BANG

The familiar sound of shattering glass echoed around the dank small room. It was followed by several cracks that severed the brief silence in the air. The crack of the whip continued relentlessly as the victim of its malice cowered beneath its weight.

"Useless girl!" A harsh voice rang out, and then another crack of the whip

"I told you to stay in your place. Yet you insist on disobeying me!? How dare you!" With one final vicious snap of the whip the woman ceased her assault. She panted vigorously as she struggled to regain her breath. Madame Dong wiped the sweat that had formed across her large wrinkled forehead and glared under her.

"How many times do I have to say this. You belong to me. You will do as I say. Stop this sneaking out nonsense. If this man of yours really wanted to see you don't you think 2 years is plenty of time? Move on girl, because I will not tolerate anymore disobedience." She shouted. With one last disgruntled huff Madame Dong stormed out of the small room leaving a beaten Chaerin behind.

Slowly Chaerin dared to open her eyes. She surveyed the now empty room around her. A once pristine vase lay in shambles as she vaguely remembered its final journey towards her head as Madame Dong flung it at her.

With an effort Chaerin raised her now battered hands to lift her robe from its position around her waist , back up to her shoulders. As she moved the fabric with wobbly arms she couldn't help but glance at her skin. Her arms were bruised a gruesome red and purple. Some areas of her arms still remained as open cuts that bled in thin streams. As Chaerin finally pulled her robe back over her shoulders she could feel the burn of the whip across her back. She could feel the open sores that would have to be treated later. But most importantly for the first time she felt doubt.

She had snuck out of the inn where she worked under Madame Dong, and walked to a field. Here she remained for most of the night waiting. It was an action she repeated many times. Various days whenever she was sure all the other servants and most importantly Madame Dong had fallen asleep she would sneak out and keep watch. For him.

"It's a promise." he had said.

She intended to fulfill her end of the promise and wait no matter what the cost. Unfortunately, she didn't have luck on her side this night when she attempted to sneak out. A few feet away from hopping the gate between the two spots Chaerin had been spotted by another lingering servant and was promptly reported to Madame DOng. Her punishment was issued out swiftly and without mercy. Though it was painful it was something Chaerin had become acustomed to. It was her life.

Ever since she can remember her life was under the dominion of Madame Dong. Her parents she had never known as they had abandoned her at the age of six. For a short period of time she spent her days as a beggar. This ceased when Madame Dong took her in out of the 'kindness of her heart'. She had feigned concern over Chaerin in her younger years. Treating her like she almost had a heart even. There were days when Madame Dong would use her plump calloused hands to brush Chaerin's hair or help her dress. Since Chaerin had nowhere to go she gladly accepted this care. It wasn't until Chaerin turned twelve that Madame Dong revealed her true colors. She had finally mentioned the issue of debt that Chaerin had to pay. Madame Dong had calculated the amount she thought fit for herself after caring for Chaein for a number of years. The amount was something Chaerin could never hope to pay. So day in and day out Chaerin remained tied to the mundane inn and it's atrocious owner in a vicious cycle. The caring benefactor of the past had disappeared and was replaced with a cruel Madame who was not hesitant in giving beatings. For awhile Chaerin just gave up. By the time she was of age and a young woman of eighteen she had given up in her freedom and resigned to the idea of forever being a simple servant.

It all changed when he arrived though. He wasn't particularly friendly or even kind for that matter, in fact he was just like everyone else

"Can I help you sir?" she remembered asking.

It was an average spring day with the sun being somewhat of a pest with its heat. Chaerin had been assigned to the podium near the front of the inn to check in any new customers. Usually the job entailed absolutely nothing, seeing as only the same people came to the inn and they hardly ever bothered to check in and check out. They came as they pleased. So it took Chaerin a moment to register that there was actually a new face in the mix.

"I'd like a room please" a cold voice responded back.

Chaerin really looked at the man. He seemed to be around her age. He was slim, but had a somewhat muscular build to him. His eyes were harsh and had a cold glint in them yet his face still possessed a certain softness about it. Though very slight seeing as his bright red hair made him seem like more of a devil than anything else.

Her eyes had drifted down to his attire. He wore a soldier's uniform adorned with various medals and gold pins. No doubt he was a very important man. Chaerin wondered why he then was here.

She quietly showed him to his room and there ended her first encounter with him.

It wasn't much of a first meeting, but for some reason Chaerin felt drawn to him. She hadn't even known his name, but images of him constantly ran through her head. Maybe it was because he represented something beyond her miserable life at the inn . Whatever the case Chaerin constantly made attempts to talk to him. Bringing him extra towels, providing wake up calls, and many other ploys went unnoticed.

It all changed however, during one day in the field. The lush open pasture beyond Madame Dong's inn was separated by an elaborate gate. Every day the gate was opened in the afternoon at a set time to allow the servants to gather fruits or vegetables that grew in the mini forest. Chaerin, though liked to use this time to escape. There was a hidden spring under a section of the pasture that appeared to be a cliff's edge. Most were afraid to get close and see how far the drop was. But if they did , they'd realize there was no drop. More like a hole. The 'cliff' slid down to reveal a small crevice in the dirt. In this small crevice lay a beautiful a small spring. Here Chaerin would run during her break and escape into her own  imagination.

On one particular day though somebody had beaten Chaerin to her favorite destination. It was him.

"Jiyong." he had said at first glance. He barely looked at her.

"Chaerin." she had uttered meekly

"How did you find this place.?" she wanted to know.

" Everyone has their secrets." He had said accompanied with a dark humorless smile.

Without thinking Chaerin had uttered, "Tell me yours."

He had laughed at the time and simply dismissed her. But without realizing it he slowly showed her everything. As the days passed Chaerin spent her time in the fields with him in their secret oasis. Slowly the mask of the tough soldier began to break and she began to know the man beneath

Chaerin didn't let her mind linger too long on those memories as she attempted to rise from her spot. The words of Madame Dong remained on her mind longer than her wounds. Two years... She couldn't help but also think about why he hadn't returned. He promised yet- She had been silly to assume such happiness would come so soon. But on days like these she'd like to think he was only minutes away and would come back to rescue her from this hell.