Far East: Chase By Darkness [7/?]
Title: Far East: Chase by Darkness
Characters: OCs, then (mentioned/spoken of/explained) Xiumin, Chen, Kai, Sehun
Length: 1,500
Summary: In fear for his life, Alfred relays some valuable information to his fiancé, Jane. This reporter knows too much.
Note: This part of the Far East series. (And for this one to make any sense, all previous ones should be read because this is one where I tie things together and what-not)
A/N: I’M NOT DEAD! (I’ve just been working on something for a while) This is kind of a chapter in between major chapters and not necessary to read but it would help in understanding the other stories in this AU. If you want a quick summary, just go to the bottom J
Dear Jane,
I’m so sorry I haven’t written in so long, but I ought to fill you in on my situation. I haven’t got much time. I’ve been told High Prince Chanyeol wants to see me. I don’t want to see him, my dear. I really don’t. Not now. Not when my tongue wills and desires to tell him truths upon truths.
Firstly, I should be leaving prison tomorrow - praise God - because Mason finally received word from the embassy and they have filed a complaint.
I found another Englishman. That is Mason, of whom I speak of. I should have informed you about him earlier, but it’s truly best I didn’t. I find now is the best time to tell you because he would be the one receiving you when you arrive here in Korea, if I cannot.
He’s a scoundrel and he’s terribly ill-mannered, but he is loyal, speaks fluent Korean and I need him, unfortunately.
I recall one particular time with him, that I believe you would take a great amount of interest in.
It was not long after my arrival from Manila after my days adrift with the High Prince of Korea. We were running. Fast. He did not tell me what we were particularly running from, only that we were running. We slipped into a shallow gulf, for it was quickest passage through the thicket of the black forest of a particular night with very little moon and prevalent clouds.
To demonstrate the cheek of this shoe-maker’s son, let me retell a conversation;
Mason! Pull me up, I demanded when we encountered the end of the ditch and though I knew not what we were hiding from, I found myself sensing a presence which I feared. It was quite a sensation! Really terrible.
And the little bastard said from atop the gulf; How about - no.
Mason! I growled.
Fifty pounds, he said.
Ten!
Nope. Fifty-five.
Why does it go up?
Because you’re wastin’ my time Greene. Come now. Sixty?
Seventy if you take me now!
Pay before play.
Mason!
Now, I had been a fool. I was told that he knew where I could find a Kim Minseok. I was foolish to follow him into the depths of the forest on the outskirts of the mountain ranges, a day’s travel from the heart of Seoul. It was here which he claimed he found Kim Minseok - living in isolation.
If you don’t remember, my dear, Kim Minseok was the servant who brought me to the tower to expose the affair of the High Prince Chanyeol - who I’ve come acquainted with far too often for my liking.
Mason provided a description of him and I approved and thus, I put my trust on this shoe-maker’s son who claimed to be a stowaway on one of the pirate ships in the fleet of the Laughing Pirate Jongdae, but really, I doubt it. No one has seen Jongdae in years. He is presumed - and hoped to be - dead. I don’t even believe he is real.
I followed this idiot into the depths of the forest on very little moonlight and he took pleasure in planting seeds of fear in my mind.
Keep close, he said, as we trekked up a steep and thick section of wood. You don’t want Kai to find you…
Who is Kai? I so stupidly asked.
A large black dog that wanders th’ forests of this mountain and guards th’ secrets to th’ mysterious cave in th’ north.
A myth, then.
No real. He lurks abou’ in th’ shadows. You can only see him in th’ shadows. If you turn ‘round, you won’t be living then. Because, well, he’s eaten you.
A-stounding. Well I suppose the East loves forming stories, then?
But ther’ is a difference, ya know? The stories here; are true.
I’ve begun to gather that.
What do ya know? He demanded of me, aggressively.
I’m a reporter. It’s my job to know things even before you, I said and he laughed.
You will never know ‘bout a thin’ before me.
Our conversation drifted to the topic of you, surprisingly, my dear, for we spoke of our families and friends as we continued the climb; it was colder at this point and light conversation always seems to warm the heart or at least deceive it long enough to feel warm.
