Saviors

39

Jihoon woke with a start. It took him a second to figure out where he was and whose arms were around him. After a while, his speeding heart slowed and his breathing calmed. He was covered in an icy sweat. Jihoon felt gross. Dirty. Used. He wriggled out of Soonyoung's arms and sat up. Immediately, he locked eyes with Jeonghan, who was standing on the ladder with his phone. Jihoon jumped, waking Soonyoung.

"Jihoon? What's wrong?" He asked, alert. His eyes were wild.

"Nothing. Don't worry about it. It's just Jeonghan." Jihoon said with a sigh. Soonyoung turned towards Jeonghan, who was still on the ladder. Jihoon looked at the phone in Jeonghan's hands then blushed and looked down at his lap. "What time is it Hyung?"

"Five. I woke up when I heard you tossing and turning. The sound was coming from up here so I just had to take a look. Then I saw you two sleeping together." Jihoon blushed and Jeonghan waggled his eyebrows suggestively. "So, did anything happen last night?" Soonyoung glared down at his hands, an opposite reaction than what Jeonghan was thinking of. Jihoon looked away.

"We were followed home last night." Soonyoung growled. Jeonghan's eyes widened.

"By who?" Soonyoung stayed quiet.

"I... I got scared and didn't want to be alone." Jihoon mumbled. Soonyoung leaned towards Jihoon.

"Why were you freaking out this morning? Bad dream?" He whispered. Jihoon looked away but nodded after a while. "Was it about Minhyuk?" Another nod. Soonyoung clenched the blankets in his fists and clenched his jaw.

"Well. I'm going to get some more sleep. You two should as well. You both look beat." Jeonghan ruffled Jihoon's messy hair before climbing back down the ladder. Soonyoung pulled Jihoon back down into a laying position and wrapped his arms back around the younger boy.

"I'm not going to be able to fall back asleep Hyung." He whispered.

"Then just lay here with me."

~

Jihoon left to take his shower and Soonyoung left the room to meet Jihoon in the kitchen once he was done. Jeonghan quickly got out of bed then woke up Seungcheol.

"Hyung." He whispered harshly. "Wake up." With much prodding, Seungcheol finally got up. "Watch this." Jeonghan pulled out his phone and pulled up the video he took of Soonyoung and Jihoon sleeping together. It showed Jihoon squirming and calling out softly and Soonyoung stroking his hair without even opening his eyes. Jihoon calmed down but his eyes shot open and he stared at Soonyoung a moment before sitting up.

"They slept together last night?"

"Yeah, and here's the not so cute part. They were followed home." Jeonghan stopped to let it sink in. "Apparently it freaked Jihoon out so much that he asked if he could sleep with Soonyoung. Soonyoung didn't even offer, even though I'm sure he would have if Jihoon hadn't asked." Seungcheol looked at him in shock.

~

Once everyone was in the practice room, Soonyoung called a quick meeting. The members sat down in a circle, confused. Only Soonyoung and Jihoon knew what this was about. Jeonghan and Seungcheol had an idea about what it was about though.

"Last night, we were followed home." The members' eyes widened and their mouths dropped open. "If we just leave the door unlocked like we usually do, someone could take that chance to sneak in and ambush us. I've grabbed two keys for the front door. One is for Seungcheol Hyung when he takes the first group home for the night, the second is for Jihoon and whoever he's with. If you are the last to leave the house, ask to use a key to lock the door. Also, Jihoon is not to walk alone at all. Not even just at night. He always needs to be with someone. Does everyone understand?" Their faces were shocked as they nodded.

"Alright. Let's get back to practice everyone." Seungcheol called. The members got up slowly, like they were moving in slow motion.

~

   Jihoon spun in his office chair and looked up at the ceiling. He sighed. "I can't think of anything Hyung."

   "We've been at it long enough, and we've added some good lines and thoughts to pursue. Let's call it a night and go home." He rubbed his eyes. Jihoon suddenly felt guilty. He was keeping Soonyoung here instead of letting him sleep. The last three nights they had gone over notes and added little things that they thought would be good in the song. Jihoon could probably start writing the song the next night. 

   "You're right. Let's go." Large trees arched over them, spindly and bare in the winter. The buildings Jihoon and Soonyoung passed were all gray and desolate. The night was empty except for them. The last three nights Jihoon and Soonyoung had walked home together, and the last three nights they had the sensation of being followed. It was the same with that night. The air was cold and still, but they felt eyes on their backs and shadow hands pulling at their hair and arms. A scream interrupted the silence.

~

   Jeonghan peered over Jihoon's and Soonyoung's empty beds. Every morning, they were the first two up, and the last two back at night. Hopefully they were getting enough sleep. It would not be good if they both got sick.

   Jeonghan climbed out of his own bed and greeted Seungcheol, who was already up.

   "We should make them come home with us tonight." Seungcheol said while nodding to their beds. "I'm worried about how much sleep they're getting."

   "Me too. They both work too hard." Jeonghan said with a sigh. He laughed and shook his head. "The power couple." Seungcheol laughed with him and they finished getting dressed.

   When they both walked into the kitchen, they were surprised to see that Soonyoung and Jihoon were not sitting together at the table. Jun glanced at them.

   "Are the two lovebirds too sleepy this morning? It would make sense, they're both pushing themselves to their limits. Perhaps we should leave them a note to come in at nine or something." Jun commented. Seungcheol and Jeonghan looked at him in confusion.

   "Their beds were empty." Jeonghan told him. Jun dropped the spatula he was using to cook eggs, his eyes wide.

   "They haven't been out here." Mingyu said fearfully. Seungcheol paled and tore out of the room.

   "Jihoon! Soonyoung!" He bellowed. Jeonghan and Mingyu joined him in the search.

   Several members popped their heads out of their rooms.

   "What's wrong Hyung?" Minghao asked sleepily.

   "Soonyoung and Jihoon... we can't find them. They're not here!" The members stared in shock. "They never even came home last night." Seungcheol sank to his knees in tears. "I'm a failure of a leader. I let two of my members get kidnapped." He sobbed. Jeonghan bent down and wrapped his arms around Seungcheol. Someone else started crying as well.

   "We'll find them."

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I reached 2000 reads on my story a little bit ago, so if I get to 3000 reads on my story, maybe I'll do a Q and A. So think of any questions you want to ask me! They can be about anything. Hope you all enjoyed reading this chapter!😁