The hospital wing had grown colder overnight, the cracked windows letting in a draft that carried the scent of rust and decay. You stirred awake, your body heavy with exhaustion, your mind still reeling from Jungkook's confession about Taehyung. The words haunted you, echoing in your chest like a wound that refused to close.
Jin was already awake, crouched beside your little brother, coaxing him to eat from the small stash of rations. His voice was soft, steady, the kind of tone that made even the bleakest mornings bearable. Your brother clung to him, wide-eyed but calmer now, as though Jin's presence alone was enough to keep the monsters at bay.
You watched them for a moment, your heart twisting. Gratitude and sorrow tangled inside you. Jin shouldn't have to carry this burden, but he did—without complaint, without hesitation. He hummed softly, a melody that carried echoes of a world long gone, and your brother leaned against him, finally allowing himself to relax.
Beside you, Jungkook stirred. His bow rested across his lap, his eyes scanning the room before settling on you. He didn't speak at first, but his presence was steady, grounding. You could feel the warmth radiating from him, a reminder that you weren't alone, even when everything else screamed otherwise.
"Did you sleep?" he asked quietly, his voice hoarse from the night.
You shook your head. "Not really."
He nodded, as though he had expected that. "Me neither."
Silence stretched between you, heavy but not uncomfortable. You wanted to say something, anything, but the words tangled in your throat. Finally, Jungkook broke the quiet.
"We can't stay here," he said, his jaw tight. "The infected will breach again. We need to move."
Jin glanced up, his expression weary but resolute. "Where?"
"We'll search for the others," Jungkook replied. "They might still be out there."
Your stomach clenched. The thought of Namjoon, Hoseok, Yoongi, Jimin, and TXT missing gnawed at you. The silence of their absence was unbearable, hollow. But you forced yourself to nod. "Then let's go."
The streets were eerily silent, littered with debris and shadows. Every step felt like a gamble, every corner a threat. Jungkook walked close beside you, his bow drawn, his eyes scanning constantly. Jin carried your brother, his protective presence unwavering.
You searched for signs—footprints, discarded supplies, anything that might lead you to the missing members. But the city was a graveyard, offering nothing but silence.
At one point, Jungkook reached for your hand, his grip firm. "Stay close," he whispered. "I can't lose you too."
The words sent a shiver through you, not of fear but of something deeper. You squeezed his hand back, your heart pounding.
Hours passed, though time felt meaningless. You stopped in an abandoned café, the air thick with dust and decay. Jin set your brother down, coaxing him to eat again.
Jungkook sat beside you, his shoulders tense. He didn't speak at first, but his eyes never left you. Finally, he broke the silence.
"I don't know how to say this," he admitted, his voice low. "But every time I look at you, I feel… something. Something that scares me more than the infected."
Your breath caught. "Jungkook…"
He shook his head, his eyes glistening. "I shouldn't feel this. Not now. Not when everything is falling apart. But I do. And I can't ignore it anymore."
The words hit you like a wave. You wanted to respond, to tell him that you felt it too, but your throat closed. Instead, you reached out, brushing dirt from his cheek. His skin was warm beneath your fingertips, and for a moment, the silence between you was charged, heavy with everything unsaid.
"I feel it too," you whispered.
The world seemed to hold its breath. Jungkook leaned closer, his eyes locked on yours, his breath mingling with yours. The distance between you narrowed, charged with anticipation.
But before your lips could meet, a sound shattered the moment—a distant scream, echoing through the ruins.
You froze, your heart racing. Jungkook pulled back, his jaw tightening. "The others," he said, his voice urgent. "It has to be them."
The spark between you flickered, fragile but unbroken.
You rose, your body trembling, your heart torn between fear and hope. Jin gathered your brother, his eyes wide with determination.
Together, you moved toward the sound, the ruins echoing with the possibility of reunion—or devastation.
Jungkook's hand found yours again, his grip firm, his eyes burning with unspoken promises.
"We'll find them," he whispered. "And when we do… we'll figure this out. You and me."
