winter of orphic love | ot7 poly |

Chapter 25 Behind Closed Doors

Yoongi lays back against the tree and stares up at the barren branches above. His face is tight with echoes of pain. Moving from the center of the clearing to the edge is difficult enough. His chest was ripped open during the attack, or it certainly felt like it. He could still feel the ghost of the wolf's bite against his clammy skin; the hot stink of the wolf's breath on his face as Yoongi fell to the ground.

He blinks away small flecks of snow as he stares up at the darkening sky. The freezing wind nips at Yoongi's fingertips and starts to numb the skin. His body is aching even as he keeps still.

"Hyung!" Taehyung runs from the other side of the clearing with the arrow in hand. He skids to a stop in front of Yoongi and kneels before him. His fluffy black hair has returned to its bouncy state as the sweat on his forehead has dried. There's a faint smear of blood on his cheek that Yoongi wishes he could wipe clean.

Taehyung offers the arrow to Yoongi. "What do you think?" His expression is apprehensive meaning he already recognizes it.

Yoongi turns the arrow over in his hand and studies its tip closely. It has a dark silver tip with rough edges. There are faint indents of bubbles on the flat side of the tip. It's a homemade weapon, not something from before the fall of humanity. "We need to be certain this is the same make. We need the other one, just to be sure."

"If they match, then it means that one of Valentine's people shot the arrow on the Nightwalkers' behalf," Taehyung summarizes. "One of Valentine's attached the Nightwalker's note to meet in Calemari."

Yoongi nods with a grave expression. "If that's the case, then it confirms that the Nightwalkers and Valentine are allied together for whatever purpose."

"Let's go back to the house." Taehyung looks over his shoulder in the direction of the path. There is fear in his eyes. "I hope they're gone."

Yoongi sucks in a sharp breath, "We should be prepared for anything. There could be more inside the house looking for the key." It sparks an angry flame within him as he remembers the men admitted to entering the house. Their home is no longer safe.

Taehyung helps him to his feet. Yoongi leans on him for support and minimizes his movements. He does his best but the pain seared through his chest with an angry sting. Yoongi walks forward with a straight expression until he starts to see spots. His hand grips Taehyung's shoulder as his head spins. He begins to lose his balance.

Am I losing too much blood? Yoongi thinks wearily.

Taehyung continues on, taking on more of Yoongi's weight with every step. The world around him is speckled with darkness and echoes of light. His head feels terribly light and his line of focus shifts from the horizon to the dirt of the path.

"Hyung!" Taehyung's grip tightens and forces him to stand up. Yoongi stumbles and realizes he was falling forward.

Yoongi catches his breath as he struggles to see past the darkness. Blood drains from his face and a wave of nausea passes through him. He presses his hand to his gurgling stomach as he begins to taste acid. He blinks rapidly as he struggles to regain control of himself. "Tae," he speaks softly, "I think I'm going to be sick."

Taehyung's lips pull back into a worried grimace. "Here, sit down..." He lowers Yoongi to the ground. "Deep breaths, don't push yourself."

Yoongi shakes his head, stubborn. He tries to stand up again but another wave of dizziness knocks him down. "We can't waste time. We need to--, the others are in trouble."

Taehyung looks down at him and pales. "You're still bleeding."

Yoongi removes his hand from his stomach and examines the shiny coat of blood on his palm. He stares at it, numb to the freshness of the blood. He didn't want to acknowledge it. He knew his condition was bad but he didn't think it would be this bad.