These Violent Delights

[PlayingMonster]

He raised his hands and grinned as Yun poked him and told him in no uncertain turns that he was going to the hospital in the morning. "Yes ma'am." He and his friends took second floor bedrooms. Andy grabbed his bags and disappeared. Alex grinned and made his way up to the bedroom. The others called their goodnights, and he closed the door. Getting his shirt off was painful. Getting undressed was painful, period. When he was down to only his underwear, he went to the mirror in the bathroom and stared in the mirror. The wound probably did need to be patched up better. It was painful to move his shoulder. He went back into the room and pulled on a loose fitting t-shirt and tracksuit bottoms, carefully climbing into bed. He stared at the ceiling, starting to be a bit overwhelmed. They had to face Edward and all of his henchmen. They had to try and talk god knows how many strangers into helping them. He could read minds and talk to people using telepathy and force people into doing things. Two weeks ago, his biggest worry had been getting his assignments turned in on time. Since then, he'd died, come back to life, been burned, been shot, and now he was lying in a stranger's bed. He fell asleep feeling uneasy.

He opened his eyes. The light was still filtering into the room, casting eerie shadows. The whole place was eerily quiet. He climbed out of bed, instinctively picking up his gun. It was cold to the touch, and he went out into the hall. Someone walked up behind him and he spin around, expecting to see one of the others. Instead, he saw a man, dressed in a dark suit. Alex looked up and noticed that he didn't have a face. The skin was perfectly smooth where the facial features should be. Alex drew his gun and fired. It disappeared into dust, but more kept coming. For every one he shot, five more would appear. It wasn't long before he was surrounded. One put a gun to his head. "All your friends are dead." Behind him, he saw the bodies of Sarah, Jake, Andy, Yun, her brothers and her friends. The monster pulled the trigger, but the pain exploded in his shoulder.

He bolted upright in his bed, scrambling for his gun. Pain exploded in his shoulder and he yelled out, doubling over. He grabbed his gun with his good arm and swung it around, looking for the source of the pain. It took him a second or two to realise that he was still alone in the room, and that the pain had probably come from ripping a stitch. It looked like it was almost morning, but he couldn't tell for sure. He pulled down the neck of his shirt, looking at the wound. Yep, he'd ripped at least one stitch in his nightmare. He didn't know if he'd been thrashing around or if it was just the force of sitting up, but he didn't care either. Every time he blinked, he saw their dead bodies. He leaned his head on his good hand, taking deep breaths. His painkillers were in his bag across the room, and his shoulder was in too much pain to even consider moving. The painkillers that had weakened the pain had long worn off, and now it was like he'd been shot all over again,

 

[Rowlet]

Thundering footsteps echoed across the hall. His bedroom door slammed open, revealing Yun. Her dark brown eyes were wild, full of alarm. She scanned his room, finding nothing. She stepped towards the side, avoiding his gun. "Watch where you're pointing that, kid. Don't start shooting," she began. Yun pivoted to her left and walked towards Alex, stopping in front of his bed. She inspected his shoulder. Her expression twisted with a grimace. "Fuck. That must of been one violent nightmare. Your scream woke up the entire house. I was on my way to my room when I heard you," she revealed. A loud poof appeared behind her.

"Is he alright?" Hyun-Ki inquired.

Yun tilted her head back. "He popped a few stitches. Get the truck ready. I'm taking him to the hospital," she declared.

An eyebrow raised in response. "It's a quarter pass six, Yu," he pointed out.

A scowl carved into her expression. "I don't give a damn, Hyun. He needs to see a doctor right now. The emergency room should be open," she retorted.

Hyun-Ki nodded. "I'll get it ready. Do you want me to come with you?" he questioned.

Yun shook her head. "I got this. Tell everyone to go back to sleep. They're going to need it," she replied. Her brother nodded and vanished in a puff of dark blue smoke. Yun directed her attention towards Alex. A frown marred her lips. He looked terrible. She didn't understand her reaction. She was on her way back from drinking a glass of water when she heard thrashing and screaming. She acted on instinct, running to his room before everyone else. "Ibuprofen isn't going to cut it this time, kid. Moving is going to hurt like a bitch, but I need to take you to the hospital," she announced. Without another word, Yun helped him out of the bed. She swung his right arm over her shoulders, forcing him to lean on her for support. She guided him out of the bedroom, navigating down the stairs. A few minutes later, Hyun-Ki helped her transfer him inside her passenger seat.

"Are you going to walk in the emergency room dressed like that?" Hyun-Ki jested, pointing to her pajamas.

Yun stared at her boy shorts and tee. "Yes," she drawled sarcastically.

Hyun-Ki smirked. He held up a pair of dark purple sweatpants. "You're welcome," he announced.

Yun resisted the urge to smack him across the face. "Thanks," she muttered. She grasped the pants and slipped them over her boy shorts.

Hyun-Ki produced a pair of sandals. "Don't forget shoes!" he chirped.

Yun flicked him across the forehead. She accepted the pair and pulled them on her feet.

"Ow! Jeez, this is what I get for helping," Hyun-Ki grumbled. He rubbed his forehead.

Yun pointed to the door. "I got my cellphone. Go back to bed. I'll call you guys once we're out of the hospital," she commanded.

Hyun-Ki held his hands up in surrender. "Fine, fine, drive safe." He disappeared instantly, leaving a trail of dark blue smoke.

Yun walked around her truck and stepped inside the driver's seat. She inserted a key into the ignition. "The closest hospital is ten minutes away. Think you can stay conscious by then?" Yun informed. After she shifted the gears into drive, Yun peeled out of Griffin's sidewalk. He lived in a cul-de-sac, a feature Griffin hated. Yun exited the establishment and merged with morning traffic. She ran a hand through her unruly waves. She didn't have time to tame her bird's nest. Dark rings imprinted underneath her eyes, a result from lack of sleep. He wasn't the only one with nightmares.

