"Even though they are 'tainted,' these feathers are so pretty-" Aurem is about to pull a feather out, when the boy grabs her wrist.
"Are you crazy?" He looks worried for a second, and then calms down. "No, nobody told you."
"Told me what? I've alrea...
"Aurem, I think they found you." Jeongguk points at the cliffs.
A dozen police cars and ambulances are littered among the cliffs. A second helicopter is there to transport the rubble of Aurem's once semi-functional car. Paramedics and police officers are everywhere, detectives and reporters push their way through to the chaos. It's an absolute mess.
Aurem nods, gazing at the scene. "I think you're right-!"
The boy quickly grabs her by the legs, pulling her down quickly. She screams as her arms graze the bottom of a speeding helicopter.
Aurem stares in astonishment as the craft zooms above her. The air from the propeller breezes through her hair, blowing it in her face in the most unattractive way. Though something very unexpected happens.
Her vision suddenly fades into white, and then briefly splotches into color-
A grey domed and bolted ceiling is all that can be seen until the faces of paramedics appear above Aurem Indescribable pain surges through her entire body as she lets out a wretched scream. Someone puts a sort of mask over Aurem's face as an IV is drilled into her left arm. Shouts from the staff echo around her as the girl's vision fades once again.
"AUREM" Jeongguk shouts as he shakes her. She immediately gains consciousness, murmuring indecipherable words through tears while clutching her torso as the agony fades away.
"Aurem, snap out of it! Can you hear me?!" He yells, not knowing what to do.
When Aurem had lost consciousness, Jeongguk barely managed to catch her in time. Although invisible, an audible thud sounded when both of them ran into the top of a nearby building.
He had lost four feathers using himself to shield her.
The boy watches as Aurem's breathing slows into long shaky breaths, her wings quaking along with the rest of her body.
"Wake up, please..." He whispers, leaning over her. "I-I don't know what to do."
A few moments pass, Aurem finally regains consciousness.
"I- I was in another body." She whispers.
"What?" Jeongguk questions, furrowing his eyebrows.
"Kook, I was in another body," Aurem states while staring up. "There were medical tubes, and doctors and- God I don't even know."
The boy breathes, saying nothing. He had never heard of this before because this hadn't happened before... At least since he died.
"They were calling my name, over and over again, telling me to stay awake." She continues, there were no wings either... I could feel everything."
The boy looks down at her with sad eyes. He couldn't imagine the pain she must've experienced in those few moments.
"I think we got too close to your body." Kook looks towards the now far away helicopter. "If they were saying your name and all... I mean."
"Weird... But that makes sense." She sighs, looking around. "Yet again... nothing makes sense right now... Why am I in your lap?-
Suddenly, both of their bracelets flash, immediately getting their attention. The light is extremely bright, signaling that the threat is near.
"Can you stand?" The boy looks at her with intensity.
Aurem nods, quickly sitting up and rising to her feet. Jeongguk grabs her wrist and propels upwards, sending them into the sky. Both of them look at the ground, scanning it for possible situations.
"How are we going to save them? We don't even have a body to possess!" She questions. Jeongguk stays silent for a moment.
"We'll find a way." He mumbles.
After a few seconds, a golden stream of light pours out of both of their gauntlets, traveling towards the city. Both of them look at each other and begin following the light, twisting and turning in between and over skyscrapers and trees. Eventually, the light stops, disappearing with a flash.
"Where did it go?" Jeongguk spins around, looking everywhere.
Aurem shakes her head, searching for the same thing. "I have no idea, it just-"
Her voice stops and her breath is taken away as everything starts to happen in slow motion.
A family of three is illuminated by the golden sheen though the child swinging between their parents' arms is the one that is completely gilded. However, the golden glimmer begins to fade rapidly. Aurem's eyes are immediately averted to two vehicles and their occupants. The drivers, while driving, are screaming at each other, their hands rapid firing the rudest of rude gestures.
Jeongguk spots the pedestrian sign light up green. Everyone eagerly waiting at the edge of the road immediately begins walking to the other side.
One child in particular, is much to eager. They break free of their guardian's grasp, excitedly running with uneven toddler steps.
The father attempts to grab hold of his daughter, but misses. The mother also does so, causing the father to fall over her feet. The pair both crash to the pavement.
Jeongguk grabs Aurem's wrist and pulls her along with him to the scene. His breathing quickens as they near the ground. He suddenly lets go and flies into a middle-aged man, disappearing completely.
In mere moments, the man sprints out in front of the two cars, pulling the child backwards by their waist. As he also falls backwards, the vehicles pass by them with less than a meter of space between the pair and their demise.
As the possessed man looks towards the chaos, the cars collide nearby, smashing into each other with incredible force. One begins skids to a standstill, completely mangled, while the other rotates into a roll. Aurem flies ahead of its path of destruction and pushes an elderly woman carrying groceries out of the way. She fell, yes, but that's better than being crushed by two tons of bent-up pickup truck.
As Jeongguk leaves the body, the child's family rushes forwards, showering them in embrace. The man, (who has no idea of what is even happening), is greeted by the father with a bow and firm handshake.
Aurem meets her partner above the scene, staring in awe at the commotion.
"Th-that was amazing Jeongguk." She awes. Kook smiles to himself. "Are you sure you haven't done this saving stuff before?"
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure." He chuckles. "It was just instinct I guess?"
Aurem punches him in the arm playfully, but then awkwardly laughs. "Show off."
*****
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