022

(FINAL WEEK)

" becoming harder to contain your growing strength and voice "

lee suhyun - alien

Haewon's POVfrom the floor above, we all felt the rumbling vibrations of the building. the alarms scorched the entire expanse into a sinister crimson as sounds of locks and clicks echoed through the void walls.

Lisa tapped into her ear piece to contact Hongjoong while I helped to unchain San.

"What's going on??"

"Jimin wasn't in his room, he has gone into hiding. He knew we would come once again, so the building was set to self destruct in like 15 minutes; the countdown hasn't started yet luckily."

Each of us were dumbstruck. With San untied, the first thing he proceeded to do was reunite with a longing embrace. It felt drastically domestic being in his arms after so long.

Pulling away at his own pace, the dimpled man turned to the deserted bed and oddly enough sprung into serious conversation. I was still confused as to who was there. San faced me and took a breath before saying:

"Haewon, your father is alive and he is right here with us."

Hysterically, