American Spring Break Horror Book

Chapter fourteen

Uncle Chan Yeol planned a surprise for the troop. After spending time at the Independence Gate, he requests them to freshen up as they are going somewhere. “Where do you think Uncle Chan Yeol is taking us?” Sandra Roberts asks her friends excitedly. “I can’t think of anything yet.” Amber Ray replies as they take a shower. The boys were ready and were out on the pitch, dribbling a ball. They were chatting and laughing at the top of their voices. Uncle Chan Yeol is sitting in the car observing them from afar. He was fond of them and planned to take them to the cinema.

South Korea is among the best producers of films and videos and has the best actors. The troop has learned much about Korean culture, but Uncle Chan Yeol wanted them to view Korean life better away from the haunted sites. They were eager and excited that evening. How Uncle Chan Yeol managed to keep a secret from them is something they couldn’t tell. However, they loved him for that. He was more than a confidant and loved the company of the twelve friends. The feeling was mutual. Within a short time, everyone was dressed for the evening. Although they weren’t sure where they were going, the girls dressed to kill. Bridget Vergara surprised her friends with an outstanding outfit making the boys admire her physique. Uncle Chan Yeol almost asks her out. John Paul worries about it as he has a thing for Bridget Vergara. The rest of them watch them as they laugh at the desperate state between John and Uncle Chan Yeol.

Damian Pena's Narrative

For me, visiting movie cinemas is not something I enjoy doing. However, after Uncle Chan Yeol mentioned it, my friends' screams left me feeling guilty. “Must I have been missing something? I thought. Better still, it’s never too late; I consoled myself. Once a month, I go to the movies with my father. However, he usually takes me to see religious films. I think that made me hate the cinema, as the movies weren’t exciting to me. There was a large crowd outside the CGV Yongsan Movie Theatre, where Uncle Chan pulled up the car. Everyone was excited, but I was bored. I remembered the previous boring movies I watched with my father, and I felt sorry for myself. It was around 8 pm, but one would think it was daybreak. The crowd of people was engaged in various things. Some were discussing films while others’ eyes were glued to posters. There was a lot of traffic at the reservation desk. Getting to it was a real challenge. Uncle Chan Yeol requested patience as he went to secure a place for us. We waited as we chatted and admired the beautiful scenery around us.

There was a lot of pushing and shoving going on. Ticket sales were complicated for us to negotiate. We appreciated the presence of Uncle Chan Yeol as he managed to get one for all of us. “Thank you so much, Uncle,” we told him. The room had plenty of light. It was a pleasant experience. The room quickly filled. There was a large silver screen in front of us. All the lights in the auditorium went off at exactly 9.30 p.m. There weren't many advertisements at the start. After a while, the film record continued to play. Then came a few news clips, followed by the show's cast. The picture began to take shape. I saw movies in Seoul that felt quite different. Weirdly, I started regretting why I hadn’t given it my time. But then again, I remember that the two countries were distinct. I loved the evening experience, as it included the innovative seats, the popcorn, the big screen, the sound system, the people, and the new releases; it was, in all honesty, the best part of seeing a movie there. I was thrilled. I saw the mood in my friend’s eyes. We enjoyed the whole thing, and the comedy movie made it memorable.

The night was great for the twelve friends. Due to time, they were restricted to watching just one comedy show. The skits were so funny. They couldn’t stop talking about it. However, as they go to sleep, something terrible happens. Hailey Beryl refuses to sleep on her bed, claiming there is someone. She couldn't believe it even after everyone confirmed that there was no one. Hallucinations began affecting them; the scary images and stories of the haunted sites they visited couldn’t leave them. The girls had a difficult time sleeping. It worsens in the morning as Amber Ray screams while looking at herself in the mirror. She claimed to have seen someone behind her. She screamed in fear. Her friends came to her rescue. Their lives in the apartment become unbearable as they imagine a ghost in the house. Hailey Beryl asks her friends to try performing yoga. She was convinced that it was the only exercise that would keep them abreast. However, they were not sure about Hailey’s proposal either. In the morning, the weather wasn’t good for visiting the river. They stayed indoors watching movies on their phones and tablets. It was cold, and Uncle Chan Yeol came over to keep them company. They lit a fire to keep the house warm. It was a great moment for them as they bonded with love. However, they were bored after the rains stopped and agreed to visit the Han River.

According to the urban legend, more than twenty people drowned in the Han River decades ago. All of them were young, unmarried women and men and married people. The catastrophe occurred on day two of the Boryeng Mud Festival. (In 1998, the first Boryeong mud festival was held at Daecheon beach to sell mud cosmetics based on the suggested mud experience programs for four days beginning on July 16th. Koreans took the festival religiously, and most had to cross the Han River to participate in the competition.) The Boryeong mud is rich in natural minerals, including germaniums and bentonites, which benefit the skin.

