Don't You Know for WHISKERD
Title: Don't You Know
Recipient: whiskerd
Pairing: Sehun/Tao
Word Count: 2770
Rating: PG-13
Warning: major & minor character death, angst, slight language & violence towards the end
Summary: In 1910, Japan colonized Korea. Sehun works for a factory.
Author’s Note: There’s probably a few historically inaccurate bits and grammar errors floating about in the story, sorry for that! Also, to my recipient, thanks for the great prompts! I really hope you like this, although it may not have been very true to your prompts.
Inspired by Imagine Dragons’s Bleeding Out & Ingrid Michaelson’s Parachute
September 3 1918.
"Get out."
Sehun jerks awake at the sound of the brash command. He stumbles blearily down from the truck, and is immediately herded into a line.
"Follow me!"
The imperial flag in front of them flutters in the breeze, its red sun a stark contrast to the downcast bodies making their way to their destination. Left, right, left, right.
Sehun thinks of the home he left behind in Gyeongseong, of the life he was so harshly pulled from. He feels his mum's warm smile engulfing him, the swish of the lazy autumn wind as it passes through the holes in the wooden wall. He'll probably never get to feel it ever again.
The line stops abruptly in front of a drab, grey, building. Sehun shakes himself from his reverie just in time to hear the last words of the commanding soldier.
"This is the Kanggye rubber factory and your new home."
The insistent prod of the soldier bringing up the line pushes him past the gantry, through the doors, and he gets his first glimpse of the factory. The oppressive atmosphere hits him immediately, and the stench of men who had seen better days, who spent all their days in the same sweat soaked rags, the taste of pure misery and fear, the touch of death hovering just above comes after.
Sehun isn't sure what he was expecting, but it certainly isn't this.
-∞-
Sehun settles into the repetitive routine of life at the factory quickly.
At 7am, the bell rings once, its sound reverberating through the sleeping quarters. Sehun wakes up, and jostles for a space in the dank hole the soldiers called the washroom. He reaches the 'dining room', a gaping room with 3 long tables at 720. Breakfast is watered down porridge, tasteless and burnt. 10 minutes later, everyone is herded to the work room, and he sits down next to his seat mate, Baekhyun to begin his mindless task of lining the molds for the molten rubber. At 1pm, he settles himself into a bench in the dining room, and subjects himself to Baekhyun’s chatter for half an hour while chowing down on his sweet potato porridge. Work ends at 930pm, and he rises to jostle for the bottom bunk with Baekhyun. Sehun wins most of the time, with Baekhyun giving in after a few half hearted shoves. The candles are snuffed at 10pm, and the day repeats.
Today is different, however. He sits next to Baekhyun at breakfast, who has somehow managed to find the one new guy who arrived last night, amid the rumours spread by the other workers, who seemed suspicious of the towering male. Baekhyun seemed to pay no mind to the rumours and had already begun to chatter to him.
"How can you stay so bright, Baek? We're stuck here, at the mercy of the soldiers forever. We're probably never gonna get out of here alive, you know?"
"Of course I know. I'm not dense. But what's the point in wallowing in despair and darkness now? It's better to light one candle than to curse at the dark, isn't it?"
Sehun smiles and sits next to Baekhyun, letting the sound of his voice wash over him, just like how he liked to turn on the scratchy radio for music before the Japanese came, before everything changed.
-∞-
Baekhyun had not returned to the bunk at night, and the seat to the right of Sehun remained empty during work, a gaping, silent hole that itches at the forefront of his mind. Sehun glances over to his left, at the new guy, Tao, who seemed beside himself today. Knocking lightly on the worktable, he smiles reassuringly at a startled Tao.
Baekhyun seems to have taken a shine to him, constantly beside the tall male who never spoke much, anxiety evident in his eyes. The soldiers troop into the room and Sehun begins his work reluctantly, the emptiness on his right threatening to swallow him in.
At lunchtime, Sehun stares quizzically at the extra chunk of sweet potato beside his watered down porridge. Baekhyun still had not appeared and Tao was sticking extra close today, in lieu of Baekhyun.
