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Before anyone could react, Taehyung's hand found purchase on a jagged rock, his fingers gripping it tightly. But the current was too strong, pulling at his body and threatening to drag him over the edge.

Y/N's eyes flickered to him. Without thinking twice, she ran in his direction, her focus solely on reaching him. Her heart pounded in her chest as she raced across the unstable ground, knowing that time was running out.

The men and woman who had been attacking were defeated now, but Y/N barely registered it, her entire being fixated on Taehyung's struggle. The roar of the waterfall seemed to grow louder in her ears as she reached him, her hand outstretched, ready to pull him to safety.

But before she could reach him, Taehyung's grip on the rock faltered. A final slip, and he was gone.

"No!" Y/N screamed, her voice torn between the desperation of her own fear and the panic of losing him. She ran forward, instinctively reaching for him, but the ground beneath her gave way.

Her foot slipped too, and in an instant, she was tumbling toward the waterfall alongside Taehyung.

Jungkook, watching from the distance after finishing off the last of the men, saw them both fall. His heart lurched in his chest, and he was about to charge toward the edge when-

"Y/N! Taehyung!" Jungkook shouted, his voice hoarse.

But it was too late. They had both disappeared over the edge.

Sehun rushed toward the scene, his eyes wide with shock, but by the time he reached the waterfall's edge, only the raging water below remained.

Jungkook ran to the edge, his breathing frantic. "We have to help them!" He shouted, looking at the others, who were now approaching, trying to keep calm.

Minho gripped Jungkook's shoulder, holding him back. "It's too dangerous. We'll never get down there in time. We need to find another way-"

Before Minho could finish, the sound of the waterfall drowned out his words, the current roaring like a monster ready to claim its next victim.

Jungkook turned toward Sehun, both of them unwilling to let go of hope. "We're not leaving without them. Find a way down there."

Sehun nodded, his jaw clenched. "We'll find them. We have to."

As the group gathered themselves, the storm of rain only intensified, and the waterfall seemed to roar louder, as though mocking their desperation. Time was running out.

The sound of the waterfall continued to roar in the background, a constant reminder of the chaos and the loss that weighed heavily on them all. The group, huddled together at the edge of the cliff, was silent for a moment, each person battling their own emotions.

Jiwoo's shoulders shook as she clutched Haru tightly to her chest, her face streaked with tears. Her breath was ragged, and her sobs filled the air, drowning out the noise of the waterfall. "Why did they have to fall? Why did they...?" Her voice cracked, and she buried her face in Haru's soft hair, trying to calm herself but finding it nearly impossible.

Jimin stood close, his eyes sharp with anger but softened with the desperation to console his sister. His arm tightened around Jiwoo, pulling her to him. "It's not your fault, Jiwoo. We'll get them back. We will."

Sehun, on the other hand, was pacing back and forth, his face twisted with frustration and rage. His fists clenched at his sides, and his teeth ground together. "This is all Kang Joon's fault! Damn it!" His voice cracked with emotion, and he shouted again, his anger spilling over. "If he wasn't chasing us, this wouldn't have happened! I won't forgive him for this."

His frustration boiled over, and he turned toward the others, his chest heaving as he struggled to control himself. "How did this happen? We're not even safe when we try to save someone!"

Minho stepped forward, placing a hand on Sehun's shoulder, trying to calm him down. "Sehun, we all know it's not just Kang Joon. It's the whole situation. The stakes are high, and this war-this apocalypse-it makes things harder. We're all in this together."

Suga, with his usually calm demeanor, was anything but composed now. He had been a pillar, but now, the situation was dire, and he couldn't keep his emotions in check either. He gave Sehun a sympathetic look but then turned to RM. "We need to move. Staying here is a risk we can't afford."

RM nodded, his face set with grim determination. "We move now. We can't afford to let Kang Joon's men catch up. They're out there-tracking us. We need to get back to the town hall, regroup, and figure this out."

Jin and Zitao had arrived from their lookout point, their faces grim as they took in the scene. Jin's eyes were filled with sorrow as he placed a hand on Jiwoo's shoulder, offering her silent support. "We're all in shock right now, but we need to focus. Y/N and Taehyung wouldn't want us to give up. They'd want us to fight."

