CODE : SURVIVAL (BTS X READER)

Chapter Five: A New Nightmare Unfolds {Continue}

A crack split through the air.

Y/n's breath hitched.

She looked down.

The metal was breaking.

And then-

It snapped.

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The moment the metal snapped, Y/n felt it-felt the sudden emptiness beneath her as the ladder gave way.

Gravity seized her.

She plunged downward.

For a brief second, everything slowed.

She saw Namjoon's hand reaching out for her, his eyes wide with shock. She saw the others above, their expressions frozen in horror. She even saw the creatures below-grinning, waiting, their hollow sockets locked onto her falling form.

Her breath caught.

Then-

PAIN.

Her body hit the ground with a sickening thud. The impact sent a blinding shockwave of agony through her bones. Her lungs seized as the air was ripped from them.

She couldn't move. Couldn't breathe.

Darkness swallowed her vision.

And then-

[SYSTEM MESSAGE: 1st LIFE LOST.]
[Restarting Stage...]

A cold rush flooded her senses.

The next second, she was standing.

Alive.

Back at the tunnel fork.

Her heart slammed against her ribs.

She gasped for air, clutching at her chest as the realization hit her like a freight train.

I... died.

She had died.

The pain was still fresh, echoing in her bones like a cruel memory.

But she was here. Again.

The others weren't beside her yet, but she could hear them-running toward her, shouting in panic.

It was like being dragged backward in time.

She swallowed hard.

Two lives left.

Her hands clenched into fists.

I can't let this happen again.

She knew what was coming. The creatures. The chase. The collapsing tunnel.

But this time-this time, she had a chance to change it.

She had one chance.

Taking a deep breath, she turned just as the others came sprinting toward the fork.

"RIGHT!" she screamed before they could even ask.

No hesitation.

Namjoon led the charge without question, the group barely managing to avoid the tunnel collapse once again.

But Y/n didn't stop running.

She knew what came next.

She knew about the pack waiting for them.

"KEEP MOVING!" she shouted.

They had seconds before the creatures appeared.

Jungkook panted beside her. "What the hell is going on?! How did you-"

"No time!" she cut him off.

And then-

The clicking started.

The creatures appeared.

Jimin swore loudly. "You've got to be kidding me-THERE'S MORE?!"

But Y/n was already scanning for an escape.

The ladder.

She gritted her teeth. No, not this time.

She couldn't make the same mistake.

Instead, she looked higher.

A metal beam stretched across the tunnel ceiling-thicker, sturdier than the ladder. If they could climb onto that...

"UP THERE!" she yelled, pointing at it.

Namjoon's gaze flicked up, understanding instantly. "HOW?!"

Y/n's mind raced. Think. Think. Think.

Then-

Her eyes landed on a pile of abandoned crates near the wall.

"GUYS!" she shouted. "HELP ME STACK THOSE!"

Jungkook didn't hesitate-he sprinted ahead, dragging a crate into place. The others followed suit, piling them up as fast as possible.

The creatures were almost there.

The makeshift stack was shaky, but it was their only chance.

"GO! CLIMB!" Y/n yelled.

Jungkook jumped first, using the crates to propel himself upward. His hands caught the metal beam, muscles straining as he pulled himself up.

One by one, the others followed. Jimin barely made it, slipping for a terrifying second before Jungkook grabbed his wrist and hauled him up.

Y/n was last.

The creatures were right behind her.

One lunged-its clawed hand swiping just as she kicked off the crate.

She felt its fingers graze her ankle-too close, too close-

Then-she caught the beam.

She grunted, arms trembling as she hoisted herself up.

Below them, the creatures screeched, clawing at the air.

But they couldn't reach them.

They were safe.

For now.

Y/n exhaled sharply, chest heaving. One life lost, but she had changed the outcome.

She wasn't going to let this game win.

Not now.

Not ever.

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