Chapter 23: One second of comfort

Cameron wanted to ask why the other was running after that figure. They didn't even know who it was, it was stupid to just run after them without any plans. He couldn't even tug back away from him, he was stumbling over himself while trying to keep himself from falling or even dropping Marie who was still losing her strength, slowing but surely her hands were falling off from him.

"Kim Seo..!" Cameron tried to warn from behind him, tugging at his hand that the other boy held onto. The boy ignored him, jumping over a few rocks that Cameron stumbled over.

"Kim Seo…!"

It was shocking how the boy was able to move so fast with a large gash in his leg. Cameron took a small look over to it, seeing that the fabric tightly hung around his calf was now bleeding. 

"You're bleeding you idiot!" The boy decided to yell out, Kim Seo responded with a harsh tug to his arm. Cameron yelped, feeling a spike of pain running up his shoulder. 

The boy growled under his breath, yanking himself back until he stopped between the trees. Kim Seo was forced to stop after him or else he could have pulled Marie, the boy turned, furious at being stopped by the other. "Why are you screaming you dumbass?" 

"Cause you're pulling me too hard..!" He ripped his hand away from the other, cradling Marie's head into his chest before going back to whisper-like yelling at the other. "You're also bleeding again."

"It doesn't matter, we have to keep going." Kim Seo reached out for the other hand, but Cameron ripped himself away, his back hitting a tree before he could move farther away from Kim Seo. 

"Keep going?" The boy scoffed, his breathing feeling ragged and tired. "Where are we going exactly? You don't even know."

"Are you stupid?" The older one hissed out, taking steps closer to the boy who refused to shield away. "That person had a phone, they weren't the killer. We have to find a way out of here, and that is our best bet..!"

"What if he is with the killer? Or- or what if he isn't leading us back?" Cameron shook his head, feeling the anxiety pile up. Marie suddenly became heavy to hold.

Kim Seo let out a low laugh, his brain feeling fogged up with anger. "Your so fucking stupid..! Why do you have to make everything so fucking difficult, all you gotta do is follow me."

"Follow you?" Cameron took the turn to scoff, his hand tightening around the child. "Your the reason we are in this fucking mess!"

Kim Seo stopped, his eyes went wide. Watching as the younger boy stayed curled up with Marie in his hands, his body shook wildly, fear crawling around in his eyes. The older one wanted to snap back, to say something and defend himself against the words. But he knew he couldn't, he knew he had no room to say anything.

Because Cameron was right.

-And now he was lashing out against the other. The other who held a child in his hands, shaking like a leaf in fear with anxiety crawling up him. 

What was wrong with him? Lashing out against Cameron who didn't deserve it…

Kim Seo took in a few breaths to calm his racing heart, his body began to tremble slightly, the pain from his bite began to make its way to his senses along with the cold that has been biting at his bare skin since the beginning.

"Cameron…" Kim Seo let out a sigh, ice felt like it was tearing at his eyes. It was painful, his chest and throat was clogged with a gnawing feeling that was about to burst if he let it out. "I know. I know I caused all of this to happen."

The boy watched the other, his eyes slightly softening, but his body was still trembling from the running adrenaline and fear. 

The older boy took in a sharp breath, water began to collect at the bottom of his eyelids, he moved his eyes away to avoid the others' contact. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean for any of this to happen.. I swear I never wanted this to happen…"

Cameron gulped, his fingers growing stiff. He felt both uncertain and concerned, he had never seen this sort of side of the older gruff boy. Kim Seo was always cocky, always showing off or being a piece of work. But this side of him showed a softer, vulnerable side.

"I'm sorry. But we have to follow that person, it's the only hope we have to get out safely." Kim Seo closed his eyes, his hands were a sweaty mess that were close to his side. But he continued to speak through the coursing urge to cry. "I can't let any of you die, not you too…"

He kept his eyes squeezed shut, even with that, hot tears still dripped down from his cheek. It hurt his pride, but it felt good to at least let something out. Bottling up the emotions and anxiety that was ready to crumble from the start.

A small hand caused him to open his eyes, he met with Marie's concerned look up to him. Her eyes low and tired, red lids along with a puffy tired look, the child reached out for him again. Kim Seo grabbed her small hands, kissing the palm with small tears falling from his face. He couldn't feel them, only the sense of warmth coming from the child reaching out for him. He nodded to her, keeping her in his own hand.

He had to force his head away from them or else he wouldn't stop crying. "Please, let's just get going. Marie needs some help, or the fever will get worse.."

The boy moved forward, but with one three steps, he suddenly stopped. Steps didn't follow from behind him, the older boy turned in his direction, hoping for the younger boy to follow after him. He was pushed forward with a sudden force.