Zitao stood beside them, his expression hardening as he scanned the surrounding forest. "We need to go. We can't risk being here when Kang Joon arrives. It's not safe."

Hoseok stood at the edge, his gaze fixed on the churning water below. His body was tense, frozen between his emotions and his logic. "I don't know if I want to leave them like this..." His voice was barely a whisper, but his eyes were cold with a mixture of helplessness and rage. His feet seemed unwilling to move, as if staying meant he could somehow change what had just happened.

Jungkook, who had been standing motionless for what felt like forever, stared at the waterfall. His mind raced, but his body refused to obey. The urge to leap into the water and try to save them, to make the impossible happen, was so strong it almost consumed him. His heart pounded in his chest, and for a moment, he considered jumping. "We can't just leave them..." he muttered, his voice hollow and filled with sorrow.

But RM, Minho, and Suga came to stand beside him, their presence solid and unyielding. RM's voice, though heavy with pain, was firm. "We need to survive, Jungkook. If we stay here any longer, we're risking everything. We'll come back for them, I swear it. But right now, we need to get out of here."

With one last lingering look at the cliff's edge, Jungkook nodded, though his heart ached. He turned away slowly, forcing himself to follow the others, though every step felt like a betrayal.

The group gathered quickly, but their movements were sluggish, weighed down by the emotions that had settled in their chests. Jiwoo was still sobbing, her grip on Haru tight as Jimin continued to comfort her. Sehun's rage hadn't completely faded, but he kept his gaze forward, unwilling to let anyone see just how much the situation had broken him.

Minho, Suga, and RM led the way, their strides purposeful and quick. They knew they couldn't afford any delays. They had to get back to safety, but none of them could shake the feeling that the fight was far from over.

They moved as a group, the weight of what had happened sinking in with each step. Jungkook kept his head low, his mind still racing with thoughts of Taehyung and Y/N, unwilling to accept what had just transpired. And in the back of his mind, he swore to himself that he would come back-for them.

---

Y/N's composure shattered as she felt the ground beneath her shift. The jagged rocks were slick, and despite her desperate grasp, she couldn't stabilize herself. Her body swayed dangerously, and her eyes remained locked on Taehyung, not daring to look away for even a second.

The sound of rushing water grew louder, drowning out her thoughts as she struggled against gravity. No. Not now. Not like this.

Her fingers slipped from the rock she tried to grab, and with a panicked scream, she tumbled. Her feet lost all traction, and the world around her spun. Taehyung's silhouette was there, blurry and distant through the mist, just below her-but she couldn't reach him, couldn't help him.

In the split second before her body was completely airborne, she screamed his name, "Taehyung!" Her voice was drowned out by the deafening roar of the waterfall, but her heart echoed it, desperate.

The seconds stretched as she fell, her mind only on him. She tried to twist her body, to position herself in a way that might soften the blow, but it was useless. Her body felt weightless as she plummeted, her stomach churning with the intensity of the fall.

And then, with no time to brace herself, she hit the water.

The impact was brutal. The force of the fall slammed her entire body, knocking the air from her lungs and sending a sharp jolt of pain through her. The water closed in around her like a vice, the cold shocking every inch of her skin as it flooded into her lungs. She gasped, but it only filled her mouth with water, suffocating her.

Her vision blurred, disoriented by the pull of the current and the pounding force of the waterfall above. She kicked desperately, trying to reach the surface, but the water was relentless. She was swept deeper, further away from everything, the world spinning.

Taehyung... Her mind screamed his name over and over, but the current roared louder, drowning everything else.

With every stroke, with every ounce of strength, she struggled to stay afloat. Her lungs burned, the cold water pressing against her chest, but there was nothing but the torrent of water surrounding her, pulling her deeper.

No... The thought of losing him, of everything slipping through her fingers, only fueled her desperation. She wouldn't stop. She couldn't.

She kicked harder, swam against the flow, her body heavy and exhausted. The water tried to drag her down, but her resolve kept her fighting.

