And Then, The World Ended

Chapter 19 Noah

My eyes flutter open slowly, blinking against the sunlight streaming in through the window. I'm lying in an unfamiliar bed, blankets tucked around me. Confusion clouds my mind as I try to remember where I am and how I got here. The last thing I recall is a loud bang and a searing pain at the warehouse. After that, everything went black.

I shift slightly, attempting to sit up, but a sharp ache in my shoulder stops me short. I collapse back against the pillow with a groan. The pain brings reality crashing down - I've been shot. Hayes said we were in danger, that we had to get out of Hokkaido immediately. My muddled mind struggles to piece together the fragments of memory. We were at a meeting with Emiko's father Takashi when everything went wrong.

Footsteps sound outside the room before the door creaks open. Hayes steps through, holding a glass of water. When he sees me awake, his eyes go wide with surprise and relief.

"Noah!" he gasps, nearly dropping the glass as he rushes over. "You're awake! Thank god, I was so worried..."

He helps prop me up gently against the pillows, handing me the water. I take a few small sips, my throat parched.

"What happened?" I rasp out. "Where are we?"

Hayes perches on the edge of the bed beside me. "We're at a safe house outside of Sapporo. After you were shot, V brought us here. You've been unconscious for over a week now."

I stare at him in disbelief. Over a week? It's shocking to think I've been out that long. Hayes seems to read the shock on my face.

"I was so scared," he admits quietly. "V wasn't sure if you were going to wake up. But I knew you'd pull through."

Despite the circumstances, warmth spreads through me at his words. Hayes believed in me, even when it seemed hopeless.

I try to push myself up further in bed, wanting to get my bearings, but a stab of pain makes me gasp. Hayes is there in an instant, grasping my good shoulder to steady me.

"Easy," he murmurs. "You need to rest."

He helps ease me back against the pillows. Once I'm settled, he perches next to me again, keeping a protective hand on my uninjured shoulder.

"What's the plan now?" I ask, still struggling to piece together the fragments in my mind.

Hayes' expression turns grim. "It's not safe for us here anymore. V thinks we should get out of the country until this blows over. We're going to flee to Seoul tomorrow."

My eyes widen in surprise. "Seoul?"

Hayes nods. "V has contacts there who can hide us. he already left to make arrangements."

It's a lot to take in. But Hayes' steady presence keeps me anchored amidst the chaos.

"Do the others know?" I ask.

"Yeah. We've all been waiting for you to wake up. V wants to move us tonight, get a head start. Thinks it will be safer to travel under cover of darkness."

Apprehension coils in my gut. I know we have to flee Hokkaido, but the thought of traveling in my condition fills me with anxiety. Sensing my unease, Hayes gives my shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

"Hey, it's going to be okay. I'll be right by your side the whole time. I won't let anything happen to you."

His steadfast loyalty makes my heart swell. Despite only knowing each other for a few months, I trust Hayes completely. As long as we stick together, I know we'll make it through this nightmare.

A knock at the door makes us both jump. Sophie pokes her head in, her face lighting up when she sees me awake.

"Noah!" she cries, rushing over to give me a gentle hug. "You're up! We've been so worried. How are you feeling?"