Save Us {NCT Dream}

Day 38 pt2

There are times in life where he thinks time is moving too fast, like watching the two maknaes growing up, albeit in this dreadful industry.

But there’ll be times where he thinks, things are going way too slow. For example, the period of time they have to spend being tortured.

Dance practices had always been the hell of this life, it’s somewhat similar to normal kids going to school, it’s that wretched place you’ll find yourself going to anyway because of those little joys you get in between.

For him, that’s what dance practices are, or in his case now, what they were.

It used to be dancing till the choreographies are engraved in their minds, covered in sweat of pure hard work.

It used to be laying together on the floor after a grueling 3 hours, breathless and panting yet smiles of satisfaction their faces before getting up the next minutes for more.

It was the most exhausting part of the job in off-camera terms, but nothing beats hanging off each other as they exit after a good practice.

Jaemin had been salty the entire time he was on hiatus, counting each and every hour of those dance practices that he missed.

How he gets less of almost everything.

less of Chenle and Renjun playing around when they got the choreo wrong,

less of seeing the satisfying scene of Hyuck and Jisung fighting to get the new dance down first,

less of Jeno being playfully called out for being off beat and most of all,

less of Mark being with him through those times, being the cute dork he is by playing hype songs as bgm when they start bickering out of reasons far too stupid to remember.

He had been so happy to be back, and like he had remembered ‘Go’ was a blast, then comes ‘We Go Up’ and them being mauled over Mark leaving and then,

this treachery.

A room that used to be a space where they joke and pour their determination is now a room they feared. The floors used to be wet with dripping sweat now had blots of red, if the cleaners noticed, they never said anything.

There are no more smiles or laughter, only whimpering and terror.

Jaemin swayed, he could barely register the music being played. His mind only worries for if he didn’t get this right, they’re going to make the others hurt him, and nothing would break him more than seeing their unwilling faces plough with guilt doing actions against their will.

He had stayed up night after night, practicing anywhere and whenever he could. He can’t get this wrong, he mustn’t get this wrong.

Turn, kick, slide, slide….two..four..and five….and spin, jump kic-

But the amount of fatigue that weights his body couldn’t support his weight for the second kick and he slipped, falling on his side. No no no no, please no

There was that growl, and he braces himself when a leg comes in contact harshly with his back. He throws himself to the ground, biting his lips to ignore the pain.

“You, get on with it” Jaemin didn’t want to peel his eyes open, who was it? Who was it this time?

“I do-don’t want t-to” Jaemin gasps to himself, Jisung? “N-no, pl-please…on-one more t-t-time” he begged, and pleaded.

Anything to for them to leave his maknaes alone, they never did but Jaemin never lost hope trying.

“Shut up! You’re fucking useless!! How the fuck are you even an idol is beyond me” Geomjal shouted, Jaemin flinched when the water bottle hits him on the head. He hears Chenle crying, before the sobs turns into chokes.

He hears stomping before his face is hit with a slap, “There, now leave him alone!” Renjun screams.

The sting lasts quite a while, in the corner of his eyes Chenle is seen being hugged tightly by Jeno, the older boy holding the unconscious younger in his arms.

Jisung is being comforted by Donghyuck, the tall maknae sobs quietly while clutching his arm. Jaemin closes his eyes, it was too much, he was so tired. The last thing he heard was Jikyun cursing at him to go and die.

When he was awake, he found himself in his room under his soft covers. Grunting, he gets up and looks about the quiet dorm.

“You’re awake hyung” Jisung greets him, the boy is sitting at the dining table, his back facing him.

“Ji? Where re the others?” How long had he been out?

“Jeno hyung will be back later from the hospital, Renjun hyung is with him, Hyuck hyung is at 127 practice” His voice was monotone, lifeless and void of emotions.

“Chenle?”

Jisung flinches, he bangs his head onto the table and presses his ears tight while screaming hysterically.

Jaemin panicked, he quickly holds the youngest who only respond by trying to shove him away.

Jisung screams, “He’s DEAD!! I hate him!! He’s so selfish!! Hyung I want him back!! Chenle!! CHENLE!!! I HATE HIM!! SELFISH CHENLE!!”

“J-Jisung, calm d-down. He’s n-not dead” but it was like his own thoughts betray him, Chenle hanging from the ceiling, Chenle falling splats to the earth with his boy breaking to bits, Chenle vomiting out various colors of pills-

“Jaemin snap out of it!” He trembles, it seems his vision is back to reality and he finds himself shaking with Renjun’s kind eyes yet bloody hands holding his.

“Breathe, you’re okay” he wasn’t, “Chenle is fine, he’s under closed watched by the hospital. Hyungs don’t know and they won’t. It’s okay”

Sometimes, he forgets that he’s NCT third youngest. He was only a bit above Chenle, he’s a child as much as they are. “J-Jisung?” Renjun shakes his head, “I put him to sleep, I’m trying to steal us some time so we can go get him some meds to deal with his PTSD. Don’t worry, I got this”

“Jaem…..Jaem…..” Haechan all but weakly moves to him, “Hyuck…..” he cups the other’s face, feeling the prominent features sickly sticking out. “You’re smaller” he gasps out, “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry” Jaemin pulls him into a hug. “What for?"

“Cuz I’m so fucked up” The vocalist chokes out.

“You’re not the only one, we all are”

Renjun gets up and stumble into his room, the eldest of them topples on the bed, grips on the sheets and screams his heart out. He needs to draw out red, he needs control. Renjun slams open his drawer, grabbing a random blade and slice through his skin.

His work from before was still bleeding yet he criss cross over them, creating a much uglier mess that looked so pretty in his eyes. Chenle will need to stay till tomorrow while he needs to follow those assholes to fetch Jeno later.

He’s stressed, not a wink since the last 34 hours and now he doesn’t think he will till Chenle is back and safe in the dorms where he continues to stay wake till he’s knocked out by exhaustion, excellent plan.

Maybe he could do something so that they’ll let him take Jisung to get meds.

“RENJUN!!”

The blade is ripped away from his hands and through his blurry orbs, he sees Jaemin and Donghyuck’s panicking features.

Why hadn’t the pain come?

He had sliced deeper than ever

“He’s losing too much blood.” That was Jaemin right? He couldn’t tell.

“Don’t leave us, please, Junnie don’t” but it’s so hard holding on, maybe a short nap wouldn’t hurt. “I-I-I’m s-s-sorry…..I..I…c-can-c-can’t…” but everything turned pitch black.