"Please, a tiny break. Just this once. It doesn't have to last more than two minutes!" Hoseok huffed out, feeling his calves burn with its efforts to pull him up the long slope.

It was behind them now, yet they chose to continue on without a break. It was beginning to slow the men down slightly and I was beginning to get increasingly worried for Jungkook as he managed to carry me all the way up without a lending hand.

He hadn't spoken for the remaining trip up the slanted ground but his grunts were crystal clear to me. He was sweating as well, the darkness did nothing to hide that as the moon light above us gave his sweaty skin a slight shine.

Wonho came to a pause at the collective pleas followed after Hoseok's and he scanned everyone individually before resigning with a sigh. "I'm sorry, yes, we can take a break." He complied easily, eyes softening at the exhaustion present in everyone's faces and feeling bad for pushing them. He's definitely warmed up to them, it's hard not to. Not that he'd admit it; he prefers to think it's not easy to soften him up.

Although it sounds silly... I, too, was exhausted from the continuous anxiousness and worry I held for the others. It was hard to brush off those feelings and I think the effort to push it aside was more exhausting. I was mentally exhausted.

As soon as Wonho agreed, everyone simultaneously plopped on the ground beneath them with groans. I squeaked in surprise as Jungkook did the same, bringing me along with him as he fell to the ground loosely.

I made a motion to slide off his lap, but he clutched me close. I frowned at the heavy breaths he let out and brushed away some stray strands of hair from his face, following that gesture by brushing my fingers through his hair and sliding them behind, not paying any mind to its dampness due to his sweating. He's practically bathing in his sweat from what I can tell. I could feel his body heat radiating off of him in waves and felt disheartened at the clear exhaustion lining his face.

He cracked a small dismissive smile my way whilst breathing through his mouth before leaning close and plopping his head on my right shoulder while his hands circled around my waist. Sure, he was sweating like there was no tomorrow, but I wasn't going to begin whining with the way his slick forehead was dampening my shirt. I literally ran my hand through his hair with all that sweat. I think I'm way past feeling grossed out about it.

"Are you sure you don't want me to get off? Your legs will need the break." I mumbled, rubbing his back with one hand while the other made its way into his nape, massaging slightly and rousing groans from him as a result.

"No...just stay like this. I like keeping you close to me." He breathed out in response. I pursed my lips bashfully at that say, feeling tingly and flushed. It's words like these that he says to me without even realising the effect it has on me.

"Oh- Uhm, I could just sit beside you, then..." I mumbled shyly. He shook his head against my shoulder, "No. Just stay still, here." He huffed, tightening his hold. Nodding wordlessly, I let him be.

A slight movement from my left soon caught my eyes and I saw Jimin scoot towards us with a smile. "Diana!~" He called for me cutely, pouting and reaching for me.

I couldn't help but giggle at his actions, bringing my good hand forward before he clutched onto it and scooted closer until he was side-by-side with kook. The latter pulled away to see Jimin grinning at him knowingly.

"Don't you want to give yourself a break? I can hold her in the mean time." He mentioned, hands ready to pull me away from his lap but Jungkook remained stubborn as he shook his head, "No, I'm fine. I'm taking a break, see? I'm sitting down." He gestured towards his sitting form to prove his point.

Jimin rolled his eyes, still going forward to pry off Jungkook's arms around my waist and instead plopping me across his lap while my legs remained on Jungkook's lap. With a frown, the teen boy looked at Jimin indignantly.

"Go drink some water, maknae. Wonho is handing them out and everyone drank two cups of water." He urged the younger male, nodding towards the water source. Sighing, Jungkook nodded and helped himself up with a huff before scurrying to quench his thirst.

"Weren't your legs hurting?" I spoke up, pointing at my body plopped on his lap. Jimin hummed, "Yes, they were. I'm good to go, now." He smiled cutely. I couldn't help but smile back, bringing my hand up to ruffle his head affectionately, "Good. Your lap is pretty comfy." I chortled, feeling cheeky at that admittance. Jimin burst into laughter at my words, "Thanks?" He giggled.

"And mine isn't?"

I was startled from Jungkook's voice. Looking away from Jimin, I turned to see the said man plop to his previous spot before taking me back onto his lap. Jimin rolled his eyes with a huff, choosing to not comment about Jungkook's actions.

Should I be pointing out the fact that I'm being passed around like a doll?? Am I not supposed to be sitting on the forest ground??

"Okay, break time's over. Get up, everyone!" Namjoon cut off my roaming thoughts, clapping to gain our attention as he stood on his feet readily. Everyone scrambled to their feet, some groaning but quietening soon after knowing it wasn't going to do anything.