 

[PlayingMonster]

He flinched when Yun burst in, but breathed a sigh of relief. At least she was alive. But his relief didn't last as the pain overwhelmed him again. His vision blurred for a moment, but he blinked hastily to clear it. She helped him stand, and in a flash he was in the passenger seat of her truck. He let his head fall back against the back of the seat, taking in a few deep breaths to try and clear his head. She climbed in the drivers seat, and he looked over at he. She was in sweatpants now, and looked like she hadn't exactly slept well either.

He nodded as she asked if he thought he'd make it to the hospital. "As long as I don't move too much, I should be okay." He was holding his upper body as stiff as he could. His whole body was tense, his head resting against the back of the seat. Even so, the journey left him shaking as they pulled outside of the hospital. He climbed out of the truck with his arm pulled tight to his chest to minimise the jostling. "You're gonna have to think of something to tell them, because I can hardly think straight right now."

Sarah burst into the corridor as she heard yelling coming from Alex's room. Her blonde hair was messy, but not to the point of being a bird's nest. Yun burst into his room as Sarah took a step into the hallway.Sarah didn't want to intrude, and just stood in the hall. She was in a loose tank top and shorts, and wrapped her arms around herself, trying to warm up a little bit. Jake appeared a few minutes later in just a pair of tracksuit bottoms. "What happened?" She shrugged, rubbing her arms a little. He ran a hand through his own short brown hair, playing with one of his earrings. Andy stuck his head out of the door. "Wazgoinon?" He slurred, his eyes still heavy with sleep. Of course he was still asleep. "Nothing. Go back to sleep, speedy." Jake told him, grinning a little. Andy was too sleepy to notice that everything wasn't alright, and went back into his room. "Here, it looks like Yun and her brother has everything under control. I'm going back to bed." Jake told her. Sarah was torn. She knew that she wasn't going to be any help, but she didn't want to go back to bed either. "Hyun-ki? Is everything okay? Is there anything I should do?" She asked, still rubbing her arms a little.

 

[Rowlet]

"...because I can hardly think straight right now."

Yun didn't respond. Ten minutes later, she pulled into the hospital, parking near the Emergency room. "I'll deal with it later," she declared. She stepped outside of her truck and walked around, opening the passenger seat. After she helped him out, Yun locked her truck. She escorted him inside, supporting most of his weight since he leaned on her. A part of her felt guilty. If she pulled him back faster, that henchman wouldn't of shot his shoulder. A sigh escaped her lips. Her mind was a mess. She recalled her bloody nightmare. Unlike him, she learned to mask her screaming. She experienced nightmares in the past. As a result, she learned to control her body; at least, for now. Yun didn't want to burden others with her nightmares, especially her friends.

Hyun-Ki mustered up an reassuring smile. "Everything will be fine. Alex just popped a stitch from his nightmare. Yun took him to the hospital. She'll keep in touch. We'll be expecting a call later," he declared. He held his cellphone up for emphasize. "I suggest a cup of tea. It would calm your nerves," he added. Hyun-Ki disappeared in a puff of dark blue smoke, returning to the room he shared with his brother. Griffin, Darcie, and Leon were currently sitting in the kitchen. After the unexpected wake up call, none of them could fall back asleep. Griffin was currently brewing a pot of coffee. Darcie was cooking breakfast. Leon was spacing out, waiting for a cup of coffee to wake him completely.

"Yun had a nightmare too," Darcie mused. She noticed her friend's disheveled state before she escorted Alex outside.

Griffin grunted. "I heard her walking around in middle of the night," he muttered.

Her eyebrows knitted together with concern. "What do you think it was about?" she inquired.

Griffin shook his head. "Ask her once she comes back," he replied simply.

Darcie snorted. "Like that will be easy," she remarked.

Leon rested his head against the table. "That kid is going to kill someone with that gun. I don't think he should be sleeping with a weapon nearby. If he was delusional, he could of shot one of us," he grumbled.

"We'll sort that out later once Yun gets back," Griffin announced.

It was a grueling process; waiting. Yun was on the verge of falling asleep, but a door opened, alerting her. She was currently sitting in a waiting room. She lifted her head and peered at the door. A doctor escorted Alex back to the waiting room. Thirty minutes passed since she drove Alex to the Emergency room. Yun rose from her seat. She walked over to the pair.

"How is he?" Yun questioned.

 

[PlayingMonster]

Sarah nodded. She went back into her room, pulling on a hoodie, before going downstairs into the kitchen. She wasn't the only one awake- all three of Yun's friends were awake and talking about something. "Alex doesn't usually have nightmares, and if he does, they're never violent. I slept in his apartment more than once this year, and if he did have a nightmare, he used to be able to calm himself down." She remarked as she overheard some of the conversation. She flicked the switch on the kettle and started to calm herself by making a pot of tea. Andy would probably have coffee once he surfaced, but Jake generally preferred tea. "And I might be entirely wrong, but Yun doesn't seem like the type to talk about her nightmares." She poured herself a cup of tea and looked at Griffin. "Sorry, where's the sugar?"

Alex swallowed nervously. "Afraid of needles?" The nurse asked gently. He shook his head. "It's a long story." She smiled as she injected the morphine into his veins. It felt like sweet relief as it started working almost immediately, and he relaxed slightly. He allowed himself to tune out as they brought him down for an x-ray to check if there was any damage done to the bone. They seemed happy enough, and brought him back up to stitch the wound back up again.

The doctor brought him back to the cubicles. Yun appeared out of the waiting room, and went to talk to the doctor. Alex sat on the bed a tad awkwardly. The morphine was working wonders, almost entirely erasing the pain.

