A Dark Past I'd Rather Forget
This is a dark chapter of my past that I no longer even want to remember.
It was not long after the Gates had begun tearing open across the world without warning. Human civilization had been shattered. The very idea of Awakening was still faint and unclear.
In the ruins of a half-destroyed city center, a boy and a girl ran hand in hand.
Graaaaaaaaawr—
Kweeeeeeeeeek—
"Huff, huff… We're almost there. Just hold on a little longer!"
"Hanseong… I can't feel my legs anymore."
"We're almost there. Let's keep going just a bit more!"
"But…"
"Hey! Kim Eunah! If we stop now, we die. Have you forgotten how we've survived until now? For the people who sacrificed themselves for us, we can't give up like this!"
"I'm so tired now… Just leave me behind…"
Thud—
"…Eunah."
"We've already lived a long time, haven't we? Mom and Dad are gone. Gayoung, Gilsu, Dayeon, and even Jeongah… they're all dead. What's the point of living any longer?"
"…We have to survive. If both of us die, the ones who went first will curse us. Especially Jeongah."
"Hahaha, yeah… you're right…"
Like two cats licking each other's wounds, they talked without stopping. They spoke to forget their situation even for a moment, hoping their brains would shut down if they drowned in old memories.
How long had they been talking? The sun slowly sank and the world grew dark.
In the middle of their quiet conversation, the girl asked the boy.
"…Hanseong."
"Yeah?"
"If the Gates disappear… and the monsters are all gone, everything will go back to the way it was, right?"
"…Probably not. The dead don't come back. What's left belongs to the living."
The girl began to cry without making a sound. The boy held her in silence. No words of comfort were spoken, yet she felt her heart grow calmer.
Swallowing her tears, the girl spoke.
"I still don't understand. Why we have to live like this. We could die any day… Every single day is terrifying. And I miss people so much it drives me insane. If it weren't for you, I'd already be dead. Hey, Hanseong. Tell me. What should I do?"
"I'm not that smart either, so I don't have all the answers. But one thing is certain. I'm going to live. I'll live happier and more full of hope than any of the people who died before me. And I'll save you no matter what."
Even in this hopeless situation, the girl discovered a small smile on her own face. And in that moment she realized she had fallen for the boy…
Graaaaaaaaah—
Krrrrrrrr—
"Damn it, it's getting dark. We need to get up fast. We're almost inside the Hunters' territory. If we reach it, we can survive!"
Hunters. A name that had only recently appeared, referring to those who hunted monsters. Rumors claimed they were stronger than the monsters themselves and could do things ordinary humans never could. The survivors all knew the stories even if they had never seen one.
There's still hope. Both Eunah and I are going to survive!
Clinging to that hope, the boy helped the girl to her feet.
"Come on, let's go!"
Thud—
"…Huh?"
The girl gave a sad smile.
"I'm sorry, Hanseong… My legs…"
"Your… leg!"
Blood was steadily soaking through the left leg of her pants.
When did she get hurt? I didn't even notice and kept pushing her… Damn it. Damn it all!
"Eunah…"
"Go! Go and live for both of us!!!"
"No… This isn't right. I'll save you. I will."
After a moment of frantic muttering, the boy made up his mind. He tore off his coat and tied it tightly around her wound.
"This should stop the bleeding for a while. We just need to find people and get you treated."
Then he lifted her onto his back and started running again.
"Hey, Lee Hanseong!!! Are you crazy? If you die too…"
"Huff… huff… Sorry. You can yell at me later. Just hold on tight!"
How long did they run? A faint light appeared far ahead.
"There it is!"
The boy and girl pinned their last hopes on that light. But hope and despair often arrive together.
Kweeeeeeeeeeeek—
It was a monster measured as E-class. A goblin.
In games, goblins were nothing but weak trash mobs. In reality they were different. Smaller and frailer than humans, yet cunning. They hunted in packs, slowly driving their prey into a corner.
Surrounded by the horde, the two braced themselves.
The girl instinctively knew this was the end.
The boy desperately searched for any way to survive.
After a brief silence, the girl made her decision. At the exact same moment, the boy made his.
"Hanseong… The truth is, I li—"
"Somebody help us!!!!! Please save us!!!!! There are people here!! We have food!!!!!"