"They killed Baekhyun last night," Jaeshin hisses under his breath to Sehun. "They always throw in something extra for our meals the day after they kill someone, to boost our morales. Someone told on him", he continues. "Told the uppers about his spy theories. Guess they weren't too pleased about it, eh?"
Sehun closed his eyes, and recalled the very first day he stepped into this hellhole.
"Be careful newbie. Don't shoot your mouth off, you hear me? The walls have ears."
He leaves the sweet potato untouched on his tray.
-∞-
Nobody ever arrives to take the place of Baekhyun at the work table, his empty seat beside Sehun a glaring reminder of the soldiers authority. Baekhyun was killed because he ran his mouth off far too often, but his death also served as a reminder to the rest of the workers, to not get too comfortable.
-∞-
Sehun wasn't sure when Tao had started sticking to him, but it soon became routine for him to start the day by waking Tao up, much like he had done so for Baekhyun.
He grew accustomed to the extra sweet potatoes at lunch,
Sehun looks at the extra sweet potatoes in his porridge at lunch, then at Tao.
Tao hesitates for a second, as if he was struggling with something, before he answers with a simple "Don't like them." Sehun shrugs and continues eating,
,the constant warm presence by his side. He’s not sure why, but somehow, the factory doesn’t seem so dark with Tao beside him.
-∞-
Sehun jerks up at night, muffled shouts echoing in his head. He shakes himself awake, chalking the sounds up to his overactive imagination. He scans his surroundings, to check for any disgruntled sleepers, but his eyes stop on the empty bed in front of him.
Tao’s empty bed.
He's immediately reminded of Baekhyun’s empty bed above him, gathering dust. He rises out of bed, and hesitates beside his bed. He’s afraid, fearing the wrath of the soldiers, but he doesn’t want another death, another painful parting.
Sehun’s not sure what he can do even if he really did find Tao, all he knows is that he cannot, will not let him die. He doesn’t want to face a day at the factory alone, without the company of his closest friend, the silent, dear friend who had somehow managed to slip through Sehun, into his heart so easily.
He steps through the doorway, padding silently down the dingy path. He rounds a corner, heading towards the dining room, and promptly stumbles over Tao in hallway.
Sehun jumps back, surprised by the unexpected obstacle in his path. When it finally registers in his mind that it’s Tao in the hallway, that Tao’s safe and sound, he feels his whole body relax.
“Why are you here?” Tao hissed, eyes wide with surprise.
“Shouldn’t I be asking yo-” Tao cuts him off abruptly with a hand to his mouth, and pulls him down the hallway, ignoring the struggling Sehun.
“Move, the guards.”
He stops struggling at the simple statement, and follows Tao, who is moving down the hallway with ease.
They reach the bunks and Tao immediately pushes Sehun toward his bed, before he turns to his own. Sehun clambers on and lies down, body ramrod straight, as he listens to the footsteps of the soldiers outside. He wasn’t sure what to think of this situation, of this new development.
He had started out wanting to save Tao, who had probably wandered out without knowing any better, from an untimely death at the hands of the soldiers, but Tao seems to know exactly what he was doing, and the ease in which he had moved down the hallways suggests that this was something that he was used to, something that he had done before.
He glances over at Tao, who seemed to have fallen asleep. He had a feeling that the answers he wanted weren’t going to come to him easily.
-∞-
The next day arrives with a loud clang, the bleary stumbles of men woken harshly from their slumber in its wake. Sehun finds Tao in the dining hall, eating his porridge as if he did not have a care in the world. Edging past the others, he sets his bowl down beside Tao.
“What did you do last night?” Sehun asked under his breath.
Tao finishes his porridge, scraping the spoon around the rounded edges of his bowl.
“Don’t.. don’t ask please. It’s not good for you to know.” Tao turns to him, eyes imploring. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Eyes flashing with irritation, Sehun grabs Tao’s wrist yet again.
“Do you think I want you to get hurt then?” Sehun’s grip tightens as his voice rises, emotion getting the better of him. “I care for you, okay? I don’t want to have what.. what happened to Baekhyun happen to you.”
Tao rises, pulling Sehun along with him.
