Chapter 2 Book two:
You froze, your breath catching in a throat suddenly dry as dust. Chanβs silhouette was a dark smudge against the treeline, his composure far more terrifying than any frantic aggression. He was waiting for you to break, for the fear to force you into a mistake.
But the silence was broken not by a sound from the shore, but by a wet, shuffling movement from the far side of the boatβs console.
You gasped, tearing your gaze away from Chan to look down.
It was Jungwon.
He was slumped against the hull, breathing in shallow, ragged rasps. His shirt was ruined, a deep, dark stain spreading quickly across his side, and his face was terrifyingly pale, slick with cold sweat. His eyes were unfocused, struggling to stay open, but as they locked onto yours, a spark of fierce, stubborn life lit them up.
"Go," he breathed out, the word barely audible over the lapping water. He tried to straighten up, to push himself up, but his wounded side gave out, forcing him back down with a sharp intake of breath. "You... you have to go."
You couldn't move. The sight of himβbroken, bleeding, yet still trying to protect youβshattered the paralyzing fear into a frantic, adrenaline-fueled desperation.
On the shore, Chan noticed the shift. He tilted his head slightly, the movement too slow, too deliberate. The silent sentinel began to walk, taking one slow step into the shallow water, his eyes fixed on the wounded figure on your boat.
"He's coming," Jungwon whispered, his hand tightening around a piece of broken gear on the deck, his knuckles white. He looked at you, a mix of apology and fierce determination in his gaze. "You can still make it. Take the engine."
But you weren't going to leave him. Not like this.
You moved towards him, diving for the emergency kit as the boat rocked, your eyes darting between your wounded friend and the man in the water, who was now ankle-deep, and still, watching.