TDIMEH Chapter 49

 49. One Mountain After Another

Two days later.

Amihan, who looked even more emaciated than before, took Se-ah’s hand and led her to the beach.

Until the day before, he had kept his mouth shut, but Se-ah’s constant concern seemed to have prompted him to make a decision.

Se-ah refrained from speaking and waited for Amihan to say something first.

After glancing at her, Amihan began drawing on the sand.

Starting with a round circle, the drawing gradually expanded. He sketched a small boat on the edge of the circle and placed a pointed mountain in the center.

When he added four rectangular wooden houses near what appeared to be the beach, Se-ah’s suspicion turned into certainty.

Could it be…

"[Is this a map?]"

When Se-ah asked, Amihan nodded.

Thump, thump, thump.

Her heart pounded as if it might burst.

With trembling eyes, Se-ah glanced toward Junhyuk, who was standing behind Amihan.

Junhyuk, too, was frozen in place, staring at the drawing in the sand.

After furrowing his brows in hesitation, Amihan continued drawing on the opposite side of the map.

He added two large rectangular buildings, wide fields with furrowed grooves, and many stick-figure people working in the fields.

The more Se-ah observed, the stranger it seemed for an island inhabited by people.

As she studied the drawing with a tilted head, her eyes widened in shock.

"......…!"

Among the figures, there were others standing watch, each holding something long in their hands.

She wanted to ask if those were guns, but she couldn’t remember the word.

Growing desperate, Se-ah formed her fingers into the shape of a gun and mimicked a 'bang' sound, pointing to the drawing.

Understanding her gesture, Amihan nodded with a somber expression.

Everyone who had been silently observing from a distance turned to Amihan with the same shocked expression as Se-ah.

"[Did you work there?]"

"[Yes.]"

"[Wh-what kind of work did you do?]"

"[I grew plants.]"

Finding it difficult to explain, Amihan moved to a corner of the beach and drew a plant in the sand.

Though the drawing was rough and uneven, it gave off a sense of danger.

It had to be something dangerous; otherwise, there wouldn’t have been a need for armed guards to oversee the workers.

"So that’s what caused his poisoning. If he worked in the fields, he must have touched it daily, and the toxins absorbed through his skin," 

Junhyuk said with a grave expression as he examined the drawing closely.

"What should we do? The people on the other side… they seem dangerous,"

"Yeah…"

"We shouldn’t leave this side of the island. What if we encounter those people beyond the forest?"

Se-ah’s lips quivered as she spoke.

The people in the drawing weren’t just a few—they were numerous, and they were armed.

It seemed far safer to stay on this beach and endure.

"R-right. It’s not bad here. The rescue boat will come soon," 

Boss Nam chimed in with a frightened face.

But…

"If that drawing is accurate, the rescue boat won’t come,"

Junhyuk responded in a low, somber voice, as if suppressing a heavy sigh.

"What do you mean by that?" 

Moon Sohee asked, her face filled with confusion.

"If they’re cultivating fields like that, it means this island belongs to someone. And people involved in illegal activities won’t let other boats approach the island,"

".......…"

"Besides, they probably chose an island where ships don’t typically pass through. That would also explain why the currents are so strong around here."

Everyone fell silent at Junhyuk’s cold assessment, their faces pale.

Boss Nam’s legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the sand.

"Then… does that mean we’re stuck here forever? That can’t be true!"

Moon Sohee shouted, her face turning ghostly white.

Se-ah looked at Junhyuk in despair. Even though the sun shone brightly overhead, everything seemed dark before her eyes.

While their current life on the island wasn’t unbearable, the idea of spending the rest of their lives there was an entirely different matter.

It would mean the end of their connection to the civilized world. If they ran out of medicine, even a minor injury could fester and lead to death.

It also meant she’d never see her father or Sejun again.

Up until now, they had clung to the hope of rescue, enduring and waiting.

Now, it felt as though all hope had been ripped away.

"I can’t! I need to see my wife and kids!" 

Boss Nam, who had always been cheerful, now clutched his head and screamed in anguish. His earlier words about working here to support his family came flooding back to Se-ah.

