Injurias Relictas

The Injuries Left Behind

(Part 2)

7:00 pm

- Ah! - Jungkook screamed as he was slammed against the shelves for the third time.

- TELL ME! - Evans screamed in his face, grabbing him so harshly by the upper arms that Jungkook could feel his blood wasn't reaching his hands.

Jungkook didn't answer him.

Evans bared his teeth and shook with fury.

- What use are you if you're someone else's toy... - He muttered between greeted teeth. - What value do you have if you've been touched? - His hands tightened and Jungkook cried out, closing his eyes even more. - You're nothing if you're not my student, my toy, mine alone. Nothing. - He whispered. - Say that you're mine. Say that you're my toy. Say it. -

Jungkook shook, terrified, and hurt all over. There was a ringing in his ears and his legs felt weak even if his feet weren't touching the ground. He was very dizzy, it had started since the first slam against the shelves when he hit the back of his head and now he can't feel the tips of his fingers. He couldn't understand Evans' words. He couldn't listen correctly. He wasn't even sure why he was being slammed, why he was being punished.

Evans growled and pulled him away from the shelves. Warning bells rang in Jungkook's mind and he did the only thing he could think of to survive. Hastily and with weak arms, he wrapped them around Evans' shoulders and pulled him closer as if in a hug.

Evans let go of him abruptly and his feet hit the floor at a wrong angle, making Jungkook hold on even tighter to him.

Jungkook was shaking with silent sobs and gasps. He could recognize this scent, he could feel the weakest part of him, the child within, wanting to cry out for his friend, the first person who painted with him and read to him and played with him. That child missed his friend. Jungkook breathed in his scent in sobs and shook with the effort it took to remember who he really was. Then, a wide hand was stroking his hair in soft motions. And the suffering, the need to have all the pain stopping, made Jungkook accept the touch.

As softly as the hand stroked his hair, as gently as the other one wrapped around him, Jungkook's sobs subsided bit by bit. Relief was washing over him as all the fight left his body. He felt so little in such strong arms, so vulnerable to keep being hurt that he stopped thinking of ways of getting out of there, preferring this treatment to the other one he will surely receive if he kept on fighting.

7:10 pm

After a while, he felt the chest against him give a great sigh, and closed his eyes, praying the worst to be over. Then, he felt the vibrations of a deep voice as he spoke.

- Little Jungkook... What should I do with you? - He asked, and then stayed silent.

Thinking he was waiting for an answer, Jungkook hastened to give one.

- N–No more fighting...? - He was shaking, it was audible in his voice and fear rose in him at the thought that he might not like it.

- That can only happen if you do what I say. - He answered gently. - Will you do what I say? -

- Yes. - Something inside Jungkook cracked when he said it.

- Good. Now, tell me... Who left those marks on you, Jungkook? - Evans' voice went darker than before.

- What–

His question was stopped short when the hand caressing his hair stopped to hold him there. His heart began galloping again and, when he opened his eyes, tears were falling once more.

- The marks... that you have... in your body. - Evans said, slowly.

Jungkook's brain struggled to understand him for a moment. But, when he did, it did little to give him a suitable answer.

- A... girl? -

- As if that were to be possible. - Evans scoffed. - Very well, if you say it's a girl, tell me her full name and how you two met each other. And when and where she left those marks on you. And give me details. -

Jungkook was trying to calm himself by thinking this was just a conversation and that it was better than what it could be. But even then, he was unable to come up with a story. He was so dizzy and disorientated, so focused on survival, that he even was unsure of where he was. He could only remember the truth of who had left those marks on him and why. And he cried... because he knew he couldn't give him that name... and he knew what he would do if he didn't get an answer.

- Please... - Jungkook started begging with his cheek pressed against his shoulder. - Please, no more... I'll do what you say, I promise, just... -

The arms around him tightened their hold, like a boa constrictor slowly crushing its prey.

- You're lying. - He whispered against his ear. - If what you said was true then you would do as I say and answer my question, but you're not. You're refusing to do as I say. - His voice lowered in anger. - You prefer to beg for forgiveness rather than be loyal and tell me who did that to you. You are mine, Jungkook. -

- Then why did you leave? - Jungkook sobbed.

He doesn't know what made him whisper that. He wasn't even aware that he'd said it out loud until no other word came from Evans. Then, he waited with bated breath for the fury and the punishment. But none came. And that frightened him more.

- Do you really not remember what happened that day? Even now? - Asked Evans in a soft voice.

Jungkook couldn't understand. A moment of forced clarity let him remember what happened that day and he frowned, unable to see the deciding factor. He'd been fourteen, Evans had arrived as normal, he, Jungkook, wasn't pleased that day, Evans saw the last grades he had received and said nothing as always, Jungkook stormed off in fury, and Evans punished him for it... then gave him some tea to make him feel better... then, everything became foggy. But he remembers the fight, not the words that were exchanged between them but the shouting and hitting and then Evans leaving, telling him that he wouldn't come back. Yet, even that was foggy.

After a while, Evans spoke again.

- Are you kind to your classmates while feeling detached? Do you feel like you want to get closer but you shouldn't? Even with all the years you were away from those two friends and all the night outings, you've never allowed someone in. Truly in. Why do you think that is? Someone as lonely and longing as you would've accepted anyone, then why didn't you? - He could feel him smiling. - I allowed you to have those two friends. Because I know their parents and I know Leo has your father's number and Emily could hug you whenever you were getting desperate. Because I knew that if I had you only for myself, you would break in my absence as my son did. I'm a fast learner. And kids are weaker than I originally thought. -

He walked forwards until Jungkook was pressed between the shelves and his chest. And Jungkook began to panic.

