Cha Hakyeon knocked Wonshik out of the way, stumbling slightly from the impact of Hyuk smashing directly into him. Letting out a soft whimper as he hit the floor hard, his hand instantly went to his covered stab wound, coming back red with blood. At the rate he was going, his body wouldn’t be able to withstand much more. Groaning, he got himself to his feet as Wonshik battled with Hongbin, burning away vines as they were flung his way.

Eyes locking with Hyuk’s, Hakyeon and the younger man circled each other, each looking for an opening to attack the other. Though, if Hakyeon had been honest, he hadn’t even wanted to fight Hyuk. If it hadn’t meant abandoning Taekwoon to the monster, he would have just allowed the kid to kill him right there and end it all. Making a quick lunge toward Hakyeon, Hyuk smirked and stopped short, causing him the flinch in surprise. Taking his opening, the younger knocked him to the ground yet again with a hard leg sweep.

“Hyuk...” Looking up at the grinning man above him, Hakyeon felt a foot begin to press down on his injury. Agony overtook him and he let out a scream, clawing at his friend’s ankle. Tears poured down his cheeks and it was almost hard to breathe.

“You should have just said yes to her.” Laughing, Hyuk added more pressure and Hakyeon’s vision darkened for a moment. “Don’t worry. If you say yes now, she will heal you.”

“Hakyeon, don’t...” Wonshik shouted from across the room, still engaged in his own battle. “You can’t let her win. If you do, then Byungjun died for no reason.” Byungjun... His mind wandered to what had transpired there, to the sight of the man killing himself just to protect Hakyeon. Summoning up his strength, he grabbed Hyuk’s leg, ripping him to the ground.

“I will not give in to that woman.” Hissing out his words in anger, Hakyeon moved quickly to pin his friend to the ground.

“If you don’t join her, you will die...” The other man looked up at him, his features softer, portraying the Hyuk he had grown to adore.

“It has been a really long time since I’ve been afraid to die, Sanghyuk.” With a halfhearted smile, Hakyeon shook his head. “Forgive me...” Balling his hand into a fist, he punched Hyuk hard enough to knock him unconscious. Rolling off of the man, he closed his eyes, trying to catch his breath. Every move caused him excruciating pain but he knew he didn’t have time to waste writhing on the floor. Wonshik was still in battle, still needed his assistance, and Taekwoon was still in danger.

“!” Wonshik went flying into a wall, a vine puncturing his shoulder. Anger at watching the kind man in so much pain brought Hakyeon to his feet once more as he slid between Hongbin’s next attack and Wonshik.

“I’m ending this here, Hongbin.” Growling, Hakyeon pulled the blade from it’s sheath at his hip, poised to defend Wonshik. “Do not make me hurt you...”

Kim Wonshik burned away the vine piercing his flesh, cauterizing his injury as he did so. Panting heavily, he struggled to return to his feet. Hakyeon was dodging attack after attack, slashing vines out of the air with his knife. Watching in horror, Wonshik could see splatters of blood dripping from the already soaked binding around Hakyeon’s abdomen. They had to hurry and end this or he was afraid their leader may not survive. Already, he feared that the damage was too much to be to repaired.

“Hakyeon!” Moving forward, he grunted, being sent to the stone floor by a stray vine. A thorn cut at his cheek as he pushed himself to his knees, pain overwhelming him. Looking up at Hakyeon, spinning and striking like a deadly animal, he had to remind himself that his own pain was nothing compared to what that man was most likely feeling.

Screaming, Hakyeon was sent to his back yet again, knife skidding across the room, spurring Wonshik to his feet. Racing for the knife, he watched as Hongbin loomed over their leader, razor sharp vines poised to impale the tan man. Heart racing, he retrieved the lost weapon and sprinted forward. Panic began to rule his actions and without thinking, he plunged the blade forward. Hongbin fell away from Hakyeon, his vines shriveling up as the light left his eyes, Hakyeon’s knife stuck fast in his chest, precisely where his heart was.

“HONGBIN!” Crawling to his side, Hakyeon checked for a pulse, sobbing as he turned an accusatory look on Wonshik. It felt as though his heart had stopped, everything seemed numbed and colorless around him.

“I... I didn’t... He was going to kill you...” Voice weak, Wonshik fell to his knees, covering his face with his hands as he realized the impact of what he had done. “Hakyeon... I... I wasn’t thinking... I just... I didn’t want to see you die...” Arms wrapped around him and he felt Hakyeon’s wet face press against his shoulder.

“Get Hyuk back to Jaehwan...” Voice hushed, Hakyeon pulled away from him. “I’ll continue on by myself...”

“Hakyeon...” Wonshik reached for him but his leader was already stumbling away from him. “Hakyeon wait...”

“Thank you for saving me, Wonshik.” With those final words, Hakyeon disappeared through the door, leaving him alone with his actions, unsure if he’d ever see the other man again.