"Look, Seungcheol, all I could say is that they should have finished the most recent silent hill game 'cause god fuck that playable teaser really fucked me up big time." Hyungmin said, his hands flailing passionately.

Seungcheol and Hyungmin have been having a passionate discussion on horror games, Seungcheol driving while Hyungmin at the passenger's seat. Jeonghan had his head on Wonwoo's shoulder while Hyesoo is catching up on sleep at the opposite side. They are at their second day on the road, and they have heard news that Hyungshik and their staff and family members have survived the attack. It wasn't much of a surprise to Wonwoo knowing the power Hyungshik and his family holds, but it was still a relief that no one died within the blood bath.

Seungcheol is laughing along to Hyungmin's passionate discussion. "I agree on that one hundred percent. I just finished Outlast by that time and I needed to fill the void that game left me." Seungcheol says, smile on his face and hands holding the steering wheel leisurely.

"Oh! About Outlast, that game really-"

And their conversation becomes white noise to him, putting his energy on looking outside the window, watching scenery change every minute. The sun was shining overhead, trees creating beautiful patterns on shadows. Wonwoo suddenly has the urge to write, which he hasn't done in so long, creating a longing in his chest.

But he noticed that he only ever writes whenever Mingyu is near, whenever his touch lingers and kiss creates a presence in his skin. It made Wonwoo miss his lover immensely, worry and love blooming inside him. Wonwoo could feel his eyes water from the thought of Mingyu's smile; it really gave him strength and became his catalyst to continue stepping forward into the unknown. He wipes away the growing tears from his eyes and smiles at how Seungcheol laughs, so low and inviting, and Hyungmin's aneurysms as he discusses his hatred over the scarcity of batteries that spawn in Outlast. He smiles at Jeonghan's long eyelashes as it rests on his soft cheeks, lips pouting as his eyes watch a movie saved in his phone, and how Hyesoo has a lone dribble of saliva forming at the corner of her mouth.

For now Wonwoo finds strength in the people he is with, containing his longing for Mingyu. This way, it will make him stronger, make him wiser, to finally get his lover in his arms again.

__

Mingyu's POV

"Wake up, faggot."

Mingyu's eyes open, squinting at his surroundings, pain resonating through his body. At first he was confused; why was his head throbbing; why was the room so dark but so warm; why can't he move. Then he remembers that he's been held captive, and Mingyu doesn't even remember how long. He can't remember the last time he has eaten or drank remotely clean water. His mouth was so dry, a lingering taste of blood in his tongue was the closest thing to having any form of liquid in his system. He knows his right leg is broken just by looking at how it twists in a direction it shouldn't go, but he can't feel any pain, numb from all his senses. His hands were tied at his back, rope painfully chafing his wrists.

The last thing he remembered was a dark room that had water stains at the wall, rancid and close to giving the word disgusting an understatement. He was being beaten up by his father, "By yours truly" he would say, not for gaining information, but for going against his orders, spitting insults he's been spitting ever since he was young. But Mingyu was stronger now, letting his words fly over his head and keeping the thought of his lover in his mind.

He looks around him. His father was standing at the corner of what seemed like a metal container used in shipments. The corners were rusting and sunlight was peeking in.

"Fucking finally." Mingyu lifts his head to look at Jaehyung's angered face. He steps forward to grab on Mingyu's hair, pulling it harshly to face him. "Your boyfriend miracously escaped and you know why?" Mingyu's brows furrows half from pain and half from anger. "Your stupid fucked-up family got in my fucking way." A sound of a slap on skin resonates through the container and it only occurred to him that Jaehyung just slapped his left cheek, feeling his skin heat up in pain. "This is your fault." Another slap but at his right cheek. "If you weren't such a fucking ungrateful son of that whore and just gave me what I fucking wanted, then we wouldn't be in this fucking mess. I had to whip out my assets and have them killed when I should be relaxing." Jaehyung grips his hair again and throws him to the ground, the chair he was sitting on coming down with him. "Don't worry, they'll be here in... I guess, three days. I'm thankful for your phone and your stupid brain having a password so stupid as your whore's birthday."

Mingyu thrashes, thinking about Wonwoo's smile and the danger he might be in. "What did you do?!" He shouts.

