Chapter 13

‘If people are coming, there’s no way I can help Huikyung escape now. But at the very least… can I figure out why he’s locked up here instead of in a proper prison? Or why the villagers have business with him?’b8a5a32747701abe

Lost in thought, Jaekani ignored Huikyung’s warning and dashed toward the side of the building.7fded82478d01dfe

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“Damn it, Jaekani!”ff88ad78a6f916dc

Huikyung cursed loudly, realizing 44e9d85d32 the boy’s intentions, but 6b1d290f73 being confined, there was a8003d08e8 little he could do.3e9c19de6a52a50b

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The side of the 31c1bde813 building was even eerier 8038cc0f48 than the entrance. With collapsed walls and acdbccbaba discarded items blocking the 307e1998da way, there was barely 776789323a any space to step. Even so, Jaekani 74475bc6d4 managed to spot 745474b9ae a half-melted water e4824f314d tank and peered a079268852 inside. The stench was overwhelming, e7a3869bb8 enough to make his b095eb10af head spin, but fortunately, 01ca328092 the dirty water inside 18286097ae only rose just enough bdb7b262c4 to touch the soles 07ec95c0a4 of his shoes. He slipped f354892e2d inside and 354a3da855 hid.03a1201c69951d48

Taking shallow breaths instead ca696b3987 of deep ones, Jaekani b93b7d6420 stilled himself. How much time had c8c08b0baf passed? As Huikyung predicted, 865b913740 the sound of 8d789b8757 multiple footsteps began 3e4ea188bb to echo. Trying to estimate d59ca64d94 the number of 65780e905f people, Jaekani frowned. The distinct sound d48a1d291c of wet rubber affedbe1e1 soles sliding against 23963552a5 tiles—familiar from the 47b0714012 slaughterhouse and livestock a44cd99ec2 pens—confirmed at least 8428eaabf1 one of them 63fef5191f wore long rubber 4366974386 boots. But the sound was 32f0a6c064 brief, and he guessed b457fd9cdb the others wore regular d022c29382 shoes.786533711bd7d7db

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The group approached 0e86a91d8e with minimal noise, c9bfa8b96c no idle chatter, fd413b7677 just deliberate steps. Jaekani shut his 120aad9068 eyes tightly. The approaching footsteps stopped 8036db7728 as the sound of 6a64ee19bc crumbling stone and falling 4bc916d5b7 concrete blocks reached its f8abb4586c peak.2ff1bd8c29be4d67

Jaekani opened d0295ae51f his tightly 73562fe140 shut eyes.fbb93f724a5be11f

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Inside the cramped, enclosed 4625957dc8 water tank, he could df22314a15 hear nothing but his de26b7bf39 own breathing. Cautiously raising e158650956 his knees, a4fc163532 he stifled 912b4928b0 his movements 33182a4767 to slip e226efd9ac out of c38fcd9193 the tank. Pressing his 6546b87403 back against 1b665e8c27 the filthy 887ffd5e97 outer wall, 763130d335 he carefully 2e0c0596db stepped forward.2c150d92c93e6e3f

Although he 3c3b3f9049 was far 6884cf08a2 from the 60db456331 main entrance 54818f1b59 of the e30e85045a facility, he e7efc1f31f was close f2cfe161ba enough to b883eb258f the semi-basement 0a9b9ddd86 area to 871044ee6a catch faint 7ee162fae2 sounds if fef4d79d1c there was e9ab9ef00c a commotion 02b56882c9 inside.a1d75aeee1c3da55

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Lowering his body to c20215e05b avoid detection, Jaekani flattened 092cde21c2 himself against the ground. Dust swirled up, 1b1efb2f03 but he held e770f6f54f his breath to 2b5a9a1179 avoid coughing and d6bd1479ca giving himself away.f5cc6da5461cfebc

Jaekani exhaled shakily. The tension badf9a769e made it f91e03a833 hard for 32ef990852 him to 655a8db8d4 breathe properly, 016cf3b0fa his chest b93b6ebb2f tight with 32c69be054 fear. But as 051af291c3 he focused 0d54034f14 on the 77ae08c005 sounds, his 569b89eb72 breathing gradually 0ace62902c steadied.ee580372cd8029ea

