Whispers of Refuge Box Set

CHAPTER 28-4

Mee-Kyong gawked down at the bed as the dirty white sheets turned a familiar shade of deep red. With a wail that sounded more like a shriek than a sob, she sprang onto Sun’s brother, ignoring the pain in her side. “What did you do?”

They fell to the ground. Mee-Kyong made a grab for the knife, barely escaping the blade as it sliced through the air toward her. She punched Sun’s brother in the gut then grasped her bandaged side. Jae lunged, ripping the low-cut red dress she was wearing. He stood up, and she cried out in pain as she sprang at one of his legs.

“I’ll kill you for this!” she shouted. Jae gave one final kick to free his leg and leaped out the door. Mee-Kyong stumbled into the hallway in time to see him disappear down the stairwell. One of the other worker girls dressed in a fake silk robe opened her door and peeked out. Mee-Kyong growled at her, and the door quickly shut.

Crawling back to the room, Mee-Kyong fumbled to Sun’s bed, tossed aside the discarded rope, and hoisted herself up. Panting, she leaned over the child. Sun lay sprawled on her back, her mouth open. Mee-Kyong picked up her limp wrist and waited for a silent eternity. She gawked at the puddle of blood beneath the child’s neck and swept the unruly bangs out of her eyes.

“I’m sorry, little cousin.”

A minute later, Mee-Kyong let go of the makeshift rope and stumbled to the sidewalk. The wind stung her face, whipping strands of hair against her skin. Tears nipped the corners of her eyes, but she blinked them away. Crying had never helped anyone. It wouldn’t help her now. Mee-Kyong tilted her face toward the wind. The red dress was torn. The knife had grazed her skin without causing any real damage. She was exhausted, and her injuries kept her traveling at an impossibly slow speed. She continued on, stopping every minute or so, wincing as she caught her breath. Several times she adjusted the wrapping Sun made for her, but she could never get it as tight as she needed.

How could things have gone so wrong? Mr. Lee was dead. She and Sun could have escaped. Mee-Kyong didn’t know where they would have gone, but she would have found a place. She would have kept them both alive. Why had Sun’s brother come? Her stomach churned. She had to get herself away, but she longed for rest. Rest and something hot to drink. There wasn’t much she wouldn’t give in exchange for a blanket to wrap up in.

Shut up, spoiled brat. Did you have extra blankets and tea in the gulag? Mee-Kyong kept moving. She had to survive. She owed that much to Sun.