Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Trying to leave us again?" I'm startled by the sudden disruption of the silence around me. I turned around swiftly, only to relax when I realized it was just Jin behind me. I was shocked to see anyone up so early. The sun had just started to peak it's head over the mountain peeks, casting a rose gold light on the hills and the water. Cotton candy floated in the sky with paintings of black birds moving through it. It was peaceful, dreamlike. The air was a little chilly, but nothing Namjoon's oversized sweater and a cup of hot tea couldn't solve.
I frowned at Jin. "Does it really look like I'm about to leave?" I looked down, motioning towards my pajamas and slippers, and then my unkept hair. Jin shrugged his shoulders as if my appearance had nothing to do with me about to leave or not.
I huffed out an exasperated sigh. "I would never leave you guys," I defend.
"You tried before. Remember? If I hadn't stopped you-"
"That was before. It's different now."
"How so," Jin questions, his one eyebrow quirked up.
"That time I tried to leave you guys behind, I did it because I was afraid you were all just following me out of guilt or obligation, and that you'd all end up dead because of that," I paused and let out a long breath, "but now I know that you have families and lives that you're fighting for, just like me. This is your own decision, so I'd rather be with you to help if I can because I know you won't just sit back."
Jin smiles at me, gleaming with pride, "we love you, Wren, but I'm glad you realized we weren't risking our lives solely for you. It's for us too." I nod in understanding, and for a while, we just sit in silence, gazing at the rising sun until Jin speaks up again. "You remind me a lot of my younger sister. She has cancer, so I want to make it back before she..." he trails off, not seeming to want to state the inevitable. I turn my head to look at him, but he won't meet my gaze. I can see how his eyes shimmer in the morning light. He blinks his eyes before any tears can fall from them.
I place my hand over his. He turns his hand over to grab my hand, maybe hoping to get some comfort. "We'll get our real lives back." The words I speak hold so much strength, no trace of doubt. There's no room for fear, no room for anxiety or misgivings. If I let any of those negative things seep into my heart, I know I'll fail.
"Let's finish our business in Genkaku."
I'm glad that Jin doesn't show any signs of concern for me, or ask if I'm sure about my decision. He knows I'm finally ready and that nothing can get in my way now. Not the boss from Genkaku, or any other boss. I've finally stopped fearing what they can do to me; it's about time they start fearing what I'm going to do to them.
"Remember, we stay together no matter what," Namjoon instructs us with an authoritative voice as we wait nervously for the train to take us back to Genkaku, "We've got to have each other's backs, or that thing can get any one of us." We all nod our heads in understanding. If we're going to do this, we've gotta do it together. I know I can't do this without any one of them. Through our time spent together here, we've become a team, almost acting together as one mind in separate bodies, a collective. We all have our talents, but this isn't a fight that can be fought alone.
