Rise Of The Fallen || KTH FF

Chapter 4: Tension In The Air

The next thing you knew, you were blinking against a harsh light. The air was thick with tension, the space around you foreign but secure. A makeshift bed cradled your aching body, and the faint murmur of voices reached your ears.

"Hey! You're awake." The hooded figure from before was by your side, his features clearer now, though still shadowed in mystery. His voice was a low rumble, the edge of concern unmistakable. "You scared us for a second."

Groggily, you pushed yourself up, wincing as pain shot through your ankle. "Where am I? Who... are you?"

"I'm Taehyung," he replied, eyes flicking toward the door, clearly on edge. "You're safe for now, but we need to be careful."

The weight of his words pressed down on you. You were safe, but how long would that last?

Taehyung turned his gaze back to you, his tone softening. "You were being chased by a zombie. You can't stay out there alone."

"Zombies... is it real?" The full reality of your situation hit you like a brick. The news hadn't been a joke or a sensational headline. This was real, terrifying, and you were now caught up in something inexplicable.

"Yeah," Taehyung said, his expression grim. "And we're trying to figure out who started this whole mess." He paused, studying your reaction before adding quietly, "But first, we need to keep you safe. The others... well, they're not so sure about you yet."

Your heart dropped at the mention of others. "What do you mean?"

"They think you might be a spy. They don't trust you yet," Taehyung admitted, his voice almost apologetic. "But I do. You showed a lot of bravery back there."

Bravery? The word felt foreign in your mouth. You hadn't felt brave at all, but the fact that Taehyung thought so gave you the slightest flicker of reassurance. You had survived-barely.

As you tried to gather your thoughts, a warm hand pressed a damp cloth against your forehead. You turned to see a tall guy with dark hair and kind eyes. "You're running a fever," he said gently. "I'm Namjoon. Just relax; you need to recover."

"Thank you," you whispered, overwhelmed by everything-your injury, the uncertainty of your safety, the chaotic world outside.

Suddenly, a sharp voice cut through the air like a knife. "Why did you even bring her back, Taehyung?"

You turned to see a guy with a tense expression, arms crossed over his chest. You recognized him from earlier-the one who had been scolding Taehyung. His eyes were full of suspicion, and the energy he gave off was anything but welcoming.

"Jimin," Taehyung started, his frustration barely masked. "She's helpless. She almost got attacked by a zombie."

"Yeah, but what if she's a spy or already bitten by a zombie? We can't take that risk," Jimin shot back, his gaze cutting into you. There was no softness in his tone, only wariness.

You felt a surge of indignation. "I'm not a spy! I was just walking home, and then-" You faltered, realizing how absurd it all sounded. "I just want to survive, like everyone else."

Namjoon stepped in, his calm voice somehow grounding the tension. "Let's not jump to conclusions. We don't know her story yet. She's scared, and she needs help."

"Scared?" Jimin's skepticism cut deep, his arms still crossed tightly. "You think that's enough to trust her? We don't know anything about her."

Taehyung's jaw tightened, and he shot Jimin a stern look. "She has every reason to be scared. None of us are handling this well. We're not monsters-we can't treat her like one."

The tension in the room was thick, like static electricity ready to snap. You could feel the weight of their judgment, and it was suffocating. Jimin's hostility, the uncertainty surrounding you-it all pressed down hard. You glanced between Taehyung and Jimin, trying to read the emotions behind their words.

"Look," you said, fighting to keep your voice steady. "I don't want to be a burden. I just want to understand what's happening. Can you at least give me that?"

Namjoon nodded, the warmth in his eyes offering some small relief. Taehyung's gaze softened, but there was still caution behind it. "We'll figure this out together," he said quietly. "But first, you need to rest. You've been through a lot."

As the others continued their hushed discussion, you settled back into the makeshift bed, exhaustion washing over you. The throbbing in your ankle was relentless, and every time you closed your eyes, flashes of the zombie came back to haunt you.