Escape from enemies seems to be harder than plead for freedom. But, what if the enemies are heartless, cold, soulless robots? They would be dead by now. Luckily, they have their supernatural abilities to defend themselves. They thought it would be easy, and they were now surrounded. Seven of them were fighting for their lives, desperately waiting for the other two to appear. The two; Kyungsoo and Jongdae, were off to disable a force field that covering the facility. It was the only way for them to escape. With Jongin’s teleportation power, they’ll be fine as long as the force field broke down. But for now, they need to buy some time before they return. That means more battle, more injuries, and more recovery.

 

Jongin took a second to scan around, making sure each of them always has somebody to protect. He was on guard behind Junmyeon, while the older deflected most of the bullets coming their way. Chanyeol was shooting fireballs, and Minseok was next to him, shooting icicles towards the enemies. Sehun was defending Baekhyun and Yixing, since their abilities were less useful against robots.

 

Holding the robots off sounds like easy to them, but they kept coming non-stop, and both Chanyeol and Minseok couldn’t handle it much further. They used all their energy to fight them during the escape, and Jongin was afraid if two of them were out, they couldn’t survive.

 

Unfortunately, one of the robots happened to pass the offense line, trying to shoot bullets towards Sehun’s group. Jongin saw with wide eyes, and quickly shut them, teleported to the enemy before it could shoot. When he reappeared within a second, he struck down the enemy in one strike. The robot’s head snapped and toppled to the ground. Sehun was stunned when Jongin did it, and glared at him.

 

“Kai! What did Suho told you not to use your power!”

 

Jongin was momentary forgotten, and began to feel drained as Sehun mentioned it. He shouldn’t have used his power at the time like this. Junmeyon ushered him to get closer to him, as he focused back protecting the younger. Junmyeon didn’t say anything else, but Jongin easily can tell on his face, he was disappointed. Jongin was flustered, and felt bad at the same time. He wanted to help, but the brother won’t allow him to do so. At least his power is way helpful than the healer and light wielder.

 

“Suho! We can’t hold on any much longer!” Minseok shouted, as he shot another ice.

 

Jongin could see Junmyeon winced. “Just a little further, Xiumin. They’ll come. Have faith in them.”

 

Xiumin grimly nodded, as he continued attacking the robots. Jongin wanted to help so badly. He really wanted to, but afraid of being scolded again.

 

Just then, a huge electrical wave shocked almost a quarter of the robots. All the attention was at the one spot, and immediately Jongin let out a huge sigh relief. Jongdae and Kyungsoo were fighting their way to the group. Junmyeon noticed as he instructed the offense team to help them.

 

“As soon they get here, hold on to Kai. We’ll teleport out right awa--“

 

A bloodshot scream suddenly snapped Jongin. He looked up in horror to see the fire wielder curled on the floor, holding tight on his right leg. He could see blood dripping out from the thigh, and finally registered that Chanyeol has been shot. Xiumin frantically trying to protect the younger by creating ice walls between them and the enemies. However, this action was hardly for Jongdae and Kyungsoo to get to them. Jongin stepped out to reach the injured brother, when Junmyeon pulled him back and shook his head. Jongin has to follow the plan. It , but it’s the only way.

 

The range between the group with Jongdae and Kyungsoo was getting further, it wasn’t making any progress. The robots went berserk, Jongin noticed. They’re no longer interested to catch them normally, as if the order told them to use violence against their prey. They’ll do anything to hurt them.

 

It was then he heard another series of screaming behind them. As he turned around, Sehun was attacked by one of the robots. The maknae struggled from its clutches, as he got pinned on the wall. Yixing and Baekhyun tried to fight the robot with their strengths, but no avail. The robot was way too strong for them. Jongin once again tried to get to him, and he happened to turn to his leader, Junmyeon was now on his knees, panting hard. The water barrier was slowly depleting.

 

It was a mess. They’re losing. Jongin could do anything by now, but what can he do? He only has one job, teleporting them away. But he wasn’t allowed to use his power to bring them to safety.

