Chapter 23

                                    

                                          
They wouldn't know where to look for us, right?
After our, surprisingly successful, rescue we'd gone back to Yuta's place. Some hour later, Lucas, Haechan and Taeyong had left with Taeil so Johnny, Yuta, Mark and I were left with an unconscious Jimin. The spare bedroom had come in handy.
What would we do if Jimin woke up as rageful as he'd been earlier? It would've been smart to have Taeil here - something we didn't realise until after he'd left, of course.
"You just have to use your communication skills like last time," Johnny had joked earlier, to which I just huffed, leaving the others confused.
"Communication skills...?" they had asked, but neither of us had answered.
We had ordered food and were preparing it when there was a thud from Jimin's room. I had run there just in time to find Jimin staring out the window at the city outside. Now, I'm standing in the doorway, letting him take in the view.
"This isn't like those mirrored glass windows I'm used to," he says, either to no one in particular or to me. I'm not sure which.
"This is real glass," I answer and walk up beside him. He flinches slightly at the closeness but stays in place despite his discomfort. 
"Is the city real too?"
And his question kind of catches me off guard. "Yes, it's real. As am I. This is all real."
Jimin turns to me slightly, backs away when he realises how close we stand, and gives me a look I can't really decipher. It's like he's unsure whether or not I'm telling the truth. Or maybe he's asking himself if I'm actually Taehyung. Or...
"I don't understand," he says after some time. "Am I dead?".
Before I can stop myself, I'm reaching out to grab his arm, but Jimin is faster, retracting a step so that he's out of reach. The fear in his eyes is enough for me to back away myself.
"I'm sorry," I hasten to say. "And no, you're not dead. We got you out."
His puzzled look makes me add; "Actually, you got us out".
"But that was just a dream-" he starts, and the look in his eyes tells me he's doubting his surroundings all over again. "Am I still dreaming?"
I haven't the time to answer before Mark's in the doorway, telling us the food is ready.
"Let's go eat," he says, looking at Jimin with those kind eyes only he's able to give. "You must be starving."
—
Jimin is back in his room, sleeping. We had debated whether or not we could leave him, but had at last decided to give him some space. If anything happened, we'd be just outside and get to him in no time.
"What is the plan going forward?" Yuta asks, looking between us. "We got him out, and he's free to stay here for some time, of course, but what is the plan here? Surely, the Government - was that what you called it? - will be looking for us".
I hadn't thought that far, I realise. What will we do now?
"I think it's inevitable that they will find us. Not today, maybe, but there will be a tomorrow when they come." It's Mark speaking. His eyebrows are furrowed as if debating with himself.
"Then, we fight." It's more of a conclusion than a suggestion. We all turn toward Johnny when he continues. "And until then, we train, prepare ourselves. It's like you said, they will come for us. The least we can do is be prepared."
I nod in thought. The happiness I feel from having saved Jimin is enough to push past the guilt of having dragged my friends into a war they never asked for. Part of me feels selfish for not feeling more guilt - I am the cause of everyone's troubles around me - but another part is just grateful to share my burdens with such amazing friends.
My thoughts are interrupted by a scream coming from Jimin's room. I am quick on my feet and sprint there. When I come to a halt in the doorway, Jimin is sitting on his bed cross-legged. He's staring emptily in front of him. When he senses my presence, he speaks.
"I always imagined death to feel less lonely".
There's a silence that lasts longer than it should. No response feels right. I just stand in the doorway, looking at him sadly, and don't notice Mark walk up behind me.
"You're not dead," he says softly. Then he looks at me, as if asking for permission to enter the room, which I grant with a short nod almost immediately. He walks into the room and sits on the bed a bit from Jimin - surely keeping his distance not to frighten him. Jimin flinches, at first, but when Mark doesn't make any attempt at getting closer to him, he seems to relax.
I turn on me heel before listening in on their entire conversation and close the door slightly behind me, but making sure to leave it a bit ajar - to let Jimin feel that he has somewhere to go. I remember, myself, how difficult closed doors used to be when I first got out.
I head toward the huge living room and get concerned looks from both Johnny and Yuta as I enter. "How is he doing?" they ask in unison.
"He's in there, somewhere," I try to tell them with certainty, but it sounds more like I'm trying to convince myself.