Ineffable 𓇢𓆸 || Jakehoon

🌸 Chapter 20 🌸

The train rumbled on, and the atmosphere inside grew tense. We were packed tightly, the warmth of bodies a stark contrast to the chill that settled in my bones from the fear outside. Every few moments, the flickering lights overhead would dim, sending a wave of apprehension through the crowd.

"Sunghoon," Jake murmured, his eyes scanning the faces around us. "What if they catch up to us?"

I took a deep breath, trying to project calm. "We have to believe we'll make it. Busan is safe. We just need to hold on a little longer."

He nodded, but I could see the worry lingering in his gaze. I reached for his hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"Has anyone seen my gummy bears?" Niki said, trying to lighten the mood I think. "Seriously Niki? You worried about your gummy bears even right now?"

Eunhee chuckled softly. "Let him do or say anything he wants Sunoo"

"What?? I'm still a little kid" Niki said sassily

Everyone laughed, a ripple of warmth cutting through the fear. It felt good to reminisce, even in a situation like this.

Suddenly, the train lurched, and a loud bang echoed from outside. The lights flickered again, and a murmur of fear spread through the carriage. I could feel Jake tense beside me.

"What was that?" He glanced out the window, his face pale.

"Just keep calm," I urged, but my own heart raced. I could see shadows moving in the distance, figures darting along the tracks. The sound of shouting reached our ears, and my stomach dropped.

"Everyone, stay close!" I called out, my voice steady despite the rising panic. "We need to look out for each other."

As the train continued to shake, the conductor's voice crackled over the intercom. "We are encountering some issues ahead. Please remain seated and stay calm. We will resolve this shortly."

"Resolve what?" Jay whispered, his eyes wide. "What's happening?"

I could only shake my head, feeling helpless. The train jolted again, this time harder, and I heard the cries of a child somewhere in the crowd. The tension was palpable, and I felt the weight of my friends' eyes on me, searching for reassurance.

"Maybe we should move toward the back," Jungwon suggested. "If there's trouble ahead, we need a way out."

"Good idea," I agreed. "Let's do it quickly."

We carefully made our way through the throng, inching toward the rear of the train. As we pushed through the crowded compartments, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were running out of time.

Finally, we reached the last car, where it was slightly less crowded. The sounds of the chaos outside were clearer now, and I could see the flickering lights of what looked like military vehicles in the distance.

"We might need to jump," I said, my voice low. "If they stop us... we can't let that happen."

Jake looked at others "But what about everyone else?"

"They'll follow," I assured him. "We have to look out for ourselves first."

As I spoke, the train suddenly ground to a halt. The jolt sent everyone stumbling, and the lights flickered out completely, plunging us into darkness. Gasps filled the air, and I felt Jake's breath quicken beside me.

"Stay close!" I shouted again, trying to maintain some semblance of control.

A few moments later, the intercom crackled back to life. "Attention, all passengers. We must ask everyone to remain calm and stay seated. We will be... inspecting the train."

The word "inspecting" sent a chill down my spine. The train door slid open with a metallic screech, and the faint outline of soldiers appeared against the dim light outside.

"Here we go," I muttered under my breath, heart racing.

"On three, we jump," I said, looking at Jake and our friends. "One... two... three!"

We leaped off the train just as the soldiers began to move through the car. The ground was uneven beneath our feet, but adrenaline propelled us forward. I heard shouts behind us, but we didn't look back.

"Run!" I yelled, my voice cutting through the night.

We darted into the shadows, moving toward the treeline nearby. As we ran, I could hear the commotion of the soldiers searching the train, the sounds of fear mingling with desperation echoing in the distance.

"Where do we go now?" Eunhee panted, glancing around.

"Into the woods," I directed, my mind racing. "We need to hide and figure out our next move."

We dashed into the cover of the trees, the darkness enveloping us. I could hear our breaths mingling with the rustle of leaves, a stark reminder of how fragile our situation was.

"Did we lose them?" Niki whispered, scanning the area.

"I hope so," Heeseung hyung replied, "But we can't stop. We have to keep moving."

In the depths of the woods, surrounded by the chaos of war, we were still together, and as long as we held on to each other, I believed we would find a way to survive.