Mark

  "Junior?" I called, standing in the middle of the now empty road. Smoke entered my lungs every time I took a breath, making me cough violently before I could speak,"Jinyoung?" I tried again, the smoke making my voice no more than a whisper. Go get Jb, Mark. Staring down the street it took every ounce of resistance to turn around instead of run in search of Jinyoung. No matter how worried I had become, he had been right. I had to tell Jb what was happening, and I had to tell him now.

  Jinyoung is a bandit, I reminded myself, if anyone survive this, it's him. Placing my trust in my instincts I quickly moved into the cover of the trees. Still staying close enough to not lose sight of the street. The only thing I could remember about where Jb lived was that it was a big house at the end of a road. If I was honest with myself, I had never really taken the time to walk around the bandit 'camp'. Now that everything was breaking, I noticed things I hadn't seen before. There was a small wooden booth near a few houses, stocked with multiple foods. Along with what seemed to be a weapons shop of some sort, but was now crumbling ash.

  In fact, the whole road was practically booths and shops, only three or four houses sat on the sides of the path. Is that good or bad? Shaking the thought away I picked up my pace. The sight of a house slightly bigger than the rest made me sigh. None of the lights were on as I approached the front door. Knocking a few times I silently prayed to whatever god was out there that the villagers haven't reached this street yet. This all feels so surreal. I took the time to look down at my body, my appearance was not the best.

  Ash and dirt covered my once-white shirt, scrapes and small cuts stood out against the light skin of my arms. I was pretty sure my hair was a mess, though looks was the least of my worries at the moment,"Who's there?" The tired sounding reply belonged to Youngjae. Even in a state of daze he was still cautious, I respect that,"Youngjae it's Mark, you need to get Jb down here right now. It's an emergency." There was a small pause before the front door was thrust open. Youngjae, with his messy hair and pajamas, took in my appearance with wide eyes,"Holy shit that's one hell of an emergency. Come on in, quickly."

He pushed the door further open, but I shook my head,"The house isn't safe," I tried to add some urgency in voice,"we need to get Jb and leave now." Youngjae furrowed his eyebrows in confusion,"Not safe? What does that-" The thought of houses burning to the ground with the screams of bandits made me interrupt him,"Youngjae there is no time! We need Jb now, right now." Youngjae nodded before disappearing into his house. I waited with my foot tapping the wood impatiently, feeling like a ticking time bomb. Jb isn't the only person who needs to be warned, my thoughts shouted. I frowned at the image of people burning to the ground in my mind, Jinyoung is warning people as we speak.

"Why the hell are you waking me up this early Youngjae?" The sound of a very angry Jb was coming from upstairs. My eyes narrowed at his accusing tone, he better not be blaming Youngjae for this. Youngjae's much quieter voice responded, but I couldn't make out any of the words,"What type of emergency?" Come down here and find out you piece of- My thoughts were cut of by Youngjae raising down the stairs, a few pieces of clothing in his arms. Jb followed with a slower pace, a scowl on his face,"This better be important Mark." He practically spat. Not much of a morning person,"I'll explain once we get outside." I anxiously looked around the yard before adding,"Your house is not safe right now."

Jb gave a confused look while taking Youngjae by the arm and guiding him outside. He passed me without a second glance and made a path towards the trees. Hesitating for only a second I quickly ran to catch up. Only when we reached the trees did Jb speak,"Why is my house not safe?" He asked, letting go of Youngjae's arm. The boy massaged it slightly. Letting out a sigh I quickly went over what had happened. Yugyeom appearing, giving us a message, dying. Villagers breaking in and telling us they would burn down the village, then the houses exploding into flame.

As I finished Jb clenched his jaw, his hands in fists,"We need to relocate." Youngjae gave him a surprised look which Jb ignored,"Where did you say all the bandits will be heading to?" Thinking back to when they had disappeared in the trees I nervously gulped,"Well uh, we never got around to talking about it?" A hand lightly smacked the back of my head. I gaped at Youngjae as he crossed his arms over his chest muttering "idiots". Rubbing my skull I looked into the street at the sound of a distant bang. Youngjae flinched,"Was that- was that a house?" His eyes filled with unshed tears when I nodded,"My home is being burned to the ground."

  Reaching out I rested my hand on his shoulder, Jb let out a cough that interrupted the moment,"We need to find the others and get somewhere safe." Pulling away I gestured for him to lead the way. With a grunt he walked in front of me and headed away from his house,"What street were you on?" Ducking to move under a beach in my path I quickly searched for a clue of where we were,"You uh, kinda walk down your street to the part where there are two other streets and it's uh, the one on the right." The pauses in my sentence earned me a few weirded out looks. If I wasn't in my right mind I might have said one had looked sympathetic,"Okay. I know what street that is."

Exhaling in relief I followed after the now almost running male. As we reached the place one street became two, Jb got ready to run. I placed a hand in front of his chest,"Are you crazy? The villagers will see you and who knows what they will do." Jb pushed my hand away ruffly,"Bandits don't hide from villagers, villagers hide from bandits." Walking out of the cover of the trees Jb let out his arms, as if showing who was in charge. Turning to look back at Youngjae and I, a creepy smile made its way onto his face,"Lets go find my bandits."

  Youngjae muttered something about a "showoff" and "he is gonna get us killed" before following his lover into the street. Hesitating I walked quickly across the road, joining them back in the trees. Jb looked smug,"See? No one tried to kill us." I went to give a response but the sound of a branch snapping cut me off. Out of instinct the three of us went behind the trees to hide. Pressing my back against the wood I made eye contact with Jb as leaves crunched beneath the person's feet. He started to count down with his hand. What the heck does that mean? I watched as he reached zero and him and Youngjae sprang out of hiding. Oh. I quickly moved from my spot to see an unfamiliar face. The male seemed to be a bandit by the way Jb and Youngjae immediately relaxed.

  Jb was the first to speak,"Mingyu what are you doing wandering around the woods?" The boy seemed stuck in shock, only then did I notice his lips were quivering and his hands were shaking,"I- I was sent to look for the bandits that didn't show up." My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. I took a step forward,"Didn't show up?" The boy nodded,"I found them, but they- no one from the street made it." Jb crossed his arms,"What street?" Mingyu looked between the three of us,"Directly in front of yours sir."  The one Jinyoung said he would warn. Fear and anxiousness filled my mind, I couldn't help but ask,"What do you mean no one made it?"

  Mingyu intertwined his hand in front of him, eyes fixed intensely on the ground,"I mean, everyone on that street died because no one had warned them. Of the fire." I found myself stuttering in confusion and worry,"But Junior said he would warn them. Where is Junior?" Mingyu looked at me surprised,"No one has seen Junior in hours."

--------

Heeeeeeey