The Gifted (Txt x Itzy)

三十七

They plunged through the thick fog, wetness staining their lips, but they fought through and soon they felt warmth. When they opened their eyes they were on an island, but with no one to be seen.

"We're not done yet," Taehyun said, "The map still shows a location. There." He pointed to the valleys ahead.

"It looks impossibly far," Yuna mentioned.

But they found the entrance, after trekking for a while, cleverly hidden among the hills. The ridges were dry and crumbly, the sun beaming wickedly on then. Sweat trickled down their necks, but they held back complaints. They were about to walk down the path, but sharp-eyed Yeji caught the intricately concealed entrance, purposely disguised as cracks. She traced her hand over the cracks. "What does it need?" Ryujin asked. Yeji pursed her lips. "It needs gifted blood." "How are you so sure-" Yeji gestured to the rocks that lay beside, encrusted faintly with dried blood. Taehyun whistled softly, "So...who's gonna-" "I'll do it," Kai said quickly. He shifted out a tiny flame and a drop of blood dribbled down onto the rock. Dust shook through the air as the cracks shuddered and shifted before a small doorway was formed. "Cool," Yeji remarked and dipped through first, the others following behind closely.

-

When they reached the end of the tunnel, they were left speechless. The only word that could properly describe it was paradise. A tall domed glass ceiling sheltered the first few small houses, which surprisingly looked very modern, along with what seemed like an eating hall. There were more houses trailing through the cave, seemingly never-ending. The whole place smelled fresh and alive, trees with branches hanging over their heads, dripping with flowers and fruit and the lush gardens spread out like mats. Insects and animals flitted around and skittered across the floor. But what really shocked the group was-

"There are so many of them," Chaeryeong gasped. Because there were, there were children, as little as three-years-old to teenagers and adults, hundreds of them, milling around and talking and running and laughing and being free. The group took a step forward, full of awe and slumped down, unconscious as purple fumes curled down to them.

"Okay whoops, they are gifted."

"Well, we had to check."

"We need a less aggressive way of checking."

"Knocking them out is not aggressive. Aggressive is hanging them over a boiling pit of lava-"
"Yoongi, would you like them to be held over a boiling pit of lava?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying-"

"Guys, shut up, they're awake."

Taehyun groggily sat up, and was greeted by seven faces looking down at him, and tried not to jump when they stared at him unwaveringly. "Uh, hi," He squeaked out. The first man, who he assumed was the leader, nodded and smiled gently. "We apologise for knocking you unconscious. It's a defence mechanism we have built in to stop intruders."

"Ah," Taehyun managed.

"Are the rest waking up?" Another man asked, leaning forward to poke Beomgyu's cheek.

"Seokjin don't do that-"

"You don't tell me what to do, I'm older than you, Jeon Jeongguk!"

"You don't act like you are-"

"Guys can we not?"

Jisu stirred and blinked, then promptly yelped at the sight of a man's face hovering in front of her. "Hi!" The man said cheerfully, "I'm Hoseok, that's Jimin, that's Taehyung, that's Yoongi, he's mean, that's-" "Why don't we wait for the rest to wake up?" Yoongi suggested.

"Yeah, wake them up, asshole."

"What do you expect me to do?"

"Shut up."

It took roughly five minutes for everyone to rouse, and soon all of them were sitting in confusion.

"My apologies," The first man said, "We were trying to be cautious. I'm Namjoon, the leader of this place-" "He likes to call it a village," Jimin interrupts with a small smile. "So," Namjoon coughed in embarrassment, "Introduce yourself guys." He gestured to the other six men standing beside him. It was easy to remember: Jeongguk, Taehyung, Jimin, Hoseok, Yoongi and Seokjin. "Where are we?" Yeji stuttered out, still in awe of the place around them. Namjoon smiled warmly, "Welcome to Arcadia."