“You don’t know, Sehun.” Tao hisses as he walks away from the crowded room, towards the workspace, Sehun trailing a few steps behind. “I’m not..” Tao struggles with himself for a minute, trying to grasp the word floating in his consciousness. “I’m not from here. Korea. I’m Chinese, I’m working for Korea .”
Sehun remembers how his parents had jumped for joy when the radio announced that China had recognized the government in exile, supporting Korea’s bid to resist the colonial rule of Japan.
“But, please, act as if you don’t know anything, I don’t want to put you in danger.”
The two of them reached the workroom and sat at their seats, Sehun still trying to process the revelation. He spends the rest of the day working in silence, digesting the new information that was suddenly thrust upon him, for once thankful for the mindless task that is set to him everyday.
-∞-
Sehun starts to stay up at night, watching for Tao, who slips out of the room almost every night, destination unknown. He lies awake, stiffening every time he hears footsteps pass the room. Despite his best attempts, Tao still wouldn't divulge just what exactly he did during his night travels.
Sehun recalls the first time he met Tao, when he thought the other was just another new worker who was too shy to speak. The real Tao couldn't have been more different from what he thought. Tao was only silent because of his self perceived accent, a fact that he let slip during one of the many lunches Sehun spent trying to get to know Tao more, egging him on for his preferences.
Quick harried footsteps break through his musings, and he cracks open one eye to see a sweat soaked Tao sliding into his bunk, panting. Sehun sits up, alarmed, and Tao catches sight of him. Gesturing frantically with both his hands, Tao pats the thin mattress emphatically, signaling for him to sleep. Confused, Sehun slides down and lays his head down, and just in time, for 3 soldiers hurry into the room seconds after, doing a quick headcount. They pause in the middle of the room, talking among themselves in their native language softly. Sehun holds his breath and attempts to relax his body, fearing that his stiff posture would give him away. He thinks of Tao, whose heavy breathing filled the room just minutes before, and sends a silent prayer out to whoever's out there listening, hoping for the guards to leave before either of them give themselves away.
After a tense 5 minutes, the soldiers hurry out of the room, still exchanging words. He waits for a few minutes, just to be on the safe side, before he finally lifts his head up. Tao has his forearm over his eyes, and Sehun knows well enough not to call his name.
Sleep doesn't come easy to him that night, and he only manages to drift off at 5am.
-∞-
Breakfast the next morning is an unusually noisy affair, the hall humming with whispers as the news of Jaeshin and 2 others from the next room being invited for a 'talk' with the higher ups spread around. Amidst all the bustle, Tao sat silently, carefully eating his porridge. The superiors had never resorted to this type of blatant interrogation before, and the workers were all worried. Something was wrong, and the soldiers were eager to get to the bottom of the matter, even if it meant using harsher methods. Sehun hurriedly inhales his own porridge after hearing the news from the other workers, chasing after Tao, who had left earlier, as per usual. He manages to catch up to Tao in the hallway, but is met with a straight no, even before he opened his mouth.
"I really can't tell you what I did yesterday. The higher ups are desperate for more information right now, and they will not hesitate to kill if need be. Just.. just trust me for now, please."
Tao reaches out to Sehun, his body engulfing Sehun in a hug. Sehun relaxes in his embrace.
-∞-
The next day, Sehun is called in for his 'talk' in the middle of the working day, with two soldiers as his escort. Tao knocks over his tools when the soldiers approach Sehun, hands shaking. His eyes are frantic as he turns to Sehun, imploring him to run, get away from here, even though they both know that it's impossible. Sehun stands up, when the soldiers reach him, clear headed and determined. As he passes by the worktable, with the soldiers in front of him, he feels Tao's hand brush against his fingers, the fleeting touch conveying all the words that were left unspoken between them.
Sehun is led to a bare cubicle, where a portly man is fiddling with a bayonet gun. The man sets the gun down on the table once he hears Sehun enter, his eyes piercing through him. Sehun looks down at the seated man, unsure of what to do. The man places his hands on the table, already clenched into fists.
"Don't play games with me now. I have no patience for such shenanigans. Tell me the truth and I might just consider letting you off." His eyes narrow in on Sehun. "I already know who stole the document."
Sehun can't help the involuntary jump of his eyeballs when the words hit him, as he realises that Tao will most probably be the next one in.
