In These Arms [mxm]

Chapter 36 - Reawakened

A/N: Hopefully the last (naturally, super unedited and rushed) chapter. Let me know if I missed anything :') Promise I'll get around to editing at some point, i just can't promise when!

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My legs stumbled as I was forcibly pushed towards the shack we were standing outside of. My feet kicked the gravel as they forced me in its direction, then with a shove to the back that carried enough force to wind me, I stumbled into piles of what I presumed to be hay and muck. The foul stench assaulted my senses, making my eyes water as I spat out what stray strands ended up in my mouth.

I tuned into my surroundings, listening to the sound of snorts and squeals, which I presumed to be pigs or wild boars. My hands restricted, tightly wound behind my back, I had no way of lifting myself up. I could feel the weight of my body pressing down on the hay, causing me to sink slightly, yet that imbalance made it hard to find a hard surface to pick myself up. I tried to roll and feel my way around, but my legs kicked something, which seemed to startle one of the inhabitant livestock as it broke into a surprised squeal. Though I couldn't see its size, I could feel its weight as it trampled my leg, crushing me hard enough that I thought my knee might hyper extend. I cried out, curling my legs close to me again.

The space was dark, not allowing me to see even a fragment of light through the sack hanging over my face. If the animals were pigs as I suspected, then I had reason to believe these people were a rebel group, illegally trading livestock that was forbidden in the country. It meant that this crime went beyond just political warfare, but I was in no position to be concerned with it.

If these people had broken their end of a deal with the Korean military, then there would be inevitable consequences. As soon as my leaders learned of my disappearance, they would send me aid. All I had to do was remain uninjured until that time came, avoiding upsetting these animals until I could be rescued.

Taking deep breaths, I gathered my strength to shuffle around until I came to a wall, then used it to help prop myself up. The pervasive stench of livestock and rotten feed was no consolation for my fate at all, but I thought of Chanyeol, taking comfort in the fact that I would likely be returned home sooner because of this ordeal. Maybe I would get to see him before his enlistment started, too. And I would be able to work hard and build a beautiful life for him to return to.

These thoughts helped to calm my unraveling composure, occasionally disrupted by the squeals and stomping of pigs or boars.

Hours passed, and eventually, the door opened again, and footsteps entered inside. People were speaking Arabic, but their words occasionally mixed with English. While my English language skills were lacking, I was able to detect the occasional word.

"...broken deal... no regard for his son's life."

Then another voice entered the conversation, taking me by surprise when he spoke in Korean.

"That bastard never intended on fulfilling his end of the bargain."

More footsteps approached. More Koreans.

"There are missiles in the distance."

"Are they aiming for the Afghans?"

"No, they're almost on top of us. It's an airstrike!"

"They tricked us! Run!"

Those voices turned into screams, a blend of shock and terror as missiles blasted around us. The ground seemed to lift, throwing me as quickly as I fell again. The explosions came closer, then I listened to the splitting of wood and piercing pig squeals. Then the voices disappeared, and I realized that something was on top of me. Something heavy, something that covered my face and body, smothering me, crushing my chest and any hopes of breathing. I screamed into the coarse coat of fur, tasting the trickle of iron that seeped into my mouth. Blood. Pig's blood. I was buried beneath the still corpse of a beast.