Snakes and Dragons

Unedited, we die like soldiers

10k words

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It was dark out by the time Kim Namjoon finally walked out of his university.

His backpack was heavy, weighed down by the six thick textbooks he had checked out, and his face buried in the seventh.

He had a test tomorrow and was trying to prepare for it, despite the way his eyes were starting to close, a yawn pushing to escape.

He headed down the sidewalk to his dorm, finally closing the book with a sigh. Trying to read the small text under the streetlights wasn't working, and he knew it was late out.

He had to get to bed before he did something stupid, like oversleeping and missing the test worth half his grade.

He yawned into his hand, holding the book under one arm.

The night was quiet, and all he heard was the sound of his footsteps scraping against the sidewalk.

Until he heard something else.

The screech of tires taking a corner too sharply startled him, turning around to see a beat up red Toyota barreling down the black road.

Even though he was on the sidewalk, he still jumped back as the car braked to a halt in front of him, swerving onto the grass and cutting off his path.

What the hell? Was this that stupid fraternity getting drunk again? Namjoon would have to call the Dean again to report-

Four guys climbed out, wearing all black.

And masks.

But what scared Namjoon was the weapons they held in their hands: a metal bat, a taser, a 2 by 4 wrapped in barbed wire...and a gun.

He dropped the book, hands raising into the air as they calmly walked over, too stunned to plead for his life.

The one with the gun raised it and waved it at him flippantly. "You Kim Namjoon? The smart one?"

Namjoon didn't know what to say to that. Would they shoot him if he wasn't the guy they wanted? Would they shoot if he was the guy they wanted?

He stepped back as they continued forward.

"Don't run." One called. "I don't know how fast you are, but I know for damn sure you ain't faster than Jungkook's bullet."

Holy shit, did they just threaten to shoot him?

He blinked, heart pounding as he kept his hands raised up to his head, too panicked to think about what he should do.

They surrounded him now, all of them staring at him, keeping their weapons out for him to clearly see.

The one holding the gun at his side, Jungkook, tilted his head as he looked Namjoon up and down. "Are you Kim Namjoon or not?"

Cameras, weren't there cameras here? Had anyone seen? Sure it was late out, but it wasn't like everyone on campus was asleep. Had anyone seen and called the police or was he on his own?

Jungkook sighed at the lack of communication. "Check his bag. He's gotta have a student ID on him."

The one behind him suddenly grabbed Namjoon's backpack and the student flinched as it was yanked off.

"On your knees." Jungkook ordered, pointing the gun at him. "Hands on your head, come on."

Namjoon obeyed, not liking how casual the young boy was with the loaded gun.