"I sent a small message on where we are. I won't waste anymore energy trying to hunt them down when I can bring them to me. And when they do come..." Jaehyung squats in front of him and their eyes meet. "They'll all be running into a trap and I'll shoot them dead on the spot myself."

Mingyu just looks at his father as he walks away, closing the rusty doors of the container closed. He wills himself not to cry but the tears just starts to flow as he imagines the horror that may ensue right outside. He wouldn't forgive himself if anything happen to Wonwoo and his best friends again; they have already gone through so much that should have been for Mingyu, and it makes his heart feel heavy.

He just wishes they know what they're doing before coming.

__

Wonwoo's POV

It was their third day when they arrive at a simple beach bungalow, palm trees decorating the outside and behind the house was the sea shining. Chimes made out of sea-shells were hanging at the front porch, harmony with how the sea crashes on the shore. The house was painted sky blue, curtain mesh white, and wood varnished.

When they step on the front porch, the door swings open, Hyungshik in the inside. He had a cut on his eyebrow, but over-all, uninjured. He had a smile on his face. "I'm glad you're safe. Welcome to the west safe house, or what we call the Park vacation home." He says as he lets them in. The interior was very welcoming, a typical beach house, windows big enough to look out to the beach. "There are rooms upstairs. Leave your things there and meet the rest at the beach cottage." He says as he walks out to the back door.

They do as they told, calling dibs on rooms with the most beautiful view of the sea. Wonwoo looks out the window when he settles his bag at the side of the bed. He closes his eyes, relaxing himself as he listens to the whispers of the ocean, his muscles finally loosening and breathing softens.

They all walk together, following Hyesoo who had his arm around Hyungmin, keeping family close. They walk further through the forest of palm trees, the house disappearing behind them. Grass turns to sand, their feet sinking through, soft and warm at their soles. The palm trees end as the sun shines over them, heating their skin.

After a few moments, they arrive at the small cottage, but when they step inside, there was no one at the living room. Although the fireplace was lit up.

"Where are they?" Seungcheol asks beside him as they look at Hyesoo.

"You should be used to it now." She says with a grin, and they look at her with confusion. She brushes her foot on the floor, the carpet getting caught at her foot, and reveals a door. The three boys says 'ah' in unison, and it makes Hyesoo laugh. "It's not a safe house without its extra bullshit." She opens the door and the hinges creak. "Follow me." She disappears through the floor.

"You guys go first." Hyungmin says, and Seungcheol steps in, Jeonghan and Wonwoo following after.

It was twenty or so steps before they get to the bottom and the size of the room was much larger than what they thought. It was a lounge, the design very modern and sleek. Hyungshik was sitting at the center of the sofa that was shaped in a half circle, while other family and head-of-staffs sit either sides of him. They all had minor injuries, either bruises or scratches, and smiles on their faces.

"Sorry for the lack of chairs, boys. Although, the floor is clean, so you are free to sit anywhere." Hyungshik says, and Wonwoo sits on the floor. Seungcheol sits beside him with Jeonghan on Seungcheol's lap. "How was the trip?" He says.

"Shitty. Seungcheol's a shitty driver." He says and the room erupts in laughter while Seungcheol glares at him.

"I'm glad all of you are safe." From leaning on the back rest, Hyungshik leans forwards, elbows resting on his thighs. "Hyesoo said that there is something important you wanted to show me." He says.

"Ah." Wonwoo reaches for his pocket, pulling out his phone. "I got a text from Mingyu." Hyungshik looks at him in confusion as he reaches for the phone.

He reads the message and after moments, hums. "Don't you think this is a trap?"

"It's better than nothing." Seungcheol says.

"That's true." Hyungshik hands the phone to his staff that, if Wonwoo remembers, is the head of hacking systems and all bullshit jargon he doesn't understand. "I'll have my boys track down the location. Seungcheol, have you had the time to access the hard drive?"

Seungcheol shakes his head. "I'm sorry. I didn't have the time since we were urgently trying to get here." He says.

"It's okay. Understandable. Why don't you work with my men? I'm sure the locations of Jaehyung's various safe houses are in that drive. Can you do it before sun down?"