The doctor nodded at the girl in front of him. "He'll be fine- the bullet didn't cause any damage, and whoever took it out got it out cleanly. I've got his arm in a sling, and it's stitched up again. He told me that he ripped the stitches after a nightmare, so I'm going to prescribe him some sleeping pills, as well as some stronger painkillers." The doctor folded his arms and lowered his voice. "How did it happen? I'm not going to call the police unless I think it's strictly necessary. However, the fact that you didn't bring him to the hospital with the initial wound tells me that you probably don't want the police getting involved. Before he could say much more, his pager beeped. He was needed in surgery. He sighed. "I have to go. His discharge papers should be ready in a few minutes, but if there are any complications, don't try and deal with it yourself. Bring him straight back." He went down the hall, wondering about the two. More and more strange injuries were coming in, and he'd learned not to ask too many questions.

 

[Rowlet]

Griffin finished brewing his pot of coffee. He poured Leon and himself a mug. He walked over to Leon, handing him his mug. He leaned against his table, sipping his coffee. He lifted his hand and pointed at the counter. "Sugar jar is right there," he revealed. He lowered his arm and resumed sipping. He relinquished in the taste of caffeine. After that terrifying scream, Griffin couldn't fall back asleep. "Used to implied it changed. I don't want him to be sleeping with a gun when he starts swinging it around after a night terror. In a state of panic, his mind could of warped one of us into his object of fear. If he didn't calm himself down right away, he would of shot Yun," he deadpanned. He moved from his spot and relocated to a chair, sitting next to Leon.

"We're in a dangerous situation, Sarah. His nightmares are only going to get worse," Leon pointed out. He accepted his mug, sipping his coffee. He savored the delectable taste. Coffee wasn't healthy, but he didn't care. He needed the caffeine. He was on the verge of falling back asleep, but Leon didn't want to. He was worried about his friend. "We're not angry at him. We just need to take precaution. Nex time, someone could get hurt," he announced. He cracked a smile at her last comment. He leaned back, holding his mug. He nudged Griffin in the shoulder. "You're right, she's isn't the type. Yun learned to muffle her screams. Unfortunately, she can't afford to hide them any longer. If you think anger is her strongest emotion, you're wrong. It's fear. With her destructive ability, she could unleash it unintentionally, destroying everything around her, including herself. When we checked her room, we found a mountain of dust," he admitted.

"She destroyed all her pillows and half her sheets. She must of discovered it since she was up half the night," Darcie declared.

"If the objects were more solid, we would of heard the explosions," Leon added.

Griffin remained silent. He was staring at the window, deep in thought. He raised his mug and sipped his coffee. He didn't contribute to the conversation. His mind was occupied on his friend.

​

Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. She couldn't afford trusting a doctor. This was their business, not his. "Affirmative," she dismissed. A few minutes later, she signed the discharge papers, releasing Alex from custody. Once she picked up his prescription, Yun escorted Alex out of the Emergency wing. She helped him inside the passenger seat, walked around her truck, and climbed into the driver's seat. Yun inserted a key into the ignition. "I fucking hate hospitals," she grumbled. Yun wasn't comfortable waiting inside that building. Hospitals drug up dark memories. Despite her violent history, she tended to stay away from hospitals. "I called Hyun-Ki when I picked up your prescription. He'll tell everyone the news," she informed. Yun shifted the gears into drive and peeled out of the parking lot. Her eyes averted towards her clock; 7:15 AM. A sigh escaped her lips. She loathed mornings.

 

[PlayingMonster]

Sarah nodded, running a hand through her hair as she dumped a few spoons of sugar into her tea. "Honestly, I think they could end up destroying themselves, as well as everything around them. It took us most of the year to wear Alex down and let us in even slightly, and we still don't know a damn thing about him or his background. You'd ask him and he'd just close up. Yun strikes me as someone similar." Jake appeared at the door. "Well, there evidently isn't a hope in hell of me getting back to sleep. Do I smell coffee?" He poured himself a mug and added a dash of milk, taking a sip as he leaned against the counter. "So. I've been here... Seven hours, and we've already had someone rip stitches and come this close to shooting somebody. I'd hide the gun, but I think that would make me unpopular. I think I'll just take it out of his room tonight." He shrugged. "So... The fate of the world is in our hands." He said melodramatically, idly playing with one of his earrings. "Well, maybe not the world, but the lives of a lot of people."

"Yeah, I'm not too fond of hospitals either." He murmured, leaning his head against the window and staring at the bag on his lap. The morphine was still in his system, but the prospect of being on powerful painkillers made him uncomfortable. He pulled the bottle out of the bag and looked at it. They didn't appear to contain codeine or anything similar, but he knew that codeine wasn't exclusive in it's addictive qualities. "I feel like this is my fault. I know I can't help having a nightmare, but it was my first instinct to go for my gun and I don't think that exactly improved things." He said, putting the bottle back in the bag and staring out the window.

 

[Rowlet]

"Yun strikes me as someone similar."

All of Yun's friends shared a look. Darcie leaned against the counter, waiting for the eggs to finish cooking. She picked up her cup of tea from the counter, sipping it slowly. "It wasn't easy becoming Yu's friend. She was determined to shut everyone out. It took Leon and I a year to be accepted. We met when we were fifteen," she began. Her eyes averted towards Leon, motioning him to continue the conversation. Leon placed his mug in front of him. He peered at the black liquid swishing inside his ceramic cup. His expression remained unreadable. "She only cared aout one thing; her family. We saw how different she behaved around her brothers. Griff already graduated by then so we didn't see him much," he added. He lifted his gaze and stared at Griffin. "She eventually confined into us, but Griffin was the first one to know everything. He became her first friend. A year later, we came along. It wasn't an easy friendship to maintain. She's a difficult person to deal with," Leon revealed. He drained the rest of his mug, rose from his seat, and walked towards the coffee pot. He poured himself another cup. Griffin gripped his mug in his hand. "She has a reason for being distrustful and cynical. It took her three and a half years to open up completely. She didn't reveal anything right away, not even after we proved we wouldn't betray her," Griffin remarked.

