Hell and Back (EXO x Reader)

Double Take (Trials 32-33)

Word count: 1017

Chapter warnings: Mild violence/gore and Dangerous actions

[Please do not replicate any of the behaviors read in this book.]

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Reversing time to save Y/N would be no trouble to him. In fact, it was his plan anyway. He didn't know if he could stand to look at her mutilated body for another second. Still, wouldn't this reverse everything they'd accomplished so far? How was the app going to manage to avoid his powers? As far as he knew, they affected everyone and everything aside from himself. He did not want to have to watch her get ripped apart a second time. He didn't have much of a choice. Taking a deep breath, finally bringing himself to look at her once more, he began to reverse the flow of time.

It was disgustingly mesmerizing to watch. As he was holding the phone, it wouldn't return to its original spot, but the blood was disappearing off it slowly. Her intestines re-settled in her torso, her teeth migrated back upwards towards her newly forming face, skin closing up, all while the train slowly backed up over her. She was whole again, tip of her nose back to its cute point.

He looked on as the train backed up, further and further, until it was out of sight. Then, the lights stopped flashing, the bars raised, and Y/N stood up from the tracks, walking backwards to their group. Then, he stopped. Her phone was buzzing in his hand again. The completion banner flashed. By some weird freak incident of nature, the app wasn't affected by his abilities. Confused, he hit the button for the next trial. He didn't know why these were all for him, or what entity he had angered to deserve it, but it was up to him to save them.

Trial 33: Convince Kris to rescue Y/N.

Limited power: Y/N

Drop-out Fee: Kris

"What is this supposed to mean?" He muttered to no one, time still frozen as he looked at the screen. "Drop out fee... Kris?" If he failed this challenge, would they kill Kris as well? Or would he be forced to take her place, since he was the one who was supposed to save her? Regardless, he could only hope that Kris would listen to him. They were fairly close, so maybe it wouldn't take too much convincing. Taking a deep breath, he unfroze time.

"They do it in movies all the time."

"That doesn't mean it's safe."

"I still don't understand the limited power. Why is it you?" They were walking towards the train tracks, he heard them approaching. He wasn't with them this time, as he was already waiting at the spot. As he saw the flashlight rise over the hill, Sehun called out to him.

"Hey! Tao! How'd you get down there so fast?" Ignoring the question and running up to Kris, he pulled him aside, leaning in and whispering to him.

"Listen, we don't have long. We've done this challenge before, I had to reverse time." Kris looked confused at first, then his eyes widened.

"Are you messing with me, man?"

"No, Y/N lies on the tracks, and dies."

"How? I thought that there was empty space below-"

"I don't have time to explain, trains aren't- it wasn't empty underneath like we thought, it tears her to shreds, Kris, you have to convince her to get off the tracks." As he said this, Y/N was already lying down, consoling the other boys.

"You might want to back up, it's coming."

"If you reversed time, why not just save her yourself? She-"

"Kris!" He exclaimed. "I don't have time to tell you the whole story! Just go, she's-" Just as Tao said this, they heard the horn of the train coming, the ground shaking beneath their feet. Tao didn't know if he got another shot at this, and if they failed, he could lose Kris too. Looking frantically over at the tracks, both boys laid eyes on Y/N's body, stiff against the metal beneath her. Finally putting aside his curiosity, he ran down to the tracks, dipping under the safety guard rail.

"Kris! What are you doing?!" Suho yelled, running after him. Kris grabbed Y/N's arm, jerking her up harshly off the tracks into a semi-standing position. Train growing ever closer, Suho dipped the railing as well.

"I can handle-" Kris started to say, as Suho ran towards him, shoving him out of the way just as the train came up on them. It wasn't nearly as gruesome an impact as Y/N's had been, as his body was caught on the front of the train and carried forward, but Tao still stopped time out of panic. Staring at the new scene, he saw Kris and Y/N falling to the ground on the other side of the train, Suho's back snapped into a strange angle as he was paused midair.

"Shit..." He muttered under his breath as he felt the phone in his pocket buzz. Would it count for Kris saving Y/N, even if Suho had to save him? What if the game didn't count it? Would it let him redo it? Worse, Tao felt awful about Suho having to sacrifice himself for what should have been an easy save. He knew what was coming, for Christ's sake. What kind of cruel game was this?

Working up the guts to look at the phone, he saw a familiar notification, breathing out in relief. He had passed the challenge. The next one, like before, loaded up with absolutely no warning or consent.

Trial 34: Convince Kai to rescue Y/N.

Limited power: Y/N

Drop-out Fee: Kai

So it was the same as before. How many times would he have to go through this? He'd just have to make sure to spend less time talking, or stop Y/N from getting on the tracks so soon himself. He couldn't risk losing the challenge, though, he had no idea what the fee could even mean. Kai would listen to him... Right? Sighing, he began to reverse time again, watching as Suho's spine realigned itself, Kris and Y/N straightening up over the tracks.