pumped up kicks

r.i.p. to my youth

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

Hyeon 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, Hyeon 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 Hyeon 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, Hyeon 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?"

Sighing softly at her friends' ability to make matters funny even in times like these, Hyeon 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.

Hyeon instinctively wraps one arm around Soyeon's shoulder, pushing Soyeon into her chest, as she sticks the other arm out in front of herself to break their fall. She lets out a low groan at the jolt of dull pain that shoots up her spine from landing hard on her back.

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

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

Still having Soyeon tucked to her front, 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, Hyeon can see them stumble out, but the ache on her back spreads so suddenly she can't even open her eyes, her ears momentarily blocked.

A loud groan from her chest demands her focus and she pries her eyes open.

"Soyeon?"

"Where's Soyeon?" "What?" From outside, Youngshin and Chiyeol stomp into the truck, just as Hyeon attempts to pull herself up into a sitting position, only for Soyeon to hiss in pain.