A Legend Known To None.

Little Jin sat across from his father, his small hands clenched in his lap. Cold sweat trickled down his temples. He had begged for a ghost story tonight, but he never imagined his father would choose the one that still frightened the entire village.

"Father… is it true?" he whispered.

His father chuckled softly, "What is?"

Jin swallowed. "My friends said… there really was a man whose wish turned into crimson blossoms. And his soul became a fierce ghost because of it. They said that's why…"

He shrank back, voice trembling, "That's why no one goes near that lake anymore."

"Mhm," his father said, nodding. "They're right. That lake is where the fierce ghost is said to roam."

Jin's eyes widened.

"They say," his father continued, lowering his voice just enough to make Jin's heart skip, "that his wish was overflowing with greed. Even at the moment of his death, he thought only of himself. So the Moon Goddess rejected his desire… and banished his soul."

The fire crackled softly between them, its light dancing across Jin's fearful face.

"That is why we never make selfish wishes, especially under a Blood Moon."

Chills crawled down little Jin's spine. Fearfully so, he grabbed the thin blanket and covered himself to sleep. Though that sleep never came to him that night.

This was the very legend that had frightened him enough to never even wander near the Forest of the Night. It was a forsaken place where sunlight never reached, and the rumored dwelling of the Crimson Blossom Ghost.

It had been fifteen years since he had heard that story. All those years, he had never dared to step into that abandoned lake. 

Yet tonight, he was being forced to consider stepping into that cursed place, all because of the ruckus happening inside the room he guarded. 

He probably wouldn't survive this, Jin thought.

Seven hours had passed since that man was dragged inside. The constant screaming, the ruthless beating, the sickening wails - each sound rang in Jin's skull like a curse. If only he could drag that person out… but his hands were tied.

He was a slave of the landlord to whom his late father owed a debt. If he wanted to live, he had to abide by his master’s words. And so, he had done as they ordered him to.

Every single time.

"Are you sure he's dead?" someone asked inside.

"Look, he's not breathing…"

"Shit! You know this one is a royal object. The prince won't like this…"

"Let's just get rid of him and blame his corpse for running away. There's no way the prince won't believe us."

"Tell that servant outside to do it. The one guarding the door."

"Him? You trust that idiot?"

"He can't run from his debts. He'll obey. I'm his lord, after all."

The door slammed open, and a fragile, pale human was tossed out like a bag of discarded meat. His long, silky hair covered most of his bruised face, and his light-dressed body was marked everywhere with violent fingerprints. Worst of all, his thin legs were twisted, completely broken.

"Get rid of him," one of the men ordered from inside. Jin didn't turn around. Not out of respect, but because he was terrified of seeing the horrors within that room.

"Dump him somewhere no one will ever find him. And by no one, I mean no one."

Jin nodded silently. He lifted the limp body with trembling hands and laid him carefully in the horse cart. As he climbed onto the rider's seat, tears gathered and fell uncontrollably.

A sharp ache stabbed deep inside him.

It was he who had escorted this man to his lord. And now it was he who would bury this man.

"I'm sorry…" he whispered, voice breaking.

"Tae-jin…" a faint voice rasped.

Jin froze. His hands slipped from the reins for a moment.

"Don't stop…" the voice said again.

"You're alive…?"

"I can hold my breath for seven minutes at most…” A weak laugh left the broken man, "Well… it doesn't matter now."

"Haneul… I'm so sorry," Jin sobbed beneath the full moon as he drove toward the dark tree line of the cursed forest.

"Are you… going to kill me?" Haneul whispered.

"That's not what I was ordered to do." Jin swallowed the lump in his throat. "He told me to dispose of you… so I'll only do that."

"You're still so soft," Haneul chuckled weakly, then coughed from the strain. "Tae-jin… I'm sorry you have to do this."

"Why are you... the one apologizing?" Jin's chest tightened painfully with guilt.

"Just felt like it, haha…"

"Don't talk now… it hurts your throat."

"Tae-jin," Haneul murmured, voice trembling but sincere, "I'm glad you're the last person I get to talk to before I die. After all… you were the only one who cares for me."

"I said…" Jin bit his lips and tried to stifle a sob, "Don't talk."