It's been over two weeks since me and my sister Kim su yong have been trapped inside ththedark canopy. It feels like just yesterday when mom came to my bed side, placed her rough but loving hand on my forehead and said
'Tomorrow will be a new shine, new beginning, and new challenges.
Ji Hwan my son, never be displeased of such hardships okay? cause Lord Buddha always takes care of us and He and I will be always at your side and....suddenly her voice gets choked up.
My eyes were getting blurry but I could still feel the warmth of that desperate grip on my forehead, but I was still confused about what she was meaning to 'He and I'.Cause my father was....
Then blood-curdling screem shattered the air , and Su yong and I were jolted awake our heart racing in terror. When I opened my eyes, I saw that our entire house is engulfed in flames with towring fire waves surrounding us.
Beyond the flames I could see mom fighting someone her moves sharp like a Cheetah, an Arorafang Cheetah. But when I looked around I saw something that made my eyes widen in terror, and I was so frightened that I closed my eyes.
Right next to my thighs lay mom's severed hand , which was probably cut off when it was on my head. That's why I could still feel it.
When my sister saw the pool of blood on my bed and that severed hand, she started vomiting and
then lost consciousness.
Seeing my mom fighting desperately and my sister passing out, I was torn between rushing to my sister's side or mom's.
I got out of my bed, grabbed my sister and started supporting mom by screaming 'mom you can do it' and unfortunately it was the last phrase mom wished to be heared by her and...
How wretched, a 7 year old helpless elder brother holding his 3 year old unconscious younger sister
watched as his mother fought with an unbreakable determination even if she was deadly exhausted.
There, I realized that life isn't a truth until we make it happen. I saw my mom fighting with her every last breath not to save herself but to shield us from the abyss of death , to protect us from the darkness that loomed.
Her final moments were not about her survival, but about saving us, her children.
Then...
Out of inferno, a dark form burst forth it's movements a blur. Before I could even process what was happening, it seized us both and vanished into the darkness, leaving the chaos behind.
In a flash it seized us with an unyealding grip that I barely felt it. We were hurtling away from our burning house at an incredible speed. Within seconds, the flame engulfed the house completely seeking no root in or out of it.
But....
When I was in turn too long, I saw...
A monstrous flying beast, it's wings ablaze with crimson flames seemed to make death dance in the darkness. It's power was unimaginable, it's presence petrifying.
Through my sweat-drenched blurry vision, I could barely make out it's eafor-like form but it's speed was unmistakable accelerating towards us with an otherwordly ferocity.
Every beat of its wings sparked a new wave of flames, engulfing everything in it's path.
But I was wondering about that strange thing carrying us too. I was terrified how unstopable this creature is.
"Son, never think that our fate is predetermined. We are the ones who forge our own destiny. "
The determined voice made me realize.
Mom! Mom are you...
"Yes son, now listen to me carefully, your sister is unconscious and you are the one who can take her to the 'Ashram'.
I felt early, I don't have much time to tell you about all these but listen, your sister possesses a quirk that that evil Wizard want to use for his own purpose. Here, you are the only one left who can save lives of you both".
But mom, why? And how these all started and where's that Ashram like you said and why?
"We don't have much timeless"
"That Wizard is definitely stronger than me that his Animal Power mark isn't visible to me. But, you'll run away with your sister as I will lay you down, okay? "
But mom how i...
"Ji Hwan, your my son, and my son will never give up and he'll become the most strongest one that this entire dynasty never mined up"
"Now go! "
My mom layed two of us down and I started running towards forest. That was the last time after the incident I saw my mom. She sacrificed herself for us.
With tears blurring my vision, I clutched Suyong tightly and ran as swift as I could in the dark shadows of the canopy.
Haaf! Haaf!
Days blend into an endless blur as I flee into this unforgiving wilderness, my heart pounding in my chest like a death knell.
Two days or may be more I've lost the count - all that matters is the next breath , the next step and my unconscious sister with how but releafing normal beat.
Ahh! I was totally consumed, by the unforgiving dark Canopy. My body screeming in agony due to those pangs of hunger and thirst. Yet a spark within me refused to die, fueled
by the thought of Suyong's safety.
As long as they remained unscathed, I could endure the torment. But the shadows closed in and my vision got faded dark. But before the collapse, I held her tightly that no one could separate us and layed on the muddy wet soil.
Ashram, Ashram, Ashram,Ashram....
The word still repeatating onto my glimmsed eyes.Even the meaning of the word was far too long from my brains destination.
It's like After a while....
I opened my eyes slowly to find myself in a tranquil Haven, lying on a plush bed that crandled my exhausted body. The memories of the of that dark canopy lingered but the softness beneath me was a stark contrast to the harsh reality I had faced.
And then my gaze fell upon Suyong, her gentle form sleeping serenly besides me, a beacon of hope midst of uncertainity.
What was that word,I thought. Ashan, Asharama, Anashama, no no no, umm Ash....
"Ashram, it's Ashram"
An as old as a grampy, an old man dressed In a Chinese uniform of devoties? Hmmm...they gave the answer.
Is it the Ashram? I asked again.
They replied, "Yes"
"This is The Ashram".