SEONGHWA kept on walking towards the factory, he knew that something isn’t right. Yet he can’t stop his own body on walking towards the huge building and once that he arrived, he can’t help but take a few steps backwards.

The sight of blood on the walls and floor along with the citizens that used to be alive were nothing but a bunch of blackened ones, looking at him as if he was their prey.

“No..” Seonghwa mutters as he immediately turned his back just to witness an another horrifying scene.

The man that has been haunting him in his nightmares, looking at him with bloodshot eyes, “You should've listened to me and didn’t interfere on ending the cursed Kang's life.”

“No.”

“It’s all your fault. This wouldn’t even happen if the cursed child died,” the man said as he held an axe, “And now, I’m one of them.”

•°•°•°•°•

       SAN kept on playing with the plush while waiting for Yeosang to step out of the bathroom, smiling in delight as he hugged this plushie. He remembered seeing the smile that he used to treasure and even though he can see it now, he knew that everything is different now.

The pure smile was already tainted by the darkness itself.

But San never stopped on loving it, he evem swore to protect it and make sure that he’ll be seeing it often but for himself only. He wouldn’t share that smile with other people, they would just ruin it.

“San?” a whisper was heard and he immediately looked at Yeosang which was already wearing one of his turtleneck black sweaters and a black pants while drying his brown hair.

“Oh. You're finished but dry your hair a bit since it’s easy to get sick because of the temperature,” San remarked while gently placing the shiba inu plush to the bed then went beside Yeosang as he held the towel.

“H-Hey. You don't need to.” Yeosang stated and San was about to laugh when the brunette pouted.

San shook his head, “Don’t worry, Sangie.”

“Thanks.” San smiled as he heard an another whisper from the brunette.

The moment that San is sure that Yeosang can freely wander around, he tapped the male’s cheek which made him look at the blond that was smiling at him. Yeosang can’t understand why he felt like he's melting slowly whenever San is around him, he can't help but lean into the feeling which makes him feel more comfty.

“We should go now," San stated, ruffling Yeosang's hair “Would you like to bring something?”

Yeosang suddenly remembered his collection and nods as he took one of his drones on his luggage then put his phone on the pocket of his pants, “Let's go.”

“Oh. A drone,” San noted.

Yeosang nods, “I h-have a lot of them.”

“So you like them? And collect lots of it?” San asked.

Yeosang nodded once again as a small smile was shown, “Yes.”

“That’s nice~” San coo-ed.

San lets the older male hold the object as they went to the rooftop instead of holding his hand, it's not like San is touch-deprived after all of the years that he have been keeping a distance with the mortal. He yearns to hold him every single second but he knew that’s impossible so he kept on restraining himself and those dark thoughts. His demon self isn’t needed right now so it can fuck itself to hell for a while.

“Hello!” San chirped, “Sorry for being late!”

“Hush, San!” Jongho shushed the blond before looking at Yeosang, “Hey, are you alright now?”

“I think so?” Yeosang wasn't even sure if he's alright but he doesn't feel the pain anymore.

Jongho lets out a sigh and an assured smile, “Thank God.”

From his perspective, he probably saw San cringing or rolling his eyes but he ignored it and smiled at the youngest, “I’m glad that you’re alright.”

“Don't do that again,” Hongjoong stated which made everyone look at him, “As much as we’re in danger, heroic sacrifices are nothing but bullshit. It’s the survival of the fittest now and our priority is to survive together, not to sacrifice a life for someone to survive. All of us are going to survive.”

“I’m sorry,” Yeosang sheepishly said.

Hongjoong sighed, “Fine. Just.. don't do that again.”

“So, leader~ Any updates on the infiltration?” San asked, changing the topic before it gets uncomfortable.

Instead of Hongjoong, Seonghwa was the one that replied to him “We need to get close to the library to check its secured area but with those blackened ones? I think we might take a few while.”

“Wait. All we need to do is to get close, right?” Yeosang asked.

Seonghwa nods, “Indeed.”

Yeosang showed his drone to the other males, “I think that I can help with that.”

