SEVENTEEN | SICKFICS - HURTFICS I

Junhui | Fire

The dorm was a testament that bound the members of SEVENTEEN together. It was a cozy haven, filled with the laughter of friends, the sounds of late-night practice, and the occasional raucous celebrations that came with every successful performance. It was a home they all cherished, but on that fateful night, it was about to become the site of a nightmare.

Junhui, known for his calm demeanor and caring nature, was in the middle of a late-night practice session. His fellow members had already gone to bed, worn out from the day's schedule. Junhui was working through a particularly demanding routine, the silence of the dorm punctuated only by the rhythmic thud of his footsteps and the occasional creak of the wooden floorboards.

The fire started almost imperceptibly-a small spark igniting in the kitchen due to a short circuit. At first, it was just smoke curling from the corners of the kitchen. Junhui was so engrossed in his practice that he didn't notice it immediately. But soon, the smell of burning started to invade the space, and the smoke alarms began their relentless shrieking.

Junhui stopped mid-step, his heart racing. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked around, realizing something was wrong. The smoke was getting thicker, and the smell of burning was unmistakable. Panic rose in his chest as he ran towards the source of the smoke.

"Guys, wake up!" Junhui shouted, banging on the doors of the other members' rooms. His voice was rough with urgency. "There's a fire!"

He pounded on the door to the room where Joshua was sleeping. "Joshua! Joshua hyung, wake up!"

Joshua jolted awake, disoriented. "Junhui? What's happening?"

"Fire! We need to get out-now!"

The dorm was in chaos. Members poured out of their rooms, their faces filled with confusion and alarm. Mingyu was the first to react, his tall frame darting through the smoke-filled hallways.

"Get to the emergency exits!" Mingyu yelled, trying to cut through the noise and panic.

Vernon, always the level-headed one, grabbed a towel and covered his mouth and nose. "Stay low! The smoke is thickest near the ceiling."

Hoshi, ever the energetic leader, was already moving people towards the door, but the smoke was spreading rapidly, filling the entire building with a choking haze.

Junhui's heart was pounding. He counted heads quickly-everyone was out of their rooms, but there was still a problem. Seungkwan was missing.

"Seungkwan!" Junhui shouted over the noise. "Where are you?"

Seungkwan's voice came from the direction of the living room. "I'm here! I can't see anything!"

Junhui sprinted towards the living room, the smoke growing denser with each step. He could barely see, but he could hear Seungkwan's coughing and wheezing. He reached out, his hand brushing against Seungkwan's arm.

"I've got you!" Junhui said, pulling Seungkwan towards the exit. "We need to move quickly!"

Junhui managed to guide Seungkwan towards the stairwell, but as he did, he heard another voice. "Junhui! What about the others?"

It was Jeonghan, who had come back to look for him. "We're almost out! What about you?"

"I'm not leaving until everyone's safe," Junhui said firmly. "Go with the others hyung. I'll be right behind you."

Jeonghan hesitated. "Junhui, it's too dangerous!"

"I can't just leave them behind hyung," Junhui insisted. "Go now!"

Jeonghan nodded, looking reluctant but knowing Junhui's resolve was unwavering. He turned and ran towards the exit, leading the others outside.

Junhui made his way back inside, but the fire was spreading rapidly. The hallway was nearly impassable with thick smoke and flames licking at the walls. His heart raced as he tried to locate the remaining members. He reached the practice room and saw Woozi struggling to get through the smoke.

"Hyung!" Woozi shouted, his voice strained. "I'm trying to get to the others, but the smoke is too thick!"

"Stay close to me!" Junhui called back, grabbing Woozi's arm. "We need to get out of here."

But as Junhui turned to guide Woozi back, he heard a loud crack-a part of the ceiling had collapsed, blocking their way. The smoke was getting worse, and Junhui felt himself growing weaker. His vision blurred as he tried to stay conscious.

Outside, the firefighters arrived quickly. The sight of the burning dorm was terrifying, but they moved with precision and efficiency. The leader of the team, Captain Park, coordinated with his crew as they prepared to enter the building.

"We have to find anyone left inside," Captain Park ordered. "Be careful, the smoke is thick and the structure is unstable."

The firefighters made their way into the building, using their equipment to cut through the smoke and debris. Their heat sensors helped them locate the trapped members.

In the practice room, they found Junhui lying unconscious on the floor, Woozi beside him, trying to revive him. The firefighters quickly moved in, pulling Junhui out of the smoke and administering first aid.

"Stay with us, Junhui," one of the firefighters urged, his voice calm and reassuring. "We're getting you out of here."

Outside, the members of SEVENTEEN were gathered, their faces etched with worry. They watched anxiously as the firefighters carried Junhui out. Joshua, still shaken, held onto Jeonghan's arm for support.

"Junhui... he's going to be okay, right?" Joshua asked, his voice trembling.

"We did everything we could," Jeonghan said, trying to be reassuring. "He's strong. He'll pull through."

The paramedics quickly assessed Junhui's condition and rushed him to the hospital. The other members followed, their concern for their friend outweighing their own fear and fatigue.

At the hospital, they waited in the waiting room, the tension palpable. The hours seemed to stretch on forever. Finally, a nurse came out to update them.

"Junhui is stable," the nurse said, her voice calm. "He suffered from smoke inhalation and exhaustion, but he's awake now. You can see him soon."

Relief washed over them, and they thanked the nurse before heading to Junhui's room. As they entered, Junhui was propped up in bed, an oxygen mask over his face. His eyes fluttered open when he heard their footsteps.

"Hey," Junhui croaked, his voice weak but filled with a warm, familiar tone.

"Junhui!" The members rushed to his side, their faces a mixture of relief and affection.

"How are you feeling?" Hoshi asked, his voice thick with emotion.

"I'm okay," Junhui said, his eyes glistening with tears. "Just a bit tired."

"Hyung, you saved us," Seungkwan said, his voice breaking. "We thought we'd lost you."

Junhui shook his head, a faint smile on his lips. "We're a team. I couldn't just leave anyone behind."

In the days that followed, the dorm was a mess of charred walls and broken furniture, but the bond between the members was stronger than ever. They lived in temporary accommodations while their dorm was being repaired, their hearts warmed by the knowledge that they were together.

Junhui recovered well, his strength returning with each passing day. He was often visited by his members, their presence a constant reminder of their shared strength and unity.

One evening, as they sat together in their temporary living space, Junhui looked around at his friends, his heart full of gratitude.

"I'm just glad we're all okay," Junhui said softly. "Thank you for being there for me."

"We're always here for you," Joshua replied. "We're a family, and nothing can change that."

As they sat together, the warmth of their connection overshadowed the memory of the fire. They had faced a terrifying ordeal, but they had emerged from it stronger and more united. And as they looked forward to their future, they knew that whatever challenges came their way, they would face them together.

The fire had tested their strength and resilience, but it had also highlighted the depth of their bond. Junhui's bravery had saved lives, and the experience had forged an unbreakable connection among the members of SEVENTEEN. Their dorm, though scarred, would be rebuilt, but their spirit-the fire within them-was undiminished, burning brighter than ever.