red sun || lee felix

ch. 5 /// rose petals and brass knuckles

It was maddening that I couldn't go to Windgrove Hospital right away. It held the answers to our destiny — it was where my vision had been leading me since the very beginning. But Changbin was my goal now, he must have been waiting for me. I hated to think of him alone and uncertain.

I leapt to the roof of a tavern, then down into a backstreet. I had to slow to a walk as I slid onto the sidewalk. That was maddening, too — I could hear the water getting closer. I jay-walked and cut people off, slipped across back alleys and climbed over fences.

I just about jumped for joy when I reached the river. I followed it east, listening to the beginnings of human feet in heavy boots.

Men were lumbering around on deck, tying the ship to the pier, shouting 'ay' and 'oi' and 'lads.' I ducked behind a big wooden box, crawled to the edge of the dock and threw myself onto the ship. I prowled the cargo, on the lookout for sailors, and whispered Changbin's name. No reply.

There was a hatch in the floor of the deck — I flung it open and slid through. A staircase led deeper into the ship. I called for Changbin again. Nothing. The stairs forked off into a hallway dotted with doors to either side. I sneaked to the end, found it circled the ship, and followed it to the back.

Another flight of stairs. I descended slowly, wary. I ended up in a dark room stacked with big wooden crates, imports and exports. I whispered Changbin's name.

He burst out of a box in front of me. I screamed, and he screamed because I screamed.

"Sweet mother of god!"

"Felix!" He stumbled out of the crate and threw his arms around me. I hugged him tight, my face a gigantic toothy grin.

He realized what we were doing and let go of me, crossing his arms. "Where the hell did you go?"

"I went to the lighthouse — where did you go?"

"I saw the boat was going to Newcastle, I thought you'd see it, too. What lighthouse?"

"The one on shore. How'd you get in a box?"

"Long story. Why are you wearing a raccoon pelt?"

"I took it off a corpse. Never mind, never mind, I have to tell you something ama—"

A voice shouted, nearing the cargo hold. We spun in panicked circles, clambered into Changbin's crate and yanked the cover back on. We were sitting in a nest of wood packaging curls and cans of tomatoes. A heavy door opened, and sailors flooded into the room, blabbering.

"Should we make a run for it?" I asked.

"It's pretty tight." Changbin was peeking out a split in the wood. "Let's wait until their numbers thin."

"You'll never guess what I found — the hospital, Windgrove Hospital, it's across the river. I know exactly where to go."

"Holy shit, you're sure?"

"One hundred percent. I made you a promise — I'm not gonna let you down."

"You're fucking amazing."

A pair of boots clomped up to the crate. I held my breath. One side pitched up — our arms shot out to steady ourselves.

The human outside shouted something, and then another one walked up and lifted the other side of the crate. We were on a slant, trying not to tumble around, not to give ourselves away. They heaved us out the door, off the ship and onto the dock. It was a steep drop into the River Tyne over the edge.

"Of all the fucking boxes to move," Changbin whispered.

"Hyung, do that thing again — make them pass out."