𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑼𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝑫𝒚𝒏𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒚

𝟏𝟖

The warehouse was dimly lit, the only source of light coming from a few flickering bulbs overhead.
Jennie  looked around, taking in her surroundings. The place was cluttered with various storage boxes and crates, creating a maze-like atmosphere.

Walking through the area, her eyes suddenly fell on a door. She could make out a faint glow coming out of it towards the far end of the warehouse.

Curious about what was behind it she started walking towards it when all of a sudden, a strong hand grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her roughly into a corner. She was slammed against the wall with so much force that she dropped the tool in shock.

She felt trapped, trapped between his strong arms that caged her in place. Her body was pressed against the cold and hard surface of the wall, her head tilted up to meet his gaze.

Her breaths were coming in ragged and shallow, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she looked into his eyes.

She could feel his proximity, could smell the familiar scent of his body. It was a mixture of sweat, musk and something else that was uniquely him.

He leaned in closer, his face mere inches away from hers. He could feel her breath on his skin, hear the little gasps she was trying to hold back.

His voice was deep and husky as he spoke. "Well, well, well," he said. "What do we have here?"

He let out a soft chuckle, his green eyes glinting watching her stare deep into him.

"Looks like I've finally caught up with the elusive Ruby," he said, his gaze roaming over her face.

"Get. Off. Me." Jennie growled slowly staring into his green orbs.

He raised an eyebrow, his smirk growing wider at her words. "Feisty as ever," he said, his grip on her waist tightening slightly. "But I don't think I will. I quite like having you trapped like this."

She struggled against his grip, trying to break free. "Let go of me, you jerk," she spat, her eyes blazing with anger.

"I'll have to agree you're a good massager." He said, his voice low and husky.

She was caught off guard by his words, her mind racing as she tried to process what he had said.

How does he know?

He chuckled at her reaction which appeared cute to him.

He leaned in closer, his face mere inches away from hers. "But I never thought I'd have you trapped like this," he continued, his gaze roaming over her face. "Alone, defenseless, at my mercy."

She swallowed hard, trying to ignore the shiver that ran down her spine at his words. She could feel the warmth of his breath on her skin, could smell the intoxicating scent of his body.

She hated how her body was reacting to him, betraying her with every flutter of her heart.

Suddenly, he released his grip on her wrists and stepped back, leaving her leaning against the wall. Before she could react, he handed her the keys, his voice low and gravelly as he spoke. "Thank me later," he said, before turning and walking away.

She was left standing there, stunned and bewildered by his actions. Her heart was racing, her mind trying to process what had just happened. But then she remembered the girls and quickly shook herself out of her stupor. She pushed off the wall and hurried towards the door.

As she opened the door and stepped into the room, her eyes widened at the sight before her. The girls were huddled together on the cold concrete floor. Their mouths were uncovered, but they didn't make a sound, silently staring down.

As the girls noticed someone's presence in the room, their tired eyes widened slightly.

Lisa looked up, and shouted with all the energy left in her "Unnieeee!!" 

The other girls looked up as well, their tired faces momentarily lighting up at the sight of Ruby.

Ruby's heart sank as she observed the girls' conditions. Rosé, who was usually full of energy and life, was lying on the floor, looking completely drained. There were a few cuts and bruises on her body, and she was looking up at Ruby with tired eyes.

Lisa was also bruised, with a cut on her forehead. Her usually cheerful expression was replaced by one of exhaustion.

Jisoo looked worse, her hair tangled and her clothes dirty. She looked like she hadn't slept in days, her eyes dull and lifeless.

Jennie knelt down next to Rosé, gently wiping away the tears that were rolling down her cheeks. "Shh," she whispered, her voice soft. "Don't cry. I'm here now."

Rosé smiled weakly, her tired eyes shining. "These are happy tears, unnie," she replied quietly, her voice laced with tiredness.

Jennie quickly untied their ropes, helping them to their feet. They stood up slowly, their legs trembling from exhaustion.
"Come on, let's get out of here," Ruby said quietly, her voice firm.

The girls nodded, their tired faces filled with relief at the thought of escape. They followed Ruby out of the room, stumbling slightly under their own weight.

She guided them slowly down the dimly lit hallway, their footsteps echoing softly in the silent building.

She glanced back occasionally, checking to make sure they were following her.

The girls were silent, their exhaustion clearly evident in their demeanor. Their eyes were drooping and their bodies were heavy.

As they reached a flight of stairs, Jennie paused for a moment. She could see that the girls were struggling to keep up, their breathing labored.

"Come on, you can do it," she encouraged them softly. "Just a few more steps and we'll be out of here."

With a nod, the girls started climbing the stairs, one step at a time. Their faces were etched with pain and exhaustion, but they kept moving forward, their eyes fixed on the top of the stairs.

Ruby stayed close behind them, ready to catch them if they stumbled. She could tell that they were pushing themselves to their limits to escape this place.

Jennie opened the door, revealing the cool night air. Fresh oxygen poured into the building, invigorating the girls' tired lungs.

They took a few deep breaths, inhaling the fresh air. It felt like a relief to be outside, away from the dark and cramped room they had been stuck in.

Jennie looked back at them, her expression full of concern. "Are you all okay now?" she asked, her voice gentle.

The girls nodded weakly.

"We're okay," Lisa muttered quietly, her voice hoarse. "Just...tired."

...

Ruby led the girls to a waiting car parked. She opened the car door and gestured for them to get in. One by one, the girls climbed into the car, settling into the seats.

They were exhausted and silent, their eyes fixed on the road ahead. Ruby got into the driver's seat and started the engine. The car pulled away from the curb, disappearing into the night.