The Aftermath

When Yeosang had been trapped inside that wall. It felt like an endless loop, filled with only darkness in his sight. The police had investigated the scene, telling them that the walls were soundproof yet they still had no idea how someone could have known that there was a room like this inside the company building.

Their manager took care of the other questions, seeing Yeosang hesitate and seem spaced out while answering. The members had been surrounding him with love and care, they had been truly scared when he had gone missing. "You are never going to be left alone again." Seonghwa had stated as he tugs Yeosang to wrap his arms around him.

"Never, ever." Hongjoong had also added, looking over Yeosang with hawk eyes. "Everyone will always be not left alone. Not in my watch." He strictly eyed all of them, not letting them have a say in it. It was obvious already, that they are not going to let anyone be left alone. They all have agreed to it easily as they could never take so much despair in losing one of them.

There were so many things that were missing. Like, how were the recordings in the security camera tampered with? Is it somehow connected to someone inside the company? How were they able to find out that the walls were soundproof and inside a company wall, just near their practice room?

For now, their answer is that it may have been a saesang. It was the only formidable answer that they could formulate at the moment but there are chances that it may change as the police continue to do the investigation.

Their manager has only warned them of less going out, and if they were to go out, it is much better as a whole group, and that they are to keep an eye on each other. Yeosang, of course, could never get out of the house without the fear of being stalked and kept in that darkness.

The hunger that rumbled in his stomach and his screams were deemed useless as his body grew exhausted with how much energy he used in yelling for somebody to come. He was only lucky that there was a part of the wall that was slightly open so that his voice could be heard.

He still remembers waking up inside, slightly dizzy and confused upon sitting up and seeing darkness. It was like he was still closing his eyes but it was clearly open. He couldn't see a thing, not a single one.

His hands wandered around the floor, to the walls, to the space in his front and back. Yet, he always ended up finding nothing at all. He tries to creep his fingers at the corners of the wall, maybe there's a crack to open the wall but... nothing.

The times he spent kicking and hitting the wall didn't do anything at all. It's a nightmare. When the time came that he heard two voices growing closer to where he is, he put all of his energy to scream and yell. Kicking and hitting the wall too many times, yet nothing worked.

His hope started to shatter when he heard the voices fading away. The tears are already spilling, and he can't stop himself but shrink down to the ground. He wishes to disappear at that moment.

Anything but this... This is torture. Get me out of here. Please... Please...

He spent his days crying, starving, and staring at the darkness. He realizes that nothing would work, not when his voice cannot be heard at all or when his efforts are useless. He's stuck here, he'll be here and he doesn't know if it will be forever...

Then he wonders, how are the others doing? Are they holding up well without him? Are they looking for him? His stomach rumbles, and he takes a deep breath, his dry mouth leaving nothing for him. It felt suffocating being inside the darkness.

Is he dying? Isn't it much better than a torture like this?

He doesn't know how many days it has been. He had heard voices outside the walls but he could only stare at the darkness. He doesn't even know when he had closed his eyes and passed out on the floor. All that he could remember was when he could see a peak of light from the walls, and he used his very last breath to scream as loud as he could.

That's when he was found. The detective had just been checking in for more shreds of evidence that could have been missed or maybe cleaned up without anyone knowing. He was talking with another investigator that had accompanied him with the case, and that's when he heard a scream.

He hurried to find that spot, his eyes scanning the area until he noticed the mirror slightly forward from the corner. It was subtle and easily passed by. But, it was no mistake that he had caught onto that detail. He went towards it, inspecting it before slowly cracking the mirror open.

Light streams inside a small room, and he finds Yeosang lying by his side with his half-lidded eyes staring at him with hope. He mumbled something to the detective and then fully closed his eyes. The detective immediately called the ambulance and police, and they got to the point where the members and company had been notified of what had happened.

They were moved to another practice room and were glad to know that the company is building a new building for them to practice in. They surely will miss the iconic room, but it was for the better. Hopefully, the future trainees won't experience the same trouble as they have been put through. Their company would definitely not let any of that slide, and they won't stop until they find the culprit.

In the present, they are ever more considerate of Yeosang's comfort in the darkness. He hasn't yet told them anything that had happened inside that little room, and they don't want to trigger a trauma response if they ask.

He was acting fine around them as if the situation never happened until the night came and they hear his cries in his and Wooyoung's room. Jongho did even volunteer in moving into their room, to slightly aid the loneliness and fear that Yeosang feels at the darkness.

