it's been hours, jungkook and taehyung sitting in silence and not even sparing glances at each other as it was getting closer to night time.
the snarls were still there, pounding being heard from downstairs.
taehyung wondered if the rest of this group survived. or were they running for their lives too?
or maybe they're alive. maybe they're sitting at the house, happy he was not their problem anymore.
those thoughts were interrupted when there was an echoed scream.
the scream sounded a few miles away, the two men noticing that the snarls were leaving the building and following the scream.
taehyung stood up and walked to the door.
"don't." jungkook stopped him and stood up.
"someone is hurt. we can save them." taehyung turned around in disbelief.
"it's us against them. we can't save everyone, kim."
"i can and i will." taehyung placed his hand on the doorknob, but stopped when he heard jeon's next words.
"i'll shoot you before you walk out that door. then you'll both be dead. which is it?"
jungkook thought kim was an idiot. who was he? superman?
he couldn't save this person. all of those biters against the two of them, who didn't even know each other? putting a bullet in his skull would make this so much easier.
taehyung removed his hand off the doorknob and walked closer to jungkook, who had his hand on his gun.
"doesn't that hurt you that you could have saved someone, but you didn't? what if it was you out there?"
"well, it isn't. get over it. you can't save anyone. hell, i bet you can barely save yourself."
"you don't know anything about me. i can't believe i'm stuck with a monster like you." taehyung shook his head and walked to the bed, climbing on top and leaning against the wall as he stared off into the semi dark room.
"a monster? i'm a monster for being realistic? grow up." jeon walked to the window and peeked out of the blinds, seeing a few biters walking around and many eating a man, him likely being the screamer.
they were going to be here a while.
--
they didn't know how long its been since they heard that blood hurdling scream. a scream that they were all too familiar with.
but, it was night time. crickets were chirping and the distant sounds of snarls still lingered through out the building.
from moving around the room and sighs full of boredom and ounces of fear, they ended up exploring every part in the room.
jungkook was sprawled out on the bed, his arms folded behind his head on a black, delicate pillow with his eyes stuck on the dark ceiling.
taehyung was lying on the floor, his hand resting on his stomach as he tapped his foot against the wooden floor, a soft rhythm going through his head.
he couldn't fall asleep, liked he wished of doing. well, he's barely been able to sleep ever since this world changed.
ever since it broke apart right in front of him.
jungkook wanted his family to be okay. he considered them family. he cared for them and they were like his brothers. it would tear him apart if yoongi, namjoon, hoseok, jin, and jimin were hurt.
he believed that they had this certain bond. a bond that no one else had.
no, they were fine. he was sure of it.
they were strong and survivors. they were okay.
suddenly, annoyance traveled through his body as kim's tapping against the floor was getting louder and louder.
"fuck, can you stop?!" the first words he's spoken to kim ever since that scream let out, exploded through his mouth.
kim stopped his foot tapping, glancing up at the bed, "can you shut up?", then continuing his foot tapping.
"were you this agitating with your last group?"
taehyung stopped his movements and froze, completely caught off guard from the mention of the people he left behind.
he if they survived, due to kai not being there to manipulate and control them. he felt guilty, but he had to leave.
he could only wonder. his anxiety always found a way to catch up to him. always.
"jeon, just shut the fuck up."
jungkook realized he struck a nerve and didn't bring up the group again. at least, in a "teasing" manner.
he scoffed and sat up, leaning against the wall on the bed, staring into the empty space ahead of him.
"do you think that person is dead?" taehyung also sat up, leaning against the wall and resting his elbows on his bent knees.
he just couldn't stop thinking about it. thinking about that terrified scream.
it echoed throughout his brain like a siren, nagging about the possible death of an innocent human.
"i know he's dead." jungkook responded, pondering about how he stopped taehyung from walking out the door.
"why did you want to save him so bad, knowing we can't do shit against all those biters out there?"
taehyung sighed and leaned his skull against the wall, "if there's a chance left, i'll take it. i won't hesitate."
jungkook shook his head, "were you always like this? even before.... this?"
"yes. maybe everyone around me lost the morals in them. but, i didn't. i won't."
"you'll die with that mentality. wanting to save everyone will get you killed." jungkook chewed on his bottom lip.
maybe...
maybe taehyung will die. maybe he'll die saving someone over himself.
but, that's the way he would love to go out. saving someone.
a life.
"and you? have you always thought like that?" taehyung looked over to see his figure sitting on the bed.
"no. i do it to protect the ones i care about."
"someone died you loved, didn't they?" taehyung asked quietly.
there wasn't an answer, giving taehyung the impression that someone did die.
of course. jeon was like the way he was. that explained it.
"who?" he wanted to know more.
jungkook inhaled deeply, "i saved this man... only for him to shoot my mom and sister."
taehyung's heart broke at those words.
the trauma a person had to go through to witness that. to witness your family leaving your very grasp in this new world.
he felt sorrow for jeon. he felt like jeon wasn't the type to let his emotions go. wasn't the type to scream and cry.
"i'm so sorry."
"don't be. they're gone. there's nothing to apologize for."
no emotion was in his voice. it sounded deep and depressed. like he was completely stone-cold.
taehyung stood up and walked carefully to the bed jeon was sitting on.
it was dark, but not completely enough where he couldn't make out the objects and other figure in the room.
he climbed on the bed and sat next to jeon, keeping his distance.
"kim?" jungkook turned his head in confusion.
without any thought, he circled his arms around the man to his right, placing his head on jeon's shoulder and letting jeon feel comfort.
taehyung didn't even know why he was doing this. he felt tempted to help this man, even if he annoyed the shit out of him. he just couldn't help feeling like he felt.
"what-"
"we may not know or like each other. but, you're not alone. i promise you aren't." he kept his arms tangled around jungkook.
jungkook leaned his head against the wall and stared out into the room. he wasn't use to this type of care.
he's always felt alone. isolated from everything and the enjoyment of life.
"i promise." taehyung repeated, releasing the one-sided hug and smiled, even though jungkook couldn't see it.
"thank you." jeon looked at taehyung.
what the both of them didn't know was that they would never forget this small moment.
how such a little moment can cause a spiral of emotions to come out between two strangers.
and maybe bring them closer.
**