Day6 || Hunt

Part X

Everything is hazy as you open your eyes. The blinding glare of a single light above your head causes you to squint, and you're suddenly aware of a low, dull throb in your temple. Swallowing painfully, your throat feels rough and dry, like sandpaper. As you run your tongue over your lips you feel the skin split apart, dry and flaky from dehydration. Slowly your consciousness moves to your wrists and ankles. You can feel something sharp digging into the flesh above your palms—possibly plastic—binding them together. Your feet are also being constricted, though the tingling of your legs going partially numb makes it more difficult for you to discern anything.

You're slumped forward, head hanging down towards your chest, and as you struggle to lift your head you become aware of the fact that you're not alone. A dark figure stands in front of you, the blinding light keeping you from making out anything more than a dark outline, while the rest of the room is cast in shadow. Blinking through the pain and exhaustion, you squint at the figure again, trying to decide if it's better to speak or be silent.

"You're finally awake," a quiet voice breaks the silence.

Tensing at the sound, you freeze. You recognize that voice.

"I hate seeing you like this," he continues, and you shiver at how genuine he sounds.

A week ago, no—even a day ago—you would have melted at the soft sincerity in those words. Now they only disgust you.

"Jisoo—" he breathes. "It's no use being stubborn. You and I both know there are only two options. Either you choose right now to live, or all of us are dead."

Stepping out from the light, the man before you slowly walks to your side. Leaning down to cradle your chin in his hand, he caresses your cheek ever so softly.

"You can make all of this end, you only have to answer my question," he murmurs, trailing his thumb along your bottom lip. You recoil at his touch. Seeing your reaction, he moves to cradle your chin in both hands, leaning closer.

"I never wanted this, but I have no choice," he whispers, his eyes looking into yours pleadingly.

You let out a strangled, mirthless laugh, which quickly turns into a weak cough, as you stare into the face you used to trust.

Your head throbs again, painfully, and your stomach feels queasy. Wondering faintly if you've been drugged, you fight your eyelids fluttering shut as you gaze into Kim Wonpil's cold, hauntingly handsome face.

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(Several hours earlier)

You try not to laugh as you glance over at Jae, dressed up in cargo pants and a kitchy Hawaiian shirt. The fedora and fake ponytail do little to disguise him, but the fake goatee he'd tried earlier would definitely not have worked. Besides, he needed something light, but loose, to cover all of the bandaging. Catching your eye, he grimaces at you and sighs in exasperation.

"If you don't stop looking at me like that, you're going to give us all away," he mutters softly.

"I know, I'm sorry," you whisper back, your heartbeat increasing rapidly. For a moment it had felt good to ease some of your nervousness, but underneath it all, your anxiety is still very much present. Right now Jae was playing the good older brother, but you knew that going back to face the King Snakes, the people who only days ago had almost left him for dead, must take more courage than you could even imagine.

Balling your hands into fists, you feel your fingernails dig into the soft flesh of your palms, painfully. In five more minutes your bus ride would end. Glancing at the blue velvet seats several rows in front of you, you see Builder and DoWoon, each staring straight ahead silently. You don't need to see their faces to know they're feeling just as anxious as you.