wake up. | nct/wayv

13

LEVEL THIRTEEN : SUPERHUMAN

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THE CITY

JOHNNY AND MARK

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> "johnny, stop talking about the special item!"

mark stopped before johnny, a pitiful look of determination in his eyes. "you're literally ill right now. we need to get the antidote before this level ends, or you'll die."

"but if we get the special item, you can just revive me," johnny stopped to cough into his elbow. it only raised mark's concern. "second life, remember? i die, and then bam: use the item on me and i'm alive again."

mark lightly pushed his shoulder. "don't talk about dying..."

johnny chuckled and ruffled his hair. "look at you, caring about me."

mark knew that the game was unpredictable, but he didn't at all expect how the level started. johnny had suddenly grown darkened veins and a pale face—despite his denial, his temperature was high and his movements were slower. it was then that they learned that illness was the obstacle of the level and an antidote waited for them somewhere.

"we don't have time to go after the special item," he told johnny. "let's at least try to heal you first."

"heal? you make it sound like a video game."

johnny laughed and lightly hit his shoulder. mark didn't crack a smile though, and to this johnny sighed.

"don't be so worried. i'm a tough guy, a virus can't hurt me."

they came to a stop sometime later in the middle of the street, when the light rain that seemed eternal suddenly disappeared and the city billboards flickered in silence. for a moment that would've seemed ominous to mark, it actually felt like the opposite. a peaceful scene like this was rare in this world, and he made sure to appreciate it while it lasted.

"do you hear that?" johnny asked.

there was a lack of any unusual sound, so mark turned to him with a confused look. "no... what is it?"

johnny didn't answer but went off towards the sidewalk. he squeezed through a pair of abandoned cars and stepped over a fallen fire hydrant, his shoes splashing small puddles as he did so. mark hurried to follow until he turned a corner. he walked out from behind johnny, and that's when he saw it.

there laid yangyang with labored breathing and a hand pressed weakly into his side. it was a wound by the looks of it.

"please..." he said. "please help me..."

johnny looked at mark, communicating with him through the eyes. wasn't this the same guy who was supposedly killing people left and right? although mark hadn't encountered him himself, that dangerous aura couldn't be denied. johnny's wary look confirmed it.

"you threw a painting at my head, do you not remember that?" johnny loomed over him like a giant. he could have stomped on him if he wished to, but his heart was all too kind for that.