The New Beginning (Final)

Description: Sequel to The True Legend (http://www.asianfanfics.com/story/view/2823/the-true-legend-jonghyun-shinee)

Rating: PG-13

Characters: SHINee and fictionals

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in the fiction.  The story is only a narrative and does not involve any real life situation.  The whole plot of the story is written originally by myself.  If there's any similarity to other fictions, it is totally a coincidence.

That boy, a normal human, runs happily beside the lake, without knowing that it was once a bloody site.  Not that I am going to feed him that information.  But the reflection of the red, autumn leaves on the lake, remind me a lot of that time.  The time when I was in a bad state, when we were in a very bad state.  The fight will last forever in my mind, but that boy shouldn’t know how horrible it was.  That little boy shouldn’t know how horrible it was when his father was confirmed dead.  But, that was all passed, long ago.  And the promise is made, it will never ever happen again.
I don’t hope my life will be like a fairytale, ‘living happily ever after’ kind of stuff.  Life is impossible to be all excited and happy, but, this is the life that I want, peaceful and harmonious.  At least, it is peaceful, without fight, killing and those stuffs you couldn’t imagine living in.  Peaceful and harmonious, we deserve this life after those things happened.
We’re at the front yard, having a sort of party it seems.  Jiyeon and Jinki with their cute little adopted baby, are having a good time together.  It seems like Jinki doesn’t want to turn his wife into a vampire.  He doesn’t want to kill Jiyeon by making her carry a vampire child as well.  So, that is it.  Adoption is the best.
Hyun Joong and Hyori are talking to some guests who have made an early arrival to this party.  They look happy.  Being grandparents to the boy change their lives a lot.  They try to act like oldies oftentimes, but they remain as young as ever, because of the Serum of Immortality.  I can’t imagine I will look older than them in a few years.
Taemin and Seraphina are arranging the candles on the cake, looking so good together.  I brought my own sister to this life.  Seraphina talked to me about being a vampire, so that she could be with Taemin and have their own children.  I have nothing against the idea, but I will miss the human in her if she really decides to do that.
The newlywed, Minho and Sooyoung are having the dining tables ready.  Looking at them remind me of twin towers, they are just so tall.  Minho helps Sooyoung, whose arm is injured, after being shot in a mission a few days ago.
“You don’t need to do this.  Just let me do all.  You need your rest,” Minho says.  But, Sooyoung is just as stubborn.  She is strong girl though, so she is.
The others: Ji Woo, Lee Minho, So Eun, Seunghyun, Ji Eun, and the trio, Minji, HyunA, and Uee are getting the food ready.  Seeing smiles on their faces make me happy.
But, I would be happier if Jonghyun were here.  I would be happier if Jonghyun were with us.  I would be happier if Jonghyun were here for our son’s fourth birthday.
But, he is not.
“Hey,” Key walks to me, with a wrapped present in his hand.
“Hey,” I reply.
“The party will start very soon.  The guests keep coming.  You might want to smile and cheer up a bit,” he says.
“I wish I could,” I say.
“Sabrina…”
“It has been three years my son celebrates his birthday without his dad.  This year, it would be the fourth,” I say, a bit pissed off.
“We don’t have a choice, do we?” asks Key.
“I guess not,” I say.
“Then, let’s go.  Joong Chan is waiting for you to cut the cake together,” Key says.
I nod and go to the big table, where Joong Chan is ready with his pointed birthday hat.  He is so cute.  I just hope he won’t be as short as his dad.
We sing a birthday song for him and we clap our hands.  Soon, I help him cutting the cake right after he makes a wish.
“What is your wish, Joong Chan?” asks Minji.  My little boy looks at her.
“Same as last year,” he says, with cute accent, barely understandable.
“Awww…you wish your dad will be with you on your birthday?” Minho asks.  Joong Chan nods.
It pierces my heart, so painfully.  Ever since Joong Chan could think and speak, it will always be about his dad.  It will always be about Jonghyun.  Not that I am jealous he doesn’t think of me, no.  It is just that we could not fulfil his birthday wish.  I kiss him in his cheek.
“Your dad will always be proud of you,” I say.  He smiles, showing lines of small teeth.
“I want to eat cake,” Joong Chan tells me.  I laugh.
“Yeah, it is about time,” I say.  I cut the large cake into pieces and give it to the guests.  Seraphina helps me with it.  Joong Chan eats his part happily.
“Eat and grow tall kid.  You don’t want to be like your father in terms of height,” says Taemin while spoon the cake into my son’s mouth.  He eats, unable to understand what Taemin means by that.
“Now, this is my present for you.  I am a good uncle, am I not?” Taemin says while giving a toy gun to him.
“And this is from me,” Seraphina says while giving him a set of spy gear for kids, “I just thought you might want to be like your parents,” she says.  He doesn’t understand of course, but takes the toy happily.
“Now you are a perfect, handsome mini spy,” says Taemin.  Joong Chan smiles.
“Enough of violence, Taemin,” says Jinki.
“Joong Chan-ah, I have a better present for you,” Jinki gives a set of children story books, “Be smart like me when you are older,” he says.
“That’s vain,” says Jiyeon, “Smart like you?  Joong Chan, I have a Barney for you,” Jiyeon gives a large Barney stuffed toys to him.  Joong Chan looks at it and he smiles wider.
“Told you he will like mine,” says Jiyeon to her husband.
“Nah…Joong Chan.  Here, Uncle Key gives you the best present after all.  A set of cowboy suit.  How is it? You like it?  The hat is cool,” says Key, while taking off the birthday hat and replacing it with the cowboy hat.  Joong Chan takes it off and replaces it back with the birthday hat.
“Hahaha! You are rejected by both the mother and the son, Key,” HyunA cracks a joke.  Now, that’s embarrassing.
“Bad joke, HyunA.  Bad joke,” says Key while shaking his head, trying to get rid of the awkwardness between us.  The others are laughing.
“Jiyeon, hold the baby, please.  I need to go to the bathroom for a while,” says Jinki.   Jiyeon takes their baby from him.
The trio starts to introduce their weird presents to Joong Chan, but every year, Joong Chan seems to like their presents so much.  I don’t mind at all.  I just hope that my son won’t be as weird as them.
Suddenly, a car arrives.  Might be another guest, since I have never seen the car before.  A guy comes out from the car and walks towards us, with a present in his hand.  That looks like a big box.
“I am here by invitation from Mr. Lee Jinki,” he says politely.
“Oh, yeah.  You’re his friend?” I ask.
“Oh, yes.  A good friend,” he says.
“I’m sorry he is in the bathroom.  But, you can sit down and have a piece of cake while waiting for him,” I say.
“No, it’s okay.  I’m in a rush.  I just want to wish the birthday boy and give this present to him,” he says.
“Oh.  Alright.  Joong Chan, come here,” I say.  Joong Chan runs to me.  I hold his hand and take him nearer to the guy.
“This is Uncle Jinki’s friend.  He comes to wish you a happy birthday,” I say.  Joong Chan turns to look at him.  The unknown guys crouches down to the same level as Joong Chan.
“Right.  Kim Joong Chan, happy birthday,” he gives the wrapped box to him.  Joong Chan holds it tightly.  That box might be a little heavy for him.
“You are a very healthy and strong boy.  Your dad will be very proud of you,” he says.  That guy hugs my son and after a while he let go and kisses him on his cheek.  He seems very fond of my son, like they have a connection.  I start to become suspicious.  The guy stands up before I even try to examine him.
“I guess I have to go now,” he says and smiles at me.  I nod.  Somehow, I know this guy.  I really know him.
He walks to his car.  I still look at him, try to confirm his identity.  I know him, really.  His eyes are familiar.  His way of walking, speaking, they are so familiar.
“Who is that, Sabrina?” Jinki appears out of nowhere and asks.
“Well, I thought you know him.  He said he came by your invitation.  He said he is a good friend of yours,” I say.
“I…really don’t know anybody look like him,” he says.
I look back at that guy, who almost reaches his car.  This is weird.  I know him, definitely.  He seems to have this connection to my boy.  His way of walking, his way of speaking, his height…wait…his height?  That is Jonghyun’s height.
I take out a phone from my pocket.  A phone that Jonghyun gave me just before he went to an undercover mission a week ago.
“This phone…I’ve secured the line.  I have the same phone.  It is a private number and nobody can trace the call.  I can assure you that.  Call me if you need to do so,” I could still remember what he said when he gave me the phone a week ago.
I quickly press the speed dial and the line is connected very quickly.  I look at the unknown guy again.  He is taking out his phone from his pocket.  He presses a button on the phone and just then I could hear his voice again, in my earpiece.
“Yes?” he answers.  I swear I saw he smirks at me just before he gets into his car.
“Jonghyun, is that you?” I ask through the phone.
“Take quite a while for you to notice me,” he says.
“You’re in disguise.  Even your voice is different,” I say, defending myself for not knowing my own stupid husband.
“I am still on my mission.  Cannot have my cover blown and put my family in danger,” he says.
“Damn you, Jonghyun.  You could just tell me,” I say.
“You’re cussing in front of our kid?” he asks back.  I roll my eyes.
“Your mission is not yet over.  And you’re wasting your time by coming here,” I say.
“Well…I can’t miss my son’s birthday every year just because of stupid undercover missions.  I seriously will kill Jinki for sending me to a mission every time it is my son’s birthday,” he says.  I laugh.
“Well, you say you are the agency’s best agent.  So be it,” I say.
“Best agent cannot have time with family?” he asks me.  I laugh.
“Well, you are the so-called country’s first line of defence.  I guess your wife and your son just have to bear with it,” I say.  He laughs.
“I just need to finish this, alright?  It is almost over.  I’ll be back in two days at most.  I expect you’ll be waiting for me?” he asks me.
“You wish. I will be with Joong Chan.  You don’t have to go back,” I joke.  He laughs.
“I’ll see you again.  Tell Joong Chan I am really proud of him,” he says and we hang up.  The car moves and leaves the yard right after.
“So, that short guy is Jonghyun?” asks Jinki.
“Yeah. And he says he will kill you right after he comes back.  That is the price you have to pay for sending him on an undercover mission every time it is Joong Chan’s birthday,” I say.
“Whoa!  I better be ready for that,” he says.
“You better be,” I say.
“Mommy, open this,” Joong Chan says while trying to tear the wrapper off.
Jinki and I quickly help him with it.  We open the box and we see 4 books in it.  They are entitled ‘A Whole New World’ and there are photos of Joong Chan growing up in those books.
“Oh my God. This guy is really hopelessly romantic and cheesy,” Jinki says while laughing.
“Mommy, it is me, daddy and you,” Joong Chan points to a photo in the book.
“Yes, my son.  You dad is really proud of you,” I say.
It is a perfect moment.  Like I say, I don’t really believe in a fairytale’s happily-ever-after style, but, we deserve to be happy sometimes.


