The Orphanage- Chapter 11
"I can't allow for them to go through it...." Hyukjae whispers, the haunting memories of their stay in the Orphanage consuming his thoughts, the physical scars long gone, but the emotional ones will remain for the rest of his life.
"I worked hard to keep Donghae safe from them, and I will be damned if I let ANYTHING happen to those two." Hyukjae snaps out of his memories as viciously as the words left his mouth, cutting into everyones minds and imprinting themselves.
"We need to know for sure if they are indeed with them, or if this is all a bluff for whatever reason." Kibum points out, walking into the room, avoiding looking at either Hyukjae or Donghae, the only evidence of something being wrong is the depressed slump of Kibum's shoulders and the determination to avoid looking at Hyukjae especially.
"Kibum...." Hyukjae whispers, his hand twitching as though wanting to reach for the man before him. Kibum glances at him before looking away, shaking his head almost inperceptibly. Getting the message, Hyukjae relaxes slightly against Donghae, the aching feeling of raw anger and sadness being weighted down further by sympathy.
"I'm going to go and scout to see if they really are there." Kibum announces, and Hyukjae's head snaps up, an exclamation of 'No' coming strongly from three people in the room.
"I need something to do. I- I cannot stay here at the moment." Kibum says before leaving, stopping briefly at the doorway to say, "I will be back by midnight. I promise."
------------------------------------------------
The clock chimes heavily in the silence of the house, the door opening loudly at the 11th chime. Hyukjae jumps, looking around the livingroom, before back at the hallway, where Kibum was leaning against the doorframe to the livingroom, panting heavily, probably having run through the forest path. Kibum looks around the livingroom, seeing everyone still gathered there, although most have passed out by this time.
"Kibum..." Hyukjae breathes out, sagging against the chair, Donghae's head nearly falling off of Hyukjae's knee, yet Donghae still doesn't wake up. Kibum meets Hyukjae's eyes, and Hyukjae bites his lip at the pain still lingering in Kibum's eyes.
"They're there." Kibum says, and Hyukjae's eyes widen as a loud cry is heard from the combined voices of Jungsu and Ryeowook.
----------------------
A little boy of about five sits down at the long wooden dinner table, looking at the two boys sitting on either side of him, on the left a slightly taller boy of about seven, and his right, a small boy of about three.
"Hi. I'm Jungsu, what's your name?" the older boys asks, smiling at the new boy. The younger one looks up at him, and he glances down at his plate of mashed potatoes before looking at Jungsu again.
"Hyukjae." He answers quietly, glancing at the adult pacing around the table, making sure everyone is quiet and eating.
"I'm Ryeowook." The young one says, and Hyukjae smiles at him.
------------------------
The five and a half year old Hyukjae winces as he leans back on Jungsu's bed, Jungsu and Ryeowook beside him. Jungsu watches him carefully, reaching forward as Hyukjae lets a small cry escape as his back moves.
"Hyuk, what happened when they took you? Tell me, please." Jungsu pleads, and Ryeowook sits on Hyukjae's other side, his eyes wide.
Hyukjae takes a shaky breath before sitting up and slowly pulling his shirt off, closing his eyes as the two other boys let out shocked exclamations at the wounds on Hyukjae's back, not quiet open, but still bleeding.
"Hyukjae..." Ryeowook lets out a whimper, his hand covering his mouth.
It's the first time any of the three have been punished.
-----------------
"What's this?" The eight year old Jungsu asks, moving away a small chunk of the ivy that him and Hyukjae are supposed to be clearing from the stone fence. Hyukjae moves over to look at the hole in the fence, which looks just big enough for their bodies to fit through. Looking up at Jungsu's eyes, Hyukjae sees a glimmer of something that he hasn't seen in a long time- hope.
----------------
Glancing at the supervisor monitoring the table, Hyukjae leans over to Ryeowook,
"We're going tonight."
