Ineffable 𓇢𓆸 || Jakehoon

🌸 Chapter 18 🌸

"Are we really doing this?" he whispered, glancing toward our friends, who were huddled together, anxiety etched on their faces.

"We don't have a choice," I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt.

With a deep breath, I turned to our friends. "We need to move. Stick together, and stay quiet. If we see any soldiers, don't draw attention."

We crept through the shadows, the sound of our footsteps barely audible over the chaos around us. As we reached the edge of the building, Jungwon caught a glimpse of two small figures in the rubble ahead-a little girl and boy, no older than seven or eight, crouching alone, wide-eyed and terrified.

"Jake hyung," Jungwon said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Look."

He followed Jungwon's gaze, his expression shifting from fear to compassion. "We can't leave them," he said, stepping forward without a second thought.

I knew he was right. I felt the pull of responsibility, of wanting to protect them. The world felt so cruel, and the thought of leaving them behind made my heart ache.

But before I could argue further, Jake and Jungwon was already kneeling next to the kids. "Hey, it's okay. We're here to help you," Jake said softly, extending his hand. The girl reached out, tears streaming down her dirt-streaked face, and the boy clutched her tightly.

I watched as Jake gently lifted the girl into his arms and Jungwon took the little boy. "We need to go. Stay close," Eunhee hyung urged, his eyes darting around nervously.

Suddenly, a shout echoed through the air, and I turned to see a group of North Korean soldiers emerging from the shadows, rifles at the ready. "Stop right there!" one of them yelled, and I felt my heart drop.

"Jay, Sunghoon!" Heeseung hyung shouted, urgency flooding his voice. "Get them out of here!"

In a split second, Jay stepped forward, a fierce determination in his eyes. "I'll hold them off. You guys go!"

"Are you insane? You'll get yourself killed!" Jungwon yelled back, panic rising in my chest.

"Just go!" he insisted, his voice steady. With a nod, Jay and I sprinted toward the soldiers, creating a diversion while Jake and Jungwon clutched the children tightly.

"Now!" I shouted, pulling Jake away from the chaos, our friends following close behind. We dashed toward the railway station, the sound of gunfire ringing in our ears.

As we reached the station, I felt a mixture of relief and dread wash over me. It was a makeshift refuge for countless others, desperate souls hiding from the storm of war. But the fear didn't leave us; it hung in the air like a heavy fog.

"Where do we go from here?" Jungwon asked, glancing at the frightened children in his arms.

"Busan," I replied, my mind racing. "We need to get there. It's our best chance."

As we pushed through the throng of people, I glanced back at Jake and others. Theit expression was resolute, but I could see the weight of our choices in their eyes. This wasn't just about survival anymore; it was about hope, about protecting the ones we loved-even when the world around us seemed to be falling apart.