Another Choice

Chapter 3- The Endless Torture

The beatings went on the whole day. The soldiers slapping her face violently, making her skin blled and tear, but she didn't make any noise. I was painful, of course, but not kind of pain she couldn't take.

It was not the pain she was scared of, but her anger and rage that was burning inside her heart. It was the first time someone raised a hand on her, she hated it. She hated the feeling of being hopeless and weak.

She questioned everything in her life. The happy memories with her family, with her parents that once live before the plague, caused their deaths. She even questioned her own country that forced her to do this and threatens her brother's life.

She becomes angrier with every passing moment, but it wasn't the time of speaking and shouting. It was the time of silence. There weren't any ears in her eyes and she swallowed back every scream of pain, thinking of the rebels general words," An enemy wants to see you cry and wants to hear you scream out of pain. That what gives them satisfaction, they aren't interested in your blood. Also remember, if you failed, you know what will happen to your brother."

It was the threaten of her brother that make her strong enough to hold all the pain from the torture.

For a brief moment, the torture stopped and Tal Tal stepped closer to her. His eyes looked sad, as he saw the bruises on Haneul's face, but he had to admit it that she was stronger than he thought before.

"Tell me their names and it can be over!" He said, hoping it would bring out an answer.

"Never!"That was all she said in return.

"Why not? Why do you want to protect them so badly?"

"Because they are part of my nation."

Tal Tal looked deep into her eyes and knew that moment she wasn't telling the truth. Her reason as something else. Something more. A reason that is really important that making her willing to risk her life.

"You said you wouldn't lie to me. Why are you doing it then?"

Haneul was surprised by his words, by the fact that he could see through her lies so easily. As if he has always known her.

"I don't need to explain you anything."

Before Tal Tal could say something, the metal door of the cell opened up and a man in silk, purple clothes entered. Tal Tal bowed in front of his uncle, whose eyes instantly fixed on Haneul.

"Did she say something?" he asked, with pure hatred in his voice and Tal Tal shook his head.

"No, Uncle, she just stayed silent." Baek Ahn groaned with frustration.

"Than, the pain isn't enough strong! Burn her skin with iron, it will make that little girl scream out their names!" Tal Tal's face turned pale, but he didn't disobey because he knew it will be useless to protest his uncle order.

The two soldiers began to heat an iron stick, while Baek Ahn left again. Horror went through Haneul, as she saw the glowing stick, becoming dark yellow, then light yellow and in the end, nearly white. She felt dizzy as she imagined the pain it will cause and a cold sweat covered her forehand. Her stomach tightened and her nails deepened into the arms of the chair.

Closing her tired eyes, she wanted to imagine herself in a better place. She saw a bright, beautiful forest with a small river. She could even hear the whisper of the water and the wind, as it was playing with the leaves above her. The flowers were just blooming and the sweet smell of them calmed Haneul down.

However, this wasn't real. Her imagination was always strong, but it wasn't enough to save her from the pain.

"Haneul, say something! begged Tal Tal, already sick from what he was doing to her."If you give me all the rebels general names, I can let you go!"

She shook her head, even if she was scared to death. All the general names would have meant the death of her little brother. Even one name was too much to ask. Tal Tal breathed in deeply, but turned around, unable to watch the torture any longer. He couldn't do anything else for her.

She shut her eyes again when the man pulled the iron stick out of the fire. She wanted to cry so badly that it was suffocating, like fingers wrapped around her neck.

Before the iron reached her, she felt the intense heat from it. When it finally touch her arm, it was like a lightning. Her body began to tremble, even her tooth was chattering, as the wave of pain took over her conscious. But, she was still soundless.

Haneul was too proud not to cry, to scream, to beg for he life. She was proud to be brave protecting her little brother.

The soldiers and Tal Tal was expecting to hear a horrible, blood-freezing scream, but surprisingly, they heard nothing. Even the prisoners in other cells were watching Haneul with deadly disbelief as if she wasn't even a human being.

She was touched by the burned iron several times. Even her eyes were shaking from the intense pain she felt, but her lips stayed closed. She was biting them, to control herself and it made blood flow into her mouth.

"Enough!ordered Tal Tal, after hours of torture and he turned back to the girl. He saw how much she suffered, he saw the terrible pain in her bloodshot eyes, but in those eyes, there was something else too. Wild strength. The strength of an unbreakable person. " Are you still listening to the questions?"

She nodded, unable to speak anymore.

"Why? What is your real reason? You don't care about Koryo, it has to be something else!"

"Why is it important?" she whispered.

"Because I want to understand why you kept on holding. And if you carry on this way, you are dead!" A small smile appeared on her bloody lips.

"I don't care!" he stepped closer and descended on one knee in front of her.

"I know that you are not scared of death! Then I have to find something else and I will!"

"Good luck! She said with a mocking tone and her eyes closed. She passed out finally.

Tal Tal stood up and after some minutes of watching her helplessly, he left the cell. He was sick of it, sick of hurting weak people in this way. Being a soldier was one thing, but torturing a weak, small girl was something he would never want to do.

"Don't start to respect her, Tal Tal!"

Said a voice and Tal Tal turned around, just to find his uncle behind him.

"Uncle?"

"I know you since your childhood! I knew how much you respect woman and children but don't look at her in this way! She is a spy! What would you do, if she was a man?"

Ta Tal sighed and said," I would beat him with my own hands until he spits out the information." Baek Ahn nodded.

"Yes, and that's what should you do right now! Tal Tal shook his head.

"No, Uncle! I can barely watch her torture, I could never lay a hand on a small girl!" he said.

"Ignore your feelings, Tal Tal! Remember this is for the goods of our nation! Tomorrow, whip her!"

Tal Tal nodded, but he wasn't happy in doing this.