Sineater

Nineteen

Thomas and Jin ran through the large iron door that separated the underground hallways beneath the club from the dungeon like basement where Chirac held his court. Thomas leaned against the stone wall of the tunnel while Jin flipped the levers on the door, firmly locking it behind them.

Rushing through the dank underground stone maze of hallways beneath the club once again, Jin was helping a struggling Thomas walk. He kept the pistol in his hand, ready to shoot any person that deigned to follow them.

They made it out of the hallway tunnels and into the cool, evening air of the city, Jin struggling beneath the nearly lifeless weight of his friend. Thomas gasped for air, every breath he took rasping through his throat with the force it took to get air into his tightened airways.

Coming to a set of stone steps, Jin lowered Thomas down onto them and took a seat beside him. He checked to be sure his best friend's breathing was slowing down and took a look at the hand that had started bleeding profusely beneath the bandages that had been wrapped around it.

Looking at the ground under their feet, Jin took on a lifeless and somber expression as he told Thomas what had happened. "Brielle died. Slit her wrists."

Unable to speak due to being nearly strangled to death by rope, Thomas took his arm from around Jin's shoulders and grabbed his hand, clinging to it like a lifeline, expressing everything by touch that he was unable to put voice to.

"I have got to go." Jin was still lifeless, lacking emotion to his voice. He was still being held in the throes of great grief and needed to see justice paid.

Thomas let go of his hand and grabbed onto Jin's jacket, holding it firmly in his fist. He was trying hard to speak but the only thing that escaped his throat was ragged, gasping breaths.

Jin physically unwound Thomas's fist from his jacket and placed it in his lap. He set his hands upon Thomas's shoulder and squeezed. "I have to go, Thomas." Placing a hand behind his head and pulling him close using his jacket, Jin kissed Thomas on the temple and set his forehead against his friend's cheek.

Thomas grabbed his throat as he tried once more to speak, in pain both physical and emotional, watching Jin stand and ascend the steps to street level. He wished he could have spoken to him, let him know what he had found out from the Vellum scroll. He knew what Jin planned. He also knew that it would have the opposite effect of what Jin wanted. Using every ounce of strength he possessed, Thomas stood and rasped out quietly, "Seokjin." He, too, climbed the steps behind Jin.

Jin walked along the streets, placed one foot in front of the other in determination. He knew what he needed to do, he just hoped that he wouldn't hesitate. Hesitating is what got you killed. He knew that.

Thomas trailed behind, limping his way along the streets. He was trying to get to Jin before he did anything stupid.

Without waiting, or looking, for cars that were racing along the roads, Jin crossed street after street. He was heading to the church. The one where Thomas had assured him he would find the Other. Black trench coat billowing behind him in the breeze his pace created, Jin was a man on a mission. He was no longer a priest, no longer a man of the cloth, no longer a man of faith. It ended tonight.

As the sun was fading into the horizon, Jin threw open the doors to Saint Peter's Cathedral, marching across the threshold in search of the one figure he had been looking for.

He slowed his pace as he searched the various faces that were pandering about the inside of the church. There. He had found him. He was kneeling upon a pew, hands drawn in front of his face in prayer. Jin quietly walked up to Hoseok and slid the dagger from beneath his elbows, the metal making a ping sound as it slid along the wood.