Apocalypse ✦ Nomin

77

⊱ ───── { Jeno } ───── ⊰

"There's only two people here that blood could belong to, and I doubt it's Renjun,"  Jeno says worriedly as he takes large strides across the hall to reach the next set of stairs.

"I know..." Jisung concedes, not arguing with the conclusion he's come to. Jeno knew he was thinking the same thing as him.

The two race down the stairs and get to the floor below. Jeno makes a beeline straight for the only two doors in the entire room which are side by side and painted a scarlet red. It's a stark contrast to the light grey of the walls that surround it.

Jeno reaches for the black metal doorknobs, but before he's able to pull them, the doors are forced open for him. Jeno immediately leaps back as four men walk through the threshold together.

"That was a fucking bitch to deal with," the one at the forefront of the group complains just before his eyes rest on Jeno, "What the fuck are you two doing here? You were supposed to find Sungchan and the vermin."

"Jaemin's voice came to me begging for me to help him. I think it's too late. I think Yuta already has him," Jeno explains not only to Xiao, but the others as well, "We went to my study a few floors up on our way to come find you guys, and...and we saw a pool of blood in the floor."

"Do you know for sure it was from–"

"It was human blood," he cuts Chenle off before he's able to finish his question, "There's no doubt in my mind that it was Jaemin's..."

"To be fair, Sungchan could have been the culprit," Xiao states, "It's more likely than not that Sungchan tried eating him. Still, I'm positive that the vermin is not being eaten alive right now. Considering you didn't find a skeleton, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that either your father came to his rescue before being devoured, or Sungchan had a taste and then took him straight to your father. At least, those are the two options I find the most viable."

"Only one way to find out," Jisung glances back towards the staircase, "We need to get to the place where Jeno's father is keeping Renjun. If Jaemin isn't there, he's sure to get there soon. Do you guys have the sword?"

"Right here," Chenle remarks as he moves past the others and approaches Jisung and Jeno. He holds the Ares sword by the hilt, keeping the blade pointed downward. He extends it towards Jeno for him to safely take from him without touching the glowing blue blade.

"Thank you," he murmurs, and Chenle flashes him a sympathetic smile.

"He's gonna be okay."

"I hope so."

Jisung pats Jeno's shoulder as Chenle wanders to stand beside him.

"So what's the plan?" Mark inquires as he looks to Jeno for answers.

Jeno shakes his head, still trying to process the fact Jaemin was in the hands of someone all too willing of doing vile things to Jaemin. His panic over the mere idea of losing Jaemin again clouds his judgement and makes it nearly impossible to think. Still, he tries his best.

"Xiao, are you able to sneak us all into the place Yuta is keeping them?"

"In all honesty, I'd bet my soul on the idea that he already knows we're here. Especially after you transported yourself to the study," Xiao remarks.

"I didn't say I-"

"You got here before we could even finish getting the sword so either you two are impossibly fast or you mistake me for an idiot," Xiao shoots him an unamused glare.