Chapter One (1/1)

The sun set like any other day. The stars blanketed the sky like there always do. It was cold and dark. Cars passed by every once in awhile, but the streets were bare as always. Nothing was different, but everything felt different to Kibum.He held his jacket closer to himself, his eyes glancing in random directions. He felt the need to be cautious. It felt like someone was following him, but he couldn’t see anyone around. He froze when he heard the sound of some dog howling. He sighed in frustration before continuing on.His pace quickened and finally he reached his door. He swiftly opened his door and locked it behind, breathing a sigh of relief. He hit himself mentally for being so childish. Nothing was out there, but why did he feel so scared?“I’m safe,” he murmured, willing himself to remember how to breathe properly. He calmed himself down and made his way inside of his home. He showered, and ate, then went downstairs to place his clothes in the dryer.He noticed that his back door was busted open, the cold wind wrapping around him. He walked over slowly, examining the evidence. He slowly backed away, terrified. Something had gotten in.Kibum turned quickly on his heal when he heard whimpering. He glanced behind the futon where his guests usually stayed. He took a few steps closer, noticing blood on his floor.He covered his mouth, stopping himself from screaming when he caught sight of a yellowish brown wolf, bleeding on his floor. He knew he should run, but the wolf looked up at him, bright auburn eyes stared at him, willing him closer.He crept closer, getting a better look at the wolf, his hand still over his mouth. The wolf was covered in blood, mud and cuts. Its back legs were severely covered in cuts and its front paw may have been broken. He noticed a large opened wound on its stomach. Kibum was shocked the animal was even still alive.He reached out to touch a small cut near the eye of the wolf. It whimpered, but pressed its face against Kibum’s hand, “Are you okay?”Kibum was ready to curse himself for talking to a wolf like it could answer, but the wolf nodded its head. He stared down at the wolf’s eyes and could see how much pain it was in. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, dialing a number. As he waited, he went on to rubbing the wolf’s head, watching it close its eyes.“Key… do you know what time it is?” The voice over the phone questioned.“It’s sometime around midnight. I know, Jinki. I need your medical expertise. Bring your first aid kit,” Kibum said as he stared down at the wolf, “The big one.”When Jinki arrived, he took the other down stairs and nearly had to tackle the other to the ground when he tried to run away, “Why the hell did you call me?! Call animal control! I’m studying to be a doctor! Not a VET!”Kibum punched Jinki’s arm and glared at him, “I panicked, alright? Animal control will kill it and it is in so much pain. I tried to cover the wounds, but it keeps bleeding through it! I wouldn’t have called you if I didn’t think you could do something. Please, Jinki.”Jinki wasn’t so sure, but he couldn’t say no to Kibum. He knelled down, cautious as the wolf looked at him, “Key… it is looking at me…”The younger male sat down next to him and took the wolf’s head into his lap, petting it, “He’s here to help.”“Please don’t go Doctor Dolittle on me,” Jinki begged before he got to work. Kibum stayed next to the wolf, allowing it to rest its head on his lap. He stared down at it and it stared back at him. It seemed like the wolf was thankful for Kibum’s help.An hour passed and Jinki had finished up. He begged to go shower off the blood and took his leave. Kibum brought down a bowl of water. He had no idea what to feed the wolf? Steak?As he headed back up the stairs, he heard whining and turned to the wolf. It was trying to get up and he quickly made his way over, “Shhh, don’t get up. Stay,” he cooed softly as he set the wolf back down. It gave up its attempts to get up and just lay there, looking up at Kibum with pleading eyes.“Yah, that’s not fair,” he said softly, tapping the wolf’s nose with the tip of his finger. “No puppy eyes.”The wolf made a sound that almost sounded like an amused chuckle. He pushed that thought away and scratched behind the wolf’s ear. It leaned into to his touch, sighing. Kibum smiled down at the wolf, “Is this what it is like having a dog?”“A giant dog that can eat you.”Kibum glanced over his shoulder and rolled his eyes at Jinki, “He hasn’t done anything to me. Look at him; he likes me and you, by the way. You may have saved his life. No, you did save his life.”Jinki glanced down at the wolf, skeptical, “I don’t know… I have this weird feeling, Ke-““Oh god, no more of that weird superstition shit,” Kibum sighed as he stood up. “Now stay. I’ll be back down to check up on you in the morning. Stay,” he ordered the wolf before walking over to Jinki, “You should just stay the night.”“Don’t mind if I do,” Jinki grinned.Kibum wagged his finger at Jinki, “None of that tonight,” he winked at Jinki before walking up the stairs. He glanced at the wolf and swore the wolf’s eyes were telling him to stay. He froze for a moment before shaking his head and continuing up the stairs.________________________________________©sungyo2o12