Just Like That | Chapter 7

  A loud honking noise startled both dogs, the mutt releasing his grip on the sweater to look in the direction of the sound. Cheonsa was unable to move, her head falling heavily on the snow-covered ground with a thud. Out of the corner of her eye she saw twin lights fast approaching, a plan forming in her head as she realized her attacker was paralyzed with fear. Heaving herself suddenly she threw him off and took off across the street. Her stomach lurched as she heard the car screech on its brakes and a sharp yelp was cut off with a sickening crack. Not turning back, she didn't stop until she reached the shelter of a fallen oak at the edge of the ditch.

She sat down heavily, shuddering with cold and grief. She had lost Ryeowook's scent in her flight and she was sure nobody had found the wreckage. She howled, desperate and without hope, knowing she had just sealed the fate of her saviour, her protector...and,she finally admitted, the love of her life. There was no denying that now; he made her feel whole after her heart had been ripped in two. He had loved her, confided in her, trusted her with his life and she had failed. She had let him down...she was unable to keep her promise to him now. She stopped howling, bowing her head and waiting for either the extreme cold or severe blood loss to kill her.

At first she thought she was hearing things, then she tried to ignore it, thinking it was her fate mocking her by bringing up the happy memory. But after a minute she realized it wasn't an illusion; the faint melody of 'One Fine Spring Day' echoed in the silent night. Renewed hope flushed all sorrow from her veins,her heart pumping with renewed energy. Quickly she perked her uninjured ear up, scanning the surrounding horizon until she found where it was coming from the strongest. Dodging loose rocks and dead grass she followed the angelic sound of Ryeowook's voice through the dark. Thorny bushes tore at her fur but she fought them, scratching her body immensely and tasting fresh blood again. But she perservered, and soon broke through the foliage and came face to face with the wrecked vehicle. In all the commotion Cheonsa hadn't realized the car was still running, surprising because the entire exterior was totaled. The radio still blared, and Cheonsa almost started howling with happiness.
   
  Without a second thought Cheonsa started prying the door of the drivers side away with her teeth and claws; she noticed with horror two bloody stumps where a couple of her claws had been ripped out. She must not have felt it, her paws too numb from the freezing temperatures. With a pop the door opened, then crashed to the ground as it came unhinged. Ryeowook was still slumped sideways in the seat, but when Cheonsa licked his limp hand he moaned feebly. Tugging his sweater Cheonsa pulled him from the car. Latching her jaws onto his padded shoulder she pulled him towards the edge of the ditch, under an overhanging dead willow. She stood over him, noticing his breathing was shallower than before, his inhales sharp and his exhales ragged. If he didn't get help soon...
  
  Cheonsa summoned the last of her strength and slunk back to the car. It was still rumbling, the signal to the radio now reduced to white noise. Cheonsa leapt into the car, putting her teeth against the radio and tugging it free with all her might. The night became quiet once more as sparks flew,knocking Cheonsa out of the car with a thud. She watched as live wires still crackled in the interior before moving under the car. Scenting the strong smell of gasoline, Cheonsa found the hose that pumped the strong smelling liquid into the car. Biting the hard rubber she wrenched until it snapped in two, gagging as the bitter liquid spilled into her mouth and unto the ground. Careful not to get any in her fur she crawled out from under the car and took off back to Ryeowook. With a look back over her shoulder she had to squint as a sudden orange blaze lit the night; the car had ignited from the flammable gasoline mixing with the heated sparks of the radio wires. The heat was intense, but Cheonsa couldn't put her or Ryeowook anywhere near the poisonous fumes.
   
  Going back to wear Ryeowook's tattered form lay, Cheonsa snuggled against him in a last effort to keep him from freezing to death. The wind swirled snow around the pair as they lay together. Cheonsa could feel herself slipping away into unconsciousness, so she positioned herself on Ryeowook's chest; the last sound she wanted to hear was his heartbeat. Instead, he reached a hand to lay it on her head.

"You're a good girl,Cheonsa...saranghae~..." he whispered weakly. Cheonsa wagged her tail feebly before the black fog in her mind overtook her completely.