Chapter 4

𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗷𝗶'𝘀 𝗣𝗢𝗩

There was a sign that read: "Do not trespass! Private property!"

The group walked over to the fence.

"Private property? Out here?" Hoseok asked.

"Should we jump?" Ava asked.

"You think we'll find anything there?" Emily questioned.

Minji knew those were questions no one could answer unless they trespassed.

"Should we jump?" Jimin asked again standing beside Jin.

"We're near the end of the forest, standing in front of private property, what if we find help?" Soomin spoke.

Minji looked at Jin and could tell he was deep in thought. Why wouldn't he, he was the leader of the group and everyone was relying on him.

"What if the three of you go and check," Kate spoke from behind.

"We're not splitting up," Jin spoke firmly. "Either we all go or we don't."

He turned around. "Vote."

Everyone looked at each other.

'𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 if 𝘚𝘰𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯'𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱.' Minji thought.

"We should go!" Minji spoke. Everyone agreed except Emily who had a bad feeling about it, but the majority won and one by one they started climbing.

******

𝗘𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆'𝘀 𝗣𝗢𝗩

The fence was made of chain wire that had sharp edging at the very top that looked like it could very cut deep if any of them got hurt.

Emily gulped. She didn't want to risk getting hurt but she had to go. She put her fingers firmly around the fence and started to climb. The wire was digging into her fingers and they started to hurt but she knew she couldn't turn back after climbing that much. When she reached the top and saw the sharp edge as it shined from the sunlight. She climbed over it avoiding any cuts and was successful.

Suddenly there was a sharp cry of pain. She looked up to see Hani screaming in pain. She had her fingers clenched onto the fence as her screaming slowed down.

Everyone was asking what was wrong but then Emily saw it. There was blood seeping out of her jeans from her lower thigh and she knew Hani had become a victim of the blades.

*******

Once they were all down, Soomin, Kate, Ava, Jiwon and Emily were looking at the wound. Soomin did most of the work. It was a deep injury, the blade had cut through Hani's flesh. She was trying her best not scream as Soomin treated it with medicine and wrapped it up, but everyone knew medicine wasn't enough to heal such a wound and that she needed stitches.

Once Hani's wound was wrapped up they all continued their way. The trees weren't covering the sky as much as they did before. They were spaced out and seemed not so 'green'.

The group walked for a long while until darkness spread across the forest and each of them brought out the torches they had, which were only three.

"Guys," Jiwon whispered.

Everyone looked at her, narrow-eyed, she looked around.

"Do you hear that?" she asked.

Everyone kept quiet to listen to what Jiwon had heard. There was a growling sound that was close and was followed by the crunching of the leaves.

"There's someone out there?" Emily whispered.

Ava moved to stand beside Hoseok and the group gathered in closer.

"We should keep moving," Jin spoke.

Without a word, everyone continued to walk forward until Hani hollered, breaking the immense silence.

"Oh my god! What the hell is that!"

Everyone looked at where she was pointing. A tall figure was walking eerily towards them. As it lumbered closer to them everyone saw it in the moonlight. It didn't even look human. It was so emancipated that all its ribs and its bones were exposed. It opened its mouth and its sharp teeth and long tongue was visible. It continued to poke out its tongue.

"RUN!" Jin yelled and everyone started running.

Jin was at the front with the rest following behind. It hadn't even been half a minute when there were more than one creature gaining on them.

They heard a scream. They turned back to see Hani laying flat on the floor. She struggled to get up, and the creatures were right behind her. They weren't lumbering anymore. They were running faster than a cheetah.

"Hoseok, take them! Jimin let's go!" Jin ordered as everyone followed Hoseok, while Jin and Jimin ran towards Hani. Jin threw his flashlight at one of them, who swiftly grabbed it with its tongue and threw it away.

The duo were shocked. Jimin pulled Hani to her feet and saw the creature shove Jin out its way and charge towards them. Jimin swung around punching it in the ribs but that didn't seem to affect it. It easily picked Jimin up by his shirt and threw him too. Jimin's back hit a tree and he fell, holding onto his chest from the impact.

