The wailing of a child echoed across the middle of the drifting lake. Heavy rain fell in torrents, yet the wooden structure continued to float aimlessly. The cotton cloth wrapped around the child was soaked through, and Haneul was breathing heavily. The drops of rain kept falling onto his face, closing his eyes and opening his mouth, swallowing the raindrops that kept pouring.
The rain came to a halt, the wood hit a rock and was stuck between two rocks. Haneul fell asleep but was shivering due to the cold night. The sun was rising in the sky, the grey sky disappeared, and the beautiful blue sky was reflected on the river.
The sound of children playing nearby could be heard.
"I am counting one to two hundred, go and hide. After that i will come to find you all".The other children started running, seeking a place to hide.
Jongwi decided to go near the river in between the rock to hide there but when he came closer, he saw a wooden object floating between a rock, on top of it was something wet and covered . Jongwi decided to take a closer look, but his instincts told him to run.
He remembered a story his grandpa told him not long ago about the horrors of the river where countless people were buried in the lake, their bodies scattered along rivers. His grandfather told him they are called demons. Cold sweat trickled down his forehead. Fear crept into his heart and run to the village to inform the village head of it.
"Grandpa..grandpa ", Jongwi called.
His grandpa was resting on wodden swinging chair reminiscing about his olden times. When he heard his grandson's voice, he took his cane and supported himself standing up.
"hu hu hu ..grandpa...hu something in ... river..deemon"
Jongwi said breathing heavily his heart pounding. His grandfather took out his sandles and spunk Jongwi.
"Brat, speak well i can't hear you"
Jongwi explained what he saw in the river loudly after catching his breath. Hawon a neighbour pregnant woman heard what Jongwi said.
"Lead me there"Hawon said.
Jongwi lead them. Grandpa Hong and Hawon followed.
"Aigoo, what is this brat saying,i promise if you are playing tricks you will not eat anything today"
Some villagers who heard what Jongwi said followed Jongwi to the river. Other villagers when they saw a group of other villagers following joined the march asking question soon almost the whole village was gathered.
.
"198,199,200" Seojin, the child playing the role of the seeker started seeking out the othe childrens hiding. From afar he could see Jongwi and familiar faces following him coming his way.
"Ha..ha..ha found you "
But Jongwi did not care and a serious expression wore on his face. Seojin followed them without asking a question. soon all people gathered across the river. A wood was floating there. Something was at the top of the wood shaking. Hawon inserted his foot in the river aproaching the wood she placed her hands on the cotton clothes and uncovered. Her eyes widen in disbelief a child was lying there his face pale shivering and his breath ragged.
"Clothes, bring warm clothes, hurry".She shouted.
Grandpa Hong had his mouth agape."Aigoo who did these to a child, we are surely at the end of times aigoo..aigoo"
Grandpa Hong was about to lose his balance his blood pressure started rising his face was full of anger. Jongwi supported him so he would not fall. His wrinkles were deep and etched over his forehead and his eyes were bloody red. Jongwi took a look at his grandpa's face. He shivered he had never seen his grandpa look like that. He looked like an Asura that came out of hell.
The clothes were brought to Hawon immediately.She started unwrapping the wet clothes on the child. She stumbled upon a piece of paper in the cloths but there was no time for reading it. She pocketed it inside her clothes.She wrapped the warm clothes around the child and brought him to her chest to keep the child warm.
Hawon immediately decided to rush the child to the physician to get him checked up. The villagers opened the way. Hawan was pregnant woman, she did not have the stamina to rush there.
'Gwang' One of the young men took the child from Hawan and rushed quickly to the physician.The physician's door was banged loudly. Jangwol quickly opened his door a young man was carrying a child on his arms.He assessed the young man who was holding something on his hand.
"Gwang"
"Place him on the bed"
Jangwol, the physician quickly assessed the child. There was blood on the child's hands. He tried looking for severe injuries on the child's body but there were no severe injuries on the child's body.
The child's head was hot he quickly placed a wet clothes on his head but his body was shivering.He quickly added another clothes atop the child body.
He started taking some herbs mixing them one after another,he came near the child and hold his mouth pouring the herb into the childs mouth.
Outside the physicians house the villagers had gathered all curious about the childs condition.Hawon started pushing through the villagers to open way to enter in the physician house.
"Jangwol how is he"
"He is now resting, i have alredy administerd the herb so he will be well"
Hawon breathed a deep sigh of relief.The villagers were delighted that the child was not in danger anymore and scattered all resuming their businesses.
Hawon remained beside the child.Jangwol advised her to rest because she looked tired.Hawon watched as the child slept.His breathing had returned to normal.
She removed the piece of paper that was in his pocket. It was wet so she opened it slowly so that the content would not tear apart
She opened and read the letter.
"If you find this child, please keep him safe,his name is Haneul".
Hawon tore the paper and glanced again at Haneul.Hawon she smiled.
''Beautiful name, Haneul''.
Hawon fell asleep.
The sun was setting .Hawon was still sleeping.She could feel something brushing her head.She opened her eyes and saw a child looking at her.The first thing she noticed were the eyes of the child.
Hawon lifted the Haneul and hugged him.
She took him outside.The sky blazed with hues of molten gold and fiery crimson.One of the villagers saw Hawon carrying the child in her hand and shouted.
"The child has woken up"
Soon the villagers gathered.They came near Haneul.
Haneul stirred faintly,his lashes fluttering open.The villagers gasped as his eyes revealed themselves-deep crimson,glowing like embers hidden in the dark.They were not dull red of sickness,nor the bloodshot hue of exhaustion,but a vivid,luminous scarlet,as if the dawn has been captured within his gaze.
The colour seemed alive shifting with light,burning with quite intensity.It was beautiful yet unsettling-like staring into a flame that warmed and warned at once.Hawon's breath caught in her throat.she had never seen eyes like these,eyes that seemed to hold both sorrow and destiny.