Chapter Text
He was falling.
The moment-vivid in his mind. Everything happened so fast that he couldn’t grasp what was going on. One moment, he stood on solid ground, staring into the eyes of an unknown evil-a vessel that once held a dear soul. He was once a friend and a brother.
The enemy asked a simple question.
Yes or no, Felix…
Those were his only options.
He had the answer. It was at the tip of his tongue, but he hesitated. Fear overtook his body as he released a shaky breath.
He knew he couldn’t run. The dead end was near. There was nothing he could do to avoid it.
So, he took a deep breath and answered.
The fall was his receiving end.
The enemy shoved him hard, and he lost ground. He felt the impact as his body slammed against the glass. The shards flew past him, and he felt the cold wind engulf him mercilessly. The world moved in slow motion. His senses were fading in and out, his heartbeat audible in his eardrums. He closed his eyes as his mind echoed the last words spoken by the enemy.
“End of the line…Felix.”
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Silence.
An unnatural amount of silence surrounded him. He knew this couldn’t be home. It was never this quiet when you have seven friends roaming about, doing whatever young men in their 20s do.
So…what is this place?
Was this the afterlife?
It could be. He did fall from a skyscraper-he might be as good as dead.
He felt a light breeze brush against his skin and a tickle under the palm of his hand. Curiously, he opened his eyes and groaned as the bright light blinded him. It took his eyes a while to get adjusted. When it did, the bright blue sky filled his vision.
What the…?
He pushed himself up into a sitting position and gasped.
He wasn’t surrounded by the gloomy city nor caged among the tall skyscrapers. He was sitting in the middle of a grassy field stretching for miles. Flowers of all colours and shapes decorated the area, bringing life and a touch of beauty to its surroundings. Felix was sure that if Mother Nature could see this, she’ll be proud.
He has never stepped foot on grounds like this.
The sight before him seemed to convince him further that he was dead. There was no way he had appeared in this world out of thin air. As much as he was in tune with the supernatural, he was sure this was out of his league. For a few minutes, he sat there, taking in the wonderful scents and filling his lungs with fresh air. He wanted to savour the moment and imprint this image of paradise in his mind.
Until his arm brushed against his pocket, and he felt something. He froze. The weight in his pocket grew as its presence became apparent. He shuddered-feeling the chill of terror running up his spine.
In his pocket lies the promise he made, the spark of hope and the weight of his failures. How did this cursed object follow him into the afterlife? If he recalled correctly, he watched it scattered into pieces right before his eyes. Hyun- or the odd was the one that broke it.
So, how…is this here?
His heart hammered in his chest as flashbacks played in his head. He remembers it all. It felt as if his brain tape-recorded the whole event. Even in death, they managed to haunt him. The lock in his pocket became a reminder of what he had lost. His memories served as evidence of his failure.
Suddenly, the world around him lost its colours. The fascination faded as dread filled his body. Felix hated this feeling. He wanted to be left alone, in peace. He didn’t want this to continue. This guilt ate him alive and left a stain on his heart. He has no one to blame but himself.
His team isn’t here because he failed.
The thought sparked something within him; turning his remorse into a rage.
If only I was stronger. If only-I…
He scoffed.
Whom am I kidding? None of this would have happened if one of the others held this. They…would have gotten the job done.
He pushed himself up to his feet. He dug his hand into his pocket and pulled out the lock. He stared at it in disgust and clenched it tightly in his fist. He didn’t need this. He lost, and he knows it. He doesn’t need a stupid object to remind him.
He raised his arm, pulled it back to get enough momentum to fling it and…
He paused. His arms lowered slowly as he felt a gentle grip on his shoulder.
“Ya sure, you want to do that, mate?”
His eyes widened in surprise.
No, it can’t be him.
His mind must be playing tricks with him. It has to be.
“Felix?”
He heard it again-that tender voice, and he still felt a slight pressure on his shoulder. He couldn’t believe it. He was alone, he looked around, and there wasn’t anybody in sight. How?
