Music: Skin - Zola Jesus

Day 5

Yixing stumbles, muscles screaming at him to, "Slowdownslowdownslowdown."

Everything is fragmented, broken, and hunger digs sharp claws into his stomach, ripping and tearing and destroying.

The last time he ate had been yesterday morning, from a bush with yellow berries he vaguely recognized.

But at that point, with nothing but whatever water he could find sloshing around in his stomach, t-shirt hanging from his frame, he hadn't really cared whether they were dangerous or not.

He's still walking now, so he supposes it's safe.

But he can't keep going like this.

If anyone were to spot him right now, he might as well just lie down and bare his throat because there's no way he has enough strength to fight anyone off.

Yixing raises a shaking hand to push sweat-soaked bangs off his face.

The sun had risen this morning with hell's fire, heat pressing down from all angles, compressing, suffocating, burning.

Even in the shade, Yixing can feel his skin beginning to peel, red, angry splotches on the back of his hands, his cheeks, his neck.

Combustion doesn't seem too far away.

And if Yixing had thought the freeze from the first night in the arena had been painful, it's nothing compared to the way each breath he draws in scorches his throat, the way his clothes are sticking to heated skin, drenched with sweat, the way every step sends throbbing pain pounding through his head.

He's walking aimlessly, wandering, hoping to find water or food.

And so far there's been nothing but trees and trees and slivers of cloudless sky.

Yixing keeps walking.
 

"I'm so glad we've almost made it."

Yixing had said that two months into training, lying out on the rooftop of the training facility, Sehun close by, but not touching, the two of them staring up at the night sky.

It had been pleasant, warm but with a cool breeze, the lights of Seoul glittering in the distance.

Sehun had snuck a pack of alcohol from the kitchens, and half of the bottles had already been empty, some lying on their sides.

They didn't have training the following day, didn't have to wake up at 4 a.m. and pre