Rise Of The Fallen || KTH FF

Chapter 17: Into The Fray

The air was thick with anticipation as you, Taehyung, Jimin, and Yoongi made your way toward the dilapidated building Lisa had mentioned. The streets were eerily quiet, the kind of silence that made every footstep sound louder than it should. Shadows clung to the crumbling walls, and the distant groans of the undead echoed faintly in the background, reminding you that danger was always close.

Taehyung led the way, his eyes scanning the area with sharp precision, while Yoongi walked beside him, clutching a map. Jimin lingered a few paces behind, his expression serious. You kept pace with them, your mind buzzing with unease as you neared what could be Jeon Ha-joon's hideout—or another dead end.

"This should be it," Yoongi whispered, pointing toward the darkened, decrepit structure ahead. It looked abandoned, but there was something off about it. You could feel it in your bones.

The group entered cautiously, weapons drawn, eyes sharp. The interior was damp and cold, the walls covered in mold and decay. Papers and files were scattered across the floor, some of them soaked from the leaking roof. Taehyung gestured for you all to fan out and search for anything useful. You sifted through piles of old documents and broken equipment, heart racing as you silently hoped this would bring you one step closer to answers.

But just as you bent down to examine a stack of files, you heard a rustling from the far corner of the room. You looked up just in time to see something—a dark, fast-moving figure—rush toward Jimin.

"Jimin, watch out!" you screamed, your body moving before your mind could catch up.

The zombie crashed into him, teeth bared and eyes glazed with hunger. Jimin stumbled backward, trying to fend it off, but the creature was relentless. Without thinking, you lunged forward, pulling out your knife and plunging it deep into the zombie's neck. Its sickening groan filled the room as it collapsed to the floor, lifeless once again.

Jimin panted heavily, looking up at you with a mix of shock and gratitude. "You... you saved me," he said, his voice a little unsteady.

You offered him a small smile, still catching your breath. "I couldn't let you die on me, could I?"

For a moment, the tension between you melted, and something shifted. Jimin's hard exterior softened ever so slightly, and you could sense that this was the beginning of a fragile bond between you two. Maybe things weren't as hopeless between you as they seemed.

But the victory was short-lived. Just as you helped Jimin back to his feet, a low growl echoed from behind you. Then another. And another.

Yoongi cursed under his breath, gripping his weapon tighter. "We're not alone."

More zombies. Dozens of them, crawling out from the dark corners of the building, their dead eyes locked onto your group. The realization hit all of you at once—this wasn't a coincidence. This place was a trap.

"They're everywhere!" Taehyung shouted, his voice filled with urgency as the horde began to swarm. "We need to get out of here!"

With no time to waste, you and the group bolted for the exit, hacking and slashing your way through the advancing undead. Every breath was a struggle, every step a battle for survival. The narrow hallways and decaying floors made your escape all the more harrowing. The zombies were relentless, their numbers growing by the second.

As you neared the exit, a chilling voice echoed from somewhere in the distance—a voice you couldn't quite place.

"What a foolish girl," the voice sneered, the words laced with malice. "She doesn't even realize she's playing right into my hands."

Your heart lurched. Someone was watching. Someone who knew exactly who you were.

But there was no time to process it. You had to keep running.

The group burst out of the building, the cold night air hitting your face like a slap. You didn't stop, didn't look back as the moans of the zombies faded into the background. The escape was messy, frantic, but you all made it out alive.

Once you were far enough from the infested building, you stopped to catch your breath, your mind still reeling from the escape—and the voice. Who was that? And what did they want with you?

Taehyung's eyes were sharp as he scanned the area for any further threats, while Yoongi leaned against a tree, wiping the sweat from his brow. Jimin was still beside you, breathing heavily, but he gave you a nod—a silent thank you for saving his life.

But even as the adrenaline began to wear off, the ominous words hung in the air like a curse. What a foolish girl.

Whoever that was, they knew more than they were letting on. And they were watching. Always watching...