ADVESPERASCIT.
approaching dark

.❀。• *₊°。 ❀°。

JISUNG CLUTCHED THE RAILS of the stairs tightly at every step he took downstairs. The boys followed behind him, watching out if ever they trip and fall. Finally, they entered the basement, were the generator was located.

        With the knowledge he had, he switched the machine on, generating loud grumbles from its engine. Soon enough after setting it up, the lights flickered back on and everything was normal—except for the cell signal.

They all went back up to the living room, sighing in relief because at least things were a bit better now.

        They settled in there for a while, talking, napping, watching movies, playing board games, and everything under the sun—if there was any at the moment. It was around three-thirty in the afternoon yet it was hella dark.

"I'm hungry," Jisung whined, getting up and going to the kitchen to search for food. He forced his body up from the wooden floor and dragged himself to the kitchen.

        He took small, heavy steps, his back slouched and his eyes barely open. He narrowed his eyes down, limiting his field of vision as if trying to conserve the "sleep" he had just accumulated before hearing his stomach growl.

        He made his way to the kitchen, and pulling the fridge door lazily, he was waiting to find the usual yakult bottle somewhere in the chiller.

        His hearts sank.

        Jisung smiled sheepishly to himself, immediately slamming the fridge door closed, and skipping to the pantry shelves.

        "Eh, seaweed would do," Jisung chuckled nervously to himself.

        He rummaged through the pantry, grabbing random items of food and settling them down the counter.

        But why wasn't there anything in the pantry?

        No.

        No way.

        Jisung dashes into the living room, his heart palpitating madly and sweating bullets on his forehead. The others shot their heads to the boy's direction, furowing their brows at how fazed Jisung looked.

        "Jisung, you okay?" Mark spoke, worry laced in his tone.

        Jisung shook his head violently and slumped his body on the floor.

        "It's serious, I tell you," Jisung breathed out, fiddling with his sweaty fingers and gritting his teeth.

        The boys gather around him, anticipating what he was about to say. Jisung didn't look like he was fooling around, telling jokes and all. He did look serious, and slowly a bad feeling was entering their systems.

        "Hyung, we ran out of food."

╚═ °• ♔ •° ═╗

        The flood was about knee-length and the rain continued pouring.

        After hearing Jisung's remark, and seeing the evidence with their own two eyes, Mark and Renjun didn't hesitate to voluntarily risk their well-being and scamper through the flood, look for any nearby conveniece stores and what not, buy food, water, and essentials, just for the boys.

        As the two left, the rest couldn't help but feel uneasy about the idea—especially Donghyuck, Jaemin, and Jeno.

        They didn't like the fact that the two were going out in the storm, and potentially hurt themselves. Chenle and Jisung were both bothered by it too, worried that their hyungs would have a hard time while at it. Overall, it was a really bad experienve in itself.

        "I don't like the feeling of this..." Jaemin mumbled to Jeno quietly, evidently distraught.

        Jeno nodded violently. "Me neither..."

        Jaemin let out a heavy sigh and stared up on the ceiling, finding it to be the most interesting aspect of the room, His frown only grew lopsided, feeling no emotion but sadness.

        And as of Donghyuck, he couldn't get Mark out of his mind.

        He was extremely concerned for him—the last thing he wants is the older getting hurt. He nibbles on his bottom lip as he made his way up to his shared room with Mark, collapsing on the bed and curling his limbs up supported by his arms, hugging them tightly.

        He burried his head on the pillow as he breathes heavily, as thoughts start flooding his system.

        What if he gets hurt?

        It was the last thing he wanted.

        The atmosphere was thick, a bad, eerie feeling, nestled in the cold wind. And with sleep overtaking him, he shuts his eyes tight, a heavy weight on his chest, as he drifts to dreamland.

╚═ °• ♔ •° ═╗

        Mark and Renjun walk through the dirty floodwater, feet feeling a tad bit heavy with the liquid. The rain pours harshly on their heads, banging against their scalp and streaming down their now wet bodies. Every grocery or convenience store they pass have their lights dimmed and their LED sign switched off. No one was inside either. Each glass door has a sign flipped to the side displaying the words "closed", disappointment all over.

Each step felt slow and heavy, feeling the water against their skin—their freezing skin. A shirt under a sweater over a raincoat was, in fact, not enough for warmth to linger through their veins. The cold storm had the boys worried, frustrated, and saddened, a mix of emotions stirring in their stomach.

        They were settled in a comfortable silence, scampering through the flood and letting the quietness talk for themselves. Aside from the loud splashes of water here and there, their heavy breaths and steady heartbeats resounded throughout their eardrums. No one dared to talk, just focused on looking for a suitable place for their needs.

        And after what seemed like a decade of scampering through the flood, they found an open seven-eleven right around the corner.

"Bingo!" Mark bursted with a big, bright smile, breaking the silence, contrasting with the cold and blue stormy day.

        The duo ran for their lives, arriving on the doorstep and pushing the glass doors open. Their hearts pulsating, they make their way inside, wet and cold with rain water. Rummaging through the isles, they looked for food, water, and other essentials, enough to pass the ruthless weather.

Little did they know, the floodwater was rising rapidly, slowly growing up mid-waist, then on the chest, then—

╚═ °• ♔ •° ═╗

Jeno stared out the window, noticing the rain getting intense and the water accumulating on the streets.

        He can't help but feel worried for Renjun.

         A bad feeling was growing inside him, but he tried himself to dismiss the thought in fear. He played with his fingers, wanting time to pass by and for Renjun and Mark to be back here as soon as possible, safe and sound.

        Jeno panned his head back to the window.

        "Fuck."

        Jaemin caught the boy hissing, so he slowly made his way to the older.

        "Hm?", Jaemin hummed in acknowledgment.

        Jeno signalled Jaemin to the window.

        "The flood. It's rising. Quickly."

.❀。• *₊°。 ❀°。

🌸 | a/n !
— vote on idol champ cowards
— HYUCKHAN !