𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 & 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐡𝐞𝐦 || 𝐉𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐥 (𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐈𝐈)

16.1 - Seungcheol

We don't talk.

None of us do.

We keep our faces buried in our coats as we trek through the snow. How long it's been, I don't know exactly.

Though I do now the sun is due up in a couple of hours, and we should be able to make it to the border right when the sun is up.

Or right after.

Which isn't good news. Once there is daylight, we'll stick out like a sore thumb. In the dark, with each of us encased in the darkness of the forest, we are nearly invisible. Camouflaged into the night. We've heard sirens in the distance, looking for us endlessly for hours upon hours, but they've never come close enough to raise concern.

They won't find us, at least not now.

Once the sun comes up, that's another story.

"I can't go anymore," Joshua whimpers. "I've literally got no strength. I don't know how much longer I can be outside. Everything is numb. I can barely speak. I feel like I'm about to collapse," he gasps.

Soonyoung turns around, his own face red with wind burn. He walks up and turns around once he's in front of him, crouching down. "Get on my shoulders, Joshua. It'll be easier."

He whines as he grabs onto his shoulders, and he wraps his hands behind his thighs and lifts him into his arms.

We keep moving, and I stare at Joshua's face as his head lobs on his shoulder. He looks exhausted, his eyes falling closed quickly.

I glance around at the rest of them. Seokmin looks angry, with his eyes narrowed, his lips pale, and his limbs looking like cement blocks as he can barely lift them out of the snow.

Then there's Jihoon, who drags his feet, creating tracks of snow behind him. He keeps his face buried in his coat, only his eyes and red hair covered in white crystals.

Soonyoung carries Joshua, but I can see from the look in his eyes it's causing him a lot of effort.

Jeonghan stands beside me, clutching his bad arm, dried tears covering his temples. His face is also buried in his coat, and I can tell he's losing his steam, and I'll need to carry him soon.

This might be too difficult for all of us.

I'm beginning to wonder if we'll even make it.

"The sun is up," Jeonghan rasps.

I glance up to the sky, seeing the sun beginning to peek over the horizon. It's a little bit warmer today. The wind has slowed down and the snow has stopped, though not before adding about another four inches. My socks are drenched, my shoes nothing more than a sponge at this point.

"How much farther?" Soonyoung asks from the other side of me.

I open my mouth, my lips splitting from the cold. I can taste a light flavor of blood, and all that comes out is a sigh.

If I'm being honest, I don't know how much longer we have. The last town we passed was about an hour ago, and if my thoughts are correct, we should be arriving at the border shortly, but my mind is foggy and I almost don't realize where I am. Are we going in the right direction? I don't even know at this point.

"How much longer, Seungcheol?" Seokmin grunts, adjusting Joshua on his back. Soonyoung moved Joshua over to Seokmin about thirty minutes ago, but he's been so passed out he's like dead weight at this point.

I clear my throat, wondering if I should put a handful of snow in my mouth to wet my dry throat. "I don't know, hopefully only like thirty more minut—"