Part 10

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โœฉโ‚Šหš.โ‹†โ˜พโ‹†โบโ‚Šโœง


Suga brought Orion to a halt near the building's entrance, its decaying faรงade framed by a grim scattering of rotting bodies a short distance away. Astra followed suit, her limp pronounced but steady. Dismounting smoothly, Suga reached up to take Haru from Jiwoo, who was already sliding down from the horse. Jiwoo handed Haru over, her movements quick and purposeful, before stepping back to steady herself.

Suga took the reins of both horses, leading them into the building. The interior was eerily quiet, a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere outside. He closed the gate securely behind him, inspecting it carefully to ensure nothing-alive or otherwise-could force its way in. Satisfied, he turned to Jiwoo, who still clung to Haru protectively, and gently took the little girl from her arms. With a nod, he motioned for her to follow as he started up the creaky stairwell.

The building was five stories tall, its walls worn and crumbling in places. The air smelled of damp wood and decay, a faint metallic tang lingering beneath it all. Suga ascended steadily, his steps light but deliberate. When they reached the last corner room on the top floor, he stopped and knocked firmly on the door.

"It's me," he said, his voice low but commanding.

A few tense moments passed before the door creaked open. RM stood in the doorway, his sharp gaze immediately scanning Suga, Jiwoo, and Haru, who clung tightly to Suga's neck. His eyes flickered past them, as if searching for others, before releasing a quiet sigh. Without a word, he stepped aside, motioning for them to enter.

As they stepped inside, Suga's presence filled the small, dimly lit room with a sense of guarded resolve. He moved to the corner, gently placing Haru on a rusty, sagging bed. The little girl clung to his sleeve for a moment before letting go, her wide, wary eyes darting around the unfamiliar space. Jiwoo knelt beside Haru, smoothing her hair and whispering softly to comfort her.

The room was sparse and worn, with peeling wallpaper and a single flickering light casting long shadows. Jin, Hobi, Jimin, and Jungkook stood silently, their expressions a mix of wariness and relief. Jiwoo's eyes swept over them, her breath hitching when her gaze landed on Jimin and Jungkook.

"Jimin," she whispered, her voice trembling. She stepped closer, her movements tentative at first, then quickened as recognition dawned. "Jimin!"

Jimin's face softened, a rare smile breaking through his usually guarded demeanor. "Jiwoo." His voice was thick with emotion as she closed the distance between them, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug.

He returned the embrace just as fiercely, his twin sister's presence a comfort he hadn't dared to hope for. Jungkook, standing nearby, broke into a wide grin as he took a step forward.

"Jiwoo," Jungkook said, his voice laced with disbelief. "You're here."

Jiwoo turned to him, her expression lighting up as she pulled him into a quick hug as well. "You're alive," she murmured, her relief palpable.

The reunion was brief but poignant, the weight of their shared past hanging heavily in the room. Suga stood by the door, his gaze scanning the hallway through a crack, his stance protective. RM watched them silently, his expression unreadable as his eyes lingered on Jiwoo and Haru before returning to Suga.

"They're safe," Suga said, his voice cutting through the moment. "But Y/N and Taehyung are still out there."

RM's jaw tightened, his calm exterior cracking just enough to reveal a flicker of concern. "What happened?"

Suga's eyes darkened as he turned fully to RM. "They stayed behind to draw something away. It's been following us since the forest. Y/N... she knew it wasn't going to let us go."

The room fell silent, tension thick enough to choke. Jimin's grip on Jiwoo's shoulder tightened, his expression hardening.

"What are we dealing with?" RM asked, his tone low and grave.

Suga shook his head, his voice heavy. "I don't know. But it's not just another shambler. It's something worse."

Haru, who had been quietly sitting on the bed, suddenly stood up. Her small frame seemed impossibly fragile in the dim light, but her wide, earnest eyes locked onto Suga with an intensity that made everyone pause.

She moved toward him with deliberate steps, her gaze unwavering. Suga noticed her approach and turned slightly, his usually sharp expression softening into confusion. The others exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of what Haru was about to do.

When she stopped in front of him, Haru raised her tiny arms, a clear request for him to pick her up. For a moment, Suga hesitated, his usual composure faltering, but then he bent down and gently lifted her into his arms.

The room was silent as Haru wrapped her arms around his neck, her small hands clutching tightly. Then, to everyone's astonishment, she leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.

