The protector

Hubris

Author's note: this chapter contains graphic depictions of violence and things that could disturb your stomach. If you don't feel like reading, skip all the parts that start with "North Korea."

For the steel stomachs, just two things. The first is that you can get information about the NK camps everywhere, just have to google. I personally used "Escape from camp 14" together with some newspapers you can easily find on the web. The second is that you'll find the word "Chosun." It means Korea, and it's the way North Koreans call the peninsula, the first Kim having forbidden to use the word "Han" which is the word used in the South (so han-bok, han-gul all have different names in NK). It is also forbidden, according to some tourists, to say "North" since they don't like to be reminded of the division. Now: this is the first time you will read a character using this word. The reason will be better explained in the next chapters, but for now please note it's not by chance. (Ok: sorry, the part about Chosun was just for the next chapter, damn!)

FIRST WEEK

North Korea, 2028, April 25

He wasn't able to say how much time had passed, when he woke up the second time – first, to him, since he didn't remember the previous.

Was it day, was it night? He didn't know.

His throat was hopelessly beseeching for some water. Slow, he tried to run the dry tongue over his lips. The spine vibrated in a shiver as he distinctly recognized the taste of blood.

The man tried to lift from the lying position by turning and putting his weight on an elbow. A violent, excruciating pain sprinted from the bone, running all over the forearm till stabbing his shoulder.

It was a searing ache, like being pierced with a poisoned dart. Taken aback, he fell back releasing a loud whimper both in woe and despair. 

Panting, Jeong Hyeok breathed as much as his aching lungs and the stinging smell allowed him.

He hoped they hadn't blinded him yet prepared himself to accept the hypothesis. It was all dark around, and as much as he was trying, he couldn't open his eyes.

On the ground, the hands palpated something that felt like a mixture of loam and dry straw.

Try again. The pain was nerve-wreaking. Again. Up! A similar ache stung the other shoulder, yet it seemed to be bearable. Eventually, he got seated. The palms better studied the ground. Bare ground. Humid ground which emitted a pungent urine smell.

"The prince is finally awake!"

The water that was thrown to his face felt icy, spurring from him a scream that scratched the parched throat.

He must have fainted after the effort to sit, though the water had definitively awakened him. Jeong Hyeok hurried to spat off all the drops that had fallen inside his mouth while he was screaming, focused on trying to not swallow.

The teachings received in the army he believed that wouldn't have been necessary anymore for the rest of his life, came back fresh as if he'd learnt them the day before. He shouldn't drink, he categorically shouldn't drink if he didn't want to fall ill.