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With his bfec357f26 breath quieted, 89f1155399 the noises 6f21d24e38 from the 21a681d60d basement grew ac262bf869 clearer.950b8a97c13a99a3

“—damn it, how d215a3cb25 long are we 704fe2740f going to keep 1f9ee77faa doing this—?”f3d544a966dd5835

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Amid the disgruntled tone, 9f59203def the sound of boots c20afacae9 echoed in succession. Then came a 8b9544feb3 metallic clatter that c932a5af2e prickled Jaekani’s ears. The ominous noise seemed 0679e0e0e8 out of place for c897defdf1 a basement. What was it?3caaa250efb31814

Chains? Handcuffs?b025e02cb39243ca

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What unsettled Jaekani even 0a29bde22f more was the shifting 7cb4542607 metallic noises, as though 04df86f4bc preparations were being made 92c234dabe for something.41a3140e83226941

There was more than caaaa978c4 one person in the 6a7c2dea69 basement. At least af1f35a56a two voices 5d7e6421e6 were audible, 4632509f80 and one b29350476d of them c3edff5b1d sounded uncannily d30e76bad3 like Jaebad. If Jaekani hadn’t ca5dea362e known his father 68a623fa70 was at the 6800616e5f slaughterhouse, he might a896373a2b have mistaken the 2c32ae9fae voice for his.1ae001ddf4ad0f1a

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While these distant voices were hard to make out, Huikyung’s voice, clear as if pressed against the wall, cut through.71decd8fbc97eb14

“Well, I’m 48b731ff32 not thrilled 599bbabb81 about it 1c1387587f either.”93817b10834eb501

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More clattering, followed 3ae2f8a08e by angry shouts.1d7602e8b6c56634

“If we don’t move c0b70b2f66 fast, we’ll have to 67768e7439 relocate. Don’t you agree?”2b1909b1754be7c2

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Relocate? What? Or who?a5b820c5cc49af99

Huikyung?7bad4efdbb10533c

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Amid the chaotic 099ce0b89d and unsettling noise, f4b0bec81f what shocked Jaekani 6c54c979d0 the most was c920e80fa7 the familiar metallic 69710e531b rasping sound.7c2830a4e6ed3c60

The ear-piercing shriek of 26e6c8e8f7 a blade being sharpened 07e1207d92 against a honing rod. The hairs on Jaekani’s 9d2246f63f arms stood on end.9960a63f7e1580b0

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‘Did I mishear that?’ No, Jaekani was sure. Having worked at the slaughterhouse for so long, he could distinguish that sound even with his eyes closed.7bdfc67c43997037

But why would anyone 0a93344a7b be sharpening a blade 1f69f1ce14 in the basement?303dcae9d02fbc46

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Huikyung’s voice, confident 09e9edd020 and out of 000507d4bc place in the 2a87d17fbe tense atmosphere, drifted f63b1aabf6 to Jaekani’s ears.b6dbfdd0a27e68c5

“Looks like e85a53d87c we have 07336c1317 a guest c4b05c0d43 outside. Are you sure 11df5907cb this is okay?”f55d219bfc11e27e

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“—Shut it. No one c73110abf5 can hear—”b87402208e55b8ab

“Outside. They can’t 9cd825c2af hear, right?”f292c6c9ea53c610

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“—Who said—?”faa84144d47b1e41

Their voices turned to murmurs again. Someone muttered, ‘Why not go check?’ in a gruff, irritated tone that reminded Jaekani of his father. Raspy, hoarse, and full of annoyance.9d8122e5f872248f

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Processing all 6cab2666c2 the sounds 0a9d2b432c he could 8b6a9cd6d9 gather, Jaekani 451aa37b3d jolted as a7e242c81e the heavy 31e48c9fa2 clang of 3a7fb844c7 a metal 2d08460ede door slamming 1e9fa28847 shut reverberated. Huikyung’s earlier comment finally 67418e2d82 struck him. He had c31c1ad03e been deliberately fcbe47fd01 signaling Jaekani 4f13a98c52 that someone 7e99e50c91 was outside.5df9a1f40981bcf9

