Hymn Of The Sea

Noxland, an isolated Asian island country surrounded by the Veyrith Sea, had always been famous for its Victorian-style architecture and its history of bloody wars.

Many elderly folks claimed that Noxland was once the land of mythical creatures and their magic. They believed that the war was fought between humans and those mythical creatures, but as time passed, humans banished all the creatures, and they disappeared, becoming a part of history.

However, in modern times, the younger generations considered these myths to be nothing more than fictional tales created for tourism. But even though it was a fictional tale of old times, Anna still found these fantasy stories fascinating.

For Anna, reading a fantasy book about the creatures of Noxland seemed far better than hanging out with strangers. Whether it was about sea creatures or the creatures of the night, known as blood-sucking monsters, all these tales never failed to impress her.

"Don't tell me you found another stupid book from the library," Serena said, Anna's stepsister.

After a night out with her friends, Serena returned home feeling exhausted and visibly irritated. As usual, Serena accused Anna of being boring as she entered the room and tossed her bag on the table.

"I don't understand how you can read all the time," Serena added another taunt, sitting on the couch, her gaze fixed on Anna.

Anna lay languidly on the bed on her stomach, busy reading her newly discovered book. Unlike her younger sister, she hated social gatherings and nights out with friends. Rolling her eyes, Anna scoffed in annoyance, not even bothering to look at Serena.

"It's much better than wandering around the street with a bunch of stupid people who are competitive and jealous but pretend to be your friends," Anna said in a venomous tone. "And rather than sharing my pizza with a bunch of useless people, I'd gladly eat on my own," she added.

Serena folded her arms across her chest. "Excuse me! My friends aren't jealous; they're just envious of me."

Anna finally shifted her attention to Serena, who looked slightly disappointed at her perspective. "And they bad-mouth you too when you're not with them," she said, chuckling softly to mock Serena.

Serena frowned. "You heard something!" she assumed.

"You're not going to believe me anyway," Anna replied in a breathy voice.

"Spill the tea right now," Serena insisted, her curiosity reaching its peak, and she wanted to know everything.

"I'll tell you, but first, let me read in peace," Anna said, turning her eyes back to her book. She smirked slightly at her small victory of annoying her sister in return.

Serena stood up, sat on the bed, and snatched the book from Anna's hands. "What happened?" she asked.

Anna took a sharp breath, put the book down, and sat up on the bed. "Mia, I heard her talking to your ex. She was criticizing you, calling you clingy and all that stuff," Anna said, pushing her glasses back. She shrugged her shoulders and continued, "That's why I always say, friends are hidden enemies."

Serena looked bewildered, her jaw dropping. "I can't believe she did this to me."

"Why can't you believe it? Mia is always like this," Anna said, observing the sorrow appearing on her sister's face.

"It's hard for me, maybe because we've been together since kindergarten," Serena replied in a low tone. "You should've told me earlier," she pouted.

Anna pressed her lips together as guilt washed over her. "I didn't want to hurt you," she said. "But then I thought you'd be hurt anyway if you found out later, so it's best to hurt earlier but less."

Serena felt a deep sadness growing inside her. Anna's words, though bitter, somehow explained the harsh reality. "I think you're my only true friend," Serena said, spreading her arms in an urge for a warm embrace.

"Of course, I am," Anna agreed, wrapping her arms around Serena as they hugged each other.

For the next few seconds, Anna patted Serena's back, knowing that she felt hurt and needed some comfort that only a sister could provide. "You okay?" she asked worriedly.

Serena nodded her head.

"Oh, wait, I had something to tell you," Serena said suddenly, detaching herself from Anna and tucking her hair behind her ears.

Anna felt curious. She already knew Serena had some spicy gossip about something in town that was none of their business, but she still prepared herself to hear everything with full focus.

"You know, two random people disappeared a few months ago," Serena began.

Anna nodded. "I saw the news on TV. Maybe an old man and a middle-aged woman," she guessed, doubting she was wrong.

"Yes! The police found one of the bodies," Serena revealed.