___________
Finally. ^^

The Lazarus Rises

Description: Sequel to The True Legend (http://www.asianfanfics.com/story/view/2823/the-true-legend-jonghyun-shinee)

Rating: PG-13

Characters: SHINee and fictionals

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in the fiction.  The story is only a narrative and does not involve any real life situation.  The whole plot of the story is written originally by myself.  If there's any similarity to other fictions, it is totally a coincidence.

We’re at the hospital after a great turn of event; Jonghyun rose from being dead.  Hyori and Ji Eun made quite a fast decision in taking him to the hospital for further treatment.  It was shocking but I’m more than happy to see my husband alive.  God, he is alive.  All of us are very anxious in the waiting room.  Only Key is allowed inside to see Jonghyun, for an unknown reason.  I am jealous, but Hyori and Ji Eun must have a pretty good reason on that, don’t they?
Onew plays with his finger while Taemin still look very stunned.  Minho on the other hand remains calm but I could see that his shoulders are a bit tensing.  Seraphina has her head on my shoulder and I play with her hair.  We still couldn’t be sure of what happens especially when I was one of the people who admitted Jonghyun’s death.  It just doesn’t make sense.  We are lucky that Key could hear the faintest beat of the heart or otherwise Jonghyun will be buried to death, knowing that we kill him.
“Sabrina!” Hyori says my name.  I couldn’t be so sure when she gets here but here she comes with the news.
“Hyori,” I say.
“Thank, God!  He’s alive!” Hyori says and hugs me.  I hug back, still in need of a certain explanation on how this thing could happen.
“I know, Hyori.  I’m happy.  But, I would appreciate if you could give me the slightest idea of how this could be happening right now.  We approved his death.  I swear I could not hear any heartbeat back then when he was dead,” I say.
“Oh, that.  That should be a Lazarus phenomenon, if we approach it scientifically.  But, I’m not sure if it has something to do with half-vampire thing,” she answers.  I nod.
“Explain Lazarus phenomenon,” I say.  I don’t want to be so sure that he is alive and then let the hope crash again later if he will suddenly leave me again.
“It is the spontaneous return of circulation to the body after failed attempt at resuscitation.  The cases of Lazarus syndrome are rare,” Ji Eun appears out of nowhere.
“How does it happen?  What is the cause?” I ask, anxious.
“The causes of this are not well understood.  But, we have a theory on that,” she says calmly.
“Enlighten me, please,” I say, rather strictly.
“The build-up pressure as the effect of the CPR, or we think so.  You know, Jonghyun received quite a long CPR after his heart stopped working.  From me, Hyori, you and of course, Key, the longest attempt.  So, yeah, the theory is the long CPR might have trigger the heart to work again after a few hours,” she explains.  I nod again.
“So, he is really alive, isn’t he?  You’re not just giving me hope, are you?” I ask her.
“He’s alive, Sabrina,” Ji Eun’s face is quite tensing.
“He’s not going to leave me again, right?” I ask, as the hope keeps building in my small heart.
“No one knows.  But, for now, he is alive.  And very weak.  I suggest if you want to see him, one person at a time is enough.  You can go in after Key, okay?” she tries to be gentle.
I nod.  She walks away.  I look at Siwon, and at Seraphina.  Then, I hug my sister tightly, letting go of the sorrow that has been buried in my heart for days.
“Trust me.  He’s not going to leave again.  You have my words,” says Min Yee.
I know she takes quite a lot of courage to say that.  Pledging on things that we are unsure of can be very burdening.  But, she takes the risk, just to calm me down.  I feel thankful that I have her as a sister.
“Thank you, Min Yee.  Thank you very much,” I say.
“Don’t be.  Things are quite hard on you,” says she.
The moment we break the hug, Key comes approaching.  He look a bit happy, from the last time I saw him before Jonghyun was admitted.  At least, he knows how to give a thin smile.
“Hey!” he says, full of spirit, although not joyful.  I wonder what Jonghyun and Key talked about in the room.  I know they have had argument a few days before the war even started.
“Hey,” I reply casually.
“He is okay.  But, weak and tired.  But, you know what, he wants to see you,” he says before looking at Siwon, “And you,” he tells him.  Siwon nods, but I can see that he is slightly uncomfortable with the fact that Jonghyun wants to see him as well.
“Come, Siwon.  We have to see him now, so that he can rest later,” I say.  He hesitates for a while before following my trail.  On our way to the ward room, nobody speaks anything.  Silence accompanies us all the way there.
“Siwon, hey.  You are not going inside with that face,” I finally break out when we reach the door.  He looks at me.
“Tell me how should face him,” he says.
“He is not blaming you, of course.  He saved you because he wanted to, not because he needed to,” I say.
“You stick to that, okay,” he says before forcing a smile on his face and turns the knob for us to get in.
The beeping sound sounds very clear inside the room.  There, on a bed, Jonghyun is lying down, sleeping, typically white skin and looking very fragile, as though he would just break apart when somebody touches him.  Siwon gestures me to the sit at the side of the bed.  I take the seat, careful not to wake him up.  But, he moves to the slightest sound I make.
“Hey,” he says and he smiles to me.
“Hey,” I reply, my voice cracking.
For a while, we don’t speak to each other.  We just let the silence do its job in creating the mood.
“You left me, you know,” I say, at last breaking the silence.
“That was before.  Now, I’m back,” he says.  I nod and a single tear stains my cheek.
“What did you think of doing back then?” I forget that Siwon is together with us until when he speaks.  For a while, Jonghyun loses his words.  He looks into Siwon’s eyes and tries to find out what he thinks.
“Saving you,” Jonghyun says at last.
“No.  You got yourself killed.  That was what you did,” Siwon says.
“Can’t do anything much, can I?  Because if you die, I will die as well,” says Jonghyun.
“No, Jonghyun.  We’re not stupid.  You died, before, but I didn’t.  You knew how to disconnect our soul, but you still got yourself killed in the battle.  You risked your life for me, and I think you did that on purpose.  You know what?  You can just disconnect our soul and the kill me, not yourself,” Siwon bursts not with anger, but disappointment.
“I can’t do that,” Jonghyun replies calmly, but I could sense that he is breaking down.
“Why?”
“I think Sabrina needs a father more than she needs me.  And the closest person she has as a father is you,” he explains.
“You think?  Have you ever consider what she really wants?  She wants you to be by her side.  That is what she wants,” Siwon almost screams.  Jonghyun looks at him for quite a long time.
“I’m sorry,” Jonghyun says at last.  Siwon sighs.
“No, Jonghyun.  You say that to her.  I’ll leave this room to both of you.  You sort it out,” he nods to Jonghyun, with care evidence in his eyes.
He leaves, giving the room to both of us.  There we go, moment of silence again.  I’m still processing what Siwon had said to Jonghyun just now.  Jonghyun intentionally sacrificed himself to save Siwon for me.  If it is true, then, I feel really bad. And Siwon must feel worse.
“Really?  Is it real, what he said just now?” I ask.  He looks deeply into my eyes.
“I saved him because I wanted to, Sabrina,” he says.
“But, you risked your life for it.  You knew how to disconnect your soul to Siwon, Jonghyun.  You sacrificed yourself on purpose, didn’t you?” I ask; my tone strict.
“Let’s drop this.  I am not being alive to have a fight with you,” he says.
“Are you doing that on purpose because you know that you will come back to life?” I ask him again.
“Sabrina, all of us know that no one comes back to life after the death comes.  I don’t expect this to happen.  It is a pure luck,” says he.  I look at him, choosing whether to believe him or not.
“So are you saying that you got yourself killed with a thought that you really going to leave me?” I ask, desperately finding my strength to talk.
“Yes, I thought it’s over.  That I will be gone for good,” he says, very carefully and very slowly.
“Jonghyun!  How could you?” I start to raise my voice.
“Sabrina, I know that you need Siwon-”
“But, I love you!” I shout to him.  He winces and I feel bad at once.  He should be resting, not discussing about this.
“I know you love Siwon too,” says he.  I look deep into his eyes and try to explore his mind.
“But, I love you more,” I go.  He explores my eyes.
“I know,” he says.
“Then?  Why did you get yourself killed in action?”
“I was thinking the best for you,” he gives the lamest excuse ever.
“The best for me?  You decided what best for me?  Jonghyun, I decide what best for me and what best for me is you stay alive,” I start to fume with anger.
“I’m alive,” he replies.  I don’t know whether he is playing with me or what, but I certainly not in the mood of playing.
“You were dead, Jonghyun,” I press my voice to emphasize my point.  He sighs.
“Look.  I’m really sorry, okay?” he says.  It is my turn to sigh.
“Hey, you know what I think?  Maybe Siwon thinks differently, but I think you did this for the Key’s sake, weren’t you?  You were willingly getting yourself killed to make Key look after me, am I right?” I ask him, very scarred inside.  He smirks, despite being so fragile and weak on the bed.
“So, both of you know.  Being in the intelligence service makes it hard to fool you, Sabrina,” he says, and I am sure I heard guilty is his voice.
“Key had this sorted out with you, right, just now?” I ask.  He nods.
“I don’t know what he really wants actually.  I know that he loves you the way I do,” he says, very gentle and calm.
“The feeling is not as strong as having you as his brother.  You came to his life as his brother and you make the family perfect.  Key would pay anything to have that, Jonghyun.  He won’t sacrifice you no matter how much he loves me.  You can see it, Jonghyun.  He even has the strongest sense that you’re still alive, or you’ll be buried to death by now.  You can see how strong his sense towards you,” I try to put the sense into him.
“But, I feel guilty.  I came to his life and since then, he has to share Hyori’s and Hyun Joong’s loves with me.  He has to share his mom and dad with me.  He sacrificed that.  And when we fell for the same person, I feel like this time, I must sacrifice.  But, you chose me over him.  That’s something that I couldn’t control, not even Key.  Because your feelings are belonged to you.  So, I thought that if I’m gone, you and he would have no choice,” Jonghyun voices his thought.  I sigh. I don’t like people toy with my feelings.
“You know that our feelings are belonged to us, Jonghyun.  No matter how things change, the feelings can’t be changed.  Your feelings and mine are mutual Jonghyun, but not him.  I am very sure that out there there’s someone who has the feelings mutual with Key’s.  He’ll find his woman one day.  Do not worry about that Jonghyun,” I say.  Jonghyun nods.
“Hey, I’m really sorry, for everything,” he says.  I smile.  That sounds really sincere.  I stroked his head and I could feel that he leans to the touch.
“Thank you, for being alive, Jonghyun,” I say.
He smiles back.  I know this unexpected event means something for us.  To make it back, to cherish each other and to make a family.  Nobody expects he would come back alive, not even Jonghyun himself.
“How‘s the baby?  I think you put too much pressure on it?” he asks me.  I laugh at that.  He’s the sense of humour when the condition is as critical as this.
“Well, I am sure the baby is okay,” I say.
“You didn’t tell me that you are pregnant before the war,” says Jonghyun.
“I thought you could sense it,” I test him.
“Well, maybe I was too busy preparing for the war.  But, I noticed that you smelled different indeed.  Even now, you smell different than always,” he says.
“What does that mean?” I ask.
“Maybe it is the smell of the baby,” he smirks.  He holds my hand.
“Okay.  How does it smell?”
“Dunno.  But, I am not sure I would say it is pleasant.  Or maybe this unpleasant odour is not the baby, but your unstable hormones in your blood, since you’re quite hormonal,” he laughs at his own joke.
“I’m not hormonal!” okay, now I am.
“You’re more sensitive,” he says.
“But, that doesn’t mean that I’m hormonal!” I say.
“See, you are,” he says and I hit him lightly at his shoulder.  He shouts and winces at that the pain and I become so panic at that.
“Hey, are you okay?” I ask him.
“Look at how panic you are.  I told you.  You’re hormonal,” he says again and I laugh so long to that.
“Fine, then.  I’m…not hormonal.  But, just over-sensitive,” I still deny the hormone thing.
“Whatever you say, dear,” he goes.
“I’m happy now that our child has its father,” I say.  Jonghyun strokes my hair.
“How were the others coping when I was died?” he asks.
“Not good.  You know Key blamed himself, for he shot that arrow.  Siwon was blaming himself as well, saying that if it is not because of him, you would not have to save anybody and can stay alive.  Hyori cried as if there will be no happiness again.  Hyun Joong was not doing any better.  Min Yee felt bad as well.  Ji Eun was not herself, as though she was blaming me for what happened,” I try to remember the details.
“Ji Eun blamed you?” he asks.
“Well, yes.  Who won’t?  I think she likes you, and is jealous of me.  To make her feel better, she put the blame on me.  It’s not her fault though.  She just wants to love you like I do,” I say, feeling a bit proud of myself for being chosen by him.
“Now that’s funny.  Ji Eun is a friend, Sabrina.  There’s no such feeling between us,” Jonghyun tries to say that he is not having any affair behind me.  I know that, but I know that Ji Eun likes him as well.
“I am a girl, Jonghyun.  Just like you said.  You’re a guy and you understand Key’s feeling towards me.  So am I.  I’m a girl and I am more than understand Ji Eun’s feeling towards you.  Maybe it is not mutual, I trust you, but she does like you very much,” I say.
“Well, in that case, I can’t blame her as well because I am perfectly aware that I’m too hot to resist,” he says in vain.
I roll my eyes straight away.