He turned around and saw him standing right there in front of him. He smiled warmly when their eyes met, and he opened his arms. Arms that caught him with ease when he lunged towards him.
The older boy wrapped Felix in a tight embrace, and he broke down in tears. Chan held Felix and soothingly patted his back. Felix had stained the latter's shirt in salty tears, but he didn't mind. They were together, and that's all that mattered.
Chan was real. He was in front of him, alive and well. He is not the possessed vessel that looked him over coldly at the front desk.
They held on to each other for some time until Chan released his hold. He wiped the tears off Felix’s face and ruffled his hair with a teasing grin.
“Softie”, he giggled.
Felix didn’t respond to that. He stood still, sniffling with his eyes downcast to the ground. He felt Chan’s gaze on him and heard the older boy sigh. Soon, Felix felt a hand on his clenched fist and didn’t resist when Chan uncurled his fingers. The older boy took the lock from his grasp, but Felix still felt its weight linger in the palm of his hands.
“I was supposed to hold this, you know.”
The freckled man looked up and watched as Chan examined the lock. Felix could see guilt and regret written all over his features.
“To keep this from falling in the wrong hands. To keep you safe. To keep… others from harm. All of it is my responsibility.”
Chan locked eyes with him and smiled melancholy.
“None of this is your fault. If anything, it’s mine.”
Of course, he knew that. Chan had made that point clear since day one. The leadership thing had always been Chan’s expertise, and responsibilities belonged to the hyungs department.
However, at that moment of desperation, Chan reached out to him when everything was falling apart. When the darkness was approaching near, and they were the only two left, Chan looked him in the eye and confidently passed the lock over to him.
“Felix, you have to take this and run.”
“But I- “
“No buts. We don’t have time.”
Felix knew he couldn’t, but he didn’t have the heart to say no. Not when all of the others were gone, especially not when Chan was on the brink of fading away.
“You can do this, Felix. I know you can.”
Chan trusted him to make things right again. He somehow had hope that he could do it. So, Felix gave his word and allowed himself to be whisked away by the portal that brought him to the unknown city of the odds.
That was when everything started and ended with him.
Felix made a promise from the beginning. He ventured out to save his friends by sealing the world from the Odds. The lock was in his hands. He had the chance to make things right, but he failed. All because he wasn’t competent enough to face the Odds.
So, how was Felix supposed to accept that this was Chan’s fault after all that?
“You’re wrong, hyung. It’s all my fault. Because of me…our future is gone.”
“It’s not, Felix.”
“Yes, it is.”
Felix was about to point out the fact that they were as good as dead when another voice cut him off.
“Chan-hyung is right, Felix.”
He whipped his head to the side so fast he was lucky he didn’t get whiplashed. Changbin was standing right next to him. He had his hands on his hips while he grinned amusingly.
Yah, Yongbok-ah, why are you crying so much? Your tears are washing away all the handsomeness from your face.”
“Hyung? You-how…what?”
Felix was stunned. He had yet to process the fact that Chan was here. Now, his mind had just short-circuited at the sight of Changbin. Like how? Did he just fall from the sky?
Was this how the afterlife worked? Do people just pop out of nowhere??
“Is he happy to see me?”, Changbin asked, confused by the latter’s reaction.
“Just…give him some time, Binnie. Felix is still recovering from an emotional breakdown.”
“HEY, GUYS!”
“YAH! HOLD STILL!”
Felix recognized those voices right away.
He turned towards the sound to find Jeongin and Jisung coming their way. And it looked like the youngest was giving Jisung…a piggyback ride?
Although, by the looks of it, he assumed Jisung was not an easy passenger, judging by the annoyance on Jeongin’s face. The older one kept bouncing around ecstatically, and Jeongin had trouble getting a grip on him. The moment the duo approached them, Jeongin was quick to drop off Jisung. Felix heard him mutter complaints under his breath as he stretched his sore muscles. In the meantime, Jisung was doing what he did best-being himself.
“Yo, my family. Long-time no see!”
