Home (I wish you could stay)

VIII.

In the morning, Yoongi had sent Jimin to retrieve Hoseok and bring him down for "breakfast." A meal of canned fruit and some granola bars that they had found lying around. It was some of the only food that wasn't expired or stale, so to them, this was truly a treat.

After they ate and woke up a little bit more, the group broke off into pairs - excluding Hoseok, of course - and began to search for survivors, supplies, or infected to get rid of. Whichever came first. Each pair had a weapon or two, either a knife or a gun, and a walkie. Having not heard anything from anyone outside of each other for more than a week, you could say that they were a little more than suspicious when an unfamiliar voice broke the silence. Screeching and screaming came in through the static, the radio making horrific noises causing the boys to scream and cover their ears. The chaos went on for another minute or so, but Jin was the first one to talk once it had stopped. "Okay, what the hell was that?"

Jimin clung to Jin's shoulder in fear as Yoongi's response climbed its way through the static. "I have no clue. And I don't really want to find out, either." Yoongi looked back towards Jeongguk, nodding his head in a silent 'you good?' and he responded by a shaking nod back. Yoongi pulled the radio to his lips again. "Hoseok, you all good?"

"Yeah, hyung. All good over here, but please hurry back."

"Will do. Joon, Tae. Do you guys copy?"

"Yeah, we copy."

"Good. All of you, head back to base. We'll refocus ourselves and get back out."

"Got it. Headed that way now."

As Yoongi secured all of his and Jeongguk's belongings back onto their backs, the unfamiliar voice from earlier came back. "Hello? Are you guys still there?"

Yoongi and Jeongguk didn't move, and he's assuming the others had heard him, as well, but couldn't tell because nobody responded to the man for several minutes. He called out again, more stern this time. "Look, I heard all of you on this station not ten minutes ago. Please respond. How many of you are there?"

No response. The man did not let up. "I will ask one more time. I have a safe haven up north. There are a few dozen survivors up here. We have plenty of food. And medicines. Now, how many of you are there? Over."

Some excruciating seconds later, and Yoongi broke, his voice flooding the channel. "Who is it that I'm speaking to? And how do I know that you aren't lying to me?"

"My name is Chris. And please, you have to trust me."

"Yeah, I definitely trust you now. Thanks."

"Look. I understand this isn't ideal. But I heard you talking to your friends, and I know that we have room here and that we can help. Now, please, your name?"

"Min Yoongi."

"Nice to meet you, Yoongi. How many of you are there?"

Yoongi looked back at Jeongguk, big doe-eyes staring back at him, fear and confusion evident on his dirt-covered face. He knew the whole group could hear this conversation, and he knew that since he was the leader and was in charge that he would have to be the one to make this decision, but for once, he just wishes he could let someone else choose for him.

"Seven. There's seven of us."

"Good. Now, what is your location? Or do you need some more reassurance?"

"Reassurance is nice, but not necessary. Where are we headed?"

Yoongi had talked to Chris for about ten more minutes, trying to devise the fastest route to the haven. Once they had come to an agreement, Yoongi told Chris to give him at least a day to get there, which Chris started to question, but was swiftly cut off by Jin.