Kill the Lights - Chapter 21.5

Kill the Lights by Jangryang
Proofreader/Editor: Kaima, Hwarang



“This is in front of the secluded storage in Temple City where Noah and Haley were held hostage. Few moments ago, we heard that Noah and Haley were safely rescued-, Ahh, wait! The storage door is opening! Wonder who it is! -Is that Haley?”

The reporter said urgently not caring whether the camera followed her or not and ran close to the yellow line. Just like she said, the storage door soon opened and from inside, paramedics emerged with a black haired man on the stretcher. Countless reporters and cameramen were covering it, so it was unclear, but the white face was pretty familiar.

“Haley! It’s Haley Lusk! Haley is rescued!”

The reporter shouted at the camera, and the cameras started flashing like crazy. Hundreds of cameras were busily taking pictures of Haley being carried over to the ambulance.

“He’s being carried in a stretcher, did he get hurt? -Pardon? A gunshot wound?”

The reporter, who overheard the other reporters that was standing near the ambulance shout, opened her eyes wide and asked back.

“A gunshot wound, oh no! What happened in there? Is Noah okay?”

As she spoke to the camera, there was a loud cheer from behind her. The cheers that sounded amazed and happy made her turn around with excitement.

“Oh, God!”

‘God, God, thank you!’ she cheered. Just like she predicted, Noah Raycarlton emerged from the storage with the help of his secretary, Phil Hepson. Just like how the world wanted, Noah was walking out into the people’s embrace, alive.

Noah, who walked out with a bandage wrapped around his arm, was pale, but he didn’t look frightened. He was drenched in sweat and blood, but Noah was still beautiful and appeared sleek.

His mother Kelly Rebecca ran to him and hugged him, and there was Edgar Raycarlton and George Raycarlton. His grandfather on his mother’s side, who was a minister, and countless other people who loved Noah were waiting to greet him.

“Noah! Are you okay?”

“What happened to the criminals?”, “Is that a gunshot wound on your arm?”, “What does Haley have to do with this incident?”

“Is it your mother that you want to see the most?”

“Noah! Look here! Mr. Raycarlton!”

When he walked out to ride the ambulance, reporters swamped him with questions and flashes. The bodyguards blocked them, but they were stubbornly throwing questions and took pictures nonstop.

“Noah! Please say one sentence!”

They knew Noah wasn’t in a situation to given an interview, but they were all desperate to publish an article from his words.

And during all this, a man was pushed past the yellow line by the reporters behind him and ended up standing in front of Noah.

“…-,”

As soon as that small-time reporter trespassed the yellow line, everybody fell silent and soon the police and bodyguards approached him to push him outside of it.

“Uhh,”

That reporter probably felt like he had to say something while being pushed by the bodyguards and waved his hands at Noah.

“No, Noah!”

Because of the voice anxiously calling him, Noah, who was climbing into the ambulance, stopped and turned around. The reporter didn’t miss the opportunity and asked desperately.

“Noah! Is your body okay? Mm., many people are watching the T.V., worried about you-…,”

When Noah stopped, the bodyguards also stopped pushing him. Noah smiled lightly at the reporter.

“Thank you for worrying about me. I am very fine.”

Because of that smile, the reporter forgot to ask the next question and hesitated. Again the bodyguards started to push him, but he struggled and said.

“It, it looks like you have a gunshot wound, is that right? Was there a fight with the abductors? How did you get out?”

‘What happened?’ The reporter cried out, and Noah smiled like a sigh. The reporters murmured because of that smile, which was like he felt coincidental but at the same time relieved. Soon Noah opened his lips.

“He saved me.”

Continued Noah, “He saved me from the abductors and got shot.”

“Wha, what do you mean he? Who are you talking about? Perhaps…-,”

Everyone thought of the face of a man with a gunshot wound, being carried away on a stretcher in an ambulance. Murmur, Haley Lusk saved Noah? People reacted strongly.

“That’s right. If it wasn’t for him, if it wasn’t for Haley, I’d probably be dead.”

‘Ah, I’d definitely be dead.’ -Noah mumbled and raised his head. The reporter, who was being pushed away by the bodyguards, got tossed outside of the yellow line, but managed to ask.

“Lastly, one word. Anything will be fine, so…”

Noah scanned the crowd that was confused by his statement that, ‘Haley Lusk saved Noah and got shot.’

At his gaze, the countless reporters, who were anxiously waiting for a word that could be the next headline, stopped the bustle.

“-..right now, I want to see him very much. –I finally feel like I’m alive.”

Noah gave a pained smile and got into the ambulance.

Bam, the ambulance doors were closed and the vehicle left, with its siren on.