Suga stiffened, his eyes widening slightly as he stared at her in disbelief. It wasn't just the unexpected gesture but the strange calmness radiating from the little girl that left him momentarily speechless.

Haru pulled back just enough to look him in the eyes, her voice steady and filled with an uncanny certainty for someone so young. She smiled softly, her eyes bright with unwavering trust. "Don't worry. Y/N is so strong. She never breaks her promises. She promised she would come back, and she will."

Her words hung in the air, heavy and profound. Haru's tiny hands gripped his collar as she continued, her voice soft but firm, but now with a reassuring smile. "She'll keep your friend safe too. She's so strong. Believe me."

Suga blinked, his usual sharp, guarded expression faltering into something softer, almost vulnerable. For a brief moment, he seemed at a loss, his grip on Haru tightening slightly as he processed her words.

The others watched in silence, their own unease momentarily eased by the child's quiet conviction. Jiwoo's lips parted as if to speak, but no words came out. She smiled gently at Haru's trust in Y/N, her heart warmed by the child's confidence. She too nodded in agreement with Haru's words, the weight of the moment softening in her chest.

Even RM, who rarely showed emotion, had a flicker of something-hope, perhaps-in his usually stoic gaze.

Jimin broke the silence, his voice low but steady. "He's right. She'll find her way back."

Suga finally nodded, his lips pressing into a thin line as he glanced down at Haru. "You really believe that, don't you?" he murmured, his voice almost too soft to hear.

Haru smiled again, her expression one of quiet certainty, and rested her head against his shoulder. "I know it."

Jiwoo chuckled softly, recognizing Jimin's mistake, but she didn't say anything. Haru, noticing the mix-up, couldn't help but giggle too.

The others, still uncertain about the exchange, shared a series of confused glances. They couldn't quite figure out what had just happened, but the atmosphere had undeniably lightened. Whatever it was, it seemed to bring a sense of peace to the group, allowing the heavy tension to dissipate as Haru's presence continued to offer a comforting warmth.

---

The forest pressed in on them, thick and suffocating, as Y/N and Taehyung guided their horse through the undergrowth. Each step felt deliberate, the muffled clatter of hooves blending into the eerie silence. The air was heavy with an unnatural stillness, broken only by the faint rustling of unseen movement.

Y/N's grip on the reins tightened as a cold prickle ran down her spine. She could feel them-Phantoms. Lurking just out of sight, their presence clung to the air like a predator's shadow.

"Keep moving," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Taehyung nodded, his hand brushing the hilt of his weapon. The forest's oppressive quiet stretched on, the only sound their muted breaths and the horse's nervous huffs. Minutes dragged by, tension coiling tighter with every step.

Then, Y/N tugged the reins, bringing the horse to a halt. "Here," she mouthed, her eyes scanning the dense forest.

Taehyung froze beside her, his gaze darting in every direction. A faint noise-a low, distorted clicking-drifted through the air. It was a sound that didn't belong, one that made the hair on the back of their necks stand on end.

"They're close," Taehyung murmured, his voice a ghost of a sound.

Y/N nodded, her sharp eyes narrowing as she studied the shadows ahead. In the distance, blurry, distorted figures shifted, their jerky movements barely perceptible. The Phantoms couldn't see clearly, their sight dulled to the faintest motion, but they could hear-soft sounds, vibrations in the air.

Y/N dismounted, her movements slow and deliberate. She gestured to Taehyung to do the same. The horse stirred uneasily, its instincts sharper than theirs, but Y/N patted its muzzle softly before tying it to a low branch.

"Stay quiet," she whispered, more to herself than to the animal.

Her gaze flicked to the giant tree up ahead-a towering, ancient sentinel with thick branches that spread wide like a protective canopy. If they could reach it, they might stand a chance of hiding. She signaled toward it, and Taehyung gave a single nod, his expression grim.

They began to move, crouching low as they crept through the underbrush. Every step was calculated, their movements a delicate balance between urgency and silence. The Phantoms shifted in the distance, their distorted bodies twitching as if searching for prey.

Then came the sound-a sharp crack as Taehyung's foot brushed against a brittle branch.

Both froze, their breaths caught in their throats. One of the Phantoms paused, its head jerking in their direction. Its hollow eyes, blind and empty, scanned the area, its movements unnervingly quick.

