Hymn Of The Sea

Officer Ryan Lee pulled his car to the side of the lonely highway, stretching between the dense forest. He stepped out of his car, listening to the morning melody as birds chirped in the tall canopy trees. His piercing gaze scanned the surroundings thoroughly.

The quiet neighborhood had suddenly become a valley of death. Over the past two months, Ryan had received a second call from locals reporting a dead body.

The people in this area were from working-class families, making their living by cutting wood and selling it in the market. For the locals who had grown up in this neighborhood, the forest was like a second home. However, the sudden series of events had left them deeply shaken.

Officer Ryan took charge of the missing persons case, a man in his late twenties, determined to solve this murder mystery as soon as possible. Besides him, Officer David Kim was also trying to solve this puzzle, but they had certainly failed to find a logical explanation for the sudden disappearances.

Though only two individuals had disappeared, the discovery of one—a woman found dead in the same forest—and the ongoing mystery surrounding the other were enough to send shockwaves through the media. These chilling details sparked chaos, leading to relentless and sensationalized reports.

Ryan took a slow breath, allowing the morning breeze to fill his lungs. The early sunlight cast a faint shadow on the ground. The forest seemed peaceful, yet Ryan felt an unsettling tension.

He adjusted his jacket and walked toward the woman standing a few meters away from him. Her wrinkled face was contorted with age and sorrow. The woman looked petrified, as if she had seen a ghost.

Ryan stood in front of her.

"Officer Ryan Lee," he said in a calm voice, flashing his badge and ID card. "Are you the one who called us?"

The woman looked at him, her eyes red from crying. "Yes," she answered in a trembling voice. "I'm the one who called you and informed you about the dead body."

Ryan stiffened his shoulders, preparing himself for the worst. *"Could it be the man who disappeared?"* he wondered. "If you don't mind, could you lead me there?" he asked in a firm tone.

The woman nodded in agreement, fear visible on her face, and then she began to walk deeper into the forest. They moved in silence for the next twenty minutes, gradually climbing down the hill. Eventually, the woman came to a halt in front of a pile of dried leaves.

"There it is," she said, pointing her finger. "The dead body."

Ryan stepped closer in the direction the woman had pointed. He struggled to organize his thoughts as he crouched down, grabbed a tree branch, and pushed the pile of leaves aside. When he moved the last of the leaves, he froze. His heartbeat quickened, and his eyes locked onto the body.

It was the same old man who had disappeared a month ago. Now, he lay lifeless, his skin pale and his clothes torn, as if sharp claws had ripped through them. The body had been there for about a month, and the smell of rotting blood filled the air. Deep scratches ran across the man's chest, the flesh torn apart as if an animal had attacked him.

The most shocking part was the hole in his chest where his heart should have been, as if something had ripped it out. The old man had died in the same way the woman had. Ryan was now certain that both cases were connected.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

"Your dad won't be home for the next few days. He's solving a case, and y'all know how he is. So be careful, and don't stay out for too long," Jennifer said as she spread butter on her toast.

She worked at a local newspaper company. David's job wasn't enough to support the family of five, so Jennifer had to step out and work.

"Is Dad working on the missing people case?" Anna asked curiously, sipping her coffee. After listening to the melodic hymn of an unknown boy, she had peacefully fallen asleep, and now she had to drink coffee to wake herself up.

Kevin paid no attention, keeping himself busy on his phone, his fingers typing aggressively on the screen.

"Kevin," Jennifer called.

"Yes, Mom?" Kevin looked up at his mother's face, knowing that she was about to give him another task.

"You're the oldest among all, so take care of the girls when I'm not home," Jennifer commanded.

Kevin placed his phone on the table, as he considered his family his first priority. "Your order is my wish," he said in a growling voice, making a salute gesture with his hands.

Jennifer chuckled softly, feeling at ease. Anna appreciated her stepmother's concern deeply, recognizing that not everyone had the good fortune to have such a loving and supportive mother in their life, someone who made everything feel so much easier.

Serena, as usual, felt a wave of anger wash over her. She slammed her glass of orange juice on the table and stood up. "Stop treating us like babies," Serena yelled. "Mom, we're not kids anymore, so Kevin doesn't need to keep an eye on us."

Jennifer huffed in anger. "Nobody is treating you like a kid, so don't be dramatic," she replied sharply. "Someone needs to take care of you when David and I aren't home."

"But, Mom," Serena protested.

"Discussion over," Jennifer replied.

Serena felt defeated. Without saying anything further, she stomped out of the dining room.

"When will she grow up?" Jennifer muttered.

"She will eventually," Anna replied, pressing Jennifer's hand softly.

"I'm done... leaving for work," Kevin said, leaving the dining room as well.

Anna sat at the table, absentmindedly twirling her spoon between her fingers. Kevin had his shift at the convenience store, and Serena was busy planning lunch with her friends, Mia and Yuna. But Anna? She had nothing to do.

The emptiness of the day stretched out before her, and she sighed, staring at the faint reflection of her face in the polished spoon. Her thoughts wandered, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of restlessness, wishing for something—anything—to fill the hours ahead.

Jennifer noticed the boredom on Anna's face. She knew Anna would never ask for anything unless someone offered help.

"Anyway, summer break is over, and college starts next week. Do you or Serena need anything?" Jennifer asked excitedly.

"Serena went out shopping last week, and she bought me some stuff, so nothing is required," Anna replied, yawning lazily.

"You should go out too," Jennifer said calmly. She stood up after finishing her breakfast and began to clean the table. "I'm not judging you or forcing you to do anything, but still, you should make friends."

"I know you're worried about me, Mom," Anna began to speak. She barely ever opened up, but when her emotions overwhelmed her, Anna always failed to keep them in check. "I don't know\... sometimes I feel strange, like I don't belong here, like I'm not who I am right now but someone else," she continued, helping her mother clean the table.

Jennifer stopped cleaning for a moment and looked at Anna with concern. She placed a hand on Anna's shoulder and spoke gently but firmly.

"Anna, I understand how you feel. It's normal to have these thoughts sometimes, especially when you're young and trying to figure out who you are. But remember, you do belong here. You're my daughter, and this is your home. If you ever feel lost or confused, talk to me or David. We're here for you. And don't be afraid to step out, make friends, and explore new things. Life is about discovering yourself, and you don't have to do it alone. We'll always support you, no matter what."

She gave Anna a warm smile and squeezed her shoulder reassuringly before continuing to clean the table.

Anna smiled, her eyes twinkling as she wrapped her arms around her mother's neck and embraced her tightly. "I love you, Mom," she said.

"I love you too, sweetheart," Jennifer replied, patting Anna's back.