Pirate King

Chapter 11

Hongjoong was spiraling out of control, and he felt something for the first time in many years-- fear. Fear that his brothers were going to die fear that he was going to die, and fearful for what the Hala's would do after if they murdered Ateez. The Halas gathered their respective Ateez member and brought them to Maddox. Hala Yeosang stood next to the captured Yeosang, and he peered inside at the other while Yeosang stared back, knowing if they released him, he could get a shot at one of them. Yeosang will keep fighting until his last dying breath, especially if it meant the rest of his brother's survival. Five members kneeled in front of Maddox; one was in a cage, one was completely lost, and Maddox trapped Hongjoong.

"Who should we kill first? Who do you care the least about Hongjoong? You must have your least favorite brother," Maddox said against Hongjoong's ear. Hongjoong grimaced but did not answer-- he loved his brothers equally. "You can't tell me that they don't hold you back, huh? You know each one's weakness, and you know damn well that you would have the entire WOLRD if you had gone solo. You're better than any of them! There's no other proof than what's in front of your eyes! You're the last one standing, for fuck's sake. You don't need them, Hongjoong. Just you and I should be ruling the world, everyone else at our feet adoring us... " Maddox said as he tried to convince Hongjoong.

"You are wrong; without them, I am nothing. I would be in hell, even now I am still in heaven because I have my brothers around me," Hongjoong said firmly. Maddox scoffed at the other.

"Fine, let's see how much this heaven lasts. Should we start with your beloved number two? Seonghwa? Bring him over here." Seonghwa was still mostly passed out, and he groaned as Hala Seonghwa dragged him on the floor and threw him in front of Maddox. Maddox stepped forward and pressed his black boot against Seonghwa's neck. Hongjoong prayed that the other neck wouldn't snap, and he willed his magic to give Seonghwa more strength. Seonghwa weakly tried to push the boot away, his knuckles turning white by his grip-- but ultimately not even moving an inch. Maddox let out an evil laugh.

"Is this the great Ateez? The ruthless pirates who have taken over cities and claimed them under their kingdom? You guys barely put up a fight." Maddox pressed into Seonghwa's neck harder, and Seonghwa choked loudly, hitting against the others boot weakly until he couldn't breathe anymore.

Hongjoong was in tears, "Please, Please just KILL me." Hongjoong had to do something FAST, so his hands began to glow blue, burning into Maddox's arms. Maddox yelped in pain, but his grip on Hongjoong didn't loosen. He buttheaded Hongjoong in the back of his head, causing Hongjoong to huddle over, and he saw stars instantly. He buckled forward, trying to get rid of Maddox off his back, but he wouldn't let Hongjoong loose. Maddox and Hongjoong continued to struggle against each other, until a white-blue light flashed brightly. It blinded Hongjoong, and he closed his eyes in pain. He felt Maddox arms slip away, and he was finally able to sprint forward. When his eyesight returned, he turned around with his blue-flamed ball, ready to hit the other and try to end it for all. He stopped with his arm mid-air, noticing that they weren't inside of the house anymore. He looked around to see his brother's several feet away from them on the green grass.

"No, no, no," Hongjoong said as he noticed the cliff. He rushed forward to see the black ship, his Yunho sprawled in the sand, and all the black-clad figures running across the sand to the Hala ship. "They're escaping!" he muttered, his hand enflamed already.

"Don't," a quiet and hoarse voice said. Hongjoong turned around to see Seonghwa, his trembling hand lowering his own. "But, Y/N..." Hongjoong said as he looked back over to the black ship sailing away.

"We'll get her back, don't worry," Seonghwa said, holding Hongjoong's hand tighter. "How did we even get here?" Hongjoong said to his number two.

"I think... it was me," Jongho answered. He was sitting down with his hands, clutching his head like if he was going crazy.

"You teleported?" Hongjoong asked.

"You teleported all of us?" Seonghwa said with his eyebrows raised and his eyes wide as saucers. The rest of the members were slowly getting up from the ground, holding on to their sides and injured bodies as they made their way towards their youngest. San sat heavily to the ground, his back against Jongho's to provide the brotherly love he needed. Wooyoung and Mingi each took their place on either side of the younger, slowly lowering the other's hands from his head and intertwining their fingers with them. Yeosang sat on Jongho's lap, hugging him like a koala, holding on to him like if he was afraid that Jongho could fall apart at any moment, and they were the only thing holding him together. Jongho still had his head down even though he was propped up by his hyungs, and Hongjoong could see the hot tears running down his eyes. His tears glistened against the sun, and Seonghwa walked to him, dropping to his knees to wipe the youngest tears, his own threatening to spill.

"You were so brave, it's okay," Seonghwa said as he pressed his forehead to Jongho, not caring that Yeosang was being squished between his bodies. His words caused Jongho to sobbed loudly in agony.

"Y-You could have all died because of m-me," Jongho said as he hiccuped tearfully. But, while Jongho thought that he was the worst brother in the world, the rest of his members cuddled him like he was the last gem on earth. Hongjoong took one last look to the ocean where the black ship started to grow smaller, another look to Yunho who was still passed out on the sand, and finally to his brothers huddled up around their strongest member. He sighed loudly and went towards them, wrapping them all in his tiny arms as best as he could.

"We are all alive, thanks to you, Jongho. You got us out just in time," Hongjoong comforted the other. Once Jongho finally settled down, Hongjoong patted everyone's back to make sure they were okay. "Let's go help, Yunho."