𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐩𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐩𝐬𝐞~ 𝐅𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐇. 𝐅𝐚𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐜

𝐇𝐞'𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤

»»---->𝑱𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒕<----««

𝐀𝐊𝐓 𝟓

☂︎

.・゜-: ✧ :-17 years ago -: ✧ :-゜・．

All seven of us were in the car, pulling up in front of our house. We had just returned from a mission and were greeted by a cheering crowd. Children and adults held up posters and banners. My breath hitched, and I started breathing more heavily. I hated being in crowds like this.

Five noticed and grabbed my hand. As we walked past the crowd, a boy suddenly grabbed my arm. His grip was firm.

"Excuse me, I'm your biggest fan," the boy said, grabbing my arm tightly. I wanted to say something, but no words came out. Before I could react, Five immediately stepped in. He roughly grabbed the boy by his blazer and pulled him away.

"What do you think you're doing? Don't touch her!" Five yelled, pushing the boy back slightly. The boy was wearing the same uniform as us, which confused me even more. Why was he here, and why was he dressed like us?

Five wrapped an arm around me and quickly led me inside the house. He sat me down on the couch and carefully removed my mask to look at my face.

"Are you alright?" he asked softly, his eyes searching my face with concern.

I nodded slightly, even though my breathing was still shallow. Five stayed by my side, keeping his arm around me in a comforting gesture.

.・゜-: ✧ :-Today-: ✧ :-゜・．

"I don't know. Not yet," he said, and I groaned softly, a bit annoyed that Five couldn't give us a clear answer. "But I do know he's responsible for the apocalypse. So we have to find him, and we have to find him fast," he added.

"What role does he play in all this?" Luther asked. Five just shrugged. "I don't know."

"Wait, so you only know his name and that he might have something to do with the apocalypse, but nothing else?" I asked, horrified. Five looked at me. "That's enough."

"There are probably dozens of Harold Jenkins' around here," Diego muttered, and I could imagine him thinking that Five had completely lost it. (Not that he wasn't already.) "Then let's start searching."

"Am I the only one who's skeptical here?" Allison asked, and I shook my head. My gaze fell on Five. He was staring at his stomach, looking frustrated, but I kept quiet and didn't ask. Allison continued, "How do you even know about this... what's his name again?"

"Harold Jenkins," I interrupted.

"Do you guys remember those masked freaks?" Five asked.

"Oh yeah, I remember them... I think," Klaus replied, and Diego nodded. "They shot at us, and Rose almost died while you were getting drunk," Diego threw at Klaus.

Five looked at me, and our eyes met. His expression seemed to show regret for leaving me alone back then. I shook my head slightly, signaling that it was okay, that he shouldn't blame himself. His frown returned when he noticed my look, and he turned back to the others.

"They were sent by the Commission to stop me from preventing the apocalypse."

"The what Commission?" Allison was visibly confused.

"My former employer. They monitor the space-time continuum and make sure everything happens the way it's supposed to. They believe the world has to end in three days. I was at the Commission's headquarters and intercepted a command that went to the masked guys: 'Protect Harold Jenkins.' So, he has to be the one responsible for the apocalypse."

For a moment, there was silence, until Luther, Diego, and Allison all started talking at once.

"Who's monitoring what?"

"That doesn't make any sense."

"That sounds insane," Allison protested, and you could see Five starting to lose his patience - though just a little.

"You know what really sounds insane? I look like a 13-year-old kid. So does Rose. Klaus talks to the dead. And Luther thinks he looks normal in his jacket. Everything about us is insane. Always has been." His voice was frustrated.

"There's truth in that," Klaus mumbled quietly.

"We didn't choose this," Five continued. "But we've got three days left. Last time, we all died. So why shouldn't I fly to my daughter?" Allison retorted, still hesitant.

"Because this time I'm here, and we know who's responsible. Guys, this time we have a chance to save billions of people. Including Claire."

At her daughter's name, Allison sharply looked up and stared at Five. "You know her name?"

"Yeah, and I'd like to live long enough to meet her."

His voice was calm and soft now. Allison nodded slightly and walked up to him. "Alright, let's get this bastard."

"You had me at Gerald Jenkins," she said with a smirk.

"Harold Jenkins," Five corrected.

"Whatever. I've lost two people this week. That's enough for me," Diego muttered and stepped up to Five. "Luther?"

"Go ahead. I'm staying here and going through Dad's notes. I think it has something to do with my moon mission," Luther explained, and Diego shot him an incredulous look.

"Seriously? The world is ending, and you're still hung up on Dad?"

"Looking for dangers was my mission. This is no coincidence. It's all connected," Luther defended himself.

"Let's stick together," Allison said, placing her hand on his shoulder.

"We don't have time for this," Five cut in, his voice cool, and Diego added, "Let's go. I know where we can find that jerk. Klaus, come on."

"Uh, no. I... I'll pass. I'm kinda out of it," Klaus mumbled, groaning softly as he left the living room.

Five just shook his head, and together, he, Diego, and Allison left the house. I stood there alone, chuckling softly.

"Nothing's changed," I murmured. When we were kids, I was often forgotten. Only Five never forgot me. But now, it seemed he had.

☂︎

I sighed, went to my old room, and sat down in front of my laptop to continue writing the story that had consumed me for months.

I was so absorbed in it that I only returned to reality when the ringing of my phone startled me. I glanced at the display - and froze at the message that appeared.