Fenix
'HJ? HJ! Shit.', Wooyoung cursed silently as his best friend, Hongjoong, doesn't respond to his call once again.
Their mansion is currently being ambushed by Venom. A powerful gang, yet they cause trouble and chaos whenever they encounter other gangs, especially ATEEZ, Crescent, and others.
They can recognize a member of Venom with their signature tattoo on any part of their body which is a cobra.
Everybody in the gang doesn't know why are they being ambushed. Not even Mingi nor the other gang members.
All they knew that someone broke inside the mansion and that someone is a gang and an enemy of theirs.
Venom had become the enemy of every gang.
Hongjoong's dad had mentioned an incident that happened when Wooyoung, Mingi, and Hongjoong were still 10.
But Wooyoung had already forgotten about it since he didn't listen much because he doesn't listen to what they say.
Wooyoung kept loading his gun and shooting Venom constantly while trying to contact Hongjoong.
He is currently on the third floor where the training room and the computer room are located.
Before the ambush, Wooyoung was inside the computer room, looking at their security cameras since he was bored and not sleepy.
It was already past midnight and Wooyoung doesn't feel sleepy. So there he was, watching and monitoring the security cameras as he played with his blade, throwing it in the air and catching it with one hand.
Catching the blade, he sighed as he slumped at the spinning chair he is sitting on.
He really felt bored and he isn't sleepy yet.
Wooyoung glanced at the computer, looking at the screen where each area has their own cameras and are placed in secrecy.
His eyes landed on a dark figure wandering outside the mansion.
Upon noticing it, Wooyoung sat up from his seat and leaned forward as he carefully observed the figure wandering around.
The figure looked around for a second and it placed its hand on its ear, which he believed it is probably an earpiece.
Wooyoung looked closely at the screen, squinting them, and looked at the figure's moves to know its motives. It may be just a stranger lost or someone is trying to trespass their territory.
Suddenly more figures appeared one by one and headed towards their main door.
Wooyoung immediately stood up from his seat and grabbed his gun. Loading it with bullets and pulled the slide of his weapon.
Placing his earpiece in his ear, he contacted Mingi first since he too was still awake.
'What's the matter?', Mingi's deep voice spoke.
'Somebody broke in. There are many of them.', Wooyoung spoke seriously as he stared at the computer screen.
'Do you recognize them?'
'No, It's too dark and they're all covered.'
'Keep an eye on them. I'll try to wake the others.'
Before Wooyoung could respond, a loud crash was heard in the quiet mansion.
Wooyoung's eyes widen.
He looked at the screen again and saw a group of masked figures entering the main hall and Wooyoung noticed their main door was broken and seems to be forced open. They managed to force the door open and now make a commission outside, not minding if any of the members of ATEEZ heard their forced entry.
Wooyoung walked quietly towards the door and stood there, his ear placed on the wooded door, eavesdropping, with his gun ready in his hand.
Silence enveloped the place.
Wooyoung knitted his brow in confusion.
He was about to check the security cameras again, but a gunshot rang outside their main hall.
A deep voice then cried out, "Come on! Show yourselves!"
Wooyoung tightened his grip on his gun as he eavesdropped from the inside of the room.
"Still in your beauty sleep? You want me to wake you up?"
Another gunshot rang outside. Wooyoung pressed his fingers on his earpiece, 'Midnight, did you contact everyone?'
'I can't reach Hongjoong. Not even Sir Grim and Miss Ivy.'
'What?!, Wooyoung whisper-yelled.
"Still not coming out? Okay then.
I'll count one to five,
If nobody comes out on the count of five, then all of you will be doomed.
One.
Two.."
'If I say go, we'll attack. Understood?'
"THREE!"
'But what about—'
"FOU—"
The person suddenly stopped counting, at the same time a gunshot was heard.
'GO!'
At that moment, the doors of every room in the mansion opened with a loud slam and gunshots started firing everywhere.
Wooyoung shot the enemies with gritted teeth and constantly dodging them as he hid behind some pillars of the mansion.
'Fenix to HJ, can you hear me? HJ! Argh!', Wooyoung yelled in annoyance as he tried contacting Hongjoong. Still, no answer from the blonde male ever since Wooyoung told him that he haven't spotted his dad and his mom. It worried the younger male, thinking that something might've happened with Grim and Ivy and Hongjoong heading to where his parents are might put Hongjoong in even more danger.
He shot the remaining enemies who are on his way before he sprinted towards the office of Grim.
Wooyoung knew that Hongjoong is heading there right now. So he ran his way towards the office while shooting some enemies coming on his way, dodging them occasionally.
