Give & Take

Monstrous People

"Ready my horse! Someone has taken Baekho," Minhyun barked out his order to Minki who nodded immediately. "Find a guard who is still awake and ask him to meet me at the front."

The head maid nodded and scurried off to do what was ordered. Minhyun highly doubted that Baekho left at his own discord. He wouldn't harm the guards, much less knock then out. He would rather beg Minhyun to let him go rather than do something like this. Minhyun just knew. He knew. He clutched the ear stud in his hand as he walked to the front door, telling himself to keep calm this time and not lose himself like before when Baekho had ran away from the mayor's mansion. This was an entirely different situation.

The carriage.

That's why he recognised it. It was one of his own and from the direction it was headed in, Minhyun could only guess that they were going to the outskirts. But why take Baekho? And how? Did they threaten him? But who? Minhyun pushed the questions aside as he got onto his horse.

"Tend to the injured. I'll go get him back. You, follow me," Minhyun ordered Minki before he slapped the reins down along with a kick of his leg so his horse would start running. The other guard who had rushed over followed along behind him. Minhyun didn't know who took him or their capabilities so it wasn't worth the risk of going alone even if he preferred that.

~~~

The rocky roads became worse as they entered the slums. It was in no proper condition for a carriage to go through and the unsteady bouncing woke Baekho up. He groaned, feeling the sharp pain in the side of his head. He blinked, trying to get his bearings but he couldn't. He shifted and looked around. It was dark except for the constant flashing of light coming in from the carriage window. He was on the floor of the carriage and bounced as the wheels hit another group of rocks. He groaned and held his head, trying to get the pain to stop. He reached his hand up and caught hold of the window, pulling himself up forcefully to see where he was. He gasped when he realised they were almost out from the slums. The carriage was going at a speed that it shouldn't be either, threatening to throw it over at any time. Baekho groaned and moved over to the door, trying to open it but something hold it in place.

"Jonghyun.... Jonghyun," He mumbled, trying to regain focus as he breathed in deeply. The moving and the pain all worked against him as he sat down, pressing himself against the carriage wall. His hair immediately started fizzling the walls and it gave Baekho an idea. That's right. The carriage was made up of wood and metal. He can make an escape without having to jump out or open the door. He dropped to the floor again and pulled his gloves off hastily. Without processing his escape plans, he just touched the floor and the wooden planks started to rot beneath him. "Come on...."

Too slow.

Baekho grunted and slammed his hands against the floor again, not bothering if there were splinters. "Come on! I need you to work now." The pain was ruining his focus and control as his powers ate up the wood at an insane speed, leaving behind only black wisps and rotten wood along with mold. He touched all around him until a hole big enough for him to drop down appeared. He blinked and let himself fall out, bracing for it as he hit the muddy ground and rolled a little. The carriage wheels missed his feet by a few inches, had he not pull them in on time. He gasped and looked up as the carriage slowed down drastically and Jonghyun turned around.

"Baekho!"

Baekho pushed himself up and started running or at least trying to. He wiped the dirt off his face and groaned as his head stung every time he moved.

"Baekho, stop please."

He could hear running footsteps catching up to his slow pace and soon, arms were grabbing his sides. He looked down and gasped, unable to bring himself to pry them off without his gloves.