Perilous

Chapter 41 - Orchestral Corruption

All of the students who had run for cover in the shelter, were gathered around the large underground hall in an uproar of confusion and passionate arguments.

"What's happening outside?"

"Is everything over?"

"What caused the explosions?"

A copy of Seokjin tried to ease the students and their questions as much as he could, but it became more and more overwhelming.

And at the moment of absolute chaos, the group from the outside were the last to enter the bunker, causing everyone's heads to turn.

"Taehyung...!" Jungkook was the first to call the name, running toward him desperately to bring him into a safe embrace. "We were all so worried about you!"

"I'm fine," Taehyung breathed out, glancing around. "Is everyone else here?"

"Yes, all of our classmates other than the mentors and A-Rank students should be here," AleXa told Taehyung while fixing up some wounds on students nearby. "No one has gotten worse than hospital injuries that can be fixed."

"Then...please help her. She was at the main location of the first explosion," Hoseok explained, handing over Yoojung to AleXa who examined her suit over her injuries. Her eyebrows furrowed, "are you a cyborg?"

Yoojung shook her head, and AleXa hummed. Once Taehyung stepped forward to explain, it seemed AleXa begun to touch around the suit knowingly.

"I thought so. Luckily for you, I recognize these machines. I can get this off of you, but I can't promise it won't pinch," AleXa explained, causing both Taehyung and Yoojung to let out a shaky breath.

"As long as it doesn't kill me, I don't mind a pinch," Yoojung gulped, trying to make a joke out of the moment—but AleXa already seemed too focused and intrigued.

"How did you even get into this?"

"That's a story for another time. Right now, I need to find Song," Taehyung dismissed. "Is he here somewhere?"

"Upstairs. Jackson refused to let him come into the bunker with everyone else, saying he needed personal space," Yoongi told Taehyung. "But he's safe."

"I need to go to him," Taehyung almost left, but Yoongi grabbed his wrist. "Hey—wait. You just got down here, it's too dangerous to leave right now."

"He's right, you haven't even been checked up on yet," Jisoo agreed. "Even if you're a destined hero you aren't invincible—"

"Can we just—-not do this right now?" Taehyung's voice raised slightly, holding up his hand and cuffing it into a small fist in irritation. "I need to get Song down here where it's safe. Chaeah, open a portal."

"But, Tae....it's really not safe. Song is strong enough to handle himself up there," Chaeah was the third to argue. "You..."

"I'm what?" Taehyung turned around. "I-I'm not strong enough?" his voice croaked in growing frustration.

"Of course you're strong enough..." Solbi argued. "You are...after what happened you aren't stable just yet."

"They're right, Taehyung," Jungkook attempted to grab his hand, only for the older to jerk it back. "The last thing you need is for another tragedy to happen—"

"Right, because there's never been a time in my life where there hasn't been some horrible thing to happen to me!" Taehyung snapped, starting to shout which caused all of the group to perk up in shock. "No matter what I do I end up being the one in the wrong, r-right? Is that what you all think? Do you all think I'm...crazy?"