---------------------
Breathing heavily, Hyukjae reaches backwards blindly as he runs, grasping the near stumbling Ryeowooks hand, following Jungsu's lead over the hill into the town as the sound of the dogs chasing them slowly becomes louder.
Panting as they rest briefly against a building on the towns outskirts, Hyukjae makes a decision.
"Jungsu hyung, Ryeowook. Go that way. I'll lead them off to the right." Hyukjae says, pointing to the left, where there is a small alley. Jungsu makes a noise of protest and Hyukjae cuts the older off before he can even start protesting.
"Hyung, you're leg is still injured, it could give out at any time and look at Ryeowookie; he can barely stand now. I'm faster than you will be, go that way and find somewhere to hide quickly." Hyukjae says, and without giving the other two time to protest, dashes to the alley on the right, making sure to leave some blood from a slash on his arm on the flagstone's of the alley.
---------------------------------
Opening his eyes, Hyukjae looks at the roof of the forest hideaway that has been their safeplace for so many years.
"We have to get them back." He says past the lump in his throat, looking around the livingroom without lifting his head, seeing that everyone is now awake, him having been so enveloped in memories he hadn't noticed what must have been Kibum waking everyone else, since Jungsu and Ryeowook weren't in much better states than himself.
"How? We need a plan." Kyuhyun points out, and Onew nods in agreement, wiping any sign of sleep from his eyes. Kangin slams his fist on the coffee table, his eyes narrowing.
"Then we make one and get them back!" He exclaims, and Jungsu looks up, agony flashing through his eyes.
"It's not that simple." Jungsu whispers, running his hand through his hair.
"Why not?" Minho half demands, having been one of the few not asleep before, and yet appearing more angry than tired.
"They'll have security high. It's a trap, and they know that we know it. They also know that we'll come for them anyways." Hyukjae says, finally tilting his head up to meet the others eyes.
"Then we'll plan for that. Does anyone have any ideas?" Sungmin asks, looking around.
"If we get there at 6, everyone will be concentrated in the dining area, it will be easier to avoid people then." Ryeowook says, looking up from the carpet.
"Hyung, remember that tree by the bedroom? We could get in through there." Hyukjae suggests, and Jungsu nods in confirmation.
"We should have two groups, we'll cover more ground that way." Kyuhyun says, and Donghae grins, getting up and leaving the livingroom.
"Who would go then?" Kibum asks, and the room goes quiet for a second.
"I am." Hyukjae says, and Minho nods, followed by Kangin announcing that he will as well.
Dongahe re-enters the room with a back pack, which he places on the coffee table.
"I'm going." He says, and when Hyukjae goes to protest, he grins.
"I've got some more of those bombs, I started making them when I started having those dreams a few months ago, where you were kidnapped. I also made some walkie talkies." Donghae says, taking the aforementioned items out of the backpack, before frowning.
"The range of the walkie talkies isn't good though."
"I can fix that, I bet." Kyuhyun says, standing up and taking the walkie talkies from Donghae, who gets up as well and follows him out the door.
"Who else is going?" Kangin asks, and Sungmin raises his hand.
"I will, and Kyuhyun won't want to sit this one out." Sungmin says, and Kangin nods. Jungsu gives out a small moan and gets up, shuffling slowly towards the door, and Hyukjae feels a pain in his chest at the pained look in Jungsu's eyes, yet feeling unable to do anything about it, knowing that the same look is reflected in his and Ryeowook's eyes.
"I'm going." Ryeowook says resolutely once Jungsu is out of the room, and Onew nods as well.
A few minutes later, Jungsu comes in with a cup of tea, followed by Kyuhyun and Donghae, who are holding three walkie talkies with matching grins on both of their faces.
"Ok, these walkie talkies now operate on the same frequency, and have enough of a radius that we can have people here communicating with those at the Orphanage. Which means that we can have remote back up, because I also managed to find the blue prints for the building online." Kyuhyun announces,
"I'll be remote backup with someone else, and then we can split the rest of whomever's going into two teams." Kyuhyun finishes, setting the walkie talkies beside Donghae's backpack.
