phobia (sequel to insomnia) | stray kids ff

zone 35: heartaches

Hana's POV

After the scene that happened with Lucy, Jinyoung called Yeji, Young K, Hyunjin, and me into his office. The way Lucy acted towards the zombies was a behavior I would never think she would display. I'm still stunned by what happened and I noticed how everyone else is too. Yeji is shaking as she is standing next to Young K who slowly grabs her hand to calm her down. I let out a deep breath and stare at the papers on Jinyoung's desk to distract myself. I notice a red envelope that Jinyoung quickly hides into his drawer once he sees that I was looking at it.

Hyunjin glances at me when I look away and we accidentally meet eyes. I can tell he wanted to continue our conversation from before but right now is more serious and urgent.

"Lucy needs to be watched over at all times now," Jinyoung starts. "We can't take any more risks. I'll remove the watchdogs from the pen but that means that I can't guarantee if zombies become attracted towards the zone. We will have to resort back to having watchmen in the towers at all times."

"Look, I know what she did was wrong and we apologize for her but she's just a little girl," Young K defends Lucy. Jinyoung nods but still has an unphased look.

"She's a little girl who should know that zombies are monsters, not friends," Jinyoung says. I try to think as to why she acted the way she did. "Have you two been neglecting her?" Jinyoung questions Yeji and Young K's parenting.

"Never," Yeji shakes her head defensively. I trust Yeji hasn't been.

"Has she ever behaved differently whenever you mentioned zombies or were around them with her?" Jinyoung asks and they both shake their head.

"She only questioned why zombies wanted to eat us," Young K says.

*flashback*

"One of my tooths is loose again," Lucy informs me and I remember the little nickname she gave me. I nod and smile at how cute she is. "I will let you know when it falls out, okay? I'm going to go play with my friends now." I nod and then she runs off.

*flashback ends*

"Does Lucy have any friends her age here?" I question, looking at everyone in the room for answers. Yeji shakes her head which makes me sad. "She just wanted friends. She told me a week ago that she was going to go play with her friends," I mention and then sigh. "I guess she was talking about the zombies."

"But why would she go to the zombies if she could play with anyone here?" Jinyoung asks.

"The zombies are isolated in that pen," Hyunjin interrupts, glancing at me. "She thought that they needed someone to play with just like how she needed someone to play with. She feels isolated like him." Jinyoung sighs and sits down in his chair.

"Tell her the truth," Jinyoung advise us. "Tell her now before something worse happens." We all glance at one another nervously but nod our heads to his order.

We all leave his office and start heading downstairs but Hyunjin pulls me back once we make it to the stairs. I look up at him and notice how somber his face is.

"What's on your mind?" I ask, concerned. Hyunjin looks down at the ground and sighs, his eyes shaking.

"I'm scared to tell her," Hyunjin reveals, his voice getting shaky. My eyes soften by his vulnerable look and I sit on the steps, Hyunjin following my actions. "She's known me all her life as her uncle and now she's going to know me as her real dad... I can't imagine how insane that is..."

"You said it before," I say and slowly take his hand in mine. "She won't fully understand everything now but she will in time," I say, staring at Hyunjin as he sits beside me. "She will forgive us... someday," I smile a little, hoping that she will. Hyunjin looks at me and nods, staring deeply into my eyes. I feel my heartbeat faster as we lock eyes.