__________

heaDeVil^23

Mood: Alive but not fully awake =.=

Chapter 19: As The Sun Rises

Description: Sequel to The True Legend

Rating: PG-13

Characters: SHINee and fictionals

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in the fiction.  The story is only a narrative and does not involve any real life situation.  The whole plot of the story is written originally by myself.  If there's any similarity to other fictions, it is totally a coincidence.

I could see Jonghyun, but very far away.  But, I am sure he doesn’t look ghostly pale or in any form of a death.  He looks fine.  Maybe he is alive, he is not dead as I saw him last time.  Oh wait, I remember seeing he closes his eyes and stops breathing, and his lips was sheet white and there’s no heartbeat.  Maybe that’s a dream.  Maybe if I open my eyes I could see him in front of me, breathing, and lips all pink and healthy.

                My vision is blurry, but I could make out a figure in front of my eyes.  Maybe it is him. Or maybe not.  A girl, a woman, with long hair and I could hear the sound of sniffing coming out from her.  She’s crying?  Is it Ji Eun again like last time?

                “Hey, you’re awake, my daughter,” I could hear Hyori, I am sure she’s Hyori.  As my vision gets clearer, I could see Hyori in front of me.  She looks weak and dread, and her hollow eyes are even more polluted with the dirty eye bags that looks very grey under those eyes.  Such things tell me of sadness, but I prefer not to think about it.

                I sit up and look at her, waiting for her to inform me with any news, but she tells nothing.  Only her eyes share the pain, which prefer not to be told, but my heart is curious to know.  Seeing not a sign of speaking from her, I open my mouth and ask.

                “Is Jonghyun okay?” ask I, hoping that he is alive.  Hyori looks slightly taken aback and tears well up in her eyes again.  She quickly wrings my fingers.

                “Sabrina, don’t you remember?  We lost him.  We lost Jonghyun,” she says.  I exhale, knowing very well that will be the answer.

                “I remember, mom.  I remember very well,” I say with tears staining my cheeks.

                She sits beside me on the bed and hugs me from my back.  She strokes my hair and pats my back.  I could hear she sniffs.

                “It’s okay.  We share it together.  We lost him together.  Don’t bear it alone,” she says.  I nod.

                “He’s not buried yet, right?” I ask.

                “No.  Hyun Joong suggested that we wait till you wake up,” says her.  I nod.

                “I shall get ready for the funeral then,” I stand up and wipe my tears.  Then only I notice that Hyori is already in her black dress.  As though she understands what I am thinking, she stands up as well.

                “I already got your black dress ready.  I’ll take it for you.  Get into the bathroom and clean yourself first,” she says.

