Death Cast

00.10 | The Penultimate

Although he could see the gun's muzzle, it wasn't aimed at him. It was facing the opposite way, allowing Jaerim to see Trivett's broad back. His hand was covering his mouth when he felt something behind him. He'd been hauled by a pair of arms before he could process what had happened.

The officers were alerted by the scuffle. Trivett didn't waste any time and fired the shot as soon as he turned around. One shot after another reverberated across the cramped alley, deafeningly amplified.

However, when they examined the place where he had been shot, they discovered only a giant rat, about the size of a cat, lying dead on the ground. No one is present, save for a rodent that got caught in the mess.

Trivett squinted his eyes and lowered his brows. He could tell something was there. The walls in this part were plastered with unfinished wooden boards, probably from an incomplete construction. He placed his hand on the surface to discern how it felt.

It was hollow without much support. Wielding a sudden force, he shoved the wall to see if it would budge. But the wall stands firm. Even after trying to knock it over many times, the wall remained in its state.

There is no way for anyone to get past the wall.

His subordinates waited for him in the corner. Trivett lowered his head to look at the phone in his hand, and then shifted towards the people behind him. In a stern voice, he commanded, "Go search around. There are not a lot of places to hide here. He won't be too far."

Everyone nodded and dispersed to investigate the location. Trivett gave one last glance at the ground, where the dead rat lay still, and then walked away silently.

Jaerim didn't dare sigh as he oversaw the police leave. There was an overwhelming sense of emptiness in the atmosphere, making him feel as though his heart had risen to his ears. Sweat dripped from his brow as he lay unmoving in the darkness, as if he were a commodity to be butchered.

When Jaerim saw that the danger had passed, he began to perceive the presence of another individual. From his back, he could feel someone's chest enveloping his back, encapsulating and restraining him from any movements. The person's hand had a firm grip on Jaerim's mouth, almost causing him to suffocate.

He fought back, yanking his hand out of the twisted mess in an effort to free himself from the person's grasp. The individual did not appear to intend to lock him up, because the minute Jaerim expressed his desire to escape, the guy promptly released his grip.

Jaerim was thrown off balance by the unexpected release. Thankfully, the individual was able to support him and pull him into his arms. In spite of the darkness, the area was only dimly lit. He was able to recognize the person's silhouette.

It was Felix.

He had not expected to see the person. He had no idea this moron would track him out.

"Jae-"

Jaerim sprang forward to thoroughly block Felix's mouth with his hands. He looked around anxiously, his ears perking up as he listened for movements, before turning to confront Felix with piercing eyes. In the absence of light, Jaerim's expression cannot be properly discerned. But Felix could see that he wasn't smiling.

Silence prevailed between the two for a long time, until Jaerim grumbled quietly. He let go of Felix's mouth, then lowered himself to a squatting position. Felix followed the shadow in front of him and sat down as well.

In a raspy, whispering voice, Jaerim complained. "You shouldn't be here."

"That is not important. C'mon, let's go and hide."

Felix sprang up and attempted to drag Jaerim with him. Jaerim, though, battled fiercely to maintain his position. He couldn't figure out what Felix was up to. Felix continued to tow him up, but Jaerim was obstinate and stayed in place.

"What are you doing?" Jaerim whispered, arguably. "Stop pulling me up!"

Felix finally let go of his grip on him because he was straining so much. Even so, he rushed to his shoulder and hugged him. Jaerim was taken aback. He had not anticipated Felix's action. Even though he'd hugged his friends before, this was the first time he felt uncomfortable.

"Felix? Felix?" He called.

Felix loosened his grip on the hug. As soon as it was finished, he kissed Jaerim on the lips. Frightened, the individual being kissed shuddered. Felix's deepening kiss overwhelmed him, and he was unable to break away from it. It had gotten to the point where he was gasping for air.

Really? Is he going to be kissed to death by his best friend?

Eventually, Jaerim had enough and smacked Felix in the face. It made Felix curl up, but his grip on Jaerim was firm. Even if Jaerim will bite it, bite it till it bleeds. He won't let go!

In a vexed tone, Jaerim accused Felix, "What the f**k is wrong with you? Stop grabbing my hand!"

"No!" Felix responded back. His blood-stricken eyes looked at Jaerim with heated intensity. "NO."

Jaerim had never seen Felix like this before. The hug and that kiss, he could feel longing from it. He realized there was a certain intimacy between the two of them. Felix is generally kind to him and won't hesitate to go along with him most of the time.

It seems like Felix liked him more than that?

He could not believe it. "You like me?"

Many things happened today. He never thought that his best friend was secretly crushing on him. He stroked his lips, and then examined the blushing, angry face of Felix. He thought it was funny.

"Is it true?" he asked.

Felix did not answer. But it is apparent from his glare. Anyone could tell that he only had Jaerim in his eyes. His friends and other people could see it, but Jaerim never got the hint. Felix did not dare confess, afraid that Jaerim would loathe him. Jaerim accepted his silence as an affirmative.

"And you only dared to act like rouge now that I'm about to die?" Jaerim scoffed.

He twisted Felix's hand without hesitation. The other person almost cried, gritting his teeth. The force was too much, and he had to let go. Felix started sobbing. He didn't want to let go, but it was Jaerim who did not like it.

