save me | hajeongwoo
tw // mention of blood, violence.
– heavy angst (?) – use of profanities
“find him!” the man's voice booms like thunder, disturbing the stillness of the night as he ordered his men to find the boy whom he assumed had robbed him of his money.
“damn it.” haruto curses under his breath, anxious eyes wandering around the dark in search for a place to hide.
his eyes drifts to the side. chills crawling up his spine as the dark and eerie view of the forest greeted his sight. he bit his lips as he fervently shakes his head. he's always been afraid of the dark, and the idea of running inside the forest is too far-fetched.
“you!” his head quickly turns to the voice “stop right there you fucker, give me back my money!”
haruto's eyes widens when the man takes rush steps towards him, followed by four of his men who's twice bigger than him.
his heart races inside his chest, blood pumping through his veins. cold sweat drips down his forehead, rigid breathes left his lips as his aching heels mindlessly scampers towards the direction of the dark forest. he glides down the rough slope, taking small cuts on his soft palms as he sprints.
the wind attacks his distressed feature, the smell of douglas fir trees mixed with the earthy smell of the forest filling his nostrils. the ground was uneven, dark, and damp from the last rainfall making it hard for him to run. a squeak slipped in between his quavering lips as the sound of twigs crackles under his feet.
the darkness is terrifying, he could barely see anything as he ran. he wanted to stop, but dying this way is unacceptable. he was wrongly accused of stealing a big amount of money when in fact, it was his friend who stole it.
“run faster boy!” the man shouted from a distance.
his throat burns, the bitter taste of blood rising up his throat. he can feel his body temperature rising since the moment he started running.
he's surprised that they're still meters away from him when they were too close from catching him earlier.
chuckles left his lips, it must be their big bellies jiggling as they ran that slowed them down.
he lifts his head, eyes meeting the beauteous features of the golden moon. the forest was no longer dark, the yellow disc hanging on the sky lit up his path, followed by a wolf's howl out of earshot. the mellow and radiant glow of the moon seeps through the canopies, leading him to safety.
safety..
he stops, hands on his knees, and his chest heaves up and down. he wipe the sweat on his forehead and neck as he catches his breath. he turns around, and sees nothing but the emptiness of the forest. he felt alone, the sound of his captors’ heavy footsteps had vanished.
“haruto!” or not.
mud swash under his feet as he dashes towards the other direction. he's not familiar with the route, he's lost, and the moon is his only hope.
“no..” he mumbles under his breath as he watch the moon, his only hope, slowly hiding itself behind the dark and thick clouds.
“please,” he says, wishing the moon will hear his desperate pleading “don't go, save me please.” he finishes with a single tear that trickles down his face, sparkling under the last gleam of the moon before it completely vanished behind the thick clouds.
“i can see you, boy!” his shaking hands covers both of his ears, wanting to immobilize the man's blood-curdling voice.
help me..
someone, help me please..
he whispers in his mind as he traverse through gnarled roots of the trees, dipped into and out of the ground.
countless leaves sticking out from branches slapped him, adding cuts to his already pale face. a wince left his lips as the sharp offshoot of the tree scraped his skin. the flaring pain shooting up from his arm to his head, numbing him for a measly ten seconds.
he gritted his teeth as he applied pressure on his wounded flesh, his shirt was slightly torn and blood's oozing out.
he yelped as he tries to jump across a big trunk, but miserably failed when his tie got stuck on a nail attached on the trunk and he fell, face flat.
“damn fucking useless nail!” he groans.
horrendous laughs of several men echoes in the dark. fear envelopes him, eyes wide, and his mouth dropping slightly open.
he needs to get himself out or else, he'll be killed.
he hissed, “come on” as he struggles to untangle the tie.
he turns his body to the side in an attempt to have more access, but only added him more pain when petioles from a bunch of dry leaves pricked his open wound.
tears streamed down haruto's stained cheeks, face all crumpled in pain and fear.
his quivering fingers fumbled with his tie for seconds.
hope blooms in his heart when finally, he was no longer stuck. he places his palm on the ground, supporting his weight as he tries to stand only to get kicked back down.
he'll die.
“let go of me!” he yells when someone gripped his shirt tightly from the back that he can feel himself getting choked.
“no!” he screams
he tries to fight “i said, let go of me!”
one of them dropped him harshly to the ground.
“i didn't steal anything!” he yells at them hoping the men would release him, but they only laughed and sauntered towards him.
“no..” he whispers “no, stay the fuck away from me!”
with a frightening smile, one of them kicked his stomach, followed by a punch on his face, and another kicking as they all gathered to beat him.
guttural groans rumbles deep on the back of his throat, his obnoxious cries stole the night's silence, his gut-wrenching sobs filled their ears and they played deaf to his pleadings. his eyes rolled back in pain, his head throbbing painfully, knuckles turning white as he clenches his fist on the ground.
