Plague 2023 (Plague 2022 Season 2)

Episode 30

IN THE STORM: A PROMISE UNBROKEN

Sae Joon Hyun lay on the floor, his back pressed against the cold, unyielding surface. The room around him was dimly lit, shadows dancing on the walls as the light flickered. His mind raced, trying to piece together the chaos that had erupted. Everything had seemed fine. He and Jaeyeon had been managing well, finding refuge in their makeshift home. They had food, they had each other, and above all, they had trust. Sae Joon Hyun had done everything in his power to protect Jaeyeon, to keep him safe. Jaeyeon had promised to control himself if ever the worst came to pass. So how had everything gone so terribly wrong?

As Sae Joon Hyun glanced up, his heart pounded in his chest. Jaeyeon loomed over him, a figure twisted by monstrous change. His eyes were no longer the warm, familiar gaze Sae Joon Hyun remembered. Instead, they were a fierce, blood-red, glowing with an unnatural, predatory hunger. The transformation was complete. Jaeyeon's teeth were elongated, sharp and menacing, and he snarled with a primal intensity.

Jaeyeon gripped Sae Joon Hyun's wrists with a strength that belied his human form. Sae Joon Hyun struggled, trying to pull free, but the power in Jaeyeon's grip was overwhelming. Each attempt to escape only tightened Jaeyeon's hold, the muscles in his arms bulging as he pressed Sae Joon Hyun down.

"Jaeyeon! Don’t you recognize me? Come on, man. Let me go!!" Sae Joon Hyun’s voice was strained, his words coming out as desperate pleas. His mind screamed in disbelief, struggling to reconcile the person he knew with the creature above him.

Jaeyeon’s response was a guttural growl, his eyes narrowing with a menacing intent. There was no sign of recognition, only a fierce hunger that drove him closer to Sae Joon Hyun. He leaned in, his breath hot and rancid against Sae Joon Hyun’s face. The growl reverberated through the room, a chilling reminder of how far Jaeyeon had fallen from the person Sae Joon Hyun had sworn to protect.

"Jaeyeon, please. You are making a big mistake. Come back to your senses!!!" Sae Joon Hyun’s voice cracked with desperation. His eyes searched Jaeyeon’s, pleading for any sign of the friend he had once known. But the red eyes remained fixed, unblinking, devoid of the warmth and familiarity that had once been there.

The silence that followed was thick with tension. The hunger in Jaeyeon’s eyes did not waver, and Sae Joon Hyun felt the chilling certainty of impending doom.

Despite the overwhelming terror coursing through him, Sae Joon Hyun refused to give up. He clenched his teeth, the weight of his promise pressing down on him as he stared up at Jaeyeon’s distorted face. The friend he knew was still buried within, he had to believe that.

"Jaeyeon! Look at me! It's Sae Joon Hyun! Snap out of it!" Sae Joon Hyun's voice was raw, his throat tight with fear and desperation. Each word was a desperate plea, a call to the remnants of Jaeyeon’s humanity.

The ringing of a phone cut through the oppressive tension. The sound was coming from Jaeyeon’s backpack, a sharp contrast to the growls and snarls that filled the room. Sae Joon Hyun's gaze darted to the source of the noise, hoping for a distraction, something to buy him a moment of reprieve.

"Jaeyeon! Seriously! Let me go! Come on! This is not you! Snap out of it!" Sae Joon Hyun’s voice rang out, strained and urgent. Jaeyeon's grip on Sae Joon Hyun’s wrists tightened, his strength like iron as he leaned in, the sharp edge of his teeth dangerously close. Sae Joon Hyun could feel the pressure building, each movement of Jaeyeon's jaws sending waves of terror through him. He flailed his legs, trying to fend off the impending bite.

"Ugh!" Sae Joon Hyun grunted as Jaeyeon’s hold intensified. The pain was excruciating, his wrists feeling as though they might snap under the relentless pressure. Sae Joon Hyun’s mind raced, fighting through the haze of pain and fear. "You promised me you won’t give in! Don’t break your promise now!" His voice cracked, desperation turning his words into a frantic cry.

