Number 9 |jaewoo|

1

Before he closed his eyes, all he could see around him were eight figures of people he once knew. To him they were just shadows looking down on him as the world fell apart. For once, he relaxed, a sweet continuous ringing being his last lullaby. He knew those muffled voices encouraged him to rise, but it was better this way. Filled with satisfaction, he fell into a deep sleep.

One Year Later.

The world seemed to recover elegantly from the anarchy manifested by injustice and schism. Half of the city had killed each other because of these differences. However, homes were being funded again and children finally ran free of terror. A law was set in place, creating a utopia that was supposed to be fit for all, whether they liked it or not: no human shall be unnatural. Any unnatural beings shall be terminated.

But one scientist did not listen. His name was Lee Taeyong. A person who had been brought up by his own hands, never allowing himself to have a single second without productivity. He was a tall young man with eyes of a doe and black hair that resembled satin, and was possessed by the soul of a guardian angel. As he grew in fame, citizens valued him for his work ethic, his intelligence, his passion and innovation. He started his own company just by creating things that defied nature, and even met eight colleagues who refused to leave his side. But when the anarchy happened, everything changed. The citizens grew to hate him. Despite having given so many people second chances of life, they named him as evil and ungodly.

But Taeyong did not listen. Because the anarchy subtracted his circle of nine into eight.

At the end of a long, studious day, it was time for Taeyong to finalize what he and the rest of his circle had been working on in secrecy. He speed-walked down the long white hallway with one of his colleagues named Jaehyun, who held a clipboard full of checklists. When they reached the huge door at the end, Taeyong immediately scanned his ID card. "Are you sure about this?" Jaehyun took his shoulder before letting him go inside. Taeyong didn't look at him. He just nodded. "Of course."

"What if he's not the same?" Jaehyun asked again.

"He will. I know he will." Taeyong heard the door unlock and it opened by itself. They both went inside. Taeyong's other colleagues were standing right in front of the table with a wide, bulletproof glass protecting the unconscious male inside of it. When the young men saw Taeyong they moved out of the way as he approached the glass. He gazed into it and touched it. "Jungwoo," he smiled. "We're going to meet again." Taeyong turned around and signaled for Taeil, one of his friends at the computer, to begin. He did something and the electric table buzzed and lit up. All of a sudden, it zapped the unconscious male, causing his body to jump.

Then, he opened his eyes.

Everyone watched as Jungwoo sat himself up and observed his arms. He touched his face and looked around like an infant in a new environment. He blinked when he saw eight men staring at him from outside the glass. "Where am I?" Jungwoo spoke quietly.

Everyone rushed over to the table, even Taeil, who nearly tripped over cables trying to get there. The others felt waves of mixed emotions. Johnny and Mark glancing at each other in disbelief. Yuta, the coldest, chuckling out of nervousness whilst running a hand through his hair. Doyoung forcing himself to face what he helped create, feeling his eyes turning into a dam. But he refused to let anyone see it burst.

The youngest colleague, Donghyuck, squeezed through them and pressed his honey-cheeked face onto the glass. "Ahh, there he is. Wakey-wakey! Had a good rest, eh?" He said with a bright smile.

Jungwoo yelped and curled himself into a ball, shielding himself with his arms. He observed Donghyuck through his fingers. Annoyed but not surprised, Jaehyun grabbed Donghyuck's shoulder. "Stop it, you're scaring him." He ordered. Donghyuck just frowned. He suddenly broke into a fit of tears and threw himself in Jaehyun's arms.