                I nod and I walk to the window to take my towels.  There, I notice Jonghyun’s towel hanged besides mine.  Now, after see this, I feel really alone.  How could I manage my life after this, without my husband?  The sun rises but the weather is with me.  Thick clouds hide the brightness of the sun, reflecting the mood here.  I pull my towel while tears fall again.

                “Sabrina, is it real, that you’re pregnant?” Hyori asks me.

                “I am.  And it’s Jonghyun’s child,” I say.  Hyori nods.

                “Clean yourself.  I’ll wait for you here,” she says and turns away, wiping her tears.  Perhaps she wants to hide it from me, but I think I know better how a mother feels about losing a son.  It might be worse than a woman losing her husband.

                I hide my pain as well.  Things might be better if I try to be stronger.  People might feel better if less show the pain.

                It takes me quite long to get ready.  I look into the mirror and I feel lonelier.  How could I live alone in this room?  It seems impossible.  Then, I notice something is missing.  The necklace.  Where is it?  I run to the door and open it to see Hyori is waiting outside the room.

                “Mom, where is the necklace?  Where is the necklace that Jonghyun gave me before he…” I can’t say that word.  It is too painful for me to take it.

                “That necklace?  Key keeps it for you,” she says.  Then only I remember him.  How does Key take all this?

                “Where is he?  Is he okay?  How does he take all this?” I ask, concern and curious at the same time.  I see tears coming out from her eyes again.

                “I don’t know, Sabrina.  I really don’t know,” she suddenly hugs me and cries.  It directly gives me an answer to that question.  Key doesn’t take it well.

                “Where is he, Hyori-ah?” I ask him.

“He is in his room.  You seem stronger than him, Sabrina.  You seem stronger than I thought,” Hyori cries at my shoulder.  I don’t take it very well too, but I try to suck it up and hide the pain because it might be better if less people show the pain.

                “I’ll see him, mom.  Give me time.  I’ll call you when I am done with Key,” I say.  Hyori nods and sends me to Key’s room.

                “Please, Sabrina.  I hope that he will be there for Jonghyun’s funeral,” Hyori says.  I nod.

                I knock on the door.  Of course, no answer from Key.  I sigh.

                “Key-ah…it’s me, Sabrina.  Can you please let me in?” I say. I knock again.

                I wait for quite a few minutes in front the door.  He still doesn’t answer me.  Maybe he is sleeping, too tired to stay awake, to face the reality that eats him inside.  Or maybe he really doesn’t want to be disturbed.  I almost walk away when I hear the door opens behind me.

                “Sabrina…” the voice sounds feeble and dying.  I turn around.

                The image that I see is very shocking.  Key is pale as a vampire, but he seems more like a zombie now.  He seems dead.  Looking at the hollow eyes hurts me a lot, but I have to remain strong because if I cry now, it will make Key feels even worse.  I am here to make things better. Am I not?

                “Key…” I say and walk to him, “What happen to you?” I ask him.  The moment I hold his hand, his legs lose strength and he falls on me.  I quickly balance myself to avoid both of us fall down.  Key really needs someone to depend on right now.  He is lifeless and really, I take it better than he.  He cries at my shoulder and I walk him to the couch inside his room.

                “Key…please.  Don’t be like this, please,” I beg him.  Seeing him like that makes me feel that I am losing another family member.  Losing Jonghyun is enough for me.  I don’t want to lose both at the same time.

                “J-Jonghyun hyung…he is not gone, is he?” Key asks.  I look deeply into his eyes.

                “We lost him, Key.  We lost him,” I say, stating the painful fact.   He shakes his head and cries even more.  Then, suddenly, he laughs.

                “This joke is not funny, you know?” Key asks.  Now I know that Key is in a worse state than me.  He’s in denial.

                “This is not a joke, Key.  It’s true.  We lost him, in the war,” I say.  He looks at me sharply, as if he wants to eat me.

                “Who tell you that?  Tell me, who say that?  Hyori?  Hyun Joong?  Ji Eun?  They are idiot!  Of, course Jonghyun is not dead.  I can hear his heartbeats, although they are very faint!” Key says.  It surprises me even more to see how strong his denial is.

                “Key, you’re denying it.  He’s dead, Key.  Let’s face the fact.  He’s no longer with us,” I say gently.

                “You are with them too?  You are an idiot as well!  Idiot!” he says and he cries again.  I hold his arms firmly.

                “Key-ah, don’t bear the pain alone, Key.  All of us are willing to share the pain together.  Don’t deny it, Key.  Let us face this together.  You’re not alone in this,” I say while I hug him.

                “I could still hear his heartbeats, Sabrina,” he says with his tears strolling right onto my dress.

                “All of us could imagine that his heart is still beating, Key.  Me too.  I would say that I could hear his heart beating too.  But, no Key.  That’s not true.  He is gone,” I say.  Key cries again.  I wait long enough for him to speak again.

                “It’s hard to admit his death, Sabrina.  Because if I do, the pain is more than any of you, because I was the one who killed him.  It was me.  It was all my fault,” Key says.

                “No, Key!  How could you do that to yourself?” I say and tears start to roll down.

                “It was me who shot the arrow.  It was my arrow that pierced him and killed him.  I killed him, Sabrina!  I killed him!” he says.  I cry with him when I hear that.

                “Don’t do this to yourself Key, please.  You just helped him to do what is right.  That’s it,” I say.

                “Are you saying that taking his life away is the right thing that I did?  I killed my own brother, Sabrina.  I killed my own brother!  How is that right?”

                “Please, Key!  Don’t do this to yourself.  Please,” I hug him.  He cries again and it seems like it won’t stop.

                “Why did this happen to us, Sabrina?  Why?  Why he left us so early?” asks Key.  I have no answer for that.

                “Key-ah…Jonghyun wouldn’t want to see you like this,” I say.  I hope that can bring him to his sense.

                “Jonghyun…he shouldn’t sacrifice himself for Siwon.  He should let me do it,” says Key.

                “What are you saying, Key?!” I raise my voice.

                “I am saying the thing that is supposed to happen,” answers him.

                “Enough, Key.  Please!  If you don’t want to be strong for him, at least, please, be strong for me, Key.  Please…” I cry.  He looks at me, “I can’t afford to lose both of you.  He’s gone, and you!  You’re supposed to stop thinking about dying as well!  How can all of us take it if we lose both of you?!  Please, Key.  Be strong.  Everybody is waiting for you downstairs.  Pay your last respect, please,” I beg him.

                He looks at me with eyes very hollow that I could see the numbing pain inside.  Key loses his strength to live.  In his eyes, he is dead as well.

                “Fine.  I’m fine if you don’t want to go.  I need to get going,” I say while standing up from the bed.

                I give him a last look before I leave the room.  After I’m quite sure he is not going with me, I make my way to the door.

                “Sabrina…” he calls me again.  I turn and look at him.  He has stood up.

                “This is belonged to you,” he says while giving me the necklace that Jonghyun gave me before he went away.

                “Come with me, Key.  Please.  I won’t take it if you are not following me,” I say.  Key sighs.

                “Fine,” he says, “I’ll go with you,” he says, “To prove to all of you that this is just a sick joke.  I’ll prove to all of you that he is still alive, that his heart is still beating.

                Thinking about it, it is better for him to come along, whatever the reason is.  I just let him come with whatever reason he has in mind.  Jonghyun is gone, and he won’t be back.  I walk away but I hear his footsteps at my back.  I take the stairs down only to see everybody is getting ready for the burial.

I could see Jonghyun lies in the coffin, with his eyes shut.  He looks very pale and that confirms his death.  Seeing him brings back all the memories when we were together.  I guess those are enough for me to keep till the end of my lifetime.  I’ll be responsible for his child.  I will, that’s my promise.

I see Siwon.  He doesn’t take it well either.  He is sobbing like crazy.  He seems to be worse than me, although a bit better than Key.

                “Siwon appa!” I shout while running towards him.  I hug him.

                “Sabrina!” he cries, “I’m sorry.  I’m sorry that this has to happen.  It was my fault th-”

                “Stop it!  Will you?  I’ve got enough people blaming themselves for Jonghyun’s death.  Enough!” I say.

                “Unnie!” my sister hugs me.

                “Min Yee-ah,” I say with tears.

                “Unnie…Jonghyun oppa…I can’t take it, unnie,” she cries.  I suck all the pain and try to restrain my tears from falling.  I pat her head.

                “Let’s be strong, okay, Min Yee-ah?” I say.  She nods weakly.

                “I guess we are ready then,” Hyun Joong takes control of everything.  I look at him.  It is painful for him too.  His eyes cannot lie.  But, he hides it.  Seeing his effort to stay strong, I feel numb.  I nod.

                “Yah!  Where are you guys taking Jonghyun hyung?!” Key shouts from behind.  All of us look at him.

                “Key…we are ready for the burial,” says Hyori.

                “No!  You’re not bringing him anywhere!  He’s still alive!  Why do you guys want to bury him?!  Why?!” says Key.  Hyori looks shock.  Everyone seems shock to see how Key is denying the death.

