Astronomy // Duty After School

Chapter Twenty-Four.

"I'm scared," Yeon-ju whispered as she held (Y/n)'s hand and looked down at the nearly lifeless So-yeon.

"She'll be okay," (Y/n) promised, squeezing So-yeon's hand. "She has to. Illness comes from the heart, and if we're doing everything we can, if we believe she'll be okay, So-yeon's bound to be all right." The group jumped out of their skin at the sound of knocking.

"Hey, move this," Jang-su whispered. Hui-rak was on his feet in an instant.

"They're here!" Hui-rak waved the girls over and the three of them pushed the dresser out of the way. Jang-su held a finger to his lips.

"Come out quietly," Jang-su instructed, leaning forward to poke his head in and eye So-yeon.

"How is she?" So-yun asked. Jang-su shook his head grimly. (Y/n) quietly removed the space blanket from So-yeon as the others looked around for the safest way to get So-yeon outside. So-yun pointed to a flat surface that Yeon-ju would be able to sit on and help So-yeon once she climbed out the window. Hui-rak moved a box off of a small bedside table and he quietly moved it beneath the window. Once getting So-yeon to a sitting position, Yeon-ju jogged to the window and climbed out, sitting on her knees on the flat surface So-yun had pointed out. (Y/n) and Hui-rak supported So-yeon all the way to the window. Hui-rak had to step onto the small table so So-yeon would be able to climb outside more easily. Once she did so, after several tense moments with the others, Yeon-ju motioned for the others to get out quickly.

"Let's go together. We'll go ahead and wait," Yeong-shin said to the frightened Sun-yi and Jun-hi as they waited on the other group. Tae-man was tasked with keeping an eye on the Cell. So-chul and Chi-yeol were the last two out of the room.

"Tae-man!" Chi-yeol whisper-shouted as Sun-yi, Jun-hi, and Yeong-shin took off down to the garage. Tae-man made a circle with his hand before pointing his thumb over his shoulder, signaling for the two boys to continue. Chi-yeol quietly crept forward, planning to head over to the other group so they could move as one. Tae-man and Chi-yeol flinched and grimaced as So-chul nearly lost his footing after partially sliding down the dirt hill. So-chul held tightly onto one of the support beams as Tae-man silently shushed the boy. Chi-yeol was the first to reach the other group and he jogged over to help So-yun get So-yeon onto Jang-su's back. (Y/n) was the last out the window and she, Hui-rak, and Yeon-ju walked in a line, holding hands until Hui-rak's own carelessness ended with him bumping into a pole due to not paying attention. Yeon-ju sent him a dirty look and (Y/n) pursed her lips disapprovingly, releasing Hui-rak's hand.
Tae-man looked inside the office again before nodding for the others to continue moving. So-chul relayed the message to the group and they began walking. So-yun and Chi-yeol made sure So-yeon stayed on Jang-su's back while the other three were practically walking on their tiptoes. (Y/n) began approaching So-chul, but she froze as Hui-rak accidentally kicked a stack of metal bowls. They all froze and Tae-man ducked down out of sight from the Cell. Horrified looks were thrown Hui-rak's way again as he covered his mouth.

"Fuck..." Hui-rak mouthed silently. Once Tae-man confirmed that the Cell wasn't heading their way, he shushed them and waved for them to continue walking. (Y/n) flinched as So-chul curiously placed a hand on her arm, wondering why she was coming to him and not going to the others. (Y/n) quietly shook the space blanket and then pointed up at the pipe.

"Stuff the pipe," (Y/n) whispered. So-chul followed her gaze and it took a moment, but he nodded in understanding and took the space blanket over to the pipe. Even on his tiptoes, he couldn't reach it. When he caught Tae-man looking their way, So-chul waved him over, pointed at the blanket, and then at the pipe. Tae-man was a bit confused but came over nonetheless. The moment the boy had the blanket, So-chul hurried back over to keep watch of the Cell. "Into the pipe," (Y/n) instructed, grabbing a pool net under the chance the Cell was to appear. Tae-man reached up and began stuffing the blanket in.