“A drone..” Jongho gasped as he immediately nodded, “That’s it!”

“Electricity is still working in this place, right?” Yeossng asked.

“For a certain reason, this factory’s generator is still working despite the whole electricity being cut off on the whole town because those blackened ones literally has the control to the power station.” Seonghwa stretched his arms before glancing at the brunette, “You’re really a help in this, Yeosang.”

“I-It’s not like that,” Yeosang looked down.

“Let’s get started, shall we?” Hongjoong stated as he tapped a space beside them, “Stop standing there and take a sit!”

They immediately sat beside them as they connected the drone to Yeosang's phone, everyone kept silent as the object flew while on their surveillance. The object kept on flying on high places before landing on a building in front of the library.

“Wait. Just stay there for a while,” Hongjoong muttered, “Can the camera zoom in?”

Yeosang nods, “Yes. Why?”

“Keep on zooming it until I say stop.” Yeosang followed the order and zoomed the camera until he heard Hongjoong muttered a 'stop' “Thank you.”

They kept on telling Yeosang what should he do with the drone as they wrote in the piece of paper in front of them, noting every single information that they can get on it. San can’t help but sigh as he looked on the paper, five blackened people in the front door and there’s an another bunch on the back door. So that means that getting in would be different if they would just simply barge in because of the reinforcements that they can get from the other side.

“Okay. I think that this is enough on checking it,” Seonghwa stated before looking at Yeosang in such a sweet way, “Thank you.”

“It’s nothing.” Yeosang almost whispered it on the fact that he couldn’t talk that loud.

“So in order to get in, we need to gather more than six people to take care of the reinforcements while one or two of them can infiltrate the inside,” Hongjoong stated, “We actually need eight of us. So who shall we drag?”

“We can’t drag those citizens,” Jongho stated as he sighed, “They wouldn’t even let themselves get dragged in here despite us doing everything for them. Sucks, right?”

“I..” Seonghwa can’t help but feel bad because he shouldn’t come along with them, “I can’t go outside.”

“Why?” San asked, glancing at the older male.

Seonghwa shook his head, “I shouldn’t. Besides, I have to take care of them.”

“They can take care of themselves, there are adults in here.” San tried to persuade the oldest but it seems that he made him uncomfortable, feeling the negative emotions from Seonghwa.

“By the way, when are you going to infiltrate the area?” Seonghwa asked.

Changing the topic? San thought as he smiled mischievously, “We can’t decide for that yet. We need the line-up for the whole plan.”

“We need eight people,” Hongjoong repeated.

Seonghwa looked uncomforable and Yeosang noticed it as he held the oldest’s hand “Are you alright?”

“You.” Seonghwa's eyes widened before letting out a smile, “I guess.”

“You don’t need to get out of here if you don’t want to,” Yeosang stated, rubbing his thumb at the back of Seonghwa’s hand, “If this place is your safety zone and you’re not ready to take a step outside then stay here.”

“Oh my, we’re not persuading you!” Hongjoong gasped as he patted Seonghwa, “Sorry if we made you uncomfortable.”

“Hey! It’s alright!” Seonghwa stated, waving his free hand as if he’s gesturing that 'it’s okay!'

San rolled his eyes as he leaned on the rooftop's door, unhappy on how Seonghwa evaded the situation because of Yeosang. Yeosang and his concern towards Seonghwa. San couldn’t get a clue on whoever the traitor is if this continues.

He’ll keep on being wary of everyone’s actions and Seonghwa’s refusal on getting outside of the factory is one of it.

He can also sense different kinds of energy around the area and it confirms that there are ‘people’ here with inhumane abilities. He couldn’t sense the actual source of energy because it was blocked on getting caught.

“So? The plan? Guys?” Jongho asked, raising an eyebrow.

“We will infiltrate it. But first thing's first! We need to gather the others!” Hongjoong exclaimed, standing up as he stretched his arms.

“I’ll gather the others on the headquarters then,” Jongho stated before retreating on the rooftop and Hongjoong followed him.