"I'll stay with Kyuhyun hyung." Onew says, and Kangin nods thoughtfully.
"That means that the rest of us will split into two teams of three." He says, and Hyukjae wraps his arm around Jungsu when he sighs.
"It'll be fine." Hyukjae mutters to Jungsu, who nods and sips his tea.
"That doesn't stop me from worrying." Jungsu replies, and Hyukjae smiles faintly.
"If Donghae insists on going I'm in the team he is in." Hyukjae says to the room in general, and Donghae nods his agreement.
"I'll go with them as well then, since Donghae can do bombs and Hyukjae can operate the walkie talkie and use his previous knowledge to help plan. Give them some muscle strength." Kangin says, and Donghae grins at him, tossing one of the black walkie talkies to Hyukjae.
"Then that means that Ryeowook, Sungmin and Minho will be the other team." Jungsu says, sighing.
"Relax Teukkie hyung, we'll be fine. Promise." Kangin says, and Jungsu rolls his eyes.
"That's what they all say." Jungsu retorts, a faint smile appearing.
"Who's all? You've done this before?" Kangin asks, looking so incredulous that laughter bursts out throughout the room, and Jungsu just rolls his eyes.
"...No comment." Jungsu says, before pausing,
"I want to come too."
"Jungsu hyung, you should stay here." Hyukjae says, and Ryeowook nods, various others expressing their agreement as well.
"Teukkie hyung, are you seriously considering the impact of you leaving? Heechul hyung will be here.... without you to keep everyone safe; and with Wookie gone, who's keeping certain individuals out of the kitchen?" Kibum points out, and Jungsu shares a look with Ryeowook before shuddering.
"Good point. I'll keep fort here." Jungsu cedes. Kangin grins, clapping his hands together.
"Well, let's head to bed, that way we can get everything we need to do out of the way before five thirty tomorrow, so we can arrive there around six." Kangin says, standing up and walking out to the hallway. Hyukjae stands up from the couch, helping Donghae off the floor before the two walk to their room for the nights rest.
"I worked hard to keep Donghae safe from them, and I will be damned if I let ANYTHING happen to those two." Hyukjae snaps out of his memories as viciously as the words left his mouth, cutting into everyones minds and imprinting themselves.
"We need to know for sure if they are indeed with them, or if this is all a bluff for whatever reason." Kibum points out, walking into the room, avoiding looking at either Hyukjae or Donghae, the only evidence of something being wrong is the depressed slump of Kibum's shoulders and the determination to avoid looking at Hyukjae especially.
"Kibum...." Hyukjae whispers, his hand twitching as though wanting to reach for the man before him. Kibum glances at him before looking away, shaking his head almost inperceptibly. Getting the message, Hyukjae relaxes slightly against Donghae, the aching feeling of raw anger and sadness being weighted down further by sympathy.
"I'm going to go and scout to see if they really are there." Kibum announces, and Hyukjae's head snaps up, an exclamation of 'No' coming strongly from three people in the room.
"I need something to do. I- I cannot stay here at the moment." Kibum says before leaving, stopping briefly at the doorway to say, "I will be back by midnight. I promise."
------------------------------------------------
The clock chimes heavily in the silence of the house, the door opening loudly at the 11th chime. Hyukjae jumps, looking around the livingroom, before back at the hallway, where Kibum was leaning against the doorframe to the livingroom, panting heavily, probably having run through the forest path. Kibum looks around the livingroom, seeing everyone still gathered there, although most have passed out by this time.
"Kibum..." Hyukjae breathes out, sagging against the chair, Donghae's head nearly falling off of Hyukjae's knee, yet Donghae still doesn't wake up. Kibum meets Hyukjae's eyes, and Hyukjae bites his lip at the pain still lingering in Kibum's eyes.
"They're there." Kibum says, and Hyukjae's eyes widen as a loud cry is heard from the combined voices of Jungsu and Ryeowook.