One of the creatures grabbed Hani, pulling her by her ankle as it dragged her away with the rest of the creatures following. Hani screamed as she tried to get a hold of something but all she caught were leaves.

"Jimin!!! Jin!!!" She yelled and Jin was already on his feet, blocking the creature's path but it chose another one and disappeared with a bolt, dragging Hani along with it. Jin tried running behind it but didn't know where to go. He ran back to Jimin and pulled him up.

"They got away," he whispered. Jimin closed his eyes and groaned. "Come one we gotta find the others, what if they're in danger," Jin said getting up and walking over to pick up his torch. He tried turning it on but it didn't work. He hit the back of it and it flickered but turned off again. Jin rolled his eyes and they both ran to find the group.

"Jimin!"

Jin and Jimin stopped in there tracks.

"Up here!"

They looked up to see everyone sitting on a branch. Jimin tried to contain a laugh, 'cause this wasn't the time, but the way they were all perched on a branch like birds was hilarious to him.

"What're you all doing up there?" Jin asked.

"Hoseok said it was the best plan to stay away from those creatures," Ava spoke looking at Hoseok who had a proud smile on his face.

Everyone sat in silence on trees after Jin told them what had happened.

"We tried but they were too strong," Jin said. "They disappeared too fast so we couldn't even follow them."

"We have to go get her," Minji spoke.

Everyone looked at Minji who sat on a branch and was looking towards the way Jin and Jimin had come from. Jin could see the sorrow in her voice and posture, which made Jin feel guilty like he had let her down.

"We'll stay here tonight and in the morning we'll go look for her, it's too dangerous out here, we don't know how many of those thing lurks this area of the woods," Jin said as he rested his back on the tree.

"How do we know where to look?" Kate asked, but no one replied, because everyone had a speck of doubt that they'd be able to find her again.

As dawn crept upon the forest, the group was on the ground, walking back.

"Do you remember where it went?" Hoseok asked.

"The trees all look the same Hoseok, so no, we don't remember, but we should just keep going this way," Jimin replied. No one objected and kept walking.

The group had walked a long way when they heard a weak groan. They all stopped to listen. There was another one.

"What's that?" Minji whispered. "Maybe Hani?"

"Sound's masculine to me," Hoseok said.

Then there was another one, a bit louder than before followed by the rustling of leaves. Then in the far corner, Jin saw it.

"There!" he pointed.

They all moved towards it. It was a young man. He lay flat on the ground, with his eyes closed and his mouth ajar. He had a bruise on his forehead and there was blood next to him.

"Hey," Hoseok spoke while hovering over the boy.

He was shaking him nonchalantly and the man groaned again until his eyes flicked open.

He lifted his left hand to his face, covering it.

"What happened?" he asked.

"I don't know, that's what you have to tell us," Hoseok said.

The man rolled over to his left side and gripped onto his other arm.

That's when everyone saw the gash on his arm. They were claw marks like something had tried to rip him up apart but had failed, everyone knew it must have been the creature.

"What're you guys doing here?!" he asked stiffly after his wound was securely wrapped.

"We got lost and some creature took one of our friends," Jin spoke as he wrapped the man's arm. "What's your name?"

"Jungkook," he spoke.

"What?!" Ava sounded. "So you're the guy who went missing while camping like two years ago?!?!"

Jungkook looked at her then nodded softly.

"But they said you died," Emily spoke.

"He was probably presumed dead, not confirmed," Jin spoke as he got up.

"How'd you guys end up here. At night this place is more than just dangerous, it's deadly," Jungkook spoke, breathing heavily.

"What do you mean?" Hoseok asked. "We walked here, coz we're lost."

"You're more of a goner here than you were behind that fence," Jungkook said

"It's because of that creature isn't it?" Jin asked and Jungkook nodded.

The girls exchanged glances.

Jin let out a deep sigh and looked around.

"It's not safe outside, it's not safe...anywhere here," Jungkook spoke softly.

"We know from the experience of last night but we have to get our friend back, we're not leaving without her," Jin spoke as he bent down.

"I doubt she's "safe", but..." Jungkook gestured with his hands and stopped talking.

"What do you mean?" Jimin asked impatiently.