'Fenix, where— Are you?', Mingi said from the other line, hearing him struggle and there are screams near Mingi's area which concerned the younger male.
'I'm heading towards Sir Grim's office. How are things over there?', Wooyoung responded, legs not stopping and bullets kept coming out of his gun as he shoots each member of Venom that is on his way.
'I— They're too many. I need some back up here.'
Wooyoung halted and looked back, 'What about the others?'
'Sir Grim's members are wiped out. Just— me and the new ones left.'
Wooyoung cursed, taking a glance up at the office which is on the very top floor of the mansion. He's so close, but he can't just leave Mingi and the others alone. But what about Hongjoong?
'Hongjoong can manage it— by himself. Right now— I need backup. They're so— many of them.'
Wooyoung bit his lip, peeking at their main hall to see his comrade and a few members struggling at Venom. Most of them had fallen, covered in blood and lots of bullet holes are visible on their bodies. He had no other choice. He should trust Hongjoong in this.
Wooyoung finally sighed and turned his heel.
'I'm on my way.'
Wooyoung glanced at the office once again and muttered 'Please be safe' before sprinting towards the main hall where Mingi is.
•~×~•
HJ
Hongjoong ran towards his dad's office as fast as he can.
Not minding the nonstop calling of Fenix through his earpiece, his mind only thought of one thing, and that is to find his parents and hoping that they are safe.
Venom had been ATEEZ's number one enemy. His dad and the leader of Venom are not on really good terms and Hongjoong doesn't know why. His dad never told him anything about his relationship with Venom's leader since it's his dad's privacy.
Venom had tried to ambush ATEEZ many times before, but his dad always ends up winning for having more members and having lots of excellent fighters than Venom. They even tried kidnapping Hongjoong when he was a toddler but because he is under his dad's protection, he was kept safe, and Venom never laid a finger at him ever again.
But now, things have changed.
Venom is currently winning.
Judging from all the dead bodies laying on the corridors and at the main hall, he could recognize some of his crew and some are his dad's crew members.
Hongjoong also took a glimpse of his two comrades who are doing their best on winning against Venom.
After running a couple more stairs, Hongjoong finally made it to the top floor, where the office of his dad is located.
As he finally neared the door of the office, a bullet flew across Hongjoong which almost hit his cheek.
The male looked behind him and saw three members of Venom following him, their guns are aiming at Hongjoong.
Hongjoong hid at a pillar as the three continued shooting at the male.
He panted from all the running and his back rested at the pillar, his gun ready to fire anytime at the three.
When the gunshots lessen a bit, Hongjoong took the opportunity and aimed his gun at a member and shot him in the chest.
The two continued shooting and Hongjoong hid behind the pillars once again.
The gunshots stopped and Hongjoong stepped out of the pillar and aimed at the two members.
But instead, he saw two bodies lying lifelessly on the floor and his crew who is aiming his gun at the now-dead members of Venom.
His fellow crew loaded his gun, "Go, HJ. I'll handle it here."
Hongjoong nodded and thanked his crewmate, immediately left as his fellow crew continued shooting.
He finally made it in front of his dad's office and without hesitation, he opened the door with a loud slam and panted.
But before he could even take a step inside the office, a loud gunshot rang inside.
And the next thing happened,
His dad's chest is bleeding, a bullet shot through his chest, and is taking weak steps backward.
Hongjoong was too late.
His eyes widen, his face turned pale and his heart dropped at the sight of his dad.
The male's breath hitched as his dad coughed out blood and fell on his knees.
Everything was dull, Hongjoong felt numb.
His hand is trembling, which made him drop his gun to the ground with a loud clang, it earned the attention of the masked figure who shot his dad.
He heard his mom scream his dad's name,
He can still hear the nonstop firing of bullets on the main hall,
But everything felt numb.
"No..", Hongjoong whispered in disbelief.
Ivy ran towards Grim and held him in her arms as she sobbed, her sweater is now covered with his dad's blood, and hearing his mom's cry made him heartache.
A deep, muffled chuckle echoed inside the office, "Ah, what a sight."
The stranger turned his attention to Hongjoong who just stood there and stared at his dad's pale body with wide eyes.
"I see that your lovely son is here."
Hongjoong snapped from his trance and was about to run towards his dad, but as he took a step a click was heard and the enemy's gun is pointed at Hongjoong and it made him halt.
"One more step and you will meet your end."
"Don't you dare lay a finger on my son.", Ivy growled as she grits her teeth, still holding her husband in her arms.