Cameron came forward, pushing himself into the other's chest where Marie was snuggled between the two while he used one of arms to clamp tightly around the boy's broad shoulders. He pulled him close to himself, pushing as close as he could, almost trying to merge with each other if it wasn't for Marie who was still being held by Cameron with one arm. 

The younger boy hid his face within his chest, ignoring the smell of blood from his ripped under shirt. He used the only strength he had to hug the boy tightly, hoping for the sense of warmth and comfort to surface once again. It was hesitant at first, but the feeling of his arms wrapping themselves around his neck and waist made him almost sink to the ground. His once tense shoulders, his shaking body immediately melted away at the touch.

He knew Kim Seo felt it, but he felt too good to let himself be consumed by embarrassment. All he wanted was to feel this. To have this last forever. The older boy hugged him back with strong, comforting arms. He lowered his head, resting it in between the boy's head and Marie who popped out between them in the younger boy's grasp. 

Kim Seo allowed themselves these feelings, this soft and secure position that none of them had been able to have since that man made an appearance. 

Since he had taken away Loire, Vinh… Kim Seo stuffed his face closer into Cameron, trembling ever so slightly at the lingering touch on his neck from the boy's fingers. 

He squeezed the other tighter, wanting more of the heat, the warmth coming from him. His breathing mashed together with his own so perfectly, his arms completely wrapped themselves all the way around his waist, pressing his chest into his own to make them merge into one.

After a few sniffles, Kim Seo was the first to separate, his face was lightly dusted with red speckles of blush. His hand slowly pulled up onto the boy's back, his touch staying on the other while the shorter male slowly lifted his hand off his chest.

It was silent, cozy and warm… The boy's eyes never wavered, never looked away. All they saw was each other for that second, all they felt was that warmth from their connected bodies.

"Coug-" Marie let out an uncontrolled cough followed by a pained moan. Cameron moved away from the other quickly. Turning his blushing face from him and down to Marie.

He put a hand on her forehead, the sweat trickling down her brows paired with the rising heat from the girl did not feel good. Cameron turned back to Kim Seo, concern writing his features.

"Let's keep going," the older one responded, moving his hands away before continuing after the figure they saw.

Cameron had no time to protest, the child's arms grew weaker around him. It was clear that she was slowly getting worse, if they don't get help soon it could be life threatening.

"Let's go." 

"Do you think it's a good idea to follow them?" Cameron moved over, trying to press himself against the other boy for protection. "I mean- isn't it strange for someone to be out here..?"

"Yeah, I find it strange too." Kim Seo agreed with him, ducking down to move a few shrubs aside for the two to follow without getting hit. "But if someone is out here close to us, we must be closer to roads or even the entrance of this forest."

Cameron shivered slightly, his head began to pound with worry and pain. The injury on his neck stung, he could feel an infection growing. "It's still something to worry about…"

"I know." The soft tone from the older one made Cameron turn to him, the blush still clear on his features as the other made contact with him. "But it's the only thing we got."

Right…

He was right, for once.

Cameron smirked to himself while nodding to the other as an understanding. Kim Seo saw the small smile even through the darkness, he returned it with an invisible smile back. The stubborn boy was finally calming down, allowing the older one to lead them, hopefully, to safety. 

But the similar sinking feeling in his chest made Cameron queasy, made him feel unsafe. Of course he could be unsafe in this blasted forest that has death hiding around every corner, but this felt different… It felt more similar to dread, to the sinking feeling of doing something wrong that had danger waiting on the other end for them. It was becoming more strong, he was tempted to reach out for the boy in front of him. 

His body was slowly losing its strength, his senses were numbing out the surroundings around them. Cameron pulled Marie closer up to him, holding tightly onto the girl since he feared his draining strength would cause him to drop the girl. 

He desperately tried to shake off the thoughts, to shake off the crawling needles falling onto his back bone that made him numb their surroundings. He couldn't just give up now, not when they were actually making progress. He cursed his weak body, his weak heart..

Cameron held back a pained noise, tightening around Marie who began to let out small gasps. She was falling into unconsciousness, the poor girl's fever spiked every step they took. Cameron looked up desperately, watching through the shadows of the dark the back of Kim Seo, he didn't know how bad it was getting.

Were they closer?

Were they even getting close?

"K-" The boy shut his mouth immediately. He had no voice in trying to ask for a break, he had to fight back the pain, the rising dread. He had to fight through this, if they stopped Marie could die.

He bit his lip, his vision growing foggy through the tears swelling up within his eyes. Why was it so easy to fall over? Why was he just so weak…

Cameron kept his head low, keeping his eyes shut. He only kept his hearing sense high, making sure that he followed the steps after Kim Seo so he wouldn't fall out of the steps. He just had to keep his eyes shut, the growing pain from his untreated injuries began to eat away at him slowly. He thought that maybe he was growing a fever as well, that would be the same for Kim Seo.

