Hello, Neighbor

Chapter Eight.

Jeongin opens his eyes to a woman sitting beside him, staring at him with her beady eyes.

He lets out a shrill shout, shooting straight up and trying to scootch away. He realizes instantly that his wrists and ankles are bound together, falling onto his side once more from lack of balance. 

The woman blinks, her brown hair falling across her face. Dark purple and blue bruises cover her skin, and welts have formed around her wrists from the chains on them. She is meager, her bones bulging from underneath her pale skin. 

"Please, be quiet..." She croaks, "I don't want him to come back yet."

Jeongin looks around the room, gulping, "Where…"

"We're in the basement." She mutters, blowing her hair out of her face, "I've been in here for four days now." She laughs breathlessly. "You've been in here for three hours, Jeongin."

Jeongin freezes once the woman says his name. He leans his head forward, wincing in pain. His head throbs from where the hammer had hit him. "Do we know each other?" He asks quietly.

"No," The brunette shakes her head, "Chris talks about you." She goes to raise her hands and swipe her hair out of her face, yet the restraints prevail her actions. "I'm Sojin."

The boy tries once more to sit up, gradually sitting on to his knees. He twists his wrists around and desperately tries to find a way to wind out of the metal bounds. He doesn't know how to get out of them - he can't plainly break through metal.

"Will he be back soon?" He whispers faintly, sniffling. Tears have begun to well in his eyes, and they threaten to spill down his cheeks, "How do we get out of here - I can't stay here! We can't stay here."

"It's only worse whenever you try to escape…" Sojin mutters, her eyes going soft. Jeongin cannot read her emotions, but she seems terrified. Who wouldn't be? "Don't cry, okay?" She tilts her head, "Try to slide over here."

The boy rocks forward, edging toward the woman. He creates loud sounds, the metal scraping against the cement floor. He sits back to back with her, their fingers desperately attempting at each other's restraints.

The room is eerie and bleak. Stains cover most of the surfaces, most definitely from blood and other substances. It reeks, and Jeongin feels like the scent is suffocating him.

Sojin twirls her fingers around, listening to a tiny snap transpire from Jeongin's restraint, gasping, "Can you move your hand?" She mumbles.

The boy pulls away, extending his arm out. It is much looser now, but he still cannot manage to slip out of it, groaning in dismay, "Let me just help you," He shoots back, reaching toward her and messing with the restraints.

He lifts his head to the sound of the door, suddenly dropping onto his side and closing his eyes.

Chris stands there with a smile, his eyes barely scrunching. "Is he awake yet?" He asks the woman, stepping forward, eyeing them both.

Sojin looks between Chris and Jeongin, shaking her head after a few moments, "He hasn't woken up-"

The blond squats, pressing his palm against Jeongin's cheek only for the boy's eyes to open; and for him to attempt to twist around and swing his arms at him.

Chris scoffs, staring in dismay. He holds the boy's wrist in his hand, grabbing his jaw with his other, closing in on him. "You guys were planning on attacking me so soon?" He murmurs, chuckling, "How fun!" He exclaims before his voice grows hoarse, "I didn't think I would have to put you in separate rooms yet."

Jeongin stares at the ground, and the man forces his head up.

"Look at me," He mutters, caressing his cheek. The younger flinches. "I could have killed you. Be grateful."