Just as the girl tried to confess, the boy screamed with everything he had.
"Anyone looking for food!!!!!"
The sudden shout startled the goblins. They hesitated, and the boy kept yelling.
"I know where the food warehouse is!!!!! Save us and I'll give you the food!!!!! Right here!!!! …Gack."
Thump—
Screaming until his throat tore, the boy was struck in the head and collapsed.
"Hanseong!!!"
"Urgh… So this is really the end… Haha. How empty. If only I'd had just a little more strength…"
As the goblins moved in to finish them,
"Found you!"
Slice—
With a clean cutting sound, every goblin head flew off at once.
Blood fountained from the severed necks.
A figure walked forward through the spray. A woman with snow-white skin and long, silky black hair. Her pitch-black eyes looked as if they contained the entire universe.
She scanned the area, frowned, and spoke.
"Hey, brats. Where's the food?"
"Fucking…"
"Fucking? Who the hell do you think you're talking to, you little shit?"
"Fucking… you're beautiful. Shit."
Thud—
The boy collapsed, strength completely gone.
"What? Heh… You're an interesting little brat."
"Hanseong!!!"
The girl pulled the boy into her arms, worried.
The woman glanced at the fallen boy, then turned to the girl.
"Hey, brat. Where's the food?"
"Hanseong… Hanseong…"
The girl kept calling his name as if she couldn't hear anything else. Soon after, she collapsed beside him.
"Haha…"
The woman laughed as if she couldn't believe it.
"Look… My patience isn't exactly outstanding."
Crack—
"Kyaaaaaaaaah!!!"
She mercilessly stomped on the unconscious boy's hand.
"Huk… Huff. It… hurts! It hurts it hurts it hurts!!!!"
Tears streaming down his face, the boy clutched his injured hand and sat up.
"Then why the hell did you collapse? Thought I'd let you rest easy? Where's the food, you bastards!!!"
Crack—
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah… Ha… Ha… Please… save me…"
Clutching the hand that had been crushed twice in the same spot, the boy thought, Haa… This person didn't come to rescue anyone. She came for the food.
But he had no food left.
If she finds out I don't have any, she might get angry and kill me.
She killed those monsters like it was nothing. Is she a Hunter…?
"Food… I know where the food storage is."
"Yeah, yeah. Now we're getting somewhere. Where?"
"Before that…"
Crack—
"……Ughhh."
The boy no longer had the strength to scream. He swallowed the painful groan.
"I haven't even said anything yet. Why…?"
"I can hear your scheming brain from here. What, do I look like a fucking pushover?"
"……"
"I'll say it one more time. I ask. You answer. Simple, right?"
"……Yes."
Words like loyalty or human affection won't work on this person… What do I do?
"Urghhh…"
This time the groan came from the girl.
"…Ah! Eunah!!!"
The boy rushed over and examined her leg.
It's completely soaked… The bleeding won't stop. If we don't treat her soon, Eunah will…
"Oh for fuck's sake, you're both putting on a show. You two in this together?"
"Please… let me treat Eunah. Then I'll tell you about the food storage, and I'll do anything you want. Anything at all."
The boy continued, trembling violently.
"I'm fast at running, so I can be bait or whatever, please just…"
"…Brat. Do I look like someone who needs bait?"
"B-but you never know when it might be useful! I'll do anything, please…"
She fell silent for a moment, thinking. Maybe the boy's desperation had moved her. Then, as if a good idea had struck her, she spoke.
"Ah!… Then let's make a bet."
"A… bet?"
"Noona's in a fucking terrible mood right now. The food that was supposed to appear didn't show up, and you brats were busy filming your little romance. You think I'm not angry?"
"You… are angry."
"Right. Since you made me angry, it's only fair I take it out on you, yeah?"
She sneered.
"Exactly one minute. Endure my 'lesson' for one minute without screaming and you win."
"I'll control my strength so you don't die. Don't worry too much."
The moment she finished speaking, she slapped the boy's cheek.
Slap—
"Urk."
The taste of blood and iron filled his mouth, but he barely held back the scream that nearly burst out.
This person is insane…
"Alright, it's starting now. Bite down hard. Ready?"
Thud— Thud— Thud—
The endless sounds of impact and the boy's suppressed screams quietly echoed through the ruins.