24 REMAINING

"Chani...?"

"Chani...?"

In the darkness of the cave where the Green alliance were staying, Jihyeong's (Y-5) soft calling was heard. But there was no response.

"Choi Chani, god dammit, why are you not answering??"

This time it was a stronger voice, coming from Jin Sungho (W-4). But Chani (X-6) yet didn't reply. He was supposed to be sleeping, and in the darkness, Sungho and Jihyeong could only see each other, but they didn't see where their friend was. "Maybe he is sleeping after all?" Jihyeong wondered while looking at the other with confusion in his eyes. "But I'm sure we heard him... Maybe it was someone else? Keep your guard up, Jihyeongi..." The older wrapped his arms around his friend to calm him down and protect him from possible danger lurking in the dark. The red leader felt that the other was starting to relax in his embrace, but he was still gripping on his green shirt tightly. Right when Sungho thought they were safe, the unknown noises started again, it came from deeper in the cave, where Chani was. Soft cries, but really soft, so soft that they could barely be heard. But the green boys could hear them clearly, the sobs were broken and weak, but there was something wicked in them.

"Ch-Ch-Chani?"

Jihyeong started to shiver again as he called, and the older had to agree that it was really scary. It was like a horror movie, and a ghost was lurking in the darkness, preparing to strike. When the duo heard some more unidentified noises, Sungho instinctively pushed the younger behind him before slowly getting on his feet, trying to stay as silent as possible. For a moment, it was so silent that it was even scarier than the noises. The red boy knew that something was terribly wrong with Chani, he had noticed that his state had been getting worse and his optimistic attitude had gone down the drain. Sungho and Jihyeong had to drag him through the day, while he had been crying bitter tears from his mental fight. The two older boys had been truly concerned about him and tried their best to keep him happy. But then the night fell, and first Jihyeong had slept for a few hours, and then Chani. Sungho didn't sleep yet, and he didn't want to let someone stay awake alone, especially not the youngest of the three. The oldest felt like he had finally broken, and that optimistic and happy Choi Chani stopped functioning. And he was right.

Light. And heat.

"Get away, Jihyeong!" Sungho yelled as flames welled up in front of him. That could only mean one thing. The ghost had striked. In the flames, Sungho saw the face of his friend, and it horrified him. Over the night, the boy hadn't actually slept, and had been in such a big fight with himself that the green boy had completely scratched his cheeks open. Blood was dripping down his face, and his expression was empty, but very wicked. It froze Sungho on the spot, he couldn't take his eyes off his friend's face, and he was just staring back. The red boy swore that he saw a little frown forming on the other's face, that maybe there was still some life left in him. "Chani..." the oldest spoke as soft as he could in an attempt to bring the real Choi Chani back, "Why... Who are you... And where is our Chani. Bring him back!" his voice suddenly increased in volume. The boy in front of him hestitated, and Sungho swore that if he kept going like this, he would be able to bring his friend back to his senses, but Jihyeong thought differently. While Chani was hestitating, the other green boy grabbed Sungho's shirt and dragged him out of the cave, away from their friend. The older struggled and tried to ran back to the cave, Chani was still there, and he was trapped behind the flames. The youngest was still frozen on the spot, having an incredible battle in his mind and heart. "Chani!! You have to go through the flames! Come with us! Hurry!" The flames were spreading quickly and it caught Chani's feet, yet he didn't move a single inch, and was just staring at his friend, parting his dry and bloody lips slowly. "H-Help me..." the words were like an arrow through Sungho's heart as his eyes widened, "Sungho... Hyung... Help me-" Chani kept whispering, it was barely hearable over the burning sound of the flames, but Sungho heard them clearly. He hurriedly stick out his hand for Chani to take, and the boy immediately grabbed it, but the taller's sweatpants were burning and his legs were getting weak. He didn't scream at all, yet there was the unbearable pain. But instead, the boy started to cry, the battle was still going on, and even though he wanted to hold his hyung's hands forever, he had to let go too, or it would bring Sungho in danger. It was like their hands were glued together. Jihyeong could only watch as the flames kept spreading, he was frozen and was too afraid to move. Was this it? For both of them? Chani suddenly opened his mouth to emit a loud and crazy scream as he lost the battle temporarly, dragging Sungho in the core of the fire. That boy immediately reacted and grabbed the burning Chani, who was trying to resist, flailing his arms as severe burns were coloring his skin. It hurt a damn lot, and the smoke was starting to take both of their breaths as the oldest tried to save his friend. Both of them started to cough as the smoke started to suffocate them. Sungho wondered where his fellow rapper was, and why he didn't do anything yet. But Jihyeong had just been too scared, paralysed from fear. The lack of oxygen had a positive effect for Chani in a way, because it welled up his mental battle again. He noticed that the older's grip was getting weaker and weaker, and realised that he was actually in a better state. So the vocal took action and tried to fight the flames, dragging his friend out. "Jihyeong!!" Chani called, "Come help me!!" It was a desperate cry, but Jihyeong didn't budge. "Why should I? You just dragged Sungho into the fire!" the boy yelled back, he could see the two figures through the tight smoke. "If you don't help, Sungho's not going to make it!" Chani's words were filled with fear as he started to cry out loud, the salty tears stinging in his scratched cheeks. In his arms there was Sungho, coughing and wheezing, trying his best to stay concious. But Jihyeong was there, he suddenly grabbed both of them and dragged them out of the fire and the cave to savety, to fresh oxygen. It was a relief for both of them and while Sungho wheezed to conciousness again, both of the younger boys were working hard to put the fire out that was burning his clothes. Chani knew that his own clothes and skin were burning too, b