"This is just a dream right?" The pink-haired male tried to assure himself, not wanting to think about anything worse. He wanted to stay positive even if he found himself in the middle of an abandoned street with pitch-black surrounding him.

Na Jaemin, or nana as he prefers to be called, is a 20-year-old male hailing from Busan. The only thing he remembers is the fact that he visited a fortune lady, the night of Halloween to know his future.

Now, waking up in the middle of a deserted street was nowhere near comforting for him. However, being the positive male he is, he hoped to stay confident.

"Yes, I'm having another episode of lucid dreams. Yes, that's what this is" mumbling to himself the male started walking around, a cold breeze hitting him in the process. Rubbing his arms he looked around hoping to find answers to his questions.

"Well well let's eat something" having come upon an abandoned cafe Jaemin was more than happy to see its lights on. He was hungry and seeing an open cafe in the middle of a deserted street was relieving for him.

The male set out to the place but soon as he stepped forward the lights turned off much to his surprise. He was sure that he saw someone turning around the corner but before he could even say something the lights had turned off. Frowning he resorted to knocking.

"What do you think you are doing?" Came a voice from beside as Jaemin backed away a bit seeing another human beside him.

"I was just knocking?"

"Exactly and why would you do that?" Asked the voice as he tilted his head. He was not crazy enough to knock on the door without a reason.

"I saw the lights on so I came here hoping to find someone. Why wouldn't I knock on the door?"

Jaemin could hear a sigh from the other.

"You just entered, didn't you?"

Entered?

"What do you—"

"C'mon! We got to hurry then. They shouldn't see us" with that the male grabbed Jaemin's hands pulling him away as they started running. Jaemin didn't know what was happening and a part of him still liked to believe that it was all a dream. A dream that felt too real for his liking.

After what seemed like hours the two slowed down as he let go of Jaemin's hands letting the other look around. The pink-haired male took his time to absorb the surroundings he was currently in.

Though it was the same just like the previous one with no lights around it looked more like the stranger had led him to some sort of forest. Jaemin couldn't tell what exactly that was until it dawned upon him that he was with a stranger.

"Wait! Who are you?" The pink-haired male shouted as the male lost his patience covering Jaemin's mouth.

"Someone you can trust and possibly another victim like you"

Another victim like you?

Jaemin didn't seem to understand what the other was saying nor did he question the other further. He was still hanging on his words something along the lines of him being a victim. Victim of what?

Somehow his lucid dreams are wild these days.

Who knew it would feel so real?

"Where are we going?" After minutes he finally spoke as the other remained silent.

"Hey, I asked you—"

"Shut up! They might hear you"

They?

"Don't blow our covers with your stupidity. Be grateful that I saved you from there before they could do something to you" the male grumbled before tugging the other's hands harshly, pulling him away with him.

"Shh," the stranger said wrapping his arms around Jaemin's shoulder as his eyes followed something that was walking around. The pink-haired male had lots of questions to ask but kept quiet as he nervously gulped. How long will he be staying in this dream?

"On the count of three run to that corner. Walk straight. Don't wait for me. You'll find someone named Taeyong. Tell him that you came there because of Jeno"

"Bu—"

"One"

Jaemin started to panic a bit. Which corner did the other mean? Was he going to leave him just like that?

"Two"

Gulping he stood up

"Three! Go"

He knew it was his cue to run and run he did. Sprinting for his life Jaemin managed to turn around the corner not even questioning his choice to believe the stranger.

Walk straight

He kept repeating the now-known guy's words. Tripping on few stones lying here and there he was able to move forward. However, he turned alert as he could hear a few whispering coming nearby. Slowing down he tiptoed towards the edge and brushed away the leaves only to find a few people.

You'll find someone named Taeyong

But how was he sure that he came upon the right people? Jeno didn't tell him how Taeyong looked nor did he say anything about these many people hanging out. They didn't look like medieval people. Rather they were wearing similar clothes to him. One of them was even holding a phone similar to the ones they sold at the age Jaemin was coming from.

"These people in dream sure is advanced"

"Taeyong, it's working! The range—"

Taeyong? Isn't that the guy Jeno mentioned?

"I told you to turn off your phone Mark! It's easy for them to find us in this way" the person who Jaemin assumes to be Taeyong spoke out earning noddings from the rest.

"But...I thought we could get some help"

"The only help you'll get by turning it on is to land straight to hell. Remember that they're looking out for us."

A small pout spread on Mark's face but seeing the way his leader reacted to him he turned his phone off tossing it to someone else.

Jaemin, now knowing that there indeed was a Taeyong, Jeno mentioned, in the group decided to step in making the group of four alert.

"Who are you mister?"

Came a voice as Jaemin slowly backed away seeing them cornering him.

"I want to meet Taeyong" he voiced out as they stopped turning on their backs to him eyeing their leader.

"Taeyong, are you hearing this? The kid thinks he can fool us by saying your—"

"I'm not fooling you guys! I came here due to Jeno. He told me that I would find someone named Taeyong" Jaemin protested as the tall male faced him once again, his eyes boring holes into the latter.

"We're not believing—"

"Enough Yuta!" Taeyong yelled as the male sighed moving away.

"If we're getting caught due to this kid it's on you Tae," he said with a threatening voice before moving away leaving Jaemin stranded. The group seemed to form a circle around him as Taeyong approached him forward tilting his head.

"What's your name?"

"Na Jaemin" the pink-haired male replied without any hesitation.

"How did Jeno find you?"

"He found me while I was trying to get the attention of people inside a cafe"

Murmurs were heard as Taeyong shushed them stepping forward.

"Don't do that. Don't try to check out any places that have lights on. It's dangerous and it's the way they'll lure you in."

"Who?"

"You'll know it soon..."

"Isn't this dream going to end soon tho? When will I be able to know who they're referring to?" Whispering to himself Jaemin looked down as Taeyong raised his eyebrows.

"Dream? You think this is a dream?"

Being the gullible guy he is, Jaemin nodded his head.

"Well it's not a dream kid. You joining us?"

Huh? So it's not a dream?

"S—sure"

"Good. Renjun will help you out if you need to know anything"

TBC

That's for this chapter. Ships are included :)

Main ships btw, cause if I stick to my thousand-plus ships for Mark, Hyuck, and Renjun it wouldn't end here.

Also thank you for the support. Hopefully, I'll be able to update frequently?

I originally had this plot for a Jaemim centric fic but now that I came across a dream edit titled lucid dreams I thought about making this but NCT 2020 as a whole.

Please this book is to satisfy my paprika fan self and my norenmin and markhyuck shipper ass. It's really funny how these two are my main ships yet I write about any ships but these two.

Also, the rooftop fight is coming! I'm Team renjun, Donghyuck, and Chenle. Wbu?

And we're getting a new unit omgggggggg. WayV's debut feels like nostalgic cause I got into the fandom around Simon says era. And it's going to be two years :') (three around the end of the year)

Going offline then