“We should be going now,” Seonghwa said as he stood before glancing at the brunette, “Yeosang, thank you.”

“I-It's nothing..” Yeosang mutters, looking away from Seonghwa.

Seonghwa giggled, “Honestly, you’ve saved me from that. It was starting to be uncomfortable.”

“I know how it feels to be in such an uncomfortable situation and I just don’t like witnessing such scenarios,” Yeosang simply replies.

“Just like what happened to you and Jongho?” Seonghwa asked before leaning in front of the brunette as he looked at the fabric covering his neck, “It must’ve been painful.”

“I barely even know how it felt because everything became numb after that..” Yeosang said as his gaze met Seonghwa’s hazel brown orbs.

“You did well, Yeosang.” Seonghwa said as he slowly tugs the fabric down, revealing a huge scar on his neck which made him flinch, “So it never disappeared.”

“P-Please don’t—”

Seonghwa looked at Yeosang which was filled with fear in his eyes, “What’s happening?”

“Don’t..” Yeosang shut his eyes close.

“What?”

“Don’t look..” Yeosang whimpers.

“Oh my..” Seonghwa immediately lets go of the fabric, “I’m so sorry, Yeosang.”

Seonghwa was about to hold Yeosang’s hand when someone immediately pulled Yeosang away from him, it made look at its direction and saw San looking at him with wary eyes. San smiled a bit as he dragged Yeosang out of the rooftop, leaving the oldest one on the area.

“What have I done?” Seonghwa muttered, covering his face with both of his hands.

San kept on dragging Yeosang until they’ve arrived at their shared room in which he immediately embraced the older male, letting him feel the energy radiating from the half-demon. Euphoria. He lets Yeosang calm down using his ability to manipulate a mortal’s emotion as the brunette breathes normally and seems to be in a haze.

San immediately stopped himself and smiled softly, “Are you alright?”

“I felt uneasy a while ago. Other people seeing my scar makes me feel scared,” Yeosang whispered as he shut his eyes close once again, “I can’t recall the reason for the huge scar but looking at it scares me a lot.”

“You’re afraid but I think that you should overcome it,” San stated as he gently let Yeosang sit on the bed before sitting on the space beside it, “Why are you scared of people looking at it?”

“Discriminating me for having something like this..” Yeosang mutters as he looked at his knees while clenching both of his fists, “Looks filled with pity, disgust and fear. Mocking me everytime..”

“Hush, Sangie.” San said as he lifts Yeosang’s chin with his left index finger, making the brunette meet his gaze “I’ll help you.”

Yeosang can feel the blond’s fingers tracing his jawline and halted when it met the fabric hiding his neck, San looked at Yeosang as if he’s seeking permission and the brunette couldn’t understand why but he nodded anyway. He can feel the fabric getting tugged down and he gasps, feeling like he’s so exposed on the younger male’s sight. He can feel the fingers tracing around his neck, meeting the scar and slightly pressing his skin.

He should be scared right now but with how San looks at him with those loving eyes and how the fingers felt like it’s being careful makes Yeosang feel safe. San immediately leaned in front of it and Yeosang can feel the blond breathing in it.

“Scars are visible marks that shows that you’ve survived something painful. It shouldn’t be something that should be mocked at or to be ashamed of,” San mutters as he left a kiss on the scar which made Yeosang's breath stop for a while, “It should be appraised because you’ve done something that no one could’ve done easily. You've survived and that’s what matters at all.”

“San..” Yeosang whispered.

San immediately embraced the brunette once again, “I’m sorry if I’m being too clingy. I just like hugging too much and it’s all I can do to comfort someone, Sangie.”

Yeosang can’t help but embrace the blond back as the fuzzy feeling comes back, “Thank you.”

They stayed like that for a while before San pulled out of the hug and grinned at him, “We should be heading to the headquarters by now. Is that alright? You can stay here and I’ll fill you with the info later.”

“No. I’ll come with you,” Yeosang said in a firm tone, “I want to be useful.”

