Jung Taekwoon watched as his lover restlessly paced their living room. It had been a day since Hakyeon had recieved his dark summons and time was slipping away from them, their efforts in finding the monster's hide away faring them no better than Hakyeon himself had managed in the long years since he found himself orphaned. As much as he disliked the constant company, especially Byungjun, he was relieved to have the support of their extended network of friends.

Soomi and Byungjun's groups had been taking turns since dawn, chasing any leads they had to find the bulyeowoo. Hakyeon had refused to let any of their own group leave Hyde, having a full blown breakdown simply at the suggestion. Nerves on edge, he did his best to sooth their leader with gentle touches and soft kisses. Even a constant refrain of 'I love you's didn't seem to distract the other man.

"Taekwoon..." Pausing his constant movement, Hakyeon turned quickly to grab his arms, startling the man. "Something's wrong..."

"Baby, everything is okay. I promise. Pulling Hakyeon into his arms, he held him close just hoping the contact would quiet his desperation.

"You're not listening to me!" With a strained noise, Hakyeon pushed him away, causing Taekwoon's heart to drop. "Call Soomi right now! Something has happened! I feel it!"

"Okay. Okay. Just sit down and I'll call." Leading the tan man to the couch, he got out his cellphone and made a call. Apprehension filled him with every missed ring and he could feel Hakyeon becoming more and more distressed.

"Taekwoon..." His lover whimpered as he hung up the phone, dialing Soohyun instead. Rubbing Hakyeon's cheek gently, he tried to distract him as he made call after call to no avail.

"Byungjun. Take your group and go find Soomi's gang. Hyuk will send you their last known location." Barking out his orders, he and his rival shared a brief glare before the other man surveyed Hakyeon's distress and relented.

"No!" Taek, no!" Hakyeon had begun to sob, holding onto him tightly. She'll take them too! Please! Please..."

"I promise we'll be okay..." Squatting momentarily in front of Hakyeon, and with a reassuring smile, left with his fellow hunters. Sighing, Taekwoon sat beside the crying man, rocking him gently. Despite his own worries, he knew he had to remain strong and protect the most important person in his life.

~~~

Lee Hongbin sat beside his lover as he messaged their missing party's final check in point to the search group. Closing his eyes, he leaned his head back against the headrest of the couch and exhaled heavily. Anxiety crackled through the air like electricity, making the hair on his arms stand up. Wondering if the sensation was Hakyeon projecting his emotions, he glanced at their leader who had resumed pacing again.

"Hakyeon, stop." Snapping, Hongbin moved forward, to his feet in moments, and shoved Hakyeon into a seated position a little more rough than he had intended. Before he even realized what he had done, Taekwoon was pushing him hard, causing Hongbin to stagger back a few steps.

"Do not touch him..." The growled warning was enough to make Hongbin flee downstairs, Hyuk close behind him.

"Binnie, what the hell was that?" Grabbing Hongbin's wrist as they reached Hyde's kitchen, Hyuk turned him to look him over. Away from Hakyeon's influence, he felt himself begin to calm.

"I couldn't take it. He can't even contain himself." Hongbin groaned, feeling guilty over his actions. "I felt like I was suffocating."

"You're lucky Taekwoon didn't murder you." Hyuk Hongbin's hair and he sighed, leaning into his lover.

"This isn't going to end well, is it?" He whispered, closing his eyes. Looking for comfort, he recieved only harsh honesty.

"We might not all make it through this..."

~~~

Lee Jaehwan watched in shock as Hongbin bolted downstairs. Their leader became very quiet and still as Taekwoon checked him over for sign of injury. Everything was crumbling around them and he was terrified of what was to come.

"Jae..." Wonshik reached out to grip him hand gently. "We'll be okay. Everything will work out." Grateful for the reassurance, he squeezed the other man's hand back.

"I don't know how to help..." Half sobbing, he pressed his forehead against Wonshik's collar bone. "I just want to help..."

"Byungjun..." Hakyeon murmured, looking up at Taekwoon with watery eyes. "Byungjun is in trouble..." Feeling his heart drop, Jaehwan instantly dug his phone out of his pocket and began calling Daewon.

"He's only been gone for little while. Try not to worry." Taekwoon tried to sound optemistic but even Jaehwan himself could hear his doubt.

"She has them..." Whimpering, Hakyeon covered his ears like he was hearing something loud and disconcerting. "It's me or them... Me or them..."

