ABOMINATE || Slow Editing

Chapter 28: Back to the camp

_JACKIE_

"Hey, it's okay. You can come with me. I won't hurt you" I extended my hand towards the old man sitting on the wooden bench at the far corner of the room. He was shivering with fear as he dug his face in between his knees. I slowly put my hand on his shoulder to which he flinched. But then he looked up at my face. I didn't notice before but his eyes were as blue as mine.

"Rose?" a gasp left his mouth after he stared at me for quite a few seconds. I didn't know why he kept on referring me with that name. Maybe I resembled someone he knew.

I flashed him a small smile which he gladly returned. He took my hand and we brought him with us to our camp.

~~~~~~~~~~~

"I don't wanna go back to the camp" Yoongi spoke up mid way through the journey. He stopped walking and leaned against a tree. I turned around and walked up to him.

"What's wrong Yoongi?" I asked. I placed my hand on his cheek and made him face me.

"I ran away from the camp, became rogue, compromised the camp security and almost got us killed! Do you think the chief will hug me and say 'well done son' ?" he scoffed but rather in a depressed tone.

"Don't worry Yoongi. He won't scold you. You completed his ultimate mission. You brought back the freedom we have been dreaming about for nineteen years" I tried to console him.

"Stop bragging about the things you did" he displayed his poker face. "You killed Daniel while I just laid there like a dead meat."

"Well, it takes real talent to play dead. You looked so genuine" I mocked, and it seemed to work as he tried to hide a small smile but failed.

"Come on now babe, show your gums" I started tickling him and he burst out laughing.

"Stop it Jackie" he yelled and we revived our journey. I looked around to see the old man sitting flat on the ground and playing with pebbles. Seeing him like that kind of made me sad. I wonder how many hardships he had been through to be like this today. There was no doubt that Daniel destroyed him mentally as well as physically.

On reaching the camp, just like previous time Yoongi threw a stone at the protective shield. As expected, the stone degraded into fragments and a loud alarm started ringing through out the camp perimeter. Soon, a big crowd was gathered near the shield and as soon as Adonis notice us, he ran to disable it.

Chief and mom sprinted towards us. Worry was smeared all over their faces. There were even tears in mother's eyes and it made my feel guilty. It was wrong of me to run away from the camp without informing her. My gaze then shifted to the chief and I was utterly surprised to see him cry as well. I looked at Yoongi who just stood there, with his head low. The chief made his way directly to him and placed a tight slap on his left cheek. The whole crowd gasped loudly at the sudden incident but no one dared to interrupt them.

"How dare you leave the camp like that? Do you have any idea how scared I was? Do you have any idea how worried I was? I loved your mother so much but one day, so abruptly she left me forever. What would I have done if I lost you the same way too Yoongi? I love you a lot son and I am sorry for all the times I did hurt you. I hope you can forgive me" uncle broke down completely and Yoongi too couldn't keep his eyes dry. I bet everyone's heart melted at the emotional father-son moment that just unveiled in front of our eyes.

Soon I felt a soft, warm palm on my cheeks. It was the touch that could calm me no matter what internal conflicts I was going through. I leaned towards the touch and hugged her tightly.

"I'm sorry Mom, I'm so sorry for leaving like that. But you know what, I avenged father's death. I killed Daniel with my own hands" I exclaimed as I tightened the hug. Luckily I didn't break her bones.

"Really? I am so proud of y-" mom abruptly halted her sentence as she became stiff in my embrace. I broke the hug and looked at her with confusion. She was looking past me. I turned around to discover that her gaze was fixated on the old man whom we rescued from Daniel.

I looked back at my mother. Her eyes were brimming with horror, confusion and love? I was totally oblivious to what was happening. She slowly, with small strides walked up to the man who was still fascinated with his pebbles. Mom went near him and made him look up at her. For a moment the man went blank but then he started crying as well. Suddenly mom hugged him and he hugged her back as he said,

"Rose"