The Family That's Ours (Sequel to Family)

I'm home, dad

"Come in, everyone!"

Dae's eyes were locked closed, but she felt the harsh feeling of fluorescents on her masked irises.

She heard quieted footsteps hurry themselves in whatever location Dae's body floated its way into.

"It should be any moment now; her consciousness is in full bloom."

It was sudden; only a moment prior, she had felt nothing: Dae felt as if she was a ghost, or nothing living in that matter.

Air. Oxygen. Lights. Movement. Revival.

It was as if Dae had been birthed again, and every automated human action was something she felt she had to relearn.

She slowly opened her eyes, getting comfortable with the way she blinked. Gradually, she scanned the room, recognizing eight familiar faces. She noticed how unscathed they appeared.

"What happened?" Dae's voice was horribly hoarse; she flinched at the scratchy sound she had produced.

Noticing this, the doctor excused himself to grab Dae something to drink.

"You," Felix hesitated. "You got shot."

"Oh. So that did happen."

Chan approached Dae and sat at the foot of her bed. "You've been out for four years."

Dae didn't respond; she only stared at her hands. "So I'm twenty?"

"No, my dear," Hyunjin responded. "You're sixteen."

"But you said I was out for four years." Dae shook her head, brushing the confusing thought out of her mind. "Am I okay?"

They all halfheartedly smiled at her simple question.

"Well, take a look at yourself. Five surgeries fixed almost all of your medical issues. Now that you're awake, the doctor will have to run more tests to assure you're 100 percent alright. But, for the most part, you're doing okay."

"You can thank JYP for the hospital bills. He organized a charity-"

"You allowed JYP to help me after he did this to me?" Dae angrily burst. "Have we stooped this low?!"

Stray Kids shrank back at their daughter's outburst.

"What did JYP do?" Jeongin questioned.

"Tried to kill me! You were all there! In the basement..." Dae's words got quieter as she tried to remember the events that almost caused her demise. "Felix opened the door... and JYP... I don't remember."

"Dae," Felix began. "Who are we?"

"You're Stray Kids."

The doctor returned with a glass of water that could've been more useful four minutes ago when her throat was dry. Dae drank the water frivolously, silently thanking the doctor.

"How did you get shot?" Felix continued to question.

"You were chained in Detention. I rescued you from JYP, but he shot me."

"What is our job?" Felix finally asked.

"You were the strongest mafia in the world," Dae concluded. "You ruled Korea."

Stray Kids' eyes widened.

"Dae, we've never been in the mafia," Chan started. "We're idols."

The young girl's depiction of reality crumbled before her, and Stray Kids witnessed it all. Slowly, she began to cry. Harder and harder as the seconds progressed.