                “Key, please-”

                “He’s alive, you idiot!  I can hear his heartbeats!” shouts Key.  Hyun Joong sighs.

                “No, Key.  You’re imagining things,” says Hyun Joong while closing the coffin, “Let’s get ready guys,” says him.

                “No, idiot!  He’s alive.  You guys are stupid!” Key says while trying to open back the coffin.  Onew quickly holds him back.  Taemin, Siwon, Minho and Seunghyun help to take the coffin to the burial site which is just at the back of the house.  Onew brings Key outside, but still holds him tight.  Key seems insane.

                “Yah!  You guys are stupid.  Jonghyun hyung is alive!  I hear his heartbeats.  They are faint, but I hear them well!” says Key when they lower the coffin into the grave hole.

                “No, Key.  You are hearing things.  You just can’t accept it, Key!  Face it!  He’s dead!” says Onew.

                Hyun Joong and Lee Minho only manage to take the spade when Key punches Onew in his face.  Onew falls on his back.  Key speeds towards both Lee Minho and Hyun Joong and he pushes them hard, making them to fall hard on their backs as well.  Then, he jumps into the hole.

                “Key-ah!” shouts Ji Woo.

                “He’s alive!” screams Key.

                Everybody is shocked when Key opens the coffin but what surprises us more is that when the coffin is opened, it reveals Jonghyun, with his eyes open wide.

__________

heaDeVil^23

Chapter 18: As The Curse Broken

I wake up and take notices that it is not a dream, although the roses arranged around me on the bed I’m lying on tells otherwise.  I remember feeling the pain of being jabbed in the neck by Jonghyun and the pain in my heart when I knew Jonghyun was the one did it.  It happened very fast in one go and I am not very sure of what is happening now.  I look at the clock placed on the bedside table and the hour hand points at four.  I am sure I talked with Jonghyun at two in the afternoon.  Jonghyun must have jabbed me with a drug that makes me sleep for two hours, without I know the reason.

                When I look around the room, wondering why it is so noisy at some distant outside, and there’s nobody inside the house, I am taken aback by a figure standing next to the mirror.  I think I know her.  She’s a doctor.  The last time I saw her was when Jonghyun and I solved a case regarding medical lawsuit on a company producing non-certified pacemakers.

                “Dr. Ji Eun.  What are you doing here?” I ask her.  She looks very pale in this dark room.

                “Hey, Sabrina.  Good to see you again,” she says.  I notice a crack in her voice, thinking that she has been crying.  I confirm it when I see her puffy eyes with her tear-streaked face.

                “Hey…are you okay?  You’ve been crying,” I ask her gently, feeling pity towards the girl.  She looks really sad.

                “I’m okay,” more tears come out when she tries to say she is okay.

                “You’re here all this time?  How long have I been sleeping?” I ask her for confirmation.

                “Yes.  I was here for the whole 26 hours you had been unconscious,” she says.  My jaw falls.  That long?  What is the purpose of Jonghyun doing that?

                “You mean today is already another day?” she nods and I resume, “Where’s Jonghyun?  What’s up with all this roses surrounding me on bed?” I ask her.

                She comes nearer to me and sits down right beside me.  I could see that she is really sad.  I wonder why.

                “Jonghyun put all this roses to cover your smell.  He doesn’t want the other vampires know that you’re here,” she says with a cracking voice.

                “What vampires?” I ask, feeling uneasy to the pit of my stomach.  Ji Eun sniffs, and I ask again, “What vampires Ji Eun?!” I start to lose control on myself.

                Ji Eun tears strolls down like a downpour.  She holds my hand and that is the first time I notice her very cold hands.  It is icy and I am informed immediately on what she is actually.

                “You’re a vampire as well, aren’t you?”

                She nods.  She takes out a gun from the drawer of the bedside table and puts it on my palm.  I look at it, wondering what she wants me to do.  Shoot her?

                “What is this Ji Eun?” I ask.

                “Jonghyun made that especially for you.  It uses silver bullets,” she gives me a small box, “Use it wisely.  He trusts you,” Ji Eun says.

                I accept those things nervously, and at that brief moment, I make the sense out of it.  The roses.  The distant noises.  The gun.  I blame myself for not noticing the war has already started.

                “The war has started, hasn’t it?” I ask her.  She swallows.

                “A few hours ago,” says her, “There’re a lot of them.  And I come here to help as well,” says Ji Eun.

                Upon hearing that, I jump out of bed and runs towards the door, only to have my way being blocked by Ji Eun.

                “Jonghyun said don’t go out.  Do it from here,” she says.  I glare at her and she grabs my wrist.  Damn, vampires are strong.  I can’t defeat her.  She brings me to the window.

                “Do it from here.  He trusts you.  You can shoot your target from distance, can’t you?” she asks me and truthfully, I could feel the challenge she puts on me.  Fine, challenge accepted.

                I pull the curtain aside and through the transparent window, I watch a view very scary, but quite familiar to me.  Vampires are flying everywhere.  Fires, swords, arrows, knifes, daggers are all over the place.  It is like an arena, where people are playing to win, where vampires kill each other to save their own lives.  I have an instant dislike at the view.

                War is destructive.  War is killing.  When I was young I thought I will never get myself into one, but now I have to kill to live.  I have too.  War is destructive.  War makes people inhuman, except that this war involves mostly non-human.  Therefore, should I say that it is ethical to be inhuman here?

                An arrow shots through my view and I know almost immediately that it belongs to Ji Eun.  One vampire goes down.  She jerks her hand and another arrow appears and she quickly aims another target.  Seeing her swift action, I realise I should do the same.  Help them.  Help Jonghyun.  Save Jonghyun.  My child needs a father.

                I try to remember again.  Three ways to kill vampires: burn them, cut their bodies off and shoot them into their hearts.  I aim and once I fix my target, I shoot.  One down.

                “You’re one hell of a shooter,” Ji Eun says as she aims another target.  The arrow flies and another vampire is killed.

                “Look who’s talking,” I say as I aim for another one.  Another vampire turns into ashes and I start to like how inhuman the game is.  There’s no rule.  Kill and keep killing.  You’ll win.

                I saw the hemisphere electric shields everywhere on the ground.    That must be Hyun Joong’s work.  They shoot from inside and the bullets fly out, hit squarely in the vampires chest.  I could see Seraphina with bow and arrows, freely shooting.  Her skill is nothing compared to Ji Eun but at least she poisons the vampires with dead men’s blood.  HyunA, Uee and Minzy are using guns, and their ability to control the weapons in such a short time shall be complimented.

                “Nice strategy, the shield I mean.  They can kill vampires but no vampire can touch them.  Or else they will burn to death,” I aim another shot.  When you aim the gun, you shoot it, that is what it takes to survive.

                “Jonghyun’s and Hyun Joong’s work.  Humans are not as fast as vampires, it will put them at a great disadvantage if they have no protection,” says Ji Eun.  Her arrow hits other vampires squarely in the heart again.

                “Where’s Jonghyun?” I whisper to myself and searching for at least only his shadow.  I don’t know.  Somehow, I’m a bit mad at him for not letting me join the war since it began.

                I could see Taemin, stares madly into other vampires’ eyes and those vampires quickly burn to death.  Taemin looks fearless.  Although his eyes can burn, but he keeps a silver dagger at his hand.  In case it takes too long to burn the other vampires, he stabs the dagger straight into the heart of the others.

                “How do you know when the war is coming?” I ask Ji Eun.

                “So Eun can see premonition.  She met Psychic Jung once and she used that memory to see the prediction on when the war is coming,” says Ji Eun.

                “And I actually didn’t know that it is coming this soon?” I say while shoot another vampire furiously.  Ji Eun stops her action when she hears that.

                “Jonghyun wants us to spare you,” says Ji Eun.  And is that a sound of jealousy that I heard?

                “What is your connection to the three families?” I ask.

                “I am a Lee.  Lee Ji Eun.  They are all my childhood friends actually,” says Ji Eun.  I curse, no wonder when we solved the case at the hospital, Jonghyun and Ji Eun seemed to hide something from me.

                “You like him, aren’t you?” I ask her and shoot another vampire.  The anger that swells inside me makes me a better shooter.

                “But, he likes you,” her arrow hits another vampire.  Her anger is taking control as well.

                “Now that I know you like him, let’s protect him together,” I say, without knowing how to do it.

                “But, he wants me to protect you,” she says and another vampire burns from far.

                “My child needs a father, Ji Eun,” I say, and she freezes immediately.  She looks at me, eyes widen in surprise.

                “Does he know it, Sabrina?” she asks.

                “He doesn’t.  I want to tell only by the end of the war,” I say.  She looks frustrated and again, tears fill up her eyes.

                “You should tell him earlier, Sabrina!” says Ji Eun.

                “Why?” and both of us hear a scream so familiar to us.  From far, we could see Lee Minho falls to the ground.

                “Oh God!” I shout, “He’s not dying, is he?” I ask, feeling so scared.  As soon as I ask, a vampire appears at our window and I quickly recognize the white, glimmering wings.