"Don't lie to me boy. I can practically smell the lies in your head right now."
Sehun holds his head high, eyes meeting the other's. He licks his lips nervously before replying. "I don't know what you're talking about."
The man pushes his chair back and advances towards Sehun with the careful footsteps of a predator who knows what he's doing.
"I've wasted one whole day on the imbeciles the useless guards brought in yesterday. I'm nearly out of time, don't fucking mess with me."
His voices crescendos into a roar, as he swings his open palm down on the side of Sehun's head, connecting with a loud smack. Caught unaware by the sheer force of the man's blow, Sehun staggers backwards, his vision exploding into spots as crimson trails down his face.
"Do you have a death wish? Huh?"
The man reaches towards the table and grabs the gun and slams its butt onto Sehun's wound viciously. Sehun's entire world flares into pain as the butt digs into his wound and he crumples to the ground. Sehun's breathing grows heavy as he tries to block out the pain, and he struggles to form a coherent sentence.
"The document, your document. I…It's not with me anymore. I passed it on, out.. out of here." Sehun wheezes, hoping against hope that the man has no actual clue of the real culprit.
The man lets out an enraged yell, as he drives the bayonet into Sehun's ribs.
"Why you little.."
He lifts the blade out with a perverse pleasure, driving it in again and again as Sehun's head hit the floor with a thump, his world fading to black.
-∞-
Chosun Ilbo
15 March 1919
Following the successful retrieval of the Korean Declaration of Independence by a freedom fighter in Kanggye, 2 million of our fellow countrymen participated in more than 1,500 demonstrations countrywide, to protest against the colonial rule. A copy of the declaration, written by Choe Nam Seon was signed by the leaders of the resistance, Huang Zitao and Chung Jae-yong and sent to the Governor General. We urge our fellow countrymen to find strength, to not let the deaths of our fellow comrades be in vain. Let us march on together, for Korea.
Postnote: [notes]Just a quick clarification for accuracy purposes -> The Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea Tao was working for was actually formed after the Samil Movement in 1919, but I needed an organization for Tao, so I switched it around.
Recipient: whiskerd
Pairing: Sehun/Tao
Word Count: 2770
Rating: PG-13
Warning: major & minor character death, angst, slight language & violence towards the end
Summary: In 1910, Japan colonized Korea. Sehun works for a factory.
Author’s Note: There’s probably a few historically inaccurate bits and grammar errors floating about in the story, sorry for that! Also, to my recipient, thanks for the great prompts! I really hope you like this, although it may not have been very true to your prompts.
Inspired by Imagine Dragons’s Bleeding Out & Ingrid Michaelson’s Parachute
September 3 1918.
"Get out."
Sehun jerks awake at the sound of the brash command. He stumbles blearily down from the truck, and is immediately herded into a line.
"Follow me!"
The imperial flag in front of them flutters in the breeze, its red sun a stark contrast to the downcast bodies making their way to their destination. Left, right, left, right.
Sehun thinks of the home he left behind in Gyeongseong, of the life he was so harshly pulled from. He feels his mum's warm smile engulfing him, the swish of the lazy autumn wind as it passes through the holes in the wooden wall. He'll probably never get to feel it ever again.
The line stops abruptly in front of a drab, grey, building. Sehun shakes himself from his reverie just in time to hear the last words of the commanding soldier.
"This is the Kanggye rubber factory and your new home."
The insistent prod of the soldier bringing up the line pushes him past the gantry, through the doors, and he gets his first glimpse of the factory. The oppressive atmosphere hits him immediately, and the stench of men who had seen better days, who spent all their days in the same sweat soaked rags, the taste of pure misery and fear, the touch of death hovering just above comes after.
Sehun isn't sure what he was expecting, but it certainly isn't this.
-∞-
Sehun settles into the repetitive routine of life at the factory quickly.
