Crimson Threads || Soonhoon

Ocho

Jihoon wiped the blood off his blade with a quick, practiced motion, his eyes narrowing at the lifeless figure sprawled beneath him. The man had been no match for him, the fight ending almost too quickly for Jihoon’s liking. He stood over the body for a moment, the metallic scent of blood thick in the air, then turned and walked away with calm, measured steps. The night was still, save for the distant hum of the city, and Jihoon let the quiet wash over him.

Just as he crossed the dimly lit alley, he heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps behind him. His instincts flared, and before he could react, a voice shouted, "Stop there!"

Jihoon paused, turning slowly to face the source of the voice. A gun was pointed at him, trembling slightly in the hands of a boy who couldn’t have been older than fourteen. Jihoon sized him up in an instant—small, skinny, with wide, uncertain eyes. The kid’s face was barely visible beneath the oversized hood he wore, and his grip on the gun was unsteady.

Jihoon tilted his head, amused by the audacity. "You’ve got to be kidding me," he muttered under his breath.

Before the boy could make another move, Jihoon stepped forward with lightning speed, landing a sharp blow to the boy’s head. The gun clattered to the ground, and the boy winced, clutching the side of his head as he stumbled back.

Without hesitation, Jihoon reached out and yanked the boy by his ear, dragging him close. "Instead of studying—" slap—"what the hell are you doing out here, huh?" Jihoon’s voice was laced with sarcasm and frustration as he gave the boy’s ear another painful tug. "Are you cleaning buffaloes or what?" The satire dripped from his words as he narrowed his eyes, annoyed at the sight of such a young kid tangled up in the underworld.

The boy’s face twisted in pain, but he didn’t say anything, too stunned by the sudden turn of events. Jihoon released his ear for a brief moment, only to grab him by the collar, forcing the kid to meet his eyes.

"You’re what, fourteen?" Jihoon asked, shaking his head in disbelief. "And this is what you’re doing? Running around with a gun? In a gang?"

The boy finally spoke, his voice shaky. "I-I didn’t have a choice. I—"

"Spare me the excuses," Jihoon interrupted, slapping him again, though this time with less force. "I’ve seen enough of your type. You think running with these lowlifes is going to give you some kind of power? You think this is what it means to survive?"

The boy winced, not meeting Jihoon’s gaze, and Jihoon sighed, shaking his head again. He let go of the kid, stepping back as he reached into his pocket, pulling out a crumpled piece of paper. He scribbled down an address before thrusting it into the boy’s hand.

"Take this. It’s an address. Go there, leave your gang, and study. If I hear that you’re still messing around, doing random shit like this..." Jihoon’s voice trailed off, his expression darkening for a brief moment as he let the threat linger in the air.

The boy looked down at the paper, his hands trembling as he held it. "W-What’s this?"

"It’s a chance," Jihoon replied, his tone firm. "One chance. Don’t waste it."

The boy blinked, clearly taken aback. He hesitated, but after a moment, he nodded quickly, clutching the paper tightly. "Thank you. I—I’ll go. I promise."

Jihoon waved him off, turning on his heel as he started to walk away. "Good. Now get out of here before I change my mind."

The boy didn’t need to be told twice. He bolted, running down the alley, his footsteps fading into the night as Jihoon continued his own path. He didn't look back. Another small gang member, another kid saved for now. But the game wasn't over, not by a long shot.

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-Rix