In to the ocean

Chapter 2

Dalena hobbles down the stone hallway, grasping her gnarled cane. Jungkook walks beside her, consciously timing his long legs to match the pace of the aged woman. Although she was a maid at the time of Jungkook's birth, Dalena is now retired and lives with the family as a friend.

Though he never brought it up, Jungkook has always suspected that this Isn't the whole story, and that Dalena's role is actually to keep an eye on him. After all, she was the one to discover the mark.

The echoes of their footfalls become muted as they reach Jungkook's room, where carpet covers the cracked floor. Dalena makes her way to the nightstand and picks up the milk glass to make him drink the milk. Jungkook remembering this night-time ritual from when he was a little boy, sits on the edge of the bed so the elder woman can make him drink the milk before sleep.

"You know, I knew from the moment you were born that you were trouble" Dalena muses her eyes crinkling with a smile.

"Because of the mark?" Jungkook  sighs.

"No" Magdalena gently says. "Because of your fighting spirit. You arrived with the biggest storm of the year. I knew then and there that you weren't going to let anything stop you."

Dalena leans down and gently kisses Jungkook's head and take the now finish milk glass.

"Are you going to tell my parents I was looking through the book?" Jungkook asks.

"I wouldn’t" Dalena replies. "I know you were just looking for answers. I wish I had some to give you."

Jungkook groans as he gets up from the bed and hug her.

After bidding Dalena goodnight, Jungkook gets ready for bed before sliding under the covers. He stretches his legs, then rolls over and closes his eyes. Sleep drawing him.

__ __ __ __ __ __

Jungkook awaken with a jolt. His left hip is burning, searing as if it is on fire. He yanks off the sheets and touches his birth mark of scales, but nothing feels amiss. His hip isn't hot to the touch, nor is it bleeding. There isn't anything visible. But the burning feeling is too real.

He jumps out of bed and rushes to the bathroom, quickly drawing water to try and appease his scales. It doesn't work. The room feels suffocating as if it's closing in. Jungkook can't get a deep breath, panicking as his mark burns. Running back to his room, he flings the window open, gasping for air. The salty breeze eases his lungs but does little for his hip. Jungkook turns about to call for his parents, when he hears it.

Jungkook

A faraway call, almost lost as a whisper in the wind from the ocean. Jungkook freezes and a moment passes.

Jungkook

The distant voice is growing closer, now like a roar, like crashing waves and howling wind combined. Broken from his trance, Jungkook stumbles backwards cold-clammy fear seizing his spine. He has felt the ocean call to him before but never like this. He slams the window shut, not wanting to hear anything arising from those waves below him. Not tonight.

But the call persists.

Jungkook sprints for the door, slamming it shut behind him and yelling for his parents for Dalena, for anyone.

Commotion strikes the household as everyone awaken. They reach Jungkook's room just as he collapses. His burning hip sapping all of his strength.

"It's calling him! It's coming!" Jungkook's father says through gritted teeth. Dalena stands tall, gripping her cane with such force it looks as though it might snap. Jungkook's parents hold their son close, helping him stand.

"It's going to be alright Jungkook" his mother whispers. "It can't leave the ocean"

Before Jungkook can respond a thunderous roar summons a wave imbued with pure rage. Jungkook braces himself as windows shatter and doors cave into the wrath of the ocean.