Crystal Eyes

Chapter 8

Back at the village the guards dragged the family and locked inside the castle dungeon. It is a dark place buried deep inside the castle, along with people who have committed other sins, rotting inside for years and years. The smell of dead fish, the sweat dripping down skin and the rotting food the guards gave along with drainage water was enough to make someone wish that they were dead instead of being locked up in the dungeon. It was the same for my family but we assured each other with positive thoughts and in hopes that god will provide a miracle. The family was provided with food and water which the family did not eat.

"Hanguel, we love you. We do not care how much we suffer but we are afraid they might hurt you. You are the most beautiful girl and not only from outside. You are special and you have grown to be a beautiful flower inside and out. You must know that we never regretted anything in our lives. We certainly do not regret having you. You are a miracle. We might not get to say this again but we truly love you and your brother." her mother said with tears in her eyes.

"Mother, father, I love you both very much. Thank you for always being there for me. For feeding me and growing me with respect and love. There is nothing else I expect from you too because you both have given me the world."

"We love you too Hanguel, very much." Her father replied and looked away in sadness.

"Father" Hanguel went towards him. "I will be alright. We will all be alright. I promise."

Though the words were empty, it still carried weight for the family who still had hopes in surviving. Hanguel sat in the corner and cried. The prince let himself drown. He understood. Hanguel forgot about the prince. When she remembered she said,

"I am sincerely apologizing to you prince. You could have grown up with your parents and earned the love you deserve. I stole that away from you. I deserve to die."

Hangeul's mother and father bowed in front of the prince. "We have no words, your highness."

The prince looked down and said,

"It is quite alright. You are all good people. For the small time being that I have resided in her eyes, I have realized that there is no greater thing than a family's warmth. They share the sadness and happiness together, something my parents never had the luxury of having even with all the wealth. Any amount of money cannot buy that. Your heart is pure Hanguel. I have seen your emotions through your eyes. I know what your heart holds deep. Do not worry about me! I have no regrets!"

"Enough said! The king has ordered you all to be brought outside! It is the end!" the guards screamed and made their way to the dungeon.

The men in the dungeon screamed and shouted in hunger as the guards dragged us out of the dungeon to the forest. The villagers gathered around a bonfire holding wood and hammers to scare the family. Each member of the family was tied in ropes onto a thick tree. Hangeul's father tried to get free of the ropes but was hit by the strong hands of a guard.

"No! Please do not hurt him! He is my father. Please don't." Hanguel cried. Her mother broke into tears and did not stop until the king arrived.

"Well, any last words? Hanguel has committed her sin of kidnapping my child." The king turned to Hanguel and pointed at her,

"Where is the prince? I demand to know!"

"He is in my eyes." Hanguel replied in sadness.

"Alright, bring him back."

"He is in my eyes." Hanguel looked down in disappointment.

The king started laughing.

"That of course I know, silly child. I want you to bring him back here."

"..but I do not know how to. There is no cure!"

The king waited in silence and finally came to a conclusion. "Then there is no option. Prepare for your death! The same goes to your family." Then he paused and finally said,

"I will not ask again. Are there any last words?"

"The prince says he needs to speak with the king." Hanguel replied in terror and looked into the king's eyes.

"Father. I demand you to release Hanguel!" The prince shouted from inside Hangeul's eyes.

The king looked deep into Hangeul's eyes and laughed.

"What joke is this! I do not see anything now! This must be a lie!"

"NO! He really is in there!" Hanguel shouted.

"Then I do not see him. Guards take a look!" The guards one by one stared into her eyes but no one saw the prince. The villagers were consumed with rage, they all started shouting and chanting, "Kill her! Kill her! Kill her!"

"Speak to yourselves the last words! I do not want to hear this madness! She has gone insane. Speak with this imaginary prince and you have five minutes until you are hung." The king replied.

"Hanguel." The prince asked from inside the eyes.

"Yes prince?"

"Do not take his words into your head. My father is a stubborn man. He does not listen or believe in anything. If this is our last conversation together I might as well say out loud what I want to say. I love you with all my heart and even in death I will never be apart. Do you understand Hanguel?"

Hanguel looked down and said,

"I believe you prince. Ever since we encountered each other, it has brought me some comfort. Even though you are prisoned inside my eyes, you saw deep inside of me and yet stayed."

The prince smiled and said,

"I believe I did not have much of a choice other than staying."

They both laughed together and at that very moment, the very last moment, Hanguel unleashed her feelings.

L6P