Chapter Text
Jason’s POV:
I was driving back from a meeting in a company, which ordered a cybersecurity audit from us, and out of every company I have ever done that to, this one was absolutely the worst. Their cybersecurity policies reminded me of Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards in my first holiday’s job, where it was pretty much non-existent. It was surprising to me that this company hasn’t been compromised yet, but according to my boss, it was going to change relatively soon considering that they demanded us to prove their servers were badly configured.
I laughed silently while driving my metallic white car and switching the radio music to something more enjoyable. Authorized penetration tests were something I absolutely enjoyed, the only thing surpassing it being social engineering, which always made me gleeful when I could make people give me their logging credentials on a silver platter. Frankly speaking, I would be surprised if this company’s protection would be more difficult than Capture The Flag challenges I used to do for fun with our university club when I was still studying a few years ago.
I continued driving until navigation began warning me about an enormous traffic jam around four kilometers, which according to it, would increase my travel time by around three hours. With a grimace on my face, I decided to unwillingly take an alternative road, while the navigation began guiding me through the most destroyed, obscure routes I have ever seen. There were more holes in these roads than in a Swiss cheese, and it seemed like nobody in the administration bothered with fixing these anytime soon.
To make the matters worse, this was my first time driving through this area, so I had absolutely no idea what else was waiting for me, and the goddamn navigation kept seemingly randomly changing the paths, apparently finding a slightly more optimal way for me. So optimal in fact, that after around fifteen minutes it started leading me through a forest only to suddenly stop working somewhere in the middle due to a lack of connection.
Furiously I hit my left leg three times with my fist and moved my hands across my face, stretching my eyelids before I turned off the radio and got out of my car, visibly displeased from this turn of events. I looked around and didn’t see any paths which I could take except for turning back. Once again I cursed at the navigation, which was supposed to show me a faster route and help me avoid the traffic jam, but instead decided to throw me in the middle of nowhere.
I looked around at the blossoming forest, knowing that it was two seasons too early to try and get some mushrooms, nevertheless admiring the view. After a few minutes of looking around in order to calm down my nerves I was about to open the door and re-enter my car, when I suddenly started hearing shots in a distance. Almost immediately, I dived to the ground, with a cold sweat running down my spine, as I covered my head with my arms and began terrifyingly looking around, only to be greeted with no living person in sight.
I began breathing in and out way faster than normally, as it didn’t sound like a hunter was trying to kill a deer or another animal. It was a few rounds of constant fire, thankfully relatively far away from me, and I didn’t think I wanted to find out what exactly was going on over there. Just as I was about to enter my car, drive out of whatever was happening in this forest, and then call the police, I started hearing groans and then saw a nine-tailed fox rushing from behind the trees, limping on one of its legs, while fresh, crimson blood was dropping from the wound.
Multiple thoughts came to my mind, including who the hell was shooting at a fox so many times and still only managed to hit its leg, and how in the world this fox had nine tails. I could only assume that it was a weird, genetic mutation, but after recalling old Japanese and Korean legends, I lost my confidence in it.
At first I wanted to enter the car, slam the door, and escape as far as I could, not risking my luck and life finding out if these myths were true, or if this fox had some genetic mutation. However, after taking a look at it and seeing how badly wounded it was, I felt terrible at trying to leave it to it’s own demise, knowing that there was no chance for it to survive, especially with hunters possibly getting closer. It could barely move and the wound itself not only was bleeding, but was also dirty from all the soil around us. Not only that, I could also see its broken claws, which meant that even if it was indeed a fox spirit, she still wouldn’t stand a chance of survival. Without even thinking about it, I made my decision. I made a quick and silent prayer to my guardian angel to protect me in case things went sour, swiftly approaching the fox, grabbed it, put it on the seat next to me, and then drove as fast and as far away as I could.
My heart was beating as if it tried it break out of my chest, while I continued driving until we got out of the forest. Just as we entered a semi-normal road again, the navigation turned back on and displayed yet another route, apparently even faster than the previous one. I looked at it with disapproval and begrudgingly drove in the direction it pointed me to. With one hand I tried to pull out some tissues from my pocket and try to stop the fox’s bleeding without it biting me, until it suddenly snatched them out of my hand and began using it as a bandage on its leg before looking at me and saying:
- Just drive, I will explain everything when we get to safety. These guys shoot first and then ask questions.
I did as she said and didn’t say a word. What was I even supposed to say? The goddamn navigation drove me into a forest, just in time to rescue a wounded kitsune or a kumiho, I didn’t know yet where she was from, while my entire brain suddenly divided into three sections; one of which wanted me to stop the car, jump out of it and run the hell away, the other wanted to ask questions, and the third just wanted to drive as far away from that place as possible and then do one of the two remaining options.