                “Ji Eun, save them.  I’ll take it from here,” Jonghyun says.  Ji Eun quickly nods and opens a cabinet in the room.  She takes bottles of crimson red liquid out with her.

                “Oh God!  Jonghyun!  What have you done?” I tug at his collar furiously.

                “I only do what is supposed to be done,” he says and I look at him.  He looks okay.  No bruises except for a few scratches on his face, neck and hand.

                “Let’s go,” he lifts me up and it takes me a while to realise that I am flying.  He brings me to the war, to the arena of war. Hyun Joong comes immediately after I touch the ground.  He builds a shield around me and I am safe in the hemisphere.

                “Now, shoot them from here.  Don’t step out, understand?” he says.  I nod.  He is about to go.

                “Jonghyun!  Wait!  I have something to tell you!” I catch his wrist.  He looks at me and then strokes my hair, down to my chin.

                “Later, okay?” he says, and quickly leaves.  I am taken aback by his action but I decide to remain professional in this state of war.

                I could see him with his silver sword.  He is flying very fast and cut the neck of vampires furiously before they could do anything to him.  In one go, three vampires fall into the lake and they burn into aches.  I hate war.  It is cruel.  I see the lake.  The supposed to be clear water has now filled with red liquid.  There’s no swan, no duck.  Perhaps they are hiding for their own safety.  I hate war.

                Nearby, I could see Hyun Joong with his sword.  Chopping of vampires head.  The other vampires try to attack him from his back.  I quickly aim my gun and shoot.  I could see Hyun Joong gives a smile to me and resumes his attack to the others.  Vampires die anywhere around me now.  And each time a vampire shouts or falls onto the ground I check with worry whether or not it is from our side.

                Lee Minho flies again, after he completely heals.  That is fast it think.  I know the cure.  I know whose blood it is.  Only one blood can cure vampires.  I know but I can’t do anything, can I?  Ji Eun pulls another arrow and another vampire dies.  When the other vampires shoot her with their arrows, she quickly draws out a sword from her waist and prevents all the other arrows form reaching her.  The vampires from our side have their own defence.  We help to defence them as well.  When they are killing other vampires, we become their eyes, watching whoever wants to attack from their backs.  And we human, kill those vampires.  I hate war.

                So Eun’s arts of throwing the shurikens has never faded.  She throws it right into the chest of the other vampires and they die.  Burn into ashes, and the end.  Hyori with her bow and arrows.  Nobody could see her arrows.  Those are fast and our eyes couldn’t see them until they are planted on the other vampires’ chests, bringing another death.  Uee seems to be their eyes from the ground.  And she shoots her bullet, coated with the dead men’s blood to any vampire that tries to get closer to Hyori and So Eun.  One inch nearer and if not died, the vampires are weaken, make it easier Hyori and So Eun to kill their prey.  I hate the deafening sound.  I hate the sound of my own gun, but I have to guard Jonghyun and Hyun Joong.  I hate war.

                Key’s touch could kill, if not his breath.  Once he touches a vampire and it is gone, the heart stops and the vampires turn into ashes.  And he keeps a dagger with him in case there’s a sudden attack.  Taemin is killing near him.  Taemin uses anger to weaken the other vampires before kills them with his eyes.  Seraphina is their eyes.  She protects Key and Taemin with her bow and arrows.  My sweet sister kills.  My sweet sister changes a lot.  I shoot another vampire who tries to attack Hyun Joong from his back.  I hate war.

                Onew kills with his double dagger.  He seems fearless.  He is angry.  He kills a lot of vampires.  The Onew that use to be very selfless is killing.  One vampire dies.  Another one in the next second.  And another one in the next second.  Onew is angry.  I hate war.  The once lovable Jiyeon is protecting her husband.  She kills with her gun.  She kills any vampires that try to attack Onew and Seunghyun.  Seunghyun uses his nails to burn.  The smells of smokes and blood come into my nose.  I am tempted to kill more.  I hate war.

                Minho is cruel.  He uses his poisonous nail to weaken the other vampires before he send them to death by pulling out their hearts out, crashes them.  But, he wants to save us, right?  Ji Woo doesn’t use her deadly nail, not at all.  She doesn’t want to create another string of vampires with curse bonded to each other.  Just Jonghyun and Siwon is enough to create war.  She uses knives instead.  I don’t know that she has a thing for knives.  She throws knives and they chopped off the vampires’ head or go straight into their hearts.  Sooyoung is their eyes.  She has been very good with guns.  She shoots and shoots like I do.  Enemy dies.  We’ll be alright.  I hate war.

                HyunA and Minzy are in the same shield.  HyunA seems to be protecting Ji Eun and Lee Minho.  But, Minzy is killing all by herself.  They used to be funny.  They used to be humorous.  But, not in this time of war.  They shoot and shoot.  They reload their guns and they kill again.  More vampires fall onto the ground with red blood and burns into ashes.  The sky is getting clearer but is getting darker because the twilight is approaching.  We seem to be winning this war.  I hate war.  I try to find Jonghyun again.

                He is fighting with a vampire.  A vampire that seems so familiar to me.  Siwon, my godfather.  He is not Siwon.  He is the Evil Choi.  By nightfall, we must win.  I raise my gun and try to shoot Siwon but Hyun Joong shouts, stopping me from my deadly action.

                “The curse can kill Jonghyun, if you kill Siwon.  Please don’t!” he says.  I remember.  Anger makes me think irrationally.  I don’t want to be furious.  Jonghyun can get killed.  Jonghyun burns something, like and amulet, or whatever, a stone?  Siwon seems furious.  He attacks and attacks.  Jonghyun is injured, but Siwon doesn’t dare to kill him as well.

                “Tell me how to break the curse!” Siwon shouts.

                “Even if I don’t tell you, what can you do me?” Jonghyun bravely challenge the evil vampire.

                “I kill them all!  I swear I’ll kill them all!!!” he screams.

                “Siwon!  Wake up!!!  I know you’re in there.  Come on!”  Jonghyun says while avoid himself from getting injured even further.  Jonghyun tries to bring Siwon out of the possession of the Evil Choi.

                “He can’t give a damn on what you’re saying Jonghyun!” now Siwon indeed sounds like the Evil Choi.  His spirit has taken over Siwon’s body.  I could see Seraphina raises her bow and arrow and shoots directly to Siwon’s leg.  He screams in pain, while Jonghyun’s face scrunches in pain.  The curse is not broken.  They are bonded.  Jonghyun feels the same pain that Siwon experiences.  Jonghyun gets himself to the ground while Hyun Joong takes control of the weaken Siwon.  I hate war.

                Seraphina runs out of her shield towards Jonghyun.  She crouches down beside him.  Seeing that, I run out from my shield as well.  We are at advantage.  No one wants to hurt us.  The other vampires are defeated.  It is the battle between Siwon and Jonghyun.

                “Jonghyun oppa.  I’m sorry I have to poison him, I just want to weaken him.  I’m sorry you have to suffer the pain.  But, Minzy unnie have something to tell you,” Min Yee says.  Jonghyun nods and smiles at her while struggling with the pain inside him, the pain that the curse promises to give if one of them is hurt.  The pain that reminds us that if one of them die, the other will die as well.

                Uee, Minzy and HyunA is now out of their shields.  They surround us and Minzy get hold of the situation.

                “Minzy, I’ve burnt the amulet that raises the spirit up.  But, even it was burnt, the spirit is still very powerful inside Siwon’s body,” says Jonghyun with laboured breathes.

                “It is not only the amulet.  It is Ji Woo.  She has the soul of the Evil Choi,” says Minzy.  Jonghyun looks at them with a smile.

                “So smart.  You observed well, Minzy.  Then how are we going to weaken the spirit?” Jonghyun asks her, struggling within his breathe.

                “We have no choice, accept to poison Ji Woo as well,” says HyunA.

                “Exactly, things have to be done in a very cruel way,” Uee says.  I hate war.

                “Then, do it, while I play with the Evil Choi.  Seraphina, be ready, I’ll signal you,” says Jonghyun and he soars to the sky again.  I am clueless but I could see Ji Woo comes as Uee calls her.  The moment Ji Woo touches the ground, Minzy and HyunA quickly slash her with a knife, coated with the dead men’s blood.  Ji Woo is surprised, and Minho is taken aback.  But, they understand the look in Minzy’s, HyunA’s and Uee’s face.  Things have to be done this way.  I hate war.

                Shades of red start to decorate the western horizon.  It is twilight.  It will be night soon, but before that we have to face the fierce red radiance.  I hate war.

                Jonghyun takes out his sword and have a fight with the Evil Choi.  The curse is still bonded.  If one dies, the other will die as well.  I hate war.

                “Seraphina!  Key!  Do it!” Jonghyun says.  Do what?  I am really clueless of what is happening.

Siwon is fighting to take control of his own body. I am still clueless.  Seraphina brings a bow and an arrow to Key.  Key pulls out the arrow from its case and I could see the arrow is shining under the red light of the falling sun.  The arrow is wet, glimmering with the salt and lime.  Kill the spirit of the Evil Choi.  Key has to do it faster.  But, too late.  Evil Choi is getting control over Siwon’s body again and flies towards Key.