- Why do you think you weren't even able to accept your own touch, let alone some else's? I taught you how. I trained you not to like your own touch because I knew that, if you knew pleasure, you would want to hide away in it; in someone else. And I couldn't have you destroying yourself. Even if I never came back, you would always be mine. - Jungkook couldn't understand; didn't want to understand. - Why do you think you attacked those five boys the day you came back after I left? And why, little Jungkook, do you think I got so angry the day I left? - He sighed, the warm air hitting Jungkook's ear. - I thought it would be alright for you not to remember. It wasn't necessary. I would simply listen to Yungsoo rant about you and know you were doing what I said without even realizing it. Or so I thought. -

Slowly, he let go of him, unwrapping his arms from around him while still remaining close. Jungkook's breathing shuddered when that happened and then accelerated when those wide hands made him unwrap his own from his shoulders, then held his upper arms. Jungkook shook his head imploringly when Evans leaned away to press him slowly against the shelves, looking straight into his eyes. The light from above, created shadows on Evans' sharpest features, darkening his blue eyes until they looked a dead, dark gray.

Jungkook knew, at that moment when he looked at that face, that it wouldn't matter what he said or did, if he didn't give him the name he was waiting for, he would die protecting that secret.

But he knew, in that little part of bravery left in him, that even if he did die, he would do it for love. And there wasn't a most beautiful way to leave.

- If you don't give me that name, Jungkook... - Evans began and Jungkook took a shuddering breath to prepare himself. But nothing would've gotten him ready for what came next. - ...I will make you forget that person. Just like I made you forget Rafa. - He shook his head. - I should've known that was short for "Raphael". -

7:20 pm

The world seemed to stop at that moment.

There was a ringing in his ears.

Both his heart and breathing ceased.

And he found himself looking at the peak of a tsunami that was a second away from falling right over him.

He couldn't run from it.

He couldn't run from him.

Evans already had a hand on his mind, he had both on his body, his friendships weren't his, his parents didn't care, and he was truly nothing but a toy to be programmed and played with.

Jungkook's brain jammed and he found himself breathing laboriously, trying not to vomit on the man that held him and said nothing as he watched him crumble.

Were his passions even his? Was his rebellion his own idea? Had he put himself in dangerous positions by going out of his house at night because he wanted to?

Had his parents gained their positions on Evanthe due to hard work or because Evans pulled strings with his lawyer and royal friends just to get him, Jungkook, closer to his reach?

...had he wanted to come to Evanthe for the sole purpose of its beauty... or because he told him to get there?

Had he truly known Raphael before he fought with him that first time? It made no sense. There was nothing in his mind that came to him in a deep realization, nothing. But, if everything else...

And, if he was able to erase him so thoroughly from his brain, what was stopping him from doing the same with Taehyung?

Jungkook frowned in terror and snapped his eyes up at him. Evans nodded once when he saw he'd understood the gravity. And Jungkook believed, at that moment, that Evans was an actual demon.

If he loses Taehyung, he will surely die alone and afraid. If he dies, Taehyung will surely leave with him. And if he and Taehyung were separated after knowing each other, they'll both get killed trying to get back together.

They had laughed as they spoke of their future, smiling as they painted a picture of peace and love. Taehyung had wanted to live with him forever more, he had told him over and over how he couldn't lose him, just this morning he'd been lying in his chest as he told him how his love ran so deep that losing him would surely make him mad with grief. They loved each other truly, so much that they were willing to wage war against each other's nightmares and hold their hand in dreams. If he lost that love... What will he be? A toy...

...No.

It was impossible for him to forget Taehyung. Not even a demon of darkness could erase his love. Their union ran deeper than one lifetime could hold and he knew it.

He knew it.

Jungkook remembered.

Abruptly, he stopped crying. Evans frowned, disconcerted at the sudden change.

And Jungkook didn't care.

If Garrett was to be believed, if J and August and Namjoon and the people on the other side of the phone were to be believed... it didn't matter if he died. If Taehyung and himself met again in each lifetime, he will not lose him if he dies. And Evans' didn't know this.

A little laugh escaped Jungkook and he let go of Evans. Tears were still falling, he was still shaking, and he was terrified of having a painful death, but he will not lose Taehyung whether he lives or dies and that alone made him smile.

Evans tilted his head as he looked at him.

- Amazing. - He muttered. - Your sanity finally snapped. -

Softly, he chuckled. Jungkook laughed back at him. And slowly but surely, they found themselves laughing their heads off, simply looking at each other with incredulity.

Then, Evans pulled him back and slammed him hard enough to make Jungkook bite his tongue before he screamed.

- Did you like that? - Evans asked with a manic smile.

Jungkook gritted his teeth, tasting blood in his mouth.

- No. -

Evans pulled him and slammed him even harder, making him scream again. Tears fell because of the pain but his head remained focused.

Evans grunted, shaking him by the arms.

- You want another one? Huh? - He asked loudly, menacingly.

Jungkook panted for breath, struggling to straighten his vision.

- Kill me. - He said between gasps of breath.

Evans stopped for a moment, looking at him with wide eyes. Slowly, he started to shake again, and slammed him even harder.

This time Jungkook was sure, as he screamed, that the skin on his back and shoulders had been broken by the repetitive impact. The fact that he was being slammed against shelves meant that he was being hit with sharp edge after sharp edge, including the back of his head.

Jungkook moaned with pain.

