Haan

Chapter 8 - Cause of Death

Once home, Mi Rae proceeded with her plan. It was simple. She would isolate herself. Maybe then she could thwart the Spirit and the the rest of the village would be safe.

She barricaded all the doors and windows. Finally, she dragged a drying rack across the open entrance. Ajumma and Sook would know to keep out. But Si Woo was another matter. He was a stubborn one. Didn't he keep showing up at her house fixing things, talking to himself loudly with news and random stories until she relented finally becoming friends? What if he did not take the hint and came into the compound anyway? Then he would be infected and die, a small voice whispered to her. If she stopped killing, it would surely take whoever came within range. Anyone who came near her was at risk.

She had to find another way to keep him away so that he would be safe. He was too strong for her, so forcing him away physically was out of the question. She pondered a while before coming up with a brilliant plan. All she had to do was make him hate her. Then he would leave her alone like the others. A part of her mourned the ending of their relationship but she clamped down on her feelings. It was better to miss him than for him to be dead.

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That evening, I went back to Mi Rae's house as promised. I was taken aback to see that she had attempted to block the entrance with her flimsy drying rack. I shook my head in amusement. One good kick and it would break apart. All the doors and windows were shut too, even the side windows that were usually left open for the cooling breeze to come in was closed. Still, it was her house and I was not going to make myself a bigger jerk by ignoring her boundaries. So I stood outside the fence and called out to her.

"Mi Rae ... I'm back."

Nothing. Not even a squeak. A bird chirped at me telling me to go away and the nearby trees rustled their leaves in agreement. I ignored them.

"Mi Rae ...?"

The silence shouted back at me.

It seems that she was really mad at me and had not forgiven me for my outburst. Not giving up, I decided to talk to her from outside until she came around. It worked before.

I looked around and was glad to note that she had taken the food I left earlier. At least she would not starve.

"Mi Rae-ah, since you don't want to see me, I'll just talk have to you from here. You can't shut me up from in there, you know," I said trying to goad her to come out. No response. Aishh! She did not fall for it. I shrugged at my little failure.

"We buried Bora and Haraboeji, almost everyone went to the funeral. Only the little ones and their mothers stayed behind," I continued, updating her on what was happening in the village. "Everything went well. We've closed up Haraboeji's shop and left everything as he left it. Guess no one will be getting any new shoes anytime soon. Maybe I'll try that trade and carry on Haraboeji's work. The village needs a new shoemaker. What do you think?"

Was it my imagination or did I hear a skeptical snort and a muffled laugh. Immediately, my face scrunched up defensively at the insult.

"Are you laughing at me? I can hear you, you know! Laugh all you like, but when I get rich making and selling shoes, you'll regret looking down on me. In fact, I bet you'll regret it sooner, like when you need a new pair of shoes!"

Now that I know she was listening, I told her the bad news.

"Mi Rae-ah ... " I said, my tone becoming serious. "Something else has happened. I can't stay here long. I have to go home because ... because Eun Ho is sick." My voice cracked with emotion at the last few words.

Although I knew I could cure him, it was painful to see the usually happy and energetic boy laying down in pain and fear under layers of blankets. Ajumma told me about his condition and I saw him briefly when we had a break from digging the twin graves. After that, I had no chance to be with him. We had to complete the mourning prayers and ritual before completing burying the dead. Then I come here to check on Mi Rae and see if she had forgiven me. On my way back, I will take back a log with me or catch some small animal to sacrifice for Eun Ho.

However before I could say my goodbye, Mi Rae came bursting out the house. All thoughts of keeping Si Woo and the others fled away at the news of Eun Ho's plight.

"Eun Ho!?! Eun Ho has the plague?"

She was sobbing hysterically.

"Anniyo!" she cried brokenly, "No, please not Eun Ho! Jaebal! Please! He's just a little kid!!"

"Mi Rae!" I called and rushed to her catching her as she collapsed to the ground her worn hanbok ballooning out around her like a dirty white and pink cloud. "Hey, it's o'kay. Kenchana, we'll take care of him. He's going to be o'kay. "

"No, no," she sobbed. "He can't have the plague! He can't die. I'm sorry, it's all my fault!" she sobbed incoherently. "I'm so sorry!"

"Of course it's not your fault! It's nobody's fault. There is nothing to be sorry for," I tried to soothe her. "The plague is unpredictable. It attacks randomly." I was just glad she was out and had not shut me out completely. It seems she had forgiven me and was talking to me again.

"Anniyo! You don't understand. It is my fault. I caused the plague, I killed everyone,' she wailed into my shoulder shaking hard. "I did it!!"

"No, Mi Rae,' I said gently. I did not know what had set her off but she was an emotional mess. "Of course it's not your fault, don't say that."

My words only caused her to cry harder so I shut up and just held her. Knowing when to keep quiet was part of comforting her.

When her sobbing subsided, she looked up at me with a tear stained face.

"Oppa," she begun in a small voice, "I have to tell you something. I can't bear to keep my terrible secret any longer."

"Hush, take your time. I'm here for you, you know that don't you?"

She nodded with a down turned mouth and quivering lips. Poor Mi Rae, she was trying so hard to be brave. I wondered what her big secret was.

"It's driving me crazy just thinking about it. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry but I didn't want to be treated like a nuisance and a curse anymore. I did not cause the fire nor my family's death. I couldn't stand those people slandering me like that anymore, it made me so angry but I had to hold it in ... I'm nothing now without my family. I'm dependent on everyone for my survival."

"Come, let's go in. I'll make you a cup of tea. It will make you feel better. Then, you can tell me, araso?"

"Araso. O'kay," Mi Rae replied as she allowed me to lead her into the house.

Once inside, bid her sit while I busied myself with boiling water and getting the tea ready. I was familiar with the big house. Helping to restore the rooms and repair whatever that could be saved allowed me to investigate every corner of it.

Once the tea was ready and Mi Rae had a sip to calm her down, she started her tale.

It was not what I expected at all.

She told me of her desperate anger, despair and finally about the Spirit. She told me of their first encounter deep in the forest, the deal they made and the power it had given her. Then she told me how she started the plague. Mi Rae had chosen the victims, each and every one of them. Byun, the village head, his wife, Dae and the many others, all murdered for slights, insults and abuse. Anyone who had caused her any degree of humiliation and pain were dealt with. She had taken vengeance for three years of abuse, near starvation and misery. Bora, who I had just helped bury this morning was her latest victim.

I sat down with a thump, shocked to my core.