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As Dai grew up on Saltwater Island, he watched the other children in town play and dream of catching the biggest fish, while Dai spent his days watching the waves crash against the shore and gazing out at the endless expanse of the sea, wondering what lay beyond the horizon. Dai always dreamed of seeing the world beyond the horizon. But as the years went by, his dreams seemed to slip further and further away.

His mother fell victim to the manipulative tactics of a church community. After his father left the island, to pursue his dream of becoming a merchant, members of the church offered her financial support under the guise of assisting single mothers with raising their children. Initially, everything seemed fine, as his mother received food and money from the church.

However, years later, things took a dark turn when they started harassing her to repay the money, claiming it was a loan and not a charity. They would come bonking at their doors, screaming and calling his mother names that a child should have never heard. To avoid further trouble, Dai's mother obeyed their demands, but they didn't stop there. They demanded even more money and even threatened to use her body as payment if she couldn't come up with the funds in time. Dai witnessed it all.

Dai's world came crashing down after his mother eventually took her own life. The burden of debt and threats imposed by the church became too much for her to bear, and he still carried the weight of guilt, knowing that she got herself involved with them only to provide for him. Dai was now twelve-years-old, and an orphan.

After his mother's passing, the orphanage near the church became his only option. But it was a decision he would come to regret. The moment he stepped through its doors, Dai was struck by an overwhelming sense of dread. The cold, grey walls and sterile corridors were a far cry from the warm, cozy home he once knew.

Dai's life in the orphanage was a stark contrast to the idyllic childhood he had once known. His days were spent in a constant state of fear and misery, with little respite from the harsh reality of his situation. The orphanage was severely overcrowded, and the living conditions were abysmal. Dai shared a small room with several other children, sleeping on a hard, uncomfortable cot and struggling to find any sense of privacy or solitude.

The other children at the orphanage were not kind to Dai. They teased him relentlessly, making fun of his red eyes, calling him demon kin or possessed child. They treated him like an outcast, and Dai felt completely alone in the world. The caretakers were no better, showing little compassion or concern for the children in their care. Dai quickly learned that he couldn't trust anyone at the orphanage and that he was truly on his own.

But the worst part of all was the constant reminder of the world's cruelty: the church, looming over the orphanage like a menacing presence, was the very same one that made his mother's life a living hell. Every time Dai looked out the window, he was reminded of the pain and suffering she had endured. It was a daily torture that he couldn't escape from.

Despite the loneliness and the pain, Dai refused to give up on his dreams. He clung to the hope that someday he would find a way out of the orphanage and make something of himself. He continued to dream of seeing the world beyond the horizon and held onto his mother's memory as a source of strength and inspiration. So he decided to become stronger.

Two years had passed since Dai first set foot in the orphanage. He had endured countless hardships and struggles during his time there, but he refused to let his circumstances defeat him. Dai grew increasingly focused on improving his physical fitness and building his endurance. He trained his body diligently, working to build muscle and stamina through a variety of exercises and physical activities.

Dai had been planning his escape from the orphanage for weeks, but no matter how much he prepared, he never seemed to be ready.

One night, Dai was wideawake in his bed, and he suddenly felt a wave of restlessness wash over him. He had been planning his escape from the orphanage for weeks, but tonight he felt a sudden urge to act on it. Without any further thought, he got out of bed, dressed quietly and slipped out of the room. He didn't have a clear plan, but he knew that he needed to get out of there as soon as possible.

Dai made his way through the dark halls, trying to stay quiet as he went. He could hear the sounds of the other orphans snoring in their beds, and the occasional creak of the old wooden floors. He knew that he was taking a big risk, but he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and freedom that he hadn't felt in years.

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As he was making his way to the back entrance of the orphanage, he heard a commotion from one of the other rooms. He paused and listened, his heart pounding in his chest.

Dai heard the cries of the child, but he was too focused on his own escape to pay much attention. He knew that his only chance of getting out of the orphanage was to act quickly and not draw any attention to himself. He hesitated for a moment, torn between his own needs and the child's distress, but ultimately decided that his own survival was more important.