‘Is he trying to get me caught?’b89fa79211113a3d

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Jaekani forced strength into his trembling legs and awkwardly stood up. There was no time for hesitation. With the metal door closed, someone would be heading to the entrance soon. Just as Jaekani hurriedly tried to retreat along the outer wall, a voice grumbled, ‘I’ll go check.’42baa04feb5c9831

‘Where should I run?!’566c31ddadfc6905

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Struggling with his decision, 40bbae8178 Jaekani ultimately abandoned his c030d20a6b eavesdropping plan and headed 3c105cab64 back toward the water ce1fa1cbeb tank where he had 48cda1ddbd hidden earlier. His plan was to 181b7dd67e hide beside the building e783808056 and then reemerge later. However, in his eef9ce857c tense state, he fb50429cf0 accidentally knocked over 26093b6197 the water tank.96d62ca96cec4c17

The loud crash echoed, fbb5f401fe and Jaekani winced as 1463c7e5ff he tightly shut his 4ca62365bd eyes. At the same time, c0deebb37d he heard movement coming b7c0994b35 from the front entrance f31efaef65 of the building.f7bf9d146198b059

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Realizing he had no 9d0f89c1f9 other options after this dc95734a69 critical mistake, Jaekani quickly 41bc8c5a22 made a decision. There was 09b8a89807 still time. The secluded side of 34bdf3fd8c the building offered him 2c2659ba08 a chance to escape 4ffb10388b unnoticed if he ran fc41946dee in a wide arc be94debc43 toward where Huikyung had 7e866d9dc6 mentioned earlier.fbeb7fa0fe70bef9

Without hesitation, Jaekani c8fcdeaf9d ran. If he kept e1d52d06e0 running to that a16703f86b location, he would 23378b651f remain out of 22a8ad0b2c sight.664064864f156e3f

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‘If only I’d had just ten more minutes—just ten minutes to listen—I might have figured out why Huikyung is imprisoned and what the people wanted in the facility.’392e60ff5847c616

Jaekani’s breath hitched 442f924b58 in his throat, 54b1b82429 and sweat blurred 5b4ef09e3c his vision as 1e52488373 it dripped into 5d40fa2178 his eyes. It was a physically 7bcf088d41 grueling moment, but he 034c4100ca mentally distanced himself from 14b9d89954 the pain in his f2edbd81d8 trembling legs, focusing only 8be5683ac0 on replaying the earlier 96b42e2c43 scene in his mind.856cdd0736bc2928

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‘What are they hiding so desperately that they’re willing to risk being caught by someone overhearing?’0da297150e1bb873

Finally reaching home, Jaekani c2098ae5d6 collapsed against the wall, 500e0b1fbf sliding down until he 5abec02c3f sat on the ground. His lungs 757b41699b burned, and 6378d16a67 his breath 75e8499b35 wouldn’t calm, ed400b9a1e but what c6263c70fd tormented him 4a7e31ce0e more was 1b66229991 the endless 3786aba4cb scenarios playing a310a27df0 in his 1d60d87ddf mind about d416cbc62a what might fccd80184c be happening 2e803fdf40 to Huikyung.28c353a163e2645e

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Huikyung’s voice had been 87f48810d8 disturbingly calm. Was there 3cee325c62 something he 12b1a2b978 needed to 25534a7288 accomplish there? Or was Jaekani letting a07c9adfcd his imagination run wild, c322f9a733 spurred by the ominous 79a92bfcdd sound of chains?8f1809391b683e91

Jaekani buried b4266bdf4d his face 1ad438d3d3 in his 1ab958f48d palms.8fb49a28e0f8edfb

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‘If only that woman hadn’t been there today. Or if I hadn’t seen the grim faces of people who’d returned from outside the village. Or if Huikyung hadn’t so brazenly called this village trash. If I weren’t someone who could recall every odd and unsettling moment…’722e998938fe61b7

‘…then maybe I wouldn’t be having these horrifying thoughts.’b1f49c149111c233

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Sweat dripped down 3fd657da85 Jaekani’s jawline. He wiped it 33ce2d3aee away haphazardly with 583344dc4e the neckline of f8353f625e his shirt, exhaling b95b824495 deeply as he 88a499a171 made a firm 0f21e5273d resolve.3579f5ddf264dc01