                “Key!!!” Jonghyun shouts.  He darts forwards and prevents the Evil Choi from harming Key.  The arrow is been shot.  Jonghyun takes Siwon in his arm and spins him around.  The arrow hits Siwon at his back.  Key did his job.  The arrow gets into Siwon.  The spirit of the Evil Choi is killed instantly.

                “Jonghyun…” Siwon stares into Jonghyun’s eyes and both of them falls on to the ground.  For a while, all of us are frozen on our spot, too shocked to even move.

                “Jonghyun…” Siwon says with tears.  Siwon is back.  Jonghyun smiles and his face then scrunch in pain.

                “You don’t feel the pain, do you?”  Jonghyun says while pulling the arrow out of Siwon’s body.  Blood gushes out.  I hate the sight.  I hate war.

                “How come I don’t feel the pain?” asks Siwon.  Jonghyun smiles.  His face is full with sweat.  He struggles to breath.  With hands shaken, he takes out a small glass bottle, filled with crimson red liquid and brings it to Siwon’s mouth.

                “Drink this, Siwon,” says Jonghyun.  Siwon drinks it.  He heals instantly.  Siwon smiles to the miracle.  But, Jonghyun doesn’t look okay.

                “Jonghyun, are you, okay?” I hear Siwon asks.  All of us hear that.  Siwon half screams as he asks.

                “It h-hurts,” says Jonghyun, gasping for air.

                Siwon sits up immediately after Jonghyun says that.  He places Jonghyun slowly on his lap.  I could see blood gushes out from Jonghyun’s chest.  The arrow goes through Siwon and pierces through Jonghyun’s chest.  I hate the sight.  I hate war.

                “Damn, Jonghyun!  What have you done to yourself?!  Why don’t I feel the pain?  Why am I not dying as well?!  God… Guys!  Help me out!!!” Siwon screams.  All of us get back to our sense.  We start to surround them.  Jonghyun slips in and out of consciousness.   His breath is out of control.  He tries to smile.

                “The war is over.  The…c-curse is b-broken.  You’re s-safe,” he breathes again, gasping for air.  I look at him with eyes widen.

                “But, how…?” Siwon asks while wiping the sweat off his face.  Hyori and Ji Eun are trying to stop the bleeding.  Tears swell in my own eyes.  I hate the sight.  I hate war.

                “Your soul…it’s n-not belonged…t-to your body.  The curse is b-broken.  You’re safe,” Jonghyun says while smiling.  Siwon frowns.  He looks at everybody else.  The others look very worry.

                “Damn!  Damn!  You took it out from my body right?  When the arrow pierced right through me?” Siwon asks and he starts and to cry, “Why, Jonghyun?  Why?!!!” he shouts.

                “Live, Siwon, p-please…” Jonghyun struggles to say.  His lips are getting paler.  The bleeding has been stopped though, but he is dying away.  I hate war.

                “Hey, hey.  Jonghyun listen to me.  You’re okay.  You’re not going to die.  You’re okay,” Hyun Joong strokes his head.

                “Sabrina…” he says my name.  I quickly snatch his hand.

                “Jonghyun…please.  You’re not going to die,” I say, grabs his hand firmly.  He smiles.

                “You have your dad, Sabrina.  Siwon…he is g-going to take c-care of you,” Jonghyun says while grabbing back my hand.  He gives something to me, he is passing me something through the grab.  Tears slide down from his eyes.  I cry as well.  I hate war.  Jonghyun almost closes his eyes.

                “Jonghyun!!!” I scream.  His eyes shot open, but his breathe is getting more laboured, “You can’t die!!!  Our child needs you!!!  I need you!” I scream.  He looks surprise.  But, he smiles and strokes my hair.

                “Key…he is going to take c-care of you…and the child,” he says with very much difficulty.

                “No, hyung!!!  You’re not going to leave us!”  Key shouts.  Jonghyun smiles and more tears are streaming down his face.

                When the last tears stroll down, his eyes closed and I can’t hear his breath anymore.  His grip on my hand loosens and I could see the necklace he took from me yesterday.  I shout his name.  The last shades of red light disappear.  The sun goes down.  The bright moon takes place.  I hate war!

                Ji Eun tries to bring back his pulse.  Hyun Joong gives a mild electrocution but it’s useless.  Ji Eun begins to do a chest compression to bring back the pulse.  She does a few times and checks again.  No pulse.  She does it again.  Still no pulse.

                “Come on, Jonghyun wake up!” she repeats it again and again.

Ten minutes.  Hyori can’t take it.  She pushes Ji Eun away.  She tries to do the chest compression again.  She breathes into his mouth.  She checks the pulse again.

                “Wake up, son!” she says.  Jonghyun is lifeless.  Useless ten minutes.  Hyori seems to give up and cries harder.

                “You can’t just give up!” I push Hyori aside and try to bring back the pulse.  I have to do it.  For me, for our child.  Jonghyun can’t die.  Not now, at least.  Five minutes.  It is not working.  I breathe into his mouth.  I punch his chest.  And punch again.  I don’t care whether he will have broken ribs.  He has to come to life.

                “Wake up, Jonghyun!”  I punch his chest.  I punch again.  And again.  And again.  I hate war!  I stop and I cry.  Maybe I can’t bring him back.  And it’s real, it’s not a dream.  I hate war!

                “Hyung!  Wake up!  Jonghyun hyung!”  Key just can’t accept.  He tries again.  Tears are streaming down his face.  Maybe Key can bring him to life.  I just let Key do whatever he wants, as long as Jonghyun can wake up again and tell me that he is going to be with me forever.

                “Hyung!  Wake up!  You promise to protect us!  You promise to stay alive!” Key does the chest compression and he does it again.

                “Stop it, Key,” I say at last, with tears and sobs.  I know it is the end.  Jonghyun is gone, like the sun is gone.

Onew and Taemin pull Key away from Jonghyun.  Key struggles to be freed.  He’s desperate, like me.  I want to see Jonghyun alive.

                “Let him rest in peace!” Onew shouts, tears are wetting his cheeks.  Key starts to calm down.

                I cry.  Tears are streaming down like downpours.  I feel like I couldn’t breathe.  I start to feel dizzy.  The image starts to become darker and darker.  I wonder if it is because of the night.  The last thing I see is the bright full moon, before everything turns into pitch black.

__________

heaDeVil^23

Chapter 17: The Formulation

Description: Sequel to The True Legend (http://www.asianfanfics.com/story/view/2823/the-true-legend-jonghyun-shinee)

Rating: PG-13

Characters: SHINee and fictionals

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in the fiction.  The story is only a narrative and does not involve any real life situation.  The whole plot of the story is written originally by myself.  If there's any similarity to other fictions, it is totally a coincidence.

It’s eleven.  It is almost noon and the sun is so bright out there making me feel so tempted to experience the heat.  It is a sign of hope, warm, and happiness, which is, very encouraging, in my opinion.  The last spring didn’t bring that much hope, even the flowers are not blossoming as they should.  I could say they understand my every mood.  This summer, as the sun shines so bright, there’s a sign of a new life in me, a new life that helps to strengthen my marriage.

                Jonghyun doesn’t know and he shouldn’t.  He is concentrating on the coming war and I don’t want to distract him from his concentration.  Distraction might cause fatal harm, which means death, and I won’t let that happen.  I’m scared though.  I still remember his conversation with Key yesterday.  The prophecy seems explaining, but I like to believe that it could be wrong.  Jonghyun is going to be a father and he will be the first person to hold his child.

                As I step out of the Kim’s mansion, I could see my sister and my friends busied themselves with stuffs.  They are doing some sort of war preparation at the edge of the lake.  They are having bows, arrows and guns with them.  Maybe they practice shooting, I am so sure judging from their tensing shoulder’s muscles.

                Jiyeon skills in shooting are getting better.  Onew trains his wife well to protect herself.  Taemin and Seraphina are also practising.  Taemin teaches Seraphina how to use a gun and Seraphina teaches him how to use arrows and a bow.  They are getting better in planning strategy.  Key is also using bow and arrow.  Uee, Minzy, and HyunA, the greatest trio, are using the guns, aiming it at the targets they place at least 100m before them.  They are the best I think, judging from their spirits and courage.

                “Hey, what’s up?” I ask Min Yee.

                “Sis, you okay?”

                “I’m fine,” I reply.

                “Good.  I’m teaching him archery,” she points to Taemin.

                “You didn’t tell me that Seraphina is good in archery, noona,” Taemin says while smiling.

                “Well, my sister has my blood and both of us have our dad’s blood.  Do you need further explanation in this?  I don’t think so,” I raise my eyebrow and Taemin smirks.

                “I know I’m lucky to have you as my partner,” says Taemin to Seraphina.  I laugh seeing this bubbly couple.  Taemin always can change a gloomy and serious mood to a bright and happy one.  He is so capable.

