Minsoo woke to the harsh pull of ropes cutting into her wrists.
Her head throbbed. Her throat was dry. Smoke and the sharp tang of iron filled the air.
She turned her head. To her right, Miso knelt, trembling and crying quietly. To her left, a group of women huddled together, bound and battered. Their faces were hollow. Their clothes torn. Hunger and fear etched every line of their bodies.
Panic clawed at Minsoo's chest.
"Miso… what's happening?" she whispered.
Miso's lips trembled. "We've… we've been captured," she stammered.
"Captured? For what?" Minsoo's voice cracked.
"They… they're making us slaves," Miso said, voice barely audible.
Minsoo sank to the floor, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I just want to go home… to my dad… to continue cooking. I don't deserve this…"
Miso moved closer, silent but steady, and wrapped Minsoo in a gentle hug. "We'll get through this… together," she whispered.
A small smile broke through Minsoo's tears. "You're like the sister I never had," she said. "When I go back to my world, I'll take you with me… you'll meet my family and my dad."
Miso froze. "I… I don't have a family. Both my parents are gone… I'm alone," she admitted quietly.
Minsoo's heart ached. "My mom is gone too. I only have my dad. But I promise, Miso, I will protect you… always."
For a brief moment, the world felt lighter. Their bond formed a fragile shield against the fear surrounding them.
Then the heavy door creaked open. The captors stepped inside.
"Line up!" they barked. "Twenty and above on one side. Below twenty on the other!"
Minsoo, twenty-six, stood firm in the older line. She glanced at Miso, her eyes urging her silently: Lie about your age. Stay with me.
Miso hesitated, then nodded. "I… I'm twenty-five," she said, though she was only seventeen.
The captors squinted, unconvinced. After tense moments, they allowed her to join Minsoo. Relief flooded both their hearts. They embraced quickly, savoring the brief comfort.
Once the sorting ended, the men ordered the women to prepare a meal. A high-ranking minister was arriving. If the dish failed to please him, some women would be taken as slaves or concubines.
Terror gripped the room. Fear made them tremble. No one dared step forward.
Minsoo's mind raced. I can save them all.
She stepped forward. "If I prepare a proper dish, one that pleases your minister, will you release everyone?"
The captors exchanged wary glances.
"If you are certain, and the dish satisfies him, all of you will be freed," one said.
The other women stared. "Are you sure?" one asked.
"I am a skilled chef," Minsoo said firmly. "I will save us all."
The women murmured among themselves, some nodding, others anxious. Minsoo gestured for them to conserve their energy while she gathered ingredients. The men provided them reluctantly, warning of the stakes.
"Fail, and you will be beheaded. Annoy the minister, and your life is forfeit," one said.
Minsoo bowed her head. "I take full responsibility. Do not fear for me. I will succeed."
She turned to the women. "We will make Gochujang Butter Bibimbap. Rice with local vegetables, mushrooms, and a poached egg, topped with Gochujang—red pepper paste—and browned butter. It will be unlike anything the minister has tasted."
Their eyes widened. "What is that?" someone whispered.
"Trust me," Minsoo said, a small smile breaking through the tension. "You will understand when it is done."
They moved to the kitchen together, a sense of purpose uniting them. Minsoo directed efficiently, assigning tasks, chopping, stirring, cooking. Every woman worked carefully, knowing a single mistake could cost lives.
By the time the ministers arrived, the meal was ready. The women served the dishes cautiously. The minister tasted the food and paused, his expression unreadable.
Then, with deliberate malice, he frowned. "This… is not to my liking," he declared, though the flavors were perfect. His intent was clear: any excuse to claim the women.
Minsoo's eyes narrowed. She stood, facing the ministers with unwavering confidence. "I prepared this dish myself. It is made to perfection. Taste it honestly," she demanded. Her voice carried the hopes of every woman present.
The ministers' anger flared. "She dares speak to us?" one hissed. They demanded her immediate execution and prepared to seize the others.
But before they could act, the great courtyard gates creaked open.
Silence fell. All eyes turned to the entrance.
A tall figure stepped through, radiating authority. The king.
Even the captors paused, wary. The women dared to hope.
Minsoo's heart leapt. She glanced at Miso, who returned a trembling smile. Together, they held onto a fragile hope. Freedom might finally be within reach.