Tangeled in shadows | Min Yoongi

Chapter 13: Through the Fire

Yoongi's hands were stained red, slick with Yoona's blood, as he pressed down on her wound, trying to stop the flow. Every second that passed felt like an eternity, each shallow breath she took pushing him closer to the edge of panic. He wasn't supposed to feel like this-helpless, afraid. But here he was, kneeling in the dirt beside her, the weight of her life heavy in his hands.

Her eyes fluttered open, weak but defiant, as she looked up at him. "You... you should've left me," she whispered, her voice strained with pain.

"Shut up, Smoke," Yoongi growled, his voice betraying more emotion than he intended. "You're not dying on me. Not here. Not now."

Yoona's lips twitched in a faint smirk, but it quickly dissolved into a wince as the pain surged through her. "You can't... control everything."

"Watch me," he bit out, his jaw clenched. He glanced up, searching for Jin and his men. "Where the hell is that medic?"

Jin appeared at his side, a tense expression on his face. "He's on his way, boss. But we need to move her out of here. We can't stay in the open like this."

Yoongi nodded, his mind racing. "Get the car ready. We're taking her back to the safehouse. Now."

Jin moved quickly, barking orders to the rest of the crew as they scrambled to secure the area. Yoongi didn't move from Yoona's side, his focus entirely on her. He could feel her slipping away, and it terrified him in a way he hadn't anticipated.

"Agust..." Yoona's voice was softer now, her strength fading. "Why are you doing this?"

Yoongi's heart twisted at the question, but he didn't answer right away. He couldn't. How could he explain that this was more than just business, more than just survival? How could he admit that the reason he couldn't let her go was because somewhere along the way, he'd stopped seeing her as an enemy and started seeing her as something... more?

"I told you," he finally said, his voice low but firm. "I'm not letting you die. Not like this."

Before Yoona could respond, the sound of tires screeching on asphalt signaled the arrival of the car. Jin and another one of Yoongi's men carefully lifted Yoona, carrying her toward the vehicle. Yoongi followed closely, his mind racing as he tried to figure out his next move.

Once they were inside the car, Yoongi sat beside her, his gaze locked on her pale face. Every bump in the road sent a tremor through her body, and every wince made his chest tighten. He hated this-feeling helpless. It wasn't who he was. He was always in control, always one step ahead. But right now, all he could do was watch her bleed.

"Stay with me, Yoona," he muttered under his breath, using her real name for the first time in what felt like forever. "Don't you dare pass out."

Her eyes fluttered open again at the sound of her name, though her focus remained distant. She looked at him, confusion and pain mixing in her gaze. "Yoongi..."

His name from her lips felt like a lifeline. "Yeah, it's me. I'm here."

She gave a weak nod, her eyes closing again as her strength waned. The silence in the car was thick, broken only by the sound of the engine and Yoona's labored breathing. Yoongi clenched his fists, his mind racing with all the things he wanted to say to her, all the questions that now seemed trivial in the face of her injury.

"You should've killed me," she whispered suddenly, her voice barely audible.

Yoongi's eyes widened at her words, anger bubbling up. "Shut up, Yoona. Stop talking like that."

"I tried to kill you..." Her voice wavered, guilt and confusion breaking through her pain. "I couldn't do it. Why?"

He swallowed hard, forcing himself to keep his voice steady. "You didn't because you're not a murderer. You're not like them."

A bitter laugh escaped her lips. "Aren't I? I've done worse."

"No," he snapped, leaning closer to her. "You're different. That's why I let you go."

She looked at him, her brow furrowing in disbelief. "Why did you let me go, Yoongi? You could've killed me too. So why?"

The question lingered in the air, heavy with the truth he'd been avoiding. Yoongi couldn't deny it any longer. He had let her go because the lines between hatred and something else had blurred the moment he saw the pain behind her anger. The moment he realized that killing her wouldn't give him the satisfaction he once thought it would.

"I don't know," he finally muttered, his voice gruff. "But I couldn't."

Yoona's eyes searched his, as if looking for a reason to believe him. The car sped through the dark streets, the night swallowing them up as they raced toward the safehouse. Her breathing was growing weaker, and Yoongi's panic surged again.

He wasn't sure if she'd survive this, but the thought of losing her felt like losing a part of himself he hadn't realized was there.

The car screeched to a halt in front of the safehouse, and Jin was already out, pulling the door open. Yoongi was out of the car in seconds, his arms sliding beneath Yoona's limp body as he carried her inside.

"We need a medic, now!" he barked as they entered the dimly lit interior of the safehouse.

A small crew rushed forward, clearing space and preparing a makeshift operating table. Yoongi gently laid her down, his hands lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary. Her skin was cold, and her breathing shallow. He could feel time slipping away, and with it, his calm.

Jin stepped forward, his voice quiet but urgent. "She's lost a lot of blood, Yoongi. If the medic doesn't get here soon..."

"I know," Yoongi cut him off, his eyes never leaving Yoona's face. "Just keep her stable. "