To The Edge Of The Sky| VMinKook

Chapter 17

A soft whimper pierced the stillness of the empty forest, echoing through the towering trees. "It hurts... everywhere," the small omega managed to say, his voice trembling with pain. He cradled his bruised arm against his chest, wincing as the slightest movement sent waves of agony coursing through him. The sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground, but all he could feel was an overwhelming sense of despair as he sat on the cold, damp earth, the weight of his injuries bearing down on him like the oppressive silence of the woods.

"Taehyung," his heart called out as he attempted to lift himself from the ground, only to collapse once more onto the wet earth. "I require your assistance," his voice remained unheard as another pained howl escaped his lips. His eyelids grew heavy, and his breathing became increasingly labored.

"What is occurring?" a high-pitched voice queried as it approached the lifeless form. "Oh my, is it death?" The young individual bent down to assess the omega's pulse. "His heart is still beating, but it will not endure much longer," he stated, glancing at the man beside him.

"What course of action should we take?" the youngest member of the group, a nervous boy with wide eyes and a tremor in his voice, inquired as he glanced anxiously around their dimly lit hideout.

Jackson, the oldest and most seasoned among them, crossed his arms and shook his head firmly. "We will take no action and leave this location immediately! If anyone discovers us here, they will presume we are responsible for his condition," he replied with a stern look, his voice low and resolute.

The boy's expression darkened, his frustration bubbling over. "Are you out of your mind, Jackson? We cannot simply abandon this individual! He will not survive without our help," he retorted, his voice rising in desperation as he pointed an accusing finger at Jackson. 

Jackson sighed heavily, rolling his eyes in exasperation at the younger boy's emotion. "You're being naive," he scoffed, though insecurity flashed in his own eyes as he turned away, conflicted by the moral dilemma before them. The tension in the room crackled as the weight of their options hung in the air like a storm cloud ready to burst.

Jackson knelt beside the frail figure, his brow furrowed with concern. "He seems to be fading fast," he murmured, glancing at Mark with a sense of urgency in his voice. "We can't afford to linger here. Time is not on our side." The weight of the moment pressed heavily on him as he cast a worried glance at the unconscious man, struggling to draw in shallow breaths.

"But hyung, I can't just leave him here like this," Yugyeom pleaded, his voice laced with concern as he gently caressed the omega's face. His thumb brushed softly over the bruised skin, and he could feel the warmth of the omega's breath, shallow and uneven. "We need to take him to Alpha. He will know how to heal him—he won't just wake up and be fine on his own." Yugyeom's eyes flickered with desperation, hoping that his brother would understand the urgency of the situation.

"Have you lost your mind?" Jackson exclaimed, his voice laced with panic as he turned away from the trembling omega on the ground. "The alpha will have our heads if we bring this omega back to the palace. We have no idea what has happened to him or who was responsible for this. It's better if we leave right now."

Yugyeom, unable to shake the sadness from his heart, glanced back at the omega one last time. "You're so cruel," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, before reluctantly standing up to follow Jackson.

As Mark stood beside Jackson, he felt the weight of his conscience pressing down on him. With a heavy heart, he let the omega's limp body slip from his grasp and fell to the ground, his guilt palpable. "I'm sorry," Mark whispered towards the helpless figure.

"Let him go," Jackson ordered brusquely, ready to walk away, but then they heard a heart-wrenching whimper escape from the omega. 

"Please... don't go... help me," the omega pleaded, his tear-filled eyes locking onto theirs in desperate urgency.