The morning sun was pale, filtered through smoke and ash that still lingered over the ruined city. The hypermarket stood behind them, its barricades abandoned, its shelves stripped bare. It had been a fragile shelter, but Namjoon knew they couldn't stay.
He stood at the front of the group, his voice steady. "The forest is our best chance. Less population means fewer infected. We'll regroup there, decide what comes next."
The others nodded, though unease rippled through them. The city stretched ahead like a graveyard, every street a risk.
Namjoon continued, "We'll move in groups of five. Smaller, quieter, easier to defend. Stay close, stay silent. If we're separated, we regroup at the forest edge."
The groups were quickly decided:
Namjoon, Yoongi, Hoseok, Beomgyu, Hueningkai
Taehyung, Soobin, Yeonjun, Jimin, Y/N's brother
Jungkook, Y/N, Jin, Seokjin, Jimin (Jimin swapped later to balance TXT, leaving Y/N firmly in Jungkook's group)
Y/N's chest tightened when she realized she'd be walking beside Jungkook. His eyes flicked to her, sharp and unreadable, before turning away.
"Let's move," Namjoon ordered.
🚶 The Road Out
The streets were eerily quiet. Burned-out cars lined the roads, their windows shattered, their doors hanging open. Blood smeared the pavement, dried and dark. The group moved cautiously, their weapons ready, their breaths shallow.
Y/N walked close to Jin, her brother in another group ahead. Her heart pounded with every step, her pipe slick in her hand. Jungkook walked slightly ahead, his rod resting against his shoulder, his eyes scanning constantly.
Hours passed in tense silence. The city seemed abandoned, but the air was heavy with dread.
Then — a sound.
A low growl, faint but distinct.
The group froze.
From the shadows of an alley, figures staggered forward. Their eyes were clouded, their movements jerky. But something was different. Their heads tilted, their ears twitching, their noses flaring.
"They're not looking at us," Jin whispered, his voice trembling.
Y/N's breath caught. He was right. The infected didn't turn toward them immediately. Instead, they tilted their heads, listening.
"They can't see," Yoongi muttered, realization dawning. "They hunt by sound."
Namjoon's voice was low, urgent. "Stay quiet. Move slow."
The group crept forward, their breaths shallow, their footsteps soft. For a moment, it seemed to work. The infected sniffed the air, their heads turning, but they didn't lunge.
Then — a clatter.
A can rolled across the pavement, knocked loose by Hoseok's trembling hand.
The infected shrieked, their heads snapping toward the sound. They charged.
"Fight!" Namjoon roared.
⚔️ The First Battle
Chaos erupted. The infected lunged, their snarls echoing. Jungkook swung his rod, the crack of bone sharp. Yoongi's knife flashed, precise and deadly. Taehyung slammed his mic stand into one's skull, fury blazing in his eyes.
Y/N's chest heaved as one lunged at her. She swung her pipe, the impact jarring her arms. The creature collapsed, twitching, but another came. She struck again, her breath ragged, her heart pounding.
Nearby, Jin stumbled. Two infected cornered him against a wall, their snarls deafening. His chair leg shook in his hands, his eyes wide with terror.
"Help!" he cried, his voice breaking.
But everyone else was fighting — Jungkook locked in combat, Namjoon shouting orders, Taehyung dragging Soobin back.
Y/N's chest tightened. She didn't think. She ran.
She swung her pipe with all her strength, slamming it into the first infected's skull. It collapsed, twitching. The second lunged, its teeth snapping. She shoved Jin aside, swinging again. The crack echoed as it fell.
Her chest heaved, her arms trembling. Blood dripped from the pipe, hot and metallic.
Jin stared at her, his eyes wide. "You… you saved me."
Y/N swallowed hard, her breath ragged. "We save each other. That's the only way."
From across the street, Jungkook froze. He had seen it — the way she had charged in, the way she had fought without hesitation. His chest tightened, conflict flickering in his eyes.
For the first time, he didn't see her as a burden.
🌲 The Long Road Ahead
The battle ended in silence, the infected lying broken on the pavement. The group stood, their chests heaving, their weapons slick with blood.
Namjoon's voice was steady but grim. "We can't stay here. The forest is five days away. Six nights. We move fast, we move quiet, and we survive."
The others nodded, their faces pale but determined.
Y/N glanced at Jungkook. His eyes met hers for a moment, sharp but unreadable. Then he turned away, his jaw tight.
The road to the forest stretched ahead — long, dangerous, uncertain.