"I always thought the night lasted too short here. This time it seems to be taking it's sweet damn time." Yoongi chuffed, looking up at the dark sky grudgingly.

I sighed, agreeing to his words because it really did seem that way.

I yelped suddenly, feeling myself being lifted off the ground too quickly, making my heart drop from the momentary shock. "Jungkook!" I scowled, turning my head to face him, only to catch a glimpse of his cheeky grin.

I knew that look...

"Someone take me away from this buffoon!!" I whined out, leaning out of his hold and throwing out some childish tantrums to make his life harder. He's going to be teasing the shit out of me! No! I refuse to let him!!

"If god exists, I hope they strike me with lightning and finish me off." Namjoon mumbled to himself before shaking his head at my perpetual complaints and Jungkook's evil laughter.

-

I sighed for the nth time since our resuming trek, feeling the forgotten feeling of drowsiness catching up to me from being ignored the last time. This time it was bombarding me with the sleepy feeling just so I can finally succumb to its darkness.

I didn't want to sleep knowing we were all moving through the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night. The moon had only just began to descend from its highest peek and it truly was taking all the time in the world to last.

It didn't help that Taehyung was subconsciously humming softly to himself.

(A/N: Just in case anyone is confused, She was passed onto him from kookie even though it wasn't explicitly mentioned lol)

As a result, the low vibrations from his chest was an additional factor to my unfair fight against sleep. I didn't have the energy to open my mouth and silence him because I was already using up enough to fight the rapid blinking competition with my eyelids. They were dropping every so often and I did fall asleep just briefly before jerking awake.

It startled Taehyung a few times before he seemed to catch onto my internal battle to remain awake. He seemed to be teaming up with sleep as his humming washed away all sense of fight within me whilst I laid limply in his hold; my arms hung over his shoulders motionlessly alongside my legs on either side of his waist. My chin was propped over his super comfy and broad shoulder without an ounce of resistance.

The only remaining challengers were my stubborn eyes and conscious of mind.

They all must want to sleep, too, right? They've all been awake for so long (since dawn) and its nearing the next sunrise.

"Take a nap, sleepy Diana. I'll wake you up in a while, okay?" Taehyung finally spoke softly, jolting my frame higher into his hold to keep it secure and I could only manage a hum.

I don't want to sleep...

~ 3rd person POV ~

Taehyung smiled softly as soon as he felt her go completely limp, which followed right after her small response.

"She finally fell asleep?" Jin whispered beside Tae, smiling as he took a glance at the sleeping girl with her round cheeks squished cutely against Taehyung's shoulder. The latter nodded, unconsciously bringing one hand on her back to rub it up and down in a soothing manner.

"Good. She's been fighting to stay awake since before we got our short break." He chuckled softly. His eyes trailed towards her dangling hands and his smile faltered at the single arm being halfway gone.

He reached over towards it, hoping he could still get a hold of the limb but to his utter despair, his hand simply swiped through empty air.

"She gets tired seamlessly more frequently. She doesn't need to move much before needing to catch up on sleep." Taehyung frowned, mind racking through those thoughts. She got tired more easily, and the condition of her body was more majorly to blame. It seems that the dizzy spells did not only bring the side effects of a disappearing body, but also sucks up her energy.

"It seems to be happening much faster now, doesn't it?" Jin sighed in dismay, eyeing his hand that had swiped through hers with nothing to stop it.

"Y-yeah..." Taehyung gulped nervously, the mere thought of having this situation speeding up frightening his poor heart to no ends. Taking a deep, needed breath, he shook his head to get rid of that possibility. Trying to instead, hold a optimistic mindset.

-

"Careful, there's a shallow river that we need to cross. It can get really slippery so mind where you step." Wonho announced, slowing down as he scanned the said river carefully before stepping in, cringing slightly at the cold water brushing against his ankles and bringing shivers to run up his spine.

"Wet shoes. Great." Jimin huffed, scowling at the gentle flow of water shimmering softly against the moon's light.

"Can someone roll up my pants?" Taehyung frowned, holding Diana close to him whilst gazing worriedly at the shallow river. The youngest male rushed to comply to his open request wordlessly, rolling up his own pants after finishing for Taehyung.

"Thanks."

"How shallow are we talking here?" Namjoon inquired, standing hesitantly at the edge of the water body as he peered at the back of Wonho's head. The questioned man glanced over his shoulders before fixing his eyes on the path ahead of him, letting a scrutinising second to pass before he answered— "Knee-deep? A little above that." He stated.

"Ehh??" Jimin responded with a look of dismal.

"Can someone roll up my pants more?" Taehyung requested again, a heavy sigh falling past his lips as he gave the glimmering river a grim look. "On it." Jungkook mumbled, finishing up the process of rolling up his own pants as well before helping Taehyung out again.

"Let's get it over with." Yoongi ushered everyone with a wave of a hand, already entering the water in his own pace with a cringed expression as the icy temperature bit at his ankles immediately.

"Can someone carry me, too?" Hoseok halfheartedly wondered with an anxious chuckle, his eyes glancing at Diana who was slumbering away cluelessly.

"Don't be like that, Hob-ah." Namjoon laughed at the said man's words, amused that he even bothered to ask. Hoseok grinned sheepishly, looking at the water before mumbling to himself, "My request still stands." He said.

"Ah, it's so cold!" Jungkook cringed as he took a step in. Hoseok grimaced, "That's not helping my case." He chuckled lowly.

"Careful, Taehyung. If you slip or drop her, you have two things coming." Jin warned as he hurried to stand beside the younger male as he began to step in after Jungkook.

Taehyung frowned, looking over his shoulders to peer at Jin, "Two?" He quizzed. Jin nodded, "Hypothermia and my fist to your face." He answered before completely ignoring Taehyung's gaping mouth expressing his disbelief as the eldest began to 'hoot' in shock to the freezing water.

"Why is it so cold???" Jin squeaked out in surprise.

"Hurry up, everyone!" Wonho's voice snapped the others out of their little banter and commentaries and they noticed him already halfway across with the water reaching well above his knees. An impatient look directed at them as they remained by the edge of the river.

"We're coming!" Namjoon assured before he ushered the others to hurry up as he was getting progressively closer to the halfway point.

"That's what she said~" Jimin snorted to himself and brought out a laugh from Hoseok who had finally dipped his legs in.

Namjoon easily heard that remark and sent an unimpressed look over his shoulder at the source before sighing it out.

"AH—" a splash sound resounded and what followed after was the sound of Jin's squeaky laughter and Jimin's loud laugh.

Namjoon sighed again, not bothering to look over his shoulders to know that Yoongi's ass kissed the floor.

"I'd appreciate a strike now, more than ever." he mumbled to himself.

-

"Are we not going to question the temperature of that water?" Jin asked after a beat of silence.

"You're wondering about that? I still have Yoongi hyung's fall replaying in my mind." Hoseok snorted.

"Jin hyung, at this point it is safe to not question anything in this world. Nothing is normal here." Taehyung stated.

"Yahhh! Hyung you're shaking!" Jimin gasped suddenly, bringing others to a stop to check. Yoongi rolled his eyes, "Yeah, no shit." He mumbled, his teeth chittering slightly, "Why'd y'all stop? Keep moving." He ushered with a wave of his hand.

"That water was cold as fuck. Obviously I'd be shaking my legs away, Jimin-Ah." Yoongi sighed, making Jimin pout, "Are you still feeling really cold?" He asked fretfully. Yoongi hummed simply, "I am, but I'll be fine." He reassured.

"Eyy... You should change your clothes. What if you catch a cold?" Jimin worried again, brushing away the rapper's attempt at dismissing his concern. "We don't have spare clothes. It's okay, really. It'll dry up once the sun is up." Yoongi shrugged.

"Why don't you take one of our jackets? Mine has buttons, you can put this on instead of your wet shirt." Jin offered, already slipping his garment off. Yoongi sighed and nodded shyly. At this, the others paused in their tracks to let it happen.

"No more stopping after this, alright?" Wonho firmly stated, glancing at the moon thoughtfully as it was halfway down. The others blurted out their own concurs in response.

"Yeah, I don't think reaching the cave any later than day time is a good idea." Jungkook mumbled.

"It isn't." Wonho affirmed strictly, crossing his arms over his chest as he stood beside the youngest male. Jungkook frowned, "What happens-"

"Okay, let's keep moving." Jin announced, putting up a thumbs up for Wonho whilst the latter nodded before turning to walk ahead. Jungkook trailed a bit beside him with untold questions, not quite giving up the sight of the elder's strict reply so easily.

'He's not telling us something.' He thought to himself, his brows furrowed as a result.

'And it isn't something good.'

_____________________________

What else now???? 😩😩🥲

This single journey has proven to be so much longer than anticipated, huh? 🥹🥹 nonetheless, everyone seems to be getting closer and closer! 😁😁 let's keep hoping the remaining distance stays clear of live danger ☝️✨✨

Hope you liked this chapter! 🥰🥰
I will speak vaguely of this, but some of them have taken bolder steps, haven't they? 😉😉 I hope it keeps going on until we reach our true Happy ending 😋

See you next chapter! Love you guys 🫶🥰😘❤️❤️💕💕

~ Ada