Prologue

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  San no longer had the strength to drag his friend on himself. His body was strewn with small cuts that were pinching and burning. The sweat was pouring down and he could hardly distinguish the silhouettes of the trees. Waddling from one foot other, San was moving forward in response to Jongho's clear voice. 

- You will not be able to reach the place with me on your back... - Wooyoung was hanging like a rag doll on San's back, not even holding on. His fingers were unable to even hold the bottle of water. Therefore, if he was thirsty, San had to lower him to the ground and feed him.

- I'll make it ... You're light ... Like a feather!

- Seonghwa always says so... I want to turn back time, San-ah.

  San stopped. Jongho's voice was still heard on the other side of the forest. The one across the wild river. San realized that this was the end. He realized that he would not be able to carry both himself and Wooyoung as well. This is suicide.

  The river was running its way persistently through the trees and stones. How it appeared here and where it originates from - nobody knows. Anyone who tried to catch up with this river ended up at its bottom or painted the stones bright red with their bodies.

- San ...

- Quiet, shut up! I am thinking!

- San, you can't do this.

- NO! Shut up!

- Look at me... - San sat down opposite his heartfelt friend, who looked at him with eyes full of fatigue and pain from a broken leg. - Go alone. Jongho won't be able to sing forever, and you'll lose him. You must find him before the sunset.

- I will not leave you, you fool. I'll make a raft and we'll move together, and...

- San. - Wooyoung squeezed San's hand tightly. He didn't want to cry, it would only make the situation harder for Santo leave. - Do it for me. Do it for ATEEZ. Do it for our ATINYs.

- How can you not understand? There is no ATEEZ without you! Or without me! 8 makes one team, DID YOU FORGET?! No, no, no, I'll come up with something and...

- If you don't go alone now, we will both die. And then BTS will definitely be ahead. My song has already sounded, I took my last chord, but you still have to sing. They need you. Go. GO!

  It was colder on the other side of the river. Perhaps it was because of Wooyoung's absence on San's shoulders, or maybe because his clothes were soaked through. Or because of the sight of Wooyoung sitting under a tree on the opposite side of the river and smiling. San was ready to go back for him. Swim back and never let him go... but the rules didn't allow you to step into the river twice. Whoever touches the water again after crossing - will get his skin burned. Water remembers everyone but does not spare anyone. San brushed away his tears and forced himself to look away. There is no turning back. Jongho's voice sounded weaker, which meant San had to hurry. One hour left before the sun goes down. 

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