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2024-10-29 19:42:56When one is asleep, their awareness of their surroundings naturally drops. It is a state of being that most people liked to call half death. During this resting period, our body function slows down, relaxing the body.
Sleep is when one is most vulnerable and it is the perfect time to take them down. That was what Doyun learnt from his time in prison. Taught by one of his more vicious inmates when they almost strangled him to death.
That was also the reason why Doyun awoke the moment he heard the front door creak open, a door he clearly remembered locking from the inside. Several alarm bells instantly rang inside his head along with four facts that he realized.
First, there was someone else in the apartment. Someone they did not know. Secondly, the kids were still asleep and thus vulnerable to an attack. Thirdly, they had no idea about the intentions of the intruder. Finally, the last thing Doyun realized was that he had to protect the children.
So, when an unfamiliar thin red string floated into his vision, Doyun reached out and yanked. The notice screen briefly flashed by to inform him of his ability activation but Doyun paid it no mind.
Instead he turned around, his hand clasped around a blazing red string that flailed against his hold to get free. His eyes trailed along the string and towards the person it was tied around.Front of him, collapsed on the floor was a shock of blazing scarlet hair that seemed to glow against the dark mahogany floor of the apartment building and from behind the hair so bold, peeking at him were equally bright eyes of gold.
Handing the still asleep Ah-In to now awake and alert Sung-Jin. Doyun tightened his hold on the red string, making sure to wrap it around the woman.
"Who are you?" He asked coldly. He was not about to risk it when they didn't even know if the other survivor was friendly or not.
The red haired girl struggled against the invisible hold the man seemed to have on her, trying to get free. Doyun only pulled the string tighter in return, drawing a pained yelp from her. Pushing back the guilt he felt, the man asked again"Who are you? And what are you doing here?" He added, "Answer me or I'll kill you." He ended the sentence with a threat.
While he didn't want to take a life, if it meant keeping the kids safe then he would gladly kill again. From behind him, Sung-Jin let out a quiet gasp at Doyun's words, adding to the guilt the older man felt and barely suppressed.The red haired uninvited guest finally spoke after the threat. Fierce golden eyes glaring at him with annoyance and anger.
"I live here." She answered his question, her voice young and full of energy. "My name is Lee Iseul, I'm 17 years old and I live here with my aunt's family!" She told them then shot back their questions right back at them.
"And who are you guys anyway!? Why are you doing this! You are the ones who broke in yet you are treating me like this! What the hell…" the last part was murmured to Iseul,herself but Doyun heard it loud and clear.
He coughed slightly, now feeling a bit embarrassed. What Iseul said was right, they were the ones who had broken into her home but the dark haired man couldn't bring himself to regret his actions. He felt guilty, yes but his actions were justified, at least to himself. After all, he had people to protect and the girl could have been a threat.
He turned towards the flame headed girl with determination.
"I will let you go if you promise to not harm the kids. Then and only then will we talk." He offered. Iseul in turn scoffed at him and Doyun could particularly hear the eyeroll in there.
"Like I would even if I could! Who do you take me for!? You?" The spitfire of a little creature shot at him. She stood up as soon as Doyun let go of the red string.
Now that the girl was up and standing, he could see just how tiny she was, reaching only around his chest. Doyun also couldn't help but notice how she stood with her back straight, leaking confidence with her every move.
"I'm sorry. We honestly didn't realize anyone lived here." He apologized, earnestly as he could in their current situation.
But Iseul didn't answer him, she just stared at them. Or maybe she was staring at the kids but Doyun really wasn't sure, unknowingly moving to block the kids from her sight.
The sudden movement caused Iseul to blink. She stared at Doyun for a bit longer then huffed and shook her head in frustration.
"Ugh, whatever. So how are you gonna make it up for me?" She asked, knowing well enough that she sounded rude but Iseul was all alone now and had to take care of herself somehow. So to her, the man before her felt like a chance. Even her ability given by the strange system seemed to agree with her."Make it up for you?" Doyun asked, troubled. However, unaware of the man's inner troubles or simply just ignoring them, the walking stop sign of a girl nodded.