- ¿¡WHY!? - Evans screamed and slammed him again. - Why can't you be mine!? Why must you be a person!? Why do you resist!? Why!? - Every question was punctuated by a slam and Jungkook could hardly do anything against it. Evans stopped again, breathing hard, then pressed himself against him, speaking into his ear. - I'll stop everything if you give that name to me. - Jungkook shuddered unwillingly. - Yes, I will. I'll clean your wounds, make you hot chocolate, wrap you up in a soft blanket, and read to you while you sit on my lap, how does that sound? -

Jungkook tried turning his head away to hide his tears but Evans held his face gently and brought him back.

- I promise you I'll treat you right. I'll make up an excuse so you can stay all night and I can hug you to sleep, doesn't that sound comfortable? - Jungkook sobbed, forcing himself to remain still and quiet. - Jungkook... my little Jungkook. - Evans crooned compassionately, caressing his cheek with his thumb. - The person that did that to you is a bad one. - He said, softly.

7:30 pm

Jungkook snapped his eyes wide open with a gasp. If Evans had begun the brainwashing, he had no clue how to stop it. He'd accepted death, but not this. He had to get out.

Desperate, he tried moving his body, wriggling, contorting, but it was minimal the effect he had for he was so tightly pressed that not only was he unable to move much, but he was also hurting himself further whenever he tried.

- Shhh... I know it's hard to hear it. - He wrapped a tight arm around his waist while still holding his face, limiting his movement even more. - That person made you believe you wanted to be with them. They brainwashed you into believing you had the power to give consent. They made you feel powerful and wanted but that was all a big scheme to get you to their bed. Believe me, little Jungkook. I only want what's best for you. I'm your friend, remember me? I was the first person who told you they love you, did you forget? I'll remind you. - And he got very close to his ear to whisper sweetly. - I love you. -

Jungkook stopped fighting.

He dropped his arms, letting them fall limply, let his head fall back so only the edge of a shelf was holding it straight, and said not another single word.

He remembered this behavior. He knows Evans had used it before. He doesn't remember when or for what, but that didn't matter, the fact remained that everything he said sounded very familiar to him. And the worst part is that he thinks those words didn't come to him verbally from Evans but in actions.

Taehyung, Taehyung, Taehyung, he chanted his name like a song, like a prayer.

Evans felt him going limp and leaned away just enough to look at his face. Jungkook didn't know what he was looking for or what he found that made him grin, he was remembering Taehyung's favorite color and the story behind it. The green leaves of the trees at his home, not in winter or summer but when they're bright with the sun.

Evans held him by the chin and pulled it gently so their noses were a fingertip apart.

- I want to stop them from doing that to you again. Please, give me their name. - He whispered.

Taehyung's favorite animal was the wolf because of how kind they were to him every time they would encounter each other.

- Jungkook... -

Taehyung told him he wanted their house to be deeper into the forest, behind his family's property, past the Three Brothers, and right at the edge of a meadow filled with wildflowers.

Evan's smile went away.

- I won't be able to keep my promise if you don't keep yours. Tell me their name. -

The first story Taehyung ever told him was of how he would have troublemakers in his classroom but they would never make trouble in his class, and he had told him it must've been because of his voice. Such a beautiful voice.

Evans took a tense, deep breath, losing his patience.

- Maybe you don't believe me. - Gently, he took hold of his jaw with one hand. - Perhaps you need me to demonstrate what they did to you in order for you to understand they did wrong. -

Jungkook's breathing quickened and a tear left his eye while he kept on looking at that locked door over Evans' shoulder.

Taehyung told him his father and grandfather had built a massive table out of the wood of a fallen tree so everyone on the farm could eat upon it.

Evans took him by the shoulders and threw him on the floor, he was only able to place his hands so his nose wouldn't break, but his limbs were too heavy. Jungkook lifted his head, looking at the door, his only exit. Behind him, he could hear a belt being unfastened. His worst fear...

His breathing became ragged, his eyes wide, and he tried to force his body to move.

Taehyung told him he loved him. He was the one who loved him, he was the one who cared, the one who waited until they could make love in a way that would never cause him pain, the one who waited until he was the one who kissed him first, the one who would've stopped all advances if he told him to. He was the one he wanted to live with for the rest of his life, he was the one he wanted to heal with for whatever time it took until he was free, he was the one he wanted, in sickness and health, and for him... for him...

For him.

In one swift motion, Jungkook pushed himself up and ran to the door. It should've been only one leap away but he felt every beat of his heart in his veins, the tightness in his lungs as he stopped breathing, the pain in his expression as he reached for the doorknob, and the sound of metal falling to the floor as the one behind him followed just as fast. Jungkook grabbed the doorknob, turned it, opened the door to see the light of the bathroom as if it was heaven, and then a hand came from behind him and slammed the door shut, pinning him against it.

Evans grunted and took him by the shoulders to smash him to the floor again, but if Jungkook let himself fall, Evans would be between him and the door. This was his only chance.

The moment Evans pushed him back from the door, Jungkook lowered both hands to the doorknob and turned in again. The weight of his body being shoved backward opened the door for him and he lunged himself forwards until he took hold of the threshold with one hand. In that lunge that took less than one second, he had imbalanced Evans whose hands slipped from his shoulders, and Jungkook needed but one millisecond to realize and run.

Pushing himself out with the help of the threshold, he lunged straight to the open door of the bathroom and ran out, hitting his left shoulder as he did so but unable to feel a thing. Evans screamed behind him, giving chase, and he screamed in terror as he ran straight to the door next to the kitchen. Tears clouded his vision but, before he knew it, he was wrenching the front door open and running out. Panic overtook him as he bolted left to get to the stairs, he screamed and sobbed, nearly throwing himself down the stairs to get away from the monster in pursuit. He could hear his loud footsteps behind him and feel the cold on his bare skin as if some dark magic was trying to slow him down, but he wouldn't, Taehyung's floor was only two floors down.