San wanted to say something but he shuts himself immediately, he doesn’t want to control Yeosang. He wants him to overcome everything on his own with a bit of assistance from him. He wants Yeosang to smile so genuinely once again— he will do everything just to witness that smile once again.

“You're late!” Is the sentence that they’ve heard when they arrived in the headquarters with Mingi crossing his arms.

“Sorry.  We just have to return the drone in Yeosang’s luggage,” San sheepishly stated as he smiles at him.

“Okay then. Let’s just begin our discussion,” Hongjoong stated as he stood beside a whiteboard and drew a square in it with a word ‘library’ inside of it then drew dots outside of the square, “So based from the footage that we got from Yeosang’s drone, there are blackened ones guarding the front and backdoor of the library so infiltrating it will be difficult.”

“If they’re guarding it like that then it means that something important is in the library,” Wooyoung stated, resting his chin on both of his hands.

“That's it. It’s obvious for the town hall to be guarded because the mayor’s blackened version is there and also the Kang manor because it’s their meeting place but the library? No one even dared to enter that place but it’s guarded as if something precious is in there.” Hongjoong immediately crossed out the dots, “We need to get rid of the blackened ones guarding the doors and staying there to kill the blackened ones that will try on attacking us.”

“Man, that will be tough.” Yunho lets out a deep sigh, “It means that we’ll be bringing a lot of weapons.”

“Remember that a lot of the citizens have been turned into blackened ones,” Mingi added.

“That’s why we’re here right now,” Hongjoong stated, “We’re going to plan everything now.”

“We need people to guard the front and backdoor as one person infiltrates the library,” Seonghwa stated.

“I’m against one person infiltrating the library alone,” Wooyoung immediately said, “And who is going to infiltrate it?”

“I can do it.” All of them looked at Yeosang with widened eyes.

“Huh? You’ve got to be kidding me,” Wooyoung scoffed, “You were nearly killed because of your stupidity yesterday.”

“I won’t get myself getting nearly killed again. I’ll do my best to provide you the informations that you need,” Yeosang said in such a firm tone filled with determination, “I’m good at memorizing and I can read fast.”

“Well, bitch. Here’s the tea,” Wooyoung stated in such a sarcastic tone, “The library in this town is so huge that you wouldn’t be able to find what you’re looking for in a blink of an eye. The one that should infiltrate should know how it looks like inside and someone that left the town years ago doesn’t suit that role. You can’t even remember anything so stop trying to be useful when you’ll be nothing but a hindrance.”

“Wooyoung.” Wooyoung just huffed when he heard Hongjoong saying his name in a warning tone.

“Leader, how are you gonna split us up?” Mingi asked.

“Three person will guard the front door and another three will be guarding the backdoor as one of us infiltrates it,” Hongjoong stated, “That is how I’ve planned it.”

“Sorry to burst your bubble but one person infiltrating the library is just too risky. We need an another person to come with us,” Yunho said as he looked down, “We shouldn’t lessen the number of people guarding the door though.”

San immediately took a sigh as he looked at Seonghwa before smiling in delight as he sent a message using a different voice ‘Hey, Seonghwa. The cursed Kang will die on this mission if you won’t come along. He will die along with your precious friends because they’ll be outnumbered by them. Are you sure that their lives aren’t worth protecting than these citizens? Are you picking the quantity over the quality?’ and smirked as he saw Seonghwa paled while looking around. To make it worse, he sent a foresight on how they’ll die which made Seonghwa shudder. If he’ll keep on restraining himself then San will definitely dragged him out of his safety zone.

“I’ll come with you,” Seonghwa stated and everyone looked at him as San internally laughs in triumph.

“Are you sure? We’re not going to force you if you don’t want to,” Hongjoong said.

Seonghwa shook his head, “As much as I want to stay, I’m scared for the seven of you. What if something bad happens because you’re lacking the people that you need?”

“That wouldn’t happen—”

Yunho was cut-off by Seonghwa looking so worried, “That’s not even possible. Who knows what might happen? The area was guarded as if something in it is not allowed for us to be attained so there’s something fishy with the area. I’m not letting all of you get in danger!”