Taehyung gritted his teeth, his fingers gripping his blade. Y/N motioned for him to stay low, her own weapon ready but undrawn. The creature tilted its head, letting out a low, guttural sound, before staggering off in another direction.

They exhaled in unison, but the danger wasn't over.

Y/N motioned to the tree, urging Taehyung to climb first. He hesitated for a moment, then obeyed, his movements quick but careful. The bark was slick beneath his hands, making the ascent treacherous. Halfway up, his foot slipped on a patch of moss, and his head collided with a low branch.

The dull thud was faint but enough to send a prickle of panic through Y/N. Blood trickled down Taehyung's temple, but he didn't stop. Gritting his teeth, he climbed higher, his focus unyielding.

"Your turn," he mouthed as he reached a sturdy branch.

Y/N moved swiftly, gripping the rough bark as she began to climb. Below, the Phantoms stirred, their distorted figures shifting toward the faint noise of Taehyung's stumble. One let out a sharp, shrieking sound, its head snapping upward.

Her heart pounded as she pulled herself higher, each movement precise but desperate. She glanced down just as a Phantom reached the base of the tree, its clawed hands scraping at the bark. It tilted its head, emitting a hollow groan as it began to climb.

"Faster!" Taehyung hissed, his voice sharp but hushed.

Y/N pushed herself harder, her arms burning with the effort. The Phantom's jerky movements were faster than she expected, its clawed fingers gouging into the bark as it scaled the trunk with unnatural speed.

Finally, Y/N grasped Taehyung's outstretched hand. He pulled her onto the branch beside him, the two of them pressing against the trunk, their breaths ragged.

Below, the Phantoms clawed at the tree, their guttural cries filling the night. One made it halfway up before losing its grip, tumbling to the ground with a sickening crunch.

"They can't climb this high," Taehyung whispered, though his voice was strained.

Y/N's gaze remained fixed on the creatures below. Their distorted forms writhed in frustration, their twisted movements growing more erratic with every passing moment.

"For now," she murmured, her grip tightening on her blade.

---

The Phantoms below stirred violently, their movements chaotic and predatory. Y/N's chest tightened as she watched, her hand still gripping her blade, though she knew it was useless at this height.

Then, a noise. A faint rustling in the underbrush nearby.

From the shadows emerged two Stalkers, their gaunt, sinewy forms moving with eerie precision. Their heads twitched erratically as they stepped into view, their hollowed eyes scanning their surroundings.

The Stalkers had no time to react. The Phantoms pounced with startling speed, their distorted limbs twisting unnaturally as they tore into the smaller creatures. The sound was wet and sickening, a grotesque symphony of snapping bones and tearing flesh.

Taehyung's breath hitched audibly beside her, his eyes wide in disbelief. Y/N watched in grim horror as the Phantoms tore the Stalkers apart as if they were nothing more than prey.

Chunks of flesh were ripped free and devoured with ravenous hunger, the creatures feeding like wild animals. Blood splattered the ground in thick, dark streaks, pooling around the broken bodies of the Stalkers. The sound of it-the tearing, the gnawing, the wet crunch of bone-made Y/N's stomach churn.

Taehyung turned away sharply, his hand pressed to his mouth as his face turned pale. His breathing grew uneven, panic overtaking him. Before Y/N could react, his body slumped against the trunk, his head tilting to the side as he lost consciousness.

"Taehyung!" Y/N hissed, her voice barely above a whisper.

She grabbed his arm, shaking him gently, but he didn't respond. Her heart raced as her gaze darted back to the Phantoms below. They hadn't noticed him yet, too consumed by their feeding frenzy.

The hooves.

Y/N's eyes widened as she heard Ember, her horse, shifting nervously in the distance.

The faint sound of chewing and growling below had likely unsettled her, despite being well hidden.She shifted slightly on the branch, straining to catch a glimpse of Ember through the dense foliage. Her heart sank as the mare stamped a hoof, the noise too loud in the tense silence.

The Phantoms paused. Their grotesque, blood-smeared heads snapped upward, twitching in unison as they strained to locate the sound.

Y/N held her breath, her eyes locked on Ember. The mare was trembling, her ears pinned back, her instincts screaming at her to flee.

The mare bolted. Ember's hooves thundered against the earth as she tore through the underbrush, her terrified cries echoing through the forest. The Phantoms reacted instantly, their twisted forms moving with unnatural speed.