At 7am, the bell rings once, its sound reverberating through the sleeping quarters. Sehun wakes up, and jostles for a space in the dank hole the soldiers called the washroom. He reaches the 'dining room', a gaping room with 3 long tables at 720. Breakfast is watered down porridge, tasteless and burnt. 10 minutes later, everyone is herded to the work room, and he sits down next to his seat mate, Baekhyun to begin his mindless task of lining the molds for the molten rubber. At 1pm, he settles himself into a bench in the dining room, and subjects himself to Baekhyun’s chatter for half an hour while chowing down on his sweet potato porridge. Work ends at 930pm, and he rises to jostle for the bottom bunk with Baekhyun. Sehun wins most of the time, with Baekhyun giving in after a few half hearted shoves. The candles are snuffed at 10pm, and the day repeats.
Today is different, however. He sits next to Baekhyun at breakfast, who has somehow managed to find the one new guy who arrived last night, amid the rumours spread by the other workers, who seemed suspicious of the towering male. Baekhyun seemed to pay no mind to the rumours and had already begun to chatter to him.
"How can you stay so bright, Baek? We're stuck here, at the mercy of the soldiers forever. We're probably never gonna get out of here alive, you know?"
"Of course I know. I'm not dense. But what's the point in wallowing in despair and darkness now? It's better to light one candle than to curse at the dark, isn't it?"
Sehun smiles and sits next to Baekhyun, letting the sound of his voice wash over him, just like how he liked to turn on the scratchy radio for music before the Japanese came, before everything changed.
-∞-
Baekhyun had not returned to the bunk at night, and the seat to the right of Sehun remained empty during work, a gaping, silent hole that itches at the forefront of his mind. Sehun glances over to his left, at the new guy, Tao, who seemed beside himself today. Knocking lightly on the worktable, he smiles reassuringly at a startled Tao.
Baekhyun seems to have taken a shine to him, constantly beside the tall male who never spoke much, anxiety evident in his eyes. The soldiers troop into the room and Sehun begins his work reluctantly, the emptiness on his right threatening to swallow him in.
At lunchtime, Sehun stares quizzically at the extra chunk of sweet potato beside his watered down porridge. Baekhyun still had not appeared and Tao was sticking extra close today, in lieu of Baekhyun.
"They killed Baekhyun last night," Jaeshin hisses under his breath to Sehun. "They always throw in something extra for our meals the day after they kill someone, to boost our morales. Someone told on him", he continues. "Told the uppers about his spy theories. Guess they weren't too pleased about it, eh?"
Sehun closed his eyes, and recalled the very first day he stepped into this hellhole.
"Be careful newbie. Don't shoot your mouth off, you hear me? The walls have ears."
He leaves the sweet potato untouched on his tray.
-∞-
Nobody ever arrives to take the place of Baekhyun at the work table, his empty seat beside Sehun a glaring reminder of the soldiers authority. Baekhyun was killed because he ran his mouth off far too often, but his death also served as a reminder to the rest of the workers, to not get too comfortable.
-∞-
Sehun wasn't sure when Tao had started sticking to him, but it soon became routine for him to start the day by waking Tao up, much like he had done so for Baekhyun.
He grew accustomed to the extra sweet potatoes at lunch,
Sehun looks at the extra sweet potatoes in his porridge at lunch, then at Tao.
Tao hesitates for a second, as if he was struggling with something, before he answers with a simple "Don't like them." Sehun shrugs and continues eating,
,the constant warm presence by his side. He’s not sure why, but somehow, the factory doesn’t seem so dark with Tao beside him.
-∞-
Sehun jerks up at night, muffled shouts echoing in his head. He shakes himself awake, chalking the sounds up to his overactive imagination. He scans his surroundings, to check for any disgruntled sleepers, but his eyes stop on the empty bed in front of him.
Tao’s empty bed.
He's immediately reminded of Baekhyun’s empty bed above him, gathering dust. He rises out of bed, and hesitates beside his bed. He’s afraid, fearing the wrath of the soldiers, but he doesn’t want another death, another painful parting.
Sehun’s not sure what he can do even if he really did find Tao, all he knows is that he cannot, will not let him die. He doesn’t want to face a day at the factory alone, without the company of his closest friend, the silent, dear friend who had somehow managed to slip through Sehun, into his heart so easily.
He steps through the doorway, padding silently down the dingy path. He rounds a corner, heading towards the dining room, and promptly stumbles over Tao in hallway.