He jumped the last four steps in one leap and nearly lost his footing, he tried to keep running to that door to safety, and from the side of his eye saw a creature of darkness, a monster enraged, ready to tear him up limb from limb.

Jungkook screamed, horrified even though he couldn't see the creature in the eyes, and ran. Screaming, crying, adrenaline pumping through his veins and burning him up from the inside, he got to the door and the world slowed down in his head as he wondered... What if the door doesn't open?

He will die.

Jungkook grabbed the doorknob before his final leap was done and turned it with all his might. And it opened.

Screaming, he lunged inside, turned around, and used his whole body to close the door. He felt the impact when the monster smashed against it and then swiftly locked it right before the one on the other side tried to turn the knob, hard enough to break it.

Evans punched the door with a fist so hard that Jungkook felt it coursing through his body and he leaped back, nearly falling to the floor. With wide, terrified eyes, he turned around to assess he was indeed in a safe place and not in another monstrous place.

- Ah! - He screamed, jumping back when the sight of Taehyung took him by surprise.

He was standing by the coffee table, looking at him in shock, frozen on the spot. Then, Jungkook realized... Taehyung... And he started sobbing hysterically, hearing Evans calling for him, calling for Taehyung to open the door, and he almost fell to his knees.

Taehyung took two fast steps to hold him, his eyes filling with tears but his yaw tight. Jungkook saw this, and the avalanche hit him squarely in the stomach. He ran to the sink in the kitchen and vomited hard, retching over and over again. He gasped for breath when he could, but the suffocation made him panic further and he ended up retching again. He held himself up on shaky hands against the edges of the sink and saw flashes of–...

He vomited again, tears blinding him.

It was after three dry retchings that he could breathe shakily but deeply. He was trembling all over, he had to hold himself up on one elbow against the edge of the sink to keep his knees from bending, and he was freezing. He could feel warm tears sliding down from his eyes and cold sweat falling from his forehead. He turned on the water and cleaned his face and mouth with a weak hand. Then, he felt something soft against his shoulders.

His eyes fell open and he jumped to the side, ready to run. But his body was too tired so he fell heavily on his backside. Once his wide eyes saw a frozen Taehyung holding a big, white towel like he had been trying to drape it around him, he remembered and gasped for air. He tried to swallow down the lump in his throat as he saw the pain in Taehyung's face and felt droplets of water sliding down his own neck but it felt as dry as sand.

Slowly, Taehyung squatted down to his level. He could see his eyes were red as if he had already been crying. And he gasped, trying not to sob as he asked,

- Can I put this around you? I don't want you to be cold. - His voice broke and tears overflowed, but his eyes stayed on him, waiting for him to answer.

Jungkook eyebrows knitted in the middle, knowing he had been hoping Taehyung would still want him and yet unable to believe he was being so kind. He shook with a silent sob, ready to nod, but then his eyes landed on Taehyung's neck, and his breathing stopped.

A white, button-up shirt.

There was ringing in his ears, a need to run in his stomach, and yet no energy to move his body, making him feel trapped. Trapped. His breathing turned ragged, his heart was palpitating, and he couldn't move, he couldn't move.

The moment he saw that body moving, he flinched and closed his eyes tightly. But then, he heard a ripping sound and something like buttons hitting the ground. Tentatively, with his heart in his throat, he opened his eyes just enough to see that it was Taehyung, and he was ripping his shirt from his body.

It was Taehyung. It was Taehyung. A painful sob broke through his obstructed throat and he pushed himself as hard as he could. He only managed to lean forward on the palms of his hands, nearly falling on his face, but Taehyung was there already, his warm, naked, clean skin surrounded him in a gentle hug and he cringed a little, afraid that he would get him dirty, but Taehyung kept on holding him even after he wrapped the towel around him.

- Breathe, Kooky. My love. My Angel. - He sobbed against his ear. - My life. My everything. My beautiful flower. - He cried on his shoulder, shaking as he held him securely in his hold, and then he moaned in pain, a heartbreaking sound Jungkook has never heard. - I'm sorry. -

7:40 pm

Jungkook couldn't stop sobbing. Not even when the light went off in the whole apartment. He simply held him tighter, knowing that, if the nightmare wasn't over, at least he was with Taehyung. And they kept on crying together even when the fire alarm on the corridor outside turned on.

There was not an ounce of fight left in him. He couldn't lie anymore, couldn't act anymore, couldn't forget anymore. And he couldn't be in this university anymore.

With all the willpower he had left, he tried to stop himself from thinking about what would happen next. But, as someone knocked on the door and called for Professor Taehyung to evacuate, he couldn't help but panic again.

Rewind one hour and twenty-five minutes.

6:15 pm

Raphael left Taehyung alone in his apartment, trying not to think back on how disturbed he looked all while they spoke. He'd been angry, sad, confused, and saw the utter rage in his dark eyes when he told him he knew more about Jungkook than he thought, but he couldn't dwell on that man in such a dire time as this. He must focus on his mission and save the innocent.

He must save Jungkook because he couldn't do it last time. And he must save the students because they were right.

On his way down the elevator, he heard a notice on his radio.

- The two students arrived at the hospital wing. -

It appeared the two students that left the Auditorium about twenty minutes ago had arrived at the hospital wing. The only thing Raphael could come up with for their rapid arrival would be that one of them had been fit enough to carry the other as he ran. Thinking about people around his own age fighting the wars he couldn't, made him feel pressured to do more, to do better, just like them; to help them however way he can.

