THE DARKEST HOPE

Chapter 41 Sincere Lies

Chapter 41
Sincere Lies Part 2

"Everyone! May I have your attention, please!" Tae was standing a few steps up the beginning of the staircase, turned towards the colorful crowd into the hall, trying to attract some attention. It took him several deep breaths and a couple of minutes of chewing on his lips to gather some courage, shove his trembling hands deep into his pockets and climb those several steps in order to say what he wanted to.

He was thankful to see that Jungkook remained true to his word and followed him closely, now standing a few feet away, watching him from the bottom of the staircase. The boy looked pale and there were dark shadows under his reddened eyes. Clearly the recent argument on the terrace had taken its toll on him. Although Jungkook was trying to hold it back what Jimin said and how he said it seemed to affected him deeply. Tae's heart clenched painfully. "The man that I love..." That is how Jungkook addressed Jimin once. Did he loves him still? Even after what happened today? Taehyung hoped not. But the miserable vibe that reeked out of Jungkook spoke exactly the opposite. Another sharp pain scratched his soul. How he wished Jungkook would just forget all about his past and look only towards the future, a future where Tae would be present in his life...

Taehyung took another deep breath. Now wasn't the time to worry about that. There were more urgent things to address.

"May I have your attention!" Taehyung repeated a second time and finally most of the guests turned towards him in anticipation. He was after all the host of the annual celebration, especially this year when his father was absent from the party. Most of the faces wore pleasant expressions and small, polite smiles.

"I would like to talk to you about something important, something that cannot be delayed or overlooked..." Tae cleaned his throat. "I don't have to tell you the obvious. These are dark times we are living in. The virus is eating away not only our lives our family and our homes but also our future. You all know we need to stay together in order to survive not only as individuals but as a species..."

Taehyung paused for a moment, trying to collect his thoughts. It wasn't his habit to speak before large crowds, usually he even found it difficult to explain himself to his own father. And now with all these eyes staring the task was getting even harder.

"Unfortunately, for as long as I can remember we are divided by social status and wealth, and by this ridiculous barrier between this part of town and the poorer neighborhoods..."

A low murmur of disapproval waved through the crowd. Most of the faces had lost its pleasant smiles and were now looking at Tae with grayish blank expressions. It didn't matter, Taehyung was still speaking.

"Although this arrangement always seemed to me wrong and unfair, I kept my opinion mostly to myself. The reasons for that were many, mainly the fact that that is how our society functioned from the day I was born and also because I was deeply convinced that my own convictions weren't enough to change how everything functions..."

The murmur among the guests increased. Low and loudly whispered remarks were shared. Things like "he should just keep it quiet and drink the wine...", "as if... he is just as weird as I remember him..." and "this party is getting dull..." could easily be heard all the way trough where Tae and Jungkook were standing.

"But Recently...". Tae continued, his voice louder now, in order to conquer the noise into the hall. "Recently things are turning into something else entirely."

Tae paused for a moment waiting for the dull noise to calm a little.

"Recently, under the orders of a few people in charge there has been some dangerous even criminal changes. The entire military force that guarded the city have been called into the boundaries of this district. On top of that such orders received all the policemen in town. There has been announced a mandatory enlistment for all male population that is able to hold a weapon. All these men are called in here as well, protecting only this area while the outer part of this town is left completely defenseless!"