SEVENTEEN | SICKFICS - HURTFICS

Dk | Excalibur Part IV

Each of them stayed close, their faces filled with worry, not wanting to leave him alone. But the quiet in the room felt thick, the minutes stretching long as they anxiously watched DK struggle, his body twitching occasionally, his breath becoming more uneven.

Seungcheol glanced back at the others, his voice barely above a whisper. "We need to figure out what's really going on with him. He's been pushing himself too hard... and I think his body's finally giving out."

But even as he spoke those words, he could feel the fear settling in his chest. Would DK be alright? Would he be able to recover from everything he had been through, physically and mentally? The uncertainty hung heavy in the air, each member caught between concern for their friend and the realization that they had been so focused on supporting his dream, they had missed the signs of him slipping further into the dangerous depths of exhaustion.

And in that moment, there was nothing they could do but wait and hope that DK's body would find the strength to pull through.

Mingyu moved quickly, his face tight with worry as he cradled DK in his arms. His friend, once full of energy and life, now lay limp, his body burning with fever and unresponsive to the world around him. Every step he took toward the van felt like it weighed a thousand pounds, but he couldn't afford to slow down.

Hoshi, who had been pacing near the door, rushed ahead, his phone already in hand, speaking to the hospital staff as he arranged for their arrival. "We're on our way. He's not responding... I'm not sure what's going on, but we need immediate help."

Seungcheol, standing close behind them, kept his hand on his head, his thoughts racing with fear. "Come on, DK, hold on. Just a little longer."

Once they reached the van, Mingyu carefully placed DK in the backseat, his body still limp in his arms. He and Seungcheol sat beside him, trying to keep him as comfortable as possible while Hoshi drove with urgency. The streets passed in a blur, but all Mingyu could think about was how frail DK looked in that moment. His head was lolling, his skin pale and clammy with sweat, and his body still too hot to the touch.

"Stay with us, DK," Mingyu whispered under his breath, though he knew his friend couldn't hear him. "Please."

When they finally arrived at the hospital, the staff was already waiting, clearly briefed by Hoshi's earlier call. As soon as the van doors opened, the nurses and doctors rushed to meet them. They helped carefully lift DK from the van and onto a gurney, covering him with a warm blanket to prevent his body from going into shock.

The urgency in the air was palpable as the medical team began to work, taking swift action to stabilize him. Mingyu's grip on DK's hand tightened before he reluctantly let go, allowing the nurses to take over. His heart pounded in his chest as he watched them push the gurney toward the emergency room.

"Is he going to be okay?" Seungcheol asked, his voice strained with worry.

"We need to assess him first," one of the doctors said without looking back, walking alongside them. "We'll take care of him. Please wait in the waiting area, and we'll keep you updated."

The words hit Seungcheol like a cold wave, but he nodded. "Okay... okay. Please make sure he's alright."

As the doors to the emergency room swung shut behind them, the members stood frozen for a moment in the hallway, the weight of the situation sinking in. Hoshi quickly ushered them toward the waiting room, his voice steady but his face pale.

The room felt too small, too still as they all gathered, none of them quite able to sit. Seungkwan paced back and forth, his hands wringing together in nervousness. Woozi stood by the window, staring out but not really seeing anything. Joshua and Jeonghan sat together, their voices quiet as they tried to reassure each other. Mingyu, still visibly shaken, sat in a chair near the door, his head in his hands as he leaned forward.