Bride of a Water God [Re-make]

Chapter 9: Jailed

This is such a peculiar place...Not only do monsters live here, but they act strangely as well. And now where should I go? It is all so foreign and I am alone again. Is this truly how being dead feels like?

Loneliness and fear engulfed me as the negative thoughts came. It was so much different to the scenery at the lotus lake; and the guardian of the boat's beauty was out of the world as well compared to the monsters here. I felt uneasy and insecure while I stood in front of a huge flight of stairs leading to another place of unknown.

It seemed like a scene from a horror story with all the cloudy fog covering, just that it was broad daylight.

Where could this possibly lead to?

I thought and I took up the courage to climb the stairs. It felt like a thousand flight of stairs and no further than fifteen steps, I was panting. I turned my head around to look at the town which seemed to be very far already despite I have only started the journey. Yet when I turned back up to see what's in front, I could see nothing.

Something just kept me going and my heart got heavier and heavier each time I step on the stairs. What if I went the wrong way and just got trapped on an endless staircase? What if it's a death trap to a dragon's cave?

Is it even possible to be dead twice?

It felt like a day when I finally see something amidst the fog. My vision focused the nearer it was and I saw a vast space with an enormous gate right at the middle end. There was huge wall barriers connected from the gate all the way to who knows where. But I definitely spot a tall tower very far away.

These gates are so familiar to the temple's gate back at home...

Two guards were guarding by the front gates while several others on the side gates. In fact, they were half the height of the gates and their gaze terrified me.

"Who are you?" One of the guard interrogated with his loud voice.

My shivering body caused my voice to be nervous as well but I couldn't say a word even when my mouth was opened.

I couldn't say that I am the God's bride can I?

The guard stomped his stick on the ground harshly and the ground shook like an earthquake had happened. I screamed in fright at the sudden treatment and fell to the ground crying.

"If you do not answer, I cannot let you enter the palace gates."

"I...I..." My voice trembled and I simply could not form the sentences that I want to say.

It's so scary! Mother...Father...!

"I will have to take you away as a suspected intruder." The guard firmly stomped the stick again and I saw the side guards approaching me.

No sooner they held me in captive and dragged me away from the palace gates.

"Where are you taking me? Please let me go!" I pleaded pitifully with no use.

I was brought to a different place with lots of holes specially dug by men with red lasers above them. There were wailing sounds coming from some of them and it sounded very terrifying. The guards brought me to one of the empty holes and I looked down to a dark and hollow place.

"Please...I just want to speak to somebody...!" My pleadings were left unheard as they threw me down the dark hole. Red lasers that seemed like a jail cage locked me inside and I panicked.

"You will only be release if someone came to bail you out. Or else, you shall wait for your dooms day." The guard warned mercilessly and left.

Someone who can bail me out? I don't know anybody here! I don't want to be trapped in here forever! What should I do?

"Please...somebody! Help me!" I yelled at the top of my lungs like a fool. The sorrow crying from the other dungeons terror me and I hugged my own hopelessly.

The night came and I was very thirsty, hungry and tired. I haven't eaten since the morning and fatigue was washing over me.

What happened on that day? It started pouring during the exchange of vows and the sea just started crashing the entire nation. I remembered seeing Taehyung's eyes turning green as if he was possessed by an otherworldly creature. And then we attempted to fled by horse but the water was too fast and it engulfed us in a second.

What happened to Taehyung?

"Psst..."

"Psst...! Wake up you dumb girl!"

Is someone out there...?

"Hey, I'm Ryu! I'm here to get you out! Goodness sake how did you end up DOWN THERE? Stop sleeping already and WAKE UP before the guards catches us!"

R...Ryu...? Who's...that?

"OIIIIIIIIIIII!!"

"Who's there?!" Another rough voice spoken from afar and I heard Ryu panicking.

"Crap! God damn it you wake up!! I....I gotta go!!"

I opened my eyes and looked up to only the bright moon in the dark sky. It felt surreal when you're being trapped and yet you still could thought about how beautiful the moon looked.

"R...Ryu? Is that...you?" I weakly asked but there was no respond.

I'm already hallucinating...God bring someone over to help me.

"Oh my goodness. This is why I don't believe in humans! Aren't you the first human to be trapped in a dungeon!"

"Ryu?" I wasn't imagining. It is Ryu!

"YES IT'S ME YOU BLOCKHEAD. Now wake up before the guards come back!" It is definitely him with his constant cruel words.

"Help me out!" I cried from below.

"Can't you see I'm trying?! Just give me a minute to cast a spell!" He said while his serious face focused on breaking the lasers.

//

"I'm telling you that I have enough of you! One more time you get yourself caught I'm not going to risk my life for you!"

Ryu hasn't calmed down yet after helping me out of that dark hole but I was too engrossed with the food on the table that I didn't heard any of his sayings.

"Would you stop eating?! Give me some!" His hands reaches out towards the plate of peaches and he snatches one.

"Ryu, I'm so thankful for your help. If you didn't come and rescue me, I'll probably starve to death. So thank you!" I was so relieved and delighted that I don't have to die the second time.

"W-Well...just be more careful the next time." Ryu seemed to be a little guilty and shy as he scratches his head.

"Try and get some rest tonight. Tomorrow I will bring you to the palace to meet the King. We're totally late on time because of you!"

"Wasn't it because you left me alone at the dock to find the palace myself? How was it my fault in getting caught?" I find it ridiculous that he's still trying to blame me for getting lost in a foreign place.

"You could have just told the guard that you're the chosen one. Blame on your own stupidity." Sarcastic ever since I've met him, Ryu continued to scold me throughout the rest of the night.

At least I wasn't feeling lonely anymore.