Fox Sister

The yard, shrouded in darkness, was eerily silent, not even a whisper of breath could be heard. Only the intermittent cries of insects from the distant thickets faintly broke the stillness of the night.

The night breeze brushing against my cheeks was cool yet ticklish. I desperately wished that the ominous premonitions unsettling my heart were just baseless worries.

Like the dry branches bracing for a harsh winter, my heart felt parched with anxiety.

‘Surely, my sister couldn’t be…’

The shadow of doubt that loomed in my mind grew darker and longer the more I tried to shake it off.

In the corner of the yard, the heavy shadow of a jar stand stretched long under the moonlight, as if crouching to hide something. Memories of playing hide-and-seek with my sister behind that jar stand came flooding back.

“Sister, I’m here!”

The innocent voice that once called out now felt like a distant tale from a warm, bygone era.

The wind grew stronger. The rustling of leaves sounded eerily like the cries of beasts. Could there be something lurking in the darkness that I couldn’t even begin to imagine? The cold night air seeped deep into my lungs.

Clenching my trembling fists, I resolved, ‘Tonight, no matter what, I will uncover the truth behind this ominous shadow.’

A sharp scream pierced the night’s tranquility. Every hair on my body stood on end. It wasn’t a sound from afar. It was vivid and close, like the sound of slaughtering a pig. My heart pounded as if it might explode.

Instinctively, I ran towards the barn. The increasingly strong smell of blood stung my nose. The foul odor made me nauseous, but I couldn’t stop.

Anxiety rose to my throat. With trembling hands, I grabbed the old wooden latch of the barn. Sweat dripped from my fingertips. The old door creaked open with a dull thud.

And then, I froze in place.

In the darkness, a faint glimmer of blood. A small figure crouched in the center. Small, white hands clutching something red. The moment I realized the source of the thickening smell of blood, my breath caught.

My sister slowly raised her head. Her face, illuminated by the moonlight, was stained with blood. The small, cute mouth was smeared with a vivid red liquid.

Her eyes. Those once clear and sparkling eyes now gleamed with madness, piercing through me.

In her hand was the dripping liver of a pig. With greedy hands, she brought it to her mouth. As if it were the most delicious food in the world.

A chill ran down my spine. My breath choked, and my chest ached with a sharp pain.

Now I understood. The true nature of the sister I had so dearly loved and cherished. The being before me was no longer the adorable sister I knew.

Overwhelmed by disgust, fear, and betrayal, I couldn’t bear to face the scene any longer. Covering my mouth with both hands, I forced my trembling legs to hold steady.

But soon, everything crumbled. My legs gave way, and I stumbled against the barn threshold, but I didn’t look back. I ran out of the barn like a madman.

Forgetting about falling and crashing, I desperately ran to get away.

My heart pounded as if it would burst. My mind went blank, and a chilling sensation from behind made my body shiver.

I never wanted to face those eyes again. That was no longer the sister I knew.

At dawn, I barely managed to lift my stiffened body and headed to my father’s room. At the door, I grabbed the doorknob with trembling hands.

Carefully opening the door, I saw my father sitting at his desk. He looked no different than usual, but the air in the room was cold and heavy.

“Father, last night in the barn… I saw it clearly.”

My voice trembled as soon as I spoke. I hesitated to describe what I had seen.

“My sister… was eating the pig’s liver.”

As soon as I finished speaking, the air in the room grew even heavier. My father’s sharp gaze pierced through me. It felt as if he doubted even my truth, suffocating me.

My father’s lips quivered. His voice was low, filled with anger.

“Second son! Third son!”

Soon, hurried footsteps were heard outside, and my pale-faced brothers entered the room. My father stood up abruptly, unable to contain his rage, and roared.

“You rascals! Are you all spouting the same lies? I trusted you! And now you slander your little sister?! Are you truly my children?!”

My father’s thunderous voice echoed through the room. My brothers lay flat on the floor, tears welling up as they begged for forgiveness, but my father’s anger burned uncontrollably.

“If that’s the case, get out of this house right now!”

My father’s final shout struck my heart like a sharp blade.

“We’re sorry, Father… We’re truly sorry…”

The trembling voices of my second and third brothers filled the room, but I couldn’t bear to listen to their cries.

