…

The house shudders to a halt, the tremors dying away like a malevolent whisper. The dust settles, leaving a scene of utter devastation. The beam that had claimed Mrs. Park's life lay still, a grim reminder of the cost of their struggle.

SI-WOO

(choking back tears)

Mom...

He reaches out, his hand touching the cold, still flesh of Mrs. Park's cheek. The world seems to stand still, the chaos outside their shattered home a distant memory. His chest tightens, the weight of loss threatening to crush him. But he can't give in to the grief. Not yet.

Si-woo's chest felt tight, a scream building up inside him, desperate to be released. But he knew he had to be strong, for her, for Ye-jun. He pushed against the weight of the world, his small body straining to move the rubble. Each shift of debris brought a new wave of pain, his bruised ribs screaming in protest, but he ignored them. He had to get out. He had to find his brother.

The earth had gone quiet, the once deafening roar now a mournful silence. The only sounds were the distant cries of the town's people and the occasional rumble of something moving in the ruins. He worked tirelessly, his hands slick with blood and grime. He could feel the warmth of his mother's body fading, each second a knife twisting in his gut.

With a final heave, Si-woo managed to free himself from the debris, his body bruised and battered. He looked around the destroyed room, his eyes searching for any sign of his mother's spirit, but all he found was emptiness. He took a deep breath, the dust in the air stinging his nose and throat, and started to crawl out from under the rubble. Each movement sent waves of pain through his body, but he gritted his teeth and pushed on.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

The house was a wreck, the once familiar walls and furniture now twisted and unrecognizable. He stumbled through the wreckage, his heart racing with fear and adrenaline. He had to find Ye-jun, had to know that his brother was safe. The thought of facing the world without his mother was unbearable, but he couldn't let that stop him. He had to be strong, for Ye-jun.

The air outside was thick with dust and the air seemed much thinner than it was supposed to be with the acrid smell of destruction. The once bustling streets of Yohen were now a silent tomb, the only sound was his own shallow breaths and the occasional whimper of someone trapped nearby. He forced his legs to move, each step feeling like a betrayal of his mother's sacrifice. The world was a blur, a canvas of ruin painted in shades of gray and brown.

Si-woo's eyes searched the horizon, desperately looking for any sign of life, of hope. His school, the place where he had found brief moments of triumph amidst the bullying, was now a pile of rubble. The sight of it brought a fresh wave of pain, a stark reminder of the world's cruelty. He had to keep moving, had to find Ye-jun. He stumbled through the wreckage, his small body navigating the maze of collapsed buildings.

Finally, he reached the hill that overlooked Ye-jun's school, his heart racing with anticipation and fear. The sight before him was apocalyptic. The school, once a bastion of learning and a symbol of their mother's hopes for their future, was now a jagged skeleton of twisted metal and concrete. The playground was a crater, the swings hanging limply like the broken wings of a giant bird. The classrooms, where Ye-jun had promised to protect him, were flattened, erased from existence.

Overstimulated by the chaos, Si-woo's knees buckled. He fell to the ground, his palms scraping against the harsh gravel. The world spun around him, the air thick with dust and despair.“EUUGHHH” A bloodcurdling cry ripped from his throat, raw and primal, echoing through the desolate landscape. The scream of loss, of pain, of fear for his brother. His voice, usually so small and meek, filled the air with a power that seemed to shake the very earth.