“help.. me” he whispers, blood mixed with his saliva dribbles down the side of his mouth.
a faint howl resonated.
the men stops beating him, amused chuckles slipped past their mouths. he can feel their eyes on his wrecked figure, as if his bruised body was their masterpiece.
tears streamed down his cheek as he curls up into a ball, covering his bruised stomach.
his head fuzzy, his thoughts all jumbled, and his eyelids drooping close.
“i.. didn't– didn't do anything” he chokes out, coughing a fit of blood.
“it– it was.. was my f- friend”
the boss laughed, “sure, talk to my gun.”
his body is too weak to even react, he no longer fears death when he's already shattered enough. his almost limp body laid on the hard ground, too worn out from all the beating he received.
a bitter smile crept on his lips when he heard the pistol cock.
wait for me, mom.
haruto waited with his eyes closed, but the sound of gunshot never came. it was silent.
and as the moon slowly revealed itself, his eyes flutters open.
a large white wolf stood before him, its big figure covered half his view of the moon, its curious eyes raking down his bruised figure. haruto can hear his heart beating widely in his chest, as if the time stopped, haruto's lidded eyes gazed deeply into the wolf's bewitching amber globes.
the lasers of moonlight, as bright as diamond-flame, shone down on the wolf's white fur making him glow.
the wolf was undeniably beautiful.
he slowly helped himself up, eyes never leaving the creature as it takes closer steps, its nose nuzzling on his hair. he sighed when the creature's paw landed on top of his head, the wolf's touch engulfed his body in a comforting manner. he felt unexpectedly safe with the wolf's company, as if the creature ensured his safety.
his eyes marvels around the place and notices that the men already left, the pistol was left discarded on the ground. when he realized that he almost died, he teared up. not because of fear, but out of relief because someone finally heard his pleas.
he didn't die.
the wolf tilts his head to the side, and haruto can't help but let out a few weak chuckles in between his cries because he thought it was cute.
“why are you crying?”
a faint gasp rolled off his chapped lips when he heard the wolf's voice.
the creature can talk!
“y-you.. you talked” it wasn't a question, but a statement his mouth blurted out in astonishment.
the wolf took a step back, and haruto can feel his heart drop when the wolf removed its paw.
“no.. no, don't g-go.” he pleads
the wolf stared at him, “i'm not going anywhere, human.”
haruto tries to lift his heavy body with his palms, but his arms shook and he fell with a hump.
the creature sat in front of him, his wide back facing haruto.
“what?” haruto cluelessly asks, wondering what the wolf is up to.
the wolf wiggled its tail, “climb on my back”
“what if i fall?”
the wolf growled, “you won't, trust me.”
his body crawls, his frail arms reaching up as he settles himself on the wolf's back. its fur was just as soft like he imagined, and he whimpers as he felt how warm the wolf's body is.
he can feel the creature moving, and he can't believe how comfortable he was that he let his body relax, his muscles loose as he laid on top.
the faint noises inside the forest that he didn't notice when the men chased him, chimed in his ear. the leaves rustled in the gentle whip of the breeze, the water gurgles in the nearby stream, mingling with owl's hoots.
“where are you taking me?” he asks, faintly.
“somewhere beautiful.” the wolf answered.
the wolf walked up the trail and haruto can't help but clench his fist, body snuggling even closer with his eyes closed, afraid that he might fall.
it didn't take minutes when the wolf finally stopped walking.
“open your eyes.” haruto opens his eyes.
he gasp, the moon’s majestic figure was very clear as they stood on top of a cliff.
“wow..” he breathed out
the wolf slowly sat as haruto slid down. he then settled himself beside the wolf, his gaze fixed on the moon.
a light suddenly glowed beside him, too bright, and blinding that he can't help but cover his eyes.
“hey” someone mumbled
haruto swallows down the lump on his throat as his eyes slowly opens, his head turns, and he can hear his heart galloping like horses inside his ribcage.
the person who sat before him was the most handsome boy he had ever laid his eyes on. the bright glint of the moon lit the side of his face, and haruto can clearly see his features.
in contrast to the wolf's form, the boy had an alluring tan skin that perfectly suited his rigid features. sharp eyes, chiseled jaws, hooked nose, and his hair was parted in the middle.
“who..” he trailed off, his voice almost a whisper “who are you?”
the boy reaches out, his hand slowly coming closer and haruto felt the boy's thumb, slowly wiping away a tear on the corner of his eye.
the boy stared at him intently, “i’m jeongwoo,” he smiled “and it's nice to meet you, haruto.”
end.