THE DARKEST HOPE

Chapter 5

THE DARKEST HOPE

❧ Chapter 5 ❧

Jungkook didn't know much about cooking but his enthusiasm in the matter was priceless. A food lover himself he was intensely curious about everything even remotely related with eating and preparing food. Now that he already made the decision to make Jimin a surprise lunch he had stuffed almost half his body in the refrigerator, roaming thoroughly through the supplies. Finally after much consideration he decided that the only things he is able to compose as a cook are some fried eggs, boiled potatoes and bread. "Simple but tasty" he thought happily and quickly started to compose his creation. He clattered happily with the kitchen utensils, pouring water in a pot, heating the oil and all the time whistled some little cheerful melody stuck in his head. Jungkook couldn't remember ever feeling so good in his life, so full of energy and joy. The other day he had discovered this beautiful apple tree in the garden with the tastiest apples ever so he went and brought fresh apples as an addition to the lunch.

When everything was ready he assembled a small tray with two plates on it, a bowl of apples and two glasses of water. He picked everything up and went towards the basement. The basement door was made from thick strong metal, a heavy lock on it and a red signal lamp on top of it. Usually was tightly shut and thoroughly locked but today it was unlocked. Jimin had forgotten it just a little bit open and through the small crevice Jungkook could see the bright light inside. "Now, this will be a surprise" he smiled and started to go down the stairs, careful not to spill anything on the tray.

❧ ******* ❧

Jimin was burried in his studies, over and over examining the disappointing results from the samples he took. Although he knew it was pointless he was going one more time through the older data he had collected with the vague hope that he missed something. The new sacrifices showed the exact same indicators as before and he was trying to focus and think of something new to apply to the disease in the hope of reaching a cure.

Lost in his thoughts, at first he didn't hear the noise of hesitant steps going down the stairways. But then his mind registered the noise. Jimin jumped surprised and frightened at the same time. "An intruder!" he thought panicked and started to search through the desk drawers for the gun. He grabbed the weapon and cautiously approached the staircase end, his heart beating like crazy but wild determination on his face. "Whoever you are, you will have to through me first, before messing with my work" the thoughts were chasing inside his head as he tried to figure out how to act. The steps were approaching slowly and almost soundlessly as if the one making them was trying hard to creep inside the dungeon unnoticed.

"What is it, a thief, or someone trying to sabotage me?" Jimin was almost hyperventilating. The hand, holding the gun was now shaking hard. Finally he inhaled deeply and jumped before the stairs, gun pointing up at the approaching intruder.

"Stop, I'll shoot" he yelled like crazy.

Jungkook froze in disbelief, startled and scared. He made an unconscious step backwards and clumsily tripped on the stairs. The tray he was carrying tipped over him and all the food and water spilled over the boy's shirt and pants. The few apples he picked from the garden rolled  down the stairs.

"Please, Jimin, its just me" he yelled really frightened. His life had brought him before the  mouth of a loaded weapon before but the panic he saw in Jimin's eyes made him think that the other may push the trigger for real.

Jimin froze, his brain failing to register what he was seeing at first. Then he realized the situation and lowered the weapon. He registered the scared expression on Jungkook's face as he was lying down on the stairs, covered with pieces of the food he brought. At that moment another kind of fear shot through Jimin's mind. "What if he finds out about the experiments!" He lost his composure again. "He can't find out!" This time strong anger fed by the panic he felt replaced the fear from before.