Wake Up

Chapter 16 : Comforting Child

Jeongguk's P.O.V.

"Jeonggukie... Gukie... Gukie, please wake up."

My eyes slowly open, immediately squinting from the amount of light blasting into my eyes. After a moment of adjusting my vision to the blank white canvas of the room, I try my best to sit up.

However, a struck of pain curses throughout my body, a pain so unbearable and vicious that I scream. I scream and scream, tears making their way out of my eyes. Sobs rake the insides of my body. The urge to curl up into a ball feels so needed, yet a movement of an inch causes more pain to choke my entire existence to a halt.

A frantic voice of a little girl wails beside me, her hands forcefully trying their best to push me down, to lay flat against the ground to prevent any more pain. I momentarily blink away the tears to get a good look at the panicking little girl.

My eyes soften at the sight of Reality, tears streaming down her face as well.

"Jeonggukie, please stop moving and s-screaming! It-it-it making me panic, too!" she cries, eyes pleading for calmness. "I-I wish ma was here... She would calm you down in n-no time."

I try my best to hold my sobs together, but the hiccuping breaths never seem to leave my lungs alone. I do, however, lay down. But the pain never eases.

I close my eyes, trying to get my focus off of the pain. Reality scrambles her way closer to me, her hand clasping around mine and the other desperately wiping away the tears that stream down my face.

"R-Reality, it hurts- I-it hurts so bad," I choke on a sob and break into a fit of coughs.

I bite my lip viciously, trying to prevent myself from screaming. I push my back against the floor, stopping myself from hunching over and hollering the living flesh out of my vocal cords. Reality only sobs softly, a pitiful look on her face.

"Jeonggukie... just stay still for a minute. Don't move. I know it hurts everywhere..." she whispers through her soft cries.

I turn my head over towards her, blinking multiple times to stop the tears. "Wh-why am I in pain? Why does i-it hurts so fucking much?"

Her face scrunches for a second after hearing the choice of my words, but soon quickly goes back to that pitiful, sad expression. She wordlessly points at my chest, causing me to look down. Then, right then and there, I realize it all.

My entire hospital gown is covered in blood, rips and tears here and there. Open tears reveal my bleeding flesh, scarred and ripped open. Dried blood, fresh flowing maroon liquid, purple and blue bruises, along with a thousands of scabs, decorates my entire body. I could only imagine how badly beaten my face looks.

I lean my head back against the floor, closing my eyes and wincing in forever pain.

"Did he do this to you, Jeonggukie?" Reality asks with fear in her eyes.

I meekly nod, biting my lip harshly. I begin to feel a metallic taste, realizing that my blood was now seeping out of my lips. Fuck, everything fucking hurts now.

Reality quietly sits there, not knowing what to do as she watches me try my best to ignore the pain. A few minutes pass, our breaths returning to a regular pace. However, the burning fire in my flesh never subsides.

"Why'd you let him do it?" her voice snaps me out of my thoughts. I turn to face her.

"Hm?"

She pushes herself closer to me, both of her hands retreating to her legs as she pulls them close to her chest. "Why do you let him hurt you?"