1 vote decided it after the tally. XD
I was sick a lot the past few weeks, so this chapter probably isn't my best, but I promise it'll get better. _ Thank ya'll for bearing with me.
Chapter 35:
Before Jihyun lay a world of gold and white. Ephemeral and dreamlike… It was a world away from the cold expectations placed upon him, free of pain, and free of worry. The fleeting beauty his images captured were merely glimpses of this sense of peace. He'd experienced it before. Memories of being next to his mother amid a sea of green and a feeling of contentment before being sent adrift amid the expectation's society gave him as a first-born son. The shame he was supposed to feel towards his mother… The tender feelings and weakness he was to hide. All of those things he was expected to be had been best exemplified in that dark man who best complimented the masculine half of his soul.
Jumin would be lonely without him.
Yet the sacred feminine was so close to him now…
Gold, bright, warm, and alive… Like her. Like the sun, even on a cloudy day… The bright days and the stormy ones. Each and every one was precious things to him. He loved basking in her Summer and Winter. RIka was ever changing and unpredictable, infinitely innocent, and equally cruel…
A child just like him.
Just like those boys had been.
He wanted to only bring happiness. To build a life wild and free as God and nature intended. A life free of those expectations, free to feel and express himself. To do as he liked when he liked.
More than anything Jihyun wanted to look across that sea of white sheets and see those emerald eyes of her gazing back at him brightly, full of love and happiness. That lonely child who wanted only to be loved, who spoke to the boy in him who wanted the same. He wanted to go back to a time when his love could trust him, and her faith in hope had not wavered.
If only he could take her back to a time before he showed her the cruel world to which he'd been born. He'd only ever meant for her to see beautiful things so their love may be born perfect and strong.
The light in the world still had to be there…
He wanted a miracle…
Rika… Love of my soul…
The older agent felt helpless! Aside from the ring of men around Seven and his brother, that kid's crazy twin had a gun. He couldn't make out everything being said, but there was no mistaking the sound of gunshot.
There was a moment of chaos until a deep voice broke through the madness.
"EVERYBODY FREEZE! GET DOWN!"
Help was here!
Vanderwood immediately stood up and raised his hands.
"We're here! We're here!" he shouted. "We have someone injured here!"
There were so many men in black suits and cops who quickly subdued and controlled the crowd before he saw the first signs of emergency personnel join them. It was only then that he noticed where Seven's girlfriend had gotten too. She was covered in blood and sweat near the crying cult leader with that man from the cell sprawled out in front of her. Her tiny frame was giving its all to do chest compressions, but it was clear she was fast running out of energy to keep it up.
It was obvious the blue haired guy needed the help… But he was more concerned about the kid. Thankfully Seven, by some miracle, was still breathing.
But he'd promised to watch out for the girl.
Vanderwood made his way through the throng to give Miyeon some help. The paramedics got to her first, although she wouldn't stop compressions. She was so focused that she wasn't even registering that the people coming to relieve her. Not that there was much that seemed like it could be done. Considering how much blood and where it was coming from, the agent was pretty sure the guy was done for.
Seven's woman didn't seem to realize that…
Rather she seemed in utter denial of the reality.
An attempt was made to pull her petite frame away, resulting in her struggling and pleading. Even as the lifesaving crew surrounded him, she was reaching out to continue as much as her shackles would allow.
"I got her!" he volunteered, pulling her close as the girl meekly tried to wriggle free.
"Hey! There's nothing else you can do for that guy..."
That was the wrong thing to say judging by how hard she pushed now. He was worried he'd hurt her if he used any more strength.
"Those guys can take care of this now. C'mon. Seven needs you to be there when he wakes up."
In his arms the girl's whole body was shivering from the adrenaline but finally her resistance stopped. Pulling his coat tighter over her narrow shoulders, he carried her in his arms to where police were pulling the twins apart. Saeran seemed totally catatonic and trapped in his own thoughts as he was hoisted to his feet and lead away. The paramedics were quick to descend on Seven after, checking his vitals before loading him up onto a stretcher.
As they followed behind, it soon became clear they weren't going to allow anyone ride with the young man unless he spoke up. The girl seemed to still be too shocked to utter a word. Vanderwood set her onto her feet before pushing her towards the men.
"HEY! WAIT! This is his girlfriend! She needs to go with you guys! She's hurt too! They're both friends of that rich guy."
"They're 's friends?" a nearby officer asked.
"Yeah."
"Who are you?" the officer continued.
"I'm that guy's butler," Vanderwood answered, pointing to Seven.
"Could you answer some questions?"
Shit…
"Yeah, just make sure she's looked at too."
Miyeon gazed up at him with teary eyes, looking the most lucid she had since he'd pulled her off V. The paramedic held the door open and gave them an expectant look.
"It's fine," he assured her.
To his surprise, she gave him a small hug… As much as her chains would allow. It was so warm… If it weren't for the fact she was covered blood and had sick on her face from doing CPR, smearing it onto his nice clothes, it might've been pleasant. Considering she whose woman Miyeon was though, it made it even worse.
