Hello, Neighbor

Chapter Eleven.

Jeongin is fast asleep when the door creaks open, whining at the sudden light.

Chris tilts his head, looking between Sojin and Jeongin, holding a plate of biscuits, "Wakey, wakey," He taunts. "Time to play."

Sojin lifts herself, clambering toward the man, her chains restraining her.

"Jeongin." He murmurs, shuffling closer to the boy and kneeling beside him. He picks up one of the biscuits and tears off a piece with his mouth, tapping the younger's cheek.

Jeongin opens his eyes halfway, gawking at the piece of food, licking over his lips. His stomach grumbles

Chris leans down further, feeding the younger with his mouth, seeing how desperate he was for any flake of food.

The biscuit melts in Jeongin's mouth, and he savors it, humming in satisfaction. He can tell that Sojin's eyes are on him, yet he doesn't pay attention; his mind is on his own appetite.

The man pecks his lips and stands straight up, his knees cracking. "I was thinking of what we should do tonight," He mumbles, "And then I thought of some card games! Do you two like to play cards?"

They are silent.

"What games do you enjoy playing?" He prods, slipping a deck of cards out of his pocket and opening the case. "I would like you guys to have fun before one of you die!"

That sentence causes the two captives to straighten up; Jeongin gulps.

Chris peers out toward the door, slipping the cards out of the case and skimming over them. He counts. He has fifty-two cards. "Do you two know the game of golf?"

"What do you mean before one of us dies?" Jeongin contradicts, "If we lose... Are you going to kill us?"

"Yes. I'm glad you understand the concept of this." The blond gives an eerie smirk. "One of you is going to be-" He draws his finger across his throat, sticking out his tongue, "Bleh."

The gesture is supposed to be funny, yet it springs fear in their hearts.

Is somebody really going to die?

"I set up some things out here for us before I came in here!" Chris ponders toward Sojin and unlatches her chains from the wall. He tugs her up to her feet, dragging her toward Jeongin. He helps him up as well, pulling them both toward the door. "I hope you guys enjoy. But things might not work out the way you believe."

They walk through the doorway, and they find themself in another room. There is a tall cabinet on the furthest side of the room and a large transparent tank. There is also a green hose in the corner.

That prompts Jeongin to gulp.

What does He have in store for us?

"Sit." The blond lets go of their restraints and ushers them into a corner. He distinguishes they won't attempt to escape right now as they understand He won't be as lenient.

The woman sits further back, and Jeongin sits beside Chris's feet, shifting.

Chris kneels and begins to place the cards, glancing at each one he puts infront of them. He positions four cards on each side and then sets the deck down in the middle. "The goal of this game is to get the lowest points possible. Aces are one point, and face cards are ten." He explains, "You can't look at the cards. You go into the game blind and just hand them off; also, you can't take back anything you discard into the pile."

"Okay..." Jeongin exhales. "Who goes first?"

"Youngest," The blond claims, "You, Jeongin."

The ravenette nods before he reaches for the deck, turning up the card.