Darcie sipped the last of her tea. "She may of confined into us about her past, but she's still the type that shouldered everything on her own. The only reason she told us in the first place was because her brothers forced it out of her. They are adamant about helping Yun branch out. From what I heard, she wasn't always so cautious and reserved," she declared. She was unusually quiet, a rare occurrence for the bubbly fashionista. She walked over to the sink and placed her cup inside. She returned to the stove, checking on her eggs. She cooked a simple breakfast; eggs, bacon, and toast. "Plates are in that cabinet over there-" she pointed to the left, "-silverware is in that drawer-" she motioned to a drawer below, "-and cups are in the cabinet on the right," she announced, pointing to the cabinet next to her previous choice. Darcie visited Griffin's hometown before. She knew her way around the large establishment.

"Frankly, those two have a lot in common. I think that's why they connected so easily. It's up to us to prevent them from destroying themselves. We vowed to protect Yun, even if she doesn't want help," Leon finished. Suddenly, Hyun-Ki popped in the room, appearing in a puff of dark blue smoke.

"Alex's fine. A doctor stitched him right up. They're on their way back," he announced.

"I feel like this is my fault."

Yun snorted in response. "At least you got some sleep, kid. I been up since three in the morning. Waking up from a nightmare and swinging your gun was reckless, but you had enough control to recognize your surroundings," she began. Her eyes remained glued to the road. A few minutes later, she continued, "This morning, I woke up to dust. Half my bed was destroyed. I unleashed my power in my sleep. If someone was nearby, I could of-" she gritted her teeth. Yun didn't know why she was revealing her recent discovery. She blamed it on her lack of sleep. She wasn't thinking straight. "-my point is, don't worry about it too much. It could of been worse. Griff is probably going to confiscate your weapons though, at least when you're asleep," she elaborated. She gripped her steering wheel. Her mind recalled that image. She wouldn't admit it out loud, but it terrified her to her very core. What happened if Hyun-Ki or Haneul checked on her? Despite muffling her screams, they were next door. Yun breathed in deeply and exhaled through her nostrils. "Nightmares are brutal, but they eventually stop," she murmured.

Ten minutes later, she pulled into the cul-de-sac, parking in front of Griffin's driveway. Yun removed the key and rested her forehead against her steering wheel. A sigh escaped her lips. She wasn't looking forward to recruiting new members. She made a mental note to lock her door during the night. She couldn't risk harming everyone in her sleep.

 

[PlayingMonster]

Sarah and Jake nodded, helping themselves to platefuls of food. Sarah sat down at the table as she listened to Darcie and Leon talk. Jake stayed standing, leaning against the counter. It had been completely different with Alex. He'd been perfectly friendly and pleasant when they'd first met him. They'd all gotten along and had become friends relatively quickly. It was when it came to talking about themselves and their families that he'd close up. And they quickly learned that getting any closer than they already were was going to be impossible. All they knew was that his dad had walked out when he was a kid, and that was all he was willing to say about it.

Hyun-ki suddenly appeared, startling Jake into almost dropping his plate of food. "Jesus, it's good to hear that, mate, but you just scared the shit out of me." He said. There was a flash of brown, and Andy appeared, holding a plate of food in his hand. "Okay, I'm awake now. What's happening?" He asked, pouring himself a cup of coffee and sitting down. "Alex had a nightmare. Ripped a few stitches." Jake informed his friend. Andy's eyes widened. "Holy fuck. Is he okay?" Sarah nodded. "They're on their way back, he's all patched up. Hey guys, do you think that the fact that this happened to them has something to do with the fact that they've both got things they don't want to talk about? The fact that they don't like letting people in?" She asked, taking a mouthful of her tea.

​

"I guess we're both just a little screwed up." He remarked, leaning his head against the back of the seat as she leaned her head on the steering wheel. He stared at the bag on his lap. "My mom was addicted to painkillers." He blurted out, before realising what he'd said. He sighed. He couldn't take it back now, so he should probably just explain. "My dad walked out when I was seven. She claims that she only started taking them then, but I'm not so sure. They used to argue a lot... And punches and slap were sometimes thrown. I found out when I was ten. She's been fully clean since I was about twelve or so. But I'm always worried about taking anything stronger than ibuprofen when it comes to painkillers. I don't want to end up like that, you know? Especially not now. I'm sorry, I just... You're the only other person to know besides her boyfriend. Please don't say anything to the others. It's stupid, but I don't want people prying, asking if I'm okay and if I want to talk about it."

 

[Rowlet]

Hyun-Ki presented Jake a mischievous grin. Before he could respond, Haneul entered the kitchen. "He's going to use this to his advantage," he warned.

Hyun-Ki scoffed. "I would never!"

Haneual directed a pointed look at his twin. "Alright, maybe a little," he admitted. A fleeting laugh escaped his lips.

His brother, Haneul, sighed. Both of them retrieved a plate from the cupboard and dished their breakfast.

A frown marred Griffin's lips. "It's plausible," he agreed. He was currently sitting in front of his table, eating his breakfast. Leon sat on his left, Darcie across. "Something happened on the night of their deaths. There is more to it than sharing similar behavior," he pointed out. A flash of brown appeared in the kitchen, revealing Andy. "Our answers may be on that laptop Yun showed us last night," he suggested.