Trying to think of ways to break away from his father's orders without being noticed, he walked to the black glass doors. But he wasn't able to think of anything easy when he exited the building into the corridor where a small group of officers still stood. Expressionless, Raphael turned to the right. Choosing to go straight to the Hospital wing to give himself time to think while looking like he was patrolling. But, after that, he must go back to his father; those were his orders.

6:20 pm

It was better to keep power on his side instead of against him, he learned that the hard way at a young age. Thinking he needed to go against power to have his own and making himself a school bully was not the right decision, not even the right kind of mistake. And then going further against his father's orders by taking a boy to his house and to his room, a boy that liked to paint him, should've earned him a grave for he would've been considered unsalvageable. The only thing that kept him alive was that his father didn't have the patience to start over with another child. But he'd been close to needing a replacement; Raphael still bares the scars.

He'd been very cautious since those days, following others, doing what he was told as expressionless as he could, all to earn himself the trust of his superiors; enough so his father and the others could trust him to be obedient even when no one was looking. So that, when no one was, he could do the right thing unnoticed.

The amount of evil he witnessed when he trained in the military, even if it had only been for two intensive years, opened his eyes to the kind of world he'd been living in. If Jungkook had opened his eyes to beauty, his father had shown him how ugly everything could get. And he knew which world he preferred to live in.

With his hands in loose fists by his sides, he walked steadily, frowning as he looked from corner to corner, patrolling deserted corridors as he thought.

The only person he knew here that knew the truth and wanted to save Jungkook was Taehyung, but he couldn't move from where he was. He couldn't attempt to look for Jungkook's friends because it would look suspicious and, incidentally, it would be a mess to explain his worries to them. In any case, he had to go straight to his father afterward. The only reason why he trusted him away from his side for a moment was that he saw how composed he was when they both entered Yungsoo's office and Jungkook was there. His coldness and concentration proved his loyalty, so he had to continue with the same detachment. Telling him he was concerned about Alexander's honesty would make him suspicious only because this case surrounded Jungkook, then he would also think about the fact that this was Yungsoo's friend so there couldn't be anything to mistrust.

He needed to find a way to stop everything, both what was going on inside that apartment and at the Auditorium, without letting anyone suspect him. And he needed to burn away time, to distract the forces or keep them busy with something different until the time was up.

He needed a commotion.

Gas Leak? Too dangerous, invisible, no one would notice until it was too late. Turn the power off? Not dangerous enough to make a commotion, everyone would just stay put, but maybe it could be used as a distraction for something greater. He needed something that would force people out of a building without actively doing anything dangerous.

Then, it hit him. The fire alarm.

Choosing to stop, he turned a corner into a much narrower corridor and leaned against a wall.

He needed to plant someone inside the Professor's living area to turn on the fire alarm there, then he needed to plant someone inside the Auditorium to tell the students they have to run from that place and do the same in other buildings so the Professor's living area wouldn't attract attention, but he also needed someone to turn off the power so the cameras won't be able to record the ones that pulled the alarms, making it impossible for the police to arrest anyone in the time they have left. Raphael suspects that the reason why they haven't been able to arrest anyone until now was that the cameras outside the Student's living area were unable to record any proper facial features of the ones blocking the doors. But he didn't want to chance it and he needed Jungkook out of that apartment before something worse happened to him.

If he went to pieces when he was fourteen, forgetting who he was and hitting him and his four friends to a pulp because that man did something before he left, his return might just finish breaking what had been clinging on by a thread.

He had to figure out how to make the plan begin.

6:30 pm

Whoosh...

Raphael frowned and pushed himself away from the wall. Stepping back into the main corridor, he looked from side to side, frowning. He was sure someone had just run past, going the other way. He felt the wind hitting the side of his face. But there was no one running.

Turning his head the way this supposed person was coming from, he narrowed his eyes. This person could've come from the hospital wing. But why were they running, where were they going, and where did they hide so he couldn't see them? Deciding to leave that for later, he continued walking forwards, thinking hard.

Then, his radio turned on again. And for some reason, he thought it had to do with the person who'd run past him.

Stopping on his tracks, he took it from his belt and turned up the volume.

- Team C, back into the Auditorium. Team C, back into the Auditorium. - A demanding voice said.

- What is it? - Another man asked, already running.

- Students are refusing to be questioned. They're getting too violent for the team at hand. -

He wished he could be one of them.

Raphael put his radio back in his belt and marched onwards. It was good to know they already had the motivation to fight, but he needed someone to guide the fire.

In the distance, he could see a pair of officers running towards him, going to where they were being called. But Raphael frowned. Their uniforms were like his, dark green t-shirt and cargo pants with black boots, so they'll have to be Military Intervention from Team A or B. Team C was only police force.

- They've only called for Team C. - He said loudly so they could hear before they came any closer.

Slowing down, they looked at each other before looking back at him, all three walking towards each other in the corridor. They had recognized him, and they weren't pleased.

- It sounded like they needed all the hands they could get and we weren't doing anything important. - Answered the one on the right.

- And where do you come from? -

They stopped in front of each other.

- The hospital wing. - Answered the other, on the left. - There's nothing to worry about in there, really. Just a student and an old teacher. - He shrugged, looking from Raphael to the end of the corridor, plainly wishing to be in the action.

- Fine then. I'll go check and be right with you. - With one final nod, the other pair went off running and Raphael looked as they left. He didn't know them yet they recognized him. Like with all the other ones.

Something he's learned about soldiers is that comradery happened most in battle, and he'd found the same to be in many other fields where fighting was not particularly necessary, but outside a mission where survival was not on the forefront of their minds, he was just his daddy's lapdog.

Jungkook has been the only person in his life that didn't care who his father was. Just like he didn't care who his parents were. They would only care to use those facts as swords when fighting before others.

