Chapter 12

This is an interactive fiction where your decisions will lead you to one of the different endings.

After witnessing that creature entering the stall next to Hoseok, he had been scared out of his mind. He had a lively imagination and already saw his body being ripped apart in his mind. He ran and never stopped. Well at least not until he realized that he was lost in the woods. He felt like he ran from one death trap right into the next one. Well done. He kept wandering around his mind racing with possible ways to die in a situation like this; Falling into a random hole and breaking ones neck, being crushed by a random branch falling down, freezing to death or even starving… being attacked by wild animals like boars and poisonous snakeus or even being attacked by other creatures… Hoseok slapped his face and he tried to calm himself down but only a whimper escaped his mouth. He changed directions several times hoping to get back on the path or at least see something which might help orientate himself. In the darkness, all the trees looked the same and Hoseok couldn't even tell if he had been running around in circles or not. His sleeve caught on a branch and before he knew it, he fell flat and face first into the muddy floor. His sleeve was ripped but it had protected Hoseok's skin from getting injured. His face still hurt though. He sat up and rubbed his nose; the smell of dirt and mud drove tears into Hoseok's eyes. He knew that he couldn't keep going like this… He needed a plan first to prevent himself from getting lost even more and from injuring himself. He tried to think but a noise nearby drew his attention to it. It sounded as if someone was screaming and Hoseok even could make out some words.

"That is your entire fault Hoseok. Why do you keep making me do ridiculous things?" Relief washed over Hoseok as he recognized the voice as Suga Hyung's. He slowly moved into the direction the voice was coming from and eventually could make Suga out in the darkness. Suga was sitting on his butt; his clothes were dirty and ripped at several parts. He definitely did not look comfortable where he was sitting. At the side of his face Hoseok could make out a flash of red running down his cheek. Hoseok suddenly felt like vomiting. His friend was injured. He moved in on Suga.

"Jung Hoseok, you…!"
"So should I just turn around and leave again?" Hoseok was scared. Suga was injured and what he could gather from the man's ranting from before, Suga thought it was Hoseok's fault. How would Suga react now that he stood in front of him? Hoseok feared that he had done it now. Done enough to push the one person away which was most important to him.

"Hoseok! I'm so glad that you are here." Huh… Hoseok was not expecting that. Especially not the sudden tears streaming down Suga's face. Hoseok was close to a breakdown now and he stormed towards his friend hugging him close, holding Suga's head close to his chest. Suga was tense but the stiffness was almost immediately swept away by Hoseok's comforting presence and Suga just quietly cried, pressed against a warm body. Hoseok waited patiently for his friend to calm down. He then slowly took Suga's face and cupped it with his hands. He turned to be able to inspect the wound on Suga's head.
"You have a pretty bad gash on your forehead. What on earth happened to you? You look awful." Hoseok looked deep into Suga's eyes determined to be strong for his friend. He had never seen Suga in a state like this. This was no joke.
Suga held Hoseok's gaze but eventually tried to turn his head away but was stopped my Hoseok's hands having an iron grip on his friend's face. "I was looking for you. I saw you run into the forest and went after you to bring you back but I fell down a hillslope and hit my head. I'm fine though." He struggled himself free and tried to stand up but suddenly Suga felt really dizzy, his vision turning black once again. Hoseok saw his friend struggling to stand up only to witness him staggering and falling backwards again. Luckily he was fast enough to catch his friend and make him fall on Hoseok to break his fall. Suga was moaning, his eyes pressed close and his face in a painful expression.
"Something is wrong. My head is spinning-" Before Hoseok was able to respond to Suga, his friend turned to the right and vomited on the floor. His body heaved in craps as he retched and brought up whatever little he had in his stomach. Hoseok, still underneath Suga's weight could only watch and slowly pat his back for comfort. In Hoseok's head, an alarm signal started ringing and he saw red. The wound on Suga's head, the dizziness and the vomiting; Suga had probably a concussion. After all the vomiting was done, Suga slumped down as a pile of dirt and limbs, his whole weight resting on Hoseok. His breathing was ragged and unsteady, his chest raising and sinking heavily.
Hoseok knew that he had to stay calm for Suga's sake. The situation was a nightmare but it wouldn't be helpful if he'd start to panic now. With all his strength, Hoseok lifted the surprisingly light body and gently put him down on a bed of leaves and moss next to Hoseok. He looked at Suga who had his eyes closed and laid motionless on the floor. "Hyung?" Hoseok was afraid that his friend was unconscious. He had read somewhere that people who had suffered from a concussion are not allowed to sleep. Fear grabbed Hoseok with cold hands. He put a hand to Suga's shoulder and started shaking him carefully.

"Hyung, you cannot fall asleep! Stay awake! Hyung!" Hoseok couldn't help it. A cry from deep within emitted through his mouth, disturbing the silence.
"I'm fine" Suga's calm voice made Hoseok freeze and look at his still friend. "I'm just waiting for the dizziness to go away." He slowly opened his eyes and looked at his crying friend who was hovering above him. Despite the situation Suga had to smile. "Falling asleep? What do you take me for? I'm never sleepy, I barely sleep." Hoseok couldn't believe that his friend was able to make jokes in a situation like this.

