Save me.. ||MINSUNG HIGH SCHOOL AU

Running out of time

A/N: in honor of my first straykids concert last night!

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The moment Felix's words hit, Minho's blood ran cold.

"More than one?" Jisung repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. His hand was still locked with Minho's, but now it gripped tighter—like it was the only thing keeping him grounded.

Felix nodded quickly, sweat dripping down the sides of his pale face. "They think there's at least two. One's already in custody, but the other... they don't know where he is." His voice cracked on the last word.

Minho's heart pounded painfully, a drumbeat of pure panic. "Then what the hell are we supposed to do?"

Felix shifted nervously, glancing back at the door. "We can't stay here. If the second shooter's still loose—"

As if on cue, a faint, distant sound echoed down the hall. The unmistakable click of a gun being loaded.

Jisung's breath hitched, and Minho felt his stomach lurch. There was no time to think. No time to plan.

"We need to move," Felix hissed. "Now."

---

The hallway stretched before them like a gauntlet, every shadow and flicker of light a potential threat. The sounds of footsteps and hushed whispers bounced off the walls, impossible to trace.

"Where do we go?" Jisung whispered, his voice trembling as they huddled just outside the classroom door.

"The east stairwell," Felix whispered urgently. "It leads to the staff parking lot. There's a gate there—it's open."

Minho's mind raced, trying to map out the layout of the school through the thick fog of fear clouding his brain. East stairwell. Two hallways over. They could make it... if they were fast.

Another sound—a shuffling footstep—echoed down the hall, closer now. Too close.

"Go," Minho whispered, his voice strained as he nudged Jisung forward. "Go, now."

---

They moved as quietly as they could, but every creak of the floor and every breath they took felt like it echoed a hundred times louder. Minho stayed close to Jisung, his hand brushing against his back to keep him moving. Felix took the lead, his head snapping from side to side as they navigated the hallways like prey trying to outrun a predator.

When they reached the first corner, Minho peered around the edge. The hallway was empty, but a strange, suffocating silence hung in the air, making his skin crawl.

"Clear," Minho whispered.

They darted around the corner, their footsteps muffled against the tile. The east stairwell was just a few steps away now. They were so close—

BANG!

The sharp crack of a gunshot shattered the silence.

Jisung yelped, stumbling to a stop, and Minho grabbed his arm to steady him.

"Move! Keep moving!" Felix whispered frantically, his face pale with terror.

They sprinted the last stretch toward the stairwell. Felix yanked open the heavy metal door, and the three of them practically fell inside, slamming it shut behind them.

For a moment, the dimly lit stairwell offered them the smallest measure of safety. They leaned against the walls, gasping for breath, their chests heaving from the exertion and terror.

Minho felt his entire body trembling. His vision blurred for a moment as the pounding of his heart consumed every thought.

We're okay. We're okay. We're not dead.

But the moment was short-lived.

A sound from the hallway outside—the faintest click of a door handle being tested—sent fresh fear slicing through Minho's gut.

"He's coming," Jisung whispered, panic rising in his voice.

Minho's mind scrambled for a plan. They couldn't stay in the stairwell—it was too exposed. But if they kept going down, there was no guarantee they'd make it out without being seen.

Felix's eyes darted wildly, as if searching for some miracle exit. "The second floor," he whispered. "There's another set of stairs there. If we can get across the hall—"

Jisung let out a shaky breath, already on the verge of hyperventilating. Minho could feel his panic spiraling.

"Jisung," Minho whispered, stepping in front of him, gripping his shoulders tightly. "Look at me."

Jisung's eyes flickered to Minho's, wide with fear.

"You're okay. We're going to be okay," Minho whispered, forcing his own voice to stay steady, even though his heart was hammering in his chest. "We just need to keep moving. Stay with me, okay?"

Jisung nodded jerkily, his breath coming fast and shallow. "Okay."

Felix gave them a quick glance. "We don't have much time. We have to go now."

Minho squeezed Jisung's shoulder one more time before they slipped back into the hallway.

---

The hall stretched out like a nightmare—long, quiet, and filled with too many places for someone to hide. The three of them moved as quickly and quietly as they could, their hearts pounding in sync with every step they took.

The stairwell door creaked behind them—someone had opened it.

Minho froze, his pulse roaring in his ears. He grabbed Jisung's hand and pulled him into a nearby alcove, Felix ducking in right behind them.

Footsteps echoed down the hall, slow and deliberate.

Minho held his breath, pressing closer to Jisung, feeling the boy tremble beside him. The footsteps grew louder, each one like a countdown.

Then, they stopped.

Right in front of their hiding place.

The three of them stayed frozen, lungs burning, hearts hammering. Minho could feel the tension radiating from Jisung, could hear Felix's shallow breathing beside them.

And then—

A shadow moved, a figure stepping closer.

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To be continued...