POISONED YOUTH: TWISTED

CHAPTER 53

The room had been quiet for what felt like an eternity.

Yoonoh stood beside the medical bed, his eyes fixed on the two unconscious soulmates lying side by side. Their hands were still intertwined, and the tattoos on their wrists had finally faded into a lighter shade of red. It should have been a good sign. It should have been enough to make him breathe easier.

But Yoonoh couldn't.

The red was still there.

As long as it remained, there was still a chance that something could go wrong.

He reached down and gently brushed a few strands of hair away from Yeoreum's face before looking at Haechan. The younger man's chest rose and fell slowly beneath the medical sheets, each breath reminding Yoonoh that he was still alive.

"You're going to be okay," he whispered.

His voice trembled despite the small smile he tried to force onto his face.

"Both of you."

He stared at them for another moment before letting out a quiet, humorless chuckle.

"Hope you won't hate us, though?"

The chuckle disappeared almost immediately when his eyes filled with tears.

Yoonoh quickly wiped them away and straightened himself, refusing to let himself break down in front of them.

"We'll be right back. Earlier than you know."

He gave their hands one last glance before walking out of the room.

There was still work to do.

And until Haechan and Yeoreum woke up, Dream had to make sure there was somewhere safe for them to return to.

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"Take cover." Renjun's voice came through.

Jeno immediately lowered himself behind the wall and glanced toward Jaemin. The blonde nodded before moving into position.

Three.

Two.

One.

Jaemin kicked the door open and immediately fired into the room.

They were in Ulsan now—the second headquarters they had decided to raid.

Haechan's absence hung over everyone like a shadow.

Every time someone looked to the side, there was an empty space where he should have been. Every order felt slightly different without his voice coming through the earpiece. Every gunshot reminded them that the man who usually stood at the front of the fight was currently lying unconscious in a medical room, fighting for his life.

But none of them could afford to think about it for too long.

They had already made one mistake. They weren't going to make another.

Everyone moved with greater caution, keeping their bodies close to cover and their weapons ready. There was no unnecessary joking this time, no careless wandering, and no room for hesitation.