----------------------
A little boy of about five sits down at the long wooden dinner table, looking at the two boys sitting on either side of him, on the left a slightly taller boy of about seven, and his right, a small boy of about three.
"Hi. I'm Jungsu, what's your name?" the older boys asks, smiling at the new boy. The younger one looks up at him, and he glances down at his plate of mashed potatoes before looking at Jungsu again.
"Hyukjae." He answers quietly, glancing at the adult pacing around the table, making sure everyone is quiet and eating.
"I'm Ryeowook." The young one says, and Hyukjae smiles at him.
------------------------
The five and a half year old Hyukjae winces as he leans back on Jungsu's bed, Jungsu and Ryeowook beside him. Jungsu watches him carefully, reaching forward as Hyukjae lets a small cry escape as his back moves.
"Hyuk, what happened when they took you? Tell me, please." Jungsu pleads, and Ryeowook sits on Hyukjae's other side, his eyes wide.
Hyukjae takes a shaky breath before sitting up and slowly pulling his shirt off, closing his eyes as the two other boys let out shocked exclamations at the wounds on Hyukjae's back, not quiet open, but still bleeding.
"Hyukjae..." Ryeowook lets out a whimper, his hand covering his mouth.
It's the first time any of the three have been punished.
-----------------
"What's this?" The eight year old Jungsu asks, moving away a small chunk of the ivy that him and Hyukjae are supposed to be clearing from the stone fence. Hyukjae moves over to look at the hole in the fence, which looks just big enough for their bodies to fit through. Looking up at Jungsu's eyes, Hyukjae sees a glimmer of something that he hasn't seen in a long time- hope.
----------------
Glancing at the supervisor monitoring the table, Hyukjae leans over to Ryeowook,
"We're going tonight."
---------------------
Breathing heavily, Hyukjae reaches backwards blindly as he runs, grasping the near stumbling Ryeowooks hand, following Jungsu's lead over the hill into the town as the sound of the dogs chasing them slowly becomes louder.
Panting as they rest briefly against a building on the towns outskirts, Hyukjae makes a decision.
"Jungsu hyung, Ryeowook. Go that way. I'll lead them off to the right." Hyukjae says, pointing to the left, where there is a small alley. Jungsu makes a noise of protest and Hyukjae cuts the older off before he can even start protesting.
"Hyung, you're leg is still injured, it could give out at any time and look at Ryeowookie; he can barely stand now. I'm faster than you will be, go that way and find somewhere to hide quickly." Hyukjae says, and without giving the other two time to protest, dashes to the alley on the right, making sure to leave some blood from a slash on his arm on the flagstone's of the alley.
---------------------------------
Opening his eyes, Hyukjae looks at the roof of the forest hideaway that has been their safeplace for so many years.
"We have to get them back." He says past the lump in his throat, looking around the livingroom without lifting his head, seeing that everyone is now awake, him having been so enveloped in memories he hadn't noticed what must have been Kibum waking everyone else, since Jungsu and Ryeowook weren't in much better states than himself.
"How? We need a plan." Kyuhyun points out, and Onew nods in agreement, wiping any sign of sleep from his eyes. Kangin slams his fist on the coffee table, his eyes narrowing.
"Then we make one and get them back!" He exclaims, and Jungsu looks up, agony flashing through his eyes.
"It's not that simple." Jungsu whispers, running his hand through his hair.
"Why not?" Minho half demands, having been one of the few not asleep before, and yet appearing more angry than tired.
"They'll have security high. It's a trap, and they know that we know it. They also know that we'll come for them anyways." Hyukjae says, finally tilting his head up to meet the others eyes.
"Then we'll plan for that. Does anyone have any ideas?" Sungmin asks, looking around.
"If we get there at 6, everyone will be concentrated in the dining area, it will be easier to avoid people then." Ryeowook says, looking up from the carpet.
"Hyung, remember that tree by the bedroom? We could get in through there." Hyukjae suggests, and Jungsu nods in confirmation.
