𝐆𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 | 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐔𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝

𝟏𝟒 | 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬

𝓹𝒐𝒓𝓹𝒉𝒚𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒔 - 𝒐𝓯 𝓹𝒖𝒓𝓹𝒍𝒆 𝒉𝒖𝒆
┈┈┈┈┈𖥸┈┈┈┈┈

Having barely reached the first hill away from school ground, you hear the explosion in the distance before you can see it, an overwhelming blast of sound that knocks the group to the ground from the sheer force of it.

Torrents of fire.

A shower of sparks.

Plumes of smoke.

When the light that consumes your vision fades and your overloaded senses dulled, all that's left is an eerie hush, a rare moment of silence in the woods that are never still.

In a half crouch, Su-Hyeok completely covers you with his body, arms caging you in protectively. It's not until he tightens his hold on you however, lowering his head to peer into your bloodshot eyes, that you realize the extent of your trembling. The look of unmistakable utter concern on his face has you dipping your head, avoiding his stare as you try to pull away.

"Come here," Su-Hyeok whispers, nearly inaudible, torn to see you in such a state.

You bite the inside of your cheek, hoping to suspend teardrops on the rims of your eyes, but they sting from the effort, and your vision gradually hazes. When the first tear falls, the subsequent ones follow, and you're unable to stop it. Discouraged, you swipe at your eyes with the back of your hands, wanting to hide your tears as you inhale unevenly. "Why?"

Su-Hyeok sighs before he turns you back toward him, cupping your face in his hands to wipe off the tears still lingering in its descent down your cheeks. "Because I don't want you to be crying into nothing. Cry into me."

That only serves to make you weep harder, but he lets you relieve your feelings of anguish by drawing you close, rubbing soothing circles into your back. You can hear his hammering heartbeat where your head is pressed against his chest. Su-Hyeok tucks your head underneath his chin and sits quietly, consoling you with his presence alone.

On-Jo's own sobs in the distance drown out yours as she regards the place where she left both her dad and Cheong-San behind, never to see them again.

Spotting her abruptly rise, you know she's thinking of going back on a whim, unaccompanied.

Su-Hyeok is on your heels as you make your way toward her.

"On-Jo..." you reach out to place a hesitant hand on her shoulder and she practically jumps, hyper-fixated on the rising embers from her vantage point.

She glances at you, eyes brimming with tears. "I shouldn't act like this. I'm sorry."

You squeeze her shoulder. "Why are you apologizing? I understand."

"Can you...wait a bit?" On-Jo struggles to get out, gazing back and forth at the school and everyone else sitting scattered in the forest. Thinking better of it when she notices Su-Hyeok's eyebrows scrunched together in worry watching you, she backtracks and shakes her head. "Come to think of it...never mind. You and Su-Hyeok can go ahead with the rest. I'll catch up, I promise."