all that bloodshed, crimson cover (we'll still dream anyways)

help me hold on to you

It's been minutes, maybe hours of travelling on an empty road, only lined with flipped cars and dead bodies.

Dan can feel the soft breathing from Soyeon on her side, but she knows Soyeon isn't resting at all, judging from the pained groans she lets out every so often.

"Darn it. Where are the other cars?" Heerak breaks the quiet lull. "Don't tell me we're the only ones who escaped."

"No way. They must be behind us." Taeman looks out of the truck, pulling the bandana from his neck, obviously feeling antsy.

When they enter a tunnel, Dan hears Jangsoo question, either to them or to himself, "I wonder if the shelter is alright. The shelter our parents are at."

This elicits a sob from Soonyi, who was already desperately holding her tears back, as she cries for her mom.

"Hey. Stop crying, will you? It's annoying." Joonhee chides Soonyi harshly, but everyone can tell by the way her voice quivers that the message is not to scold Soonyi; she's feeling just as helpless.

"The others must be in another car, right? Including Wonbin ahjussi."

"Yeah. They must be alright. They must be okay."

It's obvious that Yeonju can't trust her own words, with the way she's avoiding eye contact with Soyoon, but if hope is what gets them through, then Dan thinks they need it, even if it's false.

Reaching over to pat Soyeon on the back of her head as Yeonju grips Soyeon's hand, Dan reassures in a firm voice, "I'm sure they're okay. We'll know soon. When we meet them at the camp."

The silence drags on, as the truck leaves the tunnel.

"Gosh, I must be crazy. I'm dead scared but dead sleepy at the same time."

"Well, me too. Is it because I feel relaxed now?"

Snorting softly at her friends' ability to make matters funny even in times like these, Dan knocks her head back on the side of the truck, feeling the fatigue wash over her as well.

But of course, if there's anything the past 24 hours have taught them, it's that peace is short-lived in war.

Because in the next moment, the truck spins sideways, lurching them around like laundry in a machine, their screams the whirring sound of accompaniment.

Dan instinctively holds her folded arms out in front of herself when she spins to her right, trying to break her fall. She feels someone land hard on her back, as her forearms land on the sides of Soyeon's head.

A chittering sound travels in from above them, sending everyone tumbling inside the truck.

"What the heck?" "Guys, get out!"

Along with her friends, she raises her rifle, shooting at the sphere that has seemingly appeared out of nowhere.

"Fuck!" "Shoot it!" "Stop it! Get out!"

Gunshots ring in the air before they are to her friends' groans and cries. From her peripheral view, Dan can see them stumble out, but the impact on her back strains so much she can't even open her eyes, her ears momentarily blocked.

A loud groan catches her focus and she pries her eyes open.

"Soyeon?"

"Where's Soyeon?" "What?" From outside, Youngshin and Chiyeol stomp into the truck, just as Dan pulls herself up and towards a curled up Soyeon.

"Soyeon, you okay?" "Shit, Dan, you okay?"

"I'm fine. Help Soyeon out." Urging the boys to carry Soyeon out, Dan pushes herself onto her feet, helping to support Soyeon's weight by pressing a firm hand on the small of her back as she stumbles forward.