MILKY WAY TIME: 5 YEARS AND 2 MONTHS SINCE NAMJOON AND SEHUN WENT MISSING

SEHUN'S TIME: 48.5 HOURS SINCE HE WENT MISSING

Sehun feels as though his lungs have been pried out of his body.

Oxygen is no longer his friend as he stares at the tiny gap separating him and his father. Back when Sehun was drowning, Jungkook jumped in without hesitation to save him. Why is Sehun hesitating now? It's as though his legs have been amputated, and he's left with a hollow shell of a body that can no longer move forward, backward, or anywhere in between.

Faint calls for help bellow from the minute gap Sehun isn't sure he can squeeze through. The high-pitch cries ram their way inside his chest and replace what was once his lungs. The prospect of propelling himself inside the hole brings a terror he cannot describe. A terror he never thought he'd have to face.

But he takes a step forward anyway.

His father shouts, and Sehun finds himself coming closer and closer to raw fear that stretches inside his organs and tears them apart. Shudders and trembles burst throughout his body as he rubs his arms and holds them against his chest. Dust kicks up from the wind and flies into his eyes, causing him to squint. The cave's mouth, blocked by a swarm of boulders, begs him to enter. Sehun would have to crawl through a tight, cramped space that will crush his bones and give him nightmares for years, but his father is in there. He's stuck.

It's the cruel arrow of fate hitting Sehun's heel. It knocks him down and makes him scratch his way over as his tongue shrivels up and his eyes dry out. His hand falls to one of the rocks in his way. He thrusts it to the side and positions himself, ready to enter the chasm. His father's voice echoes around the rocky wall.

"Sehun! Stay back!" Jungkook shouts. They're the only comprehensible words Sehun hears.

Sehun's cowardice has now been approved by his father; he can cower away into the unknown and suck his thumb for all Jungkook seemed to care. But Sehun stands his ground and strikes the few objects in his way. Once the boulders fall and the tiny passageway from the outside to the inside is revealed, Sehun makes his decision: he dives in.

Jagged rocks jab every atom making up Jeon Sehun. His lungs feel as though they're about to morph into useless slivers of flesh taking up space within him. His nails chip and break. His jaw aches from how hard he's clenching it. Every inch he gains feels like a mile of pain forms in his mind. The tightness clamps on his ribs until they threaten to break, but with Jungkook's tattooed hand in sight, Sehun gains the strength to overcome his terror.

"I'm right here, dad," Sehun says in a rushed mutter that feels like it got ripped out of his throat. His tongue feels dry, yet it swells in his mouth at the same time.

He grabs his father's hand and tugs. A few rocks spring free, but not enough to allow Jungkook to slip into the tiny passageway. Sehun also doesn't want to risk another cave in, which would leave him stranded, too.

Sehun can see the opening to the cave; it's so close he can slide out if he wants to. He goes as close as he can to it without popping out, and Jihyun rushes over. When Sehun glances up, the face that looks so close to Jimin's awaits him.

"I'm going to get him in here, then you pull him out, okay?" Sehun says, and Jihyun agrees.

Adrenaline masks the ache scratching at Sehun's chest. He uses all his strength to shimmy to the far side of the hole he's in. His father's hand is limp and pale, and Jungkook is no longer responding. Panic nibbles on Sehun's brain; he kicks himself into overdrive. The jagged rocks pressing against him and the possibility of another cave in slip his mind. Instead of thinking, he grabs Jungkook's hand and pulls with all his might.

This time, Jungkook's arm pops out and several ounces of dust flood Sehun's vision and clog his nose. Jungkook's fingers twitch. Sehun takes it as a sign to move even faster.

He curls himself up and kicks at the boulders in his way. They vary in shape and size, but they aren't large enough to pin Jungkook down forever. So, Sehun kicks and kicks until the rocks give way and he can spot half of Jungkook's body.

"We can help pull him out!" Rosa calls. She kneels by the entrance and reaches in. Sehun helps push Jungkook forward enough for Rosa and Jihyun to grab him. As soon as they pull on his sleeve, the rocks wobble.

"Hurry, get out of there!" Jihyun says, and Sehun agrees.

Sehun hoists himself out of the passageway and joins Jihyun and Rosa's efforts to pull Jungkook free. Akira stays back with Stevie to guard the unconscious Namjoon and search for an exit, but Sehun pays them no mind.

Right before the tiny gap leading to the outside collapses, they force Jungkook out of the way. All of them are safely inside the cave, but they have to hope there's an exit through the cave, otherwise they're trapped.

Jungkook groans and spits out blood. "Stevie, am I going to survive?"

Stevie flies over and does a quick scan of Jungkook's frail body. "Yes, but we need to get you medical attention. My spray won't cut it this time."