"But... isn't that too quick?" Seungcheol gives him a confused look.

"I know you're talented enough to hack though it in thirty minutes, Seungcheol."

"Ah... I guess I can do it."

"Good. Because we have to make a plan by tonight so we can rescue Mingyu as soon as possible." Hyungshik says sternly.

Wonwoo can sense the tension in Seungcheol's body, and Jeonghan brushes through his lover's hair to relax him. "Okay."

Hyungshik leans back to the backrest and smiles. "Good. My men will lead you to a separate room where all of you can work." He smiles at his staff. "Make Seungcheol feel comfortable so that all of you can work at the most efficient." The staff nods in determination and stands.

"Follow us, sir." They say, eyes at Seungcheol.

Seungcheol holds Jeonghan's waist and they share a short kiss before Jeonghan goes to sit at the floor, Seungcheol standing to follow them to another room. Silence falls between them until the group disappears into a separate room.

Wonwoo fidgets, his hands clasped together. "We'll do the rescue mission tomorrow?"

Hyungshik goes back to looking at Wonwoo. "Yes. And I'll need you three to stay here so that you could be safe-"

"What? No!" Wonwoo interrupts, shock and anger coursing through his brain. "I'm going with you!"

"No, Wonwoo." Hyungshik's face contorts into soft anger. "This will be dangerous and we don't want you to get hurt-"

"I don't care, Hyungshik! I want to be there when Mingyu is rescued."

"Don't be stubborn, Wonwoo."

"I can take care of myself-"

"Oh yeah?" Hyungshik stands and walks towards Wonwoo, bringing out his gun from his holster, pointing it at Wonwoo's head. It was only inches away, and fear quickly runs through him. "Then do what you have to do to steal my gun away before I pull the trigger." He says, stern and unmerciful. Wonwoo is in shock and he's speechless, breathing starting to become erratic and short.

"Dad!" He hears Hyesoo shout from across the room. "Let him go!"

"No, Soo. He has to learn when to shut the fuck up and trust me." Wonwoo hears a loud click from above him, and he sees Hyungshik sliding the glock, ready to shoot.

"You're scaring him, for fucks sake! Just let him go!" Hyesoo shouts louder. "Remember he's your grandson's lover, and we're doing this for him. If you shoot him now, then Mingyu will never forgive you!"

Hyungshik has his brows furrowed, staring angrily at Wonwoo, and Wonwoo stays in place. "Please." Wonwoo finally says in a whisper, his lips quivering in fear.

Hyungshik's face suddenly softens, closing his eyes and bringing out a loud sigh, and finally bringing the gun down, back to his gun holster. When he walks away, massaging his temples, Wonwoo collapses into the ground, Jeonghan trying to calm him by brushing his fingers through his hair. Hyungshik looks back at Wonwoo with sad eyes. "I'm sorry, Wonwoo." He kneels on front of him and lifts him up to embrace him. "I just don't want an innocent to get hurt again. I will not forgive myself if you, or Jeonghan, or Seungcheol, will get hurt because of this." Wonwoo lets his arms wrap around the older, tightening his hold on his dress shirt. "Despite the short amount of time we have been together, I have considered you as my son, and I will never hurt you. I'm so sorry if I scared you." Hyungshik runs his hands through his back, soothing his breathing which Wonwoo didn't realize he had a hard time doing.

He has never been this messed up, anxiety holding him hostage. Maybe, it's the constant trauma and fear that he feels that kept him from being alright. And, maybe, it's the distance that he has with his fated lover; that keeping him close, safe and warm, is a way to keep him grounded.

It takes him what feels like forever to calm down, and when he snaps out of it, he's already on the sofa, head on Jeonghan's thighs with his fingers brushing through his hair, and Hyesoo fanning him with a folder. His hearing comes clear and the first thing he hears is Jeonghan's soothing voice, whispering. "You'll be okay, Wonwoo."

And it calms him, his eyes closing and his breathing finally in a steady state. Jeonghan looks down at him to stare at his eyes. "You're okay?" Wonwoo merely nods. "Ok good. Sit up, baby." He says as he helps Wonwoo sit up and Hyesoo is sitting at his foot.