“Hey, Chan-hyung, you’re looking a little older than I remember.”
“Ah, Changbin-hyung, still fun-size I see.”
“Oh, Felix! My buddy, did you miss me?”
Before the freckled man could answer, a sassy comeback beat him to it.
“I’m pretty sure he appreciated the peace while it lasted."
This time, Felix met his eyes with Seungmin. The dandy boy grinned and nodded his head in return.
“Wow, you can’t let me have one moment to myself, can’t you?”
“I just say what’s on my mind. Not my fault you took it personally, Sungie.”
Felix sighed. Once these two started, there was no end to their bantering. Luckily, Chan decided to act as the peacemaker. He placed a hand on Jisung’s shoulder-interrupting the latter before he could make a comeback of his own.
“All right, break it up you two”, he chastised playfully.
Jisung deflated visibly because of the interruption. In the end, he settled for sticking out his tongue at Seungmin while the other sighed as he shook his head. Felix couldn’t help but giggle at the sight before him.
“They never grow up.”
A steady arm wrapped around his shoulders and pulled him into a side hug. He lifted his head slightly to see Minho staring ahead with a little smile on his face. Felix patted his back in return, and they stayed that way for a whole minute until Minho moved away.
Felix silently counted the friends that were present.
Chan-hyung…Changbin-hyung…Minho-hyung…Seungmin…Innie…Sungie…
He heard a sob coming from his left. Before he caught a glimpse, he felt arms wrapped around his figure from the side and felt the weight of someone’s head on his shoulder.
“I’m sorry…”
Felix felt his heart grow heavy in his chest. The last member had arrived, but this one was different. He arrived shattered, and he clung onto Felix like a lifeline. His sobs wrecked his entire being while sorrow filled his voice.
For a moment, Felix had travelled back in time. He was standing in the dimly lit room, staring into those lifeless orbs, watching as the shadow loomed over him with an evil grin on his face. He remembered the force that knocked him over, sending him falling to his death.
‘Hyunjin. Hyunjin did that’, his mind supplied.
If he did, then why was he sorry?
No. It wasn’t him.
All of them were victims of the Odds. The person who pushed him was evil disguised as a friend. Hyunjin, the one crying on his shoulder, did nothing wrong. He shouldn’t feel sorry for any of this. It was out of his control.
Felix needed to get that message across. So, he did what he could. Felix readjusted his position, opened his arms and embraced Hyunjin gently. He felt tears spring from his eyes as he rubbed soothing circles around the latter's back.
As they held each other, the others came closer as well. Some placed their hands on their backs and shoulders. The others provided silent support. Felix didn’t know how much time had passed. Eventually, Hyunjin settled down-his loud sobs reduced to sniffles. So, Felix released him from the hug and allowed the latter some space.
Hyunjin wiped his tears away with his sleeves and turned to flash Felix a grateful smile. He wanted to return the smile, but he couldn’t. He froze, eyes wide with fear as he gasped.
“Your…eye.”
His sudden statement caught everyone’s attention. All eyes were on Hyunjin as they inspected the latter. Not for long, everyone turned their attention back to Felix. Most of them gave him funny looks while Hyunjin remain confused.
“I…don’t see anything wrong with him”, Chan responded.
What?
“Good one, Felix. You really got us there”, Jisung chuckled.
You guys don’t see it?
“What’s wrong with my eyes?”, Hyunjin asked timidly.
The tall man locked eyes with him, and Felix found himself staring into the souls of two different people. His right eye was a natural brown, the other a deep emerald green.
The tainted eye glowed menacingly at him, and for a moment, the red-haired Odd had taken Hyunjin’s place. It flashed him an evil grin and disappeared-bringing back Hyunjin to the present.
Hyunjin, what happened to you?
“Felix? Are you okay?”
Seungmin looked over him concerned. Judging by their reactions, he assumes that no one can see but him.
They must think I’m going mad.
“No, I’m fine. Sorry…for freaking you guys out.”
“You sure?”, Chan asked.
“Yeah. It’s nothing”, he replied, with a forced smile.
