MULTIVERSE | ATEEZ & XIKERS

Xikers' Journey to Ateez | Chapter 12

Xikers returned to their own universe, a mirrored version of the normal world. This realm, though familiar, now bore the weight of their haunting experiences. They couldn't shake the memories, the guilt, and the anguish of what they had seen and done.

Minjae and Junmin would often transform into flames, zipping through the night sky, creating intricate patterns that bewildered onlookers. Sumin and Jinsik took delight in rearranging items in people's homes, leaving them to scratch their heads in confusion. Seeun and Junghoon whispered secrets into the ears of the unsuspecting, their laughter echoing eerily. Hyunwoo and Yujun caused playful disturbances in public places, like flickering lights and sudden gusts of wind. Hunter and Yechan would create elaborate illusions, making people see things that weren't there.

Despite their playful haunting, the trauma lingered beneath their antics. Every prank and trick was a small rebellion against the darkness that threatened to consume them. They were trying to find a semblance of control in a world that had shown them its cruelest side.

In the quiet moments, when the laughter faded and the blue flames dimmed, they would gather together, sharing their burdens and comforting each other. Their bond, forged in the fires of conflict, was unbreakable. They had each other, and in their playful mischief, they found a way to keep the darkness at bay.

The night was quiet, with only the soft glow of blue flames lighting the darkened landscape. Xikers had gathered, as they often did, to share stories and seek comfort in each other's company. They  sat in a loose circle, their mischievous grins momentarily replaced by pensive expressions. Minjae broke the silence, his voice barely above a whisper. "Do you ever wonder how Ateez is doing?"

Hyunwoo sighed, staring at the flickering flames in his hands. "Yeah, I think about them all the time.. I hope they're okay."

Sumin nodded, his eyes reflecting the blue light. "They felt like.. family" he then added, "We have no way of finding out, do we? But it doesn't hurt to hope they're safe and happy."

Seeun looked up, his face solemn. "They were strong, all of them. If anyone can survive and thrive after all that, it wouldve been them." Minjae smiled faintly. "Remember how San would always keep our spirits up, even in the darkest times? His laughter was contagious."

Junghoon leaned forward, his expression thoughtful. "Do you think they remember us? Or have they moved on completely?"

Someone spoke up. It was Yechan "Of course they remember us. How could they forget? We fought side by side, through thick and thin."

Yujun nodded in agreement. "Yeah, those kinds of bonds don't just disappear. They're probably thinking about us too, wondering where we are."

Hunter, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke. "I like to think they're doing well. That they found some peace after all the chaos."

Yechan, the youngest, looked around at his friends. "Do you think we'll ever see them again?"

There was a moment of silence as they all pondered the question. The fire crackled, filling the void.

Minjae finally broke the silence, his voice filled with determination. "Maybe one day. When the world is full of surprises. Until then, we keep them in our hearts."

Junmin smiled, placing a hand on Minjae's shoulder. "Yeah, and we keep on living. For them, and for us." It was silent again for a while, Sumin broke the peaceful silence with a contemplative sigh. "I never knew humans could be like that," he murmured, his gaze distant. "We always saw them as toys to play with, to manipulate for our amusement."

Seeun spoke softly, his eyes reflecting the dancing flames. "Remember when Hongjoong stayed up all night strategizing? Or when Seonghwa comforted us after a tough battle?" "And Jongho," Seeun continued, "quiet but fiercely loyal. He showed us that strength comes in many forms."

They fell silent again, each lost in their memories of the members who had touched their lives in profound ways. For Xikers, who had once viewed humans as mere playthings, Ateez had been a revelation. They had shown them the depth of human emotion, resilience, and kindness, forever changing their perspective on the world and their place in it.

Minjae, suddenly broke the contemplative silence again. His voice was thoughtful yet determined as he brought up the topic of the chromer, the device they used to change dimensions or teleport.

"Hey, where did the chromer go?" he asked, his brow furrowing with concern. "Did Ateez take it with them when they left? And remember, there's supposed to be a duplicate in every dimension. If we find ours, we could use it to search for them in their world."

Junmin nodded, intrigued by the idea. "That's right. If we can locate the chromer in our mirrored universe, we might be able to track down Ateez and reunite with them."

"Let's make a plan and get started. We owe it to Ateez, and ourselves, to try." With Hunter's words fueling their determination, Xikers transformed into their blue fire forms and raced through their dimension. They combed through every corner, scanning every street and peering into every alley. They searched relentlessly, leaving no stone unturned, driven by the hope of finding the elusive chromer that could reunite them.

Days turned into weeks, and finally, after a month of tireless searching, they discovered it hidden away in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of their world. The chromer, gleaming with potential and possibility, lay dormant but intact.

Minjae approached it cautiously, his heart racing with excitement and anticipation. "We found it," he breathed, a mix of relief and joy washing over him.

The others gathered around, their eyes the shimmering blue flames of their forms. "Now we can find Ateez," Junmin said, his voice filled with determination. Minjae cautiously turned the chromer around, activating it with a resolute click. A blinding flash engulfed them, disorienting Xikers momentarily. When the light subsided, they found themselves standing in the familiar surroundings of the abandoned warehouse.

Confusion rippled through the group as they realized this wasn't their mirrored world, it was World A, the dimension where Ateez originated. Minjae frowned, recalling what they had learned from Ateez about this place being where they trained and spent time before Hongjoong had discovered the chromer.

Yujun surveyed their surroundings, recognizing the distinct layout and familiar artifacts scattered around. "This is it," he murmured, a mixture of awe and determination in his voice. "We're in world A."

Hyunwoo grinned, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "We made it," he exclaimed, his voice echoing in the empty warehouse. "Now we just need to find them." Junghoon's sharp eyes caught sight of a crumpled newspaper lying on the ground of the abandoned warehouse. It looked relatively new, its edges slightly torn where someone had clearly discarded it in frustration. Carefully picking it up, Junghoon's gaze fell upon the headline featuring Hongjoong's name prominently.

The headline read: "Hongjoong's Book of Impossibilities"

Furrowing his brow, Junghoon scanned the article quickly. It detailed Hongjoong's latest publication, a book that purportedly contained accounts of events deemed impossible by conventional standards. Could this be referring to their journey into World Z to battle against the government?

As Junghoon read further, he found no mention of the other Ateez members in the article. No signs of Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung, or Jongho. Had they gone their separate ways? Or were they involved?

Junghoon's mind raced with questions as he folded the newspaper and tucked it under his arm. his heart heavy with the weight of the truth he had uncovered. As he read through the article, it became clear that Ateez had indeed gone their separate ways. They were scattered across different countries, pursuing divergent paths in life.

While Junghoon knew he needed to share this revelation with the rest of Xikers, he hesitated. They had come so far together, The news of their separation would undoubtedly be a blow to their spirits, already weary from their journey.

Gazing at his companions, their blue flames flickering with hope and determination, Junghoon made a silent promise to himself.

He would wait for the right moment to reveal the truth. For now, they needed to stay focused on their mission to locate Hongjoong.