THE DARKEST HOPE

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Jimin and Jungkook were dressing themselves, getting ready to go to the kitchen where Suga was already waiting for them. Jimin shifted his clothes and a small glass tube and syringe, preserved in a sterile plastic bag, fell on the floor.

"Hey, what is that?" Jungkook leaned and picked up the items.

Suddenly the bright mood Jimin felt this entire morning vanished in the blink of an eye. He had shortly forgotten who he was and what he was doing. The usual dark and oppressive feeling that was eating him most of the time returned to him with full strength. The blood, the tests, the virus. All the harsh facts of reality hit him with full strength. Jimin sharply inhaled and straightened his back. He had to stay firmly grounded and composed, had to keep his mind clear and focused, there wasn't place for anything else.

"Nothing, just a tube for collecting blood. I have to do some additional tests, that's all."

"Additional tests to what?" Jungkook asked with curiosity.

"Well, of your blood, Jungkookie, some small check that's all."

"My blood? Sure! What are you going to check?" Jungkook asked while casually pulled on his shirt and started to button it.

"You've spent so much time in the dirty waters of the river and I want to make sure you don't have some kind of bacteria or other troubling information inside, I have to make sure that all your results are in order. Just in case though, you seem perfectly healthy to me." Jimin said hurriedly the first thing that came to mind. The entire time he was trying to look busy by roaming around different drawers in the room and looking at every direction but towards Jungkook himself.

"Well, let's do it then. A little test in the morning and then off to breakfast." Jungkook on the other hand was in great mood, his sweet smile appeared constantly on his face.

Jimin gulped and with numb fingers took the syringe and tube from Jungkook's hand. He almost lost his balance as the world turned over for a moment when a strong feeling of nausea and guilt almost smashed him down. Almost unaware, he sat next to Jungkook and shakily drew some of his blood into the small test tube.

"Great!" the boy jumped happily after it was over. Now, let's eat. And he swiftly left the room towards where the food was.

Jimin stayed back several more minutes, staring darkly at the vial of blood in his hand. He inspected it as if it would start talking. The thing felt somehow dirty in his hand. It felt like betrayal and lies. Jimin nervously licked his lips. The cards were dealt, he'd made a decision and was going to stick to it. It was not that big of a deal anyway, why was he so troubled about it. He clenched the sample in his hand and started at it again. Let's test it, first thing after breakfast, then forget about all of it and move on. He sighed and left the room.

*******

"I need to go to the Police station and meet Jin but I can't drive because of my leg." Suga explained. Breakfast was almost over, and although Jungkook and Jimin were quite talkative this morning, there was still unusual tension in the air. "Well, who will be my driver today?"

"No problem, I will drive you." Jimin agreed, the unscheduled trip downtown was disturbing his original intentions for the day but he had to help his friend.

At the same time Jungkook was turning all kinds of ideas inside his head. He badly needed to be in the City even just for a while. The visit he got from Ho-seok yesterday troubled him a lot and he knew that where Ho-seok went, there was his boss Namjun as well. And the two always had their sleeves wrapped up for some new dirty job. The manor was probably in danger and he had to know to what extent. A short visit to the old neighborhood was the best way to investigate. Maybe if he asked here and there he could find out if there is a plan set up to rob the house or if he was just paranoid. Yes, he had to go to the City. And accompanying Suga sounded as the best excuse to do so.