SCARRED | TK

Chapter Eleven

***

"When the day has come
That I've lost my way around
And the seasons stop
And hide beneath the ground
When the sky turns gray
And everything is screaming
I will reach inside
Just to find my heart is beating."

Taehyung found himself in front of that iron door a few days after his meeting with Seokjin, but this time he wasn't carrying a tray. Instead, his thin arms were trying their best to hold a metal cage which was covered by a blue cloth—two attempts at slowly integrating Jeongguk into the world again. He was aware of the innate risks of having Jeongguk make contact with something from the outside world but he still wanted to help the boy and offer him the freedom he deserved.

He had no scheduled meetings with Jeongguk that day but Taehyung still found himself wanting to see him. His chest was filled with guilt, an emotion that was caused by the fact that he had been avoiding the teenager for two weeks.

Taehyung couldn't go see him during that time. Too much was happening, both with Jeongguk's case and the mysteries behind his existence, and the world—everything was worsening, from the virus to the living conditions. More and more people were getting infected and there was no place to take them because all the isolation camps were filled. Their resources were lessening and panic was already making its way into people's minds after each remaining government had issued an Orange Code for Crisis.

The Codes had been developed almost two hundred years prior as a measure of safety for the people. Green, Yellow, Orange, Red and White. They were known by each person because, after so many natural disasters, it had become a habit to learn such things so that humans could at least protect themselves. Green and Yellow were safe but as soon as a Code was changed to Orange, certain safety measures were put into place. People could no longer freely visit outdoor places and they were to immediately start preparing for a Red Code by making food, water and emergency kits supplies.

They've never gone through a Red Code but Taehyung knew what it implied. Extreme Radiation Exposure. People had to find the closest bunker and isolate themselves.

White Codes were not taught in schools and were only known by the officials of each country and the Congress. White Code meant that the end was there and that, in order for the human race to prosper, chosen people should be prioritized and sent onto a ship in space with enough supplies to last them hundreds of years.

Taehyung hoped they'd never get to experience a White Code.

It was almost like they were constantly living through the end of the world.

He somehow hoped that his absence had helped Jeongguk a little bit, but deep inside he knew that was not true. In fact, it was the complete opposite. The teenager had got too close to him, to the extent that any other doctors scared him. Taehyung couldn't blame him, the boy had went through a lot of traumatic experiences and Taehyung had been the first person to show him kindness—what everyone should've done.

The doctor closed his eyes instinctively as the door opened, not wanting to hurt his eyes with the bright light created by the room's white walls. Taehyung had barely seen Jeongguk, the boy dressed in white again, but his hair stood out among all that lack of color. Taehyung was wearing a white coat himself but underneath it he had a black blouse whose purpose was to hide the dark coloring of his veins, which was worsening even more as days passed. He knew he couldn't allow the others to see because they'd take him away and put him on medication.

Taehyung knew there was no hope for him so he tried to stay alive for as long as he could.

"Jeongguk," Taehyung called out. "I know I haven't been here in a long time but to make up my absence," he raised the cage in his hands with shaking arms. "I brought you a present that might help you remember a few things."