Don't Fade Away *Taekook Short Stories*

Mr.Kim ...

The night was young, but the air was thick with anticipation. A sharp drop in temperature accompanied the biting breeze of mid-monsoon, yet sweat trickled down his forehead, betraying the anxiety gnawing at him.

He sat on the edge of his bed, foot tapping nervously, his whole body tense. The wait was agonizing, each second stretching longer than the last. When the door creaked open, and the silhouette of his hyung appeared in the dim light, he jumped to his feet.

"Hyung...!" His voice cracked with both relief and fear.

"Shh," his hyung hushed him, urgency lacing his voice. "Through the backdoor. You remember the plan, right?"

He nodded, but his voice wavered. "I'm scared."

His hyung pulled him into a tight hug, holding him close. "We got this. Just remember to call, okay?"

He clung to his hyung, the fear of the unknown making it hard to let go. But he did, slipping out into the night as planned, his heart pounding. The familiar streets now seemed like a maze, each turn filled with potential danger. His breath came in short gasps as he finally spotted the car waiting for him.

He flung open the door and slid inside, hands trembling as he started the engine. The car roared to life, and he sped off, the slick roads offering little grip. The rain hammered the windshield, a relentless torrent that matched the storm raging inside him. Every nerve was on edge as he glanced in the rearview mirror, the headlights closing in.

Damn it. They're onto us.

Fear clawed at his chest, threatening to choke him. His knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel, trying to force himself to stay calm. "Focus," he whispered, the word barely audible over the roar of the rain and the frantic beating of his heart.

But staying calm was impossible. The car fishtailed on the wet road, his tires skidding dangerously close to the edge. He cursed under his breath, pushing the accelerator harder, praying for more speed, more distance between him and the danger behind.

"Just one mistake..." his hyung's warning echoed in his mind. "And it's over."

The rain intensified, turning into a blinding downpour. His vision blurred, the world outside a smudge of gray. For a brief moment, he thought he might have lost them, but then the car skidded, the tires screaming as they lost their grip.

The world spun violently, and he had only a split second to brace himself before the car slammed into a tree with a sickening crunch. Pain exploded in his shoulder, and the last thing he saw was the twisted metal and shattered glass before darkness swallowed him whole.

When he came to, everything hurt. The rain continued its assault, tapping against the remnants of the windshield. He winced as he unbuckled his seatbelt, every movement sending sharp stabs of pain through his body. The car was totaled, the silence around him eerie and oppressive.

He stumbled out into the rain, the ground beneath him slippery and treacherous. His vision blurred, not just from the rain but from the blood dripping down his face. Panic set in as he realized the dire situation he was in. The phone—he needed to call his hyung, but the device was smashed, useless.

"Someone! Anyone, please help me!" he tried to shout, but his voice was weak, swallowed by the storm.

Then he saw it—a dark silhouette moving through the rain, a faint whistle cutting through the downpour. Hope flickered in his chest. But could he trust a stranger in the dead of night?

With no other options, he limped toward the figure, his strength failing him. When he was close enough, he reached out, his voice a hoarse whisper. "Please... save me."