Chapter Text
ONE YEAR AGO
Jisung had no idea how long he’s been running for. He couldn’t see what is in front of him, only being able to hear the frequent owl hooting, the sound of his own exhausted bare feet thumping against the compacted mud and his accelerated, irregular breaths. He was determined to never stop running again, although the stinging of his muscles was getting slowly unbearable. He has to hide. In a place not accessible to normal people. In a place where only him and his cruel thoughts can stay forever. The backpack, loosely placed on his shoulders, weighted a ton, even though the only things he carried were some clean clothes and a stuffed toy his mum gave him on his sixth birthday, only a couple of days before she passed away. There was nothing that would make him stay home. Perhaps only a father, who never thought twice before going for a punch. He knew that if he didn’t run, someone else wouldn’t survive at the end. Whether it was him or his abusive guardian.
He stopped for a second with tears in his eyes, making his already poor vision even more foggy, as he listened to his heartbeat. The forest was all around him. Trees, needles, and various sounds of animals he didn’t dare to identify. He took a phone out of his pocket and near surround was brightened up by the light of the screen. Three in the morning. The Devil’s hour, the boy realized, only the Devil’s been up since yesterday’s evening. He was aware that to be completely invisible to others he needs to get rid of the last thing connecting him to them. He held the phone tightly as he threw it with all his power against one of the most sturdy looking trees. There was a loud crack interrupting today’s black night as the phone came in contact with firm wood. Jisung only bluntly stared at the scene in front of him, heaving a quiet sigh. Now to find a hidden spot safe enough for him and for the others. He wiped his small scared eyes with the back of his hand and uselessly looked around. The eyesight needed to get used to the lack of light again and so he continued to search the surroundings with the help of his lanky arms. He could sense a few trees following them, continuing the journey. Why was it that the new moon had to set on the day of his escape?
He could feel the cold night getting under his skin. He left the house quickly without any hesitation. But because he’s unlucky, his father, who’s just come back from a pub, saw him trying to jump off the window sill, furiously storming into the door. It was too late when Jisung realized he didn’t take any jumper or coat with him, let alone a pair of shoes. Cold sweat was running down his back and temples. His feet were freezing, considering that only a few weeks ago the summer turned into chilly autumn. His toe nails were covered in mud and leaves while his trousers weren’t any better.
He stopped only when he stood before a bigger forest lake. The water falling down on to grey slippery pebbles from the rocks above created a small waterfall. Uninviting surface stayed absolutely indolent. Jisung swallowed. It has to be somewhere here. Secret shelter, the one used only by him and his best friend before he moved to England and never came back ever again. He hasn’t visited the base in a very long time, almost forgetting the way there. What if he got completely lost? The change of the weather was nearly palmable. It’s going to start raining soon. And then Jisung remembered.
Another ten minutes passed by and Jisung was climbing a very old and probably very weak rope ladder straight to the top of a massive oak tree. There it was standing, hidden from the eyes of other people, modest, wooden hideaway. Jisung breathed a releaved sigh after he climbed all the way up and was now lying on the dusty floor. The little tree house was left untouched. It looked the same. Maps, trunks and chests, everything that one needs for treasure hunting. He felt his heart sinking and an ugly feeling in the pit of his stomach. That all was gone. This house wasn’t the den he used for hiding from his parents that were trying to bring him back home for supper anymore. It was his new home. I became Robinson Crusoe.
He sat and hugged his knees close to his chin. His whole body shook. Because of the coldness, fear, confusion. He was filled with so many emotions he didn’t know which one was more prominent. He’ll be running away from his family, classmates, school, people he saw daily for the rest of his life, but mainly, he’ll be running away from himself. Because there isn’t a human in this world he was more afraid of than his own evil self. Not even his father evoked such dread like the one he felt when it came to his own mind.
Few months ago people started to discover these anomalies, powers they’ve gained after extreme drought. Everything seemed to be quite innocent at the beginning. Some of them were able to change the colour of their hair, others could communicate with their own pet animals, turn water into ice or make stunning fireworks, shooting from their fingertips. Jisung thought all of it was simply amazing. Although he was a bit upset he didn’t have any cool superpower, he spend his days happily watching others and what they were able to create. More and more newbies were joining the prime group and Jisung believed the day he finds his own superpower will come. But nothing happened.
Until yesterday’s evening.
His father came home as usual drunk and ill-tempered. Jisung was used to it. Loads of things changed after his mother’s death. The first thing that took a huge turn was man’s love for his only son. It became a burning hatred. Why did she have to die when God could have taken you instead? He often asked after his third bottle of alcohol. Jisung was working on his algebra homework, when the man entered his room and slapped him across the back of his head. Apparently the boy didn’t leave money on the kitchen counter, like he always did. And that’s why he couldn’t gamble that night. Unheard of.
Jisung gently touched the purple bruise on his right cheek. He tried to remain brave, tried not to cry again, but the events of last hours almost made him lose his mind.
He was hit twice as hard as he usually was and after his dad left he stayed lying on the carpet for several more minutes trying to catch a breath. He wasn’t angry, because he knew that this was the only possible way for his father to cope with his wife’s passing. But he couldn’t control his fear. He was shaking, trying to stop the sobs that were about to find a way out of his throat just so he doesn’t give his father a reason to continue the beating. He glanced over and his eyes stopped on the terrarium where was Jisung’s only real friend peacefully sleeping. His five years old bearded dragon.
Slowly, still sensitive and aching, he stood up and made his way toward the terrarium. Lin looked at him like she knew what went on in the boy’s life.
And then it happened.
Jisung wanted to take her into his hands, like he did every single day. Take her with him, lay her on his shoulder and get into his bed. But what happened was horrible, terrifying and the picture of this scene will stay carved into his mind for the rest of his life. Just when he was about to fold his fingers around her, Lin’s eyes turned white. Her eyes turned white and her body violently jerked. Jisung didn’t have time to think what on earth happened when he realized with a beating heart that his bearded dragon isn’t moving. He wouldn’t be normally bothered by this fact, since Lin never really moves, but this was different. Her vision was still white, blinded, her little body stiff and no signs of breathing. Because Jisung killed his pet with a single touch. He killed the only creature in his life that has never hurt him.
And this is how Jisung discovered his power. Superpower that changed everything.