As he crept past the room where the child was crying, he tried to ignore the noise and focus on his escape plan. He knew it was a heartless thing to do, but he couldn't help feeling that the child was not his problem. In his mind, he had suffered enough and deserved to be free.

Dai kept moving, trying to stay quiet and unnoticed. His mind was racing with thoughts of the outside world. It wasn't until he was outside the orphanage walls, safe and free, that he allowed himself to feel a twinge of guilt for leaving the child behind. But he quickly pushed the thought out of his mind and focused on his own needs, to make a better life for himself.

After successfully escaping from the orphanage, Dai found himself standing outside the gates, overwhelmed with emotions. He had dreamt of this moment for the past two years, and now that it had finally come, he was unsure of what to do next. He took a deep breath and began to walk in the direction of his childhood home.

As he walked, memories flooded his mind. He remembered the times he spent playing in the yard with his mother, the smell of her cooking wafting through the air, and the sound of her laughter. But the closer he got to his childhood home, the more he began to realize that things had changed.

The house looked different, abandoned even. The windows were broken. Dai's heart sank as he approached the front door, knowing that he would find nothing but emptiness inside.

But as he pushed open the door, and entered the house, something quickly caught his eye. In the corner of the room, on his mother's desk, sat a small, tattered envelope. His heart racing, Dai picked up the envelope and saw that it was addressed to him, from his mother.

With trembling hands, he opened the letter and began to read:

"Dear Dai,"

"As I write this, I am consumed with an overwhelming sense of regret, and my heart aches with a pain that I never thought possible. I wish I could have been there for you, to watch you grow up and to guide you through life. But it seems that fate has other plans for me.”

"Someone's coming for my head. And he's already here. I can hear him banging on the window, and it's only a matter of time before he makes it in."

"He's not from the church, nor from this island. A tall man fully clothed in black, covering his face with a white mask. I've never seen him before."

"Thank God you're in school today."

"I want you to know that you were always my greatest joy in life. Your smile and your laughter were the sunshine that brightened even the darkest of days. I love you more than anything in this world, and the thought of leaving you behind breaks my heart in a way that words cannot describe.”

"Life can be cruel, and I know that I've been too weak to protect you, let alone myself. But as I face my fate, I want you to promise me that you'll find peace and live a normal life. Don't let the bitterness and anger of this world consume you. Instead, find happiness in the small things and hold on to them with all your might.”

"With all my love and deepest regrets,"

"Mom,"

As Dai read his mother's note, his heart skipped a beat. The words were like daggers piercing through his soul. He couldn't believe that the woman who had given birth to him, loved him, and cared for him, was brutally taken away from him. The realization hit him like a truck, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions that he couldn't quite put into words.

The more he read, the more his heart raced with anger and despair. It was clear that his mother had been murdered, and the thought of someone intentionally causing her harm made him sick to his stomach. Dai's mind was clouded with questions, each one more overwhelming than the last.

He stood up from the desk, his hands shaking with fury. In a fit of frustration, he swept his arm across the surface of the table, sending papers and objects crashing to the floor. The tears in his eyes were like a river, and he could feel his heart breaking with each passing moment.

But as he wiped away his tears, he felt a newfound sense of purpose. He knew that he had to find out the truth about his mother's death. Dai couldn't bear the thought of her memory fading away without finding justice for her.

As he paced around the room, his thoughts consumed by a desire for justice, he couldn't help but wonder who could have done such a thing and why. The questions kept swirling in his head, and he knew that he had to find answers.

Dai's fists were clenched in determination. He was going to find the man who had taken his mother away from him, no matter what it took. His mother's final wish may have been for him to stay safe and to find peace. But Dai knew that he couldn't ignore the burning desire for revenge that was consuming him.

"I'll find out who you are," Dai vowed, his voice low and steady. " And I'll make you regret hurting my mother."

With each word, his determination grew stronger, and a sense of purpose filled him. He had nothing left to lose, but he still had something to fight for. And he would fight with everything he had, no matter the cost.