"No... no, no, no," Y/N whispered, her voice trembling as tears welled up in her eyes.

The creatures were on Ember in moments, their distorted, bloodied hands clawing at her flanks. The mare screamed, a gut-wrenching sound that tore through Y/N's heart. She watched, paralyzed, as they brought Ember down, her legs buckling under the weight of their relentless attack.

"Stop... please stop," Y/N choked out, her voice barely audible as tears streamed down her face.

The Phantoms didn't stop. They tore into Ember with a savage hunger, their clawed hands ripping her apart as if she were nothing more than a fragile toy. The sickening sound of flesh being torn and bones snapping filled the air, the visceral noise digging deep into Y/ N's soul.

She couldn't look anymore. The sight of Ember's lifeless body being split into two pieces, her blood pooling on the forest floor, was too much. Y/N's chest heaved as she fought the urge to scream, her hands trembling uncontrollably.

Instead, she turned away, clutching Taehyung's unconscious form tightly against her. She buried her face in his shoulder, her tears soaking into his jacket.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered, her voice breaking. Her body shook as she held him, trying to block out the horrifying sounds of the creatures feeding. The grotesque crunching and tearing noises filled her ears, each one a brutal reminder of the loss she had just witnessed.

Y/N squeezed her eyes shut, her heart breaking as guilt and helplessness consumed her. Ember had been her companion, her lifeline, and she had failed to protect her. All she could do now was hold Taehyung and pray the Phantoms wouldn't turn their attention back to them once they were done.

Time seemed to stretch endlessly as the feeding frenzy continued. Y/N's tears didn't stop, her breaths coming in shaky, uneven gasps. All she could do was wait-wait for the Phantoms to leave, wait for the nightmare to end. But deep down, she knew this pain would linger far longer than the creatures ever would.

The hours stretched on, each second heavier than the last. The forest around them remained unnervingly still, but that didn't mean the danger had passed. The quiet was thick, suffocating, as if something was waiting, hidden just beyond the reach of the night.

Then, as if the heavens had finally decided to release their hold on the world, the rain began. The first drops were a shock, cold against her skin, quickly turning into a downpour that soaked her through. The rain seemed to freeze the air around her, mixing with the cold winds that whipped through the trees. She shivered violently, her breath hitching in the chill, uneven and shallow. Her teeth began to chatter, but she couldn't bring herself to move, trapped in the stillness, too scared to make a sound.

The cold made her body ache, but it didn't ease the fear gnawing at her heart. The rain didn't bring relief-it only made everything seem more isolated, more exposed. There was no noise except the relentless drumming of the rain and the occasional whisper of the wind, as if the entire forest had gone into a tense, suspended silence.

Y/N's grip on Taehyung tightened, her breath hitching as she fought to hold onto any semblance of warmth amidst the cold. Each shiver shook her body more violently, but she dared not let go, afraid of what might happen if she did. The night was long, and the silence, even with the rain, was deafening.

---

The rain poured heavily outside, the sound of it hitting the roof adding to the tension in the room. Inside, the group sat in uneasy silence, their minds preoccupied with Y/N and Taehyung's absence. Haru clung to Suga, who sat against the wall, his eyes heavy with worry. He had his head tilted back, trying to stay calm, but every moment without word from Y/N and Taehyung only deepened his concern.

Jiwoo, sitting nearby, was equally restless. Her gaze kept flicking toward the door, her fingers fidgeting in her lap. The room felt suffocating, with no one able to truly relax. The sound of the storm outside seemed to reflect their unease.

Suga glanced at Jiwoo, his voice low. "We should've heard something by now."

Jiwoo, her expression tight, nodded but said nothing. Her thoughts were consumed by the same fear everyone else was holding onto. "They'll be back," she whispered, though even she wasn't convinced.

Meanwhile, Jin, RM, Jimin, and Jungkook sat quietly, all of them equally on edge. Hobi, unable to sit still, paced back and forth, his eyes frequently darting to the door as if expecting Y/N and Taehyung to walk through it at any moment.

"I can't stop worrying," Hobi admitted, his voice heavy with concern. "What if something happened to them?"

Jin placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to offer reassurance, but his own anxiety was clear. "We'll just have to wait. They're survivors. They'll make it

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