They would also leave the lights open in the hallways, and let the door stay open. The lamp on the desk table is lit open when it gets too much for Yeosang to adjust in the darkness. Wooyoung would often climb into his bed and cuddle with him even when he refuses, then also cooks him food even if Yeosang says that "I'm not hungry." Wooyoung declines that line and places the food right in front of him with a stern gaze. Jongho would sleep then wake up in the middle of the night to check on him, if he's getting the right amount of sleep and if he's comfortable up until he is satisfied then goes back to his bed.

Hongjoong would always check on him, day and night. He observes Yeosang, checking in when he sees that he's uncomfortable or when he's not feeling right. Seonghwa, on the other hand, would often ask if he was okay, if he was feeling comfortable, or if he was scared that it made Yeosang laugh and reply that "I'm stronger than you think, hyung. Thank you." 

San, Yunho, and Mingi do their best to cheer Yeosang up. Always making him tug along to their shenanigans and make him feel more involved than ever before. They try their best to defend him and give him everything to make him feel more... free than being suffocated.

It was much more of a nightmare when they witnessed Yeosang have a panic attack in front of their eyes. It was nearing midnight, and they had just come home from dance practice. They were happy to see that Yeosang wasn't afraid of going out when they were with him. On that night, they decided to have a proper dinner for once and not only fast food takeouts.

After Wooyoung had finished cooking, the others set up the table and ate dinner. It was a fun night, not until the light flashed and all went dark.

Yeosang froze, his heart palpitating in his chest as his breath picked up. All that he could think about was that he was in the darkness, that he was surrounded by darkness, that he was going to be stuck again. He couldn't think straight as he fell down on his knees and curled into a ball. He couldn't breathe, he felt like he was suffocating. He could hear his own heartbeat in his ears, beads of sweat dripping down his forehead and his back.

A flash of light could be seen behind his eyelids, but he didn't dare open them. He was trembling badly, his whole body shaking like a leaf as his hands shuffled to clutch at his chest. His heartbeat is too fast, he could hear them. It felt way too much like it was back then.

"-sang, breathe. Count with hyung. Okay? Count with hyung. One-" His head feels like a buzz, he's suffocating. He's suffocating, it's too much. "-two... three... There we go, follow my voice." Voice? He could hear the voice, but it felt like it was far away.

"You're with us, okay? You're here with us. You're not there." He could hear someone say, "Hyungs are here. You're doing okay." He slightly opens his eyes, looking at his side to see a glimpse of pink hair. Seonghwa-hyung.

"-touch him. He'll feel more in reality-"

"-he okay? What can I do to help, hyung-"

"-keep the light there. Sannie-"

It felt like ages until he could feel his breath be picked up normally. He feels lightheaded, and he is hoping to just lie in bed after that. A sweep of wind rushes over him and he shivers from all the sweat that is drenching him. A hand finally makes contact, and he fully opens his eyes to see Hongjoong crouching in front of him.

"Are you feeling better?" He gently asked, Yeosang stared and hesitantly nodded. "Slightly then. Are you okay with sitting in the living room?" Dread fills him at the thought of moving inside the darkness. He never felt so much fear clouding him until that moment.

San pulled him into his arms, "We're staying here. We'll have an awesome sleepover on the kitchen floor." Yeosang chuckled slightly, leaning towards him. The others smiled, pointing the lights of their phones up on the ceiling so they could see the whole room clearly. They snuggled together on the floor, wrapping their arms around each other.

At that moment, Yeosang felt safe in their arms. There is going to be so much adjustment that happens in his life after what had happened, and he couldn't fully forget what had happened easily. However, with the members—his family—by his side, he knew he would be able to conquer this feeling.

A/n

It had been a while since I touched on this story. This was the story I wrote when I was in a rough state, I could still remember it. I was in a slump, and I didn't have the motivation to write with all the bad news in K-pop that year. 

I'm debating on getting back on this and editing it because this was definitely not my best writing. I think this was the very first fanfiction of Ateez that I wrote, back in 2019. I can't believe that ya'll still read this istg, but thank you so much. It means a lot to me.

It's a huge improvement when I wrote this in 2019 and when I wrote this now. Still, I have a lot more room to learn and improve. I'm just feeling nostalgic, apologies. Love ya'll <(^-^)>