Things you said when you thought you were dying.
He physically feels his knee caps grinding against one another too close. He’s sure with the speed he’s reached, his body might just light into flames, with him burning and running at all once. Because that’s what this fight seems like. He’s running and he’s on fire.
They’re out numbered. He’s cracking into the skull of another human, hands throwing away a decapitated head. The skull sits by his feet and he stares for a second too long.
“Juwon – !”
He lifts his head to the source of the sound, and meets eyes with Elymas. Time runs too quick and even he doesn’t have a chance to react. Instead, he’s watching another mutant behind Elymas, with projected bones as if the vines of a tree. Each bone is cutting through Elymas in a different place, there are holes all over his body in decoration. Elymas’ knees hit the ground, and the killer behind him disappears.
Elymas falls to the ground, and Juwon rushes over, arms shoved under the dirt and his body. He pulls him up, body in tremors – he’s not sure if he’s shaking or Elymas.
“Ely, Ely… Ely, stay with me.”
“Cut… it… out, Juwon.”
“No, stay with me, stay with me, stay with me Ely –” He’s lost his voice and he’s whispering, words tumbling out like a mantra. He’s watching his whole world fall apart in his arms, and all he can do is stare. “Ely, fuck – Ely, please…”
“Are you crying?” Elymas’ laugh fills the space between them, and god, it’s so out of place. It doesn’t belong here. It isn’t the time, the place, nor does he want it. “God, stop… crying.” He sees Elymas try to reach him, but his arms don’t make it above the ground.
Somewhere in the distance of the field, he hears Kyungsoo’s triumphant cry, declaring their win. And it should feel bloody good, it should feel riveting – he should stand tall, triumphant with them, blood rushing through him like an animal.
Instead, he feels nothing.
“We won for now.” But I’m losing you. “You’ve got to go.” And you have to stay. “They’ll be here with more backup… in minutes…”
“Then let me stay for a minute, you fuck.” His hands are still shaking, even more so now. His vision is too clouded to clearly read Elymas’ face, but for once, he swears he can see fear. He wonders what Elymas sees, if it’s death, or maybe God, or maybe nothing at all, at the end of his tunnel. And then he wonders, what kind of god could dare to pull this tragedy onto them.
(Juwon: But we’re just boys.)
(God: Yes.)
(God: You just wanted to prove that there was one safe place, just one safe place where you could protect him. You have not found that place. Simply because – it does not exist.)
(God: For you are a boy. No God. Just a boy.)









