Twenty


I turned and sprinted out through the broken down back door of my home as fast as I could, expecting at any second to feel the agonising pain of being torn to shreds by the Lurkers.

However, the pain didn't come and I slowed, confused. My plan hadn't worked?

The sound of my truck rumbling to life at the front of the house caught my ears and I began to run again, this time around the house towards the garage where it was parked. As I reached the front of my house, I stumbled to a halt.

It suddenly became very clear why the Lurkers hadn't caught and ripped me apart. There were none of the creatures around - they had long since faded into the safety of the trees for one reason. 

The torch I threw.

My home was burning.

"No," I whispered, my eyes wide as I saw the flames, already spreading from the hallway to the living room window where they were licking at the outside walls, trying to burn even more, "No!"

Everything I loved was in that house. All of my father's belongings, his clothes, his photographs and the little nick-knacks he had neatly lined up over the mantlepiece in the living room. All of my childhood memories and the photos of my mother and Hope.

And I had nothing. I had nothing!

All sound became muted as I rushed towards the hole where there previously stood a front door. I was vaguely aware of Tae bouncing around me barking, trying to use his body to block me, but I couldn't stop. I had nothing of my fathers, I couldn't let everything be turned to ash.

I managed to get within a metre of the front door when a pair of muscular arms wrapped around me, tugging me back. I fought against them, screaming and ignoring Jungkook's voice in my ear, but to no avail. Jungkook picked me up and manhandled me to my truck, where he threw me in the back before climbing up after me.

Tae also jumped up and I felt the truck jerk as it began to move. My dog fussed around me, licking my face and whining, but all I could do was stare at my home as everything became engulfed in flames.

As the truck sped down the road, my body finally relaxed and I wrapped my arm around Tae.

"I've lost everything," 

"You haven't," Jungkook said firmly, "I'm so sorry for your home and belongings, but you still have me. You have Yoongi and Daisy and Tae,"

Both our heads lifted as a loud explosion cut through the air, shooting flames and debris up high.

"The fuel tanks," I muttered sadly, "They were outside,"

"Look," Daisy cried, leaning out the window and pointing, "The trees!"

The explosion had thrown flames out in every direction and despite the damp from the lingering mist, the forest had begun to burn. Loud shrieks began to sound and we could see bright orange streaks rushing through the trees, spreading the fire quicker as the Lurkers tried to escape the flames.

I didn't even notice Jungkook jumping down to force the front gate open until the truck stopped outside and it was pulled shut again. I stood, climbing on top of the cab of the truck to stare over the high fences as I watched my past burn. 

Everything was gone.

---

I sighed as I picked through the collapsed and blackened remains of my home. There was nothing left of my land but the burned charcoal stumps that used to be the birch forest. 

After recovering a few burned photos I stepped back over the mess to stand next to Jungkook, who was still talking to the police.

"We haven't been able to locate any remains of Kim Seokjin," The officer said, "And we've found no remains of any of the wildlife either, so we can only assume that they escaped over the fence or through the open gate last night,"

Jungkook and the officer shook hands before the policeman turned and headed back to the firefighters who were still looking through the blackened forest.

"There are no Lurkers left," He said softly, petting Tae's head, "They're all dead. There isn't a single tree left,"

I nodded, looking out over the land that had been in my family for generations, "There's nothing left at all,"

"I found a few pictures and stuff," Daisy said as she and Yoongi came up behind us, a box in her hands, "It's not much, but there are some singed photos of dogs and a couple of a woman. Yoongi found a few figures, too,"

I thanked them, grateful that they had come to help look through the mess for things that were important to me, but still feeling the loss.

However, I knew now, that I was free from this life, even though I wasn't sure what I was going to do with my future. But there was one thing I could do.

"Jungkook," I said softly. He turned to look at me, "Please tell your client I accept the offer of three million,"

His eyes widened, clearly surprised. In the chaos of what had happened overnight, he had most likely forgotten the whole reason he was in my home to start with.

"Wait, you accept?"

"There's no reason for me to be here anymore," I said, once again looking out over my ruined land, "I guess it's time for me to move on,"

"What are you going to do?" Yoongi asked, "You've known your whole life that you would have to come back and live here, but everything's changed now,"

I shrugged, "I'll figure something out," I said, "I guess go back to school for now,"

"Well, you're always welcome to stay with me," Daisy offered.

"Me, too," Jungkook said quickly, "I have a spare room and there's space for Tae,"

He pet my dog again and the four of us turned and began to head down the path that led to the only entrance of the land. Tae walked obediently by my side, wagging his tail happily and I sighed, a small smile on my lips.

"Thanks, guys," I replied, "I might just have to take you up on your offer, Jungkook,"

"Of course!" Jungkook said excitedly, "I mean, I live fairly close to the university and I have a nice garden that Tae can run around in,"

I slowed down, watching the trio and Tae as they headed towards the exit. The most restricting and terrifying part of my life was over and although it was going to be hard to adjust to a new lifestyle and accept the loss of my childhood home, I was ready to start fresh.

I quickly followed after my friends and dog, glad to be moving on.

I was so glad to be free that I didn't even notice the twigs twitching in the ashes on the floor as I left for good.

END

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AN: Woooahh it ended!

Sorry for the crappy ending but thank you soooo much for reading until now! I hope you enjoyed it!

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