"Thank you…"
Vanderwood patted her head as though she were a little sister, really, he wasn't into this affection shit…
"Yeah, yeah. Hurry up, I'll catch up with you guys at the hospital after I clear things up here and get a smoke, okay?" he soothed.
She nodded.
"Keep an eye on that guy for me."
As the door closed, he stuffed his hands in his pockets and dealt with the first round of questioning from the officers. Not long into it, a helicopter medflighted the blue haired man away, which made it a little hard to answer some questions as he wasn't going to yell. Eventually Vanderwood was taken aside to some tents where he was finally given some coffee and a cigarette.
It was fairly obvious they'd set up a sort of triage area to categorize the followers. Outside was already so dark… There were lights set up and refreshments. Really nothing was overlooked. As he wasn't injured and was a cooperative member, he was practically sitting with the cops and other guards.
He was halfway done with his smoke when a professional looking woman with short hair approached him. It didn't take much to figure out who she worked for, as he recalled some about the RFA. Seven had mentioned the rich guy's assistant as being like a robot.
Vanderwood had never seen a robot who could fill out a blouse and skirt like that.
It was enough to make him forget to exhale a puff from his cigarette.
"Good evening. I'm Mr. Han's executive assistant, Jaehee Kang… From what I gather, you've been helping with our efforts here. The officers said I should speak to you. You are Seven's butler, correct…?" she asked in a professional manner.
"Yeah."
"Then we have many important things to discuss."
The agent sighed. There may be a bright spot in this. He was unemployed now, and C&R was LOADED. Maybe they'd hire him? Not sure what he'd do, maybe a guard? Rich guys like this usually needed shady characters to run things somewhere. Although from the look of the clipboard in her hands, he was in for a much more thorough round of questions. Lying wasn't for him, but he wasn't exactly keen on sharing all the juicy details either. Maybe he could charm his way out of some of the more unpleasant truths?
Pulling out a seat for the woman, Vanderwood poured both of them a bit of coffee from the portable pot that'd been set up. This seemed to surprise her.
"It's gonna be a long night with a lot of paperwork..." he acknowledged with a sympathetic shrug. "May as well get comfortable."
"Indeed, …" she replied while taking a seat. Her hands took the cup with both hands. "Thank you."
Miyeon quietly held her lover's brightly colored glasses in her hands to ensure they weren't broken or lost.
Nothing really felt real… She managed to pull herself together enough to answer questions about what'd happened and how Saeyoung'd been hurt, but everything else felt like static. If she thought about it too much, those anxious feelings would devour her. So, she just didn't…
Time seemed to go so slowly as the man next to her worked. The red head was still breathing, but the sensors were making such alarming noises. It reminded of watching her father's decline that it was hard not to imagine the worst. Miyeon wanted so desperately to touch Saeyoung or hold his hand to ground him to the world of the living, but her own were soaked with V's blood.
It didn't help that the weight of the chains on her neck and wrists were digging into her skin and made her muscles ache…
Saeyoung's chest rose and fell so quickly. It was as though he were trapped in a nightmare from which he wouldn't wake... But the softening of the alarms seemed to indicate he was stabilizing. All she could do was watch his vitals and try to be as small as possible to let the medic work. He was fighting so hard to stay alive, but she also feared the world to come…
His brother would likely go to prison or some sort of extended mental health facility. V was probably dead… Rika was a mad woman. The RFA would be in shambles. The agency was in chaos… The news would likely reveal where he was making it easy for his father to find him and Saeran. This was bigger than she could handle. He was the one who was brilliant and skilled.
Right now, he was completely defenseless. Had she done him any good at all? Had she killed him by encouraging him to try?
If Saeyoung couldn't win this fight… What was she going to do if the "traces" of him became more than just that? He'd mentioned that steps had been taken, but he hadn't shared any of the details with her.
Miyeon descended so deep into worry that it took the medic shaking her to draw her attention.
"It shouldn't be much longer till we get to the hospital," the older man soothed with a gentle pat of her shoulder. "Let's get you cleaned up for when he wakes up."
Graciously she accepted the moistened cloth to wipe V's vomit and blood from her face, but her hands wouldn't stop shaking. She'd been so distracted by everything that her own injuries weren't even a concern.
At least until the medic removed her collar and then unfastened her chains. While that brought a great deal of relief, that changed when he began removing her gloves.
There was no room for her to really run away to in the cramped vehicle.
A sharp yelp of pain escaped her as the raw skin was separated from the fabric. It was enough to bring tears to her eyes and to make her want to pull back, but the paramedic held her firm while uttering soothing words. No matter how kind he was, it didn't make the searing, ripping pain any less agonizing.
He gave one last tug, before a rush of air against the exposed skin made her cry out again.
Looking over to see the source of her misery, Miyeon could see the three swollen, angry nailbeds. They'd been rubbed purple and raw from her compressions, practically burned from the friction on top of having the protective surface pried from them. There were flecks of black from where the mix of her and V's blood had practically glued the gloves to them. A whimper escaped her as he used his thumb to hold up the last three digits of her left hand to get a better look at the injury.
Covering her mouth, she felt the tears streaming down her face as the pain equaled when Rika'd first ripped them out. The animal in her wanted to hurt him to make him stop touching her, but Miyeon knew he was only trying to help.
