So this was what rich people used to buy stuff.

I glance down at the sleek, dark card, turning it front and back with a curious expression. I'd never seen anything like it— in the Underground, nearly everyone just used cash money. Or they traded things, to get what they wanted.

My thoughts wander back to that man as I lazily walk towards one of the many vending machines within the hospital.

He'd wanted me to take Jungkook to a hotel, as soon as possible.

I wince.

Hopefully Jungkook would know where a hotel would be when I woke him up. All the buildings here literally just looked the same to me.

He'd looked so angry. And urgent.

I sniff.

Finally, I pause in front of a huge, shiny machine. It looks similar to the ones we have down in the Underground, except it looks way better. Rows of snacks and drinks line the inside of the plastic barrier.

Hm.

It's not too hard to work my way around it, either.

Soon, I have a can of coke in my hands. Tucking the card back into my pocket, I'm about to pop the top open when I look up to the sound of rapid footsteps.

Men.

They're decked out in black. And I instantly freeze, sensing danger as they crowd the poor woman at the front desk. Their voices are harsh.

"Which room is Jeon Jungkook in?"

Oh.

Shit.

I casually make my way around the corner. And the moment I step out of their sight, I run like mad back to Jungkook's room.

I couldn't believe they'd already found where he was.

A curse runs through my lips as I push through the door. Jungkook is still asleep, his eyes closed and figure motionless. The beeping of the heart monitor echoes through the silence of the room.

I instantly shake him awake.

"Wake up," I whisper. "Wake up!"

He wakes. For a second his gaze sets on me, dazed and unfocused, before he recognizes the urgency in my voice.

He doesn't even need me to tell him.

"They're here, aren't they?" He murmurs, with a dizzy wince as he shifts himself up the bed. With one swift motion, he rips the needles from his forearms.

The beeping comes to a stop.

And it's ridiculous how calm he is.

"Where did you see them?" He asks, and I shakily point towards the right side of the hall.

"They'll come from there. I-It's where the only elevator is. I took the s-stairs, but it's also on the r-right and..."

I'm stuttering. Way too hard.

Those men. I'd seen guns, on their waists. There had been at least four of them. Any way down— the elevator and the stairs— were both on the right.

Where at any moment, they were going to show up.

But even with all the odds stacked against us, Jungkook places a hand on the top of my head. His lips curve in a light smile.

"Don't be anxious."

"We'll take the fire escape. Come."

My head jerks upwards.

I'd completely forgotten.

He runs to the left end of the hall. I barely keep up with his long strides, but manage to match his pace as we turn the corner to the fire escape. A dark door, and I hold my breath as Jungkook turns the knob.

I can hear rough shouting. It's them, realizing that the room is abandoned.

The door opens to a series of thin, metal stairs, at the same time a cold burst of wind hits my face— nearly whipping my breath away.

It's so high.

My breath starts running even faster when I hear the screeching of the metal each time the wind blows. Cold sweat lines my forehead.

Get a grip, Rin.

It's the fifteenth floor. What did you fucking expect?

Jungkook tests the stairs, slamming his foot against the top rail. He doesn't even look affected, not even a little.

When I feel like I might just throw up.

He turns back to me.

"It's safe. You can—"

He pauses, his eyes fixing on my face. And I curse softly inside my head.

Had he noticed?

"Rin."

He had.

Damn it.

"Are you alright? Look at me."

"Jungkook, just go. We don't have time for this." I say sharply, my knuckles turning pale from how hard I'm gripping the rail. Even looking over the edge sends nausea rolling up my spine.

Was I scared of heights? Since fucking when?

I literally hate myself.

"Rin..."

But then I hear the shouting. And it sounds much closer than before.

There's no time for this.

"Jungkook, go!"

His expression steels. Then he starts making his way down, and I follow after him. My heart is in my throat, and I force myself to fix my eyes on the back of his head.

I can't look anywhere else. I can't.

And my body chills even colder when I hear the hollow clanging of footsteps against metal above me. It feels dangerously close— only one or two flights.

I want to scream at someone.

It feels like a damn eternity.

