Rae-Won

We reached Yangbaek village which was right outside of Seoho Fortress. I do not like that fact that we came this way because the brothel is this way. The same brothel my sister worked at before she was engaged to her fiancé.

Can you believe she got married and didn't invite my mother and I? She wrote us note though like who does that. 
 

Tragic.

My mother and I had very little money so things was going to be tight. I didn't mind it though because I only cared if she ate. As we got off the boat people began to stare at us. 

I'm used to it I know I look different. So that didn't bother me at all. 

"I know a merchant here so we should be able to get food and fresh, new clothing" she said as she grabbed my hand.

I nodded in agreement and followed her lead. 

We were looking for some one named Park Song-Ho. He has been friends with my mother for a very long time. As we walked through the market. I spotted those same men dress in Cheong swordsman attire. 

Some was buying food while others stood around chatting with others. 

My mother began walking fast to a small stand that sold Jade pins. I pulled the one I had out my hair and noticed that it resembled the ones that the merchant was selling. He came back to the stand and placed some other things out.

When he noticed my mother he yelped in surprise. 

I frowned because he really was drawing attention to us.

"Hye-Woo! Is that you!?" he said very loud.

People was starting to look at us. 

"Yes, Song-Ho it's me" she said as she gave him a hug.

"Rae! Wow you have gotten big girl" he said engulfing me in a hug.

"Can we keep the noise down please" I asked annoyed. 

My mother scolded me and tapped my hand.

"What bring you guys to Yangbaek" he asked.

"Uhhh adventure" she said.

I rolled my eyes. Like...why are you lying woman. We need to get out of here with all this noise you all making.

"So much for an adventure" I said folding my arms.

"We actually need help" my mother said as she pinched my arm. 

I looked at her like she was crazy.

"Anything you need I can help" he said.

Good.

He closed his shop and lead us into his house which was right behind his stand. He gave us clean Hanboks to put on. He also gave us food to eat once we were comfortable. 

I learned that his wife passed a few months and he grieved alone because he didn't have any kids. I felt bad for him especially because he didn't have any kids. 

I washed up really good and changed into the hanbok I was given. I washed my hair with hot water and a mixture of flowers and leaves that my mother prepared for me. I detangled with a fine comb and let it air dry since it was sunny outside. I took very good care of my hair. 

Even though it wasn't much to find for my hair type I made it work and my hair was flourishing. I washed every 3 weeks and cleaned my scalp as best as I could my mother gave me head massages and I left it alone.

Most of the time it would be pinned up with the hair pin my mother gave me as a child. 

After that I went to eat. I sat down at the table with my mother and Sang-Ho. We discussed what happened at the village. He told us that we could stay as long as we want and my mother could make some money by selling the hair accessories he makes.

I mean it sounded like a good idea but we was not supposed to stay here. I didn't want to stay here. Those men walked through here daily and I was not okay with that. And I knew for a fact that she was going to try and get me to work at that brothel. 

I was not going for that at all. I would burn that place down. 

Sang-Ho didn't make it any better because he was telling us the story of how he and his wife met. And guess what.... THEY MET AT THE FREAKING BROTHEL ! 

I don't have time to be beating old drunk men up. When he said that my mother smiled and looked at me. I looked around as if she was looking for somebody else. 

She better not do it.

Once we finished eating he decided to walk us around. Show us where to go and not go. He told me to put on a blindfold so I wouldn't be noticeable. My mother put on a head covering. 

This was the worst idea because how in the hell was I supposed to know where to go. I mean I could sneak a peek but this was absolutely stupid. We walked around for a good 30 minutes when a woman came up to us. She smelled amazing.

She said that she was running low on workers at the brothel and she wondered if I could work there.

I immediately took of the blind fold.

"Rae what are you doing, put that back on" mother said as she put it back on.

"You better not send me there" I whispered to her.

I could just see the big smile on her face.

"My daughter is blind but she can definitely work there" she said.

"That's okay we can work with that" the woman said.

Before she could even touch me I took of running through the street market.

