Demonic || Seventeen

Demonic 1

The sky was a bright, cloudless blue as Lee Seokmin sat under a tree, laughing with his friends-Boo Seungkwan, Chwe Hansol, and Kim Mingyu. The mood was light and carefree, just another peaceful day in the village nestled against the mighty walls that had shielded humanity for a century.

Seungkwan was in the middle of telling one of his dramatic stories when a deafening explosion shook the ground. The force of it nearly knocked Seokmin over, and the air was instantly filled with the terrifying roar of monsters breaching the wall. His laughter died, replaced by a sinking dread.

"What... was that?" Seungkwan's voice trembled as he stood up, eyes wide in panic.

Seokmin's heart pounded in his chest, the sound of the explosion still ringing in his ears. His mind screamed that it couldn't be happening. The walls had always stood, protecting them from the Demonic-monstrous beings that haunted the edges of humanity's history. But now, as they all turned toward the source of the sound, the truth was undeniable.

Hordes of Demonic creatures poured through a massive hole in the outer wall. Massive beasts with twisted horns and claws, moving in a blur of violence and chaos. They crashed through homes and tore through the streets, leaving destruction in their wake. Seokmin's village was being torn apart.

Without a second thought, Seokmin bolted toward his home. His heart raced faster than his feet as he ran past crumbling buildings, his friends chasing after him. The screams of villagers rang in his ears, but all he could think of was his family.

When he reached his house, his breath hitched in his throat. There, in front of him, his parents stood frozen in fear. His younger sister was crying, clinging to their mother's leg. And behind them, looming like death itself, was a Demonic.

"Mom! Dad! Get out of there!" Seokmin shouted, his voice cracking with desperation. He moved to rush toward them, to save them, but before he could take more than a step, he felt someone grab him-Mingyu.

"Seokmin, no!" Mingyu's voice was filled with urgency. "We have to go! We have to get to the other wall!"

"No! My family-" Seokmin's voice broke as he fought to free himself from Mingyu's grip, but Mingyu held him back, stronger than ever. Tears blurred Seokmin's vision as he saw the Demonic swipe its massive claw. His mother pushed his sister behind her, but it was futile. The beast's strike was swift, brutal, and final.

Seokmin screamed. His world crumbled as he watched the life leave his family's eyes, their bodies falling limp in the dirt. He struggled harder, trying to run to them, to do something-anything-but Mingyu pulled him away.

"We can't stay here! They're gone, Seokmin!" Mingyu's voice was thick with emotion, but his grip didn't waver. "If we stay, we'll die too. We need to get to the ship, now!"

Seokmin couldn't breathe. He couldn't think. His legs gave out beneath him, and he collapsed to the ground. His whole body trembled as he sobbed, his heart shattering with each second that passed. The weight of the loss was unbearable. His family-his whole world-was gone.

Hansol and Seungkwan caught up, their faces pale, filled with fear and sorrow as they took in the scene. "We have to go," Hansol said quietly, his voice barely audible over the chaos. "The Demonic are everywhere."

Mingyu hoisted Seokmin up, dragging him toward the docks where a ship was waiting to take the survivors to safety. Seokmin's feet moved, but his mind was elsewhere, trapped in that moment-watching his family die, powerless to save them.

As they boarded the ship, Seokmin collapsed onto the deck, his body wracked with silent sobs. He stared blankly at the sky, his friends standing by his side, unsure of how to comfort him. They had all lost something today, but for Seokmin, the loss was everything.