"The Hollowen's take people to the house and hand them to Keaton ."

"What's a Hollowen and who's Keaton?"

"It's the creature and Keaton is that psycho man who created them, he called it Hollowen. He injects people with a chemical and it turns them into it. He did it to me too, but I didn't change which got him mad and confused, since then, I was locked up as he researched but after I thought I found out everything I escaped, but I don't know how I survived last night."

"I think I'm more confused now," Hoseok stood up. Everyone looked at him and then back at Jungkook.

"Why? What happened last night?" Jimin asked.

"Last night I escaped through the back of the house, and after a while, the Hollowen's were chasing me, there was something mentioned about its chest, so I assumed it was its weak point so I attacked it, but it didn't work and I tried to run and it did this to me," he said looking at the wound on his arm. "And then I was running and I tripped and I can't remember after that," he ended.

"How'd you survive last night?" Hoseok asked.

"I don't know, maybe because I fell they couldn't see me," he paused. "They can't see very well, so it's best not to move."

Everyone looked at each other.

"Why'd they take her then, because we were all running like crazy chickens!?" Jimin burst out, running his hands through his hair.

"Was she injured in any way?"

Jimin nodded.

"They have a very strong sense of smell, they use their tongue, like snakes, and they made their way to you guys. They usually take anyone but target the ones who are wounded. They probably took her to Keaton, depends on what he wants to do to her, turned her into one of them, or feed her to the other Hollowens."

"What?!" Jimin exclaimed. "Where did they take her?"

"To the house." Jungkook answers.

"Where's that?"

"Somewhere there....probably," he pointed. "or it could be there," he said moving his finger again. "No." He looked around. "Definitely there, yes, that way."

"Ok let's go, we need to find this house," Jimin spoke.

"Didn't you hear me mention that he's a psycho, if he finds you he'll turn you into one of them, all of you!" Jungkook's voice was raised.

"We need to find her!" Jimin spoke firmly.

𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗼𝗸'𝘀 𝗣𝗢𝗩

As they walked back to the house everyone introduced themselves to Jungkook who was convinced to help them get Hani back and Kate asked for a whole story.

"2 years ago when I got separated from my team, I ended up near the fence. I read the sign and thought I could find help. I walked for a long time until I reached the house and before I could even knock I heard the Hollowen behind me." Jungkook quivered.

"It was horrifying, but Keaton opened the door and soon before anything could happen I was knocked out and when I awoke I was trapped in a cage and Keaton was doing something." Jungkook continued and everyone listened quietly.

"Then he started screaming and turned to me. I was scared but then he left. Even though he was very...weird he still gave me food and water and everything. Every night I'd look at his papers and his research but never thought of reading them until one night, he dragged in a man. I was about to fall asleep when I saw as he tied him up, then injected the man with a chemical. It did something to him and he..he like..fell asleep. Then he was dragged into some kind of glass room and that psycho watched as he transformed. He looked so happy." Jungkook stopped talking.

"This stuff is crazy!" Jimin protested.

Jin shushed him up.

"So all the stories about you being eaten by wolves and being possessed by demons are not true?" Ava asked while Jungkook looked at her confused.

"Of course it's not!" Jin exclaimed. "They were all stories."

Hoseok had goosebumps all over and he didn't realise he was holding onto Ava for life support. This was a matter of life and death anyways.

"It doesn't come out in the daylight though," Jungkook continued, ignoring all the stories that were made about him.

"Why?" Hosoek questioned but was relieved.

"It's their weakness," Jungkook ended.

"What happens if they do?" Jimin asked.

"I don't really know, it was on the papers but it never said why and I haven't seen it so...." Jungkook ended.

"Anything else we need to know?" Jin asked.

"I think that's all but if we want to escape we need to go get those special guns from the man so we can escape this place after getting your friend," he added.

******

"So..is there 𝘢𝘯𝘺 place that is safe around here?" Hoseok asked. Jungkook smirked.

"The house, but with that man around..." he trailed off.

"Don't worry we can knock him out easily," Hoseok jumped in.

Jungkook smiled. 𝘏𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘰, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢s𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦.