My surprise quickly faded. "Hyung, get out!" I hissed, shoving him away from the door.

"Get out where?!" His eyes were fixed on the shuddering door. Jungkook continued to pound against it, each blow more forceful than the one before.

I grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the front of the apartment. My mind raced and my heartbeat thundered in my ears as the door began to splinter. I pressed my back against it as it shook violently.

"The window!" I shouted to him over the deafening thumps.

He rushed up to the window, fumbling with the rusted latch. He pulled up on it, but it wouldn't budge.

"Just break the lock!" Electric panic ran through my veins as cracks began to spider up and down the door "Come on, you break things all the time!"

"I CAN'T!" He pulled at the latch in a clumsy frenzy.

The door pushed me forward once again; I wouldn't be able to hold it much longer. Searching my apartment wildly, I looked for another plan. The neon green numbers on my alarm clock caught my eye. I grabbed it, pulling the plug out of the socket.

"Move!" I yelled. Namjoon darted to the side and I hurled the alarm clock at the glass. It easily shattered the window, scattering sharp pieces of glass everywhere. "Hurry! Get out! "

Namjoon climbed out, glass crunching under his shoes. He stretched out his hand and I clutched it tightly, making my way through the jagged opening. With another blow, the door flew off its hinges and Jungkook's intimidating, shadowed figure leapt at me, falling just short of my feet. His sharp nails raked my exposed calf, drawing blood, but Namjoon was already pulling me through the ruined window.

Jungkook quickly recovered. He stood up, the look in his eyes murderous, and opened his claw-like hands to grab me again. Namjoon gave one powerful tug and pulled me through. Glass shards sliced thin cuts on my knees and hand.

"RUN!" Namjoon screamed, clutching me as he burst into a sprint. I began running, but looked back. Jungkook was fighting to fit his enormous wings through the small frame of the window. He was growling animalistically as more broken glass scattered across the ground.

Too terrified to look back again, I turned around and sprinted down the sidewalk, clutching Namjoon's hand. We crossed the street, running past Jimin's deserted apartment and the quiet shops next to it.

"W-where are we going?" Namjoon panted, sweat beading on his forehead.

My eyes were immediately drawn to the music studio. Unlike the other shops, its warm yellow lights were turned on and I could see Emma, the employee from before, behind the counter.

"In here," I replied quickly, pulling him along. We were drawing attention from the people around us who watched the scene we were making. They didn't seem to notice the crow that flew crookedly over their heads, as if its wings were injured.

The soft sound of wind chimes greeted us as we flung open the door. Emma jumped, startled, and her face twisted into a scowl. "What are you doing here?" She asked, irritated.

"The key," I gasped, holding a cramp on my side, silently cursing my weak body. I knew it had been a while since I properly exercised, but this was ridiculous.

"What? Calm down," she said warily.

"The key to the studio in the back, we need it," I repeated.

She stared at our desperate faces and sighed, pulling the key from under the counter and dropping it on my quivering hand. "If you're in trouble, I don't know you."

"Thank you," I said, relieved.

"I don't get paid enough for this," she muttered as we rushed away. I unlocked the door easily, letting Namjoon go in first, and locking it once we were inside.

My heart felt like it was galloping in my throat, pounding furiously from adrenaline and fear. The key fell out of my hand and clattered on the floor, forgotten. Namjoon didn't hesitate and dropped into one of the seats, chest heaving. He closed his eyes, sweat trickling down the side of his face. I leaned against the door, my legs shaking more than my hands. The sound of our heavy breathing filled the room.

"Why here?" Namjoon finally spoke up, his eyes still closed.

"The door's sturdier than the one at my apartment," I explained. "It was the closest place I could think of. I was thinking of taking a train out of Seoul, but...I don't have any money on me."

"I see."

"God...we're stuck here, aren't we?" My blood was roaring in my ears and I was still seeing black spots.

"Until Jungkook is gone, I think so."

"How do we know when he's...'gone'?"

"He'll be gone soon, I know it."

Namjoon's confidence was unsettling.

"How? He won't leave until he takes you. Jungkook never fails. You know this."

Namjoon shook his head. "His wings are ruined. The glass cut them so badly, he could barely fly to us," he answered, a sly grin lifting the edge of his mouth as he opened his eyes. "Didn't you see back there? That bird--that must've been him. It was struggling to stay above everyone's heads."

"But--"

"Taehyung," Namjoon cut in, "he took Jimin without breaking a sweat. This time, we actually put up a fight, and he's suffering the consequences of underestimating us. He will leave soon, he's wounded and he probably won't find us here."

"Then what? He'll just come back," I argued.

"You said you thought about a train out of Seoul, right?" Namjoon asked.

"Yes, but--"

"Once we get out of here, we'll gather all our money. Then, we'll buy our tickets, board the train, and get the hell out of Seoul. He'll have a harder time finding us if he just knows the area around your apartment."

"This is moving too fast," I sighed.

"That's the point. We need to always be one step ahead of him."

I knew he was right, but something didn't feel right about his plan. Wouldn't Jungkook keep searching? Did we have to run away from him for forever? I began to suggest something else, but the sudden sound of clinking wind chimes made me freeze. Its delicate notes, which had made me joyful before, now filled me with dread that settled at the bottom of my stomach.

Namjoon's eyes widened and we both fell deathly quiet, our heavy breathing silenced.

"Hello," I heard Emma say. "Welcome."

"Hi there," his voice made me flinch. "I have a question."

Namjoon and I held our breath and pressed our ears to the door. How did he find us already? Why wasn't Emma screaming? Didn't she see his wings?

"Ask away."

"Did you see two guys come in here?" He asked. "I'm their friend. They have something I need."

I gawked at how sincere he sounded. Jungkook had never been a good liar, but that was when he was human.

"Two guys?" Emma repeated.

"Yep," he let out a sheepish laugh that squeezed my heart. He sounded so much like his old self it hurt. "I'm sorry to cause you any inconvenience, miss."

"Ah, no, it's fine," she said casually. "You said two guys?"

I bit my lip. She was going to tell him. Namjoon would be gone. No wonder his plan sounded strange. It was too good to be true.

"Yes, miss," he replied politely. "They looked like they were in a hurry."

She was silent. Namjoon and I looked at each other, panicking. I picked up the key from the floor and fitted it into the lock, ready to turn it and run out. But where would we run?

"Miss, not meaning to be rude but I have somewhere to be," he sounded urgent now. "Did you see them?"

"No," she answered calmly. "No one came in here. It's just me today."

We both relaxed, sighing in relief. My hand slipped away from the doorknob, the tense feeling leaving it.

But my body seized up again once I heard the loud clatter of the key.

My heart rate rose as I stared at the damned key that might as well have been the key to Namjoon's cruel fate.

The silence was oppressive. It gripped my lungs and heart and slowly crushed them.

"What was that?" Jungkook asked, a cold edge creeping into his voice.

Music: "Love Maze" piano cover by Smyang.