Black Roses and White Chrysanthemum

sharpshooter °2.4° n

forty five minutes later

The forces were hardly dressed like soldiers. Mismatch armory and fatigues, the only thing they all shared in common was the blue arm band.

Jooheon was stuffed next to Changkyun, and what must've been ten other men around their age, in the back of a truck that jostled and jolted down the city streets. All of them wore guns and grim expressions.

Jooheon looked at Changkyun next to him, seeing his somehow calm expression. He wished he could be that calm, to not worry. But inside it was like he was choking. Sure they had trained for this, and he knew that in order to make things better, to help cure the sickness, they had to do this. But it was hard when faced with reality.

They had guns.

But the other guys did too.

Silently, and without anyone seeing, Jooheon slipped his hand into Changkyuns. He wished they could be dancing back up at that hill right now. But they could always go back after this.

The truck stopped.

Changkyun looked at Jooheon, saying these few words before they all started piling out of the trunk of the vehicle.

"Stay with me. Promise?" Changkyun squeezed Jooheons hand tightly, eyes pleading.

"Promise." Jooheon tried to smile, and then Changkyuns hand was gone from his as they were all filed out, just feet from the building they had been watching from afar.

No guards. No shots fired. Only silence. He figured it was because an early front had moved in and taken care of it. The advance began, starting with the front door. Jooheon stuck close to Changkyun, gun up and sweeping the area just incase.

The truck had already begun to back out and leave slowly, signaling that they couldn't go back. Not for awhile anyway. And for some they would never see their way out of this building.

The first interior room was small, and just as empty and deserted feeling as the outside. The others with them split up, going to the other rooms that branched off, various 'clear's being heard.

Jooheon took the lead, Changkyun right on his heal. There was an elevator, but he wasn't about to go in there. He opted for the stairwell, indicated by a little sign for it. Jooheon pushed open the door, and Changkyun went in first, checking up above them, and the many levels they had ahead.

"Clear," he said, while looking up, and then glancing to ensure Changkyun was still right behind him. It went far.

Jooheon steeled himself, knowing this was the only option, and started up the stairs, trying to step silently.