The Birth of Silence [Yeowool - Hwarang]

Final chapter

Death wasn't as painful as he thought it would be. He surely remembered a painful feeling in his chest, but soon he felt nothing. Just nothing.

Is that what being dead feels like?

Is this what Hansung went through?

Is this it?

Yeowool wasn't afraid anymore. Instead, he accepted his whole death, or the feeling of nothingness.

But somehow, he felt something. Things appeared, he came back to his senses. He saw nothing, but he noticed his whole body was pushing against something heavy. It was like a door, made out of material he's never seen before.

Light blinded his eyes when he opened the door. He moved his right hand in front of his face, in the hopes of getting used to that light. Sounds reappeared, Yeowool heard the door closing behind him.

Was he dead?

He looked at his hand: four fingers, as usual. Both his hands were covered in blood. When he looked down he noticed he was wearing the same clothes as he could remember. Even the arrow that killed him was still inside his body. Carefully he pulled it out. To his surprise he didn't see any blood gushing out. He didn't even feel any pain.

In the distance was the sound of footsteps coming closer.
'It's him, right?', the voice mumbled.

Yeowool looked up, curious about the voice. He started walking into that direction as he looked around the room. The walls were white, making it seem much bigger than it actually was. The floor was covered with stones and pebbles, patches of grass, plants and flowers were growing here and there. Benches were placed around, as if this room was supposed to be a place for other people too.

The footsteps became louder. A young man ran into Yeowools direction.

'Hyu- ng?' His enthusiasm got cut off once he saw him.

Yeowool hadn't heard that voice in years, he hadn't seen that face in so long.

It's him.

The boy's eyes became bigger once he saw Yeowool standing in front of him. The prince wasn't quite like the person he used to remember.
'Hyung.. What happened to you?', his voice got softer.

Yeowool didn't know what to do. He didn't know if what he saw was really happening. And if it was, why wouldn't his voice let him speak? Right then was the moment he finally needed his voice. He wanted to say his name, tell him that he missed him, tell him that he messed up.

He opened his mouth, but no voice came out.

'Hyung?' The smile had already disappeared from the boy's face. He became worried. Carefully, he grabbed Yeowools hand. He tried to remember what it felt like, but it was nothing like back then.

'What happened to your fifth finger? Why did it get cut off?'

Yeowool couldn't look him in the eyes. He didn't expect things to go like this.

'Why all the wounds, and blood?? How did you get here so early?'

So much questions that couldn't be answered.

'Damn it! Why aren't you talking?!', the boy suddenly snapped. Yeowool pulled his hand back, he feared upsetting him once again. Slowly, while still looking at the ground, he pointed at his throat.

The younger's frown disappeared as he saw Yeowool responding.

'You can't talk?'

A nod.

'Why?'

No reply.

'Is it because if me?'

Yeowool shook his head slightly. He believed everything was his own fault after all.