Alec, that is his birth name, had recently been reacquainted with an old friend of his, named Sehun. He was in the same line of work as Mason - what line of work was not specified but we can only imagine the illegalities Mason indulges himself in for gold. And so I asked, out of politeness; Where’s Sehun now?
He probably died. Wasn’t fit for this sort o’ thin’.
What?
He shrugged, dodging a branch. Maybe Kai’s taken him.
How can you be so casual about this?
People die all the time, Greene. Didn’t you write abou’ tha’ once?
But he’s your friend.
Yeah, well. He’s not been good lately. I think he would-a been happy to die that way. By magical giant dog. Sister runnin’ away an’ all. Broke his heart and his ambition for anythin’.
He had a sister?
Yeah. Beautiful girl. Inside and out.
And she ran away from…home? I meant to say Home, but didn’t.
Huh. She…well, she was a little bit upset with him, yer know? Somethin’ about lovers and dignity and money. And one mornin’. She was gone. Didn’t even take anythin’ with her. I think that Sehun thought she committed suicide or something. He’s been pretty depressed abou’ it.
And that gives you perfect cause to think that he’s dead?
Well, yer. I mean, Sehun’s really… not all ther’ all the time, yer know? Years of abuse and narcotics and all.
Why am I not surprised-
Oi! You haven’t even met ‘im!
Well, if he’s in the same line as you Mason, I can imagine-
God no! I’m not in th’ exact same line of work as him, he objected. We use to filter through th’ same circles buts not do th’ same work. That’s disgustin’.
What is he, then? A shoe-maker’s son?
No a whore.
I knew it. Well, was what I said aloud. Perhaps he has been abused for far too long.
Yer, Mason agreed, eyes to the ground. You got t’ feel sorry fer ‘im
You young people need to find better jobs.
You’re a young person too, Greene. Do you know why I want to be a writer?
Because you will get to travel? You seem to like travelling, stowaway.
No. It’s because you get to spy. It’s your job to find out people secrets and th’ expose them.
That’s not the purpose of a journalist.
But that’s what yer do.
That settled in my mind a little when Mason lifted a hand to stop me in my tracks. We had arrived.
It was in a clearing in the wood. In the very centre and was a small little hut made of sticks and the occasional large stone. In daylight, it would have appeared humble but in the darkness, it was sinister and haunted.
I stood up from where we were crouching, ready to confront Kim Minseok. I had so many questions to ask; Who are you? Why did you lead me to the Prince? What agenda do you have? Who are you working for? How did you know about the affair? But then Mason said something low that made me stop in my tracks.
What do you mean that Minseok is not here?! I growled.
Well, Mason smiled sheepishly. You see, Minseok did live here but…
I grabbed him by the shirt collar and attempted to lift him a few inches off the ground but was failing. I already paid him. But?
Well, he took a ship to England last week.
And you chose not to tell me?!
Well no. See, you want’d to see where he lives. He still lives here. ‘E still owns this, accordin’ to law. It’s just well, he’s gone to England for a few months…Did you know he’s pursuin’ a career as a mysterious Asian assistant to a famous magic show in London it’s really an amazing thing because he’s not really Chinese accordin’ to th-
Who lives in the house now?
What ar’ you takin’ about?
A light has been turned on.
There were candles alight inside the small house, casting shadows against the stained windows.
We ducked into the shadows of the trees and saw nothing but the light disappear after a minute or two and nothing leave the building. We of course, decided to run. It was when we reappeared in Seoul - I had Mason by collar the entire trip - that I was arrested. To my surprise, Mason was not pleased and from that day hence forth, he has continually been my attendant; my eyes and ears amongst the crowds which I cannot go myself.
Of course, I know he keeps things from me. Terrible things.
Basically:
- Minseok is missing, supposedly going to England to be part of a magic show
- Sehun’s sister (who if you’ve read The Silver Siblings, was in love with a boy named Jongin) ran away and so Sehun is missing too
- Kai is the name of spirit/monster dog roaming the woods
- Mason is a stowaway from England; the son of a shoe-maker and a friend of Sehun; and had supposedly travelled to Korea on the ship of the Laughing Pirate Jongdae and told Greene that he knew where Minseok was
- This all happened before Greene was sent to jail in Imprisoned
Yeah...not too proud of this
Characters: OCs, then (mentioned/spoken of/explained) Xiumin, Chen, Kai, Sehun
Length: 1,500
Summary: In fear for his life, Alfred relays some valuable information to his fiancé, Jane. This reporter knows too much.
