Page 248 of Scarbound

Alive.

That word was still the only one he trusted.

Dr. Daniels lifted his bag. “I’ll come back first thing in the morning.”

Ji-Woo nodded.

“And if anything changes…”

“I call you.”

“Ambulance first if it’s serious.”

Ji-Woo met his gaze. “Understood.”

The doctor left.

The apartment became quiet again. Duri remained beside the bed. Ji-Woo returned to the window.

For several minutes, neither spoke.

Then Ji-Woo looked at Noeul.

Quietly, so quietly even Duri couldn’t hear, he said:

“I’m going to make sure he never touches you again.”

CHAPTER 57

Noeul woke to the smell of coffee. For several seconds, he didn’t move. His eyes remained fixed on an unfamiliar ceiling while his mind struggled to place the room around him. Pale morning light slipped through the curtains. Somewhere nearby, water was running. A door opened, then closed.

He didn’t immediately know where he was.

Panic arrived before memory. His body tightened beneath the blanket. He tried to sit up and immediately regretted it. Pain flared sharply through his head, forcing him to stop and breathe. Another pain followed lower in his body, deeper and burning, forcing him back against the mattress.

A broken sound escaped him.

The door opened.

Noeul flinched violently.

Duri stopped in the doorway. He was still wearing yesterday’s clothes, wrinkled now, his hair disheveled. Dark circles shadowed his eyes.

“Hyung.”

Noeul stared at him.

Duri didn’t move closer. “It’s Duri.”

A few seconds passed.

“Duri…”

“Yes.”

Noeul looked around the room again. Something returned. A garden. Cold air. A hand. Away.

“This is your room?”