Sempiternal: •Broken• || Book 2#

3. Tranquility that does not last

"And what's the place you live in like?"

"It's a department store. It has two floors. One for everything we have to do for the day and the other for sleeping. We also have all the parking."

"Ah, okay."

Jin tries to imagine it. Maybe it's not Gimpo's huge airport, but it's also a good space if the building is as he has it in mind. Due to problems with Jungkook's temper, he has the two of them with him in the Jeep while where Yoongi drives, Hoseok, Taehyung and Jungkook go. As co-driver, he has Namjoon. A little bit because he has no other options.

"Did you really find this out there? What area was it in?" the man asks.

"We don't know. It was in the middle of nowhere" Namjoon answers discreetly. "Maybe a squad that died left it there. Just like the weapons and everything else. Or maybe they just took off."

"Umm... Okay."

"Well they found a lot of good stuff. That's good luck," Ahn comments. "Our biggest luck has been finding closed convenience stores. Everything inside, except for the refrigerated stuff, is always in perfect condition."

"It served a purpose to be so adept at instant soups." quips Namjoon eloquently. It gets a chuckle out of Ahn who gets a nudge from his companion.

"What will you do after Gimpo?"

"Wait for the evacuation."

"Someone inside told us it will be within a year."

"Who?"

"A friend."

"And... Will there be more bombings?"

"No. That's why the evacuations will be so far in the future" Namjoon turns his head back. "The bombing didn't work and so as not to risk people getting out infected, they're going to delay it. It's a little silly, but I guess to them out there it makes sense."

"Yes. They don't have to live through this."

"There's a military aviation center nearby," Ahn comments. "If they stay with us, we could use it when they start evacuating. I'm sure they'll go there for fuel, planes, the runway, all that" Jin sees her in the rearview mirror Is there a military base nearby and they haven't set up shop there? That sounds safer than a department store. "And if they have that bombing thing, it's because they know how to use the radio don't you?"

"I've fixed several, it doesn't always work right because it doesn't transmit or receive poorly, but something can be done." says Namjoon.

"Anyway, first Gimpo first. Then we'll see what to do."

After a couple of hours of running, with the relentless sunlight above them to their utter relief, they arrive at the entrance they were warned about. They both get out of the Jeep and each put on a bag, carrying the others as best they can.

"Maybe they can join us now to go say hello to those standing guard. That way if they come back, they won't think them thieves or anything... although they can't go any further from there. Just turn the car off."

"No need. We're leaving now."

"It'll be a while. Besides, one of them is a fan of yours. I'm sure she'll be very happy."

Still in doubt and impatience, Namjoon gives up and gets out of the Jeep. Jin follows him complacently and although Jungkook and Taehyung disagree, they don't want to put up with the argument that would come later for not having approached. They advance several meters, hear a rather loud and apparently far away hubbub. Ahn leaves the backpacks on a shopping cart and they follow the man into the guard booth.