“Chill!” Yunho raised both of his hands.

“If you insist then welcome aboard,” Hongjoong said as he chuckled, “Then this means that we’re already eight.”

“So what’s the line-up?” Jongho asks.

“We need someone strong on both teams and good with close combats,” Hongjoong stated as he looked at Jongho and San, “So San will be in the backdoor team while Jongho is on the front door team.”

“Also, someone that can attack with long range weapons and I can only think of two persons for this,” Hongjoong stated as he looked at two people which was grinning on the mention of long range weapons.

“Okay, leader!” Mingi cheerfully stated.

Yunho saluted, “Aye-aye, captain!”

“Yunho will be on the front door team while Mingi will be on the other team. Last but not the least are the people with knowledge for medicine and can handle the fucking pressure, someone that will assist both of you on combats.” Hongjoong looked at Seonghwa which immediately nodded, “I’ll be with Yunho and Jongho while Seonghwa will be on the other team.”

“Yey! We have Seonghwa-hyung on our side!” Mingi chirps.

“Wait..” Wooyoung’s crestfallen expression was seen by everyone, “Hongjoong-hyung, no.”

“Hongjoong-hyung, yes.” Hongjoong firmly stated as he looked at him and Yeosang, “I want both of you to be the ones that will infiltrate the library.”

“Hyung!” Wooyoung whined.

“Your whiny ass won’t save you this time,” Hongjoong said, crossing his arms “You’re always in the library because you’re a fucking nerd.”

“I just love reading,hyung! I’m not a fucking nerd!” Wooyoung whined once again.

“So does Yeosang and that’s why both of you are going to infiltrate the library and look for informations,” Hongjoong said as he grins, “You’re also strong enough to protect the two of you while Yeosang can read the information that we need.”

“Hyung!” Wooyoung whined.

“The line-up is finished. I hope that all of us will work together and in case of emergency, act on your own decision. As much as we need the information, we should prioritize our own safety.” Hongjoong said before writing something on the board, “First of all, we’ll do our best to get rid of any wandering blackened ones while the others infiltrate the library. Wooyoung and Yeosang, we’ll be giving you thirty minutes to infiltrate it. You’ll be given a whistle and when you’re safe, whistle it twice after ten minutes but during an emergency, whistle once with all your might so we can send reinforcements.

“Whistle twice is safe and once if in danger?” Yeosang mutters then nods, “Noted.”

“As per the guarding team, we’ll be letting one person enter the library if thirty minutes have passed and they haven’t responded at all. Which makes it two persons guarding the door and this time, it’ll be risky for us and after retrieving everyone.. we’ll retreat.” Hongjoong said while looking at everyone, “Thirty minutes. That is all that we’ve got.”

“We can do this! Fighting!” Mingi screams, raising his hands in the air.

“I’ll make sure that we’ll be safe,” Jongho assured them.

“We’ll survive.” Yunho said in a firm tone.

“That’s the spirit,” Hongjoong stated, clapping his hands, “We’ll be meeting at the front door with every weapon that we need. Remember to eat and hydrate yourselves so you’ll be having enough energy.”

“Noted!” San stated as he waved his hands while jumping.

“Any further questions?” Hongjoong asked and everyone shook their heads, “Then the meeting is dismissed. Yunho and Mingi, come with me at the weapon room so we can pick some weapons for the both of you.”

As they retreated the room one by one, Wooyoung stopped and looked at Yeosang hich also halted on his tracks when his bestfriend looked at him.

“Don’t be a hindrace tomorrow. I’m doing this for the others, not for you!” Wooyoung hissed.

Yeosang nodded as he smiled at him, “Okay, Youngie. I’ll do my best to avoid trouble.”

“Glad to know that you will try on not fucking things up,” Wooyoung stated in a cold tone as he turned his back.

As everyone went on their separate ways, Jongho stopped on his tracks to look around before letting out a deep breath.

“I’ll keep everyone safe..” the youngest muttered, clenching his fists.

----

i'm terribly sorry for the shitty update :( idk if i can still continue this especially with my mental health rn :<