up the waterfall crossing the gate to become a dragon. I am sure I am watching the story unfold. I am reliving his journey.
***
Iseul lay down on her bed. The concrete walls suddenly relax her muscles. Her face was covered in bruises and blood from earlier. It has been a hundred and eighty days since everything started. Her eyes glanced at the red booklet.
Re-experiencing his life, there must be a reason. Ryong. What was he planning? He must have attacked by now. What were his plans for her?
Iseul sat down, her eyes fixed on the booklet. Out of nowhere the light in her already poorly lit room was out. Suddenly a darkness surrounded the place.
It was rare. The prison rarely goes out of prison. The Ironic home lifestyle of prisoners would be better than some law bounded citizens. Iseul pondered, getting up from her place. With slow steps she grabbed the bars of her cell, trying to learn the cause.
"Nuwa.."
The eerily familiar voice rang in her ears. Suddenly the world around her stopped. Same soft voice, Iseul turned around. Even in the complete darkness, those blue orbs shone brighter than the sun.
"How long has it been? How was the experience?" The voice continued. Those orbs moving closer to her. The cells felt too suffocating for her. It was too narrow to squeeze her. Her body remained frozen as dreaded scenes from the past flashed in front of her eyes.
"Kim Iseul." Choi Yeong's voice rang in her ears. The five feet woman standing with her hands on her hips. Her eyes narrowed at her. Iseul burst into laughter.
"You finally decided to appear. You f**king coward!"