Through the haze, she swam, determined, the roar of the waterfall still deafening in her ears. Somewhere, amidst the chaos, was Taehyung. She had to reach him.

With all the strength she had left, Y/N pushed her body to the surface of the water, gasping for air, her lungs burning from the pressure. Her heart pounded in her chest, and her breath came in desperate, jagged gasps. She blinked the water from her eyes, frantically scanning the waters around her. But there was nothing-no sign of Taehyung. The river, although clear of pollution, felt treacherous, its currents twisting and churning beneath her.

She pushed herself to stay afloat, the river's coldness biting into her skin, her heart hammering in her chest. "Taehyung!" she shouted hoarsely, but the water swallowed her voice, muffling it as if the river itself was trying to drown her hope.

She forced herself to take another breath, steadying herself despite the panic clawing at her insides. She could feel the pain in her head, the aftereffects of the fall, but she refused to let it consume her. She had to find him. She couldn't lose him.

With resolve tightening her grip on the moment, Y/N dove again. The water rushed around her, cold and harsh against her skin. She swam, her arms cutting through the water with urgency, her eyes searching for any sign of Taehyung. The silence was suffocating, and the deeper she went, the more the water seemed to pull her down, tugging at her strength.

Each time she surfaced, gasping for air, she called out his name, her voice breaking with desperation, "Taehyung!" The words sounded so small, so powerless against the roar of the current and the storm of emotions inside her. Her tears mingled with the water, making it impossible to distinguish between the two, but still, she pressed on.

The river's surface was deceptively calm, but beneath, it was a different world. She dove again, pushing herself deeper into the cold water, her muscles aching from the strain. Her mind spun with fear and panic, her thoughts blurred with the images of Taehyung's face-his smile, his quiet strength, and the way he had always been there for her.

But then, just as her strength began to wane, something caught her eye. A silhouette.

It was faint, far in the distance, but the angle of the sunlight dancing through the water created a shimmering outline. Y/N's heart skipped a beat. Was it him? Was it Taehyung?

Her body screamed at her to rest, to take a break, but there was no time for that. She couldn't let the current take him. Not now. Not after everything.

She kicked harder, using every last ounce of her energy, pushing her way through the river, her eyes locked on the distant silhouette. The current fought against her, pulling at her legs, but she didn't stop. Her breath was ragged, her body screaming in protest, but her mind was consumed with only one thought: I can't lose him.

With one final burst of strength, she surged toward the figure, the water parting around her as she reached out, hoping, praying it was him. The distance between them seemed endless, the river's coldness numbing her limbs, but her will was stronger than the water's pull.

As she drew closer, the silhouette began to take shape, and her heart caught in her throat as she saw it-Taehyung's unconscious form, half-submerged in the water, his body bobbing along with the current. The sight made her panic rise again, and she swam faster, reaching out to grab him.

Her hands closed around his arm, pulling him toward her with all the force she could muster. His body was limp, lifeless in her grasp, but she didn't stop. With a last desperate effort, she dragged him to the surface, gasping for air as she pulled his heavy body against hers.

"Taehyung... Taehyung!" Her voice cracked as she called his name, her fingers brushing the wet strands of his hair away from his face. His eyes were closed, and he didn't respond, his breathing shallow and weak. She couldn't tell if he was alive-but he had to be.

Her tears mixed with the river water, but she didn't care. She would make sure he was okay. She would make sure they both made it out.

The sun's rays flickered through the surface of the water, casting a soft golden glow on their struggling forms. In that moment, it felt like time had stopped. There was no noise, no distraction-just the sound of her breathing and the faint rhythm of Taehyung's pulse beneath her fingers.

But she couldn't rest. Not yet.

With what little strength she had left, she pushed herself forward, dragging Taehyung through the water. Every movement was agony, but she refused to stop. He couldn't drown. Not like this.

With every stroke, she moved them closer to the riverbank, every inch a battle against the current. Her body screamed in pain, her muscles burning, but she refused to let go.

Then, just when she thought she couldn't go any further, she felt her foot touch the muddy riverbank. They were almost there.