Swallowing down a lump of nostalgia, he started running with a purpose to the hospital wing. Because he now had an idea, however futile it might be.

Arriving at the Hospital wing, he pushed the door open, breathing deeply. He made eye contact with the man first, sitting on a bed with his hands folded on his lap, then he looked at the bed opposite where a sick-looking guy was having his left upper arm bandaged by a woman with black hair tied in a tight bun, and, finally, another woman came out of the doctor's office by a door on his left, frowning with worry.

- What is it? The other two just took off running. What's happening now? -

He took a deep breath and stepped inside.

- Students are refusing orders again. -

She gave a silent gasp and looked at the guy lying on the bed. Raphael copied the movement and found that the guy had tried to rise with his good arm, looking positively panicked.

- I have to go back. - He struggled to say but was stopped by the woman sitting beside him who put a hand on his chest and pushed him gently back down.

- You cannot. You need rest. - She told him, seriously.

Thinking fast, Raphael opened his mouth again.

- I'm afraid he'll have to rest somewhere else. - They all looked at him. - This place is no longer guarded and more students will need medical care after the new struggle. The doctors will have to go to the Auditoriums so no more students will need to be taken here. The patients remaining will need to be put somewhere safe for the time being. -

Once he finished, he took his work phone out of his pocket and sent a message to his father to inform him of his plan: He will send the doctors to the Auditorium so no other student will need to be separated from the rest as a last resort or as an excuse, and then take the only two patients to the Professors' living area where one of the patients resides.

- But where? - The woman next to him asked, anxiously. And he pocketed his phone, ready to answer.

- My apartment. - The man answered for him at once and slowly pushed his legs off the bed. The doctor next to Raphael went quickly by his side and helped him by putting his shoes back on. - Since we only need to lay down, we can do that there. Poppy, we'll need your keycard, I gave mine to the other boy. -

Raphael frowned.

- What other boy? -

The man looked back up at him as Poppy went to help the guy stand. The other doctor had gone to the office to get things ready to leave.

- The boy that brought Alf here. - He nodded to the guy. - I'm sorry if I shouldn't have, but I allowed him to rest in my apartment instead of going back to the Auditorium. He seemed terribly tired. - The man apologized and then stood stiffly, having to take deep breaths to straighten up.

- Yes, you shouldn't have. - Raphael said. But before the man could apologize again, he had placed a hand on his upper arm, helping him stand properly.

The man smiled at him.

- I'm sorry, my boy. And thank you. -

Raphael looked into those gray eyes and found himself unable to keep looking.

- Are the doctors ready to leave? - He asked in a clear voice so the women inside the office could hear him.

- Yes. - The woman called Poppy answered, exiting the office with an emergency kit at hand. Then the other woman followed suit, carrying one as well, and locked the office behind her.

- Let's go. - He nodded and went to help Alf. He was just about to take his good arm when he tugged it away from him.

- I can walk. - He said, angrily, looking at the floor, and walked weekly until he got to the teacher's side and put his good arm around his shoulders.

Two limping men helping each other walk.

He saw them as they walked out of the hospital wing and through the long, windowless corridor. Right when he heard one of the doctors behind him locking the doors, he marched onwards, having had enough of looking without helping.

He took Alf's good hand, unwrapped it from the teacher's shoulders as he heard him protesting, and hoisted him up behind his knees and around his back. It was obvious he couldn't walk properly just yet, and they had to hurry.

- Put me down. - Alf tried to fight.

- Alf, - The teacher stopped him. - let him help you. - He said gently, with a pat on his head.

- Help me? Pff. - Alf sulked, turning his head away from him. - He's just following orders. -

And they went on walking at the teacher's pace which wasn't as slow as Raphael expected.

Raphael couldn't get angry with him. If the positions were reversed, he would be spitting at any soldier or officer's face for the same exact reason. He couldn't blame others for being angry at him when he'd become the thing he himself had hated most.

In truth, he hadn't become it completely. But wearing the uniform meant the same to others as being the uniform. If Alf had fought to prevent the capture of an accomplice in the capital's conflict, anything related to the police or the military will bring only defiance out of him. Rapahel could understand his displeasure at being helped by, what he thought was, the enemy.

6:40 pm

They arrived at the black glass doors where no officer stood guard outside and Poppy placed her card over the glass.

- Thank you, Poppy. Do take care. - The teacher asked her with a worried frown as he helped the door open.

- As long as you do. - She answered, pocketing her card inside her white robe.

- You'll go straight to the Auditoriums. - Raphael told her one last time.

Both doctors nodded.

- Yes, we will. - Poppy answered and turned. Both doctors left at a fast pace.

With the teacher holding the door open, Raphael walked in.

- May I know your name? - Raphael asked the man as they walked towards the elevators.

- Oliver O'Connor. But you can call me Oliver. - He answered with a kind smile and pushed the button to go up.

Raphael frowned. His name sounded familiar.

- Are you a philosophy professor? -

- Yes, I am. -

He frowned even more.

- Were you perhaps the one that spoke to Jungkook Jeon years ago? -

Oliver gave a weak chuckle, but then the smile turned sad as he looked down at the floor. The doors opened and they entered the elevator in silence. Then, he answered with a sigh, his hand over his stomach.

- Yes. -

Raphael looked from his hand to his sad smile as they moved upwards.

- May I ask what happened? -

Oliver grimaced up at him.

- I made a mistake today. Didn't stop asking when I should've. -

Raphael's face dropped in an instant and he looked back down at that hand. He knew only too well the pain of receiving one of his punches, but for a grown man to be at the other end of one...

