Rise Of The Fallen || KTH FF

Chapter 9: Narrow Escape

The cold wind nipped at your skin as you followed the others, creeping stealthily toward the maintenance entrance of the lab. The tension in the air was thick, your heart hammering in your chest as each step brought you closer to danger.

"Remember, we need to be quiet," Lisa whispered, glancing back at all of you. Her eyes were sharp, and her voice held a warning. You nodded, feeling the weight of the task before you. You had to prove you were more than just a burden to the group.

As you entered the dimly lit hallway of the lab, the air turned stale, and the sound of your footsteps echoed eerily against the metal walls. You moved in unison with the others, keeping low and alert, every nerve tingling with the anticipation of something going wrong.

Then, as you turned a corner, a loud beep echoed through the hall. You barely had time to react before a red light began flashing above your heads.

"Cameras!" Yoongi hissed, his eyes wide with alarm.

Before you could comprehend the severity of the situation, the ceiling erupted in gunfire. Bullets whizzed past you, their high-pitched screeches filling the narrow space. Panic surged through you, your body moving on instinct as you ducked down, adrenaline rushing through your veins.

"Run!" Taehyung shouted, grabbing your arm and pulling you forward. You sprinted as fast as your legs would carry you, your ankle screaming in protest with every step. But fear kept you moving. The terror of the bullets, the threat of being gunned down—it was all too real.

As the group bolted through the corridors, another sound hit your ears—distant snarls, growing louder by the second. The gunfire had attracted the zombies.

"Back! We need to get back!" Lisa shouted from ahead, pushing through the emergency door as the group made a frantic retreat.

Just as you turned to follow, you spotted movement to your right. A decayed figure stumbled toward Yoongi, its rotting teeth snapping open and closed hungrily.

"Yoongi, behind you!" you screamed, your voice thick with fear.

Time seemed to slow as Yoongi froze, his face drained of color, eyes wide in terror. The zombie lunged.

But before it could reach him, Taehyung shot forward, tackling Yoongi to the ground just in time. The zombie's teeth missed by inches, its weight crashing into the floor where Yoongi had been.

"Get off me!" Yoongi gasped, scrambling to his feet in a panic. Taehyung quickly rolled away, barely avoiding the creature's grasp.

There was no time to linger. The group was already retreating toward the hiding spot, running for their lives, hearts pounding and breaths ragged. The weight of what had just happened pressed heavily on you as you sprinted alongside them, adrenaline the only thing keeping your legs moving.

Back at the safe spot, you collapsed onto the cold floor, gasping for air. Your chest heaved, your lungs burning, and every muscle screamed from the desperate sprint. The terrifying close call with Yoongi, the gunfire, and the zombie's snapping jaws played on a loop in your mind, each memory more vivid than the last.

One by one, the rest of the group filed inside, pale and out of breath, but alive. Somehow, you'd all made it back without being shot, bitten, or worse. Taehyung was the last to enter, his sharp gaze scanning the group, counting heads, ensuring everyone was accounted for. His eyes locked with yours for a brief moment, concern etched into his features.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice low and steady, but you could hear the tension beneath it.

You nodded, though your ankle throbbed with sharp pain, swelling from the strain of running. "Yeah... I'll be fine," you lied, wincing slightly. You didn't want to be a burden. Not again.

Yoongi, who had been sitting on the floor, staring blankly at his trembling hands, finally spoke. "That was too close," he muttered, the shock still clinging to his voice.

Lisa was already pacing, her face twisted with frustration. "We weren't prepared. I knew security would be tight, but not like this," she growled, muttering curses under her breath. "Those guns... they were waiting for us."

"They were automatic," Jimin said, his jaw clenched tightly as he leaned against the wall, eyes narrowed. "Surveillance activated them the second we stepped in. It's like they knew we were coming."

Taehyung, silent until now, ran a hand through his hair, his expression hardened with thought. "There's something we're not seeing. That lab... it's more than just a research facility. They're protecting something. But what?"

The tension in the room thickened as his words hung in the air. You shifted uncomfortably, trying to take the weight off your injured ankle, but the pain made you wince. Yoongi, still shaken but regaining some composure, noticed and moved to your side.

"You hurt?" he asked, his voice softer now, concern replacing the fear that had been there moments ago.

"I'm fine. Just twisted it while running," you said, but Yoongi wasn't convinced. He reached for the first-aid kit, his hands steady as he began wrapping a bandage around your swollen ankle.

"You've been limping since we left," he pointed out, his tone firm but gentle.

You offered a small smile. "Thanks."

As Yoongi finished bandaging your ankle, you glanced up and caught Taehyung watching the interaction from across the room, his expression unreadable. His gaze lingered for a moment before he looked away, lost in thought again.

Lisa's pacing suddenly stopped as she turned to face the group, her eyes blazing with determination. "We have to rethink this. There's no way we're getting back in there without more intel. We need a new plan, and fast."

Jimin snorted, his irritation palpable. "And where are we going to get that? We barely escaped with our lives."

Lisa's lips pressed into a thin line. "We'll figure it out. But we can't just walk away. That lab holds answers, and if we don't get them soon, this virus is going to spread even further."

A chill settled over the room as the weight of her words hit you. The virus was spreading. The world was falling apart, and time was running out.

Your thoughts drifted back to the lab. To Jeon Ha-joon—the scientist who started it all. His name was etched into your mind, a constant reminder of the destruction he'd caused. You had to know more. You had to understand why he did this, what his endgame was.

As the group debated their next steps, you found your gaze wandering to Taehyung, who was staring out of the small, grimy window. His expression was distant, his thoughts clearly elsewhere. You wondered what was going through his mind, how much pressure he must feel to protect everyone, to keep the group alive.

"We'll need to scout the area before we try again," Lisa finally said, breaking the silence. "We don't know what else they have hidden around that lab. But we're not done yet. We can't be."

Everyone exchanged glances, the grim determination settling over the group like a heavy blanket.

Taehyung finally turned to face the group, his voice steady and resolute. "We rest tonight. Tomorrow, we find a new way in."

You all nodded in agreement, though the tension in the air made it clear that sleep would be impossible. The memory of the failed mission, the narrow escape, and the constant threat of death loomed over you all like a dark shadow.

As you lay in the makeshift shelter, listening to the distant growls of zombies outside, you knew that tomorrow would be another battle. And this time, you couldn't afford to fail.

_______________________________________________________________________________

This is probably the longest chapter I've written.

 Hope you guys are enjoying the story so far!!💜💜