• cards | nct 2018 •

thirty one || sacrifice

A/N: hmm, did hyeji take the hit or not?

third person pov

and then the arrow finally pierced through.

hyeji gasps, falling to the ground.

donghyuck was momentarily dazed until his eyes dart upwards to the source of the weapon.

he frowns, glancing back at the girl, and cursed under his breath.

he then proceeds to levitate up to the higher ground, in other words, the office. it's door was left agape and he went to investigate.

meanwhile, while all the havoc was going on around them...

her ears were blocked out from all the dreadful thrashes and thuds. her senses went numb, and a confused expression plastered across her face.

"why, johnny?" she asked the man who was barely propped up by the girl. the two of them sat on the ground.

hyeji held johnny by both his shoulders.

he flashes a wistful smile as he croaks, "my apology."

she knits her brows together.

"apology?" she could only repeat as her gaze stopped on the arrow that struck his back.

blood was beginning to pool up around his wound.

everything happened in a blur just now, and all she could remember was how that very arrow came right at her, and how the man before her had pulled her down to the ground and shielded her, only for him to get hit himself.

she flinches, then her eyes trail back to johnny's distraught face.

"we have to get you help." she tells him, and he nimbly shakes his head.

his hand grabbed her wrist that rested on his shoulder.

"...no. do not bother...saving me. leave me, and save the boy." he slowly breaths out.

"what? but—

his solemn, yet serious eyes met hers.

and she was instantly at a loss for words.

"...after i get him, i'll come get you." she says, and he doesn't reply.

she rises to her feet, and johnny slumps forward.

though hesitant, she takes one single glance at johnny before jogging up the steps that lead to the office.

_________________________

mark pov

my eyes flicked open abruptly from the throbbing pain of my head.

i carefully took in my surroundings— it was dark, dusty, and cramp.

there were cardboard boxes and metal shelves around me, and a terrible smell wafted through the air.

i slowly sat up, my hand cradling my forehead.

"ugh..." i groaned, rubbing my temple to ease the pain.

"what-what happened?" i mumbled to myself and tried to think.

the memories surged through me as soon as that thought comes to mind.

i had been caught by joker, and...and they...

they restored my childhood memories.

now confusion took over me, as i totally neglected my aching head.

i let out a hollow laugh. "me? the house of min? how can that be?"

my tone was skeptical, but i know full well that my memories would not betray me.

my lips that were curved into a grin dipped into a frown.

"oh hey, i remember you. you were beaten up quite badly by johnny that day, weren't you?"

"i remember you, too. ten...the marksman of joker."

muffled voices came from outside wherever i was and it snapped me out from my thoughts.

i recognised both voices.

the first one with a taunting tone, and another with an air of amusement and sarcasm.

never mind what i was now, i need to get out of here.

i rose to my feet, squinting my eyes to identity any source of exit.

the voices continued to speak outside.

"where have you taken mark? and you...you tried to shoot hyeji."

i froze for a second after hearing the last sentence, but i spotted a shiny object in the darkness.

"if he hadn't got in the way, i would've made sure to shoot her down. and you want to know where mark is? sure, but not until you defeat me."

the door knob. i swiftly approached it and tried to twist it open, to no avail.

of course it was locked.

i tsked, and using my telekinesis, i lifted a few of those heavy cardboard boxes and threw it against the door knob.

"what on earth—"

it instantly breaks, falling to the ground with a thud.

i easily kicked the door open, and i flinched as light came pouring in the room.

and then my eyes focused in the bright light, and i found myself in a position where two pairs of eyes were on me.

ten's lips curved into a smile. "you're awake, mark."

"mark hyung!" donghyuck exclaimed.

just then, quick footsteps could be heard and the door slammed open.

hyeji stood in the doorway, eyes wide as her eyes met mine.

"hyeji..." i mumbled to myself.

donghyuck comes running up to me.

"we have to leave now, quick!" he grabbed my wrist, but i did not budge.

"...hyung?" he turns back to look at me with a confused expression.

a pleased laughter erupted from ten and echoed throughout the room.

"i see you have successfully regained your memories, mark."

donghyuck's face evidently falls, and his fingers slide away from my wrist.

"i see you have chosen your side, i assume?" ten cackles in delight.

my eyes that had been on donghyuck trails onto ten's.

i nodded twice, and started to walk towards the older man.

"no, mark, what are you doing?!" hyeji lets out an unbelievable shrill as i came to a stop before the proudly smiling long ranger.

then i turned to look at the younger girl.

"why would he be on your side, lee? he has never been, ever since the day he was born." ten answers instead of me, and i cast my eyes to the solid ground.

ten turns in my direction. "well then, kiddo, how about we get rid of both of them at once? I may be a skilled long ranger, but i have full confidence in my frontal attacks as well."

in response to his words, i grinned.

"very well,"

my orbs adjusted to a pen knife that sat on the desk right behind ten.

"but how are your skills on backstabbing, ten?"