"My god… You poor thing. "You're the girl who was doing CPR on that man too, aren't you?" the medic sighed, taking care to just clean the blood from her palms and wrists first. "What happened to you?"
Miyeon didn't want to remember… But there was no way she'd ever forget… And there was no way she was going to say it in front of Saeyoung.
After everyone else had been taken from the cell, Rika had her restrained. She was informed that since her own potential condition would prevent her taking the elixir and usual techniques, a different approach would be taken to remedy her "wildness". That didn't mean no one would answer for her behavior. The pain would fall to those who shared her cell… Rika took great care in explaining what would be done and for how long to each of them as "compensation" for her defiance.
Miyeon'd be forced to watch, unless she was willing to endure a penance in their place.
One nail for each person…
One for Saeyoung… One for Vanderwood… One for V.
The empty, smile on that woman's face as she bade her to choose.
There was no guarantee that Jumin's men would've arrived in time to prevent it… Knowing Rika, she would've started with Saeyoung and stretched it out. He wouldn't last like that.
It wasn't really a choice… But they both knew that.
It was merely an act of malice for her being defiant.
The next few moments were the worst physical pain she'd experienced in her life. More than that though, the helplessness haunted her now… There was nothing Miyeon could do as her body was restrained. Just as soon as the cold hard surface was slipped under her nail and a name spoken, the blinding pain followed. Any will to fight back was broken…
In that terrible eternity, all she knew was agony and the sound of her own desperate shrieks. There was no thought, only base instinct to do whatever it would take to make the hurting stop. She would've done anything, agreed to anything...
Rika knew that…
After it was done and the chains the gloves were forced on to her quivering hands, the blonde embraced her and kissed her tears away. The injury to her pride and hopes for rescue were almost worse than the throbbing and burning in her fingertips. Only then did Rika speak.
"Do you truly think you'll be happy living your life in hiding and caring for screaming babies? You are so much more than what Saeyoung wants you to be. You are scared… And angry… But I promise eventually life here will seem natural to you… You're wanted and welcome here. We were both born from the dark in places that didn't want us to flourish. Yet your light remains, glowing so very softly even when your pale skin is covered in scars… Wounds you've gotten protecting others who have never loved you as much as you've loved them. But I won't abandon you… If V is like the Sun, perhaps you can my moon."
The girl didn't struggle or fight after that. Even when she was led out before those followers like some sort of prized pet… Miyeon just had to endure until help came.
Help had come, but at the time, it felt like an unending hell.
The girl bit her lip as the stinging shot up her arm with each daub of the antiseptic against her open flesh bringing her back from the memory. As another yelp escaped her before something brushed her knee. The fear and trauma lead her to see the potential threat, before realizing that Saeyoung's fingers gripped her skirt. As her eyes drifted up, the familiar sight of his golden gaze steadied her… There was recognition of who she was behind them, but no real conscious thought. Even when he wasn't aware of the world, he knew her... Right now, he knew she was hurting.
As she rested her uninjured hand over his, Saeyoung's fingers curled weakly.
She was bothering him by being weak…
"It's okay… W-we're going to be okay," Miyeon assured him, despite the quiver in her throat.
Saeyoung's whitened lips moved so very slightly as if there was something he needed to say, but there wasn't a sound. Not long after he slipped under again.
The medic looked up at the monitor before returning his attention to the girl's hand. He finished cleaning the wound and wrapped it lightly.
"I know you're worried about your boyfriend, but when we get to the hospital, make sure you check in with triage so they can properly treat your hand."
Nodding quietly, she listened as he and his partner in the front of the vehicle shared information. It was a quiet ride from then on until they pulled in. The one medic helped her down before his partner helped port Saeyoung into the hospital. She followed as close as she could before one of the nurses asked her to reconfirm the information provided. An assurance was given to her that she'd been taken to him once treatment was done, but the girl wasn't entirely convinced. Her doubts doubled as she was led to a triage area for her own wounds. It wasn't hard to pick out the cultists who'd been brought in. Some were clearly injured either from ill treatment at the compound or getting trampled when the gun had been fired. The few who seemed to recognize her didn't make waiting any easier, as their gazes were fixed on her. It was all she could do to look away and hide her face until her name was called.
Miyeon was then led back into a more private hospital room rather than being treated with the other cultists. Here her where her wounds were uncovered, and she was assessed. The doctor looked troubled by just how raw the wounds under the bandages were.
"How did you accomplish that?"
"…CPR…"
"Are you the girl who was doing compressions 's friend?" one of the nurses asked.
Miyeon lowered her head. Had word gotten around that quick?
'Is this the girl that Assistant Kang was looking for? She and that other gunshot victim are also apparently friends of ."
Was she really that famous already? That wasn't good…
All the girl wanted was to curl up beside Saeyoung and pretend the world didn't exist… If saying "yes" got her there, then she'd do it… It felt wrong admitting it knowing it would change the way she'd be treated. But that was how the world worked, wasn't it?
She wasn't used to having connections…
"Is Jaehee here now? May I see her?"
The doctor studied her from over his mask with a renewed level of consideration.
