Dead or Alive

20: Telling Truths

Ravn stared out of the windshield with a blank look on his face. He's quite proud of his friends, leaving paint splotches throughout the city to mark a path. He's just pointing out whenever he see's a new splotch to Mingi, telling him where to turn or to keep going. Ravn tried to recall Xion's address, but it was just coming up as a blank in his messed-up mind.

Hwanwoong silently stared ahead of him, nightmares constantly swarming his head. He couldn't fight them away either. He wished his skin would just stop crawling and the brutal images would stop replaying in his head.

"Ravn." The smallest called out with a weak voice.

The older turned in his seat despite the pain it brought. He hummed in acknowledgment, making eye contact.

"I just needed to see your face." Hwanwoong said softly, feeling more at ease looking at him.

Ravn released a sigh, wishing he had some clothing item to spare to give to the younger. Something of his own that could provide comfort to the smaller. But his clothes didn't smell like him anymore, and even then it was hot outside and Hwanwoong would probably be uncomfortable wearing too many layers.

"Are you feeling decent?" Ravn asked lightly, tilting his head slightly as he was getting a cramp.

Hwanwoong hummed, and slightly nodded his head. His eyes broke away from the olders and landed on the floor.

"Does your stomach hurt?" Ravn asked in the same tone.

Hwanwoong paused to think, then shook his head slightly.

"Are you coughing up blood still?"

Hwanwoong shook his head again.

"Is your head foggy?"

Hwanwoong nodded his head.

"Like your going to pass out?"

The smaller shook his head again.

"Can you tell me what's wrong so I can help?" Ravn asked gently, trying to stop playing twenty questions with the younger boy.

"I just, my minds racing. It's not that big of a deal, I guess." Hwanwoong muttered, looking away from the ground to the seats behind him.

Ravn followed his gaze to the back of the vehicle where both Yeosang and Yunho were having a quiet conversation. For a moment they were both reminded of months ago, when them and their friends were in nearly the same situation. Ravn released a small sigh.

"Hwanwoong, I can't make your mind stop racing." The oldests calm voice got said boys attention back. "I have nightmares too, okay? Trust me, I wish I could stop seeing things every time I close my eyes. It's going to be like this for a long while." Ravn released a heavy sigh but kept his eyes on the younger. "It'll get better, eventually. It might take a while, no, it will take a while before we will stop having nightmares, years even. You just can't let them get the best of you. I'm here to talk through them with you, but I might not always be able to help you."

Hwanwoong nodded his head, his eyes watering. Ravn reached back, despite the pain in his side, to wipe a tear that escaped onto Hwanwoong's discolored cheek.

The rest of the van had gotten silent as they listened to Ravn's words. Even they were amazed at how composed the brunette is after all of the trauma he just went through. All three of them knew that they wouldn't of acted the same if they were in that situation, they would of dealt with it in a much more negative way.

"Is that another splotch?" Mingi asked as he slightly slowed the vehicle down.

Ravn let out a heavy breath before turning back in his seat. He looked around the street and found what Mingi was looking at.