"seungcheol, shh."
the ten year old boy clutches on her skirt, shaking his head as tears flowed down his cheeks. they could hear noises as they hide inside the cupboard, near the back door of the kitchen.
"find that bitch and his son, kill them!"
she presses a palm against his mouth, shushing him as the footsteps grow louder. they rummage through the kitchen, knocking down the table and chairs. seungcheol whimpers, getting scared as the men who had entered their house keep searching for them.
the footsteps grow faint, his mother opens the cupboard a little, peeking her head to see them and relief floods when they are no where near. doors can be heard opening from upstairs. she heaves a shaky exhale, pulling herself out.
"stay here, seungcheol."
"mom. i'm scared. don't leave."
"i'm not leaving, hon. i'll reach for the phone and call the cops. do not leave. wait for me."
when he pulls her skirt further, trying to go with her, she has no choice but to do it. she takes a handkerchief out of her pocket and presses it on his nose. a few minutes and seungcheol felt his eyelids grow heavy, lulling him to sleep. 'forgive me, seungcheol-ah.'
she closes the door, and makes haste to the telephone on the other room. she has to do it quick while they are still searching for the safe where her husband had hid it. her heart dropping at the sight of their living room where her dead husband's body lies, blood scattered over. pictures had toppled over and the furniture was tussled.
she almost falls over, the tears blurring her vision but she remains upright, he rushes to his husband's side, hand cupping for his phone on his pockets. when her hand catches the object, she pulls it out and dials the number immediately.
"drop the phone."
the phone clicks, and someone answers, "hello?"
she could feel the nozzle of a gun pressed against the back of her head, she gulps and remained stubborn. if she keeps the call in line, they might get her message.
they press the gun harder, making her wince but she holds her head high, giving them a glare.
"hello? seungho? answer me!"
the man pulls the device out of her grip, hovering it over her face. "end the call."
she doesn't relent, one of them grabs her by the hair, and pulls at it. she makes a noise on purpose.
"ngnh. no."
"crazy bitch."
the man spats, pointing the gun at her. "say goodbye."
With all the strength remaining in her body, she dives and knees the man on the stomach, making him drop the phone and gun. she snatches the device and sees it was still connected, she can hear them talking over. "seungho. the police are on the way. stay hidden-"
"code 17." was the last thing she says.
the line went dead.
her body falls limp on the ground, blood slowly staining her white shirt, as she clamps a hand on where she has been shot. she gives them one menacing glare before she slumps on the floor, near her husband's body.
seungcheol was awaken to the sound of sirens and an ambulance blaring outside their house. he was still sleepy, groaning loudly before gasping when he remembers what happened. 'mom.'
slamming the cupboard open, with haze still clouding, he runs to the living room, shoes crunching on the shards of glass he had step on.
"mom!" he screams loudly over the blaring of sirens, eyes going wide as unfamiliar faces turn to look back at him. one of them comes closer to him, cautious not to shaken the boy further.
"hello there."
"where's my mom?" he demands, glaring at the man. he was wearing a black shirt and pants, contrast to the ones wearing masks and blue uniforms. the man reaches a hand towards him, silently asking for him to take it. "i'll take you to them."
seungcheol can see people crowding over their living room, taking shots and putting a yellow tape over it. he can see red painted on the floor, eyes widening when the light flashes over it. he knows what it was. there was blood all over.
he was carried outside of his house. he was placed inside the ambulance, an aid checking him and looking for injuries. he and the man were having hush conversations beside him, he can see the aid gasping before throwing him a sad smile.
"where's my mom, mister." he repeats firmly. the man sighs, pointing over to another ambulance.
seungcheol wasn't an idiot. he knows what it meant without saying. the reality hitting him like a train as he runs to where they are. the officer guarding startles, trying to take him away but he screams, wanting to see his parents. the white sheets were the only hindrance covering them and he tries to pull it away, he needs to see his mom's face. she promised him she would comeback and not leave him.
he sobs harder when he was picked up, thrashing around for the man to let him go. "mom!"
the ambulance shuts close and they were taken away. seungcheol's cries echoing through the night.
the man holds him gently, wiping his snot and tears as he continues to hiccup. he feels all of his energy depleted and he slinks down, tired and drained.
"seungcheol." he hears his name being called and he blinks up at the man he has yet to know.
"i need you to listen to what i'm about to say, okay? i know you're to young to understand but someday you will."
he nods, and lets the man speak.
"you're parents–"
"are dead." seungcheol says, when he sees him struggling to talk. he knows he's trying to ease him since he's a child but he's not stupid. he saw what happened to his dad. but he doesn't know why and what to they want.
"yes." the man speaks slowly, patting his head. "i can't tell you why or who, because i have no idea either."
"then why are you here?"
the man lets out an amused laugh at his bluntness, "you're dad wasn't lying when he said you're a smart kid." he stands up and tugs his hand gently. "i'm changho, your parents and i were business partners. they told me last week, that something might happen to them and they will call me."
there were a few police around, locking the door and securing the place for more. changho leads him out and into the sidewalk were a car was parked. "they wrote in their will, that i'll be you're guardian until you're old enough. i had talked to the social workers and police already. you don't have to worry where you will stay and besides, i live alone."
he opens the door and sits him on the passenger seat, putting on his seatbelt. seungcheol had only nod at his statement and kept his gaze outside of the window. changho lets him be. the kid needs a lot of time.
seungcheol leans his head on the window, eyes glazed as it kept replaying in his head. his parents were murdered and he will find them. he will give their deaths justice.
he will seek revenge.
•••
so i decided to write this on a whim because it was stuck on mind since then and see how it turns out. lol
i haven't even finished my other book yet but i wanna give this a try. soooo, yeah.
i hope it wasn't that bad. i suck at writing.
