the thirteenth | kim taehyung

chapter 18

TAEHYUNG'S PERSPECTIVE

"How lucky you are, Taehyung. The bullet seemed to have missed your deltoid by nearly half a centimeter. You would've lost sense in your entire left arm if that muscle had been harmed." The professional doctor told me while examining the x-ray I had gotten of my injured limb.

"How lucky indeed.." I say in a hushed whisper. I woke up in the early afternoon half expecting to see Anabelle still sleeping in the chair diagonal from my hospital bed. I remember draping a blanket over her trembling body in the middle of the night and found it neatly folded on the edge of my cot. I began to ponder of her whereabouts when I was snapped back to reality by a blinding light in my eye. I regained vision to see that the doctor had been trying to get my attention using the attached beam of his otoscope. I felt color rush to my pale face, insecure that he might somehow have access to my thoughts.

As if knowing of my embarrassment, the man in the white coat chucked and said, "Don't worry, it's normal for patients to need time to get back on their own two feet again. You'll feel better soon with proper care."

I smiled at his understanding outlook and responded, "Thank you, I'm already feeling very well. May I ask for your name?" The doctor was now across the room from where I was sitting, criss crossed and against the propped pillow.

Without looking back at me, he replied, "Dr. Lon, but you can call me Mark. I'm sure it will be far more comfortable calling me by my first name, knowing we will have many checkups together leading up to your complete recovery." I felt a sense of comfort, this man was really not like any of the mad surgeons I had read about in countless science-fiction horror books. I sink a little in my sitting position, finding it suddenly painful for my arm to support seconds later. I winced, drawing attention from Dr. Lon, who had heard my small groan. He approached me with a concerned expression, revealing the stressed wrinkles that must have formed on his forehead throughout the tiresome years. "Taehyung, do you need extra time at the clinic? I was going to have you discharged today since your wound had clotted up fairly quickly." He asked, gently stretching out my left arm. I bit down on my bottom lip and tried not to scream in pain, for I wanted to return home. I don't know why I wanted to come back to my rotting cabin hidden in the woods, but I felt the urge to be sleeping there than in this patient room.

"N-no, I'm sure I am well enough to be discharged later today.. My arm just fell asleep." I lied, which felt harder to do this time. I knew that as a doctor, Mark just wanted to nurse me back to health. He seemed reliable, but maybe I'm just not ready to risk trusting anyone. As if knowing I was not willing to answer questions nor have conversations anymore, Dr. Lon nodded and left with several papers in hand. I let out a deep sigh and dragged my back downwards until I was lying on the hospital cot again. I pulled the blanket closer to my face and rolled onto my right side, preparing for one more nap.

Before falling asleep, I recalled flashing memories of yesterday, retracing my thoughts to before I blacked out in the mental institution. Anabelle had pulled the trigger on me, but why didn't she take the opportunity to kill me right then and there? She is a clever girl, I conclude.. There must be a reason why she let me live. I mean, it couldn't have been a coincidence that the bullet missed my deltoid with such accuracy. Whatever she may be planning, I must make sure I am always one step ahead and ready to defend myself. I realized I had never felt the need to be so alert since the Lee's were present and maybe even my own sister if she were still alive. . I cringed at the mere thought of them and slowly drift to sleep..

I awake to the sound of water being poured into a cup and look up to see a nurse preparing a meal for me. Seeing that I had woken up, she hastily finished spreading the cream cheese onto the bagel and set it down on the tray before leaving me to my privacy. I mentally thanked her and looked at the food before me; a cup of water, a bagel cut in half with cream cheese, five apple slices, and two yellow pills. I chew the whole grain bread quickly, sipping from the water cup between every few bites. After swallowing the last piece of bagel, I take the two pills and gulp down mouthfuls of water. Even as a child, I always dreaded being sick because of the foul tasting medicines that were needed to be consumed in order to regain strength. Seeing how I almost gagged, I guess some things never really changed since then. I continued eating my meal, popping the apple slices into my mouth while watching scripted commercials on the T.V. hooked into the wall a few feet across from me. After around ten minutes of this routine, I started to get ready to return back home. I cautiously changed into my casual clothes, making sure to not harm my arm. I then filled a hospital bag with the prescribed drugs and creams that Dr. Lon had  picked out for me. I quickly made the bed and walked out the door, looking back and silently thanking whomever is watching over me for the luxury. I pass by my doctor while walking out and slightly bow before calling for a taxi in the waiting chairs at the entrance. Once I got a call back informing that the cab I called for had come, I made my way out of the hospital and into the yellow car that was waiting. I do the casualties that consist of greeting the driver and entering in my desired location which was the forest twenty minutes away. I noticed an uneasy look on the man's face but shrugged it off, he was getting paid for this anyways. During the car ride, I kept my eyes on the scenery we were passing outside the window until they grew familiar. Once the taxi came to a halt and we were at the unsettling border of the woods, I paid the driver, grabbed my bag, and stepped out the vehicle.

It was still day, so the way through the winding trees was rather quick. I spotted the wooden cabin after only about seven minutes and quickened my pace, wanting to feel sheltered and hidden from the distressing reality that seemed to only grow worse as the hours roll by. I was stressing my footsteps when I noticed that the door was already open. I immediately spun around, convinced that I had walked into a trap that was my own house. I panned the landscape before me, seeing nothing but the usual cluster of trees and bushes. I held my breath and decided that the lock must have broken while I was away, it was already in poor shape. With this in mind I creaked into the small space and faced her sitting on my mattress, scrolling on her phone. I knocked on the wall, wanting to let her know that I had arrived with a confused look. She looked up at me and I swear, her eyes lit up for half a second. It was Anabelle. I didn't know why she was there and maybe I should've been more suspicious of her, but I wasn't. For the first time in forever, a genuine smile spread across my face and I felt at ease.