When I finally reach the bottom, my legs nearly give out on me.

But then someone roughly pulls me behind the metal base of the stairs. Jungkook instantly shifts himself in front of me, his eyes dark, shadowed slits.

The moment the first of the man makes it down, he reaches over. His arm snakes around the man's head, slamming it into the metal railing and rendering him unconscious within half a second.

Jungkook has that man's gun in his hand before any of the others can ever react.

Four shots ring out in a quick, deadly rhythm.

Four heavy sounds, as corpses hit the floor— long dead before they ever touch the ground.

"Don't look." Jungkook hisses, but I can't help myself.

I peek over.

Four men. Their bodies are draped over the metal rungs of the stairs. All of them have a dark, bloody hole in the center of their foreheads— eyes lifeless and blank as they stare up at the sky.

"I said don't look."

Jungkook pulls me back.

"I'm fine with dead people," I mumble, but he pretends like he doesn't hear me as he presses a fresh gun into my palm.

"Keep it, just in case. Do you know how to shoot a gun, Rin?"

I nod.

He raises a skeptical brow.

"Really?"

"...no." I confess. "But it can't be too hard, right? You just aim and pull the trigger."

He stares at me for a second, before laughing softly.

"That's the idea, yes." He murmurs. "I just don't want you to hurt yourself. It wouldn't—"

He suddenly sways heavily.

My eyes widen. I reach for him, but he's already caught himself against the wall, his expression tight with a painful grimace. It's clear that his wound is hurting him.

But he won't even let me ask if he's alright.

"Are you—"

"Did hyung give you anything?" He interrupts, and I slightly frown as I reach for my back pocket.

"...this."

I pull out the dark, gold-tinted card. Then I glance at him again— at the cold sweat running down his pale brow.

He takes the card from me.

"Good. There's a place near here. We won't go too far— sometimes the foot of the candle is the darkest, no?" He says, with an easy smile that nearly convinces me over.

"Jungkook, you..."

He grips my hand.

"Come on."

He keeps the both of us close to the shadows. His hand around mine is cold, and I can feel all the rough calluses that line his fingertips and palm. His fingers envelop mine, grip strong and firm.

I sigh.

He really was good at cutting people off too.

________________________________

He takes me to a small hotel. It's perfect for a hiding place— the hotel was on the second floor of a crowded building, that looked more like an office in the first place. I hadn't even realized where he was taking me until I'd been standing right in front of it.

But the inside is nice.

The front lobby is cramped, but the lighting is dim and the floor is carpeted. The air smells faintly of chocolate and peppermint.

Jungkook looks really dizzy by the time we make it in there.

"Sit down," I say, waving towards the couches lined against the wall. "I'll check in."

He looks at me, unfocused. Then he shakes his head sharply, as if to clear away a muddy cloud in his head.

"Are you sure?"

"You really think I can't even check into a hotel?"

He chuckles softly. But then he passes me the card, before falling heavily into one of the armchairs set into the corner. His eyes flicker with exhaustion.

I had to hurry. I could tell he was about to pass out.

"Hi," I say to the woman at the front desk. She resembles my mother, with a warm expression and a colorful, checkered apron. "Check in for two?"

"No problem." She says. Then she winks.

"You're very lucky tonight, miss. Only one room left— for you and your date. It's also the best one that we have."

I pale.

"Only one?"

"Mhm." She says, almost cooing at my shocked expression. "One bed, and it has a balcony, too. Very romantic, no?"

Okay. One room was fine with me.

But one bed?

"Just— Just a second, please." I say. Then I rush back to Jungkook, who looks up at me with half-open eyes when I bend down and whisper.

"They only have one."

His dark gaze settles on my face, underneath the shadow of his long hair.

"One?"

"One room. And it only has one bed too. Should I just book it? I can sleep on the floor. I'm honestly fine with anything."

I can literally feel the woman staring at us. A soft blush slowly colors my cheeks, as Jungkook tilts his head to the side.

"And now why in the world would you sleep on the floor?"

My face flames even hotter, when I hear the woman squeal softly under her breath.

"Book the room, Rin."