Everyone who had a camera burst into flashes and yelled at Noah for one more word; they were clamoring at what had just happened.

Zii that came in very first and the police who came a step behind and as well as Noah’s secretary, Phil, organized the area.

Soon the briefing began.

***



{…Following the joint briefing by Zii, the police and the Raycarlton family, we’ve confirmed that the criminals found themselves suicidal after missing their chance with Noah and Haley. In the absence of a perpetrator, the cops have no choice but…-}

Noah pressed a button and changed the channel where the briefing was being continuously aired, making him sick.

{Wow, who would have thought? He, who was the scapegrace of Hollywood, is now no different than a superhero!}

There was a screenshot of Haley following Noah and forcefully getting into the car to save him. There was a close-up of his hand getting jammed between the car doors, followed by him talking to the scary abductors without even caring about his bleeding hand. The abductors looked panicky and Haley was holding Noah’s hand in the car. –Although it was a blurry video, what happened in front of a dozen cameras, was being broadcasted on television and news, as if it were edited like a movie, to the last detail.

{‘-…Right now, I really want to see him. –I finally feel like I’m alive.’}

Including Noah’s earnest and tender confession. -It wasn’t even a movie, but the ending was more moving than that of a movie.

{Of course, movies, dramas, CFs, and fashion masters as well as countless industrial representatives were sending love calls to Haley. Unfortunately, he is admitted in the hospital with a gunshot wound on his leg and hasn’t regained his consciousness yet..}

Noah changed the channel several more times and turned off the T.V. He turned around.

In front of him Haley, no, Mason was lying on the bed with his eyes closed. Noah stared at him for a while then lifted his hand that was holding Mason’s and stroked it on his face.

“…-Wake up soon.”

‘Because I miss you.’ Noah mumbled and saw Mason moving his eyebrows as if in reply and smiled sweetly.

When he opens his eyes, it will be completely different from the lonely life of ‘Mason Taylor’ who lived as Zii’s tool or the life of scapegrace ‘Haley Lusk’ who was treated like a rag; a new world will open up to him.

“So wake up fast.”

Wake up and answer me. Noah whispered lowly, beseeching him.

“Mason-…”

Mason. Mason-… Just as if in reply to Noah’s call, his eyelashes trembled softly, and slowly his eyes opened.

* * *




Opening my eyes, I felt similar to waking up in Haley’s body, but only better. A fresh breeze softly swayed my hair, and I heard a quiet sound from afar. The feeling of wrong radio frequency was worse than before. However, this time, there was a noise coming from a television for real, but it was soon turned off.

Mason, who had closed his eyes in agony imagining that Noah had died alone in misery, now felt the fresh smell of grass and breeze on his cheeks and thought, ‘I really am dead.’

He didn’t miss it. Had he survived after Noah dying like that, his body would somehow thrive, but not his heart. Just like the last time, he might have left to Afghan after taking some medication…. Going to Afghan with Haley’s weak body? Even if he didn’t die from getting shot, he would be dead in four days because of some other reason.

Good, it turned out like this then. -Mason calmly accepted the world after death and was lost in thought when he felt a warm and soft sensation on back of his hand.

Wake up fast. He felt Noah’s sweet voice caress his ear. …. There was no way. Did we meet in the afterworld, since we are both dead?

“…..Mason.”

Mason slowly opened his eyes when he heard Noah’s call. For a moment, the world appeared blurry, but as he frowned, it soon came into focus.

The first thing he saw was the beautiful Noah’s face.

“…-,”

Mason slowly looked around. A luxurious room, he couldn’t tell if it was a hospital room or someone’s bedroom. White sunlight and a soft breeze were pouring in through the window. The warm smell of sunlight and grass–

He couldn’t tell if it was real or the afterworld or may be even a dream.

Mason slowly looked up at Noah, who was looking at him like he was going to cry anytime soon.

Why does he have that kind of expression? Is it because he died while feeling lonely by himself and got scared again? Mason raised his hand, feeling pity and sadness. He wanted to stroke Noah’s cheek, but before that, there was another hand holding his.

Noah was holding his hand.

“…-.”

Mason saw the trembling back of Noah’s hand and gasped.

Ahhh. This is real.

Noah was alive. He couldn’t tell what happened, but he was sure of that one thing. No matter what else, Mason was okay after knowing that. Damn everything else, he felt good.



“-…Mason.”

Mason lifted his head again at the trembling voice of Noah.

He called for Mason not Haley. Mason saw a tear roll down from Noah’s beautiful eyes and smiled slightly.

“…-Yes.”

‘Yes, Noah.’ -The voice was a little hoarse, but this time he could answer.

It was the answer he had wanted to give for a while.




<Kill the Lights – Fin>