❝Fatal Shot.❞
✖Too soon.
Nineteen years old was far too young of an age to die at. People always quoted, "Live fast, die young." Jongup was never fond of that quote. Especially not when it applied to him. There's so much to life. So much to do. Meet new people. Letting them become friends. Foes or remain strangers. Doing new things. The good, the bad and the neutral. Trying new things. Growing up. Going out of your comfort zone. And dying young wasn't what he wanted. It never was. He knew it was coming. Jongup worked a risky job. Selling information to both sides of rivaling conflicts. It was a ticking time bomb of a job. And it was only a matter of time before it blew up on him.
Quickly turning the corner of a dark, cold alleyway, Jongup's breathing erratic, he ran for his life through the darkness. His eyes weren't registering their surroundings due to the unlit path. Causing him to stumble and trip over objects every so often. The informant's name and location were thrown out into the open. As well as the results of his information. There was a bounty on his head. And people wanted blood. His blood. Cursing multiple times under his short breath, he turned another corner. Stumbling over unseen trashbin and stumbling to a stop. He looked left. Then right. Looking for a way out before dread fell over him.
Dead end.
"Fuck!" He spun around quickly as if to dart back from where he came in order to try a new path but was thrown off his feet. Like he was nothing but a stuffed doll. His vision faded to black as he yelped in surprise. His head was smashed into the cold, dirty walls of an unknown building. Being pinned to it by his neck. The momentum caused the back of his skull to crack loudly against the concrete wall. The sound contrasted to the unnerving quiet surroundings, causing him to inwardly cringe as he struggled the breathe. The hand around his neck tighted. Lifting him off his feet as he struggled to get free.
He could hear the sounds of amused laughter closing in on him and he forced his eyes open to look at the source. He felt like retching when he recognized the face. "Did you really think you could get away," their 'boss''s question was laced heavily with amusement. Like a satisfied cat cornering it's prey. Jongup knew who the other male was. He knew who the person who kept him in place was. He knew all of them. He had sold out their headquarters and profiles to a rivaling gang. And now he was paying the price. "I'll admit, 'Moon'," he spat out Jongup's street-known name as his expression shifted to a lazy one, "I always love it when my prey tries to get away.
"It fills me with a sort of... glee, you know?" The leader of the gang held his hand out and Jongup's eyes focused on one of his minions shuffling in the distance. The handle of a knife was planted firmly in their leader's hand as he grinned and approached the informant leisurely. The taller male that was holding him in place stepped to the side to allow his leader full access to Jongup's pinned body. Jongup struggled with each step the other took. Breath hitching and heart racing when he got too close. "Too bad it has to end so soon. But! Not without a bang," he singsonged before his voice took on a dark tune. "Or a lot of blood."
Without even hesitating, the cool metal of the blade slashed across Jongup's cheek, whipping his head to the side. He closed his eyes as he yelled out in pain. Kicking up his feet towards the other male but hitting the air. Jongup could feel the warm, red liquid draining down his cheek. It seemed warmer due to the night's chilly bite. His eyes began to water from the throbbing sensation. "What's this? One scratch and you're already down? You talk big, Moon! Except you're nothing but a little messenger bird. Only to be replaced when you ran out of merits."
The words seemed distanct as the sound of his heart filled up his ears. His vision blurred due to the throbbing of his head. His breath picked up even more from panic. Gasping for oxygen that was being cut from his system by the tight grip on his neck. That only seemed to tighten with each second. He blocked out the taunts and the words. Praying that it would be over soon. But that was such a naive thought. Things like this don't end quickly. He waited for the other to stop talking. Waiting for all of them to leave as he kept his eyes tightly shut. Hoping that they would leave if he 'passed out'. But that was just another naive thought.
Jongup was pulled from his reverie as the blade pierced through his skin. He could feel the cool metal pressing further and further into his stomach as he grunted out in pain. But before he could catch his breath, he could feel another sharp pain in a different location. Then another. And another. He soon lost count. The grip on his neck loosened but the pain in his torso prevented him from inhaling what he lacked. He slumped to the ground uselessly. The tears that pricked his eyes finally falling. As they stung the cut on his cheek.
He felt cold.
None of his surroundings registered. Jongup could've sworn he died in that moment. But not yet. After what felt like an eternity, Jongup finally opened his eyes. Only to see an abandoned alleyway. Slowly, he pulled out his phone from his pant's pocket -- surprised to see it was still with him -- and opened up the chat. The chat consisted of other informants in his group. The ones he relied on for information. He was working from memory as he sent them a final text that read, "Kappa down." Jongup weakly pushed himself up into a sitting position, wincing at the pain in his torso. He didn't even remember laying on the ground.
Out of habit, whenever something happened, Jongup's eyes drifted to the sky in search for the only thing that remained a constant in his life. The Moon. He frowned when he noticed that the Moon was hiding from his sight. He felt too weak to move anywhere else. So he closed his eyes and imagined it:
Sitting on the rooftop of his 'nest'. Legs dangling over the edge as his back was pressed to the roof's floor. He stared up at the Moon, eyes twinkling with excitement as he retold important or money-worth information. He recited everything he knew and everything that happened since his last talk. If anyone could keep a secret, it was the Moon. The moon would never betray him. Even if it wasn't seen, he knew it was there. Waiting in the darkness. Hiding. It always gave him comfort whenever the Moon showed itself after a day or two of being away.
Jongup could feel his tears slide down his cheeks but made no move to wipe them away. He couldn't feel his hands. Letting out a quiet sigh, Jongup smiled at the images in his head as they brought a wave of peace over him. He mouthed something before his entire world faded to black. Leaving the bloody male there, smiling softly as the moon's light began to shine on him.
Thank you.