                “Where’s Sooyoung?  She’s not around?” I ask Taemin.

                “Working on her last case before she can hand it to our new agents.  She’s already good in shooting anyway.  So, no worry,” Taemin says.  I nod.

                I leave them and walk to Key, who is too absorbed with his arrows and bow, not noticing my presence.  I could see him dipping the arrow into a liquid and I could not be sure what it is.  Once he dips the arrow in to the liquid, he swiftly aims for his target and shoots the arrow.

                “What are you doing?” I ask him.  He smirks.

                “Eating,” he jokes.  I roll my eyes; understand his sarcastic way of telling me what he is doing.

                “Seriously?  Eating your arrows?” I continue the joke.

                “Oh, well.  Sabrina, what else am I doing?  Of course, archery,” he says gently before he releases another arrow and it hits right at the middle of the bull eye.

                “I know.  Yeah, archery.  But, what are you doing with the liquid?  And seems like you’re trying to shoot as fast as you can.  Are you timing yourself?  Am I disturbing?” I ask.

                “No, you’re not,” Key replies, “This is lime juice mixed with salt.  The strongest thing to encounter the spirit I think,” he says.

                “And you’re timing yourself?  How fast you can dip the arrow into the salty lime, aim and shoot it?” I ask him again.

                “Yeah.  Jonghyun asks me to do so.  I think he is focusing on the tactic,” says Key.

                Upon hearing my husband’s name, I immediately silence.  When Key says his name, I quickly remember yesterday’s quarrel.  Are they okay?  I mean, did it end?

                “You guys…are okay, aren’t you?” I ask.  Key sighs and smirks.

                “You think?” he asks me back.  Now, he is playing riddle with me.

                “You guys are…okay,” I drop my opinion.

                “Then, we are okay,” he says without seriousness in his tone.  I roll my eyes.

                “Key, you guys are okay, right?” I ask again.  He sighs again.

                “I think so.  No, I hope so,” he says.

                “Now, now.  What do you mean?”

                “We spoke to each other this morning.  Everything seems to be fine.  He says I should practice and I do what he wants me to do.  So, I guess he should be satisfied,” Key says.  I could trace the slightest sound of frustration in his voice.  It is my turn to sigh.

                “Key, what actually happened yesterday?” I ask.

                “Ask your husband,” he says, gentle and cold.

                “I am asking you now,” I say sternly.

                “It’s complicated.”

                “Make it simple.”

                My words stop him from what he is doing.  He lowers his arms and loosens his grip around his bow.  He looks at me with his tender and tired eyes.

                “He asked me to look after you.  That’s all,” says Key nonchalantly.  I know he is telling me the truth but he is not being transparent enough.

                “That’s not all,” I emphasize.

                “Sabrina…just drop it, ok-”

                “No, let’s not drop it.  Tell me what happened between both of you.  I have the right to know, Key, because I know so well the conversation involves me,” I sternly say.

                “You heard that.  So, I guess you know everything,” he says and raises his bow again.

                “Do you like me?” I ask, embarrassingly, but to know the truth, I would rather face it. He halts again.

                “Is it true, do you like me?” I ask him again.  He sighs for the umpteenth times.

                “I do like you, Sabrina.  In fact, I love you so much,” he confesses at last.

                “So, it’s true,” I say.

                “But what Jonghyun doesn’t know is I would choose him over you.  I love him as my brother, more than I love you.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not gay, but I do care about my brother,” he says with a slight trace of joke.  I manage a small laugh.

                “And what he doesn’t know is that I would choose him over you as well, Key.  He’s my only husband and I love him very much.  Don’t you ever dream of getting my love, because even if he dies, I won’t easily love you,” I say quite harshly.  He chuckles.

                “I know that very well, Sabrina.  You don’t have to say it out loud and shatter my heart,” Key says.

                “I’m sorry, I’m quite cold.  But, now you know very well that I love him, and I know that you love him, then, let us work together to protect him,” I suggest.

                “You have a plan?” he asks and I shake my head, “Neither do I,” he says, smirking.  I feel hopeless.

                “We are not as smart as him, Sabrina,” Key reminds me.

                “Even by using the stupidest way, we shall keep him save, Key.  He can’t die,” I say again.  Key looks at me.

                “Even if the prophecy says the other way round?” he asks me.  I walk to him, nearer and nearer, and when we’re close enough, I pull him by his collar, down to my level.

                “My child needs a father, Key,” I whisper.  He freezes and looks deeply into my eyes.  Then, he shakes his head.

                “Does he know you’re pregnant?” Key asks me.

                “No.  We shouldn’t tell him, Key, we shouldn’t.  I don’t want anything to distract him in the middle of this war.  All we need to do now is to save him and it will as well save my child,” I say.  Key looks at somewhere behind me.

                “Here he comes.  You might want to change the topic, or else, just keep your mouth shut,” he warns.  I nod.

                “Sabrina!” he calls me cheerfully.  I look at him and smile.

                “Jonghyun!” I try to be as bright as the Sun.

                “How are you today?  You seem not very good this morning,” Jonghyun’s question seems more like a statement.

                “I’m fine,” I reply.

                “How’s your archery, Key?  You better be good.  I want you to stay alive,” says Jonghyun.  Key smiles.

                “Everything is okay.  I’m ready to war,” says Key and I cannot be sure whether he is serious or just being sarcastic.  But, Jonghyun and Key exchange glance.  The glance that I’m sure is not empty, but full with message.

                “I need to talk to Sabrina for a while.  Can I take her with me?” he politely asks Key.

                “She’s your wife anyway.  You have your right on her,” Key’s eyes are blazing.

                “Thank you.  You may resume your training, for good.  Ready for tomorrow,” Jonghyun says and he pulls my hand.  We walk away from the others.  Us, conquering the other side of the lake, far from others.

                “Tomorrow?  What will happen tomorrow?” I ask him, curiously.

                “Nothing.  Just another session of training.   Key with me,” he states.

                “Oh, well.  You guys are not going to fight again, are you?” I ask him, feeling scared if they are going to fight using weapons.

                “No, no fighting.  I guarantee,” he says.

                “So, why?  You say you want to talk to me?”

                “I don’t know what to talk about actually,” he states.

                “Oh,” I chuckle, “Seriously.  Or are you jealous I talked to Key just now?” I ask him.

                “No.  I’m not.  Not jealous, at all.  Trust me.  I just want to talk to you.   But, I don’t know what to talk about,” he scratches his head.  I laugh.

                “I don’t know that you’re stupid,” I joke.  He chuckles.

                “Oh, well.  Maybe I am,” he says, “Anyway, how are you getting ready for the war?” he asks.

                “I don’t know,” I answer.

                “But, you can protect yourself, can’t you?” he asks me.

                “I hope so,” I say.

                “I really hope so,” Jonghyun says, “You have to, Sabrina.  Don’t die, please,” he says, looking far before him, to the huge lake.

                “You too.  Don’t die, please,” I say, and laugh.  It is funny that we remind each other not to die, when the power to decide the future is not in our hands.

                “We can’t say it, right?” Jonghyun laughs.

                “I think,” I say.

                In a moment, we let silent engulf us.  None of us is talking.  The only noises that feel the silent are the sound of them practising.  I look at the ducks and the swans at surface of the lake, thinking that it would be good if I could be them.  At least, they don’t know how evil the world could be.

                “Hey, I’m sorry about yesterday, okay?” Jonghyun goes.

                “I’m sorry too.  I shouldn’t be too emotional.  Hormone imbalance, I guess,” I try to crack a joke, which is actually not really a joke for me.

                “You should give him a chance though,” he doesn’t need to explain who ‘he’ is.  I know immediately that he is talking about Key.

                “I don’t love him,” I say strictly.

                “I don’t ask you to love him but you have to accept him.”

                “Why should I?”

                “Because you will need him soon,” he gives his reason.

                “No.  You’re not going anywhere, you know that,” I coldly say.  Jonghyun sighs.

                “Anyway, do you still keep the necklace that I gave you?” he asks me.

                “Which one?  This one?” I pull out the silver necklace, with heart-shaped diamond locket, “Of course, I still keep it,” I say.

                “Take out that one.  I have a new one for you,” he says.

                I let him take it out for me.  I could feel his finger very cold around my neck, taking out the silver chain that encircles my neck for a few years.  But, suddenly, I feel something jabbed through my skin.  My hand quickly flies to my neck.  For a while, I am shocked at the pain, but then I notice that there’s a syringe at Jonghyun’s hand.  I logically make out later that it must be Jonghyun that jabs me.

                “Jonghyun-ah…why?” I ask.

                “I am sorry, Sabrina.  I’m sorry,” he says.  And I notice that his voice is fading and even his image is unclear.  I feel dizzy.

                “Why Jonghyun?” I ask him again, feeling very weak.

                “I am sorry.  I’m so sorry, Sabrina,” he says.  I could feel his arms encircling me, preventing me from falling onto the ground.

                His image fades and later the dark engulfs me.  Before I lose my consciousness, I whisper again, “Why are you doing this to me?”

__________

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