After driving for around half an hour, when I also told the fox where I kept a bottle of disinfectant fluid, so she could prevent an infection, the navigation finally brought me back to the highway, from where I already knew the way back home. At the same time, I was wondering if driving back there with another passenger would be a good idea, so I decided to start asking her some questions.
- Okay, I think we should be safe now, so I think you owe me some explanations. - I spoke confidentially, while she nodded in approval.
- I guess that would be fair. What do you want to know?
- Who are you, who was hunting you, and why?
- Who…? - She asked with a laughter, which made shivers run down my spine, while her predatory eyes started staring into mine. - I think the more appropriate question should be “What are you?”.
- No, because the word “What” refers to inanimate objects. You, by all means are a sentient and sapient person, so the correct word is indeed “Who”. - I replied with a slight smirk on my face, even though I knew my definition was probably far from being correct.
- Fine, fine… - She said while rolling her eyes. - I am a kumiho if that’s what you want to know.
Of course… Just my luck that the nine-tailed fox I have found is eating livers for lunch. And probably breakfast too. I started considering jumping out of the car, but abandoned this idea when I realized I was driving 140 km/h on the high-way.
- Now who was hunting me and why… That is a difficult topic to explain… Let’s just say that these guys aren’t a big fan of those who have unnatural abilities…
- It barely narrows the number of groups who could do that. You need to be more specific. - I responded which made her slightly groan.
- Fine, fine… They call themselves the GOC; I don’t know if that helps you or not.
- Global Occult Coalition? - I asked her back almost immediately. - Aka those connected to the United Nations or something like that?
- How in the world do you know who they are? - She spoke confused, before going silent in order to continue treating the wound on her leg.
- I used to sit in a specific fandom long time ago. - I said and recalled the good, old days. - My friend actually used to write SCP fanfictions in the past, and…
Just as I said that, I immediately went silent, as I realized something very important. She knew very well whom these people were, and thus she must have also known who the Foundation was. And there was only one SCP in Foundation’s cell, who was also a kumiho. Putting two and two together, I realized that a keter class SCP responsible for God knows how many deaths was sitting right next to me in a car.
Cold sweat began running down my spine once again and as I gulped, a thought of slamming the breaks immediately went through my mind, until she suddenly snapped and started yelling at me:
- If you do that we are both going to die! Are you crazy or what?!
- Why are you reading my mind?! - I screamed back and continued driving, with my hands shaking like a jello, and my heart beating way faster than it should have.
- Because you stopped talking and I saw your reaction! Yes I am a keter, so shut the hell up and drive befo-
She started groaning again and, from what I could see, the tissues I gave her were already soaked with blood.
- You won’t make it out alive with the GOC hunting you… Especially with such a nasty wound slowing you down…
- Yes, captain obvious, I realized that already… But we are already far enough, so just drop me when we leave the high-way, and we will both go our ways. - She replied before looking away.
- They will find you, sooner or later. You cannot hide from them… - I said and I could see that she started looking through the car’s window, most likely considering her own chances of survival. Why are they hunting you though? Did the Foundation send them after you or…
- No, they simply found out I managed to run away from the Foundation and decided, that as good allies, they will help them terminate me. Honestly? If Foundation found me then at least I would not die, but I have absolutely no idea how to contact them.
- Yeah, and asking online most likely won’t help. - I replied with a laughter, which made her chuckle.
- Probably not. Still, I know how to hide myself, so I will be fine.
- Not until your wound heals…
- It will take a few weeks at most, no matter the form. My wounds always heal.
I thought for a moment and an idea came to my mind. A stupid idea, a terrible one which could probably get me killed, but I have decided to take the gamble, as I didn’t want to leave her to die.
- What if I hide you at my place? - I asked while she turned her head in confusion. - I have a spare guestroom which I could give to you, and you could hide in there for those few weeks until your wounds heal.
- Sounds… Too good to be true… - She coldly replied. - Where is the catch?
- The catch is that you cannot hurt or kill anyone or anything, including me.
- I think you forgot about something… I need to eat livers in order to survive, so…
- There is a butcher’s shop not too far away from where I live. - I responded instantaneously. - I can easily get some beef or pork livers in there.
She started thinking about the offer while I slowly drove the car closer to my neighbourhood, and thus my home. I could already recognize the area pretty well, and just as I drove into my street, she looked at me and reluctantly asked:
- Before I agree… Do you have any dogs at home?
- Nope. But I have a Bengal Cat, who probably will be more than happy to meet you.
She looked at the area and at the house we drove to and without hesitation replied:
- Deal. I promise that I won’t hurt nor kill anyone nor anything during that period of time and an additional two weeks after that. - She spoke before extending to me one of her healthy paws.
- Then make yourself at home. The name is Jason by the way. - I replied before shaking it.
- Gyeong, nice to meet you Jason.