Ineffable 𓇢𓆸 || Jakehoon

🍃 Chapter 25🍃

Jake's POV

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm glow over the desolate landscape, but all I could feel was the chill creeping up my spine. Spring had slipped away into summer, yet our hearts felt heavy with an unshakeable fear.

"Jake, are you okay?" Sunghoon's voice cut through the silence. I turned to see him walking beside me, his brow furrowed with concern. He always had that way of knowing when something was off.

"I'm fine," I replied, forcing a smile. But the truth was, I was anything but fine. We'd been running for a month, and now we were just a group of scared kids trying to escape a nightmare that had become our reality.

Jay, always the optimist, chimed in, "At least we're still together. That has to count for something, right?" His voice was steady, but I could see the worry in his eyes.

"Yeah, but what about Busan?" Jungwon interjected, glancing at the map in his hands. "I heard from a traveler that things there are even worse now."

"Worse? How could it get worse?" Sunoo asked, his voice trembling slightly. I could see his hands shake as he clutched his backpack tighter.

"Let's just keep moving," Heeseung hyung said, determination etched on his face. "We can't go back. We need to find a safe place."

Eunhee, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up. "What about Yangsan? It's a town near Busan. We could find shelter there and regroup."

I nodded, grateful for her practicality. "It's better than nothing. We can't stay here."

As we moved on, I felt Sunghoon's hand brush against mine. It was a small comfort in the chaos around us. I glanced at him, and for a moment, I forgot the horrors that had pushed us into this life. His presence was a grounding force.

"Jake," he said softly, "we'll get through this. Together."

I wanted to believe him. "Yeah, together," I echoed, squeezing his hand.

The road ahead was uncertain, filled with danger and despair. But with my friends by my side, especially Sunghoon, I clung to a fragile hope.

"Let's just get to Yangsan," I said, trying to keep the fear at bay. "We'll figure out our next move from there."

As we walked, the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. It was beautiful, but the beauty felt like a cruel joke in a world turned upside down.

"Do you think it will ever end?" Niki asked, breaking the heavy silence.

"I don't know," I replied honestly. "But we can't stop fighting for our tomorrow."

And with that, we pressed on, hearts heavy but united in our resolve, seeking safety in a world that felt anything but safe.