"I'm dying...help."

"Get up Beomgyu."

"I see the light."

"I will punt kick you."

The boys had arrived in town after spending time waiting for Haechan, Sunghoon, and Soobin from the bus.

Beomgyu was not a fan of the heat, and was laying on the wooden porch of the house that the townsperson from earlier had directed the trio to.

"Your friends should be inside. You boys stay safe now.", the man said.

"Thank you sir. We will.", Jake replied.

The door to the home was opened by Haechan.

"Get in here losers. We asked the lady who owns this place about the portal."

The boys all clamored inside.

"Wow, there really is a lot of you.", a woman said.

"Sorry to intrude ma'am.", Keeho told her.

"No need to apologize. I heard you all came to Texas in search of a portal?"

"Yes. Do you know about the Sub-Level Dark?", Heeseung asked.

"I do. A lot of us Texans do. Elgin has the only portal this side of Louisiana. The other one is in Florida."

"As expected.", Beomgyu whispered.

"Do you know where the portal is?", Sunoo asked.

"I do you little cutie. It's in my basement."

The boys all looked at each other, then back at her.

"I was shocked too when I saw it. I never thought that my home would lay ground for such a thing."

"If it is okay with you ma'am...could we use your portal to get there?", Theo asked.

The woman smiled.

"Of course. My guess is that you all are planning on putting an end to that horrid creature down there."

"We are.", Jake replied.

"Good. The basement door is just down the hall. Be careful young men."

"We will.", Haechan said.

"I must warn you about the portal however.", the woman said.

"How come?", Heeseung asked her.

"You have to die to reach the Sub-Level Dark. It is the only way the portal will open."

"We can...arrange that.", Seonwoo said.

The boys all thanked the woman, giving her individual hugs.

Haechan led them to the basement door at the end of the hallway.

Finally, the boys would make it to the Sub-Level Dark.

Going down the steps, the boys felt the air around them get colder.

"Sunghoon your frost is getting everywhere.", Jay said.

"I'm not doing anything.", Sunghoon replied.

They reached the bottom of the steps, a d gathered around.

The basement was mostly empty aside from a few boxes.

"Okay. So we have to...you know.", Jungwon said.

"I volunteer to go first.", Kai said.

"Why?", Soobin asked.

"Because deep down, I am a leader."

"Of death?"

"I'm trying to get things going here."

"Okay so how do we...die?", Niki asked.

Everyone got quiet for a second.

"Jay. Do it.", Jungwon said.

"Do what?", Jay responded.

"You're the spirit guy. Kill us."

"No thanks."

Jungwon picked up Jay's hand, placing it on his own heart.

Jay looked deep into his eyes.

"I know you can. It will help us all."

"Jungwon-"

"It's not like we won't come back. It's ju-"

Suddenly, Jungwon inhaled sharply.

The boys all stared at him, wondering what was happening.

Jungwon looked at Jay one more time before collapsing onto the floor.

"Oh shit! Oh shit! What did I do?!", Jay said.

His hand had dark tendrils emanating from it.

"Looks like you unlocked another level of your supernatural powers.", Heeseung said.

The ground under Jungwon began to glow. A ring of red light formed around the boy, and within seconds, he disappeared.

"It worked!", Sunghoon said.

"Me next!", Kai yelled.

"What if I kill you, huh?", Soobin said.

"It would be my pleasure."

"You're nasty."

"Don't talk to my man like that.", Taehyun said.

It was decided that Jay would be the one to help them a cross over. In the end, it would be Haechan and Jay, who would use their powers simultaneously and help each other to get to the Dark.

"Here we go boys. Say goodbye to any ounce of sanity you had left, and any part of your brain that wasn't traumatized.", Jake said.

"I don't think there is a part that isn't traumatized.", Seonwoo replied.

"Are you...okay?", Heeseung asked Seonwoo.

"Physically, yes? Mentally, I never have been. Let's go guys!"

----------------------------------------------------

Jungwon opened his eyes slowly, blinking at the light in the room.

He stretched out his arms, rolling on his side.

"Jungwon?", a voice said.

Jungwon sat up in the bed. That's when he noticed he was in a bedroom, and other people were sleeping around him.

Next to him in the bed was Jisung and Haechan.

"How do you feel?", the voice asked.

Jungwon turned to his left.

"Yeonjun!", he yelled.

The boy got up from the bed, running to Yeonjun and hugging him tightly.

"I'm glad you're happy to see me.", Yeonjun said.

"We missed you. So much. Soobin cried for like a whole day when we got home."

"I know. He told me. I had to sneak away from him to come and check on you all."

"How long have we been here?"

"A few hours. You all landed in the town center. Yuta told me that sometimes it takes people a while to wake up after getting here."

"I see."

"Come with me. I want you to meet some friends."

Yeonjun let Jungwon from the bedroom, gently closing the door.

Entering Yuta's living room, Jungwoo, and Sicheng stood there.

"Guys, this is Jungwon."

"Hello. You're adorable.", Jungwoo said.

"Thank you sir."

"Are you hungry? I cooked.", Yuta said.

"Yes sir.", Jungwon said.

While the three friends met Jungwon, Yeonjun went to go find Soobin again.

Outside of the house, Soobin stood on the porch.

"Hey baby.", Yeonjun said.

Soobin hugged him, giving him a kiss on the lips.

"Are you sure you're okay?", Soobin asked.

"I'm okay baby. What were you looking at?"

"Those trees. Everything here is so..."

"Twisted?"

"Yeah. It makes me nervous."

"I'll protect you."

"Promise?"

Yeonjun laughed, putting his head on Soobin's shoulder.

"I promise, boyfriend."

"One step closer to getting married."