 

“Sehun! No!” Someone screamed again. Jongin recognized it was Yixing’s voice.

 

He turned around again, as he saw the robot with a sharp blade on his arm, ready to stab the youngest’s head. It was going for a kill, and no one could prevent it. Jongin widened his eyes as he suddenly heard a harsh voice threatening in his head.

 

‘Weak.’

 

Jongin hold in his breath.

 

‘So weak that you couldn’t even save a soul. They’re suffering because of you. Your power is so simple, and yet, you’re still weak among the others.’

 

His limbs went numb.

 

‘That is why you couldn’t save Kris, Tao, and your mirror... Luhan, wasn’t it? You watched them die. And now you’re going to watch Sehun die next.’

 

Hot tears welled up in his eyes.

 

‘Weak. Useless. Unworthy. You should be the one who died in the first place.”

 

He made a sharp scream.

 

Most of the brothers turned to see Jongin on why he was suddenly reacted in such a way. But he wasn’t there anymore. Sehun was closing his eyes for the entire time, waiting for the blow from the deadly robot. Then again, it didn’t come. He opened his eyes to see that the robot’s arm had ripped off from the joint, before in a split second its head twisted in the odd direction. Its grip on Sehun loosened, and black smoke was seen behind the fallen robot, before Jongin came to view. Jongin was furious, and in rage. His heart was beating faster. He was exhausted, but filled with energy at the same time. He kept saying to himself, that he can save everyone. He’s pushing to the limit when he disappeared and reappeared, making a way for Jongdae and Kyungsoo to pass through. The two brothers were shocked to see Jongin’s ability while quickly ran to their leader. While the others were kept looking at the mess Jongin had made.

 

Jongin thought he did well. He did very well. Taking down the robots one by one until he ignored his vision turn into bloody red. He didn’t care. He started to like killing these robots, and he kept going, and going, even though the robots kept coming. Twisting their heads, disarmed their weapons, ripped their mechanical limbs were the best parts. He only can hear the metals breaking, nothing more. He stopped a while to find his next target, and when he faintly heard someone was calling him.

 

“Kai! Stop! We need to get out of here!”

 

He hissed before ferociously turned around, shooting his bloody red eyes at the voice. His shoulders lowered when he saw worried looking Kyungsoo, who desperately telling him to stop.

 

“Please! You use your power way too much! You’re killing yourself!” The older pleaded.

 

No. He’s not killing himself. He was filled with power. He felt so good. He didn’t understand why Kyungsoo telling him to stop. He wanted to kill more. More. And more.

 

“Jongin, please. I beg of you. We don’t want to lose you.”

 

Upon hearing Jongin’s real name, he looked at the older much softer this time. Why were his brothers looking at him like that? Was he that scary? Was he really killing himself? He didn’t get the point, but they were very worried about him. He turned around to see the robots were stopped shooting at them, but they’re approaching slowly. He didn’t register the robots were kept coming. It’s time to leave.

 

Without warning, he slammed down his palm, creating a dark vortex beneath them. He didn’t know how he did it. He just knew. The dark vortex slowly swallowed them alive, like a quicksand. Some of them were screaming since it was too new to them. Eventually, they went further down, and no longer hear the robots chasing for them. They went into the deep void that they didn’t know where it led to. Jongin’s mind kept praying for a safe place, somewhere far, somewhere isolated, away from danger. Until he felt a ground landed on his feet, he opened his eyes.

 

Red grass, and then red stars. It’s nighttime. His vision was still red as he stared upward, and felt the cold wind brushing his hair. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to ease the tense and overflew energy inside him. He was interrupted when he heard a grunt behind him. Right, his brothers. He didn’t know he managed to teleport them all. Turning to his back, while his vision was still red, he started to make a count. Yixing went to Chanyeol to heal his injured leg. Minseok was with them. Baekhyun went to Junmyeon to check if he’s alright. While Jongdae tried to console the shaking Sehun. He was near death if it wasn’t Jongin to save him. And Jongin saved everyone. Finally, he stopped at the small brother, who had been watching him in concern. His gaze was soft, which made Jongin turned down in shame.