- Do you think you'll need me to stay with you two? - He asked with increasing worry. If this man was as kind as Jungkook said he was, he deserved to be taken care of. And Jungkook would never forgive himself if something worse happened to him because he got triggered.

But Oliver smiled again.

- Don't you worry. I feel lots better. And I bet the other boy will be able to help if we need anything. -

Raphael nodded, thinking of that boy and the "invisible person" running past him, somehow seeing them as being the same. The doors opened and they walked out. But Raphael stopped when he saw they were exactly on Taehyung's floor.

- Hm. - Oliver frowned at the open door, looking inside the empty apartment. - Maybe he isn't there, after all. - He muttered. Raphael could see the slight hurt in his eyes.

Just then, loud shouting came from Taehyung's apartment. They were muffled by the door so they couldn't understand what the words meant, but there was no doubt it was a heated argument between two men.

Then, one thing could be clearly heard from where they stood.

- Shut up! -

It was Taehyung.

But Taehyung should be alone right now.

- What's with Taehyung? - Oliver muttered with concern and took a step towards his door.

- No, don't. - He stopped him. - I'll leave you two in there and check on him myself. I had the order to leave him there alone. Go. -

Frowning, Oliver did as he was told and went to his own apartment.

- See? - Aft muttered angrily. - Orders. -

Raphael went inside once the light was turned on, found this apartment was distributed just like Taehyung's, and went straight to the large bed by the far right side corner. As gently as he could, he laid Alf down, then looked up to see Oliver on the other side of the apartment, taking cups from the dining table to the kitchen.

- Leave. - Alf muttered. Pushing his hand off the bed. - You did what you had to do, now go punish the neighbors. - Sulking, he draped his good arm over his eyes to cover them from the light.

Raphael looked back up to make sure Oliver couldn't hear and then bent down to whisper close to Alf's ear.

- There's a student being abused in this building right now. -

Slowly, Alf removed his arm to look at him with alarm. But Raphael didn't let him speak when he continued.

- Without letting Oliver know, I need you to turn on the fire alarm. I can't do it. - He grabbed the neck of his shirt in a tight fist and said, - My hands are tied. -

The middle of Alf's eyebrows pulled up. They looked into each other's eyes, understanding flowing between each other. And one final nod was all it took.

- Wait for my signal. - Raphael told him last.

He walked away, straightening, bid Oliver a quick goodbye, and closed the door on his way out.

Seconds later, he was banging at Taehyung's door, making himself heard over the shouting.

- What now!? - Came from inside. And then, the door opened. But it wasn't someone Raphael knew.

Tall guy, pale skin, slanted eyes, common clothing, this could've easily been another student who was slowly hunching in fear of him. Frowning, Rapahel looked over his shoulder and found Taehyung towering over a guy sitting on the couch, this one, he couldn't see the face of because of his hood. Then, there was another man, teacher-looking, sitting in an armchair and wearing a three-piece suit, he had a knee folded over the other as if he was separate from whatever was going on.

- What do you want? - Taehyung snapped at him from the living room. His face was red as well as his eyes as if he'd been crying, but instead of looking tired, he looked angry beyond belief.

Raphael ignored him. He needed to know what the situation was exactly. Looking back at the frightened guy in front of him, he chose to ask him first.

- Are you the one who asked Oliver for his key card? -

The guy blinked, taken aback, and shook his head frantically.

- It was me. - The hooded one answered from the couch as he stood, turning to face him. Then, he sighed. - Could I stay here just a second longer? Please. - He put his hands together as he pleaded. Taehyung scoffed at him and turned around.

This guy was thinking he would be taking him back to the Auditorium. And he was right.

It was like a gift from the heavens.

6:50 pm

Raphael gave one nod to the guy standing in front of him, signing for him to go back inside the apartment. With a quick turn and fast steps towards the unbothered teacher, he did. Then, Rapahel walked inside, leaving the door open so the camera in the corridor could catch that important choice. He walked straight to the other guy who was lowering his hands and looked at him closely. This guy looked to be strong beneath the clothing but his face was too pale for him to be fully alright; there was purple under his eyes, his lips were dry, and his hair and pants were wet though his hoodie wasn't.

He had taken Alf to the hospital wing and then asked for the teacher to give him his key card for the sole purpose of getting to Taehyung. Has it been all planned? Was his physical strength due to some kind of training? What was his reason for needing to get to Taehyung and what had he done wrong for Taehyung to be scolding him?

This was not a simple student. Taehyung was not only a teacher. The one seating down appears to be here only because of the frightened-looking one and the latter couldn't be a student because it would've been reported thru his radio.

Raphael looked up at his eyes and asked him seriously.

- Are you associated with the student they're looking for? -

- No. - He answered at once.

Raphael took a deep breath.

- Ignore the uniform. Do you know Jungkook? -

The guy frowned.

- No. -

- Yes, he does. - Taehyung answered in an exhale and turned back around to face the pair of them. - Why are you asking all of this? You can't help him any more than I can nor does he. - He huffed out a breath and folded his arms over his chest, taking another step closer. - He has to take Jungkook out of here but he can't do it alone and we can't come up with anything that doesn't involve us. Whatever happens, I'm already a suspect, but I can't let them take me away because of my children. And the one seating over there doesn't want to let Namjoon help either even if he would be the best answer. And if you do anything, your daddy wouldn't like that, would he? -

- No, he wouldn't. - Raphael frowned up at the window. It was a letdown to hear an easy plan going to the dogs just because a stubborn man didn't want to help. But he sighed and let it go, squaring his shoulders and standing tall. - I already have a plan in motion, though. -

Taehyung's frown softened in surprise.

