Far Cry | JJK x OC

Chapter 87 // Betrayal

A.N.: Hi everyone 👋 I have good news and bad (but not sad news). The bad is that I don't think I'll be able to finish Far Cry in 2024 like I promised, and the good - I just keep adding chapters 🙈 So instead of feeling guilty or like I'm failing for expanding on scenes and going outside my set number of chapters, I've decided to not put that pressure on me. I care more about the details wrapping up and the emotional load of each chapter and scene, than I should care that I wrote 11 or 13 or 20 chapters. So if it ends in January it does, I'm just going to keep going and see. It's already so mind-blowing to think I got here; I honestly never knew I'd ever bring these chapters to life, so I just want it all to be perfect.

So I hope you enjoy the journey there (and let's be real, none of us want it to end anyway 🤣🤭)
💜

This chapter might be triggering (assault, non-consensual touching)

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Leah made her way back to the clinic with the contents of her stomach whirling uncomfortably. Clutched tightly in her hand, was a phone with a horrible piece of media. Just thinking about it was disturbing, but the implications were dire. No wonder Ethan had tried to hide it as soon as he found out.

No wonder he pleaded, "Please keep this under wraps. We need the tribe united now, more than ever. We've never been so close before."

"They should know the truth," Leah had bitten bitterly, and Ethan insisted.

"Yes, but not now. Not all agree with what she tried to do, but everyone remembers her as a fierce leader. They take pride in her," he pressed, seeing Leah about to scoff and sneer.

Aaden stayed quiet with deep eyes bearing heavy thoughts.

"The moment you reveal this, people will take sides: between those who believed her to be the Goddess reincarnate and those who will want to erase her legacy. As... disgusting as this betrayal is, her legacy is important."

He seemed to have something stuck in his throat as he spoke, and she finally realized it weighed heavy on him too. No one saw this coming, especially the ones closest to her. Ethan was trying to do the best for the tribe, and she admired him then, despite everything.

"And we can't have internal fights right now. We won't survive if we do. Please."

She had stayed quiet and waited for Aaden to say something, but his eyes were enough. It was difficult for him as well, and he didn't disagree.

So she had extended her open hand, "Give it to me. I'll tell Jungkook."

And there she was, standing just outside Yoongi's room, hearing the loud conversation going on inside. They sounded cheerful, all things considered, and she didn't know what was worse: to add that tragedy on top of the news of Namjoon's death, or to destroy the precarious hope and solidarity they had together. Her breath caught in a sob, and she pressed her eyes; Jungkook would be absolutely broken. She herself found it hard not to be, with her guilt consuming her from the inside out again. She should have realized it sooner, supported Jungkook into going north sooner. Maybe if she had insisted that Citra was not to be trusted, they could have figured out her deception sooner.

In the end, she heaved a deep sigh and pulled her hair back in a soothing motion. In hindsight, a lot could have been done, but now, there was nothing else to do other than to face the music.

She knocked on the door and pushed it open. She was greeted first thing with a wide bunny grin that twisted her guts.

"Aein, you won't believe this!"

He rushed to her side, grabbing her hand to pull her into what felt like an alternate reality. Yoongi had sad, tired eyes, but his small smile under the breathing mask was comforting while he breathed calmly, sitting up in bed. Jimin was in his usual spot and was telling Jin something, making him laugh from where he sat, at Yoongi's feet. Meanwhile, Hoseok was shaking his head while he laughed from the other side of the bed, close to Yoongi.