"Yeah, you attacked me and broke into my home so you gotta make it up for me." Iseul insisted. Doyun tried not to sigh, internally he admitted the girl had a point but what else was he supposed to do? How was he to make it up for her?
"What do you want then?" Sung-Jin asked from behind them, asking the question Doyun had struggled over. He made a mental note to spoil the boy when he got the chance to before turning to surprised looking Iseul.
"Yes, what do you want in return?" He asked. The redhead's eyes instantly lit up.
"Form a party with me!" Iseul answered straight away.
"A party?"
"Yeah! Like game parties! If we form a party, I'll consider it as you making it up for me! How does that sound?"
Doyun nodded dubiously.
"So, how do we form a party?" The moment he asked that, Iseul tapped the air a few times and immediately after, a blue screen flashed up before Doyun's eyes.
[Player Lee Iseul has sent a party invite.]
[Accept?][ YES ] [ NO ]
He tapped yes. The screen switched.
[ CONGRATULATIONS FOR FORMING YOUR FIRST EVER PARTY! YOU'VE BEEN GIFTED 10 POINTS. ]
[You are now able to see Player Lee Iseul's info page.]
[Your info page is now available for Player Lee Iseul.] [Would you like to Proceed?]Just as Doyun was about to agree, he was interrupted by a growling stomach. His stomach was growling, he realized. A realization that was soon followed by another growl, this time coming from Sung-Jim who blushed in embarrassment.
Lee Iseul threw her head back and started laughing, all the while Ah-in slept. How she could sleep through all the noise was a mystery but he was glad nonetheless. Doyun wasn't sure he could handle a crying toddler after how hectic the day had been.
Minutes passed as Iseul tried to collect her bearings. The 17 years old apparently found the whole thing hilarious. 'Bloody teenagers…' Cha Doyun thought, staring at the laughing teen. After what felt like an eternity, the spit fire of a girl finally calmed down enough to offer a solution for their newly formed party.
"Come on, we should still have some instant ramen left."
With that she headed towards the kitchen. Doyun after taking Ah-In from Sung-Jin, who rubbed his aching arms, followed after Iseul. No one dared to turn on the lights in case they attracted unwanted attention from the outside.
Iseul quickly cooked the noodles for them and they ate their dinner in silence, only broken by occasional questions.
"So you're telling me that this guy threw a bottle at that monstrosity!?" Sung-Jin nodded with the most serious look he could manage.
"Yeah! And Mr.Doyun yelled 'Hey bitch, come and get me!' He was so awesome." The 11 years old told Iseul who listened to his talk very attentively.
"Whoa, that's very cool. But are we sure this uncle really did that?" The two continued to talk animatedly. Doyun just wished the ground would open up and swallow him in pure embarrassment.
He really did not want to be talked about, he decided while he fed Ah-In bits and pieces of his ramen. He made sure to cut the noodles into very small parts so the toddler won't choke.
'Well, I don't really mind this either…' he thought fondly, gazing at the three kids he now had. Even if he did not truly mind, there existed an old saying that went "Be careful of what you wish for". Doyun really should have kept those thoughts in his head.
Later, as he stared down the enormous red eyes that watched them hungrily, the older man would remember this same moment and think.
'I jinxed this shit, didn't I?'
Trully, be careful of what you wish for, indeed.
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Chapter 3: Spitfire
The city looked worse than expected. Buildings that once stood tall and proud were broken down, eaten by plants. Cars were overturned, rusted and destroyed beyond belief. The corpses that littered the street just the night before had disappeared between the lava and the creatures that littered around the city.The earth had aged by a century within a single night. It was absolutely jarring how it had changed so much. Now, they stood in a dystopian world, abandoned by humanity. All those post-apocalypse stories paled in comparison to the real thing.Doyun chuckled in awe and loss. This was their reality now, he realized. Every single instance, he dreamt of going inside those novels and experiencing the post apocalyptic world, had come true just like that. Still, he couldn't find it in himself to feel the happiness and delight he should have. Not when it had condemned their entire world to despair. Never, when his desires had ruined the future o
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