"We should have two groups, we'll cover more ground that way." Kyuhyun says, and Donghae grins, getting up and leaving the livingroom.
"Who would go then?" Kibum asks, and the room goes quiet for a second.
"I am." Hyukjae says, and Minho nods, followed by Kangin announcing that he will as well.
Dongahe re-enters the room with a back pack, which he places on the coffee table.
"I'm going." He says, and when Hyukjae goes to protest, he grins.
"I've got some more of those bombs, I started making them when I started having those dreams a few months ago, where you were kidnapped. I also made some walkie talkies." Donghae says, taking the aforementioned items out of the backpack, before frowning.
"The range of the walkie talkies isn't good though."
"I can fix that, I bet." Kyuhyun says, standing up and taking the walkie talkies from Donghae, who gets up as well and follows him out the door.
"Who else is going?" Kangin asks, and Sungmin raises his hand.
"I will, and Kyuhyun won't want to sit this one out." Sungmin says, and Kangin nods. Jungsu gives out a small moan and gets up, shuffling slowly towards the door, and Hyukjae feels a pain in his chest at the pained look in Jungsu's eyes, yet feeling unable to do anything about it, knowing that the same look is reflected in his and Ryeowook's eyes.
"I'm going." Ryeowook says resolutely once Jungsu is out of the room, and Onew nods as well.
A few minutes later, Jungsu comes in with a cup of tea, followed by Kyuhyun and Donghae, who are holding three walkie talkies with matching grins on both of their faces.
"Ok, these walkie talkies now operate on the same frequency, and have enough of a radius that we can have people here communicating with those at the Orphanage. Which means that we can have remote back up, because I also managed to find the blue prints for the building online." Kyuhyun announces,
"I'll be remote backup with someone else, and then we can split the rest of whomever's going into two teams." Kyuhyun finishes, setting the walkie talkies beside Donghae's backpack.
"I'll stay with Kyuhyun hyung." Onew says, and Kangin nods thoughtfully.
"That means that the rest of us will split into two teams of three." He says, and Hyukjae wraps his arm around Jungsu when he sighs.
"It'll be fine." Hyukjae mutters to Jungsu, who nods and sips his tea.
"That doesn't stop me from worrying." Jungsu replies, and Hyukjae smiles faintly.
"If Donghae insists on going I'm in the team he is in." Hyukjae says to the room in general, and Donghae nods his agreement.
"I'll go with them as well then, since Donghae can do bombs and Hyukjae can operate the walkie talkie and use his previous knowledge to help plan. Give them some muscle strength." Kangin says, and Donghae grins at him, tossing one of the black walkie talkies to Hyukjae.
"Then that means that Ryeowook, Sungmin and Minho will be the other team." Jungsu says, sighing.
"Relax Teukkie hyung, we'll be fine. Promise." Kangin says, and Jungsu rolls his eyes.
"That's what they all say." Jungsu retorts, a faint smile appearing.
"Who's all? You've done this before?" Kangin asks, looking so incredulous that laughter bursts out throughout the room, and Jungsu just rolls his eyes.
"...No comment." Jungsu says, before pausing,
"I want to come too."
"Jungsu hyung, you should stay here." Hyukjae says, and Ryeowook nods, various others expressing their agreement as well.
"Teukkie hyung, are you seriously considering the impact of you leaving? Heechul hyung will be here.... without you to keep everyone safe; and with Wookie gone, who's keeping certain individuals out of the kitchen?" Kibum points out, and Jungsu shares a look with Ryeowook before shuddering.
"Good point. I'll keep fort here." Jungsu cedes. Kangin grins, clapping his hands together.
"Well, let's head to bed, that way we can get everything we need to do out of the way before five thirty tomorrow, so we can arrive there around six." Kangin says, standing up and walking out to the hallway. Hyukjae stands up from the couch, helping Donghae off the floor before the two walk to their room for the nights rest.