 

“Are you alright?” The smaller asked.

 

Jongin blinked for a few times. The red vision slowly washed away. It took a while before he tried to answer him. He’s alright. He wanted to say that. Once he opened his mouth, a pain struck him in his brain, hard. His vision suddenly blurred, and he shut his eyes immediately. His head was throbbing so hard, and he couldn’t remember how he was on his knees when he opened his eyes again. He heard someone shouting for his name, and hands were holding on him. He tried to get up and tell them that he’s okay. But when he moved, he slumped further to the ground. Why his limbs not working? He was facing on the ground, when he felt something trickled from his nose. He didn’t have to guess what it was. He knew it was blood, and that just hit him in realization. He overused his power, and this is the side effect. Either he had to brace the wave of pain, or get help. He felt like he’s dying. Someone was cradling him, and turned him over to face up. He could see blurry imagine of many heads towering above him. Among them was Yixing, who strived to heal him with his power, and crying Sehun.

 

Jongin hardly sees Sehun cry. He isn’t a type that cries for nothing. The last time he saw him crying was he lost his counterpart brother. He cried so hard, and he couldn’t bear to face another death of his brothers. Now Jongin felt everything he did was backfired on him. He made a big mistake for letting Sehun cry. It was his fault. He was dying, but he tried so hard to be alive. He opened his mouth to speak, as he let out a painful gasp, since the throbbing didn’t stop hurting like someone hammering nails in his skull.

 

“Stay with us, Jongin!” Jongin could hear Yixing’s shaky voice warned him.

 

He blinked again to get rid of the blurriness. He was shaking, and he’s too tired to stay awake. His ability ate him to dry. He watched the frantic brothers once again, before he whispered ‘sorry’. His vision went blur again. He’s too weak to move his finger, and his eyelids were unable to keep open. The last word he heard was the brothers were screaming for his name, before he let himself fallen into the darkness.

 

***

 

Jongin slept for so long. One moment, his mind was conscious, but his body wasn’t ready to accept him awake. He heard voices of his brothers with his eyes closed. They did not stop worrying about him.

 

“Is he going to be okay?” Jongin recognized it was Minseok’s voice.

 

“I’m not entirely sure. He has a serious brain injury. He’s okay, but not.” The other voice said. Yixing’s voice.

 

Then Jongin went back to sleep.

 

Second time his mind woke up wasn’t any better than the first. However, he managed to stay awake much longer. More voices were heard as his eyes kept close.

 

“He’s not waking up, is he?” Jongin surprised Baekhyun would say that. After all, he is the light; ‘the hope’, of the group.

 

“He will wake up. Have faith in him.” It was Jongdae this time. Why they sound so desperate?

 

“I do. I always do.” There’s a pause. Jongin waited for him to continue, as his conscious slowly to weary away. “I wish he wakes up sooner. It’s been a week already.”

 

Jongin went back to sleep again.

 

His conscious was back when he could feel warm on his right palm. It was a comfortable warm which he didn’t want to let go. It made him feel calm, and safe, away from the cold of the darkness. His numb hand had been able to feel not just warm, but a gentle touch. He slowly registered that someone was holding his hand for quite some time. He wanted to hold it tight, but he’s still weak to move. Eventually, a sound of creaking been heard, and the warmth slipped away. Jongin was disappointed. He wanted the touch back.

 

“Chanyeol, what are you doing?” It’s Junmyeon’s voice.

 

“Nothing.” Jongin could hear Chanyeol’s voice was close. He must have been sitting right next to him.

 

“Nothing sounds like something to me.” And then, there were footsteps coming closer. “Still worry about Jongin?”

 

There was a silence, and Jongin was eager to listen what they’re talking about. It was until he heard a shift, and a small sniffle.

 

“I kept blaming myself of what happened to him.”

 

What was Chanyeol talking about? What did he do?

 

“Like we said before, it wasn’t your fault. We’re on edge, and Jongin had made his choice. It was stupid, but we got no other way.”

