Horizon || ATEEZ Space AU

Chapter 8: Rocket Fuel to the Fire

Jongho clutches his seat as the wheels of the plane leave the ground. He's never flown before, and he doesn't know Hongjoong very well, but it seems like he knows what he's doing, so Jongho tries to relax and looks out the window at the shrinking buildings below them as they lift slowly into the air.

Wooyoung is seated in the front next to Hongjoong, and his eyes are sweeping the city in front of them.

"Look, the power is still out in that district," he notices the way Jongho's face darkens at his statement.

"That's where my parents live," Jongho confesses, and Hongjoong turns the ship in that direction.

"Then that's where we're headed."

In a smooth arc, the test plane veers to the left, passing over the complex silently and seemingly undetected by anyone.

"That's strange," Hongjoong mumbles, listening to the radio feed through a pair of headphones. "The tower should've contacted us by now."

"Maybe they fell asleep?" Wooyoung suggests, leaning forward to peek at the imposing tower situated at the back of the complex where the airfield is.

Hongjoong shakes his head wordlessly and increases speed. "I have my flight instructor's authorisation codes, I assumed I'd need to use them."

"I'm sure it's nothing," Wooyoung shrugs and sits back, enjoying the hum of the aircraft and the sweet sensation of rebellion. It's been awhile.

The ship has a hovering ability that Hongjoong intends to use to wait for Jongho while he takes care of what he needs to on the ground before they move on, and Jongho agrees to the plan despite the doubts growing inside.

A few more feet and they'll be outside the confines of the IPF complex. The skies are clear and it's an exhilarating feeling, even as Jongho's nerves are coiled tightly in the pit of his stomach.

Suddenly, it's like they've collided with something in midair. There's the terrifying sound of everything powering down and Jongho only has time to gasp in realisation as an electric current ripples through the plane and renders it immobile, floating midair for a moment before leaning backwards and hurtling back towards the ground.

A force field.

Jongho is completely disoriented and aware of only the pounding of his own heart and Wooyoung's voice yelling from the front while the ship nosedives toward the IPF complex.

Hongjoong's unconscious from being zapped, and if he doesn't wake up and take control of the plane, they'll crash into the ground full force.

"Wake up!" Wooyoung screams, leaning over to shake the older boy in a brief moment of weightlessness. "Wake up, Hongjoong!"

Jongho can see the sky begin to fade and the ground grow closer...

...and closer...

...and closer.

He squeezes his eyes shut.

Just before impact, the plane tilts up and shoots across the complex, just barely avoiding clipping the archives building before hitting the ground hard on the runway where they started.

Hongjoong grunts with effort as he tries to pull them to a stop but their momentum is still too strong and the trio can do nothing but brace themselves before crashing into Hangar 2.

Jongho suddenly thinks about his parents as the solid wall meets them.

I'm sorry.

___