Her care immediately escalated in speed and quality from that point. Rather than simply bandaging the wound and calling it a day, a round of imaging was done to make sure her fingers hadn't been broken when the nails were removed. Among the questions asked before the x-rays were taken was whether she could be pregnant or not, which wasn't an easy thing to admit… As kind as the staff was about it and care given to explain the risks to any unborn children, the realization it'd be in her medical record became very real. Employers and the world would know and judge her for it. For the time being, she answered as honestly as she could, which was that she didn't know. The staff didn't seem to judge her considering word had apparently gotten around enough for them to know she'd been kidnapped. After signing a consent form, they made sure her belly was well covered with lead.
Miyeon couldn't help but second guess her answers and consenting to the exam after it was done, and she was by herself. It was a tense wait until they confirmed there were no further fractures and began to set up a sterile field to begin work on her wounds. Her hand numbed and a set of temporary nails slipped over the exposed nailbeds and were sutured in place until her nails could grow back on their own. Then her fingers were wrapped, and care instructions provided. They were just finishing with her treatment when a familiar voice met her ears. It was professional, but Miyeon could practically hear the second Jaehee saw the state she was in. Her strong, dispassionate voice faltered.
Did she really look that bad?
Doing her best to offer a smile, Miyeon wasn't surprised to see the businesswoman pushing her glasses up her nose and clearing her throat in an attempt to mask her shock as the doctor finished. He was almost sickeningly polite to the executive assistant while promising to check in later with more detailed care instructions. Only after that did he move onto the next patient room.
"How are Saeyoung and V?"
Assistant Kang sat on the doctor's stool before taking Miyeon's hands into her own. Her large caramel colored eyes were full of such pain looking down at the bandage. Before Jaehee could speak, the girl found her voice.
"How are Saeyoung and V?"
The other female member of the RFA's expression softened.
"Saeyoung's in surgery, but I've been told they're confident he'll pull through just fine once the source of the bleeding is stopped. Mr. Han had one of the best orthopedic surgeons brought in to make sure his nerves have the best chance of healing back to how they were. Rika is presently in the psychiatric ward for evaluation. Seeing what happened to V… Greatly affected her. Saeyoung's brother is still undergoing tests, but he has several chronic conditions that will likely require extended stay."
"…What about V?" Miyeon pressed.
"V's… Alive for now, thanks to you, but… His injuries are very serious. The doctors have assured me they will do everything they can, but at this point all we can do is pray," Jaehee looked so very tired admitting it. There was no doubt she'd been run ragged for hours. Yet she was so very tender as she studied the wrappings on Miyeon's hands. "What happened to you?"
The woman that'd done this to her seemed like a very different person than the one that the RFA knew. If everyone knew what she'd done, it'd make it that much harder for Rika to get the help she needed. At the same time, if they knew exactly what kind of monster she'd become, it'd keep them safe from falling for her honeyed words and half-truths. But… Miyeon promised V…
Pulling her hand close to her chest, Miyeon offered a reassuring smile.
"It's nothing… Just got a little too enthusiastic doing compressions," the girl lied, not wanting to bring any more pain and stress onto her friend.
Jaehee seemed doubtful of that answer but accepted it for now. With care, the woman sat her glasses on the table and studied the girl.
"May I…?"
A little confused, Miyeon soon realized what was being offered. After a nod the woman leaned forward and wrapped her arms around her shoulders. It took everything she had to hold her composure…
"I'm so glad you're safe… I prayed so very hard. Thank God…"
Jaehee's voice was calm, but there was an intensity behind it. Miyeon let her head rest against her friend. This was someone who had lost those precious to her before. Although she was holding up well for now, no doubt it roused old demons in her. There was likely so much stress she'd endured the past few days and likely would continue to experience as everything unfolded. Someone would have to help her get through the unpleasant truths waiting ahead…
Although it didn't seem right for the woman to be given credit.
"Thank you, Jaehee."
It wouldn't do for her to break down in front of her. They'd both end up a mess if she did.
"I'm so sorry we caused you so much trouble and so much work…" Miyeon continued. "I'll make it up to you, okay? When we're done cleaning up this mess, Zen's next big performance will be my treat and I'll buy you as much memorabilia as you want."
There was a brittle chuckle from the short haired woman as she pulled back, wiping tears away before putting her glasses back on. "I don't require compensation, but… As a friend, I accept your offer."
"I know you don't approve of dishonest means, but I wouldn't be surprised if you got VIP front row seats from now on courtesy of a certain someone."
Jaehee flashed a weary smile. "That does sound like him… He and I have never really been close, but after everything I've learned, it's hard not to see him in a different light. When we saw that information leak, I feared the worst. There's so much that… Is very troubling. Sev-Saeyoung's "maid" told me some, but I suspect he wasn't being entirely forthcoming."
"How is ?"
"He's well. He's out in the lobby waiting for any word on Saeyoung. For someone who has such a shady past, he does seem sincerely concerned about him."
"They've worked together for a few years, so I suspect that's natural. I'm sure Jumin would be worried about you in a similar situation."