Jogang village and Yonggang village are two villages opposite the banks of the Han River. The inhabitants of one village may only travel to the other by boat. The boatman is a resident of the village of Jogang who has mastered the art of sailing through the Han River during all seasons. In the villages in South Korea, the goddess Samsin Halmoni is venerated at a temple. She is regarded as a goddess of safety, childbirth, and fate. Many people from numerous villages assemble there to honor the Samsin Halmoni and worship the goddess. They believed in her powers and always sought her intervention before anything. On the second day of the Boryeng Mud Festival, the girls of the hamlet of Balipatna desired to visit the famed Bongeunsa Temple in the village of Yonggang, which is located on the opposite bank of the river. They number more than fifty. The boatman was a fundamental individual. When he allowed more than thirty guests on board, he did not experience any fear. He was used to carrying many people during such festivals. He was an extremely competent boatman. Before sailing the boat, passengers sought the intervention of Samsin Halmoni and were taken readily for an exciting experience. However, the passengers were inefficient. The catastrophe occurred while the ship was only two meters from the next bank.

On the boat, the passengers were seated. They immediately jumped up and intended to jump off the bank. The boatman stopped them since it was a flawed and unsafe route. However, some of the passengers ignored the boatman's warning. They made the jump from the boat to the bank. The ship suddenly capsized. The passengers were washed away in the Han river. Those who could swim lived. They swam to the shore. However, many people were trapped beneath the wrecked boat. The girls had no experience with swimming: they perished in the water. The boatman shouted out for assistance. However, there was some current in the river. There was a lot of water in the river. As a result, no one had the confidence to enter the water and save others. The news of the calamity quickly spreadThe victims' parents and other townspeople arrived on the scene. Some fishermen were hired to retrieve the bodies from the river. Strangely, not all the bodies of all twenty people were recovered. Sadly, they were all virgins, which according to Korean customs, was taboo. The scene was heartbreaking. The girls' parents were in tears. Some of the deceased were virgins ready to be initiated into the marriage ceremony. The following month, two or three young females were to marry. They all died at the height of their youth. It was a horrific boat accident. Several boat accidents were witnessed on the Han River. The boat riders complained of hearing the voices of women crying just before crossing to the next village. Confusion plagued the boat riders, leading to the cause of accidents on the Han River. The renowned Han River, where people picnic during the day and stroll in the evening, is not as tranquil as it appears. It served as a route for many merchant ships entering Korea in the past. There are numerous stories about accidents occurring on the Han River. Another news claim is that an accident happened when a vessel was hijacked, and the passengers were murdered and thrown into the river. To date, the deceased's spirits haunt people who dare to cross the Han River. The same incident led to the culmination of the legend of the water spirits, Mul Gwishin, who continue to lurk in the river. To date, the ghosts known as Mul Gwishin haunt people who dare spend time at the river. to the adjacent villages.

After hearing about the legends about the Han River, the troops aren’t comfortable moving closer to the river banks. However, they are shocked by the presence of younger boys in a boat trying to catch fish. They seemed to be enjoying it, as the catch was great. It was after a tremendous downpour. There were fewer people around the Han River than they read on the internet. They couldn’t stop taking pictures of the mysterious Han River to showcase it to their parents later. They could vividly remember the Mul Gwishin folklore. They were impressed by learning about the culture of Koreans and witnessing it for themselves. The day looked dull. “The weather isn’t friendly!” Uncle Chan Yeol complains as he requests the troops to leave the site. “Sure, it is cloudy.” John Paul relates. “Have you had a great day?” Uncle Chan questions as he smiles at Bridget.“Any plans for us tonight?” Bridget suggests as her friends steal glances at her. They were all ears to hear what Uncle Chan Yeol had in store for them. “Ha-Ha,” he laughs and starts the engine. “Sadly, there are no plans for the evening,” he responds, disappointedly. “Uncle Chan Yeol,” Amber Ray calls out his name and then keeps quiet, creating tension in the car. “Yes, niece,” he responds quickly. “Anything the matter?” he wonders after Amber Ray takes time to speak up.“Hey…, what’s up?” Uncle Chan Yeol stops the car. It was raining, and the traffic got him stuck on the road. The cars ahead of him were moving at a languid pace. “Thank you for everything.” Hailey Roberts breaks the silence. Amber Ray fails to tell what she wants to inform his Uncle placing everyone in a dilemma. “You are welcome.” He replies as the cars ahead begin moving. “Should we purchase ready food at the restaurant, or will you guys prepare the meals?” Uncle Chan Yeol asks them. “Bibimbap!” Sandra Roberts makes the suggestion. Her friends couldn’t agree less. They all excitedly began shouting the name. Since they arrived in South Korea, they have been eating Bibimbap, and none of them seem bored with it. It was a simple meal of rice mixed with vegetables, but how the Koreans made it tasted different. It came out perfectly but differently when Bridget and John Paul cooked it.After purchasing ‘Bibimbap,’ mixed rice and vegetables, Uncle Chan Yeol speedily drives them to their apartment. They chat for a while before he leaves and promises to take them to a village with an exciting culture the following day. They were anxiously waiting for the moment. They wished each other goodnight and went to bed.