"There has to be a way," 

"A way? But you just said no boats can get in."

Junhyuk scanned the group before pointing toward the opposite side of the beach with his long finger. Everyone’s eyes followed his gesture.

"We’ll go there instead."

Somehow, there was now a relatively large boat sketched in the sand.

"Junhyuk, have you lost your mind? You said there are people with guns guarding that place! What if we go there and get killed without anyone knowing?"

"I’ll go, I’d rather try and risk dying than spend the rest of my life here."

Boss Nam said firmly. As soon as he finished speaking, Moon Sohee shook her head violently, but Boss Nam was resolute, willing to face whatever lay beyond.

"Besides, there might be medicine there. Even if we can’t use the boat, maybe they’ll have a working phone."

Se-ah glanced at the pale-faced Amihan, hoping there would be medicine to treat him.

"[Do they have a phone there?]" 

Boss Nam asked. Hiding behind Se-ah, Amihan nodded hesitantly.

"If there’s a phone, it can be tracked," 

"Exactly. And maybe we could negotiate with them using money."

A glimmer of hope began to light up their previously despairing faces.

While it was unclear if the armed men could be reasoned with, the presence of a boat and a phone made it worth the risk to try.

***

Later…

"Isn’t it heavy? Let me carry it."

"It’s fine. You’re carrying much more, Junhyuk."

Se-ah adjusted the bag slung over her back like a bundle.

She had packed dried food, a few clothes, and simple cooking tools, but the bag was still quite heavy.

"Even with this load, I can carry your bag too. Heck, I could carry you," 

Junhyuk said. Despite carrying a tent made from torn boat fabric, emergency water bottles, and various wooden items that could be used as weapons, he was eager to take her burden as well.

"Do we really have to go? Can’t we just wait here for the rescue team?" 

Moon Sohee complained, dragging along a small bag of clothes, unwilling to carry even that much.

"They said the rescue team isn’t coming," 

Boss Nam, carrying his bag like Se-ah, added in a flat tone.

"That’s not certain. Do you even know what kind of family I come from? My mom would never give up on me,"

"If you don’t want to go, then stay here, Ms. Moon Sohee. If the negotiations are successful, we’ll come back for you," 

Se-ah replied in a calm but detached tone. She didn’t think forcing someone to come along to a dangerous place was the right choice.

"How can I trust that?" 

Moon Sohee asked, glaring sharply.

She had been like this for the past three days while they packed. While the others scurried around to gather extra food and supplies, Moon Sohee merely observed, detached and unhelpful.

Se-ah’s patience was wearing thin.

"Ms. Moon Sohee, stop acting like a child."

"A child?"

"No, let me rephrase that. Even children wouldn’t whine or pick fights without reason in a situation like this."

"What did you just say?"

Moon Sohee dropped her bag and stormed over to Se-ah.

"I’m just stating facts. Why are you so angry? Think about your actions so far,"

"What actions?"

Moon Sohee’s eyes burned with fury as she raised her hand.

For a moment, it looked as if she would slap Se-ah. But her hand froze mid-air.

Se-ah, who had instinctively closed her eyes, quickly realized why the hand hadn’t come down.

Junhyuk was gripping Moon Sohee’s wrist tightly, as if he might break it.

"What do you think you’re doing?" 

Junhyuk’s voice was cold and sharp, carrying the weight of an icy chill. The atmosphere was enough to make anyone feel as if they’d plunged into freezing water. Moon Sohee’s flushed face quickly turned pale.

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

“It doesn’t seem like nothing, considering all that I’ve seen and heard.”

Junhyuk let go of her wrist and stepped in front of Se-ah as if to shield her.

“You’re treating me like a child, that’s why.”

Overwhelmed by Junhyuk’s intensity, Moon Sohee mumbled in frustration.

“If you act like this again, I won’t continue traveling with you from that moment onward, Ms. Moon So-hee.”

“W-what did you just say?”

“I said I won’t tolerate it anymore.”

“J-Junhyuk…”

“Let’s go.”

Leaving behind Moon Sohee, who hung her head dejectedly, Junhyuk urged the group to move on.

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