Chapter 2: The Wheel of Fate
Eunji's pulse began to race and she could not think straight. All she wanted to do was get away from the sudden intruder in her cell who reeked of alcohol. He tried to pin her to the ground but she was too quick for him. Still, she felt like a trapped animal in a cage and her only means of escape was lost as her tormentor was blocking the entrance. The women in the adjacent cell could only watch in horror or turn away and shield their eyes and ears from her cries. There would be no help from them. She was alone.
The guard pulled at her sleeve and she could hear the fabric of the well worn cloth rip cruelly. A snicker came to his lips as he saw her bare skin against the moonlight. Finally screaming herself hoarse, Eunji bit her lip and sunk to the ground in defeat. She turned her head and screwed her eyes shut as she felt his coarse hands on her.
"There now," he mumbled. "That's better. Be quiet and it will be ov--" his voice lingered. She opened her eyes to see why he had stopped speaking. The man stared blankly at her, a dark trickle of blood creeping down his hairline onto his forehead. His body went limp and he fell to one side. She gasped and quickly got to her feet, avoiding any further contact with him by kicking his limp hand away from her.
Eunji looked up and saw a very tall, slender man with long flowing hair dressed in fine robes. Even through her tear filled eyes she could tell and the dimness of the room she could tell he was nearly seven feet tall and very beautiful. He put his fingers to his lips to instruct her to be silent and offered an open palm towards her. With great uncertainty she placed her hand in his very large one and she was hoisted up into his arms as if she were weightless. They were soon effortlessly dashing through the forest.
Eunji looked up at her rescuer and it did not appear that he was even straining while carrying her through the forest at incredible speeds. Softly, like a dream, and much to her amazement they did not even seem to be touching the ground. She dared not speak for fear of breaking the spell. Eunji wanted to believe he was a good person who had just saved her.
When they finally arrived at their destination, Eunji looked up and saw they were standing in front of a large, Buddhist temple. She looked behind them and saw only dark, dense forest. How far had they gone? Her holding cell and the little town where her parents abandoned her was nowhere to be seen.
"This is...?" she asked haltingly. Eunji was out of breath even though it was her companion who had done the running. She had been holding her breath through most of it.
"This is Bulguksa Temple. It is currently being kept by Buddhist nuns. They are very kind here. I think you will like it," he said gently.
"What do you mean?" she asked tentatively. Eunji began to tremble as she was barely wearing two layers and was barefoot as well, and the night was getting colder. The tall man undid his beautiful outer robe stitched with vermillion floral patterns, and placed it on her shoulders. The interior was still warm from his body and smelled faintly of incense and flowers as he wrapped it around her with a simple gold cord that had been around his waist.
"They will take care of you here."
"But I have no money to pay them," she said.
"They will not require any money from you. But you will need to receive vows in order to stay longer than a day."
"You mean," she said, furrowing her brow, "become a nun? I couldn't do that," she insisted.
"It will be safe for you here," said the man with concern in his expression. "The slave traders will be looking for you everywhere but here. If you take vows, the temple will protect you."
"But I don't want to take vows," she insisted. "I'm only sixteen. I haven't even lived my life. I want to make my own living, meet someone, and bear children and be happy...I couldn't possibly be happy here."
The man looked at her sadly and placed a gentle hand on her cheek. Eunji saw no ill intent in his eyes and so she did not flinch from his touch.
"Happiness is fleeting, as is sadness and despair. These are all human concepts. If you study the sutras here you will be able to transcend all of that and understand what your destiny really holds. You have a gift, do you not? The ability to see things that others cannot? You can sense things in others that are true, though you were never told."
A look of shock crossed her face and she stepped back from him cautiously. "How do you know these things? Not even my mother knew."
"I have been watching you for a long time," he responded calmly.
"Watching?" she said shakily, wrapping the robes closer to her, though she felt no warmth from them now.
"I am your...guardian...of sorts. I only want you to be safe and use your gift to ease the suffering of other souls. In that, you will be favored by the gods and receive their protection. Those who serve the gods understand suffering and maintain an open heart."
"But no one," she said slowly, looking at her feet. "No one came to save me from my suffering. When my father beat me, when my siblings forsook me, when my parents abandoned me, no, sold me to their debtors...no one saved me. Why would I save anyone? I have nothing to offer but bitterness and hatred." She looked up at him with defiant eyes. "If you were supposed to protect me, where have you been until now?" she demanded. Tears came to her eyes again and they would not stop.
"I cannot interfere in your destiny. I..." he faltered. He could not explain to her what he truly wished to convey to ease her heart.
"There is nothing for me here," she said finally, wiping her eyes on his sleeve and looking up unemotionally at the temple. She turned to leave.
"Where are you going to go? They will be looking for you in the morning," he said, reaching out to detain her. She shrugged off his fingers and the trailing silk sleeve slipped from his fingers. Kang Rim paused and stared at his hand, still reaching out to the air.
It was happening again. He would not be able to save her this time, either.
"Stay..." he said quietly, his hand falling to his side.
"What?" she asked, turning her head to look at him.
"I cannot keep you safe unless you stay here. They will find you and kill you at noon tomorrow."
Eunji's face went pale. She took another step away from him. "Who...no, what are you?" A look of naked fear and anxiety crept across her face. He had no answer for her and it pained him for her to look at him with those eyes. Eunji took another step back before breaking into a run in the opposite direction. She left him standing there in the stone court in front of the temple, and did not look back.
"That's twice she's ditched you now. She really has very little faith in you," marveled a voice from the shadows. Kang Rim turned to see Lord Yomra, dressed in his usual fine robes but wearing them loosely and carelessly. Kang Rim had no response for what his companion said was true.
"She will die a horrible death...will you not save her?" asked Yomra checking the length of his slender nails and buffing them against his silk lapel.
"She has rejected me in this life as well," sighed Kang Rim. "The choice is always hers. I cannot change her mind and if I force her, it becomes meaningless."
"This girl of yours is so stubborn. This could go on for eons," he said rolling his eyes.
"Then I will continue to watch over and protect her. It is all I can do," said Kang Rim.
"Well at least your little excursions are short and won't keep you from your office for too long. I really don't care either way, since your operation runs smoother than the River of Oblivion. But the Reapers are starting to talk. I think there's a running bet that you're actually still in love with her," smiled Lord Yomra.
"Is there?" asked Kang Rim thoughtfully. "I wonder."
"Since you drew the long straw, she will always draw the short straw. Since you are now immortal, she will always reincarnate as a female. Like you, her destiny is entwined with the supernatural. If she rejects you, she will live a short life and die cursing you. I'm rather curious in knowing whether you will ever succeed," he laughed.
"The longer it takes, the more determined I become," smiled Kang Rim. "Since our souls are identical, one day she will understand me...one day she will willingly agree to be my tool and serve me as a medium between the living, the dead, the spirits and the gods. Her power is limitless."
"There are other young women out there who would willing serve as your mudang or shaman. Will you only be satisfied with her?" asked Lord Yomra wryly.
"It has to her," answered Kang Rim as he stared at the empty darkness where she had been standing a moment ago. His employer sighed and walked up to him, placing a hand on Kang Rim's shoulder.
"You'll just have to wait another cycle then. The Wheel of Fate is turning, and the bond between the two of you in this life is broken."
"So be it," said Kang Rim unemotionally. The two of them stepped away from the moonlight and disappeared.
