Beneath the Surface

Part 9

Longtai's chest still heaved as he tried to quiet his breaths, the taste of adrenaline thick in his mouth. The muffled voices of the guards faded into the distance, their footsteps moving in the opposite direction. For now, the two of them were safe-though for how long, Longtai couldn't say.

Yok crouched beside him behind the concrete pillar, his sharp eyes scanning the shadows for any lingering threats. As the silence stretched, he reached up and tugged his mask off, exposing his familiar face.

Longtai's breath hitched, and he stared, disbelief flashing across his face. "Yok?" he whispered hoarsely, his voice barely audible.

Yok turned to him, his expression somewhere between annoyance and relief. "Yeah, it's me," he muttered, brushing a hand through his damp hair. "And what the hell are you doing here, Longtai?"

"I could ask you the same thing," Longtai shot back, his voice trembling from the fear and confusion still coursing through him.

Yok's eyes narrowed. "This is no place for you," he said, his tone a mixture of frustration and concern. "You shouldn't have-"

A distant noise cut him off-a clang of metal, far enough to not be an immediate threat but close enough to remind them of their precarious position. Yok swore under his breath and stood, reaching for Longtai's arm.

"Never mind," he said hurriedly. "We don't have time for this. Come on."

Before Longtai could argue, Yok gripped his wrist and pulled him to his feet. The urgency in his touch sent a jolt through Longtai's system, and he stumbled after him, their footsteps quiet against the cracked concrete floor. They moved swiftly, weaving through the maze of the decrepit building, keeping low and hugging the shadows.

Yok's grip didn't loosen as they ran, and Longtai felt himself being guided with practiced precision. He couldn't help but wonder how many times Yok had navigated places like this before.

He risked a glance behind him, his breath quickening as the echo of boots on concrete grew louder. A guard's voice shouted in the distance, "I found them!" The hairs on the back of Longtai's neck stood up, and before he could think, Yok tightened his hold on his hand.

"Run," Yok said, his voice low but commanding.

They ran, faster now, their footsteps frantic against the gritty floor. Longtai's heart hammered in his chest, each breath coming in sharp, shallow bursts. His body was running on pure instinct, pumping with adrenaline, his mind scrambling to make sense of the chaotic situation. He could feel the heat from Yok's hand as it pulled him along, and he couldn't help but be aware of how their fingers were locked together. It was surreal-nothing like he could've imagined.

Yok glanced over his shoulder, a grin flashing across his face despite the danger. "Don't slow down now," he said, his words sharp with excitement, as if he were enjoying this mad chase.

Longtai's legs burned, but there was no time to stop, no time to question what was happening. He just kept running, the sound of pursuing footsteps getting closer. The fear started to build in his chest, the thought of getting caught, the thought of being left behind by Yok-it all made his pulse race faster.

They burst through an alley, and Longtai barely had time to adjust as Yok steered him toward a parked motorcycle. Yok swiftly swung his leg over the seat, casting a quick glance around as if checking for any other threats.

"Hop on," Yok said, his voice still full of that cool, confident tone that only seemed to make Longtai's heart race more.

Longtai hesitated for a moment, his mind still reeling. But without thinking further, he climbed on behind Yok, holding on to the back of the bike with a mixture of confusion and reluctant excitement. He had never done something so reckless before-never imagined he would be sitting here, on the back of Yok's bike, being chased by bodyguards in some mad escape.