"Oh? I won't.
I would kill him before I could even dare to lay a finger on him."
Ivy gently placed his dad on the ground, placing a gentle kiss on his forehead before grabbing the dagger that is tucked inside Grim's pocket. She slowly stood up from her spot, the atmosphere inside the room turned tense when Hongjoong's mother went dead silent and she slowly pointed the tip of the dagger at the enemy, eyes filled with anger and her hands are tightly gripping the dagger.
"Over my dead body, Lux."
The enemy, Lux, smirked at Ivy and chuckled deeply, "I love that. Brings back the old days,
Where you would always end up losing against me."
He threw his gun somewhere in the room and whipped out a dagger and pointed it at Hongjoong's mom, "Bring it on, Ivy."
Ivy charged at Lux. The two fought and Hongjoong took the chance to run towards his dad who is lying unconsciously on the ground. He carefully lifts his upper body and held him carefully in his arms.
"Dad it's me, Hongjoong.. Dad.", Hongjoong's quiet, frantic calls and gentle shake on his dad's shoulder made Seongjun weakly respond and his eyes landed on his son's worried look. More like scared, that look reminded him of when his boy was still little and it saddens him seeing Hongjoong like that.
"Dad..", a tear slid down Hongjoong's cheeks as he tried to make his dad stay conscious.
Hongjoong rarely shows his weak side. The side of him that never showed up after he joined the gang and certainly not in front of his dad because he didn't want to look weak in front of him.
The side of him that makes Hongjoong small and vulnerable.
And it broke his dad's heart. His son, crying and trembling. Seongjun just wants to hug his boy and comfort him.
But in his state, he couldn't.
Hongjoong's dad, slowly slipping into unconsciousness, raises his shaky hand and caresses his son's cheek, and lets out a small, weak smile.
Hongjoong leaned into his father's touch, more tears rolled down his cheeks making him release a sob.
"Don't cry, son.", He softly said as he wiped his son's tear with his thumb.
"Promise me.. That you'll leave this place.. Alive.. Together with whoever survived.."
Hongjoong frantically shook his head, his stubbornness showing, "I'm not leaving you. You and mom.. We'll leave together..—"
"I don't have much time left, Hongjoongie.."
Hongjoong whimpered at his dad's response. He doesn't want him to die yet..
He still wanted to be with him, with his mom, together, doing things that families do. They rarely do it these days because of their work, but he hopes that one day they'll have a day for the three of them to bond. Hongjoong may be old, but he still wants to enjoy and bond with his mom and dad more.
Hongjoong's dad coughed violently, blood coming out of his mouth as his breath gets shorter.
"Hongjoong.."
His son sobbed, "Yes dad.."
"Your mom and I love you.. From the time you were born until you grow up..
I'm sorry.. If I didn't get to spend time with you and take care of you.. As a father would..
I'm sorry if I didn't do my responsibility as a dad to you till now..
I wouldn't wish nor wanted to die..
You know why?
Because I still wanted to spend time with you.
And I wanted to hear the song that you wanted me to hear.. The one that you composed.."
Hongjoong sniffed, "I love you too, dad."
His dad smiled, his voice started to fade and his breath is getting shorter each time he spoke.
"Promise me.. Okay, Joongie?"
Hongjoong nodded, "Yes."
His dad let go of his son's face, "That's my boy."
And with that.
His dad's eyes closed and his breath broke.
He layed lifelessly but peacefully in his son's arms.
Ivy, who is still fighting Lux, took a glimpse at her son and husband.
Her eyes widen as she saw her son crying and sobbing and his husband who is now lifelessly lying in his son's arms.
This made her halt and took her off guard.
She was about to run towards them,
but a sharp object suddenly pierced into her back.
Ivy's eyes widen as the pain spread in her body and as she felt the dagger pulled out off her back and she fell to her knees, her eyes still locked on her son and husband.
Hongjoong heard the thump of her mom's fall and his eyes turned to her mom with numerous scars and blood dripping out her mouth
Hongjoong felt his heart drop once again, his vision started to blur as tears rolled down on his cheeks once again.
He placed his dad carefully on the ground and sprints towards her mom.
Hongjoong kneeled in front of her and just in time her mom was about to collapse but Hongjoong caught her, hugging her.
"Mom? Mom, what happened..—"
"You know mommy loves you, right?"
Hongjoong hugged her tight, "No! Please don't leave me.. Mom, I don't want to lose another one. Please..", he whimpered, tears rolled down his cheeks.
His mom shakily placed both her arms around Hongjoong's back, "Oh, Joongie.."
