Loop Away (OT8 ATEEZ storyline event entry)

CHAPTER 9

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        Hongjoong in the first seconds of time flowing back for him, his present is now tricking him. Travelling back to the past is taking a toll on him, after he's already built his tower of courage that all his friend's know him for.

        He hears a choir of judgment.
        With the deafening loudness, he shrinks.
        Shrivels.
        Shakes. He holds himself close.

        They hear breathy "comfort me," "I can't see anything," "it's okay, it wouldn't hurt for me to get no response, I don't need this...," "but I was listening, really..." "... help me."
        A zombie-like Hongjoong. His life force all sucked out except for when he flinches when the sounds get to him. He walks ever so sluggishly, dragging his other foot after the other, and bumping into invisible things.
        The three can't see anything, but they just know that their brother is unaware of his surroundings.

        Yeosang knew they were starting to be pulled in from some force towards Hongjoong, his indicator his feet slightly sliding in the dark without his control. He was quick to think it would be dangerous to go to their older brother now, looking like they'll just add more force to fuel the torture. He told the oblivious two who were too busy racking up plans to get Hongjoong out.
        Wooyoung noticed he wasn't being pulled though, and faced with something like this, he doubtlessly offered to be the anchor for the rope while the two get close.

        Yeosang warned Seonghwa to not get too near, but he was insistent.
        After only a short set of strides, Seonghwa in the forefront couldn't get any closer. Wooyoung sees an overfamiliar scene and clenches his fist holding the rope.

        "Hongjoong! Can you hear us? Hongjoong get on your senses, please hear us! They are happening right now, yes! But you've gone past them back then too right?" Seonghwa cries out.

        Wooyoung takes a troubling deep breath before calling too. "What they're saying is not important! Hyung, are you stupid?"

        Yeosang clutches the rope tighter. "Hyung, we're here!"
        It hurt for them to see Hongjoong be in such a state. This present is distorting the focusless Hongjoong more and more, but all they can do is call out his name for him.
        "Hyung!"
        "Hong leader!"
        "Kim Hongjoong!"

        Hongjoong exponentially awakens after hearing them faintly.
        ... I couldn't stand up because I didn't recognize that I was in a battle with myself
I see now that I'll be in a battle against the different versions of myself, fighting for the best to come out.

        Being undeniably worn out, Hongjoong falls, but it was more obvious that his resting with his soft breathing was much more peaceful than the event that has just ended. 
        A rip in the sky formed, slightly illuminating the place with just a line of light, coordinated with just it shining straight down and a booming sound. It didn't shine elsewhere but down, defying how incandescence works.


        Wooyoung sits down after exhaustingly using up his energy from mooring the guys. Yeosang tends to Hongjoong as Seonghwa being the closest had to rest too.
        They all sat down, pacifying their racing hearts. They now had to come up on how to get everyone out of here, all open eyes pointing to the rip above as their lead.


        Wooyoung notices his hand glowed, the same as the hourglass, him being grown into it's qualities after staring it down primarily. 
        He thought of making a last offer to his brothers.
        "Seonghwa hyung," he finally calls out to the now aware-of-who-he-is Seonghwa. 
        Seonghwa snaps but softens knowing everything was done now. Wooyoung shows his extended hand. The two shortly get what he was trying to do. 

        Yeosang asks from a far. "If he takes it, do you think we'll all end up back in the present unharmed?"

        It takes a moment for anyone to respond. Wooyoung hisses at this knowing there was always an unfavorable side effect. But there was nothing else to do. 
        He swallows baseless certainty. "We have to be together. We will."


        "It doesn't have to be in the present," Seonghwa speaks after his long silence.


        Yeosang and Wooyoung looked at each other knowing what their older brother meant.
        Yeosang closes his eyes. "I'm sure we'll meet again one way or another..."

"We were one.We still one.We're just one."

(If Without You - Ateez)