 

Chanyeol groaned. “He had no choice because he saw me that I got shot! If I was more careful, Kyungsoo and Jongdae could have gotten to us, and Jongin was able to teleport us out, safe! I screwed the plan! I messed up everything! I would kill myself if Jongin dies!”

 

No! Chanyeol! It wasn’t your fault!

 

“Is that what you think?” Junmyeon asked. “You tell me all this, so Jongin can hear you?” Jongin heard a gasp. “Yixing told us even he’s in a coma, but he still can listen. Do you know how he feels after you said that?”

 

There’s another moment of silence before Jongin heard a sound of dragging before footsteps stormed off. It was later a sharp sound of the door slamming shut aware Jongin that Chanyeol had ran away.

 

Now Jongin knew he was in coma. For how long? He didn’t know. But more importantly, he wanted to wake up, and ran to tell Chanyeol that he’s okay. It wasn’t Chanyeol’s fault at all. He wanted the warmth he gave to him. Jongin struggled as he used his remaining strength. He was able to move his finger, but sadly there’s no one there to notice him. He felt the exhaustion was getting him again, before he drifted into sleep.

 

Jongin had lost count how many times he was conscious without opening his eyes. However, this time, he was able to smell. It picked up quickly as he recognized the aroma. Chicken soup, his favourite. He immediately knew who was with him.

 

“Morning, Jongin.”

 

Hey, Kyungsoo.

 

“I made you a soup. It’s your favourite. Everyone ate the most of them, but I save one just for you.” Jongin heard a bowl placed on the wooden nearby, probably on a small table.

 

Thanks, Kyungsoo.

 

There’s a small sigh. “Everyone was doing alright if you ask. They’re healthy, eating just fine. Not getting hunted. All thanks to you.”

 

Why do you sound so sad?

 

Jongin heard there’s a shift sound, assuming Kyungsoo was sitting next to him. “But their lives won’t complete without you. I was just trying to wake you up with this soup. It didn’t work out, did it?” He chuckled weakly, and Jongin didn’t like it. “Sehun... To be honest, Sehun has been so down lately. He ate so little, and mostly stays up all night. You should have seen his face. He looks so pale and lonely.”

 

Jongin was overwhelmed by the news. He can’t remember if he ever felt Sehun’s presence when he was conscious. He must have missed him.

 

“You’re in a coma for almost three weeks. I’m just saying.” Three weeks. That’s too long. “I’ll come back again, Jongin. I hope you like the soup. I just wish you wake up right now, and give it a taste.” Jongin wanted to, but why he couldn’t move a muscle?

 

After a while, he was left alone, letting the aroma of the soup wandering around the area. Jongin still can smell it, and it made him hungry. But it didn’t last long when Jongin forgot how it smells like when he returned back to his sleep.

 

Time has passed again, and Jongin was disturbed when he heard sobs and sniffles. Who’s crying, he thought. He felt his right hand wrapped tightly, and shaking terribly. He tried to listen who was crying, and urged to tell this brother that he’s fine or he’s still alive.

 

“Jongin... Jongin... Please wake up. D--Don’t leave us.”

 

Jongin’s heart clenched, as he recognized the sad voice. Sehun. He should have known. Knowing Sehun isn’t a crybaby, he must have endured the pain for so long. Jongin remembered he’s been sleeping for almost three weeks now.

 

“I keep counting days. It’s already past a month. Y--Yixing said you’ll be waking up, but he couldn’t see your body making any progress. It-- It hurts me. How long are you going to sleep?” Sehun choked his sob.

 

If Jongin has the strength to fight back from the sleep, he would love to wake up, and embrace the youngest brother. The problem is, he’s too weak to move.

 

“I’m scared, Jongin. I’m so scared. After I lost my counterpart, I swore myself to be stronger. To protect everyone who don’t have the ability to fight. I know you’re strong too. You can fight.” Sehun sniffled. “But that nightmare proved me that I’m still weak. You sacrificed yourself to save me, to save us. If only... If only I was stronger back then, I could have defeated it. And now seeing you here, lying in coma... I feel ashamed. I should be the one who saved you.”