He was glad when they didn’t pursue the matter any further. Instead, their leader decided it was time to address the elephant in the room.
“Does anyone know where we are?”
“Our subconsciousness.”
All heads turned towards Jeongin. The youngest wore an unreadable expression that masked his thoughts.
Somehow Jeongin has always had the answers. None of them knew how or where he got it. His ability to prophecies events had always been a part of him. Back then, they used to question the youngest on this matter, but they either received silence or shrugs in return. They never used to take it seriously before, but when his visions got real on multiple occasions, that’s when they truly listened.
After that, nobody seemed to question this knowledge or even dare to oppose it.
“Wait?! So, we’re not dead?”, Jisung asked.
Jeongin shook his head. “Not yet, at least.”
“How is that even possible?”, Felix questioned out loud.
This time, the youngest shrugged. If the enigma didn’t have the answers, then this situation was more mind-boggling than he thought.
“So, are we doomed to spend the rest of our lives in a bed of flowers while the Odds wreak havoc in the real world with our bodies? Jisung questioned.
“No. This place is temporary”, Jeongin answered.
“It is?” Changbin cocked an eyebrow.
“Wait, so what happens when this place is gone?”, Seungmin asked.
“Isn’t it obvious?”, Minho responded.
Everyone faced him expectantly.
“We die.”
“I knew it!”, Jisung exclaimed.
“We are…?”, Hyunjin whispered. His voice cracked, and his eyes were getting watery. Felix glanced at him in worry. His friend had just calmed down, only to be provoked by the bane of their existence.
Hyunjin wasn't the only one. Everyone else seemed to be restless after that statement. So many members were speaking at once that Felix found it hard to keep up.
“Guys…”
Everyone even seemed to ignore the leader.
“Everyone?”
The noise didn’t die, and Felix saw the annoyance grow on Chan’s face.
“NO ONE IS GOING TO DIE!”, Chan spoke up exasperatedly.
The chatter finally died down as everyone faced the leader. The older boy took a deep breath to calm himself before he continued.
Chan opened his palm to reveal the lock he kept in his possession. Everyone except Felix was surprised to find it here.
“This lock was the way to end this all, but no one ever said it was the only way.”
Chan eyed each of them, and Felix saw a newfound determination in his stance. The fiery spirit filled his being and it radiated to the ones that stood around him. There was no hesitance, no sorrow or remorse behind it. Only hope.
“We’re gathered here, and we’re together. This wouldn’t be possible if we were dead.”
“So, a part of us is still alive”, Felix concluded.
Chan smiled at him and nodded.
“Then, what are we waiting for?” Minho stepped forward. He had his game face on and looked like he was ready for action.
“No one takes my body and gets away with it.”
“Yeah, we’re not going down without a fight”, Changbin added as he followed next to Minho.
Felix felt a hand clasp his shoulder and glanced to see Chan. The leader had him in one hand while the other was on Jeongin. Meanwhile, Minho had one hand on Jisung and Seungmin while Changbin held Hyunjin and moved over to place the other hand on Felix. The circle was complete.
As they huddled together, Felix felt hopeful. It's been a while since he was reminded of what it was like to have faith amid chaos. He was filled with so much self-doubt that he allowed lies to cloud his mind, making the weight of his failures greater than the hope of rising again.
Seeing everyone like this made him smile. His heart was no longer heavy; his mind cleared as he assured himself of a new beginning. He failed once, but that doesn’t mean he’ll fall again.
The world around them had reached its limit. The storm struck. The winds picked up and blew harshly around them. The sky and the clouds loomed like a dark force above them. The grass withered below their feet while the flowers lost their colours; their petals were carried by the wind.
Felix watched it all fall before his very eyes. It was funny counting how many things could fall in a day. However, unlike the first time, something was different. He didn’t feel defeated; he wasn’t filled with dread, nor was he in fear.
He felt…light.
They all did. No one backed out. As the storm grew harsher, they remained rooted on the ground, arms locked firmly and eyes steady on the faith. They were going to make it. All eight of them felt that conviction in their hearts.