"Perhaps in his own way… He'd see me get the best care only to make sure he didn't have to go through the process of replacing me," Jaehee mused, there was a subtext the girl could read a mile away… Her phone jingled, breaking the pleasantries. "Assistant Kang for , how may I help you?"
There was a tense quiet. Miyeon couldn't help but feel nervous until the older woman tucked the phone back into her pocket.
"I have something important to follow up on, but I can take you to the room they will be placing Saeyoung in once he's out of surgery. After I'll see about getting you some fresh clothes. Your belongings from that cabin should be with the police so I can at least see about getting those returned to you. We should probably talk more about what happened when you've recovered some. "
"Jaehee…"
"Yes?"
Miyeon patted her hand. "Don't worry about me. You've got enough going on… But is there anything I can do to help you at all?"
"You've already done so much more than you realize… If V pulls through, then that's more than I could ask for. But I will let you know if something comes up. Right now, I think everyone is still in shock."
The girl nodded.
The two walked and discussed the current operations to triage and process the former disciples. It was clear that the hospital had called in additional staff to help with the tremendous influx of patients. Looking down into the lobby there was a sea of bodies in an organized chaos. There was the process of notifying families of their lost relatives, and police investigating others to look for missing persons among them. Thankfully Saeyoung's room was far away from all of that. It was a private room, which was surprisingly luxurious considering the chaos just a few floors down. Then again ill and special patients required quiet and things at least seemed generally secure. Miyeon couldn't help but feel the hacker would have had some suggestions to improve the safety.
As far as rooms went, it was decently sized with an area for her to sleep or sit. There was a large open space that was clearly for when the bed was returned. The antiseptic and floral notes of the place brought back unpleasant memories… At the very least, there was a nice view, but it was quite dark outside. It made her wonder just how much time they'd lost in those cells.
Outside of the patients in the other rooms or nurses, it was so very quiet. Thinking to see just how big the situation was, Miyeon opted to check the news. Turning the television on startled her with just how loud it was. Quickly she adjusted the volume… The information leak was the main topic along with denials that Agency GFX even existed.
Other agents had been apprehended and judging from the sound of it, a series of murders had been attributed to an effort to silence and obfuscate operations. It felt so distant and so close at the same time… Saeyoung had "armed" the weapon forged from information but had held it only as a deterrent. Saeran or Rika must've pulled the trigger. The fall out to agents was undeniable.
Part of her worried whether Ophelia had made it away safely after helping them. As scary of a person as he was, he didn't seem entirely like a bad person.
As the news anchors listed off the things that the agency was supposedly responsible for, it was hard for her to not try to figure out which things "707Xtreme" had his hands on… Probably the things that would never be found out... Everything he did was anonymous after all. For now, at least, there was nothing about the Prime Minister or the twins, which meant that secret was likely still safe. Whether that was because the story was being verified, covered up, or was still unknown she wasn't sure.
There was a knock at the door frame as a young nurse peeked her head in.
"Miss Ko…?"
She was on her feet, ready to help move Saeyoung's bed in, only for her to realize the other young woman was alone. "Assistant Kang wanted you to have these to freshen up and change into while you wait. It's late but I can see if dietary can bring you something to eat."
"Thank you…" the young woman murmured, accepting the folded-up garments. Jaehee really was an angel… "How is Saeyoung? Do you know how much longer it will be until the surgery is over?"
"We were just waiting for the orthopedic specialist requested before they close him up. So it may still be a little while."
"Thank you… Is there one more thing I can ask from you?"
"Certainly."
"Who would I see about getting room numbers for patients?"
"Provided they're not restricted, I'll be happy to look them up for you."
Miyeon quickly wrote a list of names on a bit of scrap paper, which the nurse took and looked over.
"I'll check and let you know. Although with as many people who came in…"
"I understand… Really the important one is Saeran Choi. He's a relative of this patient. Saeyoung'll be worried about him when he wakes up."
"Of course. I'll check on that and be back when I can."
"Thank you."
As the nurse left her alone again, Miyeon resolved herself to the task of making herself somewhat presentable. Thanks to Jaehee's consideration, she wanted for nothing. Aside from avoiding getting her bandages wet, there was one problem… Washing her hair. As she moved the shower head over the top of her head, the layer of water over her made her drop the thing as memories of being submerged hit her. It took a full moment before she could bring herself back. Logically… She was safe… Telling herself that was enough to let her finish, but not enough to fully quell the fear in her. Despite the heat and steam, her body quivered up until she dried off and pulled the loose-fitting clothes on.
There was time enough to check another news station before the nurse returned with the paper filled out. Saeran and V's rooms were listed, although there was to be no visitors for the former head of the RFA except and apparently V's father. As the nurse explained this, Miyeon nodded understandingly, but had every intention of visiting regardless. She needed to see with her own eyes whether or not he still breathed.
"…How much longer?"
"The orthopedic surgeon had just arrived after I last came up, so it may still be a little. You should have some time to visit those other patients. If you have a phone, I can send you a page when he's coming up."
The girl reflexively felt for a pocket, only to remember that her phone was likely still in the Mint Eye compound or in police evidence now. "…I don't have one but thank you. Could you point me to where his room is?"
Her finger rested on the most important person's name.
