11.

An icy sort of feeling rolled up her spine as Sahyun began to panic. While she knew that Soonyoung and Jihoon were more than capable of taking care of themselves - and Junhui and Minghao had abilities of their own that would keep them safe - she couldn’t help but feel hopeless from the number of people Baekho had against the four of them. They were doubled against them and their odds didn’t seem so high with that. Sahyun could only ball her hands into fists as she watched Soonyoung use all of his daggers, which managed to take out two of the men before he and Baekho met face to face. 

It hadn’t occurred to her that these men likely had other abilities, much like Junhui and Minghao. It was only when one of them managed to disappear right before her eyes only to reappear directly behind Jihoon and snatch both of his guns away did she realize it. Jihoon sputtered for a second before turning and swinging a punch in his direction only to be met with air as he disappeared and reappeared once again behind the silver-haired man. 

She watched as Soonyoung noticed him and used his last dagger to pierce through the back of his neck, the impact of it making a sound that Sahyun couldn’t find a proper adjective to describe. When he began coughing, and she saw the red crimson of his blood come out of his mouth she closed her eyes and gulped, her body starting to tremble. She heard the familiar click of Jihoon’s guns, and she allowed herself one breath of relief that he was once again armed. But, even though Jihoon was, when Soonyoung shouted, she knew that he wasn’t.

She didn’t want to open her eyes; she wanted to forget that any of this was happening and pray that she would wake up in her own bed. She wanted it all to turn out to be a dream and for it to pass quickly. She felt a hand on her arm, the feeling of it making her flinch before she heard Seungkwan’s voice in her ear telling it was alright.

“It’s only Baekho left, but it seems Soonyoung is dead set on fighting him on his own.”

Her eyes shot open, and she saw that the Subordinate was right. She didn’t dare to look at the other three, the thought of seeing dead bodies laying on the ground making her feel sick to her stomach, but when her vision landed on Soonyoung she could tell that he still hadn’t retrieved any of his daggers. He called out for the others to grab them but Junhui reported that everything just disappeared, the weapons included. She allowed herself to look over to the trio and shocked filled her when all she saw were piles of ashes in the places where the bodies should have been.

“What the do you mean they disappeared? They aren’t even in the ashes?” Sahyun could tell that Soonyoung was hurt, the way he clutched his left arm just above his elbow a good indication that Baekho’s sword had likely sliced into him.

Baekho’s face contorted into a smirk as he and Soonyoung walked in a circle, face to face. It was almost a relief when she saw the burly man was limping slightly, clearly having taken some blows within their fight. “One of my crew dabbled in black magic, and he made it so everything dissolved into dust when we die. This way, no one can steal from us. Having no daggers sure has left you vulnerable.”

“I don’t need a weapon to fight you.” Soonyoung spat at him, and if she hadn’t known any better, she would’ve been sure that he meant his words. And perhaps he did, despite his injury, but if he had been her, she should wouldn’t have even dreamed of trying to do what he was doing. “It’s been a long time coming.”

Sahyun turned to Seungkwan with a frantic look in her eyes. Surely there was something one of the two of them could do to help. Seungkwan saw her look and frowned, shaking his head. “Soonyoung doesn’t want help. If we help him, it would be going against his wishes. Not even Jihoon would step in unless it truly called for it.”

“And fighting unarmed with an injured arm doesn’t call for it?!” 

“Just let Soonyoung have his way for now, Sahyun. I swear I’ll step in if it looks like he can’t handle it. But Soonyoung is a lot stronger than he looks.” Jihoon stepped back to the pair, and while his words spoke confidence into the situation, she could tell he was just as worried as she was. Even if he and Soonyoung had their differences, it would take a fool to miss that they were close - or at least at some point in the past - and she decided to trust that Jihoon would know what