Everybody Wants to Rule the World

45

Trigger Warning(s): violence, mention of blood

Gallows by Katie Garfield

~ Emira's Point of View ~

6:14 PM, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2028. SOUTH JEOLLA PROVINCE, SOUTH KOREA.

Silence. Silence only broken by deep sighs and Jimin's rings tapping against the steering wheel. The kind of silence so apparent that I heard it ringing in my ears.

"I mean... it's a nice house?" I offered, and I wasn't lying. Anesa had selected a nice mansion for the occasion.

"It'd be better if it was burned to the ground," Jimin mumbled, finally shifting the gear into park and turning off the car's engine. "Stay put. I'll get the door for you."

"Thanks, gentleman." He didn't even crack a smile. His face was pale, and his hands shook as they clasped the door handle and helped me out of the car. "Jimin... it's all going to be okay. Arlie knows her stuff. We'll make it through this."

"I'm not concerned about myself. I want to die. Don't look at me like that. I really do. What I'm worried about is..." He clutched onto my hand and pressed his lips against my knuckles. "God, I just don't want to lose you."

"I promise I'll stay right by your side."

"That won't keep you safe."

"Well... I know this won't sound comforting to you, but my family's always been very... I don't know... mature? About death? It's never been something we worry about."

"Yeah, but they weren't about to walk into the lion's den."

"Jimin, if it's my time to go, it's my time, and there's nothing we can do about it."

"Don't say that. Please don't say that."

"Alright, if you don't want to be comforted."

"I'm not a Christian like you – I'd love to believe that maybe, maybe, there's someone out there who gives a shit about me, about any of us, but I can't. Not after what I've seen. If there is a god, he doesn't care about anybody."

"I can understand why you'd feel that way. But please, don't worry about me. Focus on the mission. I'm well equipped with a gun I don't know how to use and a knife that would more likely stab me than someone else." I felt the need to elaborate, "Because I'm clumsy. Not because anyone else would stab me..."

"Yeah, I figured that's what you meant." He bent down and pressed a chaste kiss against my lips. "Alright. For both our sakes, I'll pretend I'm eleven and a Jesus freak – going to church every single day, only listening to Christian music..."

"It sounds like our childhoods were very similar," I laughed. But just when the mood lightened, we once again remembered that the mission depended on us, on our ability to distract. "Are you ready?"

He sighed. "I guess I'm as ready as I'll ever be." He extended his elbow, and I looped my arm through his, taking care to maintain a calm countenance as we approached the mansion. The closer we got, the more criminals there were, each adorned with expensive jewelry and flashy outfits. In our classy attire, Jimin and I were a rarity, and we were certainly drawing attention. Every time a new pair of eyes latched onto us, Jimin inhaled sharply and squeezed my arm tighter.

"We'll be okay," I mumbled.

"We need to get inside. They're allowed guns out here."

"You think they'll shoot us?"