For a brief, agonizing moment, Jaeyeon froze. His bloodred eyes flickered, the predatory hunger momentarily giving way to something softer, more vulnerable. The savage growl quieted, replaced by a tortured expression. Sae Joon Hyun saw the flicker of a tear in Jaeyeon’s eye, his face contorting from a fierce predator into a sad, conflicted silhouette.

“Okay. Please let go of my hands...” Sae Joon Hyun’s voice softened, but his grip remained firm. Jaeyeon’s hands slowly moved away from Sae Joon Hyun’s wrists, his trembling fingers sliding to either side of Sae Joon Hyun’s head. The change was tentative, a glimmer of the old Jaeyeon breaking through the monstrous facade.

Sae Joon Hyun seized the opportunity. He grasped Jaeyeon’s face with both hands, his touch gentle but insistent. “You told me you are not a monster. So please, snap out of it.” His voice was steady, filled with unwavering conviction.

But the relief was short-lived. Jaeyeon’s face contorted again, the growl returning with renewed ferocity. He pressed his hands against Sae Joon Hyun’s stomach, the force causing Sae Joon Hyun to gasp.

"Argh!" Sae Joon Hyun coughed, the pressure on his abdomen becoming unbearable. He could feel the sharp edge of pain cutting through him, the threat of his stomach being torn open a grim reality. Yet, despite the agony, he refused to let go. His grip on Jaeyeon’s face tightened, infused with a warmth that belied the situation.

“Jaeyeon. Calm down. I am not here to harm you.” Sae Joon Hyun’s voice was firm, though his body was wracked with pain. He kept his eyes locked on Jaeyeon’s, his gaze steady and reassuring. The warmth in his touch was a stark contrast to the cold, brutal reality of their predicament. He willed Jaeyeon to see him, to recognize the friendship and the promise they had shared.

"Jaeyeon, please calm down..." Sae Joon Hyun’s relentless pleas finally seemed to penetrate the fog of Jaeyeon’s mind. With a shuddering sigh, Jaeyeon’s fierce grip softened. He slumped against Sae Joon Hyun, his head turning to rest on Sae Joon Hyun’s chest. Relief washed over Sae Joon Hyun as he felt the pressure on his wrists and stomach ease.

Sae Joon Hyun’s breath was uneven, but he forced himself to steady. He ran his hand soothingly through Jaeyeon’s disheveled hair, his touch gentle and reassuring. The sight of Jaeyeon’s head resting against him, his breathing gradually calming, was a balm to Sae Joon Hyun’s frayed nerves. It was over, at least for now. Jaeyeon was back. He could sense the familiar warmth and vulnerability in his friend, a stark contrast to the savage creature from moments before.

A few minutes passed in this fragile peace. Jaeyeon, still slumped against Sae Joon Hyun, tightened his grip on Sae Joon Hyun’s clothes. His voice was muffled, filled with regret and self-reproach. "Did I...?"

Sae Joon Hyun quickly reassured him, his voice steady and soothing. "No, no. You didn’t do anything. I’m fine. You are fine."

"But I lost my composure. You were in danger, Hyeong—"

Sae Joon Hyun cut him off gently but firmly. "Oh, come on. Shush. Let’s not talk about it anymore." His hand continued to stroke Jaeyeon’s hair, the rhythmic motion a comfort to both of them. The warmth and steadiness of Sae Joon Hyun’s presence were grounding, creating a semblance of normalcy in the chaos.

Jaeyeon nodded, his eyes still closed, his body relaxing as he remained nestled against Sae Joon Hyun. Sae Joon Hyun’s attention was briefly drawn to the persistent ringing of the phone from Jaeyeon’s backpack, a reminder of the world beyond their small sanctuary. He guessed it might be the group they left behind, but for now, he chose to ignore it. Jaeyeon needed him, and he was determined to stay by his side, providing the comfort and support his friend needed.

As Sae Joon Hyun continued to hold Jaeyeon close, the tension slowly began to dissipate. In that quiet moment, with Jaeyeon’s steady breathing against his chest and the gentle strokes of his hand, Sae Joon Hyun knew that they had weathered the storm together. The immediate danger had passed, and now was a time for healing and reassurance.