Chapter 30.

Mark was not allowed to get up the next day. He’d gotten several cuts and his left hand was still hurting after he’d gripped around the blade of his sword. At least it was only his hand that was cut and not his throat. If not counting the other cuts he’d gotten, but the ones in his hand was the deepest. Yuta had been hovering over him and guiding Renjun’s steady hands in stitching up those cuts that were deep. Ten had looked at the bruises blossoming all over Mark’s torso but Mark had been sleeping through most of it.

Jaemin was moved closer to Mark by Haechan who seemed to be guilty over not being able to defend any of the two. Jaemin was bright, Mark noticed. He had a small face, caramel brown short hair and his smile was similar to Ten’s. It lit up the world around him. He seemed intelligent and didn’t talk too much, he seemed to be more interested in listening. Mark felt that was weird, because he was like that too, so even if the others hoped the two wounded would keep each other company, it was mostly quiet.

  “When did you turn?” Jaemin suddenly asked as they watched Chenle and Jisung argue about something that didn’t make sense to them.

  “Turn?” Mark repeated and then realized Jaemin meant the process of dying and waking up again. “It must be months ago.” Mark explained.

  “I noticed your eyes glow blue.” Jaemin pointed out. “Chenle’s a neon yellow or green. Renjun teal or maybe you could describe it as sea green? Yuta has orange, Jisung has red eyes and Doyoung yellow.” Mark cocked a brow at Jaemin who smiled in reply. “I’ve seen people turn.” He said and chewed on his bottom lip, eyes replaying the memories. There was a look of guilt in his eyes.

Mark re-adjusted his position and winced as he hurt himself again. “Renjun is the newest addition to the club of the Damned.”

Jaemin laughed. “I like that. The Club of the Damned.” It made the other smile.

Mark hummed. “Do you think the 1^st Clan has clubs?”

Jaemin nodded. “The 1^st Clan has a lot of stuff from the time before the war. Like lined streets, cement buildings and underground tunnels. That’s what I’ve heard.”

Jaemin added the last part, but Mark thought he could see the awe in Jaemin’s eyes. As if he was seeing the buildings once again. The two of them didn’t talk that much after that, Jaemin’s fingers kept ghosting over the patch on his shoulder. Mark noticed that Jaehyun was lying down too. Ten was out looking for food with Haechan and Jeno.

  “Jaehyun.” Jaemin spoke carefully, eyes glancing the direction of Jaehyun. Mark’s eyes followed Johnny who was stirring something in a bowl, his long legs walking over to Jaehyun and taking a seat beside the other. Jaemin was smiling, but everything about his face showed more sorrow than happiness. “He’s infected.”

Mark ignored the pang in his heart. With gritted teeth he pushed himself up into a better sitting position, but he felt the tread holding his skin together being pulled at. He froze mid-way and found a better away to sit up. Jaemin watched him. “He’s been having problems with his heart for a long time.” Mark spoke. There was nothing to hide, everyone seemed to know by now. Jaemin seemed to know a lot about them.

  “And the infection seems to go right for the heart. I know you go through changes as soon as you wake up but… have you experienced other changes along the way?”

Mark frowned. “In what sense?”

  “Seen anyone who has been living with the decease for long?”

Mark thought of Lord Win. He thought of Taeyong too. Then he thought of the horns in Lord Win’s head… how they got there. “The one who was our leader in the clan… who we now don’t follow anymore after his… betrayal. He has horns coming from his head.”

Jaemin frowned. “Horns?”

  “Yeah. His skin seems to hug around the bottom, as if he actually did grow them himself.”

Jaemin opened and closed his mouth, but he didn’t speak. A silence seemed to fall upon them before Jaemin looked at Mark. “And you’re the leader now?”

Mark chuckled. “I guess.”

  “You defended me. I… sorry for passing out like that, I’m not really used to getting stabbed.” Mark couldn’t help but laugh, but had to stop himself because it hurt. Jaemin was grinning proudly. “You guys show a lot of dedication to someone as meaningless as I am.”

  “You’re not.” Mark assured the other boy. Mark eyed the quiet woods. He startled when Johnny put down the bowl harshly. It was still full of the soup and it spilled. Jaehyun raised a hand and his side. His back was now facing Johnny, and the taller stood up before storming out upon the bridge.

Mark couldn’t help but think of Taeyong. He knew he shouldn’t but… Taeyong had been right that there was something to worry about. Now he was back at the clan. Mark hoped he was doing the right thing. He couldn’t help but feel anxious though, as if something bad was going to happen. To whom he didn’t know, but it was not going to be easy.

Jaehyun had fallen asleep. He had been lying down for most of the day. Haechan was sitting by the other’s side, looking in Mark’s direction and wearing that worried frown. Jaemin had been accompanied by Jeno and Renjun and he fell asleep too just after dinner. The sun was getting low and it would grow darker. Ten was sitting with Yuta, he’d been by Mark’s side after he came back from hunting. They’d gotten a few birds, some pheasants that was made into a soup. The soup had warmed Mark’s body from the inside out and he felt as if his body had healed quickly, he wanted to get up but was advised not to by the others. “I saw the way you got beaten.” Johnny had said. “You may be Damned but Damned or not, your body needs rest.”
Mark, despite the others not wanting him to, got up and started walking around by the end of the day. He limped his way out of the place and ignored the worried glances and voices. A figure followed him and he didn’t even have to look at the other.