The scream echoed again, closer this time.
And as you stepped into the shadows, the spark between you burned brighter, fragile but undeniable, a flicker of hope in a world consumed by darkness.
The scream echoed again, closer this time, pulling you forward through the ruins. Jungkook's grip on your hand tightened, his urgency clear. Jin carried your brother, his knife drawn, eyes scanning every shadow. The silence of the city was broken only by that desperate cry, and for the first time in days, hope flickered.
You turned a corner, heart pounding, and froze.
There they were. Namjoon, Hoseok, Yoongi, Jimin—and TXT, battered but alive. Relief surged through you, so strong it nearly knocked you to your knees. Jungkook exhaled sharply, his bow lowering, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"Y/N!" Jimin's voice cracked as he rushed forward, pulling you into a trembling embrace. Hoseok followed, his arms wrapping around you, his laughter breaking into sobs. Namjoon's hand settled on your shoulder, firm and grounding, his eyes glistening with relief.
For a moment, the world felt whole again.
But then you saw him.
Taehyung.
He stood apart, his body tense, his face pale. His eyes met yours, and in that instant, you knew. The truth Jungkook had whispered was written all over him. His sleeve was torn, the skin beneath mottled and bruised, the bite mark glaring like a death sentence.
Your breath caught, your chest constricting. "No…"
Jungkook's hand tightened around yours, his voice low. "Y/N, don't—"
But you couldn't stop. You stumbled forward, tears spilling down your cheeks. "Taehyung, tell me it's not true. Tell me you're okay."
Taehyung's smile was faint, broken. "I wanted to. I wanted to pretend. But you deserve the truth."
The group fell silent. Namjoon's jaw clenched, his eyes dark with grief. Hoseok covered his mouth, his shoulders shaking. Yoongi turned away, his fists clenched. Jimin's sobs broke the quiet, raw and jagged. TXT stood frozen, horror etched into their faces.
Your knees buckled, the weight of it crushing you. Jungkook caught you, his arms wrapping around you, holding you as though he could keep you from shattering completely.
"No," you whispered, your voice breaking. "We can fix this. There has to be a way."
Namjoon's voice was steady, but it trembled at the edges. "There isn't. We've seen it before. Once the infection spreads… there's no coming back."
Taehyung's eyes softened, his voice gentle. "Don't cry, Y/N. Please. I don't want my last memory to be your tears."
Your sobs shook you, your body trembling in Jungkook's arms. Jin shielded your brother, whispering reassurances even as his own eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
The reunion had become a funeral.
The group gathered in a circle, the weight of the decision pressing down like a storm. Namjoon's voice was low, steady. "We can't let him turn. We owe him dignity."
Jimin shook his head violently. "No! We can't just—he's still here, he's still Taehyung!"
Yoongi's voice cracked. "And what happens when he's not? When he's one of them?"
The argument spiraled, grief and rage colliding. TXT stood back, their faces pale, their eyes wide with fear.
You clung to Jungkook, your sobs quieting into broken whispers. "Why does it have to be him? Why does it have to be anyone?"
Jungkook's hand brushed through your hair, his voice hoarse. "Because the world doesn't care who it takes."
Taehyung stepped forward, his smile faint but resolute. "I'll make the choice for you. Don't fight over me. Just… remember me."
Your scream tore through the silence, raw and jagged. Jungkook held you tighter, his own tears slipping silently down his cheeks.
The reunion had given you hope. The truth had shattered it.
The night stretched on, heavy and unending. The group sat in silence, their grief palpable. Jin held your brother close, his protective presence unwavering. TXT huddled together, their faces pale, their eyes haunted.
You sat curled against Jungkook, your body drained, your mind spiraling. His arm remained around you, his grip firm, as though he feared you might disappear if he let go.
Taehyung's smile lingered in your mind, fragile and fading.
And as the moon dipped lower, the realization dawned: even reunited, you were fractured. The apocalypse had stolen not just safety, but family.