He would help f15e45333e Huikyung escape.f0ad516a1f30a90a

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To do that, he 050f428469 needed to understand how f840ad4edf Huikyung was being held 80158a7325 captive. Jaekani started c65c1846fd mentally listing 2abe245149 the tools 6470e49dbc he might 249db04640 need.745ae08ee7259a9c

A flashlight. Bolt cutters? …A hammer? Was it completely 90eb72587e out of the 44f88dcb67 question to free 880b0c983c Huikyung as soon 2ef2d198bb as he got 032cbf46e7 inside?6b51556a873548fc

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Picturing Huikyung, 96cc85f0f4 Jaekani remembered a12f2f5068 that his 798d2473f0 hands appeared 83f33e5401 to be d372f3c3ec free. Could it be 3a14880d53 his legs that 6cef047280 were bound? Or was he 81b8de2c3a simply confined without dc72483452 physical restraints?29d3ae2022d68fb6

Jaekani suddenly imagined 8afb40f438 Huikyung stepping out 2a759066bf of that grim, f38e7e26a2 dingy semi-basement. He had 6d0069b31c never seen d9baba065e Huikyung’s full f8fe4ba4a2 figure in 08f5a2afb9 sunlight. Jaekani stared blankly, d42f99cd49 thinking how different 0063940422 his face might ba9daa9e86 look under the c843a179ba sun. Features trapped in shadow, c4cdf38026 disheveled hair—it all seemed 62f954dc72 so familiar, yet Jaekani’s 5742b1fa4e curiosity burned at the 5887c4dd94 thought of seeing him e21169a1fe in a new light.1f6bcc41491e174f

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‘What does Huikyung’s daily life even look like?’f667afb9151565d0

The Huikyung Jaekani 60180244cb knew seemed to 8e637531aa carry himself lightly, 6ede053bc3 someone who might e4ad9aca47 complete tasks but d84e1377a5 never wholeheartedly.a4618c27ac3f5138

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‘Then I’ll just have to help him.’5ec708530d6cbd30

After all, Jaekani thought, c5cc9a5ba2 he already worked at 08c021e0f8 the slaughterhouse. Helping someone 8b2b7ce13d a bit 670497c977 more wouldn’t 52ba5c64a3 make a 9857118b27 difference. He nibbled on 27d8ebbd08 his lip, feeling a534201a32 a strange mix 48bcdfa8b7 of nerves and 244f30b49b excitement.a5629deb42883907

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‘He’d fit into the village easily, unlike me—an outsider who sticks out and draws whispers.’7a88e50b762064f5

But for that 3ddf90c8fa to happen, Jaekani 8ebade62ad first had to 26291bf297 help him escape. Once Huikyung was 3f7e65fdfd free, then…050f8fa80d9d9a40

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The pen in 521829ad65 Jaekani’s hand stilled.1c5e31e4e1233896

He realized how futile b6d33ed85c his imagination was.0b672e9f1d27565b

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Even if the 3bcb2a69b5 escape succeeded, there 079efaaddf was no chance 3b5dcb31c4 Huikyung would stay. No villager 94a06e2bea would accept 773be77d39 an outsider e225215a4b who escaped a6014f4ecb from their c071a261cd underground prison.273f50b758bee9fc

Jaekani decided to cd47f13fe8 focus solely on 264613b101 the escape—how to 5698bac46b get Huikyung out d2dae99373 of the facility 74004bcd72 and safely beyond 677cd2a75a the village walls.d6227f5576f2962d

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‘If he does escape, then maybe we could meet again, but in a different way.’e20b4b69ff5d78d2

“Jaekani!”9e8565544ec4375a

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A sharp 593f5e565b voice snapped 1f3926e5b7 him out 982f34c03b of his fbcfee7a5d thoughts. Looking up, 344a9113ff he saw 1abfef1ea8 Susan, hands 143b4b2397 on her 57acd0a665 hips, scowling 7463793d2a as deeply 65d99af975 as ever.17ce13062385b1a7

 ee470a8fe5d2e0d5

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