หหห โฎ หหห ย ย ย ย ย there was an attack โ daddyโs wounded and lilโ salemโs been taken; shoved into the back of a car and driven out far. outside the car window he sees a crumbling cement building with a rust pitted sign that clings desperately onto itโs pole โ daleโs corner store. he bites his captors hand and gets a rifle butt to the teeth. heโs blacked out for the rest of the car ride.ย
when he finally comes to, his face swollen and on fire, his teeth loose in his head, he finds himself in a cage. just beyond that cage is a man with a gentle face, quietly reading by candle light. the man notices lilโ salemโs finally awake, turning to check on him, opens his mouth to speak โ but buck isnโt having it. the boy turns his back, stubborn and scared. the man leaves him be.
but he always leaves food for buck to eat, always gently reminds him that he needs to keep his strength, ย ย โ if you want to get out of here, you need to make sure youโre strong enough to do it. โ
buck warms up to the man after a few days โ watching him from his cage, realizing that the man himself is also trapped, kept prisoner by the same people who keep him here. his eyes are tired, sad โ he wants to leave too. maybe they can help each other.ย
the man โ jun, as buck learns โ forfeits food for buck nearly every day. he teaches buck all he can about medicine from his spot at his desk. they play games together, tell long stories about their families, their travels, their hopes and dreams. lilโ salem find comfort in him, safety in him โ and decides itโs time to risk it all to save the both of them.ย
so he tricks the keyholder into coming a little too close, and the two of them work together to steal the keys. a bag is packed, the camps medical supplies and books packed away and slung onto their backs. they escape in the dead of night, careful to cover their tracks.
