Bad Blood || K. Jongin

09| Do Not Be Afraid

∘∘☥∘∘☥∘∘☥∘∘

(Lyra)

Barely a minute passes until he utters. "We have to go."

I flinch once his warmth moves away, and I feel his presence fade into the darkness.

I was silent, but I was panicking. I had no idea what was going to happen next; wondering if I should listen to my heart, and trust this man.

I had met him less than 4 days ago, but he felt like a part of me. It was rash, but I knew I didn't have many options. Especially for someone as weak and unprepared as me.

My thoughts dwindle as the darkness is swallowed by a bright, satisfying light.

Jongin turns all the lights on, and when he turns to me- his eyes immediately widen. "I..." He falters, flickering his gaze to the floor. It seems that he wants to say something, but stays quiet.

"Is something wrong?" I manage to speak, subconsciously wrapping my arms around myself.

I am just in undergarments after all.

"Here," the boy says softly, and takes off his jacket. A sad smile spreading across his face as he drapes the cloth around my shoulders. "I feel like I shouldn't see you like this just yet." He whispers, his hands brushing against the sensitive skin under my ears.

His hot breath causes me to shiver. A situation like this must be normal to him, I could see no sign of fear in his expression.

Taking notice of my dismay, he whispers in English. "Don't be afraid Lyra."

His voice is so calm, that I found myself unable to respond. Instead, I peer even further into Jongin's eyes. They were the most captivating pair I have ever seen. "J..." I manage breathlessly, my heart pounding at the feeling of his arms snaking around my waist.

Our faces are only inches apart; we have never been this close. His gaze lowers down to my lips, but only for a moment.

Jongin suddenly seems to come to his senses, and he quickly jolts away from me. He seems shocked, even more agitated than me.

"S-sorry." He stutters, and that was the first time I had heard him fumble with his words. Even the strongest men have their weaknesses.

"I-it's fine." I say immediately, my gaze falling to the floor so he cannot see the blush forming on my cheeks.

Silence follows after, but this silence is something I had never felt before. It is complete, and has a strange feeling of tranquility. It seems we have both realized something.

"Are you ready?" Jongin asks me suddenly.

I turn to the room where Chinho lay, trying to convince myself that the people we are about to face, will inflict the same horror. These men have been doing this for as long as I have been alive. And now that I was the one who bestowed death upon their leader, they will show me no mercy.

I pull the jacket tighter around my body and nod, standing stiff as a statue once I see what he pulls out from underneath his shirt.

Jongin steps back towards me, and hands me a black pistol, one that looks exactly like his.

He sets the weapon in my hands. "Can you shoot it?"

I bob my head furiously, thanking the lord that my father had taught me so many years ago. I may be rusty, but if I had to shoot, I will.

Even though a weapon of this weight was nothing new, I still found myself trembling profoundly.

I am so, so afraid.

Jongin once again holds me close to him, his arms strong and protective. "Just follow my lead, okay?" He breathes quietly. "I promise you will be okay."

I take his hand without hesitation.

My blood was pulsing violently as Jongin led me through the door, his hand gripped securely with mine.

We walk quickly down the main hallway, my gun clutched so tightly in my hand that it was pitch white.

Jongin comes to a stop. "Hide your gun." He demands under his breath, then continues to walk calmly as If he was taking me back to where I belonged.

I fumble with the gun, realizing I had nowhere to put it. "J-Jongin!" I hiss, hearing the voices coming closer and closer. Our first mistake.

He doesn't turn at my panic, but continues to pull me along.

Trepidation pricks my skin, and I finally manage to lodge the gun between my bra and chest, trying my best to calm down before I tug his jacket over the firearm.

"Don't say anything." Jongin mumbles as two men round the corner, each of them immediately locking eyes with me.

I look down, squeezing Jongin's hand even tighter. Their stares could drill holes in my head.

We are out of place.

"Gwanduda, Jongin." (stop) One of them interjects our path, somewhat holding his hand out.

"Did she run away?" His eyes fall on me, and I am met with another cold intimidating glare.

"Ye." He replies, moving his hand to seize my wrist. Our second mistake.

The man ponders for a moment, his eyebrows scrunching together promptly. "Where is Chinho?"

Jongin shrugs. "I thought he was back at Beiseu."

"Tch." The second man rolls his eyes. "You just taking her cause you want to?"

Jongin says nothing.

"Wait." One of them starts, reaching out to touch Jongin's white shirt. "What's that?"

There were blood stains on the hem of his shirt. Our third mistake.

I feel Jongin let go of my wrist, and then I spot his gun raising farther and farther into the air. It glistened under the light as it aligned with the stranger's face. He steadies the gun before the mafia man can even comprehend what's going on. They have been outsmarted by their inferior.

I watch in slow motion, his finger slamming down-his mindset to kill.

Jongin pulls the trigger and kills the first man instantly, then lashes the weapon fiercely towards the other man-firing a bullet between his eyes at point blank range.

All I can do is watch the horrific scene unfold, my eyes taking in every single action, and every single drop of blood.

God there was so much blood, much more than Chinho. Much more than the stranger I watched die a few days prior. The walls had been stained with red, their brains splattered against the once white paint. Even if the impact was quiet, the aftermath would tell it all.

I lift my hand up to my mouth, in attempt to keep myself from screaming.

Shock slithers its way back into my body, and the familiar numbness turns my muscles to mush.

My vision wavers at the sight of death, concaved skulls, and crippled bodies. Two more men have been killed because of me, their insides spilled open for the world to see.

"MOVE!" Jongin screams, snapping me back to reality.

"LYRA?!" He pleads, shaking my body with so much force that my head pounds even harder. I feel my feet leave the ground, and Jongin effortlessly carries my body away from the bloodbath.

I tried my best to stay calm, to stay brave. But there was so much red that I could no longer see what was in front of me.

Freedom.

My fourth mistake.