"…I'm happy to take you there, but I should probably warn you, he's been… Volatile."
"Please…"
The nurse looked a little hesitant but relented. As they made their way to the elevators, it was clear that the other victims were getting processed through. There were more rooms occupied than there had been when Jaehee brought her up. Fortunately, Saeran was on the same floor but another wing. He wasn't in critical condition, but when she was directed to his nurse, the poor woman looked frazzled. There was certainly a lot of noise compared to other areas.
"Who's this?" she snippily asked the younger nurse who'd acted as a guide.
"I'm his brother's fiancé," Miyeon answered.
"Thank god… Maybe you can get him to calm down," the woman sighed, taking her by the arm in a way that didn't hurt but did relay an urgency.
It wasn't hard to understand the nurse's troubles once she realized that the groans and growls, she heard were coming from his room. Quietly the nurse and she discussed his condition. The years of servitude and elixir had been hard on his body. The years of dehydration, starvation, lack of sleep, and untreated gastritis left him in quite a delicate state. His immune system was already weak from stress, but that coupled with the extreme doses of the "elixir" had impacted his kidney function. There was no way he could've kept going much longer… It didn't help he was likely going into withdrawal from the elixir, which they were still getting toxicology results back on. There were certainly options to wean him off the drugs used in it, but they needed to know what had been used and in what proportions.
Miyeon shared some of what she remembered from Rika's notes, which the nurse jotted down.
Only after a warning that they'd had to restrain them was the girl let in. Gone were the edgy, provocative clothes in black leather and scarlet. What remained was a slender man in loose fitting hospital clothes, wriggling desperately to free himself from restraints demanding to be let go. It was a pitiful site… He was like a rabbit in a snare, wild, afraid, and fearsome only in that his desperation made him lash out.
This was the menacing figure that had pinned her and forcibly stole her first kiss. His face was a hollow form of the man she loved. It was hard not to see his twin, but there were differences between them. Saeyoung's eyes had a light to them that his brother's lacked. Saeran looked younger and paler than his twin from years of malnourishment and mistreatment.
It was because of his desire to see his brother, however tainted it had been, that any of this had happened. He'd used her and certainly brought harm to her, but unlike Rika, Miyeon couldn't bring herself to hate him. Saeran was a strange mix of man and child… He knew the world was a cruel prison with only glimpses of things outside that were beyond his reach. The younger twin was what Rika and his mother had made him, but he could be more. If nothing else, he was now free of servitude in body but not quite in mind.
He wanted to "save" her… Albeit in his own twisted way. Were it not for him, she would've never met the RFA. She would be stowed away safely at home waiting to fade away. Miyeon couldn't help but feel that a debt was owed. For a little, he'd saved her from herself. At the very least, she could try to do the same for him.
"Saeran…"
His wriggling stopped and his wide, mint colored eyes focused on her. He pulled hard on his restraints while shifting to the far side of his bed.
"…Leave me alone!"
The girl drew a deep breath and pulled a seat up beside him to avoid towering over him. Placing her hands in her lap, she did her best to look as small and non-threatening as possible.
"I SAID GO AWAY!"
He wanted a reaction… She wasn't going to give it to him.
"Why won't any of you people listen!? It hurts…!" his growls ebbed to whimpers and soon frustrated cries as he tried in vain to cover his head. His wrists were fixed to the rails of the bed.
"Everything hurts… I hate this… I hate all of you!"
Her heart and soul ached for him with a bitterness she'd not felt in years… Not towards him, but for those who had brought him and so many others to this state.
Eventually he'd tired himself out to where all he could do was softly cry frustrated tears and writhe as his body ached. He was clearly growing feverish as the effort and withdrawal colored his cheeks and left a thin layer of sweat upon him. Desperately she wanted to pet his head or hold him and assure him everything would be fine… But this wasn't Saeyoung.
She eased the desire to console him by merely pulling Saeran's blankets up to keep him warm.
"Don't touch me with your filthy hands!" he growled.
Despite his protests, she was determined to bring him some comfort. It didn't take much looking through the cabinets in his room to find a stash of linens. Moistening a washcloth with cold water, Miyeon returned to her seat and set about the task of wiping his brow. There was no denying that he wasn't happy about it, but all he could do was look away while huddling under the blankets as much as his restraints would allow.
"You like seeing me weak don't you!? DON'T YOU!?"
"You're not weak…" she corrected him before softly adding, "I don't enjoy seeing you in pain."
He hushed as she continued to wash the sweat from him, taking breaks now and then to remoisten the cloth. His body gradually relaxed as she worked as he seemed to realize that she was no immediate threat or at the very least there was no point in wasting his energy.
"…Saeyoung is still alive."
Saeran continued gazing at the window but his body tightened.
"You have every right to hate him for leaving you without a word, but he truly believed V and Rika would protect you."
A bobbing of his Adam's apple in his slender throat brought forth more venom from him.
"You don't know anything…"
"I found Rika's journals," she answered, keeping her voice low so it didn't take much for him to speak louder. "…You went from one horrible place to another, didn't you…?"
He didn't dignify her with a response.
