TAEMIN

There’s a sudden noise coming from outside and I quiver. I turn my head quickly and feel my heartbeat quicken out of nowhere. Danger. I’m in danger. The other men seem to feel the same, because they all get up and start to run.

I don’t know why I’m afraid but I know I can’t stay there and wait for them to catch me. I barely register my legs bringing me outside with the other men. I run, putting one leg in front of the other as quickly as I can, taking big gulps of air when I can to not simply collapse on the ground.

I try to remind myself that I’m in a dream—I’m safe, nothing can happen to me. But the fear is greater. I know deep inside that I need to run from this. I look over my shoulder to try and understand what I’m running from. I can’t see anything, but I know it’s still there, chasing me. I can feel it in my gut. If I stop, it’ll get to me and be the end of me. I need to get away.

I have no idea where I am. My surroundings are blurry because of my speed, or maybe it’s because my brain is too lazy to make something up. Breathing is becoming difficult, all my muscles hurt, but I can’t stop. I let my body guide me left and right, trusting that it will lead me where I need to be.

Just when I feel that I’m going to fall down, I make a right and collapse against the wall. I take big deep breaths, my hands and legs shaking because of the effort. I’m going to be caught, I realize and start to shake. I need to get back up and ke