Hearts of the Wasteland

Adrenaline

"So..." Wooyoung's head snapped around to face San as he spoke. "What was it like? You know... working for a gang."

San's voice cut through the silence as they trudged back to Wooyoung's hideout, their bags laden with cans of food.

Wooyoung chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eye. "I can't believe you actually spoke to me first. Anyone else would think I'm holding you hostage, given how little you talk."

San's lips twitched in a ghost of a smile. "You didn't give me much of a choice."

"No, I just nudged you toward the right choice. The one that involves sticking with me," Wooyoung corrected, guiding them through the dense forest.

"Well," he began, his voice dropping to a low, bitter tone, "to answer your question, it was awful. You're just a dog on a leash, doing whatever the big man wants. Don't obey? You're either executed on the spot or tossed into a cage full of zombies for his amusement."

San flinched, his eyes widening in disbelief. He had always known the world was harsh, but hearing this from someone in person shook him deeply.

"No laws. No police. No government. It's all a power trip for him. He does whatever he wants, faces no repercussions, and everyone kisses his ass like he's royalty," Wooyoung's voice dripped with frustration and hatred.

San was left speechless, the cold realization of human cruelty hitting him harder than any physical blow. "I'm sorry," he finally managed, his voice barely a whisper. He'd spent so long in isolation that he'd forgotten how truly dark people could be.

Wooyoung turned to San, his face lighting up with a smile once more. "It's fine. I'm a long way from them now." He exhaled a sigh of relief, the tension visibly easing from his shoulders.

San's curiosity got the better of him. "What did the 'big man' look like?"

Wooyoung laughed, ducking under a low-hanging branch. "What, you picturing some kind of final boss from a video game?" He grinned, then his expression grew serious. "Honestly, you wouldn't be far off. He's tall, built, with a charming smile that probably gets him everything he wants. I think his name—"

Wooyoung suddenly cut himself off. He grabbed San's shoulder and forcefully shoved him to the ground, diving down beside him. "Shh," he whispered sharply.

San hit the ground with a muffled groan, his elbow striking a rock. He glanced at Wooyoung, who had quickly silenced him with a hand over his mouth. Wooyoung's usual jovial demeanor was replaced by an intense, almost predatory look. "Shit," he muttered under his breath.

San followed Wooyoung's gaze and saw a group of figures in the distance. "Gang members?" he mumbled through Wooyoung's hand.

Wooyoung nodded, his expression grim. "They've found my hideout."

He removed his hand from San's face and carefully rose to a crouch. With practiced stealth, he pulled San up and gestured for him to follow. They moved silently, retracing their steps in hopes of avoiding detection.

As they moved, San's attention drifted to the numbness in his elbow. He glanced down to assess the damage, but—

Snap.

Wooyoung's head snapped around, his eyes widening as he noticed the large stick San had inadvertently broken. He looked up to see the gang members already turning in their direction. "There!" one of them shouted, pointing toward the pair.

The pair burst into a frantic sprint, Wooyoung's hand clamped around San's wrist as he pulled him toward the supermarket.

As they fled, San began to grasp the gravity of Wooyoung's words from the other night. The sensation was akin to being a fox pursued by hunting dogs—an instinctive, bone-deep terror.

San dared a glance behind them, seeing only five relentless figures closing in. The sight was almost too much to bear—the way the gang members pursued them with grim satisfaction was chilling. The joy in their eyes as they chased the two was horrifying, and the thought of what awaited them if they were caught sent a shiver down San's spine.

With a final burst of speed, they leaped over the fence and landed back in the supermarket parking lot. They raced toward the building, their breath coming in ragged gasps. The gang members, less adept at climbing, struggled over the fence, swearing loudly as they clambered up, clearly struggling not to fall.

"We need to head back toward the city," Wooyoung said, his grip on San's wrist unyielding. San nodded, trusting Wooyoung's lead as they continued their desperate escape.

After running for what felt like an eternity, Wooyoung finally pulled them into a narrow alleyway. He glanced around, making sure the coast was clear before leaning against the wall, his chest heaving with exertion. San slumped against the wall opposite him, both of them taking a moment to catch their breath. As they settled into a brief silence, their eyes met unexpectedly.

In that shared look, San felt an unfamiliar warmth spreading through him, a sensation he couldn't quite place. Meanwhile, Wooyoung, still riding the adrenaline high, let out a light, carefree laugh. "Safe to say we're definitely both on the big man's naughty list," he said, his voice low to avoid attracting any more trouble.

San couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle. There was something oddly endearing about Wooyoung's ability to find humor even in the direst situations. It was strangely uplifting, watching him navigate the chaos with such a buoyant attitude.

"Well, ready to go real estate searching?" Wooyoung asked with a grin, pushing off the wall and stretching his arms. "I'd hate to be out here when night falls."

San stood up, still watching Wooyoung. For a moment, he noticed their height difference—a subtle but distinct disparity.

"That's the second time I've caught you staring," Wooyoung said playfully, giving San a light tap on the shoulder. "You can just compliment me, you know."

San's face warmed slightly, and he was grateful Wooyoung wasn't looking directly at him. "I—uh, I just thought you had something on your face," he mumbled, his voice faltering.

Wooyoung's laughter was light and teasing. "That's almost as bad as saying you have sand in your eyes."

San grinned despite himself, the awkwardness melting away in Wooyoung's easy-going presence. As they headed toward the alley's exit, the tension of their earlier escape seemed to ease, replaced by a newfound, if tentative, camaraderie.