Chapter 18:
The days passed in a blur of routine and warmth. Joon spent as much time as he could with Hana and Minho, savoring the laughter and the small, quiet moments that made life in the village so special. But beneath the surface, the tension continued to simmer, the weight of the shadowy man's warning ever present in Joon's mind.
He reinforced the cottage one final time, ensuring every window and door was secure. He buried traps at strategic points around the property and stocked the barn with tools that could double as weapons.
Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that none of it would be enough.
The first sign came on a stormy night. Joon was sitting by the fireplace, whittling a small wooden bird for Minho, while Hana dozed off in the armchair beside him. The rain lashed against the windows, and thunder rumbled in the distance.
Lucky, who was usually calm during storms, suddenly started growling. The sound was low and menacing, his fur bristling as he stared at the front door.
Joon froze, his hand tightening around the carving knife.
"What is it, boy?" he murmured, rising to his feet.
Lucky barked sharply, the sound startling Hana awake.
"Joon?" she said groggily, her eyes darting to him and then to Lucky.
"Stay here," Joon said, his voice steady but firm. He grabbed the axe he kept by the fireplace and moved toward the door.
He opened it slowly, the wind whipping rain into his face. The night was dark, the yard illuminated only by the faint glow of the lantern Joon had left on the porch.
At first, he saw nothing. But then his eyes caught movement near the edge of the garden. A shadow slipped between the trees, too fast for him to make out any details.
"Who's there?" Joon called, stepping out onto the porch.
There was no response, but the uneasy silence was answer enough.
The next morning, Joon sat Hana down while Minho played outside. He knew he couldn't keep her in the dark any longer.
"There's something I need to tell you," he began.
Hana frowned, sensing the seriousness in his tone. "What is it?"
Joon hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "I think someone's watching us. I've seen him near the cottage… in the village. I don't know what he wants, but I need you to be on guard."
Hana's face paled. "Do you think we're in danger?"
"I don't know," Joon admitted. "But I won't let anything happen to you or Minho. I promise."
Hana reached for his hand, her grip firm. "We'll face it together. Whatever it is, we'll get through it."
Her words bolstered Joon's resolve. He wasn't alone in this fight, and that gave him strength.
Joon spent the next few days teaching Hana how to defend herself and Minho. They practiced using simple tools as weapons, and Joon showed her the traps he'd set around the property.
Minho, sensing the tension, asked questions that Joon tried to answer without scaring him. He turned it into a game, teaching Minho how to use a slingshot and showing him the best hiding spots in the house.
"This is like hide-and-seek, huh, Dad?" Minho said with a grin.
"Exactly," Joon replied, ruffling his hair.
Though the lessons were serious, Joon found comfort in the way they worked together. It made him feel more prepared, more grounded.
One afternoon, as Joon was walking back from the village with supplies, he saw the shadowy man again. This time, he was standing at the edge of the road, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable.
Joon didn't hesitate. He strode toward the man, his eyes blazing.
"What do you want?" Joon demanded, his voice low but firm.
The man smirked. "Still playing house, I see. Do you really think you can protect them?"
"I will," Joon snapped. "No matter what you throw at me."
The man's smirk widened. "You've always been stubborn. But you can't stop what's coming. Not this time."
Joon took a step closer. "If you come near my family, you'll regret it."
The man tilted his head, as if considering Joon's words. Then he said, "You can fight all you want, but every storm leaves ruins behind. The question is, how much are you willing to lose?"
Before Joon could respond, the man vanished into the woods, leaving Joon seething.
That night, as the storm rolled in once more, Joon sat with Hana and Minho in front of the fire. Lucky lay at their feet, his ears twitching at the sound of thunder.
"We're safe here," Joon said, his voice calm and reassuring.
Hana leaned against him, her hand resting on his arm. "As long as we're together, that's all that matters."
Minho snuggled closer, clutching the wooden bird Joon had carved for him. "We're the strongest team ever!" he declared.
Joon smiled, though his mind was already turning over the man's cryptic words.
He didn't know what would happen, but he knew one thing for certain. He would fight to protect his family, no matter the cost.