Chapter Text
“Breaking news today! Two weeks ago, the announcement of a university students' group reported missing had the country on edge. The investigation got to a dead end as soon as it began, there was not a single clue about their location. Nevertheless, this morning, 8 of the 9 people have been found in Donghwa Campsite, Daegu.
They were transported to the nearest hospital in an unconscious state, however, we are glad to inform, that the preliminary check-ups detected no injuries. Just a minute ago, the hospital's press contact made a statement about the victims' wellbeing: two of them have already woken up and are being interrogated. We will wait for any advances in the investigation.
As for the last person, Choi Jiyun, her search is still active. Authorities and volunteers have been working without rest, yet only a few of her properties are in the police's custody.
If you are in possession of any information about her, please, deliver it as soon as possible to the authorities"
Jungkook feels his phone being taken away from his hands, eyes widening as he watches Yoongi locking and throwing the device in the supplementary bed. The broadcast is still being reproduced on it, even if it is just as the soundtrack for the upcoming fight. The younger one is ready for it, he relocates his body on the cushioned chair, quickly straightening his figure to reproach his friend's actions. Nevertheless, his opponent isn't so kind on it. Yoongi lets out a puff of air in disdain, turning his back to Jungkook and heading out of the room. “I'll help Taehyung with the discharge papers".
Crossing paths with Yoongi, Namjoon enters the room. He gets his petition to talk ignored, Yoongi just carries on his way to the consecutive door with an 'It's not the moment'. He scans the place to get a hold of whatever has happened, going through his friends' expression to avoid any of them storming out of the room if questioned. The sound of a speaker playing yet another newscast fills him in with all the information, the way Jungkook's eyes are fixed on the bed only adding more pieces to the puzzle.
Namjoon decides to avoid the topic, knowing well how telling Jungkook off would be of no help. The youngest would just sit down and listen, paying no real attention to the issue and come back to the same habit minutes later. The group —or the part that was currently available— had had this conversation a million times already.
Of course they understood, none of them was prepared for a situation like this. Nobody could be. Yet, watching compilation after compilation of news about their case was turning into a nightmare. They all had a lack of information that felt simply overwhelming, but Jungkook's desperate need of answers was on another level. The man had been glued to the phone ever since he woke up, his mind constantly circling over the newspapers, the police,... the few crumbs he could find. The group could only sigh at that, they had told him everything they got their hands on.
The most accurate report had been the tangled mess of clues the police threw at Namjoon just after waking up. Jimin's father had called the police the 27th of November, his voice remaining calm even if his heart wasn't. The group had been camping for two days in Donghwa Campsite with the promise of coming back that same afternoon, yet none had arrived home. The search started on a rush after getting in touch with the security guard of the Campsite, he had seen them parking and walking up the mountains but the camping area was clear of visitants. The police combed the forest during the next four days, that last one going through part of the two cities that surrounded Palgongsan in hopes of finding something that could help them. Police patrols just came to an end the 1st of December, no clues found other than both Hoseok's and Seokjin's cars in the parking near Donghwasa Temple —not even the group's tents or any kind of their belongings. The investigation was on a dead end.
That was until a week later. A passerby called the sanitary services after finding a man collapsed on the ground, breathing but not responsive. The rest of the group had been much unexpectedly located by the ambulance crew on their way through the forest, you could just imagine the commotion that stirred the small district. When the ambulance's sirens had all switched off announcing the victims' arrival, the police ones had bathed the streets. The authorities quickly identified them. It was an easy task, their faces being plastered in every corner of South Korea since day one, the alarm was set.
"I am staying in her room tonight" Namjoon announces, hands resting on his waist, prepared to regard the wave of complaints from his friends. Jimin stands up, ready to fight that statement, yet, when Hoseok pats his shoulder and whispers something to his ear, the grey-haired man shuts himself. "Get some rest, y'all look awful.".
The night was fast approaching, Namjoon was glad of that. If the day was filled with mindless conversation based on reports from the doctors and the spontaneous talk of police officers, the last hours of light were pure calm. After the calls of the still hospitalized's parents —which gladly were downsizing after Taehyung and Jimin were discharged—, the beeps of machines would be the only thing occupying his mind.
Yet, tonight, before Namjoon can even get comfortable, the door opens. He squints his eyes a bit, taking off his glasses to take a look at the visitor. He frowns, bowing to greet a nurse. The man steps out of place, stretching his sore muscles and finding his way to the corridor. "Didn't they do these check-ups like at 8?" he inquires to the air. Hoseok is asked to leave Seokjin's room just at that time, so he shrugs at Namjoon's question, his eyes are kept fixed on the now-closed door as if he could see right through it.
"Let's go get some food" Hoseok offers. A big smile lifting the corners of his mouth before turning himself around, hand flying towards Namjoon's back as to get him out of his mind. The older one knew how long the nurses would take for a few tests, after all, with the way the case had gotten more and more mediatic, they were expected to double-check and triple-check everything. A minor error could easily get them fired with such important patients laying on those beds
Moreover, Namjoon in a hospital —with his nerves on edge a hundred percent of the time— was a time bomb, and Hoseok wasn't going to let his friend stressing over his own thoughts in that depressing white hall.
Namjoon is about to ask his friend about that new small purse on his hip when both their bodies completely freeze, a streak of electricity travelling from head to toe. Their breath gets caught in their throat, heart skipping several beats at the sudden feeling. The younger's eyes travel upwards, the tingling of lights catching his attention. The hall completely going dark for a few seconds before being illuminated once again. Namjoon's gaze flies back instantly, he has a strange feeling, it is like somewhere in his mind a voice is telling him that she is in danger.
Hoseok, on the other hand, is completely fazed. He feels Namjoon running back to their friend's room and has the necessity of trailing behind him, but he can't. The young man has anxiety running through his veins, his heart going to such a high speed he thinks it might gonna break free from his chest. What is happening?
A scream gets to his ears, the feeling suddenly intensifying for a second before completely shutting down. He hears it so clear despite that blood pumping's sounds invading his mind, he recognizes it perfectly. The first few seconds he is just trying to get his stiffened muscles to work, dragging his feet through the grey tiles of the corridor. Hoseok's sense of hearing is completely overwhelmed, the nurse alarm has gone off, a huge amount of things must have fallen to the ground (judging by that strident noise) and another string of screams cuts through the air —this time he isn't that concerned about it, as long as it isn't you, the sound is just background noise. Yet, with all that amount of noise, he swears he hears Namjoon getting choked up and the word 'no' leaving repetitive times your mouth in subtle mumbles. Maybe he is just feeling it...?
The problem is that he doesn't have that much time to munch upon this storm of sensations filling his body, because, once he steps into the room, his whole attention is stolen. Or the medicine Hoseok has been taking is causing him hallucinations or things are floating all over the place. "Shit" Namjoon hisses, arms stretched to an almost unconscious nurse whose screams fill their ears and who is, oh, levitating above their heads as well.