"Everyone out! Now!" Yoongi roared, standing up and grabbing both his Omega's hands and dragging them from the cave.

Seonghwa jumped at his voice and looked toward the entrance. Through the mass of bodies, he could see an orange glow quickly getting brighter.

"Sannie, quick!" He said, turning to help San off the ground.

The younger's eyes widened in fear and he was quick to cling to Seonghwa's side. "Where Wooyoung?" He asked, panic laced in his tone.

"I think he's out already; he was up front with Yoongi."

San whimpered; eyes fixed on the opening in front of them.

The rest of their back all scrambled to help their Omegas get to safety.

Gunhak, Youngjo, and Dongju all gathered around Hwanwoong. The four of them looked even more scared now that they could sense the fire too. Hwanwoong let out a small whimper and grabbed the back of Youngjo's shirt, hiding behind him as they picked their way out of the cave with Jungkook's help.

A loud groaning came from outside, followed by an echoing crash.

"Hurry! It's getting closer!" Jimin called, making Jungkook perk up and usher the members of Oneus forward faster.

Behind them was Stray Kids. Seungmin had run back from the entrance and straight to Jeongin while Changbin looped an arm around Felix to keep him close.

The four of them looked pale and terrified.

Just like a trapped animal might.

Seonghwa felt the same. His heart pounded in his ears and every instinct in him begged him to simply push past the others so he could get to his own safety.

But he wouldn't leave San and the cave was only so wide.

Another crash came from outside and this time it caused a large lick of flames to flash across the entrance.

Everyone still inside cried out and froze.

"No! Don't stop!" Yoongi called from outside. "We need to get out of here!"

"Sannie!! Hyung!!" Wooyoung's panicked voice called from outside and San immediately cried out, almost like he was calling back to him.

They were almost there.

Gunhak was finally able to push his pack out, all of them coughing horribly from the smoke filling the air.

And filling the cave.

One deep inhale had Seonghwa coughing nonstop, even as he lifted the collar of his shirt up over his nose.

He reached down to make sure San did the same right as another crash came from outside. Although this one sounded more like an explosion...

"LOOK OUT!!" Someone yelled from outside, but it was instantly covered by the thundering sound of roaring flames.

Another blast followed and a wave of heat traveled into the cave right after Changbin dove out after the rest of his pack.

But Seonghwa and San weren't so lucky.

They had to stumble back to keep from getting burned with how ferocious the fire had suddenly become.

"Behind the rocks!" Seonghwa cried, keeping a tight grip on San's hand to pull him to safety.

The huddled together, with Seonghwa pressing San into the wall to protect him just in case the danger got closer.

And San clung to him, trembling and whimpering.

Now that they were behind one of the larger boulders, they couldn't hear the others calling for them. All of it was lost amongst the crackles, pops, and roars bouncing off the cave walls.

"It's going to be okay... It's going to be okay..." Seonghwa chanted, both for himself and for San.

Though he wasn't sure he believed his own words...

Not when the air around them continued to heat up.

"The fire has flushed them out."

"Good. Get some Androids to the top so they can cause a rockslide and seal off the entrance. That way they can never get back in."

"SAN!!"

"Wooyoung, stop!"

The Omega screamed when an arm wrapped around his stomach and started to drag him into the only part of the forest that wasn't on fire.

"No! Let me go!!" Wooyoung clawed at the person's arm, not even caring who it was. Not when his pack still needed him.

"Get him out of here! I'm going to try and go back."

"No, Hyung, you can't!"

"That's an order, Kook. Don't let go of him."

Alpha! Stop!

Wooyoung wailed, all his emotions ripping apart inside him as he realized it was Yoongi volunteering to go back.

He could feel his Alpha's panic, his fear, everything.

"Where are the others?" Someone else asked, his own voice trembling and breaking.

"I sent them ahead, no point in all of us risking our lives." Yoongi huffed a little, then ripped off a section of his shirt to cover his nose and mouth.

"Hyung, please don't do this." Jimin. The voice was Jimin, and he sounded like he was about to break down at any second.

"Alphaaaa." Wooyoung clawed at the arm around him again. The person behind him responded by lifting him from the ground, causing his legs to flail in the air.

"Wooyoung, please stop!" Jungkook pleaded. "Hyung, I don't think you should leave. Not-"

A loud, groaning sound came from their right and all of them paused just long enough to see the beginning of a tree starting to fall.

Yoongi was the first to react, quickly spinning to grab Jimin and pull him to the side.

When the tree landed, a giant lick of flames reached for them, forcing all four of them farther from the cave.

But that wasn't the only thing that happened...

Another rumbling sound soon joined the roaring fire.

Right before several rocks fell from the top of the mountain.

"NOOOOOO!!" Wooyoung screamed so loud his voice broke. Jungkook had to scramble to keep his grip when Wooyoung tried to throw himself forward. "SEONGHWA!!! SAN!!!!!"

They watched...

They watched each and every rock roll down as if in slow motion...

They watched... completely helpless...

As the cave that had provided them protection, that still held two of their pack members inside, was sealed away.

Wooyoung's hoarse screams grew louder and more desperate, just as his struggles did too.

Jungkook ended up taking an elbow to his gut several times, along with a heel to his shins and a head to his nose.

But he never let go. He dragged Wooyoung away from the cave with both arms. All while keeping Jimin and Yoongi in his sights.

The three members of BTS worked together to pick their way through the flames.

It was getting harder and harder to breath with how thick the smoke was getting...

But Yoongi took the lead, his head swiveling back and forth while he scented the air. "This way!"

Wooyoung's cries and sobs grew weaker the farther from the cave they got.

They were forcing him to abandon San...

They'd just left.

The realization slammed into Wooyoung so hard he lost what little breath he had left.

