𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒 ˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳ 𝐧𝐜𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 - 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐮

⇛ 𝐂𝐇. 𝟖𝟏

after a while longer of walking, the group took a break in a small sheltered area they had found. it looked safe enough to stay in for a bit but they knew they couldn't risk staying too long. they had their disguises but it wouldn't be enough.

jihyun was wrapped in her cloak, her arms around jisung who was shivering. he had insisted he wasn't cold at first but she practically forced him into her arms, mumbling that she didn't want her cute hamster to freeze to death.

"guys, i have something to talk to you about." jihyun spoke.

"what is it?" mark asked.

"earlier when i was with jeno he brought up that i've been acting a bit weird lately and you've all probably noticed it already..."

"yeah, i was wondering about that." chenle said.

"it's because of my near death experience. well, i actually did die, didn't i?" she mumbled, adjusting a shaky hand on jisung. "i think it really messed me up because i can't think properly. i just keep replaying the moment i slipped into darkness again and again. it scares me so bad... i don't know how to explain it and i feel like i shouldn't even remember but it was so lonely and cold. i don't want to experience something like that again and i'm worried i might sabotage this mission because now i'm too scared to complete it. i can't help but think i'll get hurt again and die. at first, death didn't bother me so much, but guys, i'm really fucking scared of dying. i don't want to. i really don't."

"ji." mark called as he crouched in front of her. "first of all, thank you for telling us and second, we won't ever let that happen to you again. as long as we're here, you don't have to be scared."

"you promise?" she asked and he placed his forehead against hers.

"promise. no one will hurt our girl."

once again, jihyun's heart was fluttering and her face was red. she was repeating 'our girl' in her head a hundred times until mark moved back, a grin on his face.

"my girl." haechan said and everyone turned to glare at him. he held his hands up in surrender and chenle hugged him, finding his sulking cute as usual.

"you feel better?" jisung asked, rubbing jihyun's arms.

"yes, thank you. i really needed to get that all off my chest."

"i'm also scared. remember that day thirteen was getting bombed and i nearly fell to my death?" he sighed. "that was truly the scariest moment of my life. even scarier than when i first stepped into the arena. since that day, i've been scared of taking the same risks i would before. i was even hesitant to agree to this mission. but... i'm with my best friends who i believe in so i'm a little less scared now."

"cute." renjun squished his cheeks. "we're all here for each other and i made a vow to protect you all no matter what."

"renjun is going to protect us? we're doomed." jaemin teased and the older scoffed, his shoulders slouching dramatically.

"if you tease renjun again, i will kill you." chenle pointed a finger at jaemin as he placed his hand on the back of renjun's head.

"renjun can protect me." mark raised his hand.

"you're just in love with him." jihyun said.

"that's not true." he gasped, looking around at the others so that they could defend him but they were all nodding their heads, even renjun.

"it's okay we understand." jeno patted his back. "alright, let's get moving again."

"understand what?" he asked but everyone began getting up to leave again, ignoring his question. "guys?"