Ineffable 𓇢𓆸 || Jakehoon

🌸 Chapter 19 🌸

We stumbled into the railway station, the air thick with the scent of sweat and fear. A cacophony of voices filled the dimly lit space, a desperate mixture of hope and despair. It felt surreal, like we had stepped into a nightmare from which there was no waking.

"Look!" Niki pointed toward the far end of the platform. A flicker of light glowed in the distance. "There's a train!"

Our hearts leaped. It was old and battered, but it was moving-our only hope to reach Busan. We rushed forward, pushing through the crowd. Jake held the little girl tightly and Jungwon held the boy, their eyes wide with a mixture of hope and fear.

As we reached the train, a woman burst through the throng, her eyes frantic. "My children!" she cried, scanning the crowd. The little boy and girl immediately dashed toward her, and I felt a lump in my throat as they cried out, "Mom!" She knelt down, arms wide, and they collapsed into her embrace.

"I thought I lost you!" she sobbed, her relief palpable. She turned to us, tears in her eyes. "Thank you. Thank you so much for bringing them here."

"It's nothing," Jake replied softly, his gaze warm and kind. "We just want to help." Jungwon added with a sweet smile.

As the family reunited, the urgency of the situation hit us again. We clambered onto the train, squeezing into the overcrowded compartments. It was cramped, with people packed together-old men with weary faces, mothers clutching infants, and children who were too young to understand the gravity of it all.

"This place is a madhouse," Heeseung muttered, shifting to make room for a family trying to board.

"Do you think we'll make it to Busan?" Eunhee asked, her voice shaking slightly.

"We have to," Jay said, trying to sound more confident than he felt. "It's our best chance."

Niki leaned closer, his voice barely audible above the murmurs of the crowd. "I can't believe this is happening. It feels unreal."

"It is unreal," Jungwon replied, his gaze fixed on the window. "But we have to keep moving forward. We can't give up."

As the minutes dragged on, we all exchanged worried glances, the fear palpable. The train's whistle blew, signaling its departure. It felt like the last heartbeat before the plunge into uncertainty.

Suddenly, the lights flickered, and the train jolted. A collective gasp spread through the carriage. Eunhee clutched the Jake, Sunoo and Jungwon closer, and I could see the tension in her shoulders too.

"Everyone, stay calm," I urged, raising my voice over the chaos. "We'll get through this together."

As the train began to roll forward, the scenery outside blurred into a haunting backdrop of abandoned buildings and darkened streets. I glanced around, seeing the same fear mirrored on everyone's faces. This wasn't just about escaping; it was about survival.

"I can't believe it's come to this," Sunoo said, his voice tinged with sadness. "Just a few days ago, we were all together, laughing and joking."

"Now we're running for our lives," Jay added, his tone heavy. "But we're still together. That's what matters."

"Together," I echoed, looking at each of my friends. "No matter what happens, we stick together."

As the train continued its journey, the sound of our breaths mingled with the rhythmic clatter of the wheels against the tracks. Outside, the darkness loomed, but inside, we clung to the flicker of hope that lay ahead.

I hope everyone enjoying my story 🤗