Day6 || Hunt

Part IV

"Stay with Builder. I'm going to lead them away," Young K says, before turning to sprint down the hallway.

Minutes later and you find yourself at the bottom of a staircase, the solitary divisor between freedom and an alternative you'd rather not imagine. As you listen to Builder's footsteps travel upwards, farther and farther away, you hesitate.

The last image of Young K is engraved in your memory. A trickle of blood gracing his lower lip as he flashes you that cocky grin, his eyes full of urgency and another emotion you couldn't name at the time.

Regret.

Shaking yourself from your reverie, you know it's time to make a choice. As much as you're worried about him, you know there's nothing you can do to help. You'll just have to trust that he'll make it out okay.

Heart heavy, you lift your sneaker to clear the first step, when someone grabs you from behind. You can feel a strong arm circling your waist as a hand is placed firmly over your mouth, muffling your screams.

Your body limp in fear, the hidden figure drags you backward, pulling you with him into the small space between the wall and the open door. Eyes open wide, you let out a muffled yell as you twist your neck, looking up to see the man with the tattoo.

"Shh!" he hushes you urgently, standing still, his body tense. You stop fighting as you realize he's listening to something.

At the sound of approaching footsteps, he pulls you even closer, so your back is cradled against his chest. His left arm is still wrapped tightly around your waist and his right palm continues to press against your lips.

You get the impression he's trying to push the two of you as far back into the corner as possible, using the door as a shield to hide you both from view. Maybe that's the reason you decide to give up, resting against him as the two of you listen intently.

You feel the warm tickle of his breath on your neck and the rapid rise and fall of his chest as he leans in and whispers in your ear, so quiet it's barely audible.

"Stay perfectly still," he breathes.

You hold your breath as the footsteps from before grow even louder, and suddenly you are certain there is someone standing on the other side of the door. The intruder pauses at the foot of the steps, and your heart pounds as you imagine him looking up the staircase, trying to discover anyone still in sight. You pray with every fiber of your being that Builder made it out already.

At the sound of rustling, you assume the stranger is about to leave, but instead you hear the dull thud of feet treading on the steps. He's going up!

Your body begins to shake in fear as you realize what would have happened if the man behind you had come even a second too late. You can feel the heat from his body pressed against yours, the intoxicating scent of his cologne reaching your nose.

It's confusing. Why is he helping you when only minutes ago it seemed as if the two of you were enemies?

Feeling you shiver, the man with the tattoo pulls you closer, almost protectively, and drops the hand he had covering your lips. He listens intently as the echo of footsteps becomes more and more faint, and when several seconds pass by with no sound, he releases you slowly.

You turn around to face him, taking a step back. He surprises you by immediately moving closer and cupping your cheek, gently cradling your face in his hands. Tilting your eyes up to his, he stares at you intensely.

"I know this doesn't make sense but you need to listen to me," he says, eyes reading yours. "If you want to make it out of here alive, you're going to have to trust me," his voice is serious.