He must be feeling the same.. he is a lot better at hiding it than him. Probably because he was stronger than Cameron. More willed, and going.. just better at it in general. Marie was a lot younger than them, proof as to why she is the way she is now. Her smaller body is unable to stand the rising fever from the countless "pool" diving and having to wear the cold soaked clothes in the middle of nowhere.

Cameron just wished he could get this fever at a later time. Right now was not the best, nor the safest place to be feeling so vulnerable and weak. He had Kim Seo, but the older boy already proved he couldn't take down the huge man that could still possibly be stalking them right now. Which is why the group is trying to travel quickly towards any sign of life, of help.

Each step he took, the more pain his body was feeling. The energy he tried to continue to use to step along with keeping a limp child in his arms to carry was drawing by the minute. He wished to stop, to take a break, to clean his injury- to do anything but continue.

A hand outstretched in front of him stopped him in his tracks, the boy forced his eyes open. He noticed Kim Seo only inches in front of him, his hand faced towards him to stop the other from continuing. Cameron gulped, feeling the tone in the air shift.

"What…?" The boy whispered as silently as he could.

Only, Kim Seo didn't respond at all. He was surprised, at least the other would make a noise to scold the other from speaking. But, he was silent. The cold breeze in the air could almost knock the boy over, he trembled in the air that was free to bite at his exposed skin.

What was he seeing? What is happening?

The tears in his eyes grew, dread piled up before it was suddenly washed away when the older boy turned to him. Seeing the soft light reflected off his gray eyes, Cameron's once tense shoulders slowly lowered down. Kim Seo moved closer, speaking with a low hushed tone in Cameron's ear.

"Does this place look familiar?"

Cameron's lips formed a line, he looked around them. The soft glow hitting from above the dense tree leaves above them captivated the small clearing filled with rocks and more shrubs made his heart skip beats. He let out a shaky sigh, his eyes growing more wide as he surveyed the slightly familiar surroundings. 

It was familiar, yet it wasn't…

"This.."

"-Is where he ran off to after stealing the food." Kim Seo silently finished the sentence, moving closer to press his body against the other so he didn't have to speak too loud. Cameron let out little blubbers of nonsense while the other continued. "I remember it. We ate over there, near those trees."

He pointed to the spot. It was dark, the light barely able to show the area off, but even in the darkness, Cameron saw and noticed it quickly. Yes, he did remember it, he realized too quickly that this was close to the main place. 

They were making progress..

Kim Seo's hand found its way to his, squeezing slightly to gain the others attention once more. "We are close." His small, comforting smile greeted the boy's bashful face. "We are almost there."

We are almost there.

Cameron didn't have to ask what the taller one meant, it was clear what the words spoken to the other meant along with what it made him feel. It was clear that they were close, that Kim Seo was finally getting back into his cocky side to show some pride in trusting himself in keeping them safe. 

It was one hard true sign that they could make it, that they were only one step away from it.

Freedom.

The dumb smile suddenly turned to a smirk, Kim Seo watched the other silently. Cameron never took his eyes off the other, all his attention suddenly swarmed him without any control. "I promise to keep you safe Cameron." Kim Seo moved forward gently, bonking his forehead against the other for a soft touch.

The young boy didn't move away, the comforting hand holding his own along with the secure message of trust and protection promised by the older one suddenly made him feel weightless. He knew he was a weak person, a boney kid with no talent and no worth. 

So it made him feel so weird, so confused. But also good..

Kim Seo is doing so much to protect him, to promise him safety instead of saving himself. The older boy always seems like the exact opposite, to run at the sign of danger and save himself. But he did none of that, he stayed. He was here, the heat from the living body to prove a strong, unbreakable message to the doubtful boy who was so close to giving up.

He let his eyes drift closed, pressing back gently with a bit of force against Kim Seo's head. His hand tightening around the other, squeezing Marie with new found strength given to him from the boy and his comforting words. He had the adrenaline and reason to continue to pile back on him in the few silent seconds passing the others.

He knew they were safe with him, with Kim Seo here, they were safe.

So close to freedom, from this hell. He wished he could thank Kim Seo, to hug and say so many embarrassing things. Although, he knew that if he opened his mouth to say anything he would burst into tears. 

So with a heavy heart, he let it sink in his chest while the lasting silence turned into the rush of wind passing through the two that separated them. Cameron already missed the warm touch from the older boy's head, he thanked him with a small squeeze of their connected hands.

Good, they still had some type of contact to continue with.

Before continuing, Kim Seo reached a hand down to place upon Marie's head. The girl let out a small wheeze, the older boy grimaced at the piling heat coming from the feverish girl. He looked back up to the other, their eyes clashing once again.

"Let's hurry up okay?" He gave a toothed grin, sparking confidence in the other he never knew he could feel.

"I'm right behind you," Cameron gave him a squeeze, making the other smile softly before turning back around to tug the boy along with him.