SURVIVE

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: PARALLELS

“What the hell is she doing here?!” Mina exclaimed, keeping her katana aimed on the girl’s neck, who didn’t seem fazed by the girl’s actions, while Yuqi widened her eyes, surprised that they were there, standing before the two of them.

“Chill, we’re not here to harm any of you.” The girl said, her brown irises turning into red and white for a moment, but turning back to normal.

“How can we trust you, Kim Minji?!” Mina said, as she still had the katana trained onto the girl’s neck, while Jiu only stood calmly.

She suddenly grabbed the katana, the sharp ends cutting into her palm, the blood falling down the ground and immediately disappearing, Jiu pushing the katana away with no sweat, Mina finding herself struggling as she tried to fight against her, but did not succeed as the katana cluttered down the ground, Mina widening her eyes as she saw the wounds close, then the blood disappearing, as if nothing had happened.

“You can trust me, because I would have killed all of you on the spot if I’m here to do so; but no. We’re here to help you end this all, and I’m wholeheartedly giving you my service.” Jiu said, Mina still skeptical as Jiu chuckled, then took a barbed wire lying around, binding her hands with that, Soojin widening her eyes at that.

Blood dripped down the ground, the wound having a hard time resealing as Jiu soon gritted herself, as if she was removing her numbness to the pain, as she soon groaned in pain, falling down to the ground.

“I give you the permission on whether I should take these off or not. You have the choice; I won’t die by these, but it would sure be very annoying and painful.” Jiu said, gritting her teeth as Mina widened her eyes, seeing that Jiu was in excruciating pain—

“Remove it, please.” Yuqi said, as Jiu looked at her, smiling as she ripped off the barbed wire in one go, some of her flesh exposed but soon healing up, Yuqi approaching and examining the girl’s wrist.

“You… You two aren’t just normal infected, aren’t you?” Yuqi asked, Jiu finding herself nodding at the girl’s question, becoming passive, which Soojin widened her eyes at, finding the girl’s behavior odd.

“Tell me about it.” Yuqi said, Jiu nodding at that.

“We… We were running away.” Jiu said, a calmness settling in herself as she slowly bared herself, Yuqi widening her eyes slightly as she stared at Jiu’s true form, her red and white eyes glistening with tears as she stared at her hands, its ends sharp and dangerous, as she distanced herself from Mina and Yuqi.

“All I wanted was for me and Gahyeon to be safe. Soojin, as well, but I knew that she could protect herself easily, away from him.” Jiu said, wiping her tears as she willed herself to change back to her human form, her black hair flowing across her shoulders, as if she did not hide a monstrosity inside her.

“Seo Soo Jung was a cruel man, and the worst brother, to us. He was aiming to overthrow the government, and was in the process of using us as a bait, or to blame everything on us. We tried to find refuge, and we found it in Zeus Corporations. We were willing to pay any price; but we didn’t know that the price would be even greater than what we had run away from.” Jiu said, as she chuckled, scratching her nape nervously.

“We became like personal killers for Zeus Corporations, and they had us do what they had wanted us to do, for the benefit of their company.” Jiu said, tears falling as she stared at the ground, fiddling with her fingers.

“I was tasked to ensure that Soojin would be successfully inserted in society, and I was asked to remove her memories, to ensure that she wouldn’t be able to tell people anything just in case that she was caught, and that someone would come and remind her about the mission that she had.” Jiu said, Soojin widening her eyes at that.

“So… you removed my memories and made Song Jin imprison me? Did… did I really murder someone like he said?” Soojin said, as she had that fact as one of her big regrets.

“No, you didn’t. It was something that Song Jin told me he would tell the people everywhere so you would be convicted easily. But I know the truth; he was a corrupt man. The whole story he fed the people about you murdering a girl, it’s him. He pushed all the blame to you, so that he wouldn’t be convicted of a crime that violated the rules. He used you as something that would benefit himself.” Jiu said, Soojin gritting her teeth.

“Where is that bastard, is he with Minnie and the others? I will personally murder him—”

“I think he’s dead.” Mina said casually, putting the katana back in her sheathe as Jiu looked up in disbelief, Soojin widening her eyes.

“What do you mean, he’s dead?” Soojin asked, as Mina sat up, nodding at that.

“He told us that he stayed there as a distraction so the three of you could get out of Paradise with… with Miyeon. He didn’t intend for himself to survive; those were his exact words.” Yuqi said, Soojin widening her eyes at that.

“What… What did he do?” Soojin said, Mina raising her brow at that.

“What? So… the murder and all that wasn’t part of his plan?” Mina said, Jiu shaking her head.

“I thought the murder was just human nature evolving back, since we’ve had undisrupted peace for a year inside the compound. The date was fixed; we would abduct Soyeon that night as we originally planned, and then get out of Paradise unseen, and Song Jin was supposed to go with us since he was… he’s one of the leaders of Zeus Corporations.” Jiu said, Mina and Yuqi widening their eyes at that, Jaechan sitting up as he saw the two girls in front of him, widening his eyes.

“What…” Jaechan uttered, Yuqi patting his shoulder, bidding him to go sleep again, to which he did.

“We’re sorry, Jaechan… We couldn’t take Gahyeon with us.” Soojin said, Jaechan sitting up and rubbing his eyes, seeing that Jiu and Soojin was in front of him, his mouth hung open.

“Where… where is she?” Jaechan asked, Jiu looking at him, emotionless.

“She pushed us out of the compound in Athena Laboratories, and she was left there. We don’t know if she’s still alive, but she isn’t easy to kill, since she has that same virus Soojin and I have.” Jiu said, Jaechan looking down.

“But… why are you guys here? I thought we’re enemies now?” Jaechan said, making Jiu laugh out loud at that.

“Ah, I can see why Gahyeon likes to be with you so much, Mr. Vocalist. We’re here to help you defeat the people that are behind everything.” Jiu said, Jaechan only nodding at that, then lying down again, as Jiu chuckled softly at that.

“Why the change of mind, Jiu unnie?” Yuqi said, Jiu sighing at that.

“They betrayed us, since they promised us that we would be safe being there. It’s time they pay back for what they did.” Jiu said, wiping the tears in their eyes.

“You guys can sleep; we will watch for the night.” Jiu said, Mina nodding at that as she leaned onto the wall, slowly falling asleep.

“You have to explain yourself to Shuhua, Soo.” Yuqi said, not feeling sleepy as Soojin sat beside her, while Jiu kept her eyes trained on the exits, ready to fight any second.

“She knows…” Soojin mumbled, Yuqi raising her brow at that.

“What do you mean?” Yuqi asked, Soojin smiling as she transformed her finger into a sharp knife, then proceeded to cut her hair in front of Yuqi, the girl widening her eyes at the action of the girl, but then Yuqi widened her eyes even more as she saw Soojin’s skin.

Tattoos were scattered in her skin, the ink still new as Yuqi found herself touching the ink across her skin, Soojin chuckling at that.

“I had discovered that Paradise had a tattoo artist as one of their refugees, and I volunteered to bring him food every night so he wouldn’t have to go out, since the people at that place despised tattooed people, it seemed. In exchange of that, I had him tattoo some of these on me. I had a lot of tattoos from his design that I liked, but this… at my back, is the one I liked the best.” Soojin said, Yuqi nodding at that as she looked at the one below the letters blue, seeing two butterflies that seem to fly upward.

“I chose that for two reasons; one is because it represents change, which symbolizes that I already lost their hold on me, and I’m free. The second reason is that…” Soojin trailed off, Yuqi raising a brow at that.

“Shuhua’s nickname is…” Soojin trailed off, Yuqi realizing what it is.

“White butterfly, of course.” Yuqi said, chuckling to herself.

“She knew that I would betray all of you… and yet she didn’t tell all of you and just kept silent. I asked her why, multiple times, and she kept saying the same thing, whenever I would ask her.” Soojin said, Yuqi raising her brow at that.

“You have a reason, Soojin. That’s what I know. Everyone has reasons on what they do, and I’m sure you have one.” Soojin said, telling the exact same words that was engraved on her mind, as Yuqi widened her eyes, the words also making a mark on her.

“I was in shock. How can she tell me that, when she already knows that I would bring harm to her and to all of you? I didn’t know what to do… That’s why… That’s why I forced Song Jin not to harm her.” Soojin said, Yuqi remembering all the attacks that were on her, and she became angry—

But seeing Soojin’s hurtful eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to be angry anymore, as she leaned to Soojin, the girl letting her lean on her shoulder.

“I promised Minnie I would protect all of you. That’s why I took Miyeon and set her free, but I don’t… I don’t know if she reached Minnie and the others.” Soojin said, Yuqi nodding at that.

“She will, alright?” Yuqi said, as she slowly quieted, Soojin noticing that the girl was falling asleep while leaning on her shoulder, to which she let the girl do.

“They really changed you, didn’t they?” Jiu said, still not taking her eye off the doors as she chuckled, seeing the doctor sleeping peacefully on the girl’s shoulder, the scene making her smile.

“If I was the one that they chose to involve myself with them, would I be changed?” Jiu said, her eyes stripped off of the hate, the anger and the cold strictness, Soojin seeing Kim Minji’s true self.

“They’re people who treat each other like family even if they aren’t related by blood, Jiu unnie. I’ve seen them in their highs and lows, and… even found love with one of them. I’m sure you would change, since they are good people.” Soojin said, Jiu nodding at that as she smiled, nodding as tears fell from her eyes again.

“That persuades me… I’ll help them. Even if… Even if I have to…” Jiu said, Soojin knowing what the girl had in mind.