“Light defeats the darkness, Felix.”
“And the good guys always win”. He smiled as he remembered Chan’s words from a conversation they had on a rooftop not very long ago.
The winds were strong, forcing him to keep his eyes closed. Slowly, he begins to feel a force wrapping around his being. It pulled him, wanting to take him away to an unknown place. He could feel his grip weakening along with Chan’s. It was time to go, and he didn’t resist this time.
“I’ll find you…my brothers.”
He knew it was unlikely for anyone to hear it, but he was glad to say it anyway.
His feet lifted off the ground, and he let go of his brothers. It felt like he was hugged by a thousand fireflies as he drifted away. Slowly, his senses drifted away, and the peace he felt was enough to lull him to sleep.
I love you, guys.
He smiled, wanting his last stand to be remembered in joy.
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Beep. Beep.
The machines sang in harmony as they operated. Every technology in the room had a purpose, and all worked well as one unit. From it, a few wires and tubes acted as an extension. They were each connected to a figure strapped down onto a hospital bed. Together, they were a complete circuit.
The room was dimly lit. The only light source came from the spotlight hovering over the unconscious figure. A man was standing by his bed, dressed smartly in a white coat. He held a clipboard in his hand, taking notes on his subject’s current state. Then, he proceeded to monitor the machines. He nodded-looking satisfied at the statistical results projected on the screen.
“Subject is secured. Everything is proceeding according to plan.”
From the corner of his eyes, he could see the smirk forming on the red hair’s face. The latter was leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest as he lazily observed everything.
“As expected.”
He pushed himself off the wall and walked over to the bed. Hwang Hyunjin took one look at the unconscious figure and scoffed. His pride was at its peak, and Kim Seungmin knew he would forever hold this victory dear to his heart.
If he even had a heart in the first place.
Hwang Hyunjin brushed his finger against the subject’s forehead and found pleasure in poking a newly formed bruise on his cheek.
“He was an easy catch. Ironic, he’s their last hope.”
The red-haired moved his fingers to the side of the bed frame. He used his index and middle finger to create the illusion of a person walking on it.
“Didn’t even put up a fight. One minute he’s here, the next- “
His fingers stopped moving. It stilled as it reached the edge. Then, his other hand knocked his two fingers off the edge, mimicking the fall.
Hwang Hyunjin chuckled aloud while Kim Seungmin remained quiet. He was unamused by the latter’s weird shenanigans. Besides, he had other important matters to attend to.
“I’ll be back for the final testing.”
Kim Seungmin left the room-leaving Hwang Hyunjin by himself. The red-haired man went back to watching the sleeping figure.
He still couldn’t believe the fight against the last standing Ordinary had been this easy. It felt like child’s play; victory was on their side within minutes. His quest for gathering the Odds was complete. The final member had fallen and was in the palm of his hands.
“Pathetic”, he muttered as he flicked his forehead.
That was what he was. For now, at least. That would all change the moment he woke up. He would be his new creation-another perfect pawn to help him execute his plans.
Hwang Hyunjin knew it was getting late. He had a lot on his plate now. So, many agreements since a new member joined them. The others would be expected to meet him in a few minutes for the meeting.
“If they even remember about it”, he muttered.
With that, he turned around and exited the room. He made his way to the elevator, pressed the button with the face-down arrow and waited for the elevator doors to open. He stepped inside and watched as the doors shut.
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Another door opened. This time, belonging to one of the fire escapes. A head peaked out and looked both ways before deciding it was safe to step out. The floor he was on was deserted. It was a good thing. The last thing he needed was any form of attention. Carefully, he shut the door and walked towards the room where the subject was contained. He placed his hand on the knob and was relieved when it was unlocked. He stepped into the room and took a moment to take in his surroundings. He’s never been here before-not that he ever bothered to.
But he was here for a reason, and he could only hope the answers he sought were in this room. More specifically, amid the unconscious figure that lay peacefully in slumber.