She broke the hug and looked at her son. She caressed his son's cheek and with a shaky voice, she spoke as a single tear rolled out of her puffy eyes, "Please take care, okay? I and your dad love you. Don't ever forget that.. Okay?"
Hongjoong closed his eyes as he leaned into her mom's touch, "Mom.."
Ivy's hand slipped down and her lifeless body collapsed on Hongjoong, her head resting on Hongjoong's shoulder.
Hongjoong had nothing left.
His dad is now gone..
Now his mom..
It's only him now..
A scoff suddenly broke the moment, "What a pity."
Hongjoong's expression suddenly dropped into a deadly one.
He layed his mom's body on the ground and stood up. He turned around, facing Lux and looked at him with dark, angry eyes.
The enemy smirked as he looked at the boy with amusement.
Just like his dad, I see.
"Well, since my job here is done. I shall take my leave."
He turned his heel towards the door and started walking away, leaving the boy standing there with his parents' body on the floor.
"Aren't you gonna kill me?"
He stopped walking and smiled, "Oh that's not part of my mission and list."
"What do you mean?"
"My mission is to kill Kim Seongjun and Kim Rae. That doesn't include you,
Kim Hongjoong."
Hongjoong gritted his teeth, "Why my parents?"
The masked man, Lux, turned around and stared back at Hongjoong's glare, "They took everything from me, wouldn't it be fair if I take his everything as well?"
Hongjoong froze, his eyes widen.
No, his dad would not do that. This man is probably lying.
All these secrets and privacy things made Hongjoong confused and mad. Now that his father is gone, so is his mother, who's gonna tell him everything now?
And with that, Lux turned around and walked out of Grim's office and leaving the boy in his messy thoughts.
Hongjoong heard a faint instruction of Lux, telling them to get the entire crew of Venom ready to leave the mansion and set the bombs in one minute. And it made the male Hongjoong snap out from his trance and warn the others.
Right now, he has to do the thing he has to do.
Get everyone out to safety and survive.
That's when he did the first thing that came to mind, and that is to contact Midnight who is probably at the main hall still fighting, 'HJ to Midnight. How are things there?'
'Venom's out. They retreated just now.'
'Get everyone out. They're blowing up the place. Now.'
'What?! But—'
'Do what your leader tells you. Now go!', He instructed before turning his earpiece off and turn to his parent's dead bodies on the floor, surrounded by their pool of blood and Hongjoong looked at them with sadness in his eyes.
Leader.
'Wait, leader? Don't tell me— Hongjoong? HJ! Midnight to HJ!'
Midnight cursed when he heard nothing from Hongjoong's line and looked around him for remaining members of ATEEZ but the only person he saw standing is Wooyoung who is all covered in scratches and blood, panting on his spot while holding his gun bloody tightly. He didn't have any choice but follow what Hongjoong instructed him, so he called Wooyoung over and they both left the mansion.
Back at the office, Hongjoong dragged both of his parents' bodies near each other and the male brought two white roses that were on his dad's vase and placed them on their hands that are resting on their stomachs. When Hongjoong stood up, he looked at their lifeless bodies and he released a deep sigh, turning away from them and turned to the door of the office. 20 seconds left.
He remembered the flash drive that they brought home and Hongjoong looked through his dad's desk drawers and found it, tucking them into his pocket and made sure they won't fall off from his pajamas.
Hongjoong glanced one last time at his parents' corpses before whispered a quiet apology to them and sprinted out of the office.
10 seconds.
Hongjoong ran, not caring of his legs hurt. He just needs to get out before the bomb explodes.
7 seconds.
He's now on the second floor. A couple of stairs till he reaches the ground floor. Just a bit more and he's out.
4 seconds.
Finally at the main hall. He's getting closer to the exit.
2 seconds.
"Hongjoong!"
He heard Mingi in the distance.
Hongjoong saw him outside the main door, only by himself.
Wait, where are the others?
"Hurry!"
Zero.
A loud bang came inside the mansion,
Times up.
The mansion exploded.
But which part exploded first?
At the main hall.
And Hongjoong didn't get out in time.
He was near the exit,
But the bomb was placed near the exit.
After the explosion,
His body was thrown towards the ground.
He stumbled on a few steps and slid on the hard concrete floor.
Hongjoong can hear his best friend run towards him, yelling his name.
His body felt numb physically. He couldn't move his body, especially his right arm.
Everything felt dull.
Then darkness took over him.
Will Hongjoong survive?
•~×~•
thank you all so much for reading!
tbc..