Trouble Tamer

36. I Found You, My Love

Jungkook's breathing slowed as he moved further into the dense forest, the sounds of the city fading behind him. Each step took him deeper into the quiet, shadowed sanctuary of the trees, the thick canopy above casting dappled shadows along his path. The weight of fear of getting caught eased just slightly, his heartbeat steadying as he took in the silence around him, hoping that if by any chance, he was being followed then his pursuers had either lost track or given up the chase.

For the first time since he'd bolted from that alley, from the city, he felt a flicker of relief.

His feet slowed, almost on their own. He knew he couldn't stop completely-he needed to keep moving, to find some way to safety or, ideally, a place to hide. But as he glanced around, his mind wandered to an unsettling thought. Where exactly am I?

The forest was familiar enough; he remembered glimpsing it from afar while moving through the city on other occasions, but he'd never ventured this deep. A thought pricked the back of his mind, a small, nagging feeling of disorientation.

If I keep going, will I find my way to the city?

He hesitated, glancing over his shoulder at the way he'd come.

Just then, a rustle of leaves nearby made him freeze. His senses jolted, eyes wide as he scanned the shadows. Jungkook cursed under his breath, quickly ducking behind a large tree trunk, pressing his back against the rough bark. The forest seemed to close in around him, amplifying every sound, every snap of a twig.

His muscles tensed, and he gripped a small, sturdy branch from the ground-just in case.

Jungkook's heart sank as he saw the gang members advancing through the trees, their shadows looming large and their eyes sharp as they scoured the forest floor. He knew these weren't just any pursuers; they were experienced, and they wouldn't let him slip away so easily this time. His body ached from the earlier fight, bruises blooming on his skin, his limbs heavy with exhaustion from running too long. Each ragged breath reminded him how drained he was, how little strength he had left.

Is this how it ends? The thought flickered in his mind, bitter and sharp. He'd fought so hard, come so far, only to end up cornered and defenseless. His fists clenched around the branch in his hand, but even that felt futile now.

All my efforts... was it all for nothing?

As the goons spread out, one of them locked eyes on him, an unsettling grin spreading across his face.

"There he is!" he called to the others, his voice echoing through the trees. Jungkook's grip on the branch tightened as he looked around desperately, searching for a way out, a final lifeline.

But there was nothing.

Nothing.

The lead goon stepped forward, his face twisted in smug satisfaction.

"You really thought you could get away, huh?" He sneered, his hand reaching out to grab Jungkook.

Jungkook staggered back, every ounce of fight drained from him, his mind swirling with desperation and defeat.

His mind went into total panick when his back collided with a huge tree, marking a dead end to his runaway(get along with my words✌😭). The goon smirked and moved ahead, hardly 5 feet away now with his hand still stretched in the air, desperate to drag the blond back to his misery.... but, just then.

The crack of the gunshot shattered the silence of the forest, and Jungkook watched in shock as the lead goon, who was mere inches from him, fell to the ground, lifeless. The other gang members froze, eyes darting in the direction of the shot, and Jungkook's own gaze followed, his pulse racing with both fear and hope.