Home Invasion || Park Jisung

14。glistening hope

Wednesday, 02:37 a.m.

The deafening silence amplified Nari's quiet sobs. She choked back the bile in her throat, sniffling as she tried to get a good look at her neighbor, the boy she seemed to hate just earlier today.

"Jisung...?" She whispered desperately, a panicked feeling rising in her chest because she couldn't see him— or anything— clearly.

"Yeah, yeah I'm here, Nari."

Even in this state, she didn't know how his voice sounded so stable, so deep and affirming. At the sound of his voice, she came undone; hot tears leaked down her face, her hiccups coming in full force. "Are you..." she sniffled uncontrollably. "I can't believe you got caught, you dick."

She didn't know how cold she was until she felt warm fingers trying to intertwine with her bound hands. "You really think I'm going to leave you alone with those psychos?"

She wanted to see him, check his face. That punch must've hurt.

"You should've gotten help," she mumbled instead. She cursed at herself for not being able to ask if he was okay, even at a time like this.

"I took a knife, it's in my pocket."

Her breath hitched, a sudden rush of heat spreading through her chest. "What?"

"Can you reach my pocket? There's a knife in it—" he shifted his body so that his sweatpants pocket was next to her fingers— "hurry."

Nari's heart was beating out of her chest; she reached out as best as she could, a horrible feeling that they were coming soon only egging her to search faster. It didn't take long as she soon felt a pocket knife resting on the walls of his pocket. She quickly took it out, feeling with her fingers for a way to open it.

"Here—" Jisung positioned his bound hands so that they were in between the knife— "just cut through it."

Nari didn't have to be told twice— she began pushing the knife against the surface of the rough rope, swinging back and forth with all the energy she could muster in such a position.

God, this is taking forever! Every second felt like a crucial hour, like she was just waiting for the men to come back and beat them both up, real good this time. Her sawing became more desperate; she just wanted this to end—

"Alright, it's cut—" Jisung scrambled on his spot, turning around and taking the knife from Nari. Now that his hands were free, he shifted smoothly, using the knife to cut the ropes binding his legs. It took him so much faster; before she knew it, his hands were wrapped around her fingers, positioning them still so he could cut through the rope. 

Her hands were tugged back and forth, the sound of friction like a beacon of hope to Nari. She listened to it like music, her body getting antsy with the desire to escape. However, Jisung suddenly stopped.

A draft of air hit her back— "Nari, are you bleeding?"

She almost forgot about that. He lifted her jacket, moving the material of her thin top. She hissed subtly at the sudden throbbing pain she was reminded of. Behind her, Jisung growled, "fucking bastards."

Maybe they heard it— the patio door suddenly creaked open, sending her heart dropping to the floor. She couldn't do this anymore; she was about to burst into tears. However, Jisung turned around and—

"Chenle?"

14。❝ glistening hope ❞