A/N: Alphin410 is here! So it is weird to write an Author Note at the beginning of the story but I think it is needed. As the story is started with X-EXO point of view, to reduce the confusion they all used Code Number as the original name. The number represent their human being, 61 for Chanyeol and 04 for Baekhyun, etc. The numbers used are the one they used in Love Me Right Era (Correct me if I am wrong >.<). Thank you very much, enjoy the reading ^^

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Act Eight

An abandoned building, four years ago

           The flames are crackling. The blazing fire on the pile of woods in the iron can sounded like a whispering cry. That day, the rain is pouring heavily. Thunders could be heard anywhere, followed by the flash dazzling lightening. There, nine monstrous looking like guys are sitting on randomly on the cold hard floor. It is their home, the old abandoned building, a place where people are neglected, just like their existences.

“As old as a tale-“ the guy started to sing

“Shut up”

            Code Number 21 narrowed his eyes and throws his to the floor. Then Code Number 12 rolled his eyes sat across him as he glanced at the guy beside him. The quiet Number 04. The guy never voiced his opinion, not even a word.

            -a malfunction.

“There are only nine, where are the others?” the loud Code Number 21 asked again, ignoring the glare Code Number 12 gave him since he set up his foot on the room

            Code Number 21 wouldn’t stop talking unless all of his questions have been answered, therefore, the guy beside him, Code Number 99, nicely answered.

“Code Number 00 and Code Number 01 will be here soon. They asked us to wait here altogether-“

“Alright, then, where is Code Number 61?” he asked again

“Do you even have to ask about him?”

            The question is asked by a pretty guy in the room. He doesn’t look like any of them. He has pretty face, black hair, good sense of clothes, overall is a normal-est guy there. The named is Code Number 07.

“He is probably torturing another human being or just is wondering around the city with the hands on the pocket, thinking that he is a coolest guy in the world or whatever. He is just a fool” Code Number 07 answered sarcastically “Asked Code Number 04. He always told him wherever he went which is actually useless because Code Number 04 wouldn’t answer us when we asked him, and then Code Number 61 just reasoned with ‘I have told baby. I went out with a notice’” he continued

            -and the most sarcastic among them.

            Oh, how Code Number 21 loves him so much. The guy then broke into laughter while is holding his stomach with his hand. He wipes his tears as he knows nobody found it funny but Code Number 21 won’t give it a . They are unique in their own way, so why shouldn’t be afraid of being different?

“Happy talking about me, huh?”

            The voice come not a long ago after Code Number 21 broke into laughter. The guy with the pink hair and bruises face comes into the room, rolled his eyes as he kicked Code Number 12 away from his spot. The position beside his baby is only his.

“It’s fancy to see you here” Number 12 clearly said in annoyance as he moved away

Code Number 61 gave him a smirk and rest his hand on Code Number 04’s shoulder “So, what is the news?”

“Who is gonna answer that?” Code Number 21 asked, is looking at Code Number 99

             The guy is actually good to everyone, but not Code Number 61. The latter has been known as the most rebellious guy in the group. He just doesn’t listen very well and do everything up his mind. He did everything on his own then leave the others in trouble. Just that, already irked Code Number 99 so much who choose not to talk to Code Number 61, ever.

“Code Number 00 and Code Number 01 finally found them”

By the mentioned of ‘them’, all eyes now stared at this one guy in the room. He might not have bruises like the others unless the cut on his left cheek. However, the guy drew a weird unknown Chinese character on the right side of his face. Unlike the others, he didn’t wear any kind of tight material, but not the normal one like Code Number 07 also. The guy always wore a robe, long enough to cover his ankle with it with the same colored long pants. Code Number 21 always wondered whether the guy can feel coldness or not because the guy never wear shirt underneath. He is called Code Number 10.

“W-who are they find?” Code Number 07 asked

            There is a bit of terrifying note in his question. It turned out to be a bit embarrassing, but nobody mentioned it. Instead, everyone wants to know about it. Even the quiet Code Number 04 glanced at the mentioned of the word.

            By ‘them’ are referring to their muses, the projects which started all of this mess and will be the same reason about their death. ‘Them’ are the human beings, the source of their unluckiness and their unfortunates. It is the reason why all of them have born in malfunction, live in despair, and their unstoppable death.

They share the same DNA, or the used term for them is ‘data’, which something that they couldn’t avoid. They will resemble each other. It means, they will have the same face and body, the same weirdness, the same power. Because the main reason why they are there is ‘them’.

“You sure you want to know it? You know that whoever they are, they will be dead in the hand of Code Number 00 and Code Number 01”

            None of them is talking equals to ‘they badly want to know the first one to be killed’. But Code Number 10 said the plural subjects. It is not only one but two.

Who is gonna be dead first?

            Code Number 61 smirked at the thought.

“I don’t know” Code Number 10 answered, marked the conversation in the dead end

            Nobody said anything anymore. The storm has been stopped. The sound of crackling fire in the can is the only sound in the old, abandoned building.

***

EXODUS Bar by Oh, present time

            He is so pretty. He has a nice pair of lips with sparkling eyes on his small rounded face. But he is not him.

            The guy put his empty glass on the table bar, is staring at the beauty in front of him without blinking at all. He mouthed the name on the tag, is making the man turned around with a smile. The guy pointed at his empty glass which is filled immediately with the man.

“So, Luhan is your name?” the guy asked and the pretty man nodded

“Here is your order, sir” Luhan handed the drink as the guy raised one of his eyebrows

“Honestly, I don’t really like alcohol. They burn like a fire and I have enough burn today” the guy stated though he emptied his glass in one gulp

Luhan laughed at the joke “So, why did you come to the bar if you didn’t like to drink? Perhaps the music?”

