Ineffable 𓇢𓆸 || Jakehoon

🍂 Chapter 54 🍂

The morning had been like any other-quiet, with a tense calm hanging over us. We'd helped a few new faces settle in, people who were still learning how to survive in this place. We gave them what we could-food, water, advice, whatever we had left to offer. There was no time to sit and talk for long, no time to share more than just the essentials. Everyone's eyes were haunted, but they were grateful, too. Grateful for the shelter, even if it wasn't much.

But by evening, things had changed. Jungwon and I decided to head out, just the two of us, to find some food-anything we could get our hands on. It wasn't supposed to be dangerous. We'd gone this far before. I had the usual knot of worry in my chest, but we were used to it by now. The air was thick with smoke, and the distant rumble of explosions had become background noise, something we just lived with.

Then, out of nowhere-BOOM!

The ground shook violently beneath my feet. The blast was deafening. Everything around us seemed to disintegrate into chaos. My heart slammed into my ribcage, and my stomach churned as if I'd just been punched. The world blurred. My legs went weak, but I held onto Jungwon, trying to keep him steady, trying to pull him out of the blast zone. I don't even know what happened after that-screams, dust, debris flying in all directions.

I couldn't breathe.

But then, I heard myself shouting, desperate, before I even realized it.

"SUNGHOOOON!"

I couldn't stop myself. His name left my lips like a prayer, the only thing that felt real in the midst of all the noise.

I don't even know why I screamed, but somewhere deep down, I needed him. I needed him more than anything.

It didn't take long for the sound of running footsteps to reach me, muffled at first, but growing louder. And then, he was there-Sunghoon, Jay, and Niki, all rushing toward us with that frantic, determined energy. The fear in their eyes hit me even before they reached us.

I felt my breath catch in my throat when I saw Jungwon. His head was resting on my lap, his face pale, his eyes barely open. He was hurt. The blood from his wounds stained the front of my shirt, soaking into the fabric, a stark reminder of how close we all were to losing everything.

"Jungwon..." I whispered, but my voice was too weak. Too far gone.

Before I could move, I felt a sharp pain shoot through my leg and my stomach. I tried to sit up, but it was like my body wasn't responding. It wasn't until Sunghoon was kneeling in front of me that I realized I'd been hurt, too. His face was strained, his eyes wide with panic as he looked down at me.

"Jake, stay with me," he said, his voice tight but steady. I wanted to reach out to him, to tell him I was fine, that it was nothing-but the words never came. My vision was already starting to fade, the edges of my consciousness blurring, like I was sinking into something deep and dark.

I felt hands on me. Jay was lifting Jungwon, cradling him like he was made of glass, carrying him to safety, his steps frantic but precise. Niki was right behind him, looking back once at us before following.

I was barely aware of Sunghoon's voice then, but it was the only thing I could focus on. "It's alright," he muttered, his voice barely a whisper, even though there was a tremor in it I hadn't heard before. "It's alright, Jake... I'm here... I'm here..."

The blood on my leg-on my stomach-seemed so distant now. The pain was there, but it wasn't real. Not when Sunghoon was so close. Not when his hand was gripping mine, his face hovering over mine like a lifeline.

But the darkness was creeping in around the edges. I heard his voice again, distant now.

"Stay with me, Jake."

I tried to nod. I really did. But I couldn't-couldn't do anything as the world tilted, and the last thing I felt was the warmth of his hand holding mine.

And then, everything went quiet.