We might die

Chapter 9

Taehyung has exceptional luck, managing to locate Jungkook not an hour after he began his search. The younger boy has a deer-in-the-headlights look when Taehyung shouts his name, but soon relaxes when the elder prances up to him, throws his gangly arms all over his body, and even demands a reunion selfie. Jungkook scrunches up his nose cutely as they take the picture while Taehyung has on his characteristic box smile. Namjoon watches from the monitors, wondering if it might have come across their minds that this could very well be the last selfie they ever took.

In a few words, Taehyung quickly explains the Yoongi-and-the-cave situation to Jungkook, as the two of them hug each other close, all giggles and butting heads. To be honest, Namjoon would have expected Jungkook to take Jimin's side and try to talk Taehyung out of meeting Yoongi, but the boy is surprisingly willing to go along with the plan.

This is not typical Jungkook at all, and it pains Namjoon to think just what the game has done to their baby maknae.

For Jungkook to have thrown away all cautiousness and practical sense like that—it can mean only one thing.

Inside, Jungkook has already given up.

Namjoon isn't sure how to deal with this knowledge. Isn't sure how to deal with the fact that where there used to be innocence in Jungkook's eyes, there is now only resignation.

**

Jungkook, at least, has enough common sense to suggest that he and Taehyung should scout out the situation, check the cave from afar before going inside to meet Yoongi. Damien has no patience for stakeouts and goes out for another Mahjong round. Namjoon is glad that the annoying soldier is gone, but part of him almost misses his company, because watching his bandmates suffer alone is almost ten times worse than when someone is with him.

His heart almost stops when he sees that the stakeout Jungkook and Taehyung are having has apparently led to an impromptu picnic on the secluded area right by the beach, behind some bushes.

Who's gonna drink the poisoned water? Namjoon wonders. The million-dollar question. He feels like closing his eyes, covering his ears. The two are eating. They will have to drink water sometime or another. The island is hot and humid and they are probably thirsty.

No. No. No. Everybody say No—

Namjoon opens his eyes again at a very inopportune moment. Just in time to see Taehyung picking up the bottle and taking a thoughtful sip, twisting the cap back on again as he swallows.

The effects are almost instantaneous. Taehyung tumbles forward into the arms of a shocked Jungkook, who is yelling "Hyung! Hyung? What the fuck! What the fuck?" and trying to hold up Taehyung's lolling head to get a better look at what the matter is. Taehyung can't speak, too busy gagging and coughing, and when his eyes meet Jungkook's, the terrified plea for help in them is so blinding that Namjoon squeezes his eyes shut again.

"Was it the water?" Jungkook demands, the deer-in-the-headlights aesthetic returning full force. "Oh my god it's the fucking water! What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?"

Taehyung is making horrible retching sounds, followed by desperate gasps for air. His face is twisted in anguish, and Namjoon suddenly wishes that Taehyung hadn't always been so expressive with what he's feeling, because it hurts so much to watch, too much. Jungkook has tears running down his face as he holds Taehyung close, finally picking him up in one swift move and making a run for the cave.

"Yoongi-hyung!" Jungkook scream-sobs. "Hyung are you there? Help, please help, you have to help him, please help—"

He almost makes it to the mouth of the cave when Taehyung goes limp. Jungkook has Taehyung's face pressed tightly against his chest as he crashes down on his knees and starts full-out ugly-crying. Namjoon is glad for this, he isn't knowledgeable when it comes to what a person's face would be like after dying from potassium cyanide poisoning, but he doesn't imagine it would look good, and doesn't want to know, doesn't want to see. Especially if it's Taehyung.

Jungkook is sobbing with complete abandon, traces of black eyeliner all over his face. Still holding Taehyung close, he half-crawls towards the cave, hiccuping pathetically.
"Yoongi-hyung are you there? I'm s-scared, I'm s-so scared..."

The front of his body has barely disappeared into the cave before the gunshot sounds. Jungkook collapses, only his legs still visible on the camera. Blood seeps out, pooling by the pair of Timberlands. Namjoon watches in pensive silence as Jungkook's light on the monitor map disappears, less than a minute after Taehyung's has gone.

Yoongi appears at the mouth of the cave, eyeing the scene in enigmatic silence. Then he kicks Jungkook's corpse into the cave, out of sight, muttering something about "my beautiful collection" and "don't wanna get blood on my hands, they're such nice hands".

Namjoon feels a pounding headache coming on.

It is barely noon of Day 2, and now there are only two remaining.