GUNS & ROSES | ꜱᴇᴠᴇɴᴛᴇᴇɴ

xii. ✓

𝒙𝒊𝒊.

Confusion filled my eyes as I blinked at the unexpected sight of thirteen figures standing outside my door. It was Monday morning, but the school had granted a week-long break in mourning for the lives lost during the battle the previous night. My gaze shifted to Seungcheol, his arms crossed and his usual frown etched on his face.

"I'm coming with you," he declared, clearing his throat, causing my eyes to widen in disbelief. "What?!"

"You heard him," Joshua chimed in, his sweet smile lighting up his face. "We're going home with you."

I stood there, dumbfounded, my mind racing to make sense of the situation.

"Well, not all of us," Mingyu interjected, his familiar voice breaking through the confusion. "Half of us will stay to maintain order on the island, while the other half will accompany you."

"But you don't have to," I protested, shaking my head in disagreement. "You should stay here. Your people need you."

"Oh, trust me. We need to go with you," Seungkwan retorted, rolling his eyes dramatically. "You might not even make it across the bridge."

I gulped at Seungkwan's words, feeling a sense of foreboding settle within me. With a resigned sigh, I mumbled a reluctant "Fine," and Seungcheol's frown softened slightly.

Preparing for the journey, I packed a small bag with enough clothes and essentials for the week. I found myself riding in the SUV alongside Seungcheol, Wonwoo, Seokmin, and Hansol. Apparently, Wonwoo had offered to drive.

"Are you guys really sure about this?" I asked once again, my voice tinged with uncertainty, as Wonwoo started the engine, waiting for it to warm up.

Seungcheol, seated next to me, shifted in his seat, his gaze fixed outside the car, as if watching for something intently.

"Wonwoo," he called out, his voice low and gravelly. Wonwoo glanced at us through the rearview mirror, waiting for the High King's next words.

"The pedal..." Seungcheol uttered, his eyes still locked on the view outside. "Step on the damn pedal."

I was taken aback as the SUV suddenly jerked forward, accelerating at an astonishingly fast pace, yet Wonwoo maintained his calm composure. We swiftly exited the dormitory compound, passing by the academic buildings, and finally, we crossed the imposing gate that separated the island from the Sakura Bridge.

So many questions swirled in my mind, but with the knowledge that they would remain unanswered, I chose to keep them to myself. After all, the events of the previous night were still overwhelming, and I struggled to fully comprehend their significance.

"How long will the journey take?" Seungcheol spoke up again, breaking the silence after we had safely reached the mainland.

"One hour," Hansol replied from the backseat. "We'll reach our destination in an hour."

Seungcheol nodded curtly before closing his eyes, seemingly attempting to find solace in sleep. However, the deep furrow on his brow indicated that his troubles weighed heavily upon him.

There was an undeniable sense of unease in the air, and I couldn't help but wonder what lay ahead on our journey.

***

The familiar sign of Seoul greeted my eyes, and I couldn't help but announce, "We're almost here."

The bustling city held countless memories, and after my father's departure, my mother and I had downsized to a humble condominium in the heart of it all.