1 salt✅

To Honor

We searched around as a group for the tall, green, tendril covered tower. Dongju had kept me away from Hwanwoong the entire time we started to search. I didn't mind it that much as Dongju had some pretty interesting things to say.

"Hey, remember when you were talking about feeling something romantic for a guy?" I said in a low voice.

"Huh? Oh, yeah... I did..." said Dongju quietly.

"Is there someone you're currently looking at? Someone who was swallowed or...?" I said before glancing at Keonhee who was playing rock paper scissors with Geonhak.

"What? No. Get that out of your head! I was just curious... I want to be more open minded. Being stuck here like this has made me think and all." Dongju said as we followed the others.

"Nothing wrong with that. It's good to see that you want to learn." I said before noticing something looming in the distance off to the right.

"What is it, Seoho?" Dongju asked as I started walking towards the thing in the distance.

"I don't know, but it seems suspicious. I'm going." I said before sprinting off.

I heard shouting behind me which caused me to halt. I turned around and saw the others running towards me. Geonhak reached me first, followed by Hwanwoong, Dongju, Keonhee and Youngjo.

"Dongju shouted for us to follow. What had you running in the first place?" Geonhak asked curiously.

"That." I said while pointing towards the distance.

They all squinted and most of them gave up trying to see what I saw. I looked back and saw it a bit clearer. Was it actually...? I took off again.

ㅠㅛㅠㅛ

I slowed down as I came across a rather dangerous area. I looked around, but there seemed to be no end to it. Was it the same one we ran into before? It didn't seem like it. This one was wider. The others came to a stop as well.

"Now what?" Youngjo asked quietly.

I walked off a bit on my own as I thought. It would've been convenient if we had a tendril around. I checked under cars and trucks, in the dirt and grass. The world always seemed to work against us when we needed help most. I didn't notice how far I had wandered off until I noticed I couldn't see them when I looked back.

I walked back then frowned at the sight of Dongju and Keonhee arguing. Hwanwoong seemed to be trying to calm them down. I started to jog over then loudly gasped as Keonhee had pushed Dongju. He stumbled back and started to fall back into the wide crevice. I noticed Geonhak and Youngjo had arrived at the scene and they all worked together to pull Dongju up. I hurried over to add more manpower.

Dongju was successfully pulled back up and his face was awfully pale. Probably because he nearly fell to his death. I sighed then pulled Dongju to his feet so I could scold both him and Keonhee. Just as I opened my mouth, we heard a yelp from our left. I looked at saw Hwanwoong falling back. I moved as fast as I could, but it wasn't fast enough. I had just missed his hand.

"Hwan!" I screamed with my arm still extended out with my eyes starting to water.

I bit down hard on my bottom lip as I stared into the darkness. I moved to follow him then felt arms pulling me away from the edge.

"Let me go!" I wailed as I attempted to free myself from their hold.

"Don't think about jumping in there!" Geonhak hissed as he held me tighter.

I soon broke free of their hold then felt my heart shatter at the sound of a loud thud. My legs gave way underneath me and tears streamed down my face. My throat hurt. I covered my face as tiny sobs escaped my pained throat. The crevice closed itself. How did it happen? Why did it happen? Why did it take Hwanwoong away from me? I looked up and saw Dongju and Keonhee looking at me with worry.

"You..." I said in a low voice full of hate. "You two..."

I felt Youngjo and Geonhak seize me again as I had started to lunge towards them.

"Seoho, what's gotten into you? I've never seen you this upset!" Youngjo said worriedly.

I couldn't think straight. I couldn't hear anything other than garbled voices. My heart pounded quickly and heavily against my chest as tears blurred my vision. All I knew is that Hwanwoong was dead because of the two blurry figures in front of me.

"It's all your fault! You both couldn't just fucking get along! What were you even arguing about at a time like this!? Hwan would still be here if both of you kept quiet! I wish you both had died instead of him!" I shouted before going limp in their hold. "Hwan..."

I wrapped my arms around myself as I couldn't stop crying. They moved in to hug me, but I moved out of their reach. I started to cough as phlegm threatened to come up.

"Seoho, maybe he's not... gone." Geonhak said softly in my ear. "Maybe the Earth wants to test us."

I couldn't focus on anything other than the man I deeply cared for was now as flat as the street we were on.

"I think we should give him space..." Youngjo said before rounding the others up to wait across the street.

I curled up into a ball then shut my eyes. I had to be dreaming. He couldn't have died. It was all a bad dream.

ㅠㅛㅠㅛ

I woke up then noticed it was night time. The others had taken up residence beside me. I looked then noticed Hwanwoong wasn't among us. I shook Geonhak who slowly opened his eyes.

"Where's Hwan?" I asked quietly.

"Huh? Seo he-" said Geonhak before stopping. "He had some things he wanted to do before things went back to normal. We'll see him later."

I nodded then started to wake the others.

"How are you feeling...?" Youngjo asked cautiously.

"Fine? Why do you ask?" I replied cheerfully.

They looked at each other with sullen faces. Did something happen? Why were they so sad? I figured they'd tell me when they were ready. I stood up then stretched out.

"Well, time's wasting! Let's go destroy that tower." I said with my hands on my hips.

"You aren't going anywhere..." said Geonhak as he pulled me down to sit. "Those three will take care of it. You will stay here and get some more sleep."

"What? You can't just decide for everyone." I said as Geonhak kept me seated.

The other three had given me worried looks before heading off. I looked at Geonhak who started to sing a soft song. I really didn't understand, but if they all felt I needed a break, so be it.