Starlight and Petals (taekook)

17: Moon

Pictures credit goes to rightful owner.

Author's pov:

Taehyung squeezed himself through the crowd of panicked people, their desperate screams filling the air as they ran for their lives. He pushed forward, his eyes darting in every direction, searching for any sign of Jungkook. The stairwell was chaotic, smoke thick in the air, making every breath feel like fire in his lungs. His heart pounded as the shouts and cries of the people escaping echoed in his ears, but all he could focus on was one name.

"JUNGKOOK!" Taehyung screamed, his voice hoarse, barely cutting through the deafening noise. He reached the fifth floor, gasping for breath, and people running down the stairs tried to pull him with them, urging him to leave. But Taehyung shook them off, his mind set on only one thing—finding Jungkook.

With a burst of desperation, Taehyung pushed his way through the thick crowd on the third-floor staircase. The air was heavy with smoke, making it hard to breathe, and the screams of panicked people echoed around him. His vision blurred, his eyes stinging as the smoke filled the narrow stairwell. But he kept going, stumbling as he climbed, calling out for Jungkook with every ounce of strength he had left.

Each breath felt like fire in his lungs, but Taehyung pushed through, tears streaming down his face. The faces around him were a blur—people rushing down, trying to escape—but he didn't stop. He couldn't. Jungkook was somewhere in this nightmare, and Taehyung wasn't leaving without him.

"Jungkook!" he cried again, his voice cracking with the effort. Despite the chaos, he pressed on, ignoring the burning in his chest and the overwhelming fear that threatened to take hold.

Through the haze, Taehyung spotted two familiar figures—Namjoon and Seokjin, both struggling to support Mr. Jeon, Jungkook's father, who was barely able to stand. Seokjin was coughing violently, horror etched across his pale face as they fought their way through the smoke-filled chaos.

"Hyung! N-Namjoon-hyung!" Taehyung shouted, rushing toward them, his sleeve pressed against his face to filter the thick smoke.

"Where's Jungkook?" he gasped, his voice trembling with desperation.

Namjoon, barely holding on, managed to steady Mr. Jeon while keeping Seokjin upright.

 "Jungkook—he's looking for Mom," Namjoon rasped, his voice hoarse from the smoke. "She went to the restroom—he hasn't come back."

Taehyung's heart plummeted, his chest tightening with fear. Seokjin's eyes, wide with terror, filled with tears. As soon as Seokjin saw Taehyung rushing in the opposite direction, he screamed after him, panic thick in his voice.

"Taehyung, don't! It's too dangerous!" Seokjin yelled, his voice cracking through the smoke.

Taehyung coughed violently, his lungs burning as he shook his head, the weight of the moment overwhelming him. 

"I'll find him! I have to find Jungkook first!" Taehyung's voice was barely audible, his resolve unwavering.

Namjoon and Seokjin both called after him, pleading for him to stop, but Taehyung didn't hesitate. Ignoring their cries, he pushed forward, running toward the danger without looking back. Each step was a battle against the thick smoke and blinding chaos, but Taehyung's mind was focused on one thing—finding Jungkook.

Nothing else mattered.

Taehyung rushed up the staircase, each step heavy with fear and desperation. But suddenly, he froze. His heart skipped a beat as the unmistakable sound of a baby's cry reached his ears. He turned, his breath catching in his throat, and glanced toward the glass entryway to the fourth floor. The faint but haunting cry echoed again, and his chest tightened.