• cards | nct 2018 •

seven || mystery

A/N: tWO more exams left on thurs and fri 👌👌 p.s why does additional maths exist?

"mark....don't you think it's odd they haven't came out?" renjun frowns as police sirens whirl wildly, a barrier put up to split the civilians and the centre.

"...you're right. even if it's a prank of sorts, they'd never go this far," mark purses his lips in thought. "we're going in. jeno and jaemin, stay out here for now." mark orders, in which they both nod in turn.

the duo pushes through the crowd and approaches a policeman standing guard.

"sorry, you cannot enter." the policeman blocks their path.

mark rolls his eyes. "we don't have time for this." he holds up a card and flashes it to the policeman. the policeman's eyes widen and he immediately makes way.

"my apologies, sirs. please enter."

renjun sighs beside mark.

"now, where could they have–"

"there, isn't that them?" renjun jabs his finger in the direction of the entrance.

they rush towards the trio as they see donghyuk unconscious, being held up by jisung and chenle.

"what happened?" i ask frantically.

"it's joker. they're in there...." jisung replies.

"what?! how did you guys escape..."

"that's the problem, hyung! you have to help that noona...she helped us escape!" jisung exclaims. "she helped us, and now she's in trouble! please hyung, help her." with an earnest look in his gaze, jisung pleads.

mark casts his eyes to the ground.

"it's not part of our mission...we're going to break the rules." he murmurs, jisung's plea stuck in his head.

he then looks back up at jisung. "renjun and i are going in first. once you get back, tell jeno and jaemin to come quick, as quiet as possible. got that?"

jisung nods.

"good." mark says and sprints into the centre, renjun following close behind him.

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"i'm surprised you came to help them," johnny smiles wickedly. "after all these years, you only appear to save those weaklings?" he paces around the girl who was forced to kneel on the ground.

"i expected more from you, lee hyeji," he stops.
"taeyong would feel the same. now, I can provide you a few choices. either you die here today, or you return with us. which will you choose?" he squats in front of her and smirks.

hyeji glares at johnny. she couldn't say anything. her mouth was sealed with a tied up cloth.

"hm. i guess you don't really value your life? well, considering you actually have one of the strongest abilities...you should, you know?" johnny chuckles. "or perhaps, you're trying to stall some time? what, you think those weaklings will come and save you?"

hyeji furrows her brows, eyes not leaving johnny's.

"you really shouldn't assume," this time, it was hyeji that cracked a smile. "i know you don't have anymore backup. ten has taken winwin to a safer area. the rest...are here, but they aren't going to help you." another voice resounded through the empty showcase.

"so, johnny. how about you escape before you're going to die?" mark appears behind a pillar.

johnny narrows his eyes. "how would you know im not alone?"

mark chuckles. "i trust jaemin's summons."

"interesting. so this girl saved your members, and now you're going to save her?" johnny cackles.

mark glances at the mysterious girl with her head facing the ground. she had a black cap on, and he couldn't see her face. he looks back at johnny.

"let her go, you know you're outnumbered." renjun emerges from the shadows.

johnny looks at each and every of his opponents, letting out a heavy sigh.

"fine, kids. i'll back out for today, but i promise we'll have fun the next time we see each other again," his eyes trail onto hyeji's. "oh, and...i do hope something amusing happens between you and them." with a wink, johnny vanishes in a blink of an eye.

"renjun. look for him, chase him. he couldn't have gone far." mark tilts his head towards renjun. he nods and follows johnny's footsteps.

the showcase is left in a silence as hyeji and mark are left alone. mark makes a move first by approaching the girl who began to stand.

"hey, you okay?" mark offers a hand and grabs onto the girl's right wrist. he notices the girl wince.

"i'm fine." she brushes his hand away and stands on her own. he now realises that an ugly bruise was visible on her wrist.

"your hand–"

"it's no big deal, mark." she cuts him off, pulling her cap lower.

"how do you know my name?"

"i don't have to tell you that."

mark blinks in surprise. for some reason, he thought her voice sounded oddly familiar.

"but, thanks for your help. looks like i owe you one, again." she cracks a tiny smile.

"again?" mark, puzzled, questions her.

"you'll understand soon. i have to go," she pauses, then speaks again. "see you soon, mark lee."

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