“We’ll get Gahyeon, unnie. I’m sure of that.” Soojin said, as she laid down Yuqi properly, then sat next to Jiu, hugging her tight.

“We’ll see her again, I promise.”

“Wake up.” A voice said, Miyeon gritting her teeth as she felt bits of pain and soreness on her back, and found that she had been lying down on her stomach, bandages on her back with some kind of cream smeared across her wounds, but she was too numb on the pain to notice.

“Eat… you’ll need it for later.” A girl said, Miyeon looking at her eyes, seeing an emotion that she couldn’t quite put her finger on.

“What… What will happen later…?” Miyeon croaked out, her voice hoarse from all the shouting that she did when she was whipped, as she took a spoonful of the food being offered to her.

“They’re… They’re going to ask you to kill Soyeon yourself when they find her. It’s… They want you to decide later if you’re going to kill her, or it would be endless whips until you decide to do so.” The girl said, Miyeon widening her eyes at that.

“Even… Even if I die, I won’t kill her. She’s family.” Miyeon said, tossing the food to the ground, the girl widening her eyes at Miyeon.

“You’re at the brink of possible death, since you still have fresh wounds and they will be whipping you again. And yet, even if these things can kill you, you’re still going to protect her?” the girl said, as Miyeon nodded, looking away from her.

“Like I said… She’s family. Even if I don’t see my girlfriend again, for the sake of protecting her sister, I would.” Miyeon said, the girl widening her eyes at that.

“What love, Miyeon-ssi.” The girl said, and now Miyeon could see that mysterious emotion in her eyes.

The girl was sneering at her, grinning like a madman, and at that moment Miyeon knew.

“You… You’re their leader, aren’t you?” Miyeon said, the girl grinning as she took off her prosthetics, Miyeon widening her eyes as she saw the girl turn into someone she had seen before, in Paradise.

“Seo Gahyeon.” Miyeon uttered, the girl chuckling as her fiery red eyes flashed for a second, turning into brown as she pulled a knife from her pocket, sticking it close to the girl’s neck, the girl stiffening up as she felt the cold, sharp end onto her neck, and she couldn’t move as the pain on her back made it hard for her to do so.

“At first, I didn’t know that Zeus Corporations had a share of rebels working under their wing. When word reached me that they caught someone belonging in Soyeon’s group, I asked permission that I take charge in making you utter where they are.” Gahyeon said, as she slowly turned her finger sharp, like what she did when Miyeon was still in the dungeons.

“You know that I could slit your throat right here, hmm?” Gahyeon said in a teasing voice, Miyeon gritting her teeth.

“You won’t do that… You still need me—”

“Ah, but I can find your friend with my own ways. I could kill you right here, and I’d have less people to deal with. Isn’t that nice?” Gahyeon said, a mad tone in her voice as she put the knife near, aiming to kill her instantly—

She drew blood onto the girl’s cheek with her finger, letting the blood drip into her hands, taking a lick as Miyeon widened her eyes, the girl chuckling at that.

“You taste so delicious, Miyeon-ssi.” Gahyeon said, pulling her in harshly for a kiss.

Miyeon fought against her lips, trying to push her away, but soon her muscles relaxed against her will, and she found herself kissing back, to her surprise.

“Jiu unnie isn’t the only one who knows this trick, Miyeon-ssi.” Gahyeon said, as Miyeon found herself relaxing, the pain immediately dissolving as she looked up at Gahyeon, Miyeon having red eyes.

“Kill Soyeon for me, sweetheart, and your pain would end.” Gahyeon said, Miyeon nodding at that, even though her mind was against the idea.

Miyeon felt that someone else was controlling her body, and that she was moving involuntarily, as if Gahyeon had a hold on her.

“S…Stop…t…this…” She managed to croak out, Gahyeon raising her brow at that as her red irises darkened, the hold getting stronger as Miyeon found herself standing, Gahyeon holding her chin, raising her head up.

“Your willpower is strong, it seems. Oh well, this is a challenge, isn’t it?” Gahyeon said, as her red eyes darkened to black, her features seemingly changing, shifting over and over—

Miyeon felt air knocked out of her lungs as she felt that the hold was gone, but she felt herself tied down, widening her eyes as she saw Gahyeon in front of her, now looking like her.

“I suppose those friends of yours know you, hmm? Would I be caught, Miyeon-ssi?” Gahyeon said, even sounding like her.

Miyeon rushed to speak, but she found herself with a gag, unable to speak as Gahyeon chuckled, her red irises turning into a neutral color, and Miyeon widened her eyes.

“Stay here, alright? I’ll come back soon, and you’ll find yourself the only one alive out of your friends.” Gahyeon said, chuckling, as she went out of the room, the pain coming back that made her double over, groaning in pain.

Her figure was all she could see before she surrendered to the darkness, hoping that everything would be alright.