I knew she was going to do it. I ran as fast as I could. I didn't even notice that I entered Songrim village. I took the blind fold off for a second to see where I was. I ran into some one as I helped them up it was the young lady from my village.

"You!" I said as I gripped her tightly.

She somehow got out of my grip and ran. I ran after her. 

"Hey! Stop!" I yelled out to her.

For a split second I felt my self being yanked up into the air. 

A trap.

Well I'll be...

She came back and saw me hanging up side down. Before I could say anything she blew smoke into my face and I immediately fainted. 

After a few hours later I found myself bound to a tree. She was sitting in front of me. She didn't look alive at all. She lost her color and she had beads of sweat across her forehead.

"What's your name" she asked.

I just looked at her.

"I'm Naksu" she said.

I still didn't say anything.

"Well like it or not I am going to soul shift which means that our souls will be bound together for eternity" she said.

The energy I saw back at the village began radiating off of her. So that's what a soul shifter is. 

"Hey what makes you think it will work. You can't just take over my body like that." I said to her. 

"You're one also but your not the bad kind. You was born with that ability along with being able to see death" she said.

I didn't know what to say. I mean how did she even know that to begin with. She began mixing energy into her hands. It was in the form of water. It felt as if I was falling. I was no longer bound, but floating and I was face to face with her. I look around it was nothing but space fused with different colors. 

Black smoke shot into the clouds. We didn't switch places but her soul was able to intertwine with mine. All that was left was her floating body. Everything went black. I came back to my senses. I heard my name being called. I slowly opened my eyes and saw my mother hovered over me. I wasn't tied to the tree anymore. 

I sat up slowly and looked around me. Naksu body was gone I felt no different except I could see soul shifters a little better and could spot one a mile away. I remember her saying that it was good and bad ones. So I was the good. She was a good one also. Good ones radiated blue energy and the bad ones radiated red energy.

If a soul shifter doesn't feed within a certain time it goes wild and kills everyone. 

"Mom why am I out here" I asked her.

The fact that I couldn't remember anything that just happened proved that we now share connected energy. 

"Rae why did you run off" my mother asked.

"I don't know" I said standing to my feet.

"Rae you okay, you don't look so good" she asked.

"I'm fine I just don't remember how I got here" I said.

I felt my skin and hair. I mean everything is the same but I have someone else's energy? 

Confusing right?

We went back to Song-Ho house and he gave me a small cup of tea.

Night began to fall. 

I couldn't sleep because all I could hear is Naksu voice in my head. That lady know she can talk. She told me who she was and where she came from but I just wish she would shut up for one minute. 

I walked outside to get some fresh air. It wasn't cold it was just right. It was beautiful outside. The lights were lit around the Seoho fortress. Women and men walked by to go to the brothel. I walked around the village to get a feel for it. I saw an elderly lady sitting by a running stream of water. I walked over to here and asked if I could join her.

"You know I have lived here my whole life and have never been behind those walls" she said.

"I bet it's beautiful behind it" I said.

I saw death appear beside her. I tried so hard to mask my facial expression but I guessed she sensed something was off.

"It's here isn't it" she asked.

"Yeah" I said.

"That's okay because I lived a beautiful life. I'm widowed, I was married to a handsome and wonderful man, I birthed 3 beautiful girls. So that's enough for me" she said

I couldn't help but shed a tear because she reminded me so much of my mother. 

"You're a beautiful girl, you're very special, you're gonna meet a man that's going to love you with all his might. Your just going to have to love him back. Don't be afraid of what's to come. Use the gifts you were born with and you will be just fine" she said.

I nodded in agreement and gave her hug. It felt as if she was telling me my future. I walked home and sat on the bench outside. I cried because I knew that death was coming for my mother. I was not ready to let her go just yet. She's all I have and I want to support her the best way that I can and the best I know since she taught me everything I need to know. 

I looked back over by the stream and the lady was gone. I looked at the stars and the moon and wondered how could I extend my mothers life. 

Sounds crazy right there's no such thing.

Right?