Using the last of her strength, she pulled Taehyung onto the bank, her hands trembling as she collapsed beside him, gasping for breath. She looked at him, her chest heaving, her heart in her throat as she pressed her ear to his chest, listening for any sign of life.

He was still alive.

A shaky breath escaped her, and she let out a sob of relief, her hand brushing against his damp hair as she whispered his name, "Taehyung..."

Y/N's heart was pounding, every beat echoing the desperate urgency she felt. Her hands trembled as she pressed down on Taehyung's chest, the coldness of his body sending a wave of panic through her. She could feel his chest beneath her palms, but there was no rise, no sign of life. His eyes were closed, and his face was pale-too pale.

"Taehyung, please..." she whispered between ragged breaths, her voice breaking as she continued the chest compressions. With each push, she hoped, she prayed, for any response, any sign that he was still with her. But the minutes stretched on, and there was nothing. Just the cold, still body beneath her.

The water that had filled his lungs slowly came out with each compression, but still, Taehyung's body remained unresponsive. Her fear turned into desperation, and without thinking, she quickly moved to his side, cupping his face with trembling hands. She tilted his head back, opening his mouth, and took a deep breath before pressing her lips against his.

It was frantic, urgent-her breath mixing with his as she tried to force life back into him. But his lips didn't respond. His body didn't move.

She pulled away, a sob escaping her chest, her hands hitting his chest in frustration, in helplessness. "Come on, Taehyung, you can't leave me! Not like this..." she cried, shaking her head as she pushed harder on his chest, trying again.

Her tears fell freely now, mixing with the water, and every hit to his chest felt like another piece of her breaking. But she didn't stop. She couldn't.

With every breath, her hope wavered, but she pressed on, pushing his chest again and again, shouting his name. "Taehyung! Please, come back!" She slapped his face lightly, desperately trying to bring him back, to reach him through the darkness that seemed to have claimed him.

Then, just as her strength was running thin, she felt it-a faint pulse, a flutter beneath her fingers. It was weak, barely there, but it was enough.

Her hands paused for a split second, and then she pushed harder, breathing into him again, her heart racing with the smallest bit of hope.

Seconds felt like hours. She waited.

And then-finally-a gasp. A sharp, ragged intake of breath that sent a wave of relief crashing through her. His body jerked beneath her, and his chest rose as the air filled his lungs. Y/N's eyes flew open, her heart leaping in her chest as she leaned over him, her hands shaking violently with relief.

"Taehyung..." she whispered, her voice soft, barely audible, but it was the sweetest sound in the world. His eyelids fluttered, a groan escaping his lips as he struggled to regain control of his breath.

Taehyung's body trembled with each harsh cough, his chest rattling from the effort as he sat up slowly. His breath was shallow, ragged, as his lungs burned from the water still trapped inside. He felt the cold, dampness of his clothes cling to his skin, but nothing felt colder than the fear that had gripped his chest just moments before. He coughed again, more violently this time, the coughs wracking through his body.

Y/N remained beside him, her hand gently rubbing his back as she tried to soothe him. Despite her soft touch, the sobs she couldn't control were still evident in her shaky breaths. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, trying to steady herself, her eyes never leaving him.

"Taehyung..." she whispered through her own tears, her voice barely audible over the sound of his harsh coughs.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. They simply lay there, holding each other close, their breaths slowly evening out, as if trying to convince themselves that they were still alive, still whole.

It was only after what felt like an eternity that Taehyung managed to shift slightly, his body weak but his resolve strong. He reached for her hand, intertwining their fingers, not wanting to let go, not even for a second.

Y/N squeezed his hand in return, her eyes closed as she tried to calm her ragged breathing. She didn't care about anything else at this moment. The world, the danger, everything else could wait. They had both survived, and that was all that mattered.

But even as they lay there, the reality of their situation pressed down on them both. They couldn't stay like this forever. Kang Joon and his men were still out there, and the danger wasn't over. But for now, in this moment, they could allow themselves the small relief of just being together.

Taehyung shifted, pushing himself up slightly, though his body still ached from the fall. His breath was