From the Darkness

19. The Raid

Wooyoung was enthusiastic to try out the car, and he wasn't the only one. By the time he woke and came stumbling from his room, Jongho was already hunched over the jeep's hind wheel, making the last adjustments. He flashed Wooyoung a greeting smile.

"Seonghwa asked me about you. He was ecstatic to hear that you want to come along." He perched in an odd position to accommodate his leg and Wooyoung marveled at its angle as he leaned against the wall. His gun was strapped to his leg, and he wore his sturdy vest. Wherever Mingi would take them for this raid, he was ready.

"It's all thanks to him," Wooyoung replied. He was in an exceptional mood today. Though nervous that something might go wrong with the car, he needed the time in after his long period of hiding in the shadows. As fascinating and safe as this place was, sitting idle triggered his survival instincts.

"Yes, yes, he is the light. You should see him soon and tell him about it. He is always curious to hear from us. Something about human emotion having so many facets." Chuckling, Jongho jammed the tools into his belt and used the car as leverage to pull himself up. He leaned into its side, patting the hood with a proud hand.

"The same goes for him," Wooyoung commented. Then he stepped closer with a shine in his eyes. "Is she finished?"

"Best I can do," Jongho grinned. "If she doesn't drive now, I don't think she ever will." He was about to ask Wooyoung to find San and though Wooyoung would have loved to refuse, he would have had to comply since Jongho was hurt, but the matter resolved itself. Mingi and San joined them together after they lugged away a few boxes that blocked the tunnel leading to the cave entrance. When Jongho flicked the keys at him, San's bandaged arm caught them in the air.

"Be gentle with her as if she were your child. If anything sounds off, tell me so I can make sure she runs smoothly once Seonghwa is aboard."

Wooyoung was nervous about how they would transport something as brittle as a laptop, but Jongho seemed confident. Perhaps he designed a safe basket for Seonghwa and his battery to travel in.

San nodded at the back door when Mingi pulled it open.

"You should accept the honors of her first ride. We'll take you along to the cave entrance."

Jongho's eyes sparkled.

"Yes, please."

Together, they helped Jongho and his leg into the car. Wooyoung sat by his side while Mingi took a seat at the front next to San to direct him. Though it was claustrophobic to sit in a tiny box of metal and plastic, the seats were comfortable and Jongho cleaned everything before the assembly.

San rested one hand on the wheel while the other one twisted the key. Though he clutched to his seat at the rattle that shook the entire car, Wooyoung was giddy with excitement. The engine grumbled in an ongoing noise as San figured out the gearstick in the middle of his and Mingi's space. He moved it and his knees shifted when he pressed below. Then they rolled forward.

"Success!" Jongho cheered while Wooyoung was still entranced. San's arms maneuvered the wheel carefully, steering them through the dark tunnel. At another testing flick, two lights at the front flashed on and lit up the cave brighter than any lantern. Even Mingi, who knew his way around and had seen a lot, gaped in awe.

San's grip was tight around the wheel as he steered them around the corner, but they didn't bump into anything. Wooyoung clutched to Mingi's seat as he and Jongho stared out of the glass front in mutual tension. They went slowly, but they should be able to go much faster outside.

Once they arrived in the entrance area, San figured out the car anew. He kicked at something below again, then tugged on a lever behind the gear stick. The car halted and Mingi whistled.