Hongmo felt as if her body was ripping apart all over again.  The pain racked through her body from head to toe.  Her body shivering from the invasion.  Her slow, weakened heart that wanted to give up was suddenly electrocuted as if life has pushed itself back into her. She felt a dark entity enter her heart, pushing her soul to the side as it slowly took over her body.  Then darkness came over her as she let go.  She didn't want to feel anymore pain or sorrow.  She wanted death, so she welcomed it.  

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When her eyes fluttered open she no longer was in the forest where Vladis took her.  Hongmo stared into the darken sky, the stars shining brightly on to her as the stench of blood filled the air.  Hongmo laid still on top of the cliff, as she remembered the events to her demise, not caring how she got to where she now laid.  

"My dear Iris.  You and I are now one.  There is no you without me and no me without you."  The Goryo proudly told her.  "You need me just as much as I need you, and forever we'll be tied to each other.  With my skills, you'll never be a victim again.  And with your body, I'll become stronger with each soul.  I have given you a great gift, in choosing you to be my host, you'll learn to thank me later when the blood of your rapists are on your hands."  The Goryo told her.  "For now rest and when you wake, you'll be given everything that I know." 

Hongmo closed her eyes not caring about the voice in her head.  Her mind was tired.  Her body was tired.  Her heart was tired.  She had no will to live, so she closed her eyes and prayed for death.  

--------------

Hongmo should have known better than to pray to the Gods.  When they didn't answer her prayers while she was being raped, why did she think they would answer her prayers for her death?  Hongmo sat up slowly as the stench of rot and death permeated the air.  The putrid smell made Hongmo dry-heave. As she turned to her side, she saw the bits and pieces of the bodies all around her.  Her eyes looked around the destruction around her as the horror came over her.  Flashes of her memories of her ripping through the men and women with her monstrous bare hands.  Her hands that were claws.  Her body with black scales.  Red wings of a phoenix that matched her red hair.  

Hongmo had to get away from where she sat.  She slowly started to remember her killing everyone.  Innocent men and women that traveled together.  Merchants.  Hongmo stumbled as she stood up.  She ran into the forest, not caring where she went.  She ran and ran until her legs failed her.  She had to get away from the dead people she murdered.  She ran as if running away from the scene would erase her memories.  

When she fell against the tree, it was then she noticed that she was naked.  Her body caked on with dried blood all over her.  Her hands covered with the dried blood, caked under her fingernails.  She raised her hands in front of her and screamed.  She screamed until her voice was hoarse.  Until it was the only thing she heard in the forest.  Until it was the only thing she could think of.  

"Are you done acting like a fool?"  The Goryo said calmly.  "If you're done, this heavenly one will tell you all the benefits to this life."  

Hongmo kept quiet as she got lost in her mind again.  

"Good girl.  The more you hide, the better."  The Goryo smirked to herself.  

If her host was weak, she would grow stronger and take over the body.  It would be as if the body belonged to her instead of the weak human.  It would be as if she never died.  

"Be a good girl and sleep, Iris."  She whispered.  "This Goryo will take care of everything."  

Hongmo did what the voice said.  She closed her eyes and shut the world out.  Her mind closing to everything around her.  Hongmo let go, not wanting to wake up from the nightmare.  

-----------

When Hongmo woke up again she was in a cave.  She lied down not to far from the entrance of the cave as the light shined brightly on to her.  Her body was clean and she now wore a red robe dress.  It hung loosely on her body, but at least now she was clean and clothed.  

She had a huge headache and she didn't feel hunger.  As Hongmo stumbled out of the cave she looked around her and for some reason.  When she looked at a plant, no matter if it was a tree or a weed, she knew right away what the plant was called and how to use the medicinal quality to it.  She knew how mix and match the plants to create medicinal potions, elixirs, pastes and pills.

Hongmo sat down, her legs shook with weakness.  She couldn't believe how she suddenly just knew everything about the plants that surrounded her. 

"This gift is for you." The Goryo said smugly.  "This knowledge that I hold, I impart to you.  Your life is now tied to mine.  For this contract of soul and body, you would have to feed me souls or you'll die too.  The more souls we eat, the stronger we become."

"I-I can't kill people."  Hongmo cried out.  Her body shook with fear at just the idea of killing someone and having blood on her hands.  

"Should you fail to keep me satisfied, I will take over and make sure that I am properly fed.  Then you'll be sorry that you didn't do it yourself.  Just like last time, do you remember?  On top of the cliff?"  

"You're a monster!"  

The Goryo laughed loudly and evilly.  "Yes I am.  And now, so are you."