Midas Touch ➸ Taekook

- Fiftieth -

Taehyung felt his stomach twist. The explosions continued, each blast shaking the ground beneath their feet. The smoke grew thicker, making it difficult to breathe.

"Run? But which way?" he asked, his voice trembling in spite of himself. "We don't even know what's going on!"

Namjoon put a firm hand on his shoulder, his piercing gaze trying to instil a calm that was sorely lacking.

"Take the kids and direct them to the south exit. I'll go and see what's going on."

Taehyung nodded, even though a dull panic was almost paralysing his legs. He forced himself to move, to run towards a group of terrified students who had gathered near the stairs. He led them as quickly as he could, his throat tight with fear.

As they reached the exit, another explosion erupted, this time nearby. Taehyung was thrown to the ground, his head hitting the floor hard. His vision wavered, but he forced himself to sit up, to keep his eyes open. He couldn't give up.

As Taehyung struggled to keep the students calm and focused on their evacuation, a deafening noise rang out, followed by the shattering of glass. He turned sharply to see a window shatter at the end of the corridor. Dark figures slid inside with frightening agility, their boots clacking heavily on the debris-strewn floor.

Taehyung's heart sank. The men were dressed in thick black intervention suits, like those you see in the movies, their faces hidden behind expressionless masks. They advanced towards them at a measured but implacable pace, like predators stalking their prey.

The sound of another window breaking was heard, this time behind him and his small group of terrified children. He turned his head to see more men climbing through the frame, their weapons raised. In an instant, they were surrounded.

The students, frozen in terror, began to cry, some muttering prayers, others clinging desperately to each other.

"Don't move!" barked one of them, pointing his gun at one of the children.

The others quickly followed suit. Taehyung was shocked, frozen in place by the absurdity of the scene. In an instant these armed men had stormed into the Institute, turning everything upside down, and now they were pointing their guns at children?

Taehyung stood in the middle of the corridor, his legs trembling but determined, as the masked men converged on him. The children were crying behind him, some clinging to his clothes, others pressing themselves against the walls, paralysed by fear.

He turned to them briefly and gave them a reassuring smile.

"It's going to be all right." he murmured, not knowing whether he was talking to them or to himself.

But he knew the situation was critical. These men hadn't come to talk. The deafening sounds of fighting and destruction echoed throughout the Institute, accompanied by cries of pain and cries for help. Chaos seemed to envelop them.

The men began to advance towards them, their weapons still pointed in their direction, as if they were dangerous animals escaped from a zoo and had to be neutralised with the utmost caution. Taehyung took a deep breath and then, in a protective gesture, put one arm in front of the children. He refused to move.

He breathed in deeply, feeling his heart beating wildly in his chest. He couldn't stand still. These masked men showed no hesitation, and if he didn't do something, they'd go after the children.

He turned briefly to the group of terrified students.

"Run!" he shouted in a loud, authoritative voice, his tone contrasting with the fear that was overwhelming him. "Go and lock yourselves in the room at the end of the corridor. Don't come out under any circumstances!"