"Doesn't that freak have excruciating detail about every one of us on that laptop?" Leon inquired, remembering his profile. It was sickening looking through a file that had everything. He wouldn't of believed it until he saw it with his own vision. "It's not going to be easy defeating an enemy that gathered years of intel," he added. He shoved a mouthful of eggs inside his mouth, chewing slowly.

Darcie poured herself another cup of tea. "I wonder why Yun is a perfect candidate for his project. How would he turn her into the perfect weapon?" she remarked.

Yun shifted her head, resting her temple against the steering wheel. She peered at Alex through her half-lidded gaze. "That explains your hesitance towards painkillers," she began. She noticed a disturbance in the hospital. He didn't look happy receiving strong painkillers. "Believe me, kid, I know how that feels. If it weren't for my brothers, I would of never told my friends about my past. Hyun and Han forced it out of me, claiming it was healthy to branch out-" she raised her fingers in air quotes. "-but learning my life story was useless. It wouldn't change anything," she added. She lowered her hands and rested them on the wheel. None of them spoke for the next five minutes. Her next decision was completely impulsive. Maybe it was lack of sleep fogging her mind, or maybe it was a compulsive reaction. She didn't have an explanation for it, not one bit. "Funny, my dad died when I was seven. My mother took it pretty hard, but she had enough money to support us. She was a traveling musician, one of the best in her time. I lived in Seoul, South Korea until I was ten. After we moved, everything changed. I was in charge of taking care my brothers and cleaning the house since my mother had to work all the time. It didn't bother me that much. I loved taking care of Hyun and Han. A few months later, my uncle showed up. He was my dad's best friend, but we considered him family. He helped us when he died so I considered him my favorite," she revealed. She breathed in deeply and exhaled through her nostrils. Her dark brown eyes remained fixated on Alex. Her gaze darkened a few shades, transforming into a smoldering ebony. "He taught me everything; parkour, martial arts, other combat, gambling, any special skill I picked up. I don't remember much about my dad so he was like a father I never had. He was my role model. However, it was just a ruse," she continued. A bitter laugh escaped her lips. "For three years, he used me. I became his little protegee. Three years and I never even noticed I was being used for his scams. My uncle was a Con Artist, one of the best. After I turned thirteen, I unintentionally gave him access to my mother's savings. Do you want to know what he did?" she questioned sardonically. "He ran, like a true coward. He packed up everything and left before he could be reported. My mother was devastated. All her years of working, all those years traveling, gone. Every buck she earned as a musician was taken away. I always wondered if my mother blamed me. I certainly did and still do. My grandmother moved in with us to provide financial support. I should count myself lucky I had one more family member alive-" she paused.

Why was she telling him this? Yun was actually willing to share her history. Why did it feel so natural? Unfortunately, she couldn't stop. She had to finish it. "-one morning, about six months later, I woke up for school. I walked inside my bathroom and saw my mother on the floor. My first thought was my mother collapsed due to exhaustion. However, I was wrong. I noticed a bottle of pills next to her head. My mother decided to commit suicide and leave her children behind. What mother allowed her own child to discover her body? What happened if it was Hyun or Han!" she snapped. She resisted the urge to punch her window. The last thing she needed was glass embedded in her knuckles. Her right hand suffered enough damage. A bandage was currently wrapped around her knuckles, a result from her previous punch in the basement. "After that, it was just easier to push people away. I couldn't trust anyone other than my family. I wasn't exactly a happy camper when I befriended Griff, Leo, and Darcie. I don't know why they stuck with me all these years, even after they learned about my past," she admitted. Her voice was low, conveying no emotion. A flurry of emotions bubbled inside her chest - pain, anger, frustration. Her instinctive response was shoving everything into a box and stop feeling. Yun preferred to feel numb above everything. Yun removed her head from her steering wheel and rested her back against her seat. A sigh escaped her lips. She racked a hand through her unruly waves. She made a mental note to take a shower before eating breakfast. "I have nothing to gain if I told anyone about your history so don't worry about it, kid. I'm not a snitch," she assured quietly.

 

[PlayingMonster]

Jake nodded. "Every detail about every one of us. If we wanted to find out anything about any of us, it would just be a matter of finding the file. I'm glad that Alex has the files, but I'm also pretty sure that they weren't the only copies." Andy paused, taking a moment to swallow before speaking. "So he knows everything about us? Our abilities, our history... Shit. We can't exactly afford to slip up here, can we?" Sarah nodded. "And none of us know how he's going to try and manipulate us, or anyone else." Andy returned to eating, but Jake sighed. "He's really the stereotype villain, isn't he?"

He listened to her story. It explained why she was the way she was- why she carried guns and knives, why she refused to let people in. He stared out the windscreen as she talked, and sighed as she finished.

"Do you think that we were supposed to meet? Like if you hadn't gone out that night, if I hadn't taken that shortcut, we still would have come across each other somehow?" He grinned slightly and looked over at her. "You can be a bit of a bitch sometimes, but I know you're a good person. And you've looked after me, a kid who got thrown in the deep end with a gun and a power complex. And hopefully things will work out in your favour."

 

[Rowlet]

A chuckle rumbled through his chest. "If we're going by stereotype, we have a chance to win against a madman, right? The hero always finds a way to win," Leon remarked. He picked up a glass of orange juice and downed it. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "I have a feeling it would be different for us, though. With every story, there's a sacrifice. Frankly, some of us may not survive this ordeal," he pointed out bluntly. Leon wasn't fond of focusing on death, but he couldn't rule out the possibility. This was a potential genocide. No one was truly safe. "That doesn't mean we'll go down without a fight," he added. A smirk plastered on his face. He shared a quality with Yun; never giving up.

