𝐓𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐃 || 𝐊.𝐍𝐉

𝟸𝟶 | 𝐇𝐈𝐃𝐃𝐄𝐍 ☽

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The rain began pouring not long after we left, and we were soaked within twenty minutes of walking, running, and hiding while on foot.

When the headlights from police vehicles flashed around us, we ducked next to the object close to us; when we heard sirens, we sprinted until we were hidden by darkness; and when it was silent, we ran, and we ran hard.

We didn't stop running until it was almost sun up, and eventually, when we did stop, we landed at Hoseok's apartment where he thankfully let us in without any questions asked. It seems he was expecting our arrival, or more likely, my arrival.

"Get in quick," he rushes us inside, peeking his head out of the apartment door, making sure no one followed us, and then he shuts the door and locks it. "You know if anyone saw you it would be game over, right?"

I already know that, and I'm sure Namjoon does, too. However, right now we have bigger problems to worry about than if anyone saw us because Namjoon's father is locked up. We don't have any safe place to go and all of Japan knows my face. It's not a good combination.

"I know, but we had to leave. The police would have come for us next. The world has gone crazy, Hoseok. They arrested his father, my lawyer, a few hours ago." I suddenly pause when I realize they probably don't know one another, so I quickly introduce them. "Hoseok, this is Namjoon, my classmate, and Namjoon, this is Hoseok, he's my friend, and we work together." I briefly explain while sighing exhaustedly.

They glance at one another, saying a quick and polite hello before turning the topic back to the life-threatening situation we're in.

"Okay, okay," Hoseok begins while thinking. "As much as I wish you could stay, you can't. My landlord is swinging by sometime tonight for a check-up on all the tenants." He explains. "You can stay for a while, but as soon as the sun begins to set, you'll have to leave," honestly, that's the safest bet either way.

We shouldn't be staying too long anywhere, and Namjoon mentioned on our way here that we should try to get out of the city for a while, which doesn't sound too bad to me.

"That's fine with us. We need to rest for a bit and catch our breaths." Namjoon admits, pulling off his backpack and sitting down, too.

Hoseok nods while pacing around the room in deep thought. "Okay, I'll run to the store and pick up a few things. Don't leave this apartment and lock the door behind me," before we know it, he's already walking out of the door and zipping up his black-and-white jacket.

I come to the door and lock it while going back over to Namjoon to wait.

"He's a good friend," Namjoon says quietly, resting his head against the couch. I agree and say no more because my mind is a wreck right now, but I'm sure his is as well.

"We should rest up because tonight we'll be moving. We need to save up some energy." I admit while trying to get comfortable.

I am tired, but at the same time, I don't know if I can sleep. However, I force myself to because I know I can't waste an opportunity like this.

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When Hoseok came back, he had two plastic bags with him. One bag had three different hair dye boxes, and the other bag had clothes.

He explained we need to change our appearance before thinking of leaving and so that's exactly what we did.

Namjoon tried to hold back his tears while cutting off his long hair. I swear a tiny ounce of his pride fell along with his locks that met Hoseok's bathroom floor.

Namjoon's hair was cut so short that it no longer hung anymore, and his hair was dyed solid black. He put a beanie on, wiped his nose, and walked out of the bathroom as if he didn't want to talk about it, and honestly, I felt bad. I can only imagine how long he's been growing his hair.

He changed into some basic clothing that Hoseok had nicely bought us, not that it was our exact sizes, but it still worked. He reapplied the bandages on his arm from the bite marks and was resting up until I was ready to leave.

When it's my turn, I decide to go all out since my face is much more well-known. I called Hoseok inside the bathroom and asked him to cut my hair, which he didn't mind doing.

By the time it was over, I hardly recognized myself. My hair isn't long anymore-barely hanging a few inches above my shoulders. It's no longer its original dark color, now much lighter with bleach, but it's not super light, it's a faded, yellowish color, but for what it's worth, the point of changing my appearance worked. I even thinned my eyebrows and put a line through one of them.

I don't want to be locked up for being innocent. If I am going to be locked up, then it will be for defending myself against the insanity of the world.

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Hoseok rushes us out minutes before sunset, and when we step outside of the apartment door, Namjoon and I feel, and look, defeated in more ways than one.

Not only are we young, hopeless, and without parental guidance in this horrific situation, we are terrified of what the future holds, but we only have each other, and the moment we look at one another, we both know it.

Luckily, I used Hoseok's phone and called Jungkook to let him know I was safe before leaving. So at least if anything happens, Jungkook can tell my parents I tried.

He leads the way, and I follow quickly. We have a little time to leave the city before the patrols come out, and we're going to make it. If we don't, we will have nowhere to stay, and while our appearances are much different than before, a side-by-side photo won't be hard to tell who we are.

We stick to the sidewalks, heads down when people glance at us, ignoring others when they try to sell items to us, or anything that involves interacting with people.

Namjoon and I already have been through a lot in the past day alone, and we have no time for screw-ups, especially now that we can't afford one.

Namjoon grabs my hand when a group of boys walks by, making sure none of them would try to eye me and suddenly realize who I was, so Namjoon pulls me into his chest to hide me away from them.

"We should stay like this until it's less crowded. Everyone's trying to get home before the curfew sets in, so let's stay this way until we can pass by all these people,"

It's a smart idea, and I don't hesitate to nod my head in agreement. I don't say anything, fearful my voice might be recognized.

Everyone is cheerful on the sidewalk until we meet a group of people who talks about the beast again.

We find out that another murder took place on the other side of the city. I wonder how many more it'll be until he comes for me. He said I was next, but I haven't been yet, so I can only wonder if he's changed his mind and decided to wait-to let me suffer at the hands of the city first before he hunts me down and does his worst.

I shiver at the thought, and the whole time, I ignore the murmurs of death stalking in the shadows, the killer who viscously hunts his prey, and the threat of my very life if anyone were to recognize me right now. I ignore it all and try to remain calm while walking with my body pulled to Namjoon's side.

Maybe everything will work out in the end. Maybe we'll be okay.

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