Savage || Lee Haechan

Chapter 21 | "bad feeling"

As Haechan's extended family left for the day, Minji helped clean up. She stared out across the field, something prickling along her skin and making her stomach turn.

"Haechan?" She called uneasily.

"Yeah? Is everything okay?"

"I don't know, but I'm getting a really bad feeling all of a sudden." She murmured, glancing around nervously.

"Relax, Minji, it's just the bad memories. Everything is fine." He replied, smiling at her.

"But-"

"Nope, stop freaking yourself out." He said with a wave, throwing his arm over her shoulders. "My mom asked me to run to the store, and you're coming with me. You need a break from all the family stuff, it's obviously getting to you, so let's go."

She sighed, nodding her head.

"Yeah, you're probably right, I'm just being weird."

"Yup, so come on little weirdo, we have to make it back before my mom starts cooking."

He opened the door to his car, slamming it shut snd running over to his side before the pair drove away.

- - -

After an uneventful shopping trip, which essentially consisted of Haechan making a million horrible food puns and just being overall goofy to cheer her up, she was in a much better mood. They were currently jamming out to Shinee songs while driving home.

"Feeling better now?" He asked her with a smile.

"Yeah, much. I really needed that break."

"No problem, I get that it's hard, but nothing is going to go wrong."

They smiled at one another as he turned off the highway and entered their neighborhood. As she stared into the distance, her eyes landed on dark clouds rising in the sky.

"Is that... smoke?" She asked, seeing Haechan narrow his eyes before nodding.

"Yeah I wonder where that's coming from."

"It's coming from the direction of your house..."

The two of them shared a panicked look before Haechan quickly stepped on the gas pedal and rushed towards his home.

When they rounded the corner, they gasped. Haechan's house was engulfed in flames, the billowing smoke rising high into the clouds. They quickly parked the car and ran out to where his parents were standing on the lawn.

"Mom? Dad? Are you guys okay?" Haechan nervously asked his parents, scanning them for injuries.

They didn't respond to him, tears streaming down their faces as they pointed at the house in shock, unable to get any words out.

"Wait, mom where's Haejoon?" His eyes widened as she shook her head and pointed at the house. "No...."

The two of them stared at the burning house, seeing flames eating up the building. Minji looked at Haechan, seeing the fear in his eyes and letting out a sigh. She quickly dropped her bag to the ground and tore off part of her shirt and tied it around her nose and mouth.

"Minji, wait-" he tried to grab her arm to stop her but it was too late, she had already bolted through the flames and into the building.

She instantly started coughing, the hallway totally filled with smoke that made her lungs burn and eyes water. The heat of the fire was scorching her skin, her vision all burning a hazy red.

"Haejoon! Haejoon can you hear me?" She called, but she could barely hear anything over the crackling of the wood burning. "Haejoon?"

No response. She desperately looked around, trying to pick through the flames the best she could without getting burned herself. Just as she was beginning to loose hope, she heard coughing coming from the kitchen.

Carefully stepping over some broken floorboards, she leaped into the kitchen, seeing the small boy cowering in the corner. His eyes lit up the moment he saw her. She ran over to him, taking off her jacket and wrapping it around his head.

"M-Minji!" He cried, terrified tears streaming down his face.

"Hey, hey it's alright, I'm going to get you out of here, okay? Come here."

She opened her arms, picking him off the ground and looking for a way out. As she made her way to the exit, she saw something on the kitchen counter that sparked her attention. She quickly grabbed the small object and shoved it into her pocket before exiting the kitchen.

Back in the hallway, the fire was raging. Her skin was burning and she could barely breathe. Everywhere she looked there was fire. She ran as quick as she could towards the exit, about to leap through the fire before she stopped.

The floor in front of the exit was being eaten away and would no way support their weight. The doorframe was also on the verge of collapsing, and she feared that if she made a move it would trap them in there. She looked at the gap, seeing that it was too far for her to jump. She turned around, about to go and find another way out, only to see herself blocked in by a wall of fire.

She let out a deep sigh, looking at the crying Haejoon who was staring at her with big terrified eyes. She lightly set him on his feet in front of her and bent down to his eye level.

"Haejoon, I'm gonna get you out of here, okay? I just need you to do something for me." He quickly nodded his head, listening for her instructions. "Take good care of your mommy, daddy, and brother, okay? Be a good boy for them."

He nodded again as she stood up, hot tears streaming down her face as the fire crept up on them. Letting out a deep breath, she picked up the little boy, giving him a kiss on the head.

"Brace yourself."

With that, she tossed him above the flames and broken floorboards, where he landed safely on the other side. Haechan gasped as he saw his little brother fly through the door, crying as he ran to their mother.

"Oh my god, Haejoon, you're alright!" He exclaimed, rubbing the little boy's back. "Where's Minji?"

Haejoon just shook his head, pointing back at the house which was falling apart right in front of his eyes.

"Shit."

Back in the house, Minji couldn't move. There was too much smoke and she collapsed to the ground, unable to breath. Her vision was filled with the hot, red, flames steadily making their way towards her. She let out a deep sigh as her eyes closed, images of her family flashing through her head.

I'll be with you guys again soon.