Yun tilted her head, peering at Alex. "I don't have a solid answer to that, Alex. Maybe we were suppose to meet, maybe we weren't. I guess it doesn't really matter now, does it? What happened, happened. The important thing is focusing on the now," she replied. Her expression twisted with amusement. A faint smirk painted her lips. She punched him lightly in his good shoulder. "A bit? Are you warming up to me, kid? You know I'm far from being a bit. Even I know I'm a huge bitch," she mused. A fleeting laugh escaped her lips. She unbuckled her seat belt and retrieved her keys. "I'm worse than you, Alex. I'm a magnet for danger. You have your faults, but you're a good man. Enough of this sap, let's get you inside. I look like hell and so do you," Yun declared. She stepped out of her truck and walked around, opening the passenger seat. After she helped him out, she locked her truck.

 

[PlayingMonster]

Alex smiled and climbed out, heading back inside. Everyone else was up and eating breakfast, and huge grins broke out on their faces as he walked in. "I would hug you, but that's probably not the best idea." Sarah remarked, nodding at his sling. Even if she was too short to worry about hurting his shoulder, she'd probably collide with the sling and end up causing him pain in some way. Andy waved a little, his mouth full of food. Alex raised his eyebrows. "I'm surprised to see you up. I would have thought you'd have slept through the whole thing." Andy swallowed and laughed. "I would have, but then I smelled breakfast. You okay?" He asked, allowing his grin to lapse into seriousness for a minute. Alex nodded, and Andy's trademark half-grin sprung back into place.

"Good luck trying to train him with that shoulder." Jake teased, putting his plate down on the counter and folding his arms. "By the way, you both look like shit, so if you want to go back to bed for an hour or two, we can tidy up here and keep you some food." Alex shook his head. "I don't know if I'd be able to go back to sleep after this. And being perfectly honest, I'm not that hungry either." Sarah frowned at him. "You should eat, Alex. Taking painkillers on an empty stomach probably isn't the best idea." Alex shrugged with his good shoulder. "I'm already dosed up on morphine. Don't need to take any more for an hour or so." She shrugged, turning back to her plate.

 

[Rowlet]

Yun followed Alex, heading inside. She walked across the foyer, entering the kitchen. Her friend, Darcie, offered a plate, but she declined. She planned to take a shower before eating breakfast. A faint smirk painted her lips. "You should worry more about yourself, kid. I'm not going easy on any of you," she declared. A scowl carved into her expression. She moved across the floor, stopping in front of Jake. She slapped him upside the head. "Thanks for your input, Captain Obvious. If you start insulting me, I won't hesitate to beat the shit out of you, got it?" she deadpanned. She turned around, exiting the kitchen.

Leon threw his head back and laughed. "He lucked out. I was expecting a punch in the face," he admitted. He peered at Jake with amusement. He finished consuming the rest of his breakfast. "Yun hasn't warmed up to you three. She will execute her threat if you piss her off," Leon warned.

"Warmed up? That doesn't sound like her," Hyun-Ki pointed out.

Leon shrugged. "She's not going to be comfortable managing a large crowd after we collected more recruits, but she doesn't have a choice. She'll learn to endure," he explained.

Darcie, Griffin, and Haneul remained silent. They didn't bother contributing to the conversation. Twenty minutes later, Yun returned, showered and dressed. She wore a pair of dark skinny jeans, a black sleeveless shirt with a silver X-Men logo on front, and her combat boots. After she adjusted her belt, Yun grabbed a plate and filled it with food. She pivoted to her left and faced Alex. "Eat something, kid. You may not be hungry, but your body needs the nutrients. We have a long day ahead of us. We have to select which recruits we're visiting today," she commanded.

"You're not wearing your hair up?" Darcie inquired, surprise evident on her expression.

Yun averted her gaze towards Darcie. Her hair was out of her signature ponytail, falling to her shoulders in damp waves. She preferred air drying over a blow dryer. A frown marred her lips. "Yeah? So what?" she countered.

Darcie held up her hands in surrender. "Nothing. It looks cute," she chirped.

Yun shook her head. She dished another plate and handed it to Alex. She gave him a pointed look. "Eat," she ordered bluntly.

 

[PlayingMonster]

Jake dipped his head, ashamed, as Sarah, Andy and Alex smirked simultaneously. "There goes your role as resident smart ass." Andy remarked. Jake raised an eyebrow. "I wouldn't advise you taking it up either." He retorted. Alex took one of the empty seats. "Yun can be enough of a smart ass for the two of you." He grinned. Sarah looked at Leon as she stretched. "So... I'm guessing it's just a matter of keeping out heads down and not crossing her?" She remarked.

A few minutes later, Yun came back in, showered and dressed. Alex raised his eyebrows as Darcie asked about Yun leaving her hair down. "I think it suits you." He remarked. He rolled his eyes as she handed him the plate. "Fine." He sighed, but then grinned at her. "Only joking. No need to hit me. Thanks." He told her. Eating one handed was easier said than done, but he managed. Once he finished, he looked down at his scruffy tracksuit bottoms and t-shirt, before looking back up. "I should probably get changed." He remarked, standing up.

 

[Rowlet]

A chuckle rumbled through his chest. "Do what you want to do. Just be prepared to face consequences," Leon replied. He rose from his seat, grasping his empty plate. He walked over to the sink, dumping his dirty dishes inside. "If you think you can cross her, go for it. We'll enjoy the show!" he snarked. A hand slapped his head. Leon clutched his head, whipping his head back. "Not cool, man!" he complained. His eyes directed on Griffin, the owner of that hand. A scowl carved into his expression. "It's the truth," he pointed out.

