It had been few days since the hate trucks.
And though the trucks had left, their impact lingered like smoke in the lungs.
Joshua had grown thinner.
Quieter.
Weaker.
His eyes were sunken, the bags beneath them dark from countless sleepless nights. His clothes hung looser on his frame. He barely ate. Barely spoke. The Joshua who once brought warmth into every room now moved like a shadow silent, trembling, and fragile.
His boyfriends his twelve anchors remained by his side day and night. But outside their private walls, none of that could be shown. The world only saw thirteen members. Not lovers. Not protectors. Not soulmates trying to keep their universe from crumbling.
Now, Seventeen had an overseas schedule. For the first time since the storm began, they had to go public.
The airport.
A sea of flashing lights, yelling voices, crowds pushing against one another.
And Joshua... was terrified.
He sat between Jeonghan and Seungcheol in the van, his hands clenched tightly in his lap. He hadn't spoken since morning. His lips were dry. His skin pale. His fingers trembled against the hem of his shirt, which he gripped like a lifeline.
"We're right here," Jeonghan whispered, just loud enough for him to hear. "We're walking beside you."
"You don't have to smile," Seungcheol added quietly. "Just breathe, baby. That's enough."
Joshua gave a small nod. No words.
The van pulled up.
The crowd was louder than usual. A mix of cameras, airport security, and fans. But not all cheers. Some whispers, sharp and poisonous, cut through like knives.
"There he is."
"Did you see how skinny he got?"
"Traitor still dares to show up?"
"He should've left the group."
Joshua's legs were shaking before he even stepped out.
They walked out in a line, as they always did. Professional. Composed. Distant but inside, chaos raged.
Joshua clung to the hem of his shirt, his knuckles white.
His heart was pounding. Each camera flash felt like lightning against his skin. Every footstep echoed in his head. He wanted to disappear. To melt into the ground. The glares, the whispers, the hidden insults he felt every one of them.
He was trying.
Trying to be strong.
Trying to breathe.
But then
A scream.
A woman broke through the barricade.
Security moved too late.
In a single, horrifying moment, she lunged forward, something glinting in her hand.
Joshua didn't even realize it at first.
A sharp pain, a gasp, a jolt and then everything blurred.
The blade sunk into his side just below the ribs.
Time stopped.
A choked cry left his lips as his legs buckled.
Blood. Warm. Spreading.
All he could do was look down and see the crimson pool forming beneath his trembling hands.
He collapsed to his knees.
