Gone To Hell | Seventeen

VIII.

***

My vision was vague, filled with darkness and a large, overbearing flame. I stared at it, recognizing the scene playing out. The barn was on fire.

I could hear growls and hisses from the rotters filling the area. One by one I saw vehicles pulling out of the driveway, getting onto the street, and eventually leaving my sight. I stood on the porch, alone.

I couldn't grasp the situation well enough. Nothing made sense. Why would they have left me?

Next to me, making it's way up the porch steps, a rotter inched closer. I didn't move, frozen with fear and denial. I stared at it, unsure that this was actually happening.

I reached for my knife, but it wasn't there. There was no gun, no baseball bat, not even shoes on my feet to kick it away.

It stepped in front of me, as if sizing me up. With no thought, it lunged at me, ripping my neck to shreds as I screamed for help.

But nobody came.

***

My eyes shot open, and I breathed a sigh of relief, staring forward at a wall of the house's master bedroom. I switched sides that I was laying on and saw Jeonghan next to me, Vernon and Hoshi laying the opposite way, their feet near Jeonghan's face, and my own.

I took a moment to view their faces, noticing how peaceful and different they seemed when not stressed out by our current world issues. What's left of the world issues, anyway.

I managed to get out of bed without waking any of the boys. I didn't want to give Hostile Hoshi any more of a reason to hate me. Not that I knew why he did in the first place.

The floor creaked, showing the house's age, but I found my way out of the room, leaving the door open on my way out to avoid making anymore sound. Then I realized if I made sound in the hallway, I could potentially wake up the whole house and give everyone a reason to hate me.

Maybe going downstairs isn't so necessary.

I wanted to get a drink, but I'd rather be thirsty than hated by all. I turned to head back to my room, but stopped dead in my tracks at a sound coming from what seemed to be the kitchen. I wasn't sure, considering I was upstairs, but I could made an educated guess by the sound resembling silverware dropping into the sink.

Quickly, I tiptoed back into the room, ignoring the creaks this time. I saw a knife sitting on the dresser and grabbed it, unconcerned about who it belonged to. I once again headed for the stairs, now worried something or someone was in the house.

Once I hit the last stair, I heard scampering, as if someone was trying to hide. I took off for the kitchen, taking careful steps to avoid as much sound as possible. I didn't make it far, as I slammed into someone. Fear racked my body.

I pushed to person, flicking my hair out of my eyes. Relieved, I breathed out, seeing it was only DK.

"Lee Seokmin, what the hell?" I whispered loudly, walking toward the kitchen. He followed me, a seemingly shameful pep in his steps.

I understood it when I noticed the open jar of sugar on the counter, and a sugar coated spoon in the sink, confirming I heard the correct sound earlier.

"Mom, listen, I can explain." DK quickly mumbled, rushing over to shut the jar and put it back. I stared at him with disapproval.

"Why are you up this early eating straight sugar out of a jar?" I asked.

"I woke up about ten minutes ago, and I wanted to stay awake, so I thought eating sugar would keep me up."

"How much did you eat before I came down here?"