Note: This part of the Far East series. (And for this one to make any sense, all previous ones should be read because this is one where I tie things together and what-not)
A/N: I’M NOT DEAD! (I’ve just been working on something for a while) This is kind of a chapter in between major chapters and not necessary to read but it would help in understanding the other stories in this AU. If you want a quick summary, just go to the bottom J
Dear Jane,
I’m so sorry I haven’t written in so long, but I ought to fill you in on my situation. I haven’t got much time. I’ve been told High Prince Chanyeol wants to see me. I don’t want to see him, my dear. I really don’t. Not now. Not when my tongue wills and desires to tell him truths upon truths.
Firstly, I should be leaving prison tomorrow - praise God - because Mason finally received word from the embassy and they have filed a complaint.
I found another Englishman. That is Mason, of whom I speak of. I should have informed you about him earlier, but it’s truly best I didn’t. I find now is the best time to tell you because he would be the one receiving you when you arrive here in Korea, if I cannot.
He’s a scoundrel and he’s terribly ill-mannered, but he is loyal, speaks fluent Korean and I need him, unfortunately.
I recall one particular time with him, that I believe you would take a great amount of interest in.
It was not long after my arrival from Manila after my days adrift with the High Prince of Korea. We were running. Fast. He did not tell me what we were particularly running from, only that we were running. We slipped into a shallow gulf, for it was quickest passage through the thicket of the black forest of a particular night with very little moon and prevalent clouds.
To demonstrate the cheek of this shoe-maker’s son, let me retell a conversation;
Mason! Pull me up, I demanded when we encountered the end of the ditch and though I knew not what we were hiding from, I found myself sensing a presence which I feared. It was quite a sensation! Really terrible.
And the little bastard said from atop the gulf; How about - no.
Mason! I growled.
Fifty pounds, he said.
Ten!
Nope. Fifty-five.
Why does it go up?
Because you’re wastin’ my time Greene. Come now. Sixty?
Seventy if you take me now!
Pay before play.
Mason!
Now, I had been a fool. I was told that he knew where I could find a Kim Minseok. I was foolish to follow him into the depths of the forest on the outskirts of the mountain ranges, a day’s travel from the heart of Seoul. It was here which he claimed he found Kim Minseok - living in isolation.
If you don’t remember, my dear, Kim Minseok was the servant who brought me to the tower to expose the affair of the High Prince Chanyeol - who I’ve come acquainted with far too often for my liking.
Mason provided a description of him and I approved and thus, I put my trust on this shoe-maker’s son who claimed to be a stowaway on one of the pirate ships in the fleet of the Laughing Pirate Jongdae, but really, I doubt it. No one has seen Jongdae in years. He is presumed - and hoped to be - dead. I don’t even believe he is real.
I followed this idiot into the depths of the forest on very little moonlight and he took pleasure in planting seeds of fear in my mind.
Keep close, he said, as we trekked up a steep and thick section of wood. You don’t want Kai to find you…
Who is Kai? I so stupidly asked.
A large black dog that wanders th’ forests of this mountain and guards th’ secrets to th’ mysterious cave in th’ north.
A myth, then.
No real. He lurks abou’ in th’ shadows. You can only see him in th’ shadows. If you turn ‘round, you won’t be living then. Because, well, he’s eaten you.
A-stounding. Well I suppose the East loves forming stories, then?
But ther’ is a difference, ya know? The stories here; are true.
I’ve begun to gather that.
What do ya know? He demanded of me, aggressively.
I’m a reporter. It’s my job to know things even before you, I said and he laughed.
You will never know ‘bout a thin’ before me.
Our conversation drifted to the topic of you, surprisingly, my dear, for we spoke of our families and friends as we continued the climb; it was colder at this point and light conversation always seems to warm the heart or at least deceive it long enough to feel warm.
