《Beneath the surface - ZhanYi version》

《Chapter 11》

TRIGGER WARNING!

Mention of child abuse / Major character death

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"I mean, they say you die twice . . .

One time when your heart stops beating forever . . .

And a second time, a bit later on, when somebody says your name for the last time . . ."

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Xiao Zhan's POV

I shivered, making myself as small as possible, when I heard the door thrown open and the stumbling following.

Holding my breath, I strained my ears to listen for any sound, and when the stumbling came closer to our room, my heart started racing while I forced myself to stay silent, biting my lips until I could taste the familiar metallic blood in my mouth.

I listened to how the footsteps passed our room, stumbling further as I let out the breath I was holding.

The bed above me creaked a little as I heard a tiny, weak voice resembling mine calling out my name.

"Zhan Zhan?" I hummed as quietly as possible, listening to the door at the end of the hallway getting thrown open as my heartbeat was in my throat.

I slowly uncurled when I heard pitter-patting footsteps from above.

I glanced to the side, my hands trembling when I saw the dirty white blanket falling to my side as my hand reached out to take it.

That's when he appeared in my view.

Sean.

"Move aside, Zhan Zhan." Sean pushed me lightly as I automatically moved towards the wall, and he got in between the thing sheets, his warm body close to mine as a shiver ran down my spine.

"It's too cold above," Sean whispered, placing his blanket over mine as he closed his eyes.

I didn't answer, listening to Sean's breath evening out as he quickly fell asleep; my heart and mind were still racing as I blinked, staring up at the bunk bed where I had dabbled drawings of Sean, my mom and me.

That was when times were better when Mom was still with us.

But I didn't blame her for running away, even if death was her only escape.

Yibo intently stared at me as I finished my nightmare.

"I shouldn't feel the way I did, but back then, I can now recall the feeling of betrayal. I was so wrong." I stared at my hands. They couldn't stop trembling, so I folded them together, forcing myself to sit still.

"Zhan ge," Yibo whispered as I looked up, meeting his gaze head-on, and my heart skipped a beat.

"You didn't know better; you were a child who carried the burden of the world while everyone looked the other way." Yibo leaned forward before deciding to get up and walk towards me, engulfing me in a breathtakingly warm hug.

"You did what you thought was best; you were young," Yibo mumbled in my hair, pressing a kiss on the crown of my head.

I hummed, the haunting voice of Sean playing in a loop inside my mind.