Light Into Darkness x Michaeng

Déjà vu and Late Night Talks

"Mina? Mina, are you still there? Can you hear me? Mina?"

The phone had fallen face down on the floor. Jihyo's voice still came through loud and clear but Mina couldn't answer. She couldn't breathe. Endless weight pressed down on her chest. She couldn't move. The tangled harness hung limply, clenched in her hand. Ray whined beside her and nudged his head against the back of her knee, pushing her over just enough for Mina to fall harshly to her knees.

"Mina, answer me, damn it!" Jihyo yelled through the phone.

Mina let out a choked sob. "I'm here," she didn't think Jihyo heard the broken whisper, but she did.

"Dahyun went to go find out information on Chaeyoung." Mina sucked in a jagged breath. Tears fell freely from her eyes and slipped down her flushed cheeks. Ray let out another whine and tugged on the harness. "Just get over here, okay?"

"I'll be there soon," Mina hung up the phone before Jihyo could say anything else. Ray pulled on the harness again and she let it drop from her hands. Mina pressed her face into her palms and let out a loud, agonized sob.

Again. This happened before. The sick déjà vu felt like knives to her heart. Harsh waves of stabs that pierced her skin, swift cuts creating an uncontainable flow of blood. Of pain. The memory of Jeongyeon's screams ran through her mind and Mina shuddered.

It wouldn't be like this if you hadn't gotten in so deep, her mind yelled alongside the memories. If you weren't weak like this, it wouldn't matter.

But Chaeyoung mattered. Chaeyoung mattered so much to Mina. She was already too deep in this hole, and there was no way she could dig herself out. So she must dig further. Face the pain. Face whatever was in the hospital, no matter what it was, be it life or death.

Mina pulled in a deep breath, holding it in, then letting it come out in a rush from her mouth. She steadied her breathing and wiped the tears off of her cheeks. "Be strong, Mina," she said aloud, despite there being no one around. "Be strong for Chaeyoung."

Ray nudged her once more and Mina took the harness from him. After a moment of struggle, she unravelled the knots of the harness and placed it on the dog's large body. Without another thought, she moved through the apartment door with her phone in her left hand, harness in her right. The door closed soundly behind her and Ray began to lead her out of the apartment and to the city streets.

"How are you related to Son Chaeyoung?"

"I- well I'm not, but I'm her first emergency contact for work and we are technically working right now so please, just tell me where she is."

Mina walked quickly down the streets, the path to the hospital burned into her brain from past appointments. She could have easily walked it without Ray, but he made the trip go by faster. Obstacles were avoided, people moved out of her way faster with a German Shepherd on her side rather than just her walking stick.

By the time she reached the doors of the hospital, her breaths had become more stable but the ache in Mina's chest was still there. With every beat of her heart came the plunge of the invisible knives. Mina swallowed the acid buildup in the back of her throat and the rawness stung as a brief reminder of the sobs that she let out in the apartment. It only made her more terrified.

Mina swung the doors of the hospital open and braced herself for the horrors she might need to face.

"Yeah, Kim. How hard is it to spell Kim? K-i-m. Why do you need to get my entire life story, just tell me where she is!"

"Don't tell me I need to lay down, you just said I could go."

"After the doctor checks on you once more and you have signed the release papers."