Ineffable 𓇢𓆸 || Jakehoon

🍃 Chapter 26🍃

The night settled around us, cloaking the world in shadows. We trudged on through the dimly lit path, the sound of our footsteps muted by the heavy air. The once vibrant chatter had faded to a low hum, each of us lost in our thoughts.

"Hey, do you think we'll find food in Yangsan?" Niki asked, breaking the silence. His stomach had been growling for hours, a reminder of the dwindling supplies in our packs.

"We'll figure something out," Heeseung hyung assured him. "There's bound to be something left in town. We can't be the only ones escaping."

I glanced at Sunghoon, who was scanning the area, his expression tense. "What if we can't find anything? What if...?" His voice trailed off, the unsaid fears hanging in the air.

"Let's not think like that," Jay said firmly. "We need to stay positive. If we all start worrying, it'll only make things worse."

"I know," I said, trying to inject some hope into the conversation. "We've made it this far together. We can make it a bit further."

As we approached Yangsan, the town's silhouette loomed ahead. It felt eerily quiet, the streets dark and empty. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were stepping into the unknown, a place where hope could either flourish or shatter completely.

"Look, there's a light up ahead," Jungwon pointed, his eyes brightening. "Maybe someone's still here."

As we drew closer, we saw a small storefront with flickering lights. The sign above read "Convenience Store." I felt a spark of excitement. "Let's check it out," I said, my heart racing.

Sunghoon took the lead, pushing open the door. The sound of the bell chimed softly, echoing in the stillness. Inside, the shelves were mostly bare, but there were a few items scattered about-cans of food, a couple of bags of chips, and bottles of water.

"Thank goodness," Niki said, rushing to grab a few cans. "We can eat something."

As we gathered supplies, I noticed Sunghoon standing off to the side, his expression thoughtful. I approached him. "What's on your mind?"

He hesitated, then said, "It just feels wrong, doesn't it? Coming here, scavenging like this. I never thought I'd be in a situation like this."

"I know," I replied, feeling the weight of his words. "But we have to survive. We'll get through this. I promise."

He turned to me, his eyes searching mine. "What if we don't?"

The question hung heavy in the air, but before I could answer, Jay called out from across the store, "Guys, look at this!" He was holding up a small first aid kit he had found tucked away on a high shelf.

"Perfect!" I exclaimed, relief flooding through me. "We'll need that."

"Let's pack up and head out," Heeseung hyung said, glancing outside. "It's not safe to linger."

We gathered our supplies quickly, the urgency of our situation pushing us forward. As we stepped back into the cool night air, the weight of uncertainty loomed over us, but there was also a flicker of hope in our hearts.

"Which way to the shelter?" Eunhee asked, pulling out the map once more.

I glanced at Sunghoon, who nodded toward a street lined with dimly lit buildings. "Let's go that way. There might be an old community center or something we can use."

As we made our way down the street, I couldn't help but feel the warmth of Sunghoon's hand in mine, a silent promise that we were in this together. The darkness felt less daunting with him by my side.

"Jake," he said quietly as we walked, "if we make it through this, I want to build something with you. A real life, away from all this."

I looked at him, my heart swelling. "I want that too. More than anything."

"Then let's keep running," he smiled, the light of hope shining through the fear.

Together, we pushed forward, the weight of the world on our shoulders, but our spirits rising with every step. No matter what lay ahead in Yangsan, we would face it together.