Waterfalls || Yeonbin

chapter 24: spy

July 2, 1940

I scrunched my eyebrows as I watched the recruits line up in front of me. It wasn't anything about them as a group, but John stuck out like a sore thumb. He was whispering something to Kai, but quickly went quiet when they were all standing shoulder-to-shoulder. There were bruises all over his face, some of them with scabs on top from bleeding. They looked fresh, and I know damn well that his face looked nothing like that yesterday. He was avoiding my eyes, knowing I was looking directly at him. Who wouldn't when he stood out that much from the group?

I took a few steps closer to him, face-to-face as I quietly asked, "What happened to you?"

He looked up at me for a split second before looking away, gulping as he replied, "Nothing, sir."

I sighed, backing away from him as I squeezed my hands together behind my back. I raised my voice, "Who was it?!..." I asked, knowing for a fact that didn't just happen on accident, "We don't start until I know what happened to John, so somebody better speak up!"

Everyone was still, some of them I could tell had something to do with it. But the thing that threw me off, was that none of them had a scratch except for John. Some were avoiding my gaze, making me even angrier about the situation. I clenched my jaw after a few seconds had passed, nobody speaking about what had happened. I crossed my arms over my chest, "I don't care if we're here all day, nobody moves until I know what happened." I said sternly, my low voice making some of them visibly flinch.

It made me mad when nobody moved again, standing there for another ten minutes at least. Not even John was saying anything, looking like he was too scared to speak up for himself, "John..." I called out, his face going a bit pale as I continued, "Come forward." I said, gesturing with my hand for him to walk towards me.

He hesitated before taking a few steps closer, purposely taking his time before he was in front of me, "Yes, sir?"

"Are you not going to stand up for yourself?..." I asked, confused as to why he's being so quiet, "You look like you've been beaten."

He didn't look at me, staring down at the ground instead as he mumbled, "I'm fine, sir."

I clenched my jaw, frustrated as to why nobody was giving me an answer. I was still concerned about him, wanting justice and security back in our group, "Is this the extent of your injuries?"

He gulped, looking behind him for a glance. He realized everyone was staring at him, his face going paler from the embarrassment. He pondered for a moment before reaching for the hem of his shirt. He slightly lifted it up, revealing even more bruising all over his torso before quickly putting it down.

My blood was boiling, instantly grabbing his wrist to pull him away from the rest of the recruits. He was surprised, but I didn't grab him hard enough for it to hurt. I whispered to him, "Who did this to you?"

"Please, can we just drop the subject..." He quickly replied, his eyes meeting with mine, "I'll get beaten worse if I tell."

I stilled for a moment, not knowing how to reply. I'm not sure why I hadn't looked at it from his perspective before, but it makes much more sense now as to why he has been so quiet. I pondered for a moment before looking over his shoulder, "Kai!" I called out, gesturing for him to come closer.

John widened his eyes a bit, waving his hands, "I-It wasn't Kai—"

"I know..." I stopped him, making him go quiet as Kai came over to the both of us, "Take John to the infirmary, please."

He nodded, "Yes, sir."

They were about to walk away, but I stopped them, "After you bring him there, you're going to go to that little shed..." I said, pointing behind him. He looked to where I was pointing and nodded even though he seemed confused, "You're going to ask for a man named Soobin Choi. Tell him that you have orders from me to bring him here."