THE DARKEST HOPE

Chapter 10

THE DARKEST HOPE

Chapter 10

Jimin was nervously biting his lips. The medicine the doctor applied seemed to have no effect for now. But Jungkook's body was burning and he had to bring that temperature down. "How did he worsened so fast?" Every minute he spend in that dangerous state brought him closer to some irreversible damage and even death. There was no time to waste.

Jimin filled a bucket with cold water and thoroughly soaked a clean sheet and several towels in it. He took off Jungkook's clothes and wrapped him in the cold wet cloth. The cool fabric absorbed some of the heat radiating from the boy, drying almost instantly. Jimin soaked the sheet again in the cold water, squeezed it to remove the excess liquid and wrapped Jungkook one more time with it. Then he took a wet towel and placed on his forehead.

He couldn't count how many times he repeated this procedure. The fight with the fever seemed endless. Finally it seemed like the temperature started to drop. Jimin sighed shakily, not daring to hope for anything. He covered Jungkook with several blankets and waited.

The time passed slowly and painfully for Jimin who was lost in worries about the condition of his patient. Is he going to wake up? Is he going to be all right? Tonight was probably the longest night in his life. Jimin covered his face with his palms and rubbed his reddened eyes.

"Jimin..." the voice was shaky and weak. Jimin raised his head. Jungkook's eyes were open but it didn't seem the boy was completely aware. He was pale like a ghost, his lips carrying almost bluish shade, Jungkook's body was shaking uncontrollably. His entire appearance was disturbing even frightening.

"Here, have some water." Jimin approaches a glass of water to Jungkook's trembling lips. Jungkook's poor state had him insanely worried. The boy swallowed hard then turned his head aside.

"It's cold, it's so cold..." Jungkook was trembling like a leaf. The fireplace was burning already but Jimin threw in more wood. Jungkook kept shivering under the blankets. Dark circles around his eyes, his skin almost transparent.

"I think I'm losing him!" The terrifying thought rushed inside Jimin's head. The boy's condition worsened every minute. What more to do? Jimin didn't hesitate for long. He rose from his chair and slid under the blankets. He pressed his body as tight as he could against Jungkook's shivering frame. As if trying to give him some of his own strength he held the other close, comforting him and trying to warm him at the same time. He whispered kind calming words into Jungkook's ear and gently stroked his hair.

After some time the warmth from Jimin's body finally managed to heat up the other. Jungkook's trembling slowly settled down and finally ceased. His breathing, shaky and rapid before now was calm and deep. His temperature seemed normal. It looked like the crisis had passed and Jungkook was sleeping the deep and healing sleep of recovery.

Jimin touched the boy's head one more time. He could sense nothing alarming, everything was back to normal. Finally his tense body could relax. He rested his head on the pillow. Almost unconsciously his hand slipped around Jungkook's body. He was exhausted to the very limit of his abilities. Appeased by the distant cracking of the burning wood in the fireplace and Jungkook's calm and even breathing, he finally sank into deep and much needed sleep.

*******

Tae was one of those few, known to have been born with a silver spoon in their mouths. As the only son of the Kim family he was heir of a substantial heritage, his father being the owner of The Kim Pharmaceuticals factory, the only available medicine producing utility not only for the City but half the country. Despite the spreading disaster and misery throughout the world, the family business was good because nothing sold better in a time of crisis than medicine. And the Kim family held that demand firmly in their hands.