the beginning: XXIX
The Theory of Life
XXIX
Moonbyul wakes up while Yongsun is sketching, she pushes herself off the ground, winces when her back protests and sinks back down again. Yongsun drops her pencil, rushing to Moonbyul’s side, carefully placing a hand on her back. The sergeant feels nothing, the touch is hollow, she can only feel Yongsun’s breath hot on her skin.
Words escape Yongsun’s mouth, questions about Moonbyul’s being, but Moonbyul does not listen, instead, she grips Yongsun’s hand in a desperate attempt to feel and rubs circles into the Yongsun’s skin as she chokes back a sob. Moonbyul does not have to be told to know, does not even have to look over her shoulder to learn that steel covers her back.
Moonbyul releases Yongsun’s hand and presses her forehead against the ground. She bites back a groan, clenches her jaw and lets the tears fall. Moonbyul knows what she has lost and feels inhuman. Yongsun goes to touch Moonbyul again, but the sergeant begins to violently shake and shiver before Yongsun is able to place a finger on her.
Humanity has gone mad, Yongsun tells herself as she watches Moonbyul writhe in her sleep, most likely plagued by nightmares. Encased in steel, separated from the outside, Yongsun sighs and thinks about her Theory of Life.
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