Rise Of The Fallen || KTH FF

Chapter 10: A New Strategy

The group was huddled in their makeshift shelter, the atmosphere thick with tension. Lisa stood at the center, drawing up plans for another attempt at the lab. But the conversation was drifting—concerns about Jeon Ha-joon and his deeper motives weighed heavily on everyone's minds.

Yoongi, sitting off to the side, glanced at Jimin, who hadn't taken his eyes off Taehyung since they returned from the failed mission. The tension between Jimin and Taehyung had been palpable for days, but Yoongi could feel something else simmering beneath the surface. His instincts told him that it wasn't just jealousy over the mission.

He cleared his throat, hoping to break the awkward silence. "Jimin," he started, his voice casual, "I've been thinking... maybe we should focus on a different angle. What if Ha-joon wasn't working alone? I mean, a virus of this scale—there could be someone else pulling the strings, right?"

Jimin's gaze flickered over to Yoongi, his expression tightening. "What are you getting at?"

Yoongi shrugged, trying to appear indifferent. "I don't know... Just feels like something bigger is going on. Maybe we've been too focused on Ha-joon. There might be another lead we're missing."

Jimin, visibly agitated, leaned against the wall, his eyes narrowing. "We're focusing on what's in front of us. Ha-joon's the one we know is behind the virus."

"But," Yoongi pressed, hoping to shift Jimin's focus, "what if we're wrong? What if there's more to the story than just Ha-joon?"

Taehyung, who had been quietly listening, shot Yoongi a glance, his jaw clenched slightly. He understood what Yoongi was trying to do—distract Jimin, pull his attention away from the growing closeness between Taehyung and you. But Yoongi wasn't one of them, not really. He always kept himself just outside the circle, and now, his attempts to deflect seemed more like a ploy.

Jimin crossed his arms, clearly not convinced. "We'll deal with that if we find evidence. For now, Ha-joon's the target."

Yoongi sighed inwardly, realizing his distraction wasn't working as planned. He leaned back, watching as Jimin's attention slowly drifted back to Taehyung, his expression unreadable.

As the conversation settled, the air between you and Taehyung grew charged. He lingered near you, his presence grounding you amidst the chaos. The soft glow of the dim lights cast shadows across his face, and in that moment, you saw the weight of his responsibility pressing down on him.

"Hey," he murmured, stepping closer. "How's your ankle?"

You looked down, having nearly forgotten about the pain. "It's fine. Yoongi patched it up."

Taehyung's lips pressed into a thin line, clearly still concerned. He crouched down next to you, his eyes scanning your face carefully. "You don't have to hide it if it's bad. We can't risk you getting hurt worse."

The warmth in his voice made your heart skip. You hadn't expected him to be this protective, and for a second, you forgot about the zombies, the lab, and everything else. It was just the two of you, in this fleeting moment of quiet.

"I'll be fine," you said, offering a small smile.

His gaze lingered on you for a moment longer, something unspoken hanging in the air. You wondered if he felt it too—the subtle shift between you two. Before either of you could say anything more, Jimin's voice cut through the moment, sharp and irritated.

"Can we focus?" Jimin's eyes flicked between you and Taehyung. "There's no time for... distractions."

The jab wasn't lost on you, and the air grew tense again. Taehyung's expression hardened, but he didn't respond, choosing to stand up and turn away. You swallowed the rising tension, knowing Jimin's irritation had less to do with the mission and more with the complicated emotions swirling between the three of you.

The night dragged on slowly, the weight of what lay ahead making sleep impossible. But as dawn crept over the horizon, the group was ready. Lisa assigned the pairs for scouting, breaking the group into smaller teams.

"You and Taehyung will check the west side," Lisa instructed, pointing toward the crumbling fence that bordered the lab's perimeter. "Yoongi, Jimin and I will take the north."

You exchanged a glance with Taehyung, who gave you a reassuring nod. "We'll be careful."

Jimin's eyes flicked between you and Taehyung again, and you could feel his frustration simmering. But Yoongi stepped in again, lightly bumping Jimin's shoulder as they prepped to head out. "Try not to blow a fuse, Jimin. We need everyone level-headed today."

Jimin shot him a glance but didn't argue. The plan was simple—scout, gather intel, and avoid detection at all costs. But as you moved silently through the desolate streets, you couldn't shake the feeling that this time, things would be different. That the secrets buried in that lab would change everything.

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sorry for the late update!!😣