  “You should heal.” Haechan insisted, but instead of dragging Mark back, stood beside him and reached out an arm for Mark to hold onto. Mark smiled and glanced back at Ten whose eyes were running over Mark’s body as if reading his movements. Mark wanted to prove to the others that he would be okay and by lying down; he was only making them worry even more. Mark put a hand on Haechan’s arm and did use the other for support. “You really shouldn’t be walking.” Haechan added when he felt how much Mark needed his support. The Damned only stayed quiet and the two of them walked with the sun’s orange rays trying to get through the trees’ crowns before it would vanish once again.

  “It’s incredible though, how fast you heal.” Haechan wondered. “From what I learned in all the books from the time before the Last War, a heart beating slower means that your blood moves around much slower. How can you heal fast then?”

  “Blood?” Mark repeated. “I did go through school and all that, but I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”

  “Well, humanity loved studying themselves.” Haechan said. “If we had the time to not worry about surviving, we’d do that now too, but the Damned are not safe enough to study… Maybe…” Haechan stopped. “Somebody would definitely be studying the Damned.”

Mark was tired and used the tip of his fingers on his bandaged hand to scratch his forehead. “Doyoung studies dreams. Yuta studies the body of the Damned, how to heal wounds, how to break through Purgatory and all that .” Mark closed his eyes and felt Haechan step closer to him. The other’s hand was cool against his face. At least the swelling had gone down, maybe he looked a little bit decent.

  “Let me take you back.” Haechan spoke softly, it was almost a plea and Mark nodded in Haechan’s hand.

  “I want to get better fast.” He admitted and Haechan’s thumb caressed his cheek.

  “I know. We all know.” He assured Mark and the Damned chuckled. Maybe he shouldn’t hold back, it was… despite how much his heart wished for it not to happen… it was obvious who was going to live. Mark opened his eyes, looking into Haechan’s brown eyes and reaching up his good hand to push Haechan’s red bangs out of his face. The air was cool, but Haechan radiated with heat, his ears and cheeks glowing red. Mark smiled and let his hand settle on Haechan’s neck. He felt Haechan’s fingers brush down his cheek to his chin. The other’s eyes were following his fingers and Mark held his breath when the other came closer. Mark leaned in too. The sun’s rays found a spot to shine through and Mark and Haechan were bathed in its light on the bridge. Mark closed his eyes when he felt Haechan’s breath on his lips and even if his lips were bruised and his whole body hurting, it all vanished when he took the step closer, their heads coming closer a little faster than expected, and their lips meeting with more pressure than they wanted to.

Haechan released a muffled sound of surprise and Mark whispered against Haechan’s lips. “Sorry.”

Then he pressed a kiss to the other’s lips and his mind was clouding. His body felt alive and he felt so much affection for Haechan it was hard to breathe, to focus. Haechan blinked when Mark stepped away quickly.

He tried to focus his mind to just look at the ground, but there was so many emotions in his chest and all of sudden Haechan gasped and came closer.

  “Why are you crying?” He asked and Mark shook his head.

  “I’m not supposed to, I can’t control it.” He sobbed and Haechan smiled fondly. Mark couldn’t help but smile too and laughed through his tears and Haechan cupped Mark’s face.

  “I’m not supposed to either.” He admitted and Mark looked at the other in confusion. “To let myself… feel this.”

  “Then we’re two.” Mark smiled and sniffled. Haechan chuckled.

  “You’re kinda cute when you cry.”

  “Shut up.”

  “You cry a lot, actually.”

  “You try feeling these emotions; they’re intense.”

Haechan was leading Mark back now and the sun’s rays were gone. “They said you were most in control of your anger.”

Mark wiped his eyes in his sleeve. “I’m starting to think that it’s bull.”

  “Jeno aren’t even in control and he isn’t Damned. Mark. If you get angry and lose your , I’ll be there. I’ll kick your if you need me to.”

Mark laughed. “Please do.” He said and closed his eyes and leaned against Haechan who was strong enough to guide the two of them back to camp. Mark didn’t look in the direction of Jaehyun as he was helped to lie down beside Jaemin again. Haechan gave Mark a smile. His eyes were shining brightly even if the sun had set. Mark just realized; that was his first kiss.

Even if Haechan had already left to go talk to Renjun and Jeno, Mark felt a tingle in his stomach. He covered his mouth and stared at the way Jaemin’s chest rose and fell. He had kissed Haechan. Mark covered his face. What would the others think if they saw him grinning to himself like a fool?

A/N:

It's funny because when I wrote this I was like: BUT WHAT ABOUT JAEMARK??? And I had to take a moment to strangle my inner shipper and actually be professional and write like I've planned. Like who does my heart belong to? It's just with Mark. Mark is important and damn finally he gets to experience something good. 

Lol the readers of this story is a part of The Club of the Damned hahahaha I was laughing to myself when I wrote that, I also have no humor. 

Love,
Emma <3