- A plan for what exactly? - The guy in front of him asked. It was clear that he was getting too tired to follow the thread of the conversation. He was still frowning at Raphael, not knowing if he could be trusted.

If he was too tired to function, it could be an issue for the plan. He hopes that won't be the case.

- To take Jungkook out of here and get the police out of here without a student. - He answered.

The guy blinked.

- You know Jungkook? -

That was the only thing he caught?

- He was his school bully. - Taehyung answered offhandedly. - What do you mean by a plan? What have you been doing? - Taehyung asked Rapahel, looking more alert than angry.

- Some of the officers and soldiers were sent back to the Auditorium because of another struggle, including the ones stationed in front of the Hospital wing. I went there and sent the doctors to the Auditorium so I could bring the only two patients up here. They're Oliver and Alf, they're in Oliver's apartment. Alf will turn on the fire alarm in this building when the power goes out. But, for the power to go out, - He looked back up at the guy in front of him. - I need someone else to do it so the cameras won't catch anyone specific turning on the alarms. -

- Consider it done. - He answered as a soldier would. But Rapahel frowned. His lack of questioning was the mark of an inexperienced soldier in battle. And training didn't surmount experience.

That could be a problem. Raphael will need to be as specific as he could.

- We'll do the following. I'll leave with all three of you, leaving Taehyung alone as he "should" be. You two will head over to–

- My apartment, where we will help no one and be no one's accomplice. - Cut in the other teacher as he stood up, looking only at the other guy who looked down at the floor.

- Fine. And I'll take you back to the Auditorium. - He finished, looking at the guy.

He frowned.

- But–

- In there, - He continued. - you'll take advantage of the inspiration you gave the other students to rebel and form a little group. You'll need to cause a diversion so one of the doors is left unsupervised and everyone can run out. While the others are running and hiding all around the university, your small group will have to find the power boxes and turn off the power, giving the signal for the rest to turn on the fire alarms. Those don't function with the same power as the rest of the university. Understood? -

- Yes, sir. - He answered with a firm nod even though he was still frowning; even though he looked sick and Raphael could glance at a bloody bandage wrapped around his neck and was trying visibly hard to remember everything.

- Wait. - The other guy standing beside Kim spoke up, making him look. - Those students will never find those buttons. They're in the corridors beneath the grounds. - He said, anxiously.

Raphael felt like a rug had been pulled from beneath his feet. He'd nearly thrown comrades into a losing battle because he supposed this university was like any other. His mistake was not confirming what he thought was true.

This guy just saved hundreds of lives with that single comment; he'd chosen to speak up when he noticed a mistake even when that teacher was glaring down at him. He might be a bit frightful, but he had the spirit of a hero somewhere beneath.

- Thank you for your input. - Raphael bowed to him who raised his hands a bit nervously. - I take it the Out of Bound doors are the entrance to these hidden corridors? - The guy nodded rapidly. - Can a professor's card key unlock these doors? - This time, he shook his head.

The teacher looked away disappointedly while Namjoon swallowed, his eyes open wide. Rapidly, he began to answer.

- The ones that do are the ones from the reception desk, the librarian, the librarian's assistant which would be mine, the cleaners, the gardeners, and the ones in upper office positions. And the doctors. The students will only need to enter from a door on the west and another on the east; try getting to the library like you would in the corridors upstairs and you'll find the metal boxes. The red buttons turn off all the power. The backup power will turn back on after fifteen minutes. But, umm... the ones who turn off the power will be caught by all the cameras and radars leading there. Those corridors are heavily guarded. So anyone that goes down there will have to leave less they'll be caught later. - He finished, as fast as he could.

He gave him even more information than he could've asked for. Raphael had so many questions as to why Taehyung would need a university worker who knows all of this on his side, but those questions will have to wait.

Raphael nodded and turned back to the other guy.

- I'll give Oliver back his card. If anyone asked, I took it from you; I'm Raphael. And then, in the commotion you'll create, make sure your group takes the doctor's cards. But don't hurt them. That's the crucial part. -

- Got it. - He nodded again.

- Once the light is out, Alf will turn on the fire alarm in this building. Make sure others do as well in other buildings. -

- I will. -

- Considering that he's even able to make a commotion, that is. - Cut in Taehyung, looking sour again. - If the students themselves haven't been able to leave the Auditorium until now, what makes you think they'll do it just because he's there? And then, all of them will be taken by the police once the light is back on. - He was frowning at him like his plan made no sense.

It didn't. If someone didn't have all the knowledge that he did.

- Someone with a purpose has to lead their strength. - Rapahel answered. - If he was able to get out of the Auditoriums and enter this building without soldiers or officers on his tail, then he'll be able to teach other students what he knows and do it to not only save Jungkook but to stop the police for today. - Taehyung squinted his eyes at him, and he elaborated. - Yungsoo's the owner of this land. He created a rule that separates the university from outside conflict so classes wouldn't have to be postponed. Now that we know the one we're looking for has run off and is not inside Evanthe, it makes the search an "outside conflict", meaning that the police have to leave. But the police are staying because they want to apprehend the students that helped the other one escape. However, there's a time limit. If the police don't apprehend someone inside Evanthe with clear evidence within three hours of the "outside conflict" time limit, they'll have to leave. The police can't apprehend anybody inside Evanthe without Yungsoo's consent, that's why the Chief Inspector had to talk to him first. Once the light turns back on, the students will have to keep hiding until nine o'clock so the time limit will be over. Then, they'll have three days in which the police get official permission to either hide their injuries or run away from Evanthe. -  

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🌼Thank you for reading Chapter 76 <3<3<3

Your devoted writer,

Ela Shadow Rose 🥀

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