Griffin peered at his best friend, eyes filled with disapproval. "Yun will eventually accept them," he replied calmly. His eyes averted towards Alex's group of friends. "If you learn to endure her behavior and defend yourself, you'll be fine," he added. He placed his empty dishes in his sink, finishing his breakfast a few seconds prior. He shoved Leon to the side and started washing his dishes. His parents were strict about keeping the house spotless, including plates and silverware. He refused to break that norm.

"I think it suits you."

Yun rolled her eyes. "Just eat your food, kid," she grumbled. She racked a hand through her hair, pushing back her bangs. Yun sat down next to Darcie, eating her breakfast. Her friend placed a glass of orange juice in front of her. An eyebrow raised in response to Alex's last remark. "I suggest bringing tweedle dee or tweedle dum along-" she pointed at Andy and Jake. "-you're going to need help with that sling," she warned. A few minutes later, she finished her breakfast. Yun rose from her seat, handing Griffin her dirty dishes. She exited the kitchen, heading towards the living room. She picked up the laptop from a table and sat down on the couch, opening the lid. She booted it up, navigating to her pinned files. It was impossible to visit every recruit in one day. As a result, she composed a short list. Her eyes scanned the content, observing her selections.

 

[PlayingMonster]

Alex nodded as he stood up. Andy and Jake grinned at each other and followed him out. "Dude, we'll help you get dressed, but I'm drawing the line at showering you. We ain't doing that for you." Andy teased. Alex rolled his eyes as they reached his room. Normally, he'd object to them, but he was wary of tearing stitches again. "I think I'll manage in the shower, thanks."

Unfortunately, showering meant having one hand sticking out to avoid getting the bandaging wet. It was awkward, but he managed. As he came back out into the room in his underwear, Andy and Jake raised their eyebrows. "Jesus, Yun slipped up not offering to help you herself. What a view." Jake remarked. Alex grabbed yesterday's t-shirt and hurled it at him with his good arm. He dodged and laughed. Andy produced a clean white t-shirt with the Avengers logo in black on the chest and loose fitting black jeans from Alex's bag and approached him. "I would like to reassure you that I'm quite confident in my sexuality as a straight man." He promised, provoking a grin from Alex. "Are you? Shame." He sighed, teasingly. Andy stopped and looked at him, raising his eyebrows. "Do you like her?" Alex stared at him, raising his eyebrows. "I think Black Widow is absolutely kickass, yes." Jake grinned. "We all know that's not who Andy means." Alex rolled his eyes. "She's a friend. I helped her save her brothers, she saved my life, and now we're in one of those situations where you don't even want to walk out on the other , and if you did, karma would hit you with a truck. I don't like her like that." Andy raised his eyebrows at Jake. There was a silent agreement not to mention the bet.

Attempting to raise his arms above his head to put them through the shirt was verging on excruciating, so putting it on required a considerable amount of looking at it and wondering about how they were going to manage it. Eventually, they got him to hold his arm in to his chest and negotiated the sleeve over his elbow. It was awkward, but it worked. Getting his jeans on proved to be a lot easier, but Andy had to tie the laces of his combat boots for him. Jake then produced a scissors. "Dude, I'm tidying up your hair. No offence, but it's awful." Alex laughed and didn't resist.

Sarah helped them clear up, or at least, to the best of her abilities. She decided to follow the others' lead, and showered quickly, changing into pale blue skinny jeans and a pale pink t-shirt, tying her hair back in a ponytail. When she came back down, Yun was reading through something on the laptop. She didn't want to appear too annoying, but she was curious. "Yun... Do they have everything on us? Our... Medical history, our family details?" She stared at the table as she asked, tracing one of the rings with an idle finger.

 

[Rowlet]

"Yun...Do they have everything on us?"

Yun lifted her head. She inspected Sarah silently. "If you're afraid of others seeing your profile, don't worry about it. I'm going to be in charge of keeping this laptop," she announced. She fished out her phone from her pocket. She created a list of names and addresses on her device. After she was finished, she exited out of the program and turned off the laptop. She placed it back on the table, closing the lid. She made a mental note to request Hyun-Ki to transfer it to her room. A sigh escaped her lips. She would have to shop for sheets, pillows, and a new mattress. She may of not destroyed the mattress, but it wouldn't hurt to purchase an extra. Yun doubted it would be the last time she unleashed her ability in her sleep. The last thing she needed was leaving traces. If Griffin's parents found out, they would kick her out completely, banning her from returning. Yun rose from her seat, pocketing her phone. "To answer your question, yes. Edward knows everything. He's the epitome of a stalker. Why do you want to know?" Yun added. An eyebrow raised in response. Frankly, if someone wanted to know about her, they could use the laptop. However, she doubted anyone would be that foolish. She wouldn't hesitate to beat the shit out of them.

Her brother appeared in a puff of dark blue smoke. "Han warned you'd need me. What's up?" Hyun-Ki inquired, interupting the conversation.

Yun averted her attention towards her brother. "Take this to my room. On your way, tell the boys to hurry up. If they're not ready in the next ten minutes, I'm leaving without them," she announced. She handed Hyun-Ki the laptop.

Hyun-Ki mocked saluted her. "Rodger!" He vanished from his spot.

Yun walked towards the front door. Her three friends were waiting in the foyer, ready for the day. She assumed they showered and dressed when she was busy looking through the files. Fortunately, there was more than one bathroom. "There's a total of five recruits we're visiting today. Since they're scattered across Chicago, we're splitting up. We'll take three vehicles. Alex, Hyun-Ki, and Andy are coming with me. I'll send the information to your phones. Griff, Leo, you'll take Jake. Darcie, you're in charge of Haneul and Sarah. Got it?" she announced. Her friends nodded in response.

"Any particular reason for this odd match up?" Leon mused.

