Wasteland // Kim Seungmin

40 - Maybe A Lil Overdue

Felix didn't want to agree to it, and for a while, he didn't. He made me stay upstairs, far away from Seungmin, while he went about his leader duties (whatever those were) downstairs. I heard Seungmin's voice for the first time in the early evening, when he caught Felix right under the window in the bedroom, I tiptoed over and sat on the ground under it, holding my breath to hear their conversation.

"...give me a minute with my partner, that's all I am asking for."

"She's terrified of you," Felix said, "I am not putting her through that."

"Please," Seungmin begged, and again I could hear that emotion in his voice. He has to be a pretty good actor. "I need to talk to her. I need to explain things, I never got the chance to explain."

"Explain what, partner killer?"

Seungmin didn't respond for a minute, he just repeated, "Please. I won't hurt her and if I do, you can make me a leader. Or kill me yourself. We can do it however makes you both comfortable. Please."

Before I could stop myself, I was halfway down the stairs, then rushing out the front door. The scene of the two of them was even more pathetic than I imagined. Seungmin was on the ground at Felix's feet, I am guessing to show him he was vulnerable? Harmless? What a laugh. Still, something about the way he sat on his legs softened me. They didn't know I was watching until I spoke. "We could figure out a way that we're all comfortable with. We have to let him speak, Felix."

At that, Seungmin stood up, staring at me. In the light, the difference between he and Felix was alarming. Even though Felix was well-fed, sleeping indoors, bathing regularly, he looked more like a dying man than Seungmin. Seungmin has more than likely slept on the ground every night since I left the compound, and has probably not eaten in 24 hours. Despite all that, he looks like the picture of health and vitality compared to Felix. He stands a good 4 inches taller than Felix, and seems twice his size comparing shoulder width alone.

Part of me wanted to tell him to get back on the ground, so he was a little less intimidating. Or call big guy out here, who I'm sure is 3x the size of Seungmin.

We left Seungmin outside while Felix and I decided how to keep me safe, while still giving Seungmin and myself a degree of privacy. Once we agreed on a set-up, Felix called Seungmin inside. Three of us stood in a small room in the haven while Felix laid it out.

"Here's how we're going to do this. I am right on the other side of that door. He sits in this chair, you sit in your chair. You talk. If he moves, or says anything to bother you, just call my name and I'll be in here in a second. And he'll be dead the next." He said the last sentence staring right at Seungmin. Seungmin gave him a flat smile, and nodded his head, shooting him a thumbs up.

"You're sure about this?" Felix asked me.

I nodded. "Stay close."

He squeezed my shoulder, leveling one more searing look at Seungmin, before exiting the room and closing the door.

I stared at the door for another few seconds, until Seungmin spoke. "Are you okay?"

I nodded, "Fine."

"Are you planning to live here now?"

I bit my lip. I was afraid to be caught in a lie, but I didn't want to reveal that in a few short hours, I'd be as homeless as he was. "Yes." I said, withholding additional details to keep from revealing my bluff.

"You think you're safer here?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

I couldn't tell if he meant it as a threat, like 'you think I'd let frail little Felix stop me from getting to you if I wanted to?'