Triumph The Dreams // a Dreamcatcher Story

Chapter 16

"Are you sure this is the way?"

"I'm not sure, the shifts are coming soon and its messing the place up."

JiU kept waving off the fog behind Dami as she leads the way. It was not looking good, Dami could feel it. From all the months she spent in this world, there was a link with her and the changes. Something was about to happen and they knew it in their instincts. They had to be fast and cautious.

The absence was deafening, but something about this atmosphere made it feel as if there was some mysterious presence. The cold sweat dripped down JiU's fingertips. Foggy breaths going about them both, being there for a moment then gone. Something felt spiky on her spine, something crawling up and sending chills everywhere --- a presence. JiU peeked back behind, immediately proving her theory.

"JiU unnie, I.. I don't know w-where the bus is," Dami hesitated, rocking her body back and forth as she tried to accept reality. "I-I knew it was here b-but---"

"Dami, we've got bigger things to deal with." JiU tapped her back and pointed out the dark shadow. Eyes shaking, veins shivering, their heartbeats were exaggerated even more. "Run."

As if a drum hit a loud note, their bodies jerked and ran. Cowardly, their blood pumped from their toes through their brains. All the remix of their hustling steps sunk into the sound of the snow piles scattered through a parking lot where the bus used to stand on. "They're getting closer!" shouted one of the two who was now ahead, unable to tell with the fog. "Dami! Take my hand!"

Dami ran faster even with the freezing cold atmosphere affecting her movements. JiU knew that only one of them could escape without harm. "Dami, promise me you'll get out. No matter what."

"What do you mean?"

"Just promise me!"

The footsteps behind became louder and the eerie vibe felt like it was screaming. Dami, confused and rushed, promised. The terrain suddenly shifted downwards, giving them a few moments to catch their breathes as they fall on the moist soil. Quickly taking this opportunity, JiU placed her own bracelet on Dami's wrist and pressed the center of it to activate the escape route. "Go now!"

"This is your bracelet! I can't leave you here!"

"You promised me! No matter what!"

"Unnie!"

"I'll be fine! It's you that I care about. You'll be safe out there, someone's going to get you."

A shadow then poured over them both and incoming was the very same being chasing them about the place. "I said go!" Fearfully, Dami involuntarily went as she blinked, leaving JiU behind within the hands of the enemy.

➳

Namjoon tapped his foot repeatedly with his hands on the blueprint of the machine. "Where'd you get this core by the way?"

"The government lent it to me.. Why?" Jin questioned as if it had no importance by sipping a cup of his coffee. "Was that all they've got?"

"Well, yeah." Jin took a bite of his biscuit. Namjoon scribbled yet again on the copy of the core piece. "Jin, take a look at this." He brought the piece of paper into his hands and rolled it for Jin to observe. "It's.. Incompatible?"

"I'm not doubting your skills but I think you miscalculated. I guess you thought that the situation in there won't be that big of an issue but.. Something is going in there and we can't control it, not with this core at least."

"Can we get a better one?"

"Not in time, no." Namjoon sighed and relaxed his hands to hang in the pockets. "We can only hope the core stays stable until they all get each other out."

"Sir," a soft voice interrupted, "another one's awake."

They burst out the door, heading towards the infirmary. The atmosphere suddenly felt alarming and fearful. He could see the dilation of the pupils, the red veins crawling in even though she was already calmer than when she came out. "What happened?" Jin interrogated softly. "You need to get them out. Something.. Something's coming for them. Y-You need to send someone down there!"

"I'll go," a firmly insisted, hoarse but clear. "Gahyeon?" Dami blurted out when Gahyeon, weak and fatigued, entered the conversation. "Siyeon, JiU, and Yoohyeon's not awake yet, I reckon that something is holding them back and someone's gotta get to Yoohyeon." Gahyeon walked towards Dami's bed. Jin again looked up at Dami and softly asked again, "What happened in there?"

Dami began to explain everything while her vitals were being checked. Most of her words were brief and simple, but clearly, her eyes could tell everything. She finished off slowly and hesitantly with the statement, "JiU gave up her bracelet for me." Dami sighed within the silence of the room after that. Following that stagnant silence, the doors broke open and in an immediate matter, the fellow went to Jin's ear and whispered. His breathing patterns changed into a more intensive one and his eyes crinkled a bit. He thanked the other and cleared the room, leaving only Gahyeon, Dami and himself.

"Siyeon and JiU are comepletely lost too," he uttered, stroking his hair back in frustration, standing up to leave the room. "Gahyeon, I don't know if you're in your right mind but are you sure?" he asked again slowly.

"Yes. I'm not losing my members again."

Jin had a small smirk, eyes squinting a bit. "Then let's get you set."