Ineffable 𓇢𓆸 || Jakehoon

🌸 Chapter 21 🌸

The darkness closed in around us as we ducked deeper into the trees, the sounds of the train and the soldiers fading into the background. My heart raced, fueled by the fear of being caught, but I knew we had to stay strong for each other.

"Are we safe here?" Jake asked, glancing nervously over his shoulder.

"For now," I said, though my voice lacked certainty. "We need to find a place to catch our breath and come up with a plan."

We moved cautiously through the underbrush, trying to remain as quiet as possible. As we reached the bank of the river, where the moonlight shimmered on the surface, I felt a momentary sense of peace amidst the chaos.

"Let's rest here for a moment," I suggested. "We need to gather our thoughts and figure out what to do next."

We sat on the cool grass, the sounds of the river providing a calming backdrop. I took a moment to survey our group. Everyone looked exhausted, but the determination in their eyes remained unyielding.

"What if we can't make it to Busan?" Niki asked quietly, breaking the silence. "What if they catch us?"

"We can't think like that," Jay replied, his voice firm. "We've made it this far. We just need to stick together and keep moving."

"Right," I said, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on my shoulders. "Our next goal is to find a safe place to hide out for the night. We can't stay here too long."

"Maybe there's an old house or shelter nearby," Sunoo suggested, glancing around. "We could find something to keep us hidden."

"Good thinking," I agreed. "But we need to be cautious. If the soldiers are searching the area, we can't attract attention."

Just then, I heard a rustling noise in the distance. My heart leaped into my throat.

"Heeseung!" I hissed, glancing toward him.

He turned, his expression tense. "What was that?"

We all fell silent, straining to listen. The rustling grew louder, and I could make out shapes moving through the trees.

"Everyone, stay down!" I whispered urgently.

We crouched low, hearts pounding as the figures drew closer. My mind raced-were they soldiers? Or fellow survivors?

As the shapes came into view, I felt a rush of relief. It was just a group of deer, their graceful forms gliding silently through the underbrush.

"Just animals," I murmured, releasing a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

"Let's move," I said, rising cautiously. "We can't risk staying too long."

We continued deeper into the woods, finally spotting an old, dilapidated house through the trees. It was worn down but offered potential shelter.

"Let's check it out," I said, leading the way. "But keep your voices low."

Once inside, we quickly began to secure the doors and windows, pushing aside debris to block any entrances. The musty air felt heavy, but at least we were hidden from sight.

As we settled in, I pulled out the little food we had left. We gathered in a circle, sharing what little we had, our meager meal somehow feeling like a feast in our situation.

"Do you think the fighting will end soon?" Niki asked, her voice small.

"I hope so," I replied, glancing at Jake. "But we have to stay strong, no matter what happens."

As the night wore on, tension lingered in the air, but the warmth of our small group provided comfort. We were scared, but together, we had a chance.

As I lay down to rest, the sounds of the river and the soft murmurs of my friends surrounded me. No matter what awaited us in the coming days, I knew we would face it together.