Technological Terror | kim sunwoo

Chapter 7

My eyelashes slowly batted, my vision's blur faded as it adjusted. My head was resting between my shoulders, I furrowed my eyebrows, struggling to reminisce how long I've been in this slumber. I shifted my gaze abreast of me, to see Sunwoo snoring lightly, his head was thrown back, resting. I slightly nudged him, attempting to awake him. "Sunwoo, Sunwoo," I mumbled in a lethargic tone. Sunwoo scowled, awakening. "What, what is it?" He asked, his voice was laced with raspiness. "What do you mean what is it? Wake up! We need to leave soon." I raised my voice, at last composing myself. He abruptly opened his eyes at my shouting, rolling his orbs. "It's early, let's eat something first." Sunwoo stated yawning and stretching his arms. He got up, strolling lazily outside the hall. "Where are you going?" I yelled from afar. "The bathroom." He answered shortly, not sparing a look at me.

"You know the exact directions to the core right?" I asked, my voice leaning into a whisper. Sunwoo responded positively. "I do, you have your plug?" Sunwoo asked, his gaze was absorbed in his pocket, he fiddling with it, revealing his plug. "Yes, which route are we taking?" I asked, fixating my plug on my nape. Sunwoo hummed, crouching whilst viewing the infected humans do their work. "The subway, it shouldn't be working to my knowledge." Sunwoo whispered, intertwining my hand with his. "I thought that since the droids took over they would have everything working in order?" I questioned, bafflement painted on my face. "No, they disable what they don't need. They would want more power for themselves, won't they? Why waste power on transport that won't be used?" Sunwoo answered my question with another question, his point was clear. "The street on the left is a shortcut." I stated quietly, before running on my tip toes with Sunwoo.

In the course of time, Sunwoo and I were walking in the subway carts, transporting from one another. Faint light bulbs led us through the carts. Our steps clanged with the carts's floor, creating noise filled with thuds. "Pause." Sunwoo put an end to his running, staying perfectly still. His audibility had sensed suspicious noise, I had almost asked about the sudden pause, but then I heard distant steps similar to ours. Sunwoo and I clutched our melees with iron grips, I parted my lips awaiting for something to show up cautiously.

At this time, the subway roof was busted, beings dropped atop of us, pinning us down. My weapon was tossed away from my grip, as it was not a droid that held me down. My chest began rising up and down rapidly, Sunwoo attempted to fight the grip of a human being. A man entered the cart we were in, clapping. Sunwoo paused, frowning to process. He then began gritting his teeth. "I've caught glimpses of the both of you around the city, congratulations for making it this far.. but.." The man with a high chin said at the heels of us, sarcastically speaking. "You two have made a mistake, stepping in my territory with no paid price." The man cited with a voice laced with sarcastic sadness, tears had began pricking my orbs.

"Make them sit on their knees, and.." The man demanded, continuing his order. "And.. Oh! Toss their weapons out of their reach." He clasped his hands together, speaking with such pride. I was dragged from my collar, and so was Sunwoo, inducing for us to be seated on our knees, hands implaced behind our backs. My body began to tremble, fright caressing my senses. "What do you want.." Sunwoo spat out bitterly, his sharp eyes engrossed in the man with the ripped, long coat ahead of us. His hair was burnt gold, his hands were painted with purplish and crimson scars, along with a slitted eye. A dozen of his people scattered all over the huge cart. "Sunwoo, you seriously don't remember what you did to me back in the hall we were chained in?" The guy asked, his eyebrows rose in sorrow. Sunwoo's gaze was averted to his side. The man swung his hand, heavily slapping Sunwoo's cheek. "Look at me when I'm talking to you, fucker." The man's tone deepened, to which Sunwoo obeyed forcefully, I began to tremble harder. "I asked you to pull me out of the pile of people that were crushing me, you didn't. When I held your foot, you kicked me! Right in the face!" The man exclaimed, gesticulating with his hands whilst walking back and forth. "I was hurt, Sunwoo. I began bleeding and watched you run for your life." The man continued, the atmosphere getting intensely anxious. Sunwoo's eyes were hooded by his darkened bangs, he refused to say a word to the mad man. My eyes grew glassy, to which the man acknowledged. My shoulders stiffened the more he neared me. "Oh no, pretty girl. Don't cry.." he reassured sarcastically in a gentle tone, his finger skimming along my temple to wipe a tear. I pressed my lips against eachother. "Don't." Sunwoo demanded aggressively, eyes averting towards the man. "So now you decide to pay attention?" He peered at Sunwoo, inclining lower towards my direction. "Don't involve her." Sunwoo muttered furiously. The people surrounding us held in chuckles, which echoed through the cart. The man discarded Sunwoo, caressing my hair strands delicately. My eyes twitched as I looked at his deformed appearance.

He tilted his head, pressing his lips on mine. Instantaneously, I sunk my teeth into his lower lip. He slowly pulled away, sneering as blood began pouring out of his lip. Sunwoo was pinned down by three, muscular men, as he attempted to lay a finger on the man whom kissed me. "I'm going to squeeze the blood out of your brains." Sunwoo stated through gritted teeth and heavy breathing, I began wailing silently, engrossing my vision on my knees. "Then.." The man began, dragging Sunwoo's pipe on the floor with a scrap. "We should start with your girlfriend, shouldn't we?" A smug grin widened on his face, the pipe hanging off his shoulder. I tightened the space between my eyelids. "No! No, listen, we can work this out." Sunwoo began cluttering, attempting to escape the grip of the three men holding him. Whispers filled the cart. "I'm listening." The man whom was about to swing the pipe to my head averted his full focus on Sunwoo, whom was sweating. "You're looking for a replacement to all your wounds, right? I know a man, his house is filled with supplies." Sunwoo spoke hurriedly. "His house is in the other side of the city, I guarantee you, it's worth the trip, you can check how full our bags are." Sunwoo aimed for a deal, to which the man strolled back and forth, considering it. "I'm not very sure on what to do with you, if I feel like agreeing then I'll let you know." The man dropped the rusty pipe on the cart floor, the thud echoed exceedingly loud.

"Toss them in the non-constructed rooms, separately."