Sehun jumps back, surprised by the unexpected obstacle in his path. When it finally registers in his mind that it’s Tao in the hallway, that Tao’s safe and sound, he feels his whole body relax.
“Why are you here?” Tao hissed, eyes wide with surprise.
“Shouldn’t I be asking yo-” Tao cuts him off abruptly with a hand to his mouth, and pulls him down the hallway, ignoring the struggling Sehun.
“Move, the guards.”
He stops struggling at the simple statement, and follows Tao, who is moving down the hallway with ease.
They reach the bunks and Tao immediately pushes Sehun toward his bed, before he turns to his own. Sehun clambers on and lies down, body ramrod straight, as he listens to the footsteps of the soldiers outside. He wasn’t sure what to think of this situation, of this new development.
He had started out wanting to save Tao, who had probably wandered out without knowing any better, from an untimely death at the hands of the soldiers, but Tao seems to know exactly what he was doing, and the ease in which he had moved down the hallways suggests that this was something that he was used to, something that he had done before.
He glances over at Tao, who seemed to have fallen asleep. He had a feeling that the answers he wanted weren’t going to come to him easily.
-∞-
The next day arrives with a loud clang, the bleary stumbles of men woken harshly from their slumber in its wake. Sehun finds Tao in the dining hall, eating his porridge as if he did not have a care in the world. Edging past the others, he sets his bowl down beside Tao.
“What did you do last night?” Sehun asked under his breath.
Tao finishes his porridge, scraping the spoon around the rounded edges of his bowl.
“Don’t.. don’t ask please. It’s not good for you to know.” Tao turns to him, eyes imploring. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Eyes flashing with irritation, Sehun grabs Tao’s wrist yet again.
“Do you think I want you to get hurt then?” Sehun’s grip tightens as his voice rises, emotion getting the better of him. “I care for you, okay? I don’t want to have what.. what happened to Baekhyun happen to you.”
Tao rises, pulling Sehun along with him.
“You don’t know, Sehun.” Tao hisses as he walks away from the crowded room, towards the workspace, Sehun trailing a few steps behind. “I’m not..” Tao struggles with himself for a minute, trying to grasp the word floating in his consciousness. “I’m not from here. Korea. I’m Chinese, I’m working for Korea .”
Sehun remembers how his parents had jumped for joy when the radio announced that China had recognized the government in exile, supporting Korea’s bid to resist the colonial rule of Japan.
“But, please, act as if you don’t know anything, I don’t want to put you in danger.”
The two of them reached the workroom and sat at their seats, Sehun still trying to process the revelation. He spends the rest of the day working in silence, digesting the new information that was suddenly thrust upon him, for once thankful for the mindless task that is set to him everyday.
-∞-
Sehun starts to stay up at night, watching for Tao, who slips out of the room almost every night, destination unknown. He lies awake, stiffening every time he hears footsteps pass the room. Despite his best attempts, Tao still wouldn't divulge just what exactly he did during his night travels.
Sehun recalls the first time he met Tao, when he thought the other was just another new worker who was too shy to speak. The real Tao couldn't have been more different from what he thought. Tao was only silent because of his self perceived accent, a fact that he let slip during one of the many lunches Sehun spent trying to get to know Tao more, egging him on for his preferences.
Quick harried footsteps break through his musings, and he cracks open one eye to see a sweat soaked Tao sliding into his bunk, panting. Sehun sits up, alarmed, and Tao catches sight of him. Gesturing frantically with both his hands, Tao pats the thin mattress emphatically, signaling for him to sleep. Confused, Sehun slides down and lays his head down, and just in time, for 3 soldiers hurry into the room seconds after, doing a quick headcount. They pause in the middle of the room, talking among themselves in their native language softly. Sehun holds his breath and attempts to relax his body, fearing that his stiff posture would give him away. He thinks of Tao, whose heavy breathing filled the room just minutes before, and sends a silent prayer out to whoever's out there listening, hoping for the guards to leave before either of them give themselves away.
After a tense 5 minutes, the soldiers hurry out of the room, still exchanging words. He waits for a few minutes, just to be on the safe side, before he finally lifts his head up. Tao has his forearm over his eyes, and Sehun knows well enough not to call his name.
