Chapter Text
summer 1881, Jeongin POV
I was dead. I must have been dead.
My heart wasn’t beating, I couldn’t feel my pulse. The last thing I remembered was my body breaking the surface of water and the sound of bones cracking.
But if I was dead, why was I conscious? I could feel every inch of my body, each rigid muscle refusing to loosen. I hadn’t even opened my eyes but I knew where I was. It smelled like the forest, wet, fresh, earthy. Bare heels bumping over roots, I was laying on something flat, woven, like a stretcher made of weeds.
And there were footsteps above me. Two people towing my body through the trees. But they weren’t… people, were they? Their hearts were silent as well.
Wait. I could hear their hearts?
I didn’t want to open my eyes. Maybe I was in Hell, and as long as I didn’t give myself away, the Devil wouldn’t realize I had arrived…
I was too curious for my own good. Why did I have the feeling I could fight off any attack that came my way? Why was there an inexplicable strength brimming inside me, a berserker waiting to be let loose?
Compromise. I’d only open one eye. It wasn’t like that alone would tip off Satan.
I lifted one lid. Immediately a voice came from above me.
“Ah! Splendid, you’re awake.”
I closed my eye again. “No, I’m not.”
My captor laughed. “He’s transitioning well. Refreshing. You know, after you.”
The accomplice elbowed him. “What’s your name?” he said to me.
“Jeong — er — Jeonghyeok. Yoo Jeonghyeok.”
“Is that a fake name, by any chance?”
“Per… haps.”
My raft stopped moving, dropped against the ground, and I turned to face the men. One had pretty black hair, kind eyes, the other had brown hair, face sculpted from stone. They were dressed in puffy shirts and cinched slacks, both beautiful and intimidating, definitely not human.
“Why… why are you dressed like pirates?” I asked.
The kind-looking one giggled. “Old habits die hard, boyo.”
“Who are you?”
“My name is Chan. This is Haseong.” He crouched to speak to me at eye-level. “There’s a lot you need to know now that you’re awake — I promise we’ll give you all the answers. But first, I want you to know that you’re safe. You’re okay. Whatever you’re feeling is natural, and you don’t have to be afraid of it.”
“I-is there something to be afraid of?”
“That depends, doesn’t it?” said Haseong. “Stick with us and life will seem benign in due time. We’ve been doing the domestic thing recently and I feel eighty years older.”
“Aw you love it.” Chan casually linked his arm with Haseong’s leg.
“Domestic?” I raised my eyebrows. “Are you two…? Er, you know…?”
Chan’s head canted. “Homeowners?”
“Homosexuals,” Haseong corrected him. “Lose the tone, Jeonghyeok. We’re not the most unfortunate discoveries you’ll make today.”
“That’s not what I meant, I swear, I — never mind. Can I ask some questions now?”
Chan shifted onto the ground in front of me, crossed his legs. “Shoot.”
“What the hell am I?”