Sehun and the others walked around the warehouse. Other than the fact it was huge, it was strangely quiet. There is not a single person seen or heard of ever since they’ve entered. Still, the guardians kept their ground and were cautious, just in case of any attack. Through the ear piece, Sooyoung told them that there is no one at all. As they continued to look for Luhan and Jong In, they encounter this huge door. It was a large, heavy, metal door.

“What’s on the other side?” Kris asked.

“We don’t know…don’t have cameras on the other side. That’s the only area sealed tight, even I couldn’t break in.” Sooyoung answered, followed by a static.

“We’re going.” The static was greater.

“What? I didn’t hear that? Kris, wait!” Kris held the ear piece near his mouth.

“We’ll take it from here. You’ve helped us more than enough; it’s up to us now.”

“Don’t worry, sunbaenims. We’ll come back with everyone. Trust us.” Joonmyun added.

“Wait. There’s a code.” Baekhyun stated.

“Can you maximize on the code from earlier?” Kris asked.

“Yeah, it’s ****-***” Sooyoung started, when Kris talked once more.

“Thanks. We’ll get going now. Now, where do I put this ear piece–” He trailed off. Just then, Sooyoung’s voice echoed.

“Yah!!! Don’t throw it somewhere there. That costs money… Don’t break it and get it back here, you understand?!” There was static followed by silence.

“Don’t worry about her. Just get Luhan and Jong In, okay? Over and out…” Seohyun’s voice filled the silence of the members. They were slightly shocked by their sunbae just now and looked at each other’s faces. Once the members stopped at Sehun’s facial expressions, they noted that it was his ‘come-on-Luhan-is-waiting-so-what-are-you-all-still-looking-at’ face. He gestured to the door. Chanyeol punched in the numbers while Joonmyun and Kris tucked the Bluetooth pieces on the pockets of their jackets. As the door opened, they gasped. It was not the chambers that shocked them, but the fact that Jong In was standing on top of many boxes with Hong Lee. On the side, they saw Luhan inside an activated chamber. He was breathing heavily.

“What–” Kyungsoo stared with great confusion.

“Welcome, guardians… To the main event…”

***Luhan’s Mind***

“Where am I? Who knocked me out? The last I remember is… seeing those glass containers, which seemed to be from those alien movies… what were they called again?” He heard a shuffle in the darkness. A figure moved forward towards him.

“Who are you?” In a second, Luhan found himself staring at someone who looks like him.

“I am you, ever since the beginning of cycles, hundreds of years ago…” Even sounds like him.

“What are you talking about?” Luhan watched warily as the look alike moved his hands. The darkness cleared slightly, revealing glass orbs. With another wave, the orbs made its way to Luhan. He looked at the being clad in a navy blue-colored robe. His red eyes were bright and hair was blonde.

“I am you, from a long time ago, before history was written down.”

“You mean, you’re an old man?”

“Keep quiet.”

“Are you my other personality?”

“No, as I said, I am you. But you can think of me as, your old friend.”

“I don’t understand…who are you?”

“Don’t tell me you’ve really forgotten?” He sighs at Luhan’s even more perplexed expression.

“Look into the orbs… it’s about time you remember everything again. About everyone, especially the wind guardian…”

******

From the corner of his eyes, Sehun saw Luhan stir in his sleep inside the glass case. Before he could even move a muscle, he stepped back just in time as Kai jumped in front of him.

“What are you doing?!” Kai waved his index finger dismissively, clicking his tongue. Sehun tries to move around but Kai kept his stance and prevented Sehun from getting near the sleeping guardian.

“What are you waiting for? Get the others.” The guardians heard Hong Lee order. They were even more astonished when Kai jumped on the boxes on top of Sehun. The sudden movement caused a mountain of wooden boxes to crash down on the maknae. As the boxes fell, there was no movement from Sehun. Baekhyun and Chanyeol moved to help, when suddenly Kai appeared with a steel pipe. Having caught the two by surprise, Kai swayed the pipe, hitting Baekhyun on his mid-section, sending him on air.

“Baekhyun!” Chanyeol called out as he reached out for Baekhyun’s hand, missing by a few centimeters. Unfortunately, he could only watch as Baekhyun landed into one of the open chambers and was locked in. Clutching his abdomen, Baekhyun let his hand rest on the thick glass, in a weak attempt to slide it open. Chanyeol got to Baekhyun’s side and rest his hand on the other side where Baekhyun’s was.

“Baekhyun…”

“Help the others first. We can’t open this one, it’s activated. Besides, I have my beast with me. We’ll be just fine.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah… Although, I think I’ll close my eyes for a bit.” Baekhyun’s eyes slid close.

“Baekhyun, wait! Don’t sleep, please. Stay awake for a while.” Chanyeol’s voice quivered.

“Ok, I’ll try, now go…” Not the least convinced, nevertheless, the fire guardian left to help his comrades, not noticing his lover’s brown eyes changing color to dark blue before closing. All the while, his hand that was resting on the glass fell on his side as he laid there unmoving.

