ORV Fanfiction [UNNAMED] (Hiatus)

Chapter 64: One Disaster (6)

I was writing to Anna Croft over [Midday Tryst] about the information I had gotten, finding it imperative for her to know quickly to prepare for the 'disaster' awaiting them. Call me selfish, but I've gotten quite attached to them as well.

Beside me was Jung Youngho, and we were retracing our steps to head toward the south-most corner of Washington DC.

The streets for the most part kept their silence, although now we knew the reason as to why. It was why the air felt colder than normal to me at such a realization.

However, Jung Youngho and I soon paused mid-step as an audible 'thump' of something of considerable size fell to the ground. Exiting out of the window displaying the chat between Anna and me, I tensed slightly, on guard.

"...Help..." A fleeting, weak voice spoke out.

Korean? Who is that? I narrowed my eyes at a suspiciously dark alley from where the sound originated.

However, there was someone else who had a completely different reaction than mine.

"Jung Youngho-ahjussi!" I cried out in alarm as the person who had been nearby suddenly sprang into the alley at the call.

Following straight after, a single leap bridged the gap between me and Jung Youngho, and I found that he was holding a little boy in his arms.

A swath of black hair was clumped together by stains of dirt, sweat and blood that also marred their torn skin and ripped clothes. Due to pain, the closed eyes of the boy were tense, and his eyebrows were furled. It was a wonder how the boy ended up in such a state. Though, at the very least, all the wounds the boy suffered were minor abrasions.

Done with my brief look-over, I looked to Jung Youngho, wanting to ask him what was going on, until I glimpsed the look on his face. Then, he turned to look at me.

I flinched.

Although Jung Youngho was strangely quiet, the more terrifying part of his expression was the sudden pair of bloodshot eyes I saw, and the madness that swirled in his eyes.

I couldn't help but be reminded of the same pair of eyes I had saw when we were trapped in the [Welcome prison] created from Jung Youngho's trauma.

It was the pair of eyes when he saw that little boy die.

And that wounded boy looked just like the little boy within Jung Youngho's memories.

"Jung Youngho-ahjussi..." I began, wanting to ask, but decided against it.

So instead, I said, "Do you need some time?"

My question appeared to bring back some clarity to Jung Youngho's eyes as he croaked out,

"No, it's okay. Can we keep going?"

It was rare for Jung Youngho to be politely asking me this question, to the point that before I could think, I reflexively blurted out a "yeah, okay," while a plethora of unformed questions roared in my heart.

Hesitantly, I turned around and took a few short steps, before turning around to look at Jung Youngho.

He still sported the same blood-shot eyes as he carefully cradled the little boy to his chest, standing up to trail me behind.

...Nevermind, let's stay quiet for now. It seems he needs some space.

A tangle of worry made its way to my heart at seeing Jung Youngho's state, but I bit back all my words and shoved them into my heart as I re-began the journey to the south. At the very least, it wasn't too far from here now.