𝐓𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐃 || 𝐊.𝐍𝐉

𝟸𝟾 | 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐖 ☽

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"Namjoon!" I yell as loud as I can, screaming out his name with fear while sliding down the rocky hill.

"He's not over here!" I hear one man yell from the distance, but I don't care. I have to find him before they do.

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Two Hours Earlier

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"Where to first?" He smiles, escorting me around the small grounds of the festival that are already beginning to be crowded.

I shrug, not knowing exactly where to go. I haven't been to a festival since I was very little and with my parents. It holds a nostalgic feeling for me.

"Anywhere you want to?" I let him decide since I won't be able to decide by myself.

I watch him think, eyes glancing at different booths until I watch his eyes light up. "Let's get something to eat first," he mentions.

Following his lead, we step into the short line to a booth selling hot food. It smells so delicious that I'm sure his gut is rumbling as much as mine.

Taking out his wad of cash when it's our turn, he orders one jumbo plate, which is supposed to be supplied with a lot of different foods.

"Take this," the man hands out a table card to Namjoon while taking his money. "Your order will be out soon," he says while we exit the line and take a seat at one of the outside tables designed for the food booths.

"I thought getting a jumbo plate would be good. It's supposed to have meat, chicken, rice, and fried desserts, too." He explains, which only causes my stomach to growl further.

"It sounds delicious. Plus, it's a variety, too," I admit, waiting patiently despite my stomach's impatience.

As we wait for our food, we look around our surroundings, gesturing to certain places we should go before heading back to the room.

All the while, we each forget momentarily about our troubles and focus on what fun we'll have for today.

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Everything was going great until the fireworks began.

Namjoon and I had found a nice spot to sit down and watch the fireworks in the sky. We weren't too close to people, or too far away to give someone a reason to come over and make sure we weren't doing anything illegal. We were blending in perfectly until the very first firework went off in the night sky.

Instantly, Namjoon jumped to his feet, eyes wide in shock, and mouth hanging open as if no words can express his emotions.

I called out his name, trying to bring his attention to me, but he couldn't move as if in a trance. I didn't know what to do, so I started to stand up with worry.

Then, without a word, he ran. He bypassed groups of people, shoving them, pushing them, and even cussing people to move out of his way.

I didn't understand what was wrong, but I ran behind him and apologized to people on his behalf.

He wasn't thinking right for whatever reason. However, when he suddenly knocked down a woman and ran by her and her husband, I gulped from seeing the dragon-like tattoos wrapped around his neck and arms.

My fear only grew once seeing the other men following them eye Namjoon as he ran by with a murderous glint in their eyes.

Out of all the people Namjoon had to piss off, he pissed off the Yakuza.

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I don't have time to chase after Namjoon when those men turned their heels and took off in his direction. There is no way I can keep up, so I chose a path that I hope will be shorter.

Everything is so loud, and I can't think straight as I slide down the muddy hill, not caring if my outfit is damaged or not anymore.

The first firework set him off, but for what reason, I have no clue.

"Namjoon!" I yell as loud as I can, screaming out his name with fear while sliding down the rocky hill.

"He's not over here!" I hear one man yell from the distance, but I don't care. I have to find him before they do.

They're hunting him down, and if I don't find him first, they'll kill him.

"Namjoon!" I call his name, cupping my hands over my mouth for the name to travel farther down the vacant path.

It's only when I realize the sounds of the festival disappeared that I notice how I'm all alone in the dark with the moon being my bright lantern.

I keep shouting his name, believing he'll pop out of the shadows and pretend this is all a joke, but I know as well as my wild imagination that won't happen.

I try to focus my attention on repeating his name, but it becomes harder when I notice how eerie and quiet my surroundings are.

My voice softly stops chanting his name like a prayer, and I move through the forest-like path with quietness.

Trees hang over me, branches resemble hands, the ground is muddy like black ink, and my heart stops when I hear howling in the wind.

With a swift turn, I look behind me, seeing nothing but darkness.

"Get ahold of yourself, Emiko," I shut my eyes, squinting them because of how much my imagination is driving me crazy.

Pushing myself further, I press forward in hopes to find Namjoon before those men do. Otherwise, I know what'll happen to him if I don't.

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