Nightfall Curse

chapter 17

Hyunjin had grown unnaturally quiet in the intervening hours before Jisung and Minho's return. Chan went down to check on him every now and then, but the scene never changed. Hyunjin had overturned the table and chairs during his previous destructive anger, but it had burned itself out. He sat in the far corner of the room, legs drawn up, forehead resting on his knees. Chan had even chanced opening the door to slide a plate of food inside. Hyunjin hadn't even bothered to look up. An hour and a half later, he hadn't touched the food or the bottle of water.

"You need to eat," Chan said through the porthole.

No answer.

"Jisung and Minho'll be here soon to straighten you out. It'll be better then."

Not even a flinch.

He put his hand on the port to close it, but Hyunjin stopped him when he spoke, voice hoarse and broken. "How's Felix? Don't lie to me, Chan."

Chan paused. "He'll be all right."

"I said not to lie to me." His voice was flat. Too exhausted to even try for anger. "It doesn't feel like he'll be all right."

Chan shifted closer in interest. "What do you mean by that?"

Hyunjin's head slid up so that his chin was resting on his knees now. He met Chan square in the eyes for the first time since he'd gotten there. "I dunno. It's like... I can sense him. Somehow. There's a... connection. I think he's dreaming or something."

"I'll be damned," Chan murmured. "You bond with him? The lore mentioned it happening sometimes."

Hyunjin shrugged weakly. "Who knows? I got out of there before I really knew what was happening. And until now I've been pretty out of it, right? Sorry for..." he peered around the room sheepishly. Swallowed thickly. "Sorry for wrecking the place."

"Nothing that can't be put back together," Chan assured him. "Look, when Minho called he didn't have a whole lot of info. Said that they took Felix to the hospital, and the doctors are saying he'll recover."

"I think he's having a nice dream," Hyunjin said wistfully, like he hadn't heard Chan and was somewhere else entirely. "I can't see it, but it's like he's... floating? Maybe? It's weird. He's calm though, wherever he is." His voice sharpened as he visibly shook himself out of his reverie. "He's gonna kick my ass for this."

Chan snorted. "I doubt it. He's forgiven you for worse, and I bet he always will. Just try to rest, okay? They'll be here soon. Everything'll be fine."

Hyunjin put his forehead back down on his knees. Chan could hardly hear him when he mumbled, "whatever you say."

"Hang in there, Hyunjin" Chan said softly, closing the hatch and going back upstairs to wait for the cavalry to arrive.

They did, right after dark, everyone trading looks of concern. Chan gestured them inside. "He's been quiet down there for a while now. I think he's run out of energy to rage."

Jisung set his laptop bag down on Chan's overflowing desk carefully. "That's good, I guess. He'll be more cooperative for the spell."

"He said something interesting," Chan said pointedly to Minho. "Led me to believe that he may have bonded with Felix."

Minho's eyebrows shot up. Jisung swung around. "What?" They both said together, Minho's voice laced with disbelief and Jisung's with interest.

Chan shifted on his feet, uncomfortable with the news. "Hyunjin said... well, he said he could feel Felix dreaming in the hospital. They're connected in some way. Not like I'm saying I care about the two of them getting all cozy, but what happens if they're bonded in some way and we break it with a spell?"