We’ve been fighting and surviving for so long.

Together we’ve gone through thick and thin.

We risk it all for the clan.

I’m sorry I have failed you.

Don’t close your eyes don’t leave me

But there you lay in my arms.

Do you remember the days when we were young?

Before the world had crumbled and before our hearts fell numb.

When we were children free by the river.

I still remember that time.

~

“Hyungwon wake up, we’re here”

The sleeping boy opened his whiskey brown eyes and rubbed them gently as he pressed his face against the window to get a closer look of the outside area.

It was just as his father had described a lakeside village in the countryside with a few houses dotted here and there, a church and a little wishing well in the center. The grass which covered the hills overlooking the village was a luscious green and the river was like a blue snake winding itself around the village.

Hyungwon’s eyes widened in excitement as he scanned the area which was soon to be his new home, his father was a very famous and important priest who often travelled around the country so people could hear him doing his speeches and preaching. Hyungwon being his son had always been brought up with his father’s teachings and everyone had high expectations of the young boy in his future.

Unfortunately for Hyungwon, he wasn’t expected to find many kids in the village, it was an old place and mostly abandoned apart from a few elderly families, he didn’t understand how people wouldn’t want to live here, it seemed so free and beautiful compared to the large cities he was used to living in.

“Quit staring and come out the car, you can get a better look out here” his father called to him from outside the car.

Hyungwon stepped out the car and stood next to his father to admire the view.

“So this is our new home now?” the boy asked while pointing towards the main area of the village.

His father nodded “Yes son it is, you see that little cottage next to the church? That’s where we’ll be living”

Hyungwon smiled, he loved the chance to have a new experience somewhere he’d never been before, he felt as if life here would be a lot more relaxing and peaceful compared to life back in the city.

“Come on son, we need to go check out our new house and unpack before it gets dark, we can introduce ourselves as well as exploring the town more tomorrow okay?” his father instructed whilst leading him in the direction of the cottage.

Once they reached it Hyungwon couldn’t help but notice how dirty and abandoned it looked, ivy crawled up the outer walls of the cottage and a couple of the windows were smashed. His father pulled out a key he had received earlier on in the day and unlocked the door. As they entered it was obvious no one had lived here in a while, everything was covered in dust and there were spider webs in every corner.

“Looks like we’ll need to do a lot of cleaning in here, I don’t think it’s a good idea to sleep here either with all the dust and bugs so perhaps we should just sleep in the car tonight” his father suggested while leading Hyungwon out of the house and back to the car, tomorrow they would clean out the house so it was suitable to sleep in.

After settling down in the car Hyungwon pulled a blanket over himself and closed his eyes. His excitement to explore this place was keeping him awake but he knew he better go to sleep so he had plenty of energy for tomorrow.

Chuckling was what woke Hyungwon up on this fine day, he awoke to find his father chatting with an elderly man outside who he assumed must have been one of the villagers, they didn’t really seem to be talking about anything interesting, probably just introductions or something.

Hyungwon was feeling bored inside the car so he decided to climb out to explore, his father didn’t notice him sneaking out since he was too busy talking.

Hopefully Hyungwon