 

Jongin felt his hand was clenched tighter than before. Sehun missed him so much.

 

“I’m sorry, Jongin. I’m nothing but a burden to you. Everything is okay over here, but without you around, I feel like dying. Just please wake up for me. Please...”

 

Then Jongin could feel something wet on his hand. He thought he touched water or something. However, with continuing sobs and sniffles he heard, the wet came from Sehun’s tears. Jongin really wanted to return the favor. For the brothers’ sake, he needs to wake up. There’s no time to sleep when everything around him is safe. Although he’s weak, he aware there’s energy left inside him. Mustering his remaining strength, he struggled to make his limbs working again. He screamed in his head to move. He kept reminding himself to not give up, as he could feel he was able to move the numb fingers. It took him several attempts, but he almost didn’t notice that other was gasping.

 

“...Jongin?” Sehun’s voice was more like a shock.

 

Jongin tried again, focusing on moving his fingers. He can do this. He’s going to make it.

 

“Oh my god... Jongin, your fingers. You’re waking up!” Sehun burst into tears again, as he reached the hand to give it several loving kisses.

 

Moving the fingers was really tiring, as Jongin once again tried to give the younger a gentle squeeze, only when he got in return was more tears. He only wished he could open his eyes to wipe those tears away. It felt like Sehun had been crying for quite some time, and he needed to be comforted.

 

“You come back to us! Oh my... Thank the god, Jongin!  Yixing--! Yixing!!” Sehun shouted for the healer’s name as he kept squeezing the hand, and that was when Jongin thought he gave him his all.

 

The exhaustion was taking over Jongin once again. He hated it when he got so little energy to wake up. The last time he heard before he passed out was a rush footstep came close, and a muffled voice he couldn’t guess who it was. He went back to sleep again.

 

The next time he woke up, he was ready. He felt his consciousness was strong enough to move his limbs, and finally, he could open his eyes. He lightly shifted his hand aside, before trying to crack his eyes open. He squinted his eyes, trying to welcome the harsh light into his sight. How long he didn’t see the light? It’s been forever after drowning in the darkness. He slowly blinked for a few times to adjust the blurry sight. He could see there were moving round things on his view, but he couldn’t recognize what they were. He blinked again before his tired sight eventually got its focus. The first thing he saw was the worried faces of his brothers. Few of them were crying, Jongin didn’t have to tell who.

 

“Jongin, you’re finally awake. Thank god. I thought-- We thought...” Junmyeon spoke first as he bit his trembling lower lip.

 

Jongdae was next to him, squeezing the leader’s shoulder. Yixing was holding and rubbing gently on his left hand, his signature dimple showed how care he was. Baekhyun was looking anxious at first, but later he brightened when he smiled, as bright as the sunny day. Minseok was standing at the end of Jongin’s bed, asking him if he’s alright. Jongin was weary to speak, but managed to give him a brief nod. Minseok smiled much wider afterwards, knowing Jongin was responsive despite how tired he looks. Chanyeol stood tall next to the oldest. He was the weakest of holding the emotion as he burst into tears within a second. Jongin still remembered Chanyeol confessed his mistake weeks ago when he was in coma. And Sehun, who was holding close to the taller, smiling in relief as he looked at Jongin. Jongin was proud of the youngest that he was no longer crying. Jongin felt blessed to have all the brothers with him, except one. He frowned slightly as his hazy eyes looked around the area, searching for a certain someone. It was until he felt a gentle brush on his bang from the right side. As he turned, his heart skipped a beat when he saw Kyungsoo. He was smiling softly, and Jongin could see the older’s eyes were sparkling.

 

“We’re glad you came back to us. Welcome home, Jongin.” Kyungsoo said, as he continued to brush the younger’s hair.

 

Home. Jongin liked the sound of that. His brothers are safe and alive, waiting for the last brother to come home.

 

He has returned home.