Chapter 2

N - Hakyeon

I held my breath as the door creaked open. Soft footsteps entered the room. A hand parted the gowns and barely missed my shoulder. The hand found a small dial and turned it until I heard a click. the hand retreated quickly. Quietly I began to breath again. The figure walked out the door without a word. I exhaled and stood from my spot, stumbling over a box of parachute pants, and stretched my arms. I waited a few more minutes before feeling brave enough to poke my head out of the door. The door let out a loud creek, that had not been there when the door was first opened. Ignoring the odd change to the condition of the door’s hinges, I looked out to my left and right.

        The hallway looked nothing like it had before. It was made of stone blocks and lined with glowing torches. I stepped back and closed the door for a  moment, before reopening it to the same torch lined hall. Timidly I stepped out into the hall and shut the door. The door was made of a heavier wood and had an old iron handle with an intricately designed keyhole.

        "Hello?" I called out, jumping slightly at the echo. Glancing left and right, both directions looked identical with a heavy oak door at each end. "Going left got me into this mess. I'll go right this time." I nodded my head at my own logic as I ventured down the hall.

        The sound of my steps echoed around me, giving me the erie feeling of being followed. Coming to a stop in front of the sturdy door, I took a deep breath and pulled it open. Only to find stairs winding upward. With a slight groan I started upward.

         After awhile I began to see natural light. There were large windows cut into the side of the staircase. Once I reached the top of the staircase, I found another door. I with a sigh I pulled open this door too. Behind it I found a large sitting room filled with paintings of women and men in stuffy outfits with ridiculous collars. I walked around the room taking in each detailed, until I stopped at a painting that held strangely familiar features.  

        A door banged open startling me. I jumped and turned to face the source of the noise. There stood another familiar face. In a shocked whisper he addressed me, "My lord! You cannot be here." He stepped toward me cautiously with his head slightly bowed. "What was so important that you had to come yourself?"

        Confused, I started to answer, "Uh, I, um." I looked around the room. "Hongbin, where?" I started.

Upon hearing loud footsteps growing near, Hongbin's eyes snapped open. "You must go now!" He stepped forward and press firmly against a brick of stone beside the picture of the strangely familiar man. There was a click and the picture popped forward. Behind the painting was another hallway. "I'm sorry my lord." Hongbin apologized and then pushed me forward shutting the painting behind me.

This new hallway had no lighting. I choose to stay behind and wait for Hongbing to return for me rather than trying to venture on my own into the darkness. After a short while and lots of rustling, I heard shrill voices chattering.

        "The prince must choose a bride soon." Spoke an elderly woman.

        "If he selects one of the eligible women from Vannes, we may finally come to an agreement." Stated a different woman. There were murmurs of agreement.

         "There are risks to selecting a bride from Vannes." There were a few gasps and comments of agreement.

    Vannes? I mouthed to myself. I racked my brain trying to remember if I had ever heard of such a place.

        "I hear that there are women there trained in the art of assassination." Whispered one woman sounding quite scandalized.

         "I hear that their assassins like to dress as women!" Added another.

        The woman continued to discuss Vannes and giggle. After what seemed like hours, a new male voice joined them and asked for them to gather in the hall for dinner. There was the rustling of petticoats and the a loud bang as they left through the same door where the had entered.

        Hongbin opened the door again, and sat me down a pink flowered sofa. I tried to pull him to sit beside me and he shook his head f