9th member of Stray Kids // y/n

chapter 24 ~ 식혀

The room is pin drop silent as Lee Know presses on the dispatch youtube live. No one dares to move until, finally the conference starts and Hyunjin comes out from the side bowing, to the reporters and sits down infront of the plethora of microphones on the table infront of him. His whole demeanour seems off, and his body language screams nervous as he plays with his thumbs in his lap, not being able to look straight into the camera. The whole speech he presents is very well thought out, and he spends a good 10 minutes explaining how everything was a misunderstanding, including his overdose. However, as soon as it's time for the questions, he is bombarded with them, left and right. Mostly accusations off lying about the brain surgery and being an addict but he kept his composure and stuck through the conference. There was a short intermission, so you stood up and went to the toilet to freshen up. Passing through the corridor, you noticed Hyunjin's door slightly ajar. Going to close it, you notice a strong breeze and open it to find the window strangely wide open. After closing it, you step out to go to the bathroom. The flat is completely silent, and the only thing heard are your footsteps against the wooden floorboards. You place your hand on the doorknob and turn it, opening it up and stepping inside whilst turning own the light switch. Only on the way out, after splashing your face with some cold water, do you realise Jeongin's smashed up phone on the floor. You pick it up and take it back to the living room to find that it's completely empty. Standing there confused, you look around in hopes it's just one of their silly pranks.

"Seriously, guys, time and place, you need to work on your jokes."
When there is not a single sound heard back, it is when you get angry.

"Guys, you realise the intermission ends in a minute."
You drop the phone on the sofa and go to the kitchen to check behind the island but to no avail. The whole flat seems deserted as you check all the rooms only to stop after you see your reflection in a mirror inside Changbin's room. Your hair is a mess, and you seem to be wearing a different jumper to what you remember putting on when you dressed up this morning. A loud thumping sound rings out across the apartment, so you run to the living room expecting everyone to be there, but cone to a halt when you realise everything is gone. The TV, the sofa, the house plant, carpet, curtains, coffee table, pictures on the walls, and the armchair. All except Jeongin's phone, which lays face down in the middle of the room. Hesitantly, you walk over to it, heart pounding. Whilst taking in the surroundings, it wasn't even this empty when everyone had first moved in. You crouch down in front of the phone on the ground, picking it up and turning it over.

' You can't save him '

It is written on a yellow back round. You furrow your eyebrows in confusion. Save who? Your thoughts are cut short when the ground begins to give away and rubble beneath you. Scrambling to the edge of the room, grabbing onto whatever you can, you barely make it before you feel the floor completely disappear, and you fall into a dark abyss, stomach turning upside-down The most guttural scream erupts from your lungs, and you jolt awake in your bed, hyperventilating, hand on heart, and beads of sweat running down your forehead. Seungmin almost immediately runs into your room with a terrified expression.

"What the fuck happened?"
You go to open your mouth but your vocals chord can't seem to produce a sound. Instead you stumble out of bed almost dragging the blanket with you. Confused, as he watches you practically run past him in the door way.

"Y/N...are you okay? Do I need to call Chan Hyung."
He calls out and you nod your head and Seungmin runs to Chris' room. The living room isn't bright but its obvious that its fully furnished and has an intact floor. Now, staring into the dark corridor, you step towards it and walk past everyone's room before making it to Hyunjins. And like the dream, it's open a crack, and you don't need to open the door to feel the breeze. Instead of going to close the window, you make your way to the bathroom and place your hand on the doorknob. At that moment, Chan comes running over with Seungmin, and he puts a hand on your shoulder.