Alec, that is his birth name, had recently been reacquainted with an old friend of his, named Sehun. He was in the same line of work as Mason - what line of work was not specified but we can only imagine the illegalities Mason indulges himself in for gold. And so I asked, out of politeness; Where’s Sehun now?
He probably died. Wasn’t fit for this sort o’ thin’.
What?
He shrugged, dodging a branch. Maybe Kai’s taken him.
How can you be so casual about this?
People die all the time, Greene. Didn’t you write abou’ tha’ once?
But he’s your friend.
Yeah, well. He’s not been good lately. I think he would-a been happy to die that way. By magical giant dog. Sister runnin’ away an’ all. Broke his heart and his ambition for anythin’.
He had a sister?
Yeah. Beautiful girl. Inside and out.
And she ran away from…home? I meant to say Home, but didn’t.
Huh. She…well, she was a little bit upset with him, yer know? Somethin’ about lovers and dignity and money. And one mornin’. She was gone. Didn’t even take anythin’ with her. I think that Sehun thought she committed suicide or something. He’s been pretty depressed abou’ it.
And that gives you perfect cause to think that he’s dead?
Well, yer. I mean, Sehun’s really… not all ther’ all the time, yer know? Years of abuse and narcotics and all.
Why am I not surprised-
Oi! You haven’t even met ‘im!
Well, if he’s in the same line as you Mason, I can imagine-
God no! I’m not in th’ exact same line of work as him, he objected. We use to filter through th’ same circles buts not do th’ same work. That’s disgustin’.
What is he, then? A shoe-maker’s son?
No a whore.
I knew it. Well, was what I said aloud. Perhaps he has been abused for far too long.
Yer, Mason agreed, eyes to the ground. You got t’ feel sorry fer ‘im
You young people need to find better jobs.
You’re a young person too, Greene. Do you know why I want to be a writer?
Because you will get to travel? You seem to like travelling, stowaway.
No. It’s because you get to spy. It’s your job to find out people secrets and th’ expose them.
That’s not the purpose of a journalist.
But that’s what yer do.
That settled in my mind a little when Mason lifted a hand to stop me in my tracks. We had arrived.
It was in a clearing in the wood. In the very centre and was a small little hut made of sticks and the occasional large stone. In daylight, it would have appeared humble but in the darkness, it was sinister and haunted.
I stood up from where we were crouching, ready to confront Kim Minseok. I had so many questions to ask; Who are you? Why did you lead me to the Prince? What agenda do you have? Who are you working for? How did you know about the affair? But then Mason said something low that made me stop in my tracks.
What do you mean that Minseok is not here?! I growled.
Well, Mason smiled sheepishly. You see, Minseok did live here but…
I grabbed him by the shirt collar and attempted to lift him a few inches off the ground but was failing. I already paid him. But?
Well, he took a ship to England last week.
And you chose not to tell me?!
Well no. See, you want’d to see where he lives. He still lives here. ‘E still owns this, accordin’ to law. It’s just well, he’s gone to England for a few months…Did you know he’s pursuin’ a career as a mysterious Asian assistant to a famous magic show in London it’s really an amazing thing because he’s not really Chinese accordin’ to th-
Who lives in the house now?
What ar’ you takin’ about?
A light has been turned on.
There were candles alight inside the small house, casting shadows against the stained windows.
We ducked into the shadows of the trees and saw nothing but the light disappear after a minute or two and nothing leave the building. We of course, decided to run. It was when we reappeared in Seoul - I had Mason by collar the entire trip - that I was arrested. To my surprise, Mason was not pleased and from that day hence forth, he has continually been my attendant; my eyes and ears amongst the crowds which I cannot go myself.
Of course, I know he keeps things from me. Terrible things.
Basically:
- Minseok is missing, supposedly going to England to be part of a magic show
- Sehun’s sister (who if you’ve read The Silver Siblings, was in love with a boy named Jongin) ran away and so Sehun is missing too
- Kai is the name of spirit/monster dog roaming the woods
- Mason is a stowaway from England; the son of a shoe-maker and a friend of Sehun; and had supposedly travelled to Korea on the ship of the Laughing Pirate Jongdae and told Greene that he knew where Minseok was
- This all happened before Greene was sent to jail in Imprisoned
Yeah...not too proud of this