"Why?" Felix asked softly. "Why do you have to die?"

Jaerim, who was merely observing Felix act miserably, shrugged his shoulders.

"I'm also confused. Why do I have to die?"

Why did he need to die? He is ridiculously young and there were many things that he wanted to do. Death is something he never expected to receive at such a young age.

He touched the gauze on his face and felt like it should have been bleeding again. It is painful and burning as hell, but it cannot be compared to the feeling of death before dying.

He is the one who is miserable.

"Why are you crying? I should be the one who should cry. I'm the one who is going to die between us two."

"I don't want you to die!"

"You think I want it?"

“I hear voices here! Someone is inside!”

The police uncovered the route while they were arguing. They began tearing down the wall, shaking the poor foundation of the place due to decrepit age. Felix instantly stood and began sprinting with Jaerim.

The remote town's abandoned buildings are littered with decaying furniture, and this one is no exception. The two parkoured over the toppled chairs and tables, even daring to jam the door by yanking a big cabinet off the wall.

They exited the building and headed into an adjacent one. The two of them were able to widen the distance by climbing up the stairs. They take refuge in one of the second-floor rooms. Jaerim peeked from the gap of a sealed window and found the cops stopping in search of him.

He faced Felix beside him. The person is clasping his hand tightly again.

"Let me go," he whispered.

"No," Felix is determined. "We have to escape here and go somewhere safe. Somewhere without people."

Jaerim shook his head. "There is no WE. It is only I. You don't have to come with me."

"No, I am not leaving you."

Jaerim becomes silent. He peered down at others who appeared to want to go to the second floor. He made a signal, to which Felix nodded, and they proceeded to the neighboring room, leaping across the patio and approaching another dwelling. They have no trouble jumping over two buildings.

Once they knew they were out of sight, Jaerim seized the chance to let go. Felix tried to grasp it, but Jaerim took a step back.

"No, you are not coming with me."

"Jae..."

"Felix, you have to understand. I have about twenty-four hours to live... or less... Regardless, I will still die no matter what you do. You need to accept it."

"No," Felix eyes were bloodshot. "You could not accept it. Why do you think I can?"

"There's nothing I could do. Death... is unstoppable."

Jaerim understood it. The moment he discovered the maple leaf mark on his cheeks, he realized his end. He dawdled around; seeking chances to alter his fate, but death is something that will occur no matter what. He just got it a bit earlier... pretty much earlier than he expected.

He had not even reached twenty-five. It is really a cruel world.

He walked forward and caressed Felix's shoulders. There will inevitably be two sides to the coin. In the face of death, one will leave and one who will be left out. Jaerim could understand.

In the end, his suffering will not last long. But for the person left out, they will be filled with agony.

Somehow, the dead enjoyed some advantage.

"It's okay, you know? Even though I haven't reached old age, at least I have enjoyed a pleasant life."

"Twenty years is very short."

"Indeed, it is... so please let me go. My finish line is here. Yours... you will likely live longer than what we expect."

"Jae-"

The sound of a gunshot pierced the air. The two of them turned around to see Trivett and plenty of other individuals armed with guns directed at them. It's a long way away, but snipers didn't need to worry about that.

Trivett held up his hand. When he observed the two of them looking at him, he lowered it, signaling fire.

Bullets can be fired at will because there are no other people present to terminate them. Jaerim fell to the side after Felix pushed him. Felix faced the cops with a determined expression, intending to cover Jaerim until he could escape. His leg was then struck by a gunshot.

Jaerim sprained his leg when he was pushed away. He groaned in pain, one hand supporting his calves. He tried to move around and discovered Felix standing in front of him. From his stance, one can easily see what he was trying to do.

“Don’t stand there!”

"Run!" Felix commanded. "I will cover you."

"No, what the hell are you doing?"

"You don't have to worry about me. You said I had more than a decade to live, correct? I will lend you a few minutes."

"Felix..."

"Go! Hurry! Before they arrive."

Jaerim looked at Felix. He tried standing up, supporting himself to the wall. The sprain made it painful for him to stand. In this state, it is impossible to run away. He will still be captured.

“Give up, it’s impossible.“

“I will continue standing here as long as you are here. You die with me or run away. Choose!”

The police are still firing bullets. Felix is clearly harmless, but they didn’t bat an eye and continued shooting. One bullet hit Felix’s thighs. He almost kneeled but forced himself to not give up. He displayed the determination of protecting Jaerim until the end.

"Go! They won't dare kill me. But you..."

Jaerim watched Felix sacrifice himself. He closed his eyes, deciding on what to do, before running away. The police will surely stop shooting him once he is gone. That is the only way for Felix to not die.

Felix heard his steps going away. He uttered a sigh, still standing there. He could feel the burning pain in his leg, but he didn't let go. For that person, he could do anything.

After all, Jaerim had also done the same before, sacrificing his life just to let him live.

Another shot came, and it hit his one leg. With his two legs hit, he could no longer stand, so he finally kneeled. But it is okay. The other person is gone. This embarrassing thing won’t be seen by that person.

That's when he heard footsteps. When he looked back, he found a shadow jumping over him.