I need you (to keep on surviving).

25

A second burst of air reached his lungs and made him open his eyes again.

He took a breath, another and then again but remained lying in his position, soaked by the water beneath him.

It had diminished compared to the previous minutes, but the darkness continued along with that horrible silence.

He closed his eyes to keep from crying.

Don't do it, Jungkook. Don't do it.

He didn't understand where he was, he didn't understand why Taehyung still had to arrive, he wasn't understanding anything and all the negative feelings were pondering on his chest.

Don't cry.

The voice of his subconscious reminded him once again to be strong and understand what was happening.

He took a deep breath and sat down.

The water slowly rose.

So if he moved, the water would rise. That was the first point he could take account.

If he could not move with his body, maybe he could use his voice?

He opened his mouth but it was dry so no sound came out.

He tried to clear it several times and then speak.

"Taehyung." He called out but it came out a mere whisper that in a vacuum was worth nothing.

"Taehyung." He tried again.

His lip began to tremble from the tears trying to come out.

"Tae..."

"Enough." A voice behind him made him jump in fear.

He turned sharply to see who had managed to get behind him without making a sound and was shocked when he saw himself.

An older self, he looked almost ten years older. He wore an open black shirt and a long pair of dark jeans.
His hair was short and arranged, no piercings or tattoos. Just him and... and his eyes were so empty.

"What the hell...?"

He tried to get up but the other signalled for him to stay where he was.

"Who the fuck are you?"

The figure looked at him with an amused smirk on his lips.

"Who do you think I might be?"

"Is... is this a nightmare?"

"Depends, would you like your life to become one?"

— Meanwhile

The room was empty except for the body lying still on the couch. The light, almost nil breathing, the body still warm but less than before hinted, he was still alive but... not quite.

Namjoon sat in the chair next to the bed and took the leaves from the plant on the coffee table before mixing them into the water with slow, careful turns.

"You're taking longer than everyone else." Was the first thing he said breaking the silence.

"V could wake up at any moment and yet you're here all quiet." He snapped his head irritated.

He wasn't there for that, he had a specific purpose and it was to help Taehyung stay in his body together with V.

V's presence was something that crushed Taehyung deeper and deeper but since Jungkook had joined them he had been able to see Taehyung in V's place for much longer and it seemed to him that he could breathe again.