The bloody scene I witnessed in the barn dominated my mind with overwhelming intensity.

I couldn’t hold back any longer. Steadying my chilled heart, I poured out everything I had been suppressing.

The old man’s eerie…

Han Ye-eon,

The mocking laughter of a ghost I met in the mountains,

The whispers of a clown I heard at the market,

And even the name ‘Fox Valley’ that the monk mentioned…

I told everything step by step,

But Father’s face grew stiffer and stiffer.

Finally, after catching my breath, I blurted out the warning the monk had given me.

“The monk said… I must leave within three days.”

“Shut up!”

Father’s booming shout shook the room.

His bloodshot eyes glowed with a maddened rage.

“You too! Are you making up stories to frame your younger sister?

I don’t want to hear any more of this nonsense! Get out!”

Listening to Father’s crazed voice, I realized.

No matter what I said, it was useless.

My place in this house was gone.

The monk’s last words flashed through my mind.

‘You must leave. Within three days, without fail…’

There was no more reason to hesitate.

Swallowing my trembling breath, I spoke softly.

“Then, I will leave the house.”

Father’s eyes widened.

Shock, horror, and an indescribable emotion were tangled in his gaze.

But no words came from Father’s mouth.

Ignoring the cold stare I felt on my back, I left the room.

This house was no longer a place for me.

Left alone in the empty room, I packed my belongings with trembling hands.

The damp dawn air touched my skin, seeping in coldly.

I looked around the room, but for some reason, my sister was nowhere to be seen.

I thought it was for the best.

‘If I faced her now… I would see her face stained with blood.’

Suppressing my emotions, I grabbed my bundle and stepped out the gate.

As I passed through the familiar gate, my steps felt heavy.

The sound of the gate closing behind me echoed loudly.

It felt like a bell tolling the end of everything.

A pale mist hung thickly over the dawn road.

The sensation of damp grass beneath my feet reached my toes.

Only the distant chirping of nameless birds filled the silent morning air.

As I walked, the image of my sister smiling warmly under the sun faintly came to mind.

Her laughter seemed to tickle my ears, and for a moment, my steps faltered.

But I shook my head and continued on my way.

Climbing the steep mountain path, all sorts of emotions tangled and tore at my heart.

Fear, anxiety, and betrayal…

Everything weighed me down, but I had to keep moving forward.

In the distance, a familiar scene came into view.

An old, humble earthen wall, a roof covered in green moss…

Its sturdy and serene appearance, as if it had endured for a long time, seemed to offer some comfort.

As I hurried closer to the temple, the anxiety in my heart gradually faded.

Entering the temple yard, the monk was quietly sweeping the yard with a broom, as usual.

I quietly clasped my hands and approached the monk.

“Monk, I am ready to leave. Now… where should I go?”

The bloody scene I had witnessed in the barn last night flashed back, tightening my chest.

When my eyes met the monk’s, I sensed deep sorrow and heavy concern in his gaze.

It seemed the monk already knew what I had seen.

After a long silence, the monk spoke in a low voice.

“…I will look into a ship for you.”

The monk’s gaze turned to the distance.

“If the old man’s words are true, you must go far, a thousand miles away.”

A thousand miles…

Thinking of that vast distance, my heart felt momentarily overwhelmed.

But the desperate need to leave this place quickly overshadowed that feeling.

Leaving here meant cutting ties with the past,

And starting a new life.

I slowly nodded at the monk’s words.

I didn’t know what else to say,

But I was simply grateful for the monk’s kindness.

“Wait a moment.”

With those brief words, the monk quietly left the temple gate.

I stared blankly at the empty threshold.

It felt as if I was leaving something important behind.

The image of my sister smiling brightly under the sun came to mind.

The warm memories of holding hands and playing together, her radiant smile.

But now, those memories were just a past I could no longer hold onto.

When the monk returned, he held a small piece of paper with the name of an unfamiliar port.

The monk’s hand, handing me the paper, was gentle, as if soothing my weary heart.

I bowed deeply to the monk, expressing my gratitude.

And I carefully tucked the piece of paper into my chest.

Now, it was truly time to leave.

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