And survival had only just begun.
The road to the forest stretched endlessly, broken only by the ruins of the city. Burned-out cars lined the streets, their doors hanging open, their interiors smeared with blood. The group moved in silence, their footsteps heavy, their breaths ragged.
Every few hours, the infected appeared — staggering from alleys, crawling from beneath wreckage, drawn by the faint sound of movement. Each fight drained them further. Weapons grew slick with blood, arms trembled with exhaustion, and the smell of rot clung to their skin.
Y/N swung her pipe again and again, her muscles screaming. Her brother clung to Hueningkai's side, his small hands shaking as he tried to help. Jungkook fought with brutal precision, his rod cracking skulls, his jaw tight. But his eyes flicked to Y/N often, sharp, conflicted.
By the second day, hunger gnawed at them. The food from the hypermarket was dwindling, shared among too many mouths. Water bottles emptied quickly, and every sip felt like a luxury.
Seokjin's voice cracked as he whispered, "I can't… I can't keep walking."
Namjoon's jaw tightened. "You have to. We all do."
But exhaustion was everywhere. Hoseok stumbled often, his hands trembling. TXT's younger members leaned against each other, their faces pale. Y/N's brother whimpered softly, his stomach growling.
Night fell heavy.
🌙 Night Terrors
They found shelter in an abandoned school, its windows shattered, its classrooms littered with broken desks. They barricaded the doors with chairs, huddling together in the dark.
But sleep was fragile.
Y/N lay curled beside her brother, her eyes wide, her breath shallow. Every creak of the building made her flinch. Every distant growl outside sent her heart racing.
Her brother whimpered in his sleep, whispering, "Mom… Dad…"
Tears stung her eyes. She held him close, whispering, "I'm here. I won't let anything happen."
Across the room, Jungkook sat against the wall, his rod resting beside him. His eyes lingered on Y/N, watching the way she held her brother, the way her shoulders trembled but never broke. His chest tightened, conflict burning inside him.
Yoongi whispered to him, "You still think she's a burden?"
Jungkook's jaw clenched. "She fights. I saw her save Jin. But… if she falters, if she breaks… we all die."
Yoongi's gaze was steady. "Or maybe she's stronger than you think."
Jungkook said nothing, his eyes fixed on Y/N.
⚔️ Tension
The next day, the fights grew worse. The infected seemed endless, drawn by every sound. The group learned quickly — silence was survival. They moved carefully, whispering only when necessary, their footsteps soft.
But silence couldn't hide exhaustion.
Y/N stumbled often, her arms heavy, her breath ragged. Jungkook's eyes flicked to her, sharp. "Don't slow down," he muttered.
Her chest tightened. "I'm not."
"You are," he snapped. "If you can't keep up, you'll get us killed."
Taehyung stepped between them, his voice low but firm. "Enough. She's fighting as hard as any of us."
Jungkook's jaw clenched, his eyes burning. He turned away, his grip tightening on his rod.
Y/N's throat tightened, tears stinging her eyes. But she forced herself forward, her pipe heavy in her hands. She wouldn't break. Not in front of him.
🏚️ Searching for Shelter
By the second night, their bodies screamed for rest. Hunger gnawed at them, exhaustion dragged them down, and fear clung to every breath.
Namjoon's voice was steady but grim. "We need shelter. Somewhere safe enough to last the night."
They searched desperately, scanning buildings, alleys, ruins. Most were too exposed, too broken, too dangerous.
Finally, Soobin spotted it — a small warehouse on the edge of the city, its doors heavy, its windows barred.
"This could work," he whispered.
The group moved cautiously inside. The air was stale, but the space was empty. They barricaded the doors, stacked crates against the walls, and huddled together.
For the first time in days, silence felt almost safe.
Y/N sat with her brother, her arms wrapped around him. Taehyung sat nearby, his gaze steady, his presence grounding. Soobin offered her a faint smile, his voice soft. "We'll make it. One night at a time."
Her chest tightened. "Five days… six nights… it feels impossible."
Taehyung's voice was low, firm. "Impossible is what we've already survived."
Across the room, Jungkook watched her. His eyes lingered on the way she held her brother, the way she forced herself to stay strong despite exhaustion. His chest tightened again, conflict burning.
For the first time, he wondered if she wasn't a burden at all.
🌄 Day 3 – The Weight of Hunger
The third day on the road was worse than the first two combined. Their bags were nearly empty, the last cans of beans shared in silence the night before. Every stomach growled, every step felt heavier.