The guy pouted his lips “At first, they say is the best bar in the Town. I need to relax, so here I come. But then I saw you-“

“The guy is taken sir” Luhan chuckled and the guy faked his surprise

“Oh, are you? Really? I don’t see any mark there” the guy pointed at Luhan then wink “So, why not cheating?”

Luhan laughed “The guy is taken by his work and family. He didn’t have time to a love not even for one night”

“So sad-“ the guy lifted his glass and said “Then, cheer up to free life”

“Your glass is empty-“ Luhan looks at the empty glass

The guy pouted again “Well, you are right. Then, why you didn’t ask your love to fill my glass again? I mean, your love? Your work?”

            Luhan laughed at the lame joke but join in anyway. As he refilled the glass again, another man comes in hurry to the guy. He pulled the guy away from Luhan which is surprised at how harsh he treats the customer.

“Yah, Kai! What are you doing? He is a customer!” Luhan shouted in panic

“Customer? You said that this monster is a customer? Are you serious you want to treat him? He is just a killer!”

Luhan holds Kai hand and struggled a lot “Stop it, you drink too much. Yah, Xiumin, help me! Xiumin!”

            Another man comes in with a surprised expression on his face. At first, he didn’t do anything after looking at what happened in front of him. Then, he pulled Kai away from the scene, is helping Luhan who knows ran to the guy to check.

“Oh my God, I am so sorry. He is our trainee staff. He might be drink too much. I am so sorry for the inconvenience sir. Are you okay?” Luhan checked on the bruised on the other face which is now seen clearly under the light “Oh my God! You bleed so much! What should we do?”

Luhan turned to Xiumin in panic then glared at Kai and shouted “You! Go home! It is not even your shift. You just make trouble here. Don’t understand why Boss accepted you. Go home now! You are not needed here”

Kai couldn’t believe what he heard but before he could say anything, the guy said “It is just a light hit and just a bruise, that is okay” he smirked annoyingly at Kai “But bet that your superior just asked you to go home, shouldn’t you go home already?”

            But the question is not pointed to Kai, he asked while is looking at Xiumin who is just froze there, trying to hold Kai. Kai also realized that. He looks above to see Xiumin. Kai shrugged his body so harsh that he didn’t want any touches from the other. He hissed at them but talk softly to Luhan.

“You don’t understand, he is-“

“That is okay, I am okay” but the guy interrupted him and said to Luhan softly “I am planned to go home after this anyway. Let’s stop making a fuss, people are watching. I will take my leave. See you later”

            The guy stood up, leaving them to the cashier to pay for his drinks.

Then, Luhan put his hands on his waist, glaring at Kai “Hit a customer in front of me again, and I will make sure the Boss will fire you!” he then pulled Xiumin’s hand “Thank you for helping. Let’s go”

            When the two are leaving him, Kai fisted his hand and left the Bar.

            The guy watched it carefully from a far, even laughed at the scene they just made. He took out his card to pay on the cashier when he realized he just left his wallet in the hospital. He sighed, turned around and took out his phone instead.

“Pick me up. Exodus Bar. Now”

            He typed the text and sent it before he is bumped by someone in hurry. He furrowed his forehead, is looking at the man who just bumped him and fell on the floor immediately. He nearly laughed at himself after recognizing the face.

“I am so sorry! I didn’t mean to, I am in hurry so- so- oh” the man stood up immediately and surprised to see bruises on his face “Is that because of me? It is a no, right? What is happened to your face? Are you in the fight just before or-“

The guy only looked at the man as the answer. Then the man started to redden by embarrassment.

“S-sorry. My job needs to ask a lot, it becomes the habit. Stupid mouth. Stupid question. None of my business. Alright. But still, I am so sorry to bump you before”

“You are the one who fell down, shouldn’t I be sorry also?” the guy asked

“Of course you don’t need to!” the man nearly shouted as he stuttered “I mean, I am the one who bumped you-“

The guy surprisingly laughed and patted his shoulder playfully “Alright then, we shouldn’t meet each other often. If you are really sorry to me, and actually I am glad to hear that, take a really good care of yourself, will you? Now excuse me, I need to meet someone”

            The man seems confused, but the guy has the reason.

“He is so clumsy yet so good, Code Number 68 wouldn’t like who he resembles with. But, isn’t it my day?” the guy mumbled to himself as he went to the bathroom

Chanyeol, Jongdae, Code Number 04, Luhan, Kai, Code Number 99, Tao, and-

He washed his hands and lifted his eyes to look at the man who just stood there behind him through the mirror “Wow I met almost everyone today” he whispered and whistled “Code Number 88, you are here already. Do you bring what I have asked you?”

            The man threw a card and the guy took it with a smirk.

“You can slash any fresh meat with this, what a dangerous weapon you have there. But thank you for picking this up for me” he waits for Code Number 88 to leave, but he didn’t, so he asked “Unusual. Had something to order me?”

Code Number 88 nodded, pointed at his phone which just beeped once. The guy took out his phone to check. There is one message came from unknown number. A photo is received.

            Suho?

            He looked up to ask more, but it seems like Code Number 88 has left him. He shrugged his shoulder, put the phone back to his pocket and played with his card.

“So the game is on, huh?”

He went to the cashier and handed the card Code Number 88 just gave him. The credit card without limit is belonged to Head Police Kim. The guy in the cashier widened his eyes, looked at the guy with surprise but still process the card as the guy with that pink hair seems so scary and better to shut his lips. Then the guy left the Bar for good. He took out his phone, examined the photo once again as he saw Kai already waits him there.

“Wow, you are annoyingly clingy, aren’t you?”