"…This isn't Magenta. You can refuse any treatment they offer you if you really don't want it. But the medicine they're trying to give you is for your stomach. It won't affect your mind or how you think. It just lowers the acid in your belly so the lining can heal, and your stomach will stop hurting."
His silence was either indication that he was listening or had completely disassociated.
"I don't want to heal. I want to die…"
There was no denying the two were brothers with how dramatic they could be… If he really was like Saeyoung, she could perhaps appeal to his reason, now that he wasn't yelling.
"You want the pain to stop and for the past to disappear…" the girl corrected. "It's hard to see how things can get better when you have no comparison, but… Once your body heals, you'll be free."
He gave a tug on the restraints on his wrist.
"Does this look free…" the pale man remarked scathingly. "You're all the same… You all bind me, whisper sweet words to me, and use me."
"We both know I'm not smart or ambitious enough for that."
There was an unspoken agreement to that assessment judging by the way his shoulders fell.
"…The nurses only put the restraints on you because you were fighting them. They have to check on you every few minutes when you're bound too. If you want to be left alone, then just tolerate them long enough for them to do their job, they'll finish what they need to do and you'll have some peace."
The young man's eyes closed as the reasoning was sound and acknowledged, before she watched him shift uncomfortably as another ripple seemed to go up his abdomen. He looked nauseous and miserable.
"You pretending to care is making me sick… Especially knowing what you let that man do to you."
That stung a little…
"I wish it was pretending… It'd hurt less."
He sighed and returned his gaze to the window.
"You once told me you wanted to save me, that we were alike. I wondered a lot about what you meant by that… At first, I thought you just meant saving me from your brother, but… If you really did talk to my mother, then you probably know better than anyone what we share."
Miyeon tucked her legs onto the chair as they sat in silence before she found her voice again.
"We both had mothers who were cold and cruel to us. We're both younger siblings who lived in the shadow of the favorite… An older brother who we loved dearly who abandoned us to suffer alone. And both of us wanted to disappear. While it's true I can't ever know everything that woman or Rika did to you…"
The girl held up her bandaged hand. "I can imagine…"
Saeran's eyes fell his own fingers, each tipped with nails that'd been bitten down to the quick.
"My mother would often tell me the wrong child had died… Even now I'm having trouble finding a reason to disagree with her. If Jun-Seo were here, he'd probably know just what to say and do to make you feel better. But he's not… Instead, I get to live with the ghost of what he should've been for the rest of my life. It's not a shadow I'm ever going to outgrow or even match. I was just an unwanted surprise. But he suffered for me. My brother gave up so much of his time to care for me and distracted mom, so she didn't have time to scold me. From where I was, I couldn't see that the pressure of being that perfect was crushing him alive. He gave everything to that woman to be the idealized child she wanted, but she couldn't let him have one thing for himself… So he took control the only way he felt he could... After he threw himself off the bridge, I felt betrayed and hated myself for not being strong or smart enough to save him from himself or from our mother. I thought about killing her or myself more times than I want to admit, but that would've only hurt my father more. So, I let her take her anguish out on me. Even now, I don't hate Jun for leaving me alone… More than anything, I just want my brother back." She didn't even try to fake a smile. "But… That isn't something I can ever have."
His gaze drifted down to her hands as they were clenched tightly.
"Do you think I care?"
"I know you don't, but I know you're smart enough to know why I'm telling you. We can be honest with each other… You're not going to tell me "everything's going to be okay" or "hang in there". And I'm not going to minimize the suffering you've endured… No one can promise you a long happy life with no pain or undo what happened to you. But I can promise you I'll do everything I can to help you achieve the life you from now on. Saeyoung didn't give you a choice when he left… Rika didn't give you one at Magenta… But it's just you and me right now. If you're serious about wanting to leave this place, I'll let you out of your restraints right now and help you out of this hospital."
"That's exactly what I want."
His eyes widened with surprise as the girl uncurled her legs and leaned in to unsnap the restraints on the wrist closest to him. The shock of it was enough to keep him still as she got up, went to the other side of the bed and undid the other side before letting the rail of the bed down, looking at him expectantly.
A tense silence followed as he gazed intently at the side of his bed. It would be just as simple as him throwing his legs over and making a run for it. Miyeon's heart was pounding in her ears as she awaited his decision. She meant every word…
Saeran rolled to face away from her, curling up tight with a frustrated sigh as he pulled the blankets up over his shivering body.
"…Do you need help getting up?"
Like a cold bird, he fluffed up more.
"…I can leave whenever I want. I don't need you…"
A soft sigh of relief escaped her before the sight of him so feverish hurt her.
"Are you cold? Should I see if I can get you a warmer blanket?"
He didn't answer, but as she moved to exit the room, Miyeon could see his eyes were fixed on some obscure point on the horizon. More than anything, the young man looked exhausted and as if he'd given up. That look worried her.
"Saeran… Promise me you won't do anything to hurt yourself while we're here."
"…Why should I make any promises to Luciel's whore?"
"It'll just make things harder if you really do want to try leaving later. The hospital is full of people right now, and if you attempt to hurt yourself or threaten suicide where the nurses hear you, they'll take everything out of the room and have someone sit with you until they've put you through therapy. That's the exact opposite of what you want, right?"