Y/N's brother whimpered softly as they walked, clutching Hueningkai's hand. "I'm hungry…"
Namjoon's jaw tightened. "We'll find something. We have to."
But the truth was clear: the city was stripped bare. Stores looted, shelves overturned, food gone.
By midday, the group stopped in the shadow of a collapsed building. Namjoon gathered them, his voice steady but grim. "We can't keep walking like this. We need food. If we don't eat, we won't survive the forest journey."
Yoongi's eyes narrowed. "Then we search. Smaller group. Faster, quieter."
Namjoon nodded. "Five of us. Jungkook, Jimin, Taehyung, Yoongi… and Y/N."
Y/N's chest tightened. She hadn't expected to be chosen. Jungkook's eyes flicked to her, sharp, conflicted, but he said nothing.
Taehyung stepped forward, his voice firm. "She's proven herself. She saved Jin. She fights. She comes."
Namjoon nodded. "The rest stay here. We'll return before nightfall."
🏚️ The Search Party
The five moved cautiously through the ruins, weapons ready. The streets were eerily quiet, broken only by the distant groans of infected.
Jimin walked close to Y/N, his voice soft. "Stay near me. If anything happens, we'll fight together."
She nodded, gripping her pipe tighter.
Yoongi led, his knife glinting faintly. "We check every corner. Warehouses, shops, anything. Even scraps matter."
Jungkook walked slightly ahead, his rod resting against his shoulder. His eyes scanned constantly, his jaw tight. He didn't look at Y/N, but she felt his presence — sharp, heavy, unavoidable.
Taehyung stayed close to her, his gaze protective. "Don't hesitate. If you see one, strike first."
Her chest tightened. "I will."
⚔️ The Encounter
They found a small convenience store, its windows shattered, its shelves stripped. But in the back, a few boxes remained.
Yoongi crouched, opening one. "Snacks. Expired, maybe, but edible."
Relief flickered across their faces. Jimin stuffed packets into his bag, Taehyung grabbed bottles of water.
Then — a sound.
A low growl.
From the shadows, infected staggered forward. Their heads tilted, their ears twitching, their noses flaring.
"They heard us," Jungkook muttered, his grip tightening.
The creatures lunged.
Chaos erupted. Jungkook swung his rod, the crack of bone sharp. Yoongi's knife flashed, precise and deadly. Taehyung slammed his mic stand into one's skull, fury blazing. Jimin struck clumsily but desperately, his broom handle smashing into another.
Y/N's chest heaved as one lunged at her. She swung her pipe, the impact jarring her arms. The creature collapsed, twitching. Another came, snarling. She struck again, harder, until it lay still.
Jungkook glanced at her mid-swing, his eyes sharp. He saw the way she fought — not with hesitation, but with raw determination. His chest tightened, conflict flickering.
🌌 Nightfall – Slow Burn
They returned to the group with food, relief washing over everyone. The snacks were shared, the water sipped carefully. It wasn't much, but it was survival.
That night, Y/N sat with her brother, feeding him crackers. Taehyung sat nearby, his gaze steady, his presence grounding. Soobin offered her a faint smile, his voice soft. "You did well today."
Across the room, Jungkook sat against the wall, his eyes lingering on her. He watched the way she held her brother, the way she forced herself to stay strong despite exhaustion. His chest tightened again, conflict burning.
Jimin noticed, his voice low. "You're watching her."
Jungkook's jaw clenched. "She fights. She's stronger than I thought."
Yoongi's gaze was sharp. "Then stop calling her a burden."
Jungkook said nothing, his eyes fixed on Y/N.
🌄 Day 4–5 – Struggles
The journey grew worse. Hunger returned quickly, exhaustion dragged them down. The infected appeared often, drawn by every sound.
Y/N stumbled often, her arms heavy, her breath ragged. Jungkook's eyes flicked to her, sharp. "Don't slow down," he muttered.
That night, Y/N dreamed of her family — her mother's smile, her father's laugh, her sister's voice. She woke in tears, her brother clinging to her. Jungkook watched silently from across the room, his chest heavy.
By the fifth day, the group was frayed. Hunger gnawed, exhaustion broke them, fear clung to every breath. But they kept moving, step by step, toward the forest.
And through it all, Y/N and Jungkook's tension grew — sharp, heavy, but slowly shifting.
For the first time, he didn't see her as a burden.
He saw her as a survivor.