Chapter fifty eight

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The chaos of the mission slowly subsided, the sound of rapid footsteps and muffled voices fading into the background. Joshua was making his way toward the exit when something stopped him. A faint, broken whimper pierced through the dimly lit hallway. His heart skipped a beat. The room was further down the corridor, the door barely cracked open, but the sound reached him with unbearable clarity.

Without hesitation, his instincts took over. His feet moved faster, the click of his boots echoing in the silence. His hand reached for the door handle, and he pushed it open. Inside, the room was stark and cold, the walls lined with shadows. But it was the child in the corner that caught his attention.

A small girl, no older than two, huddled on the floor, her tiny body trembling. Her clothes were torn, her skin bruised and beaten. Her shoulder, especially, was marked with angry red welts. She looked up at him with wide, terrified eyes, wincing at every movement. The sight of her—so small, so vulnerable—shattered something inside of him.

Joshua’s heart cracked. The child’s pain radiated in the air, and he felt something deep within him snap. He couldn’t just leave her there. His breath hitched, his chest tight, as he moved toward her, every step hesitant yet determined.

“Hey, hey,” Joshua whispered softly, his voice barely a breath as he knelt beside her. She flinched at the sound of his voice but didn’t back away. Her eyes, large and innocent, locked onto his, and for a moment, the world outside the room ceased to exist.

He reached his hand out slowly, offering it to her, his fingers outstretched, not wanting to scare her. The girl looked at him, her tiny body trembling, but after a moment of hesitation, she took a step forward, each movement cautious as if she was preparing for another blow. Her small, bruised feet shuffled painfully toward him, wincing with every step.

Joshua’s heart ached, but he held his position, letting her come to him. When she finally reached him, he scooped her up gently in his arms, his hands cradling her small, fragile form. She winced slightly at the touch, but then collapsed against his chest, sobbing uncontrollably, her little hands clutching at his shirt.

Joshua held her tightly, his arms a safe haven for the broken child. His tears welled up, but he held them back, focusing on the girl in his arms. “Shh… It’s okay,” he whispered, brushing her hair back. “I’ve got you now. You’re safe.”

Her sobs echoed in the room, and Joshua felt his chest tighten as he kissed the top of her head softly, his lips lingering for a moment. His mind raced, his heart aching with a newfound need to protect her. He didn’t care what it took. He wasn’t leaving this child behind.

He pulled her close, holding her like she was the most precious thing in the world. She stopped crying for a moment and looked up at him, her blue eyes—wide and trusting—locked onto his. The bond between them was immediate, unspoken but undeniable. He leaned in and kissed her soft blue eyes, a gentle caress of affection that made his heart ache with love he hadn’t known he could feel.

She rested her head against his chest again, finally feeling the comfort of being held without fear. Joshua closed his eyes, letting the silence envelop them for a moment. He didn’t know what was going to happen next, but he knew this: the little girl in his arms would never suffer again.

“Shh, it’s okay,” he whispered again, smoothing her hair gently, as tears began to blur his vision.

The door creaked open, and Wonwoo stepped inside, his eyes immediately finding Joshua and the little girl in his arms. His usual calm demeanor faltered for a second as he took in the sight of Joshua cradling the broken child, his expression softening.

Joshua looked up at Wonwoo, his voice firm but filled with a tenderness that was foreign to him but felt so right in this moment. “She’s going to live with me.”

Wonwoo blinked, taken aback. “But Seokmin…”

Joshua’s gaze hardened slightly, his protective instincts flaring. He gave Wonwoo a look that silenced him immediately. The unspoken understanding passed between them—there was no arguing this. The decision had been made. The child needed him, and Joshua wasn’t backing down.

Wonwoo nodded, his eyes filled with a quiet respect for Joshua’s resolve. “Alright. I’ll tell Seokmin.” He knew that this was no longer just about the mission. This was personal.

Joshua tightened his grip on the girl in his arms, his fingers gently brushing against her bruised shoulder, his heart swelling with an overwhelming sense of protectiveness. The girl, still shaky but comforted by his embrace, relaxed slightly against him, her small hands clutching him as if he was the only thing keeping her from falling apart.

He kissed her forehead one last time, whispering softly, “You’re safe now, little one. I won’t let anything hurt you again.”

As they stood there in the quiet of the room, Joshua felt the weight of the responsibility settle on his shoulders. But for the first time in a long time, it didn’t feel like a burden. It felt like the beginning of something real. Something he wasn’t willing to let go of.

The mission was over, but a new chapter had just begun—one that Joshua was ready to face with the little girl who had already claimed a part of his heart.

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New character yall!
Oki what scenes would y'all like to see??

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