promise

𝟏𝟒

[ ❝ they won't ❞ ]

[Caution! Mentions of su!cide]

"They seem like they know more about this forest then us," Joonyoung contemplated after listening to Y/n and Kevin's explanation of the encounter. Everyone sat around the dinner table. Some were eating, some were anxiously listening, and some, rather, annoyed. Sunwoo sobered up after Joonyoung scolded him, and after he grasped what he said, he regretted every word that came out of his mouth. Though his courage to apologize to Kevin wasn't as present as his resentment.

"I say we avoid them for now, if they attack again, we'll negotiate if we can." Joonyoung resting his head on his hand, thinking about alternatives, "Our last resort is violence."

When Joonyoung announced the last phrase, everyone subtly glanced at Sunwoo and Kevin. The black haired boy lifted his hood over his head and crossed his arms. It reminded Y/n of the first time she met Sunwoo, the midnight black hair, the eyebags.

He still looked like a mess.

"When the time comes, we'll take turns getting water from the river. Luckily, in the book that Jisoo found, it shows how to filter the river water. Don't ever go without someone else and if you see or hear anything, come back immediately and tell us." Joonyoung added.

The group nodded. Ms. Ahn was the first to get up, heading upstairs and into her room in less than 5 seconds. Y/n noticed the difference in Ms. Ahn's attitude, she wondered if anyone else did. Y/n stood, ready to talk to Ms. Ahn, but Haknyeon blocked her from going up the stairs, obviously excited by his expression.

I guess Ms. Ahn can wait... Y/n thought.

"What is it Hak?" Y/n asked.

"I did it! I finished the boots!" Haknyeon exclaimed, handing her the shoes he took two days before.

"What do you mean you finished the boots? What did you do to them?" Y/n asked, examining the footwear.

"Just put them on and you'll see." Haknyeon said impatiently.

Y/n walked towards the couch and sat down, untying her current over-sized shoes and slipping on the boots. They definitely felt bulkier than usual as she tied the laces. Y/n stood up, waiting for Haknyeon to tell her what to do.

"Okay, so you should feel a small button right under you big toe, press it with your whole body weight."

Y/n lifted her heel onto the balls of her feet and pressed the button. Y/n jumped in shock at the small blades that protruded from the toe of the shoe. "Oh wow..."

"There's blades on the back as well, just put your full body weight on your heel and the blades will come out. To put them back in, just press the button again." Haknyeon explained.

"Hak, this is so cool! But, I have one more question," Y/n retracted the shoe blades, "How'd you get my weight correct?"

"I asked Joonyoung." Haknyeon shrugged.

Chanhee called Haknyeon over to get something to eat, leaving Y/n alone. Immediately, Y/n decided to have a talk with Ms. Ahn, she's been quiet recently and she wasn't her usual caring and strict self.

Y/n walked up the stairs, everyone but Ms. Ahn was on the first floor, so Y/n was going to be alone with her. She wasn't amazing at comforting, much less confrontation, but she just wanted to make sure.

Opening the door to Ms. Ahn's bedroom, her hair was tousled by a small gust of cold wind. Y/n walked inside, looking around in the dark room. Her shoes made contact with the bed and she felt around. Her hands felt a lump of cloth, thinking Ms. Ahn was sleeping. Y/n didn't want to wake her up, but she was worried sick for her. 

She walked back to the entrance of the room and flicked the light switch. The whole room glowed with the new found light, making Y/n squint her eyes. Adjusting her sight, she saw that she was correct.

Ms. Ahn was sleeping.

Y/n smiled in relief and was ready to wake her up. She noticed a glass of water by her table, did she get it from the tap? There was a small bottle next to it,  that Y/n recognized almost immediately.

Antidepressants.

"Why would she need-" Y/n stopped in her tracks, looking over at the limp figure. "Ms. Ahn?" Y/n attempted to shake her.

She continued to shake the limp body, and pulled the covers off Ms. Ahn's shoulders, revealing her pale arms. Y/n hesitated to touch her, and she didn't know why. It was almost like Ms. Ahn was a fragile piece of glass, ready to break apart once anything laid upon it.

Y/n's gaze shifted to the bottle of pills again, it was a see-through orange, and there was nothing.

There were no pills left in the bottle.

"M-Ms. Ahn?.." Y/n's voice cracked. 

It felt like she was frozen, unable to think as she realized Ms. Ahn wasn't moving at all. 

She wasn't breathing.

The thumping of her own heartbeat rattled in her ears, almost blocking the sound of her breath quickening. Her shaking hand lifted up, hesitating. Did she really want to know if Ms. Ahn was dead? Or could she leave the room pretending it never happened.

Her mind wanted to choose the latter, it would've been better for her sanity. But her hand moved on it's own, almost brushing the porcelain skin of Ms. Ahn's arm. She wanted to pull back, walk out of the room, pretend this wasn't happening. She wanted to sit on the couch and watch as Ms. Ahn descended from the stairs. Y/n wanted to see her smile again.

The tears wanted to spill, but they didn't. Her tears had ran out, and all she felt in her heart was shock, sorrow.

And guilt.

Y/n was the one who agreed on bringing the pills. She could've said no, saying they were of no use, but, seeing how much they cost, she couldn't just waste them. What was she thinking? What would they even use that for? Why did she agree on bringing it? She felt so stupid to let something like this happen, she should've said something, she should've been there for her.

Her hand was laid gently on Ms. Ahn's arm.

It was cold.

Y/n's other hand connected to her mouth. She was completely silent.

"W-Why..." was all she could say as she gently turned her over. She felt all she could do was scream.

Maybe her screams could bring her back.

Her throat burned as she slid down to the side of the bed. Her hand shakily reached for her neck. Two fingers laid right under her jaw.

No pulse.

She felt nothing at that moment. She didn't know what to feel. The fingers used to check Ms. Ahn's pulse laid limp on the teacher's still chest. No breath, no pulse, no warmth.

And it was all Y/n's fault.