"Hakyeon..." Biting his lip, Taekwoon put his hands over Hakyeon's. "Wonshik. Get a sleeping pill from the bathroom cabinet and some water. We need to calm him. He needs rest before he hurts himself." Watching as his boyfriend hurried to do as he was asked, Jaehwan continued to attempt contact with Daewon, his rings remaining unanswered.

~~~

Kim Wonshik helped Taekwoon get their unconscious leader into bed before they went downstairs to join their comrades in Hyde. Jaehwan was clutching his phone nervously, chewing on his bottom lip as Hyuk let out a frustrated hiss of air. Nobody could get any member of the missing teams to reply to them and it had became obvious that something needed to be done about their dire situation.

"I hate to say it but... Why don't we just give Hakyeon to the ?" Hongbin's suggestion shocked all of them and it took both himself and Hyuk to hold back the insantly raging Taekwoon. "Look. I'm not saying it's the perfect solution but we need to think this through. This monster only wants him. If we give it what it wants, everyone else will be safe. It's one life for many."

"You ungrateful !" Taekwoon growled, lunging at the other man in rage. Intercepting the other man, Wonshik found himself nearly knocked to the ground from the pure force  behind the attack.

"Taekwoon, this isn't helping..." Hoping to keep the peace, Wonshik did his best to back the man away from his target.

"No! him!" Voice booming, Taekwoon leveled a look at Hongbin full of so much hatred it shook Wonshik to his core. "If Cha Hakyeon hadn't rescued each and every one of us we wouldn't even have lives to risk right now and you just want to throw him away?! You're ungrateful, you piece of ! Maybe he never should have saved you!"

"Whoa! That's enough!" Stepping between them, Hyuk gripped his hands into fists, clearly holding back the urge to hit their friend. "This is too far... Both of you..."

"We need to figure out our next step." Jaehwan, whom was clinging desperately to him, spoke quietly and Wonshik realized too late that he had been crying without any attempt to comfort him.

"Guys... We need to take the battle to her." Wonshik held Jaehwan close as he looked over his companions. "We need to disguise our presence long enough to find her lair and take her by surprise."

~~~

"Everyone has already followed any lead we have..." Hongbin shook his head, clearly annoyed at his suggestion being taken so harshly. Han Sanghyuk thought back on the stories of how their leader had saved each of them and suddenly everything seemed to fall into place. They had all been pawns for the bulyeowoo. She had brought them all together just to manipulate the man asleep upstairs.

"I know where to find her!" Turning to Hongbin, he gripped his arms gently. "You need to take us to where the monster held you. To where you were rescued."

"What? Why?" Appalled at the idea of revisiting his brief prison, Hongbin gave him a pleading look.

"All of this was always her plan. A kumiho was sent for each of us." Explaining his revelation, he could feel his heart began to quicken. "She set all of this up and bid her time until she knew we would do anything to protect Hakyeon... But more than that, she knew Hakyeon would give himself to her for all of us. Binnie. Where you were held... I think it's a safe bet to say it's the entrance to her den."

"You're a genius, Hyuk." Taekwoon was moving instantly, going to their supplies storage. "We have some talismans that should mute our presence enough to make it at least to the entrance without detection. Gather lots of silver weaponry. Wonshik, Jaehwan... You two stay here and protect Hakyeon at all costs." With their roles decided upon, they took their future in their hands and set forth with their final preparations.

~~~

Cha Hakyeon woke with a start, nightmares plaguing him. Head feeling groggy, he sat up up and reached for his lover only to find the bed beside him deserted. Panic began to rise as he stumbled out of bed, rushing from the room.

". Hakyeon." Catching him before he could collapse, Wonshik walked him to the couch where Jaehwan was already seated.

"Where is he?!" Struggling to stand again, aspect of his nightmares kept playing through his mind. A forest, a dark cave descending into an intricate palace or sorts... They were they, they were all there...

"Hakyeon..." Jaehwan wrapped his arms around him but Hakyeon shrugged him off.

"We have to go. Now. I know where they are and they're all in danger." Doing his best to sound calm and authoritative, he headed to the bedroom to prepare for battle.

"Hakyeon. We were told to stay here with you." Following after him, Wonshik tried to reason with the frantic man but Hakyeon already knew what needed to be done.

"You two should stay here. You don't deserve to be put in the middle of this." Giving Wonshik a sad smile, he began to pull on an outfit he had designed to hold the most weapons. "But I have to do this."

"Then we're coming with you." Jaehwan's voice from the doorway stopped his heart for a moment 

"Are you sure about this?" Beginning to lace up his boots, Hakyeon looked up at his friends. "You both owe me nothing."

"I don't know about Wonshik, but I'm positive that this is what I want to do." Jaehwan's affimation filled Hakyeon with sadness but he knew, much like he had made up his own mind, Jaehwan had done the same.

"I'm in too. We'll do this together." Wonshik stepped toward the door, giving one, solid nod. "Come on, Jae. Lets get the supplies ready." As they retreated downstairs, Hakyeon glanced out the window at the moon, shrouded in clouds, and hoped beyond all hope that everything would turn out fine and everyone would make it home safely.