He also lost the will to fight anymore...

When he fell limp from defeat, Jungkook was quick to slip an arm under his legs and scoop him off the ground.

Yet he still found himself mumbling, "N-No... S-San..."

"I've got him, let's go." Jungkook grunted while shifting Wooyoung in his arms once, then started to jog forward.

Something wasn't right...

No. Go back. Too far. Not safe.

When his wolf started to panic, Wooyoung knew something was wrong. Even with his Alpha close by, his stomach started to churn.

The air started to clear around them, though he could hear the others coughing from all the smoke.

And maybe he was coughing too, but he didn't really feel like he was a part of his own body anymore.

He felt hot and cold at the same time. Numb and on fire. Floaty and heavy.

The world spun whenever he opened his eyes.

"S-San..." The Omega rasped, trying to find something, anything to focus on.

"Hyung, something's wrong." Jungkook called with a slight whine.

A pair of hands cupped his cheeks. "What happened??" Jimin's voice broke through Wooyoung's haze just a little and he was able to reach for him.

Safe...

His wolf was hesitant, almost distant, but it still recognized Jimin as his packmate of sorts. It recognized the connection to its Alpha.

"I don't know. He's been mumbling the whole time but I can sense something is off."

Wooyoung moaned, almost like he was confirming Jungkook's words.

Then Yoongi was there, taking his Omega into his arms and lowering him to the ground. "Wooyoung-ah?" His deep voice sent a rush of comfort through Wooyoung and he whimpered softly. "What is it? Did the fire get you?"

Wooyoung hated that all he could sense coming from his Alpha was fear-filled concern. Soft hands caressed his face and Yoongi even dipped down to scent him, hoping that would help.

It did.

Sort of...

But nothing felt right.

Nothing would be right.

His wolf confirmed it for him when it helped Wooyoung let out a sorrowful wail, as close to a howl as possible...

Before he lost consciousness.

"Ma'am, I... I don't think they all made it out."

"What?!"

"I've checked the cameras. Eight of them ran ahead and made it back to Ateez's cabin. They are waiting there now. Four more nearly got trapped in the fire. They are still a good distance away, but..."

Madame Curator rounds on the man speaking. "But what?!"

"It's one Alpha with three Omegas. They are openly breaking the rules right now."

"That's on them. How many appear to be missing?"

"Two. Fourteen went into the cave, but I've only located twelve since the rockslide..."

Madame Curator opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by a door opening.

She turned to see one of the women monitoring The Maze run in, panting and out of breath.

"Ma'am...They know."

Jongho stopped suddenly in the middle of rounding a corner.

It caused Yeosang to run into him and both of them nearly fell to the ground. "Jongho? What's-"

He stopped when the Alpha snapped his head to look at Mingi, Chan, and Namjoon with wide eyes.

Something was happening to their mates.

All four of them could sense it.

And all four Alphas started to look around, looking for some kind of way to get out even though they'd been staring at the same continuous log wall for hours now.

Mate. Mate. Hurt. Mate!!

Jongho roared and spun around again.

"What's going on?" Keonhee asked hesitantly.

"We need to get out of here. Right now." Chan answered with a slight whine.

Hongjoong placed a hand on his arm to try and calm him. It seemed to work a little because Chan looked down at him. "What's wrong, Chan-ah?"

"Felix. He's scared. Something's happened!"

Panic rushed through all of them now.

For once, Namjoon's calm persona dropped and his eyes turned bright red. "We need to get out. LET US OUT NOW!!" He roared, looking up at the sky like the Androids would appear and assist them.

Seokjin and Hoseok both tried to grab his hands, but he ripped them away and looked at his back.

Both of their eyes flashed blue in response and they stepped back with their heads down.

The entire pack fell into complete chaos as the Alphas started to lose control.

And Jongho was at the front of it all.

When his wolf urged him to, he started running in the direction they'd been going.

Yunho fell into step beside him, able to match his stride with his long legs. "Can you tell what happened?"

"No, but San is terrified and... there's something else that doesn't feel right. I need to get to him." Jongho gritted his teeth and ran faster.

All strategy and care had gone out the window.

They all had loved ones they'd left behind that morning and now the only thing any of them wanted was to make sure they were safe.

Jongho turned blindly, not keeping track of where they'd already been or if they were even repeating paths.

All he could focus on was moving forward.

But it was like his wolf had gained a new sense.

Not once did they come across a dead end or have to turn around. Jongho was able to make turns without second guessing his decision.

They bypassed all the tables or challenges they came across.

Winning didn't matter. Not anymore.

Jongho's mind raced with every scenario he could think of, which didn't help his need to stay focused, but it also felt like he was trying to prepare himself for anything rather than just panicking.

If something had happened to the others, were they hurt? Were they still hidden in the cave?

Was another pack attacking them?

That thought had Jongho's upper lip curling in a snarl and he pushed himself to run a little faster.

If part of Tressor found them...

No. Focus.

His wolf was right.

He had to try and think a little more positively.

But it was so hard to do when San's fear and... pain...? Was all that swirled within his own feelings.

Jongho wanted to comfort his mate, wanted to hug him and protect him from everything.

He needed to get to his Omega.

And judging by the way Namjoon, Mingi, and Chan were running right behind him told him they felt the same.

It was still taking way too long to find an exit...

Just how big was The Maze?!

Jongho was just about ready to ram his shoulder into one of the walls when he saw it.

An opening.

To the forest.

He led the charge, the others following him without question.

And he didn't stop.

He ran straight past the Androids waiting for them.

He ran into the trees, able to sense which direction he needed to go.

He ran without any intention of stopping, no matter how much his legs begged him to.

He ran...

Ran like there was fire behind him...

Desperate to save his pack.