"Drink water first." She says, giving him a glass of water. Wonwoo was still shivering, so she helps him reach for it, keeping his hands steady. "Finish it, okay?"

When he does, he lets his head lean on Jeonghan's shoulder behind him., and Jeonghan goes back to brushing his fingers through his hair. "Do you want to sleep first? Or do you want to come with me and walk in the beach? It's almost sundown, and I bet the sky will look beautiful."

Wonwoo slides so that he could be in a sitting position, feet finally feeling the floor. "The beach sounds good. I kinda feel like writing something."

"Okay." Jeonghan says, smiling.

__

Wonwoo feels sand seep through his toes as he sits on the ground, his skin turning gold as the sun goes down through the ocean. Jeonghan was playing around with their family dog, running around with a golden retriever barking away beautifully. He holds his phone, ready to write his feelings, finally feeling inspiration rush through him like the wind that blows through his hair.

There's always something so beautiful

With comparing love to the sky

You yearn to reach every night

It comes in naturally now, just like months ago when he met Mingyu that night his brother died. It was a breath of fresh air, a bubble finally popping, free falling through the clouds.

I yearn for you, and maybe,

That's the most mundane thing I have ever done.

I am my own person, and yet, I find myself wanting

To be with you,

To hold your hand

To catch the laughter you give.

Love is so peculiar;

People hurt to find love

And people scar from the love

they cannot comprehend.

And yet, we try to comprehend the universe,

Because it is much more vast than what we see

And so we strive to discover the peculiarity of it.

Wonwoo remembers how Mingyu would say it, how the universe knows everything and that all he wants is to discover it. He feels Mingyu's hold, a ghost of the past lingering in his skkn, wanting.

I don't stop there - I want to know you more,

To find the constellations you bare at the small of your back,

And see the beams of light when you look at me

While your hand softly caresses my cheek.

I want to know you more - not because I adore you

But because you are more than the universe I understand.

I want to know you more - I yearn to reach you heart that beats for the universe.

I want to know you more; there's something so beautiful

With comparing your love to the sky

I yearn to reach everyday of my life.

He sighs, eyes closing as he basks on the wind that sings and the ocean that talks. When he opens them, Jeonghan was smiling at him, walking towards him and finally sitting beside him. "Wrote something nice?" He asks.

"Yeah. I think this may be one of my favorites." Wonwoo looks at Jeonghan with a smile.

"May I?" Jeonghan brings out his hand, and Wonwoo gives his phone to his friend. The golden retriever lies down on front of them, looking out to the sea. Jeonghan reads through it, his eyes following through the lines of his piece, and Wonwoo feelings his heart race as Jeonghan's mouth slowly opens, gaping as he reads through it. When he finishes, he looks at Wonwoo with eyes of wonder. "This is beautiful, Wonwoo."
Wonwoo reaches for his phone to lock it. He pulls his legs to his chest and embraces it. "Thank you." He looks back at the sun as it fades away.

"I swear I was about to cry." He says, laughing softly, and Wonwoo laughs, too.

"Oh, please. You're exaggerating."

"You're too humble, Won. Sooner or later, you have to accept that you write so beautifully."

Wonwoo laughs at that, his cheeks heating up. "Ah... Thank you, Jeonghan."

"You're welcome."

"Not just for the compliment, Hannie. Thank you for everything." Wonwoo goes back to looking at Jeonghan and their gazes meet. "You shouldn't have to be involved in this, and yet, here you are, risking your life with us."

Jeonghan smiles at him. "You're family to me, Wonwoo." Jeonghan looks to the ground. "My family lives far away from here, and there are many times where I want to give up and go back to them. But I found Seungcheol and Mingyu. And then you came and... I realized how complete my life is now and I wouldn't want it any other way." Wonwoo smiles wider. "That's why I don't mind going through all this fear and danger. I don't want you to go through - whatever this is - alone."

Wonwoo sighs, relief filling his chest. "That reassures me. Thank you."

"Let's be strong until the last second, yeah?" Jeonghan wraps his arm around Wonwoo's shoulder, and he nods.

"Yeah." Softly, with a smile, he holds Jeonghan's hand that was on his shoulder.

In the distance, Hyungmin comes running to them