She checked her phone, staring at the time. "You'll understand once you get the info. My group will be visiting two recruits. Griff's group will be visiting another two. Darcie, your group will be visiting the last one. I separated all of you since you have my number. Once the boys get down here, Alex and I will explain how to approach them. This isn't going to be easy. If they refuse, don't resort to violence," she declared.

"Are you going to listen to your own advice?" Leon teased.

Yun rolled her eyes. "There's only room for one Spitfire in this group, Leo. Just because I can't control my anger doesn't mean you can. We need them on our side, so we have to convince them. If we don't, Edward will find them," she deadpanned.

"Does separating us in these groups have to do with our abilities?" Griffin questioned.

Yun nodded her head. "Yes. The recruits you're in charge of finding possess abilities that will appeal to your own. If they turn hostile, your abilities will subdue them with ease," she explained.

"We just got our abilities last night. How would we be able to fight against them?" Darcie pointed out.

She shrugged. "We can't afford to train right now. Just go with it and don't be stupid about it," she countered bluntly.

Hyun-Ki appeared behind her, Haneul flanking his right side. "I informed them!" he announced.

 

[PlayingMonster]

Sarah shrugged. "Just... the thought of someone knowing everything about me is worrying. Everyone has their secrets, y'know?" She followed Yun out into the foyer after a few minutes, where Yun told them about the groups. The thoughts of not being in a group with any of her own friends made her a tad uncomfortable, but she could deal with it. She wondered what kind of super could have a power requiring phasing, magnetism and precognitions. She looked at Darcie. "Do you want me to drive, or would you be happier driving?"

"Et voila!" Jake said with a flourish. Alex ran his good hand over his hair. "Nope, you've got to actually look at it." Jake ordered. Alex laughed and went into the bathroom. It did look a lot better. "Thanks, dude." Jake grinned and folded his arms. He then heard Hyun-ki calling them, warning them that unless they were ready soon, Yun was leaving without them. "No time for you two to have a shower, then." He said. Andy grinned. "Wanna bet?" He disappeared, and Jake rolled his eyes. "I'll be down in a few." As he left, Alex grabbed his gun and shoved it into the waistband of his jeans with his good hand.

Alex headed downstairs, to where everyone was waiting. "The others will be down momentarily. Speedy Gonzalez is seeing how quickly he can shower, and Jake's getting changed." He stood beside Yun, looking at her. A few seconds later, Andy appeared at the foot of the stairs, scrubbed clean and in a white t-shirt and loose jeans. Jake came down a few minutes later in a V-neck white t-shirt, black skinny jeans and a black leather jacket.

"Okay, so you know the groups. Approaching someone who's a super can be risky. Some of them will attempt to rip your head off, or burn down the building you're in, or kill you in some form. If that happens, you get the fuck out of there. We're desperate, but not that desperate. Edward doesn't go after those. If he can't control them, he doesn't want them. Try and talk to them by themselves. If they're talking to someone, wait until they're finished. Otherwise the other person may smell a rat, and unless they're a super too, we don't want that."

"When you talk to them, show them you're on their side. We used to blackmail them. Don't do that. Maybe demonstrate your ability as subtly as you can. Obviously, Jake, if you turned into the President in the middle of a coffee shop, that could cause a bit of a problem. Griffin, your group isn't going to have that advantage. Tell them who we are, what we want to do. If they don't want to work with us- which is entirely possible- warn them about Edward. Embellish the truth a little. Tell them that he kills anyone who's uncooperative. Don't necessarily lie outright, but you don't have to tell the full truth either."

"If they do freak out and you find yourself in a conflict, don't worry about trying to hide your abilities or being subtle any more. You use them to keep yourself and the rest of your group safe. The bypassers have already witnessed one display of abilities, don't worry about displaying it again. Get your asses out of there."

"And one last thing. We're a team now. If I hear of any backstabbing, using your power to save yourself and not the rest of the team, I am going to be majorly pissed. If it's an accident, if you're using your power and it fails on you, that's one thing. There's a real possibility of that happening, unfortunately. But if I hear of anything deliberate, I am going to be pissed, and I daresay I'm not going to be the only one."

He looked at Yun. "Have I missed anything?"

 

[Rowlet]

Darcie averted her attention towards Sarah. "I know my way around Chicago. I'll drive," she replied. She presented Sarah a small, reassuring smile. Darcie made a mental note to check her phone. Yun expected her to be in charge of this scouting mission. She wondered what type of super her group had to face. Fortunately, Haneual was coming with her. He would be able to monitor her recruit's decisions. "We'll take my Escape," she added. Darcie drove her Ford Escape instead of using public transportation.

Yun flaked Alex's left side. She remained silent, listening to his detailed report. He covered all the basics. She shook her head in response. "I will put it simply. If any of you betray the group, my family, or me, I will kill you. I've already killed a few of Edward's men. I'm capable of doing it again. I'm not suspecting you, but you've been warned. Every recruit will hear my threat as well," she deadpanned. She turned, motioning for Hyun-Ki, Alex, and Andy to follow her. "I've sent information about the recruits to your phones. We'll meet here before sundown, got it? Update Alex and me about your status every few hours," she declared. Yun walked out of the house, heading towards her truck. After she unlocked it, she stepped inside the driver's seat. Her brother, Hyun-Ki, climbed in the back.

Darcie guided Haneul and Sarah to her Escape. Griffin navigated to his truck, Leon close behind. He beckoned for Jake to follow. He made sure to lock the house on his way out. "Her threat applies to everyone, including us," Leon mused. He forgot how intimidating Yun could be with her threats. He suppressed a shiver. She was stronger than she appeared, despite her short height.

(We should divide up the amount of NPCs. How many do you want to compose?)