Xiumin held up his hands, trying to stop Kai with ice blocks. Chen was beside him, accompanying his attacks with an electric twist as they both attacked Kai, who was teleporting around the area. Just then, he appeared behind Chen. Kai side-kicked Chen, who thankfully moved in time to block it, but was pushed back with recoil, he heard Xiumin.

“Chen!” Looking up, he saw Kai push Xiumin into one of the chambers. Chanyeol and Chen stood, looking at the expressionless guardian. Kai left Chanyeol and Chen and attacked Tao and Joonmyun. During which, Kris and Lay were busy getting Sehun out of the boxes. From the corner of his eyes, he saw Joonmyun and alerted Kris.

“Tao!” Kris roared, his eyes turning a golden color.

“Hyung, help!” Tao yelled before he was locked on the container beside Joonmyun. Immediately, gas flooded the glass case and the two fell asleep.

“Joonmyun!” And, Lay’s eyes changed into bluish silver, dotted with amber. They advanced but not knowing what is wrong with Jong In, they are unable to attack.

Now on one side, Luhan, Baekhyun, Xiumin, Joonmyun, and Tao inside the chambers unconscious; while Kris, Chen, Chanyeol, Lay, and Kyungsoo, who are gravely worried, stood on the opposite side. Kai stood in the middle, separating the guardians.

“Hahaha! Good work, guardian!” Hong Lee’s laughter echoed in the empty warehouse.

“I also got this.” He held up a small, red gem.

“How did you–”

“It wasn’t easy. But without this guardian’s help, I wouldn’t be able to actually get away with this.” Just then, Sehun came out from underneath the boxes. His shirt was teared, showing the skin have somewhat started bruising.

“Why are you doing this? We’ve never done anything to you.”

“Oh, you’ve done something alright. You probably didn’t know but I am the last descendant of the Hong. For generations, my family tried to stop you aliens from destroying earth with your inhuman powers. By using the last gem, our family heirloom from the red force, I am doing the world a favor by killing you, draining you forcefully of your powers!” His laughter, once again, echoed. He waved his hand. A dozen men came out and started firing at the guardians. Kris, Chen, Chanyeol, Lay, and Sehun jumped back to evade the bullets. However, Kyungsoo who was worrying over Jong In wasn’t able to move fast enough. He jumped, able to avoid every other bullet but one that made its way to his shoulder blade. Kyungsoo cried out in pain. His eyes shifted from brown to amber as his guardian mark appeared on the left side of his neck. Just then, Kai slumped down, his own mark blinking from blue to black on the right side of his neck. He gasped, suddenly unable to breathe.

“Jong In…” Kyungsoo managed to say before two men dragged his weakened body in another open chamber. Upon closing the container, Kyungsoo mouthed his lover’s name again. Filled with anger, Kai ran toward the gunners. Kris and the others decided to help him. Upon ridding knocking out those men who shot Kyungsoo, they quickly went to their other halves. Kai looked into Kyungsoo’s eyes, his gaze unwavering. Suddenly, his soft gaze was replaced, where his love for the older guardian was became blinded by anger. He looked back at Hong Lee who still, up on the boxes, stood while grinning triumphantly. When Kai stepped forward, Hong Lee held up a switch, daring the angered guardian to come closer.

“You said you won’t let harm come to him!”

“Did I? When? Next time, have it in paper, will you? You know us humans, we love white lies every now and then…”

“You! Is this really how humans are? If so, then I will not become one. I’ll kill you!” Just then, a voice echoed in his head.

“Jong In, don’t!” He started back at Kyungsoo’s sleeping figure.

“Remember, we are one. Don’t let your anger go ahead and end this. There must be another way. Our goal to become human, it is what we’ve always dreamed of.”

“That’s all it is now, a dream. It’s meaningless to me. Don’t you get it? If we become humans, we’ll change into people like him!” Jong In argued.

“Then, would you rather the cycle repeats?”

“Would you rather separate all of us again?”

“Would you make that choice and wait for years just so we could end up in this same situation?”

“Wake up, Kim Jong In! I don’t want to lose you again!”

“Let it go… you saw, how the protectors helped us? There are more people who run the world than by these men who have done wrong so please…” Kyungsoo’s voice trails off. In a moment, Kai’s red eyes flashed brown before it was red again. He stood defiantly. Along his side, Kris, Lay, Chanyeol, Chen, and Sehun faced Hong Lee. In a split second, Kai was gone and appeared behind Hong Lee.

“Don’t make me use this!” Hong Lee warned as the others approached. He looked at his hands and noticed that the switch was missing.

“Looking for this?”

In a few minutes, cheers were heard from the van outside. Some unfortunate passersby were spooked out in the middle of the day..

Red Writer’s Note: Hey guys! Is it too early to post another chapter? Anyway, here is another treat for you guys. What did you think about it? Is the story escalating well? Did I do well? I hope you guys like it. ^^