Jungkook huffs and gets to his feet. Blood drips off his forehead, and his clothes are painted in the same liquid. He limps as his enhancements shine, acting as one of two lights in the vicinity. Stevie keeps his flashlight on and guides the way to the back of the cave, where a hole that leads up is waiting for them. It's not nearly as tight, and Sehun takes a second to suck in a relieved breath.

"Hey," Jungkook says as he approaches. He pats Sehun's shoulder. "You saved me. I can't imagine that was easy."

"You're always getting yourself into messes." Sehun grins, but he knows Jungkook was referring to Sehun's claustrophobia, not the actual act of saving Jungkook. "Besides, you saved me. It was my turn."

"You still owe me a few. I came in here after your dumbasses, that should get me a good fifty on you."

Sehun grumbles a curse, which causes the two of them to laugh. Sehun can't help himself: he embraces Jungkook. His father squeezes him, and the small act makes Sehun hyperventilate.

He's never been in that tight of a space before, especially not in such a high stakes situation. The mountains were one thing, but crawling through a cave was another. Caves terrified him the most when he was a kid. Now, it's different. He feels warmer. Safer. Maybe that means he's one step closer to going home.

"I'd love to cling to you forever, but we need to get moving," Jungkook says. Sehun agrees. As soon as Jungkook parts from him, he motions to Akira. "Carry Namjoon, we have a lot of ground to cover."

Sehun desires nothing more than to run to Namjoon, but he knows they'll have time for that when they get home. He forces himself to stay by his father's side even as he takes the lead. Akira, who is now holding Namjoon, is sandwiched in between the group thanks to Jihyun and Rosa holding up the rear. Stevie floats somewhere in between and keeps his light forward. The rocks before them are as sharp as the ones Sehun crawled through. From a distance, they aren't as terrifying.

"If there is hostile life in the castle, let me handle it. Focus on protecting Namjoon," Jungkook says to the group. "Stevie, you'll be with me. Your lasers are our firepower."

They already didn't have many weapons, now they're running out of ammo, food, and water. Not to mention they have a monster stalking them. Who knows, it could be lurking in the shadows just out of reach.

Sehun grunts as the steep path continues to tilt upward. It feels like they're climbing a mountain, which he expected, but that doesn't mean he's happy about it. It makes his sore knees feel twenty times worse, almost as if he's being stabbed over and over again. Maybe he's being dramatic, but he's a Jeon, so it's in his DNA.

Sehun loses track of the minutes as they traverse at an even pace. However, their silence is interrupted by a soft hum up ahead. Although it's just as dark as ever, it's like a lightbulb went off, and Sehun and the others sprint to where the hum is coming from.

Before them is a golden door with a soft glow hovering around it. It looks like it's made of metal or another type of strong, shiny substance. When Jungkook goes to open it, he stalls, and Sehun comes up behind him to see the problem.

There's no doorknob.

Instead of a knob or a handle, there's a tiny hole that appears to lead to the other side. Almost like a rite of passage; someone needs to stick their finger inside. Well, that's a theory, but seeing as the door is a single slab of gold with one hole, Sehun doesn't see any other option.

Jungkook jabs his finger around it, but the hole is too small even for his pinky. Sehun tries next, much to Jungkook's dismay. His are too big, too. Akira places Namjoon down, and Sehun takes the opportunity to sit next to his lover.

"Rest for a few minutes, let's discuss our findings," Akira suggests, and Jungkook agrees. One by one, they sit around Namjoon in the cramped corridor. The soft hum of the door calls to Sehun, and he wishes he could answer it.

"We've been walking for a while," Jungkook says with a heavy breath. "Any chance this is the castle?"

"I'm detecting lifeforms on the other side, sir," Stevie replies as he scans the door. "If it doesn't lead to the castle, then at the very least, it's a point of interest. Shall I try sticking one of my lasers through? Or firing at it?"

Jungkook clicks his tongue. "No, we don't want to risk them breaking or ricocheting. Like I said, you're the best weapon we have."

Akira knits his brows. "Wait, what about Rosa?"

All at once, the room goes quiet, and Sehun turns his eyes to the pale Rosa. Soon enough, the entire group is staring at her. That's what gets her to gulp.

"What about me?"

"You have small hands, the smallest out of any of us," Akira says as he points to her. Upon closer inspection, Sehun deduces that Rosa does, in fact, have the smallest hands. "Your pinky could fit."

It's the only chance they have. Rosa seems to recognize that seeing as she stands up, but before she can go closer to the door, a groan sounds off. Sehun glances down and sees Namjoon stirring and coming to. A smile blesses Sehun's lips as he watches his lover struggle to open his eyes.

Namjoon is here. Jungkook is alive. They're possibly inches away from answers. For the first time since they arrived in the Ring, Sehun feels a surge of optimism hit him. For once, he feels confident that they can get home.

All they have to do is fight one last time.

~~~

A/N: Not to burst anyone's bubble, but there are only two chapters left...