Sleep doesn't come easy to him that night, and he only manages to drift off at 5am.
-∞-
Breakfast the next morning is an unusually noisy affair, the hall humming with whispers as the news of Jaeshin and 2 others from the next room being invited for a 'talk' with the higher ups spread around. Amidst all the bustle, Tao sat silently, carefully eating his porridge. The superiors had never resorted to this type of blatant interrogation before, and the workers were all worried. Something was wrong, and the soldiers were eager to get to the bottom of the matter, even if it meant using harsher methods. Sehun hurriedly inhales his own porridge after hearing the news from the other workers, chasing after Tao, who had left earlier, as per usual. He manages to catch up to Tao in the hallway, but is met with a straight no, even before he opened his mouth.
"I really can't tell you what I did yesterday. The higher ups are desperate for more information right now, and they will not hesitate to kill if need be. Just.. just trust me for now, please."
Tao reaches out to Sehun, his body engulfing Sehun in a hug. Sehun relaxes in his embrace.
-∞-
The next day, Sehun is called in for his 'talk' in the middle of the working day, with two soldiers as his escort. Tao knocks over his tools when the soldiers approach Sehun, hands shaking. His eyes are frantic as he turns to Sehun, imploring him to run, get away from here, even though they both know that it's impossible. Sehun stands up, when the soldiers reach him, clear headed and determined. As he passes by the worktable, with the soldiers in front of him, he feels Tao's hand brush against his fingers, the fleeting touch conveying all the words that were left unspoken between them.
Sehun is led to a bare cubicle, where a portly man is fiddling with a bayonet gun. The man sets the gun down on the table once he hears Sehun enter, his eyes piercing through him. Sehun looks down at the seated man, unsure of what to do. The man places his hands on the table, already clenched into fists.
"Don't play games with me now. I have no patience for such shenanigans. Tell me the truth and I might just consider letting you off." His eyes narrow in on Sehun. "I already know who stole the document."
Sehun can't help the involuntary jump of his eyeballs when the words hit him, as he realises that Tao will most probably be the next one in.
"Don't lie to me boy. I can practically smell the lies in your head right now."
Sehun holds his head high, eyes meeting the other's. He licks his lips nervously before replying. "I don't know what you're talking about."
The man pushes his chair back and advances towards Sehun with the careful footsteps of a predator who knows what he's doing.
"I've wasted one whole day on the imbeciles the useless guards brought in yesterday. I'm nearly out of time, don't fucking mess with me."
His voices crescendos into a roar, as he swings his open palm down on the side of Sehun's head, connecting with a loud smack. Caught unaware by the sheer force of the man's blow, Sehun staggers backwards, his vision exploding into spots as crimson trails down his face.
"Do you have a death wish? Huh?"
The man reaches towards the table and grabs the gun and slams its butt onto Sehun's wound viciously. Sehun's entire world flares into pain as the butt digs into his wound and he crumples to the ground. Sehun's breathing grows heavy as he tries to block out the pain, and he struggles to form a coherent sentence.
"The document, your document. I…It's not with me anymore. I passed it on, out.. out of here." Sehun wheezes, hoping against hope that the man has no actual clue of the real culprit.
The man lets out an enraged yell, as he drives the bayonet into Sehun's ribs.
"Why you little.."
He lifts the blade out with a perverse pleasure, driving it in again and again as Sehun's head hit the floor with a thump, his world fading to black.
-∞-
Chosun Ilbo
15 March 1919
Following the successful retrieval of the Korean Declaration of Independence by a freedom fighter in Kanggye, 2 million of our fellow countrymen participated in more than 1,500 demonstrations countrywide, to protest against the colonial rule. A copy of the declaration, written by Choe Nam Seon was signed by the leaders of the resistance, Huang Zitao and Chung Jae-yong and sent to the Governor General. We urge our fellow countrymen to find strength, to not let the deaths of our fellow comrades be in vain. Let us march on together, for Korea.
Postnote: [notes]Just a quick clarification for accuracy purposes -> The Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea Tao was working for was actually formed after the Samil Movement in 1919, but I needed an organization for Tao, so I switched it around.