Bows & Beauty

Chapter 19 (Final)

She was back in the garden of roses. The last time Seulgi visited this place, it was calm and soothing with a breeze blow of the wind. But now it was the opposite. Total darkness prevailed as clouds thickened the sky, the fierce wind push the still water of the ocean ahead into choppy mountains of angry waves. Seulgi then heard the deafening cry of crows, and she looked upwards to see flocks of the black feathers swarming and circling above.

A flash of lightning strikes and a sigh of a raspy voice resound amidst the surrounding. Its heavy breathing resonates and Seulgi search for the source of the voice to no avail. Another thunder shrilled the darken sky and a familiar voice echoes

"Daughter of the Light,

Seat yourself now amidst pain,

For you are the child of Apollo,

Grasp the bow fast in your hands,

Hidden allies awaits you."

An ear-splitting thunder sets loose once more and the voice faded, leaving Seulgi to cry out for whoever was above until she felt a heavy pain at her chest before she sunk to the ground with a thud.

She woke up shivering. Although there were furry blankets placed above her, she trembled against the cold air. Seulgi realized her torso was half exposed with bandages draped over her chest. And she tried to sit up from the thin mat covering the brown earth as her eyes darts to her surrounding. Seulgi is locked up in a prison. A cave prison. And there was only two torch of fire illuminating and no guards guarding her. Her friends were also missing, probably locked up in the same way she was.

But as Seulgi was about to stand up, she heard footsteps coming and she lean back once more on the caves wall. The person who came to visit her made her heart plummet. Standing outside the bars, was Irene with a tray of food and a cup of water. She stood there looking a bit surprised seeing Seulgi who was equally having the same expression. But her expression change as she spoke,

"Seems like you're awake."

Seulgi did not respond anything back, and look away from the girl instead. What is it to say to the girl who tore her heart raw.

"I suppose you're hungry. I've brought food—"

"I'm not hungry."

"I brought ambrosia to heal your wound faster."

"Does the healing apply to the wound inflicted internally?" Seulgi stare straight at Irene whom for a moment, Seulgi thought she saw a glint of sadness in those doe brown eyes. But who was she kidding? Isn't Irene the master of disguise and manipulation?

Irene sighed, or Seulgi thought she did, before unlocking the bar and walk in. She simply placed the tray beside her and walked back outside, locking the bar once again. "Your friends are being locked up nearby too if you're wondering."

"They were your friends too." Seulgi retorts.

"Eat Seulgi." Irene said in a dejected manner before wandering away. Seulgi almost thought she sense a tint of care in Irene's voice but she shook her head once more, telling to herself it was all a lie.

Seulgi glance at the tray being left behind and saw a bowl of porridge, cup of water, ambrosia and a big cello tape – which was weird. But nevertheless, Seulgi didn't touch a single thing and huddled herself in the blanket, drifting off to sleep once more.

And when she woke up, her stomach churned in hunger and she was force to eat up the already cold porridge. Nevertheless, she finished the whole bowl and drank the cup empty, leaving behind small chunk of ambrosia and the useless tape.