Min Na and The Nine Dwarves

Chapter One: The Prison Within a Prison

As summer approached it's first signs of shedding the warm weather, Choi Min Na looked out of a glass window on the second floor standing on her tippy toes. This was a regular routine for the 7 year old as her parents didn't usually let her out of the house that lay in the midst of a isolated forest.

Curios as to why two sensible adults would move to such a abandoned area with a young child was something that often poked into Min Na's mind but she knew not to question her parents.

After all, they knew what was best.

They told her that the outside world was a disgusting society where people thrice her age and size would be looking to ship her overseas to a foreign area where she would be away from them, away from the only people that would protect her. Min Na was greatly frightened by this and obeyed their every word.

But she wanted to go out today. Today was the last day of summer. Couldn't she have just a little bit of freedom? Just a little chance to play her age? She had been in this wood house ever since she could remember. The forestry outside had vast clearings in between the thick trunks; perfect areas to play and sing with the deer and birds that were often swarmed around the miniature house, eating the berries and flowers that grew beneath the window sills in clusters.

Choi Min Na sighed and massaged her aching feet that throbbed from standing on the tip of her toes too long. She wanted to go outside and she would do it. She needed to explore the forest that lay alluringly behind the wooden door of the entrance. Min Na started down the wooden stairs, creaks sounding with each descent.

Her father, Choi Weib, was siting on a worn camouflage patterned couch with a healthy fire burning in the heath. It didn't look inviting; perhaps that was because the warm sun streaming through the high windows already added a packed heat into the small living room. He was drinking tea with a slim book open in his lap, the sunlight from the glass overhead landing directly on his platinum blonde hair that was tied into a low ponytail and making it impossible to look at. He was also dressed in a algae green shirt and black slacks that contrasted sharply with his pale hair and even paler complexion.

"Appa." Min Na spoke in a barely audible voice but it carried out sharply through the quiet room. "Mmm?" Her father replied without lifting his eyes off the book. Min Na sighed heavily and then spoke in a clear and confident tone,"May I please go outside just this today? I have never asked anything of you or Eomma before but today is the last day of summer. I know that it's dangerous to go outside in the wilderness without fatal animals but may I please?" Min Na felt like she was speaking to a government official rather than her own family but her parents wouldn't allow uncouth speaking manners.

No food for two nights for speaking like a spoiled child.

And Min Na wasn't in the mood to starve.

Her father had the cup of tea paused halfway lifted to his lips and his stormy grey coloured eyes were boring into Min Na's rather large, kaleidoscopic ones.

"You don't need to go outside. The wildlife is going to attack you as soon as you step out that door Min Na. Do you really want me or your Eomma to lose our only child?" His gaze was heavy with just a hint of fear crossing over the unblinking orbs. Min Na twisted her hands into her little worn skirt and looked down, shame appearing on her face. Her flat mahogany hair did little to conceal the embarrassed expression as it fell in limpy, ramrod straight strands around her bony face.

"Min Na! Apple pie or honey custard?" A black coated mane of hair poked around a cracked cream coloured wall, freckles dusted lightly on a button nose with a blinding set of teeth pulled into a huge grin. The smile fell as the hazel eyes landed on the scene unfolding in the tiny living room.