WARNING: A LOT HAPPENS IN DAY THREE

They continued their journey at the break of dawn, heading towards the horizon. The blazing sun rose behind them, casting shadows onto the already-scorched ground.

"Where are we?" Changbin asked, confusing everyone.

"What do you mean? Like how far are we from the main UFO?" Chris asked back as he adjusted his hoodie to cover himself even more.

"No, like where are we? Where did this place used to be?"

"Why did that come to mind?" Danica asked, trailing behind the two males, beside Jisung.

"I just realised that I recognise the town we were in yesterday," Changbin replied.

"Really?"

"Yeah and if it is where I think it is, then we aren't far from another forest."

"Perfect," Jisung finally spoke up. "That means we are close."

"Close to the main UFO? How close?" Dan questioned.

"If the forest you're on about, Changbin, is the dark forest, we just have to cross it, then we are in the life-zone. Is it the dark forest?"

"Yeah, but what's the life -zone?" Changbin asked.

"The best place on Earth right now. It's like literally the only place with rain and beautiful plants and flowers."

"Wait...it rains there?"

"Yep, and there's a huge crystal-clear lake."

"You've been there?" Chris asked.

"No, my aunt would tell me about it though. She lives around there."

"Your aunt? Is she from the alien side?" Dan questioned.

"Yep. She might be able to help us."

"How?"

"She's the ancestor of an alien elder."

"Alien elder?" The trio asked in unison.

"Are you guys honestly not educated on this? What did they teach you at the camps?"

"We didn't really have school at the campsites," Changbin explained.

"You don't? Well that's just plain idiotic! Why wouldn't they teach you about aliens when they are planning on ruining the whole planet!"

"Well none of us knew about an alien invasion," Danica told him. "Just tell us what an alien elder is already."

"An alien elder is an alien who used to visit the human planet to bring back information on Earth and humans. They did this to help develop the alien world so that one day humans and aliens could share planets. However, once emperors became the highest officials in the alien world, people didn't listen to the elders anymore and trusted only the Emperor and usually, the Emperor doesn't like humans simply because they aren't elders and think the elders exaggerate to make humans sound good. Alien elders stopped existing a couple centuries ago but their ancestors are still alive and are probably the only aliens that actually want to keep the human race alive. Alien elder and their ancestors can be described as 'the good aliens' or 'the helpful aliens'."

"So, your aunt is an ancestor of an alien elder?"

"Yep, and I bet she'll tell you guys more about aliens, she was the one who educated me."

"Great," Danny clasped her hands together. "We should pay her a visit before we go to the main UFO to learn more about the aliens. Who knows, maybe something she tells us might even save our lives."

***

After walking for a few more hours, finally the first sign of the forest could be seen. A tall dark line grew up from the horizon, making them all smile in satisfaction.

Chris and Changbin were the first to sprint to it, craving fresh water to drink. Danica, too, would have ran if it wasn't for Jisung grabbing her wrist.

"What's up?" she asked, gesturing to her wrist. He stared at her for a while before letting go.

"Never mind."

"No, tell me. Are you okay?"

"It's nothing, Danica."

"Jisung," she took a step closer to him. "I want to help."

"Just forget it...please?"

"Does it have to do with last night?" She asked, catching him off-guard. "If so, feel free to talk about it. I, too, have somethings to address." Instantly, he cupped her cheeks and kissed her. It was short and more like a peck, but for the both of them, it felt like it lasted an eternity.

"Sorry," Jisung immediately apologised when he pulled himself away. His cheeks were red with embarrassment, but then again, Dan's were too.

"It's fine," she released a shocked giggle as she watched him bite his lip in frustration. "Hey, what's wrong?"

"I shouldn't have done that...argh, it's just everything that happened last night...it's just getting to my head. Maybe it's the lack of sleep or the sun," he tried to explain himself, earning a chuckle from the girl.

"Calm down. I said it was fine, didn't I? Let's just catch up to the others before they start suspecting things."

"Good idea," he smiled, happy she wasn't angry with him but regretful at the same time. He hated how his alien side was dominating his human side. It was something that had happened before, but he never wanted to experience again.

However, this time he knew if he kept this up, he'd just continue to embarrass himself. It wouldn't have been as awkward if only she was an alien, because then at least he would have known it was happening to her as well. That everything, even his rationality, was messing up all because he finally found his mate.

***

Meanwhile, for Chris and Changbin, Jisung and Danica were the last thing on their minds.

"What's up with the hoodie?" Changbin finally asked after ignoring it the previous day. "Aren't you hot?"

"I don't want to talk about it, Binnie," was all Chris could say as tears welled up in his eyes.

"Come on," he whined, dodging tree branches as the duo began to track through the forest, oblivious to the fact that they had been separated from the other two. "It can't be that bad..."

"IT IS THAT BAD!" he yelled, releasing the frustration he had been pushing away for what felt like forever. "It's horrible," he continued in a calmer tone, surprising Changbin when his voice cracked. "I want to tell you guys, but I can't."

"Why not?"

"I don't want to worry you guys and Danica's already broken enough, it would be best if she didn't know."

"Then tell me."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because Dani-" He turned around swiftly, only to see trees and no signs of the other two. "Oh no," he muttered, making Changbin turn around.

"What the heck? Weren't they behind us?" He asked, turning to his hyung.

"I thought so...when did we split up?"

"...maybe when we were running here..."

"That can't be good..."

"We need to look for them."

"But if we do, we'll get lost ourselves."

"WELL THEN WHAT DO WE DO?!" Changbin screamed, becoming frustrated, himself. "I don't want to die here."

"You won't...I promise you that."

"What do you mean? What about you? Don't you mean 'we won't'?" The younger male asked, earning a sigh from Chris as he finally pulled his hoodie off. Changbin froze, wanting to say something but nothing escaping his mouth.

"I'm sorry, Binnie," was all Chris could say. Changbin couldn't believe it. It felt as though his heart had been ripped out of his chest. The agony, running through his veins, immeasurable to anything he had ever felt before.

Instantly, he pulled the other male into a tight hug, crying onto his shoulder, not afraid to be weak and vulnerable in front of his true best friend.

"No," Changbin repeated against Chris' shoulder as he sobbed his heart out, realising this just might be the last time he had the chance to do so.