"Anyways, we can't stay here. You need medical attention. We have to keep moving. If we don't find the way back, we should at least go to a spot where it would be easier for the other's to spot us. Can you get up?"
"I can try it." With a lot of effort and help from Hoseok, Suga was able to stand up. Great, now he just had to move. It didn't quite work out though. He sat one foot in front of the other but ended up staggering and falling against Hoseok who had been ready to catch him.
"That was some progress, wasn't it? I think I deserve a break" Suga tiredly smiled at Hoseok who felt like rolling with his eyes but suppressed it.

"I think we have no other choice. We will never get back if we keep going like this." With that being said, Hoseok bent down and put one arm around the hollow of Sugas's knees and one around his shoulders to lift him up. He gently pulled until Suga's feet were dangling in the air and the rest of Suga was resting on Hoseok's arms which were outstretched in front of his body. Suga, who was caught off guard with this hurriedly put an arm around Hoseok's neck and looked into his face, eyes wide open. He opened his mouth to say something but only a moan escaped him. His face turned a deep crimson red and as Hoseok grasped the extent of their situation, his cheeks also turned the same tint of red. They both awkwardly looked away until Suga stuttered an embarrassed "P-put me down, I can walk alone". Hoseok looked at Suga in disbelief and put a pouty expression on his face. "What? You don't like being carried by me like this?"
Suga looked with wide eyes again at Hoseok. "No! That is not it… I just… It's embarrassing". His face turned red again and he hoped that Hoseok was not able to feel or hear his loud heart pumping in his chest.
"I carried you before like this, Hyung."
"But this… this feels different." Suga looked at Hoseok and held his gaze and Hoseok warmly stared back his red face also displaying a cute and soft smile which played around his lips. "I know, Hyung".
They steadily made their way through the woods, Suga holding tightly onto Hoseok and Hoseok carrying his Hyung with deadly determination. Suga had his head resting on Hoseok's shoulder and let lose a little laugh.
"Why are you laughing Hyung?" Hoseok looked at the peaceful expression on Suga's face and for a short moment he couldn't help but wish this moment would last forever. He finally could be of help to someone and on top of that, it was Suga Hyung. Suga the strong one who never gets scared who is always someone Hoseok saw as a brave hero. Someone Hoseok could always turn to and who inspired Hoseok a lot. He craved his presence and he missed his Hyung whenever he wasn't close. His heat went crazy in Hoseok's chest. He felt Suga's body frame resting in his arms and pressed against his own warm body. Despite the cold, Hoseok was breaking a sweat.
"You know, originally I was supposed to save you and be the knight in the shining armor but now, look at you. I always knew you had it in you, being strong like this. Thank you Hoseok." Suga's smile was so honest and pure, Hoseok felt like he was the happiest person on this planet, being flattered by Suga's words and filled with his presence. Out of instinct Hoseok lifted the prince in his arms a little closer to his own face and slowly bent his head down. He was now only a few inches away from Suga's face, his deep dark eyes, his soft lips. Suga stared up at Hoseok his eyes only half open. He had a dreamy expression on his face and his mouth was slightly open. He licked his lips. Hoseok felt something tingling inside his chest. He moved closer his voice now only a soft whisper. "Hyung..."

The world around them turned bright all of a sudden. And loud; someone was calling out for them. The beam of a flashlight was resting on the odd couple. Two figures approached them. It was Jin Hyung and RM. For a brief moment they just stared at Hoseok holding Suga in bridal style with questioning looks on their faces. Then their expression changed as soon as their gaze shifted to Suga who had still blood smeared on his face and one arm hanging down limply. Suga snarled words under his breath that sounded like 'Thanks for interrupting…' and then turned to look at the source of light as well. The brightness was painful for Suga and he looked away immediately squirming slightly in Hoseok's grip. Hoseok understood and told Jin Hyung and RM to direct their light somewhere else.
"What happened to you?" RM looked from Hoseok back to Suga and back to Hoseok again, looking for an explanation.
"We were looking for you everywhere! I'm so glad we found you." Jin moved up to the couple and started inspecting Suga's head injury. Hoseok quickly explained the symptoms of a possible concussion he witnessed to Jin and RM and they decided to get Suga back to camp as fast as possible. After they all had moved a couple of feet, they were suddenly again back on the path between the toilet cabin and the camp. Hoseok and Suga had been so close to their goal, it was incredible. Joy suddenly overcame Hoseok and he looked at the man he still held in his arms" Suga Hyung, we made it. We did it!" He bent down and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. Jin and RM looked at both of them with smiles plastered onto their faces, taking the behavior between the two as the usual closeness but as Suga's and Hoseok's faces both turned bright red again, the couple knew that there was more behind it.

~End #4~

Bonus

"Hyung, why do you have three flashlights but only one of them is switched on?" Hoseok wondered.
RM rolled with his eyes and Jin looked at him judgingly.
"Well, we had three flashlights, but a special someone broke two of them while looking for you…"