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⁛≻Chapter 10≺⁛

◸Chapter 10: The Hesitation◿

Renjun felt horrible. Mentally that is. He had intentions to swallow the pill but when he couldn't, he almost choked on it. 

Thankfully, he didn't and managed to keep it hidden below his tongue till he reached his room. Then he let out a much desired cough and spat the pill into the basin, watching the green and white drug with disgust. 

He just couldn't have it. Something in him refused having it. 

Renjun looked up to meet his eyes in the mirror. This was stupid. This was crazy. Definitely illegal at the sanctuary. He sighed and ran a hand though his hair.

He had to go for close range shooting class next and he would be given a pill before that too. Except all he could think about was would it be better to forcefully swallow it down or to just hide like he saw the two red rankers, Jisung and Mark do. 

He stared at himself, considering all the possibilities. If he didn't have the pill he could potentially get caught. If he did have it... he would probably be obvious for making the painful expression while forcefully swallowing it.

He decided to go with the first option. He could hide the pill below his tongue just like he did that morning. Maybe he could finally find out why there was a mandatory reason for having it.

≻≻≻

Renjun watched as five recruits shot the targets, missing many. This was one class Renjun had never failed. He always had managed to shoot dead on in the centre. He never had to even practice. 

So when he managed to skip the pill, without getting caught, and stood with his gun raised, why did his vision swim? The target in front of him blurred and Renjun saw images of wings, exactly like Hana's.

But the way his vision shifted between watching the target and watching as from the pair of wings one withered to dust, had brought tears to his eyes. For some reason he felt the pain that Hana went though while losing an entire wing. For some reason he was overcome with so much emotion that his lungs started to give out on taking in air. 

He looked around for a breather but froze when he saw the expression on the barrier between his cubicle and the next. It was impulse control as he pointed the gun towards his reflection and shot the bulletproof glass. 

As the glass cracked it was as if time had stilled, a tear escaping his eyes in the reflection before which he saw a guard lift his baton and hit Renjun square on the head. And just like that Renjun lost his consciousness.

---

Jeno watched as the guards dragged Renjun away before he faced the front again. Four more trainees filled the remaining booths except the one where Renjun stood. 

He stared at the bullet that was lodged into the glass that two guards were working on pulling out. Jeno had a sense of why Renjun behaved the way he did. And now he had no idea who actually even had the pill anymore and who didn't.

It didn't take too long before he was pushed to the front, a pill sitting next to a fresh glass of water. He stared at it and mentally scoffed before popping it in and swallowing it.

---

Renjun woke up with a start. It was the first time in days he woke up without a vision. But it was way worse this time. He grumbled as he felt his hands and legs shake in pain, indicating he was beat last night; he remembered only moments of it. 

A wail escaped his lips as he tried to sit up but failed miserably. He fell back down on the mattress, heavy sighs leaving his lips. He laid there for however long, his legs shaking every time he thought of moving.

There was a knock on the door and Renjun groaned as he finally managed to lean up to his elbows. 

Renjun: W-Who?

???: Its me... Jeno.

Renjun's brows frowned but he let out a groan again before sitting up completely and leaning against the cold wall, releasing a hiss of pain. 

Jeno: Can I come in?

Renjun: Y-Yeah...

The door opened and the other male stuck his head in, grimacing at the shorter's sight.

Jeno: Good lord... 

He stepped in and closed the door before setting out the kit. 

Jeno: Have you been beaten before?

Renjun: Once... a few years back. 

Jeno: Hm... and has anyone ever treated them?

Renjun: You can treat them?

Jeno: I'm going to take that as a no.

He said as he ripped a long length of the bandage, bunching it up. 

Jeno: Don't resist.

Renjun: Wh-

He pushed the ball of bandages into Renjun's mouth before pulling his pants up, the fabric rubbing against his wounds in a painful way. But it only got worse as he applied something on the cuts and bruises. 

Renjun felt like he was going through hell in that moment, screaming into the cotton. But as Jeno started wrapping the bandages, Renjun felt no pain.

Renjun: What the hell?

Jeno: Numbing cream. Works like a charm. 

Renjun: Can I use some on my hands?

Jeno: Yeah.

He said with a chuckle before handing him the tube as Jeno got back to bandaging. While Renjun applied the cream on his hand, he glanced at the other.

Renjun: Thank you...

He muttered. Jeno looked up and spared him a smile.

Jeno: No problem. 

Renjun: Did you... stop the... 

Jeno: Hm?

Renjun: Never mind. 

He probably doesn't even know about it... i don't want to throw Mark or myself under the-

Jeno: The pills? No... I didn't stop. I see you did though.

He said while nodding to his pillow. Renjun looked down and saw a pill sticking out. He moved the pillow to cover it, which didn't make sense since Jeno already saw it.

Jeno: Its okay. A lot of people have stopped. I wanted to tell on them... but I don't know what's stopping me...

Renjun: Are you going to stop? ... The pills?

He said while handing the cream back to the taller who packed up the kit and stood up. Jeno looked down, eyes boring into Renjun's.

Jeno: No.