The General

Two

Seoul, South Korea: 2003

"Have you heard the story about the Goblin King?" An elderly woman asks a pregnant young woman.

The elderly woman is selling various vegetables and the pregnant woman likes to go to her because she sells her vegetables at a cheaper price than most groceries. And as a pregnant woman, she needs all the vitamins she can get.

Her boyfriend left her once he found out she was pregnant and she is barely getting by.

"I believe you have told me about him before. He was a very handsome, and trustworthy army general right? But he was betrayed by his king and they murdered his entire family right in front of him before killing him as well." The young woman replies halfheartedly.

The elderly woman sneers as her, "Why do you act as if I am boring you with my tales. You don't have to be here with me you know. Go see if you can find another kind woman who will practically give away her vegetables to someone like you."

The pregnant woman giggles, knowing the elderly woman is just cranky and would feel offended if she tried to shop for veggies somewhere else.

"Mianhae, please tell me more."

The elderly woman takes a bite out of her tomato and says, "Ani, go.. you are wasting my precious time."

"The young woman stands and tells her, "I will go. But you need to be nicer to your customers. That's why I'm your only customer."

As she attempts to walk away the elderly woman grabs at her arm and tells her, "If you ever find yourself in trouble and you need help. Pray earnestly. Perhaps a just and righteous God will hear your prayers and help you."

She then sits back down and returns to tend her vegetables. And the young woman walks away wondering what she meant.

A few miles away a handsome stranger dressed in black from head to toe walks with steady steps towards his destination. He stands at the deserted crosswalk and pulls out a pocket watch. When he sees the time he starts to cross the intersection.

A car comes driving rapidly around the corner and hits him. But it was as if the car hit a barricade and the entire front end is crushed. The driver exits the car to yell at the stranger and when he sees him without a scratch on him, he asks "What.. what are you?"

The stranger then looks into his eyes and says, "You hit a boar that ran into the street."

The man blinks a few times and when a man rushes over to ask what happened, he tells him, "A boar ran into the road and I hit him." The stranger is nowhere to be seen.

The man is shocked and asks, "What?! There's boars roaming the city?!" Then begins looking around terrified.

Their attention is then drawn to a woman who screams when she sees what's inside the mans trunk that was popped open during the accident.

Everyone starts to crowd the car and someone calls 911. There is a young woman staring at the lifeless body that is laying in the back of the trunk. She recognizes the ring she's wearing and starts to panic and screams. But no one hears her and she freaks out even more.

She then hears the stranger speak to her.

"Myung Sung-hee, Age 34. Born at 5:34am March 14th, 1986. Daughter of..."

"Excuse me, but what is happening? Why is my body in that car? Why can't anyone see us?"

"You are dead by homicidal violence. Strangulation. You need to come with me."

The next thing she knows is she is in a small room watching the stranger prepare some tea. She is sitting at a table just watching him. She is still trying to come to terms that she is dead.