I don't know how long I've been crawling in the tunnel. I just keep going, without looking back. My forehead hits a rock, and the pain momentarily blinds my vision. I quickly recover from the pain and realise: the rock is blocking the exit. I extend my arms, and push the palms of my hands against the rock.

Come on, come on, come on. I chant to myself, occasionally turning back to check for any signs of the old man and the attackers. There is nothing. But I don't stop. Instead I bang my fists against the rock over and over again, harder than before. If old man is not coming, that means they've caught him, and that also means they're going to get me next.

My hand hurts from the hitting the rock; bruised and cut from scraping against the rock. My arms ache after stretching out for too long. There is a gash on my forehead, blood runs from it.

I am about to give up, but my next push stops me. The rock tumbled forward, revealing the side yard of the house. I push myself forward, falling out of the tunnel. I groan as I land on my back, the overgrown lawn breaks my fall.

I quickly push myself to stand, and run without looking back. My legs move continuously, until a sharp pain that ripples in my legs stops me. I pant heavily. I am about seven meters away from the house, and I consider going back to the help the old man. A scream echoes and though it is muffled, I can still hear it clearly. Another piercing scream makes me waver.

That's it. I'm going back in.

I've barely stepped more than five steps, when arms circle around my waist, stopping me from moving forward.

I turn around abruptly, elbow positioned at an angle to swiftly kick one of the attacker's nose. Or would've kicked his face, if I hadn't realise that Jeongguk is the one stopping me from moving forward.

For a second, I am completely baffled. But then it all makes sense.

"You're one of them, aren't you?" I accuse, and start to struggle against his hold. My body trashes around violently. "It was you. It was you. It was you." Something leaden fills me. I feel betrayed; I can't feel anything else. Hysteria bubbles inside of me, threatening to explode anything.

"What are you talking about, Taehyung?" Jeongguk asks. He looks innocent, like he's telling the truth. Too bad I won't fall for that again. Unable to keep in my emotions, I let out a hysterical laugh.

"Stop lying, Jeongguk. I know you're here to kill me, you're after the members of my pack. I won't fall for any of your tricks, ever again," I yell into his face. Instead of looking guilty, he looks even more confused.

"Taehyung," He calls my name gently. "Don't call me like that," I snap. He clears his throat and continues. "I am not here to kill you. I've never thought of killing you. I followed you because I had a feeling something bad was going to happen. It's not like you to wake up before dawn."

I should feel embarrassed like any normal person would, but I am not.

"Then let me go!" I yell, pushing my body forward. Jeongguk's arms press against my body, without budging. His arms are around me, trapping me inside, like a prison cage I can't escape.

"I'm not letting you go in!" He finally snaps. "I am not going to let you risk your life that everyone tried so hard to save. I'm not going to let you waste your life on someone who is about to die!" He scolds. It hits me. His words hit me, right in the nerve.

Maybe Jeongguk is right. I shouldn't give up my life so easily. It is difficult to ignore the feeling of losing another pack member, but what can I do about it? I can only learn to get over it, to get over the feeling of losing someone.

I give up trashing around in Jeongguk's hold. My body slumps against his chest. Instead of flinching and moving backwards, Jeongguk stays planted to the ground. His chest supports me, giving me the strength I need. It is strong and steady, even though I can hear his heart beating against my back. His heartbeat is strong, loud.

I want to scream, like any rational person would want to, but I can't. Screaming might attract the attackers, then where would Jeongguk and I be? No, not where, but what—dead.

"But my pack member is in there," I whisper meekly.

"You're not going in either way. I'm not letting you go in just to throw away your life so easily. Besides, I'm sure your pack member has already given you what you were supposed to have." He looks at the box in my hands. He's right. I pinch myself on the arm hardly, gathering tears in my eyes. If I can't scream, crying will be another option. Just this once. I'll cry over it just this once, and never again.

"It's okay. Only I am here. Cry all you want. It's better to let out the pain now than keep it in forever," Jeongguk whispers softly. His chest vibrates. I can feel it. He starts to hum. I let him.

I close my eyes. Tears wet my face as they roll down. I can't see them. I feel them. I am rack with sorrow. I'll have to get over this, or I will never live.

+++

I am unsure of how long I've been crying for, I only know I've been crying for a while.

"Come on, let's get your wounds treated," Jeongguk whispers, finally letting go of his cage around me. My body stays still, rigid, like there's an invisible barrier that is preventing me from moving forward. He spins me around, and grips my shoulders, tightly.

"We have to go now, or they might see us. The next bus to bring us back is coming soon." He clears his throat. "I'll let you go, but don't try to run away."

I would fight back, but I am too weak. And I am thankful Jeongguk saved me.

"Thank you," I say. Jeongguk nods. We stay quiet. Then finally, he speaks up.

"I'd risk my life to save you, even if it means I would have to die."

√a.n.

The ending was really bad, sorry. But thank you for getting this book a ranking.
Most of you are probably fed up with me publishing and then unpublishing this chapter, I just wanna apologise because my wattpad has been glitchy these days.
I will also be having my residential camp next week from Thursday to Saturday, so I apologise in advance if I don't update at all. Thank you :)<3