The Trials of Neo City [WINWIN • YUTA]

🖤 23. Look What You Made Me Do 🖤

"Sicheng! Sicheng, wake up! The Careers are here!" Mark's voice rang out, quiet but full of fear.

Sicheng's eyes shot open as Mark whispered frantically, pulling and shaking his body awake.

"Oh my god, I fell asleep?!" Sicheng whispered back in disbelief. There were steps below them on the first floor and then a small thudding sound. Sicheng and Mark collectively held their breath, scared out of their minds.

The Careers were right below them.

Sicheng's breath hitched as he watched the smaller boy try and escape through a window, not having the guts to cut himself on the small, needle-like shards glass and instead pressing himself against the frame of the large door, wooden splinters piercing his arms as he did so.

Even from the next floor, Sicheng could see the other shaking. He had no idea how long the boy was in the building with them, but was surprised nonetheless to not have heard him there. The District Nine boy was suddenly grabbed by Lucas's who tackled him down and held his arms so that he couldn't get away. The other weakly thrashed until a laugh rang through the dusty room, a sadistic laugh that he recognized all too well.

There Ten was, smiling like a child on their birthday. His bloodstained beige coat looked too large on his body as he walked towards the boy, a small dagger being pulled from his coat pocket.

He crouched down to where Lucas held the boy and tilted his head, as if he were surprised that they had captured him.

"What do you know? A friend!" Ten's voice was laced with such saturated and faux surprise, clicking his tongue to the droid of his mouth as Taeil made a whimpering noise.

"Your name? It's only manners, you know." Ten reminded, shoving his blade to rest against the other's Adam's apple as Lucas held him down.

The other looked up with defeated eyes, a glint of pleads shining in them. "Moon T-Taeil..." the boy's voice was loud but stammering. Ten cooed and pulled his knife away, motioning for someone to come over towards him.

A figure stepped into the light.

Sicheng had no idea if Yangyang or Johnny or Chenle were there, but had no doubt that they stood guard nearby or outside of the building in case of an ambush.

However, there stood Yuta in front of Ten, not too much taller than him but matching his intimidating nature. Red hair hiding his eyes made him all the more deadly; His hand never left his axe and Sicheng caught himself staring at the scars and bruises adorning his neck, his hands, his face.

"Where's Shotaro? I had decided to give him this kill but he isn't here! Shame, our friend Taeil really is quite the beauty. Almost sad we have to make away with him like this." Ten tutted, looking at Yuta with hands on his hips. "He would have been an excellent gift to our dear 'Taro!"

"Ten, stop playing with your prey. Shotaro went to find rations, just kill the guy." Yuta's voice made a chill run up Sicheng's spine and he shivered from his place pressed up against the floor, still unable to move.

"Taeil, what a pretty name. This was your last Reaping, wasn't it? You almost made it out!" Ten taunted, Taeil not meeting his eyes. Ten grabbed his face and squished harshly, narrowing his eyes and leaning down to him. "I don't like being ignored, love. Listen when I speak."

Taeil stared at Ten with disdain in his eye, a fire of rebellion. Ten let go of his face, a scowl playing on his features as he stood up and brushed off his clothes.

"Pity. Our friend doesn't want to talk, does he? Taeil, love, look at what you made me do. Lucas!" Ten whistled and nudged his head towards Lucas, who instead of grabbing Taeil's arms had grabbed his head and gripped his neck and cranium tightly. Taeil whimpered, the noises turned into screams and pleads filled the room and from his ledge on the second floor, Sicheng paled and shut his eyes.

He held onto Mark's hand tighter as the boy shut his own eyes and placed a hand over his ear. Sicheng looked away, not wanting to see the carnage that followed; a snapping sound that quickly ceased the begging, marked by the cannon's boom.

Ten had scoffed as Lucas let go of the body, looking around the first floor of the building. "Anyone else wanna show their face? Johnny, we should search this spot! Or take it apart brick by brick!"

"Don't!" Yuta yelled suddenly, eyes widened. The Careers were silent, staring at him as if he were insane for going against Ten. Yuta froze, not knowing what to say next. His eyes darted from place to place, trying to think of a lie.

Yuta's eyes met Sicheng's through the floorboards and Sicheng's heart stopped. His eyes widened as Yuta swung his head around to face the other Careers.

"I just mean, uh, someone's outside. Someone's trying to steal our supplies." Yuta grabbed his trident and held it tight, facing one of the previously boarded windows. "I can hear it. We need to deal with that. If anybody's in here, they're not worth it."

It was true; someone was outside with a canister, stealing water from the Cornucopia fountain.

Ten's face curled into a grin. "Oh, we can't have that, can we?" He whistled lowly, kicking the corpse of the older boy and smirking. Ten did a hand signal of some sort and the Careers crawled through the windows again.

Yuta smiled, seemingly relieved himself. He placed a hand on Yangyang's shoulder and led the younger boy out, glancing up at floorboards knowingly, before crawling outside again.

Sicheng let out a breath he didn't know he was holding and slumped down against the tree. Mark still shook where he crouched, unable to form much of a sentence.

Mark shuddered. "Sicheng, he... that big kid just-" He made a twisting motion with his hands, imitating Lucas. Sicheng swallowed a lump in his throat and nodded.

"Lucas is strong. I'd rather Ten himself do away with me than have my neck broken, holy shit." Sicheng nodded, shaking away the thought and not noticing the confusion on Mark's face.

"Who's Ten?" Mark furrowed his eyebrows.

Sicheng was confused for a moment before laughing quietly to himself. He'd forgotten that Ten was his nickname for the small District Two boy and that it wasn't his real name. "I call him that. He got a ten in training

"His name's Chitta... something." Mark trailed off, unable to remember it either. "Something or other, I don't remember."

Sicheng chuckled and leaned on a wall. "Oh, is that so? I like 'Ten' better than 'Chitta-something-or-other'."

They were quiet for a moment.

"What if they come back, Sicheng?" Mark's voice was meek and afraid. Sicheng couldn't answer, couldn't guarantee that they wouldn't. Yuta seemed to stall for long enough but he doubted they could stay here for much longer than another day.

"I don't know. I really don't know, Mark. Whatever it is, we'll do it together. Okay, kid?" Sicheng promised.

The building was quiet again as the morning sun's rays beamed on the duo. As much of a rude awakening the Careers were, Sicheng had to admit that he slept well and that the fake morning sun was quite beautiful.

The city sky was clear today, although dusty. There weren't any clouds or fog or smoke today and part of Sicheng wondered why.

"Good morning." Mark whispered after yawning, his words barely audible.

Sicheng smiled softly and ruffled the boy's hair, getting up from his spot. "Good morning, kiddo."