That got his attention.
"…If you still feel like there's no point in seeing if things can get better, then I'll take you somewhere quiet with a beautiful view of the sky and you can do it then. I won't stop you… But I know you still have things you want to finish. So, for now, please just focus on getting your health back."
The young man closed his eyes, but his brow was contorted as it was clear another wave of pain had hit him. He curled up tighter.
"…That medicine… For my stomach… Will it really help?" his voice was so small.
"It will."
"Give it to me…"
"Let me get the nurse."
Miyeon called the nurse over and within a few moments, she'd retrieved the medicine. The whole time the girl kept watch on him just to make sure he wouldn't do anything to harm himself. For the time being, he was curled up and doing his best to bear the discomfort. Upon entering the room, the nurse was alarmed that he wasn't in restraints.
"…How did you-?"
"I took them off," the girl answered, staying close by. "He'll cooperate, he just asks that you respect his privacy and desire for solitude as much as possible."
"Of course…"
She watched as the woman gave him a little cup with the pills and some water to swallow it down with. There were some brief instructions about how many they were planning to give him a day along with offering him other things for pain, but he was very clear about just wanting the medicine for his stomach for now. The nurse backed carefully away from him and exited, giving Miyeon a look as though she were milling around the open cage of a tiger. She was keen to shut the door and clearly concerned about the girl's welfare.
"Saeran, I've got to go. I'll check on you later, okay?"
He didn't reply but had buried himself in his blankets. She watched a moment more to make sure she saw breathing before allowing the room to be sealed. Quietly Miyeon made a mental note to check back in a few hours, but she asked the nurse more detailed questions about his care. While it ultimately came down to what the doctor ordered, her concerns were heard. There was a delicate line between respecting his desire for solitude and making sure he didn't harm himself or others. Steps were being taken, but there was no easy solution.
"…Your fiancé is here, right? Can his brother come stay with him?" the nurse asked hopefully.
"His brother is in surgery right now."
"Ah. I'm sorry to hear that."
"It's okay… I'll be by check on him as much as I can until Saeyoung can come himself."
"Thank you for your help."
"You're welcome. Thank you too. Saeran's been in… Difficult situations his whole life. He doesn't mean to be like his, but he's afraid and confused. Please be patient with him."
"We understand, but I'm sure you understand we have to stay safe too."
"I do. We're all making it through this situation as best we can. Thank you for everything."
After a few more pleasantries, Miyeon excused herself to find the next person on the list. V was still in surgery, but there was no doubt that his friend was nearby in one of the rooms meant for families awaiting news. It was only after one of the security personnel recognized her that she was guided to a private waiting area where Jumin sat with his hands tended and his eyes closed.
"Hey."
His head raised a little. The cold, stern expression she'd seen in pictures was tempered with a subtle worry. Quietly she took a seat at his side, keeping her hands in her lap.
The two hadn't spoken much in chat or on the phone… None of those conversations had been as serious as this but seeing him alone during a time like this bothered her. Everyone relied on him in one way or another, and he always seemed capable of handling such things. Jumin was still just one man. As much as he exemplified the man in control of his emotions, Miyeon could feel his concern.
The impression she got was that Jumin and V were so very like brothers. His best friend was fighting for his life, and someone else dear to him was not only alive but responsible for so many crimes. Without proper management, it could turn into a media circus, but he seemed to be managing well enough. Still waters ran deep though.
Gently, Miyeon rested a comforting hand on his shoulder, which drew his attention. As his attention turned to her, the girl quietly moved her hand to his back. It still felt as though she'd touched something priceless and was going to be scolded for it. His suit probably cost more than her entire wardrobe…
"Thank you."
That surprised her.
"…For helping my friend," he explained, his voice betraying no emotion.
"Anyone would've done that."
"There were many others around who saw what happened and did nothing."
He wasn't wrong, but she didn't feel comfortable with the coldness in his voice.
"…How is he?"
"There's been no word from the surgeons. It's… Frustrating."
Miyeon studied him, seeing the exhaustion starting to settle in over him.
"…Is anyone else coming to see him?"
"His father is out of the country, and my own father has obligations. I've had Assistant Kang reschedule my appointments, but… It's difficult to plan for the unknown."
"Is there anything I can do to help you, Jumin?"
The businessman gazed down at her with his dark eyes searching her intently. Having his attention on her made her very aware of just how much taller than her he was. Next to him, she was so small and insignificant in every sense of the word… What could a commoner like her really offer a man who could have anything? Then again, it wasn't like he could undo the past with his resources or change the outcome of the surgery.
"I do not require anything at the moment. But… I appreciate your concern. V will likely be undergoing treatment for a great while longer. If you wish for an update later, I can have Assistant Kang notify you and add you to the visitor registry."
"I don't have a phone… But I'll check back in a few hours. If they finish before I come back, just let the nurses know where to find you. OK?" the girl offered, patting his back again as she eased onto two feet. "Oh… Jumin, please don't allow Rika to see him. I don't think it's safe."
"…Understood."
As she opened the door, she heard his deep, dulcet voice again.
"Miyeon."
"Hmm?"
"Thank you…"