Ocean's Descent ||| Woosan (Ateez)

49

"Mingi!!" Yunho shouted before running forward, desperation written all over his face. "Mingi!!"

San swore under his breath. The care was right there, mere steps away, and the ticket to getting out of here. Yet... He found himself yelling, "Get him in the car and start it."

"No, don't San!" Yeosang tried to reach for him, but he had to readjust to accommodate Wooyoung's extra weight when San let go.

"San!" Jongho cried out, trying to get him to stop as well, but San was already well out of reach.

He wouldn't abandon the mermen. He couldn't. Not when he knew how much they meant to Wooyoung. Not when they had sacrificed so much to help.

Pushing his body as fast as he could, San followed Yunho back through the hole in the wall. The taller was already halfway back to the door, his long legs hurdling him through the thick smoke billowing from the building.

The fire was getting worse.

Great flames of orange, red, and yellow flickered and snapped and roared. And it was so extremely hot.

"Yunho! Wait!" San called. He lifted the collar of his shirt up to cover his nose in hopes of not breathing in as much smoke. Though his throat was already scratchy. "Yunho! C-Cover your nose!"

The merman stopped and spun around, anger radiating from him that quickly faded when he noticed what San was doing. A flicker of trust passed over his eyes and he immigrated the human by covering his nose.

They ran the rest of the way together. But time was running out. The fire was spreading to the gardens... If they took to long, it was possible their exit would be blocked.

Yunho seemed to be thinking the same thing, because he paused at the first fountain they came to and started lifting his hands up. The pendant he wore started to glow at the same time water rose from the basin. He worked quickly to douse the flames around them, soaking the ground, plants, and path with as much water as he could.

It worked, mostly, leaving behind clouds of hissing steam. Hopefully it would prevent the flames from spreading there again.

But there was no time to think about that. San and Yunho started running again. When the door appeared, Yunho flung his arms out to the sides, using his magic to rip it from its hinges and send it flying.

Just in time for two bodies to stumble out and fall to their hands and knees, coughing violently.

"Mingi!" Yunho dropped to his knees as well and started rubbing Mingi's back. "Are you ok? What happened?"

The prince lifted one hand, taking deep, ragged breaths, but all it led to was more coughing.

San knelt next to the other man, the one who had poured the white liquid on Wooyoung, and shook his head. "We need to get out of here, then we can talk."

He moved to help lift Mingi up, ducking under his left arm while Yunho took the right, and started to move away from the building.

"Wa... Wait." Mingi croaked, shaking his head and coughing. "Hi... Him too..."

"We don't have time!" San said with a grunt as Mingi shifted his weight.

"Him... too..." The prince ordered.

San ground is teeth together, really hating everything happening right now. He had to force himself to turn around, but once he said the pleading look on the man's face, San knew he couldn't leave him to die.

He crouched down and held his arms out. "Get on. Hurry!"

With several pain coughs, the man, San thought he remembered his name as Hongjoong, crawled onto his back.