Sasaeng Sister [In big roles: Sunghoon, Lee Know, skz, Ateez, Jungkook]

Chapter 65

The first gunshot startled the wild animals, sending birds scattering into the sunlight.

Suk took cover behind the big rock, hastily kneeling down. He scrambled partly over me, partly over Sunghoon, his eyes scanning the forest.

Bang.

Bang.

He steadied his arm, recoiling after each shot, aiming at the dark silhouettes darting behind the trees.

The smell of gunpowder added to the scent of burned wood and a sickly sweet stench that had lingered after the mine explosion. I gagged at the overwhelming odor. Although I couldn't differentiate the scents anymore, I knew what was in the air.

Suk's knee pressed painfully against my thigh as he crept toward the side of the rock where Jungkook and Yunho were hunkered down.

He peeked over the rock and fired.

Zings of bullets ricocheted off the rock's surface.

Ping. Ping.

Ping.

Sunghoon took my hand. I gripped it back and squeezed my eyes shut, hunching up against him and resting my face on his shoulder. He placed his other hand on my back, pulling me closer. His shallow breaths tickled my ear, blowing warm air into the cavity and muffling some of the sounds. I could still hear the gunshots, though, and the thuds and cracks of bullets striking trees, rocks, and the ground.

"We'll be okay," Sunghoon whispered. "When this is all over, we can do something normal together. Have you been to a karaoke room? We could go with my group if you want to get to know the boys. Or we can go just the two of us. Usually, couples go to photo booths, too. At least in movies."

I was too afraid to reply. Instead, I held him tighter, praying there would be a day like that. A normal day. With no danger. No shooting. No hurting.

The gunfire ceased.

After a moment of silence, the birds began to sing.

"Good shot, Lim," Suk said, climbing over the rock. "Did you get hit?"

Leaves and twigs crunched underfoot.

"No. Kim's good, too," Lim replied.

"Kids? Everyone good?" Suk asked, pivoting on the rock to check on us, although none of us were kids.

We were shocked but not hurt any more than before.

Suk jumped down from the rock, heading toward the fallen men in black clothes. He picked up a rifle from one of the dead shooters and examined its serial number.

Lim followed him.

"You got shot."

"Mmm," Suk admitted, pulling a balaclava off one of the dead men. "I'll tie it soon."

The shootout hadn't lasted longer than a couple of minutes. Lim and Suk were machines when it came to gunfights. I found it especially impressive that Lim had survived unharmed. Suk had a bullet somewhere in his upper arm, but he acted unconcerned about it.

"Hey, kids. Come take a look at this. Are these the men that held you captive?" Suk hollered, ripping a strip from some cloth and fastening it around his injured arm. "Lim, what did you use as a tourniquet?"

"Another shirt I had with me."

"Nothing from the first aid kit survived?"

"Toh had it."

"Yes, I know..." Suk said, turning to look at us behind the rock. "Kids, are you coming to confirm if they are the people who held you captive?"

Jungkook rose to his feet. His hand grazed the rough surface of the rock as he staggered toward the dead shooters. Yunho followed close behind, unwilling to be outdone in courage. I stood up as well, but Sunghoon clung tightly to my hand. With a grimace, he bent his legs. His breath hitched as he pushed against the rock for leverage, trying to straighten up.