Anna gasped. "You mean the police found a dead body?"

Serena nodded. "Of course, a dead body."

Anna took a long breath, covering her mouth with her palms and widening her eyes. The news seemed quite shocking to her, as Noxland had been listed among the countries with the lowest crime rates. Indeed, the news about a dead body being discovered, that of a disappeared woman, was a serious matter.

"What happened to her?" Anna asked curiously.

"Yuna told me the woman was her aunt, and the police found her in the forest after a month. They claimed a wild animal attacked her," Serena explained.

Silence filled the room, deep and intense. "Why would a wild animal attack a woman? That's never happened before," Anna said, narrowing her gaze and thinking for a moment.

"That's the question," Serena agreed. "The woman's husband claimed the police are hiding something," she said.

"It could be something serious, or maybe not. Maybe it's just a hostility," Anna said in a cold tone.

"And what if it's not?" Serena said, looking more serious than usual. "Isn't it scary? A random animal appeared in our town and attacked a woman?"

Anna exhaled a long breath. "You're worried about the situation because you're scared of Mom's lockdown," she assumed.

Serena nodded with a heavy sigh. "Of course, I am," she replied. "You know how serious Mom is when it comes to our protection," she said. "Last time a girl ran away from her house, and Mom asked Kevin to keep an eye on us," she said, gritting her teeth. "It was annoying."

Kevin, the eldest of the Kim siblings, always acted possessively when it came to family protection. Though Serena often found his constant presence annoying, he continued to follow both of his sisters everywhere. Anna felt less bothered; she had no objections at all.

Anna softly chuckled. "Kevin can be annoying sometimes, but you know he cares about us a lot," she defended, knowing the reason for her brother's obsession with his family.

Anna and Kevin lost their mother at a very young age, even before they could fully understand the meaning of death. Kevin was five at the time, and Anna was merely a newborn. It was a car accident, but it certainly devastated the Kim family until David Kim married another woman for his kids.

Jennifer proved herself to be a kind stepmother. "I'm going to be a good mother, but I'm not replacing your mom... so don't worry," she clarified to Kevin on the first day of her arrival.

Ever since then, Kevin respected his stepmother, and Anna also accepted her. After a year, when Serena was born, the family finally felt whole again. But to pay her respects, Jennifer never let anyone forget Mary, Anna's biological mother.

"You're thinking way too far, Serena," Anna comforted, patting Serena's shoulder. "Nothing's going to happen, so for now, go get freshened up and get some sleep. Mom and Dad will be late tonight," she said.

Serena pouted, stood up, and made her way out of Anna's room. Anna lay back on the bed, pushed her glasses up, and flipped to the next page. Just as Anna began to read again, a faint, haunting hymn echoed from far away, near the sea.

Anna suddenly stopped, stood up quickly, and rushed toward the window. She had never heard anything like this before, yet it seemed oddly familiar. The voice sounded sweet as honey, as intoxicating as aged wine, as if it was calling for her, with words that melted her heart like snowflakes. It awakened something within her, a strange urge to listen more and more.

Anna closed her eyes, breathed deeply, and let the moonlight caress her face as she pondered over the hymn.

"I rise from the depths, where the cold winds cry,

The ocean's pain runs deep, like the scars in my soul.

You took what was mine, left me broken to die,

But now I return, and the tides take their toll.

The waves whisper your name, they remember your sin,

The water remembers the tears that I shed.

I'll pull you below, where the darkness begins,

And drown you in sorrow, just like you left me for dead.

I feel the storm rising, it burns in my chest,

The anger, the heartbreak, the fire in my veins.

You thought I was gone, but I'll give you no rest,

The sea will avenge you, and wash away your stains.

I sing for the pain, for the love that you stole,

For the trust that you shattered, for the lies that you told.

The ocean will answer, it swallows you whole,

And I'll watch as the water turns bitter and cold.

So hear my voice now, as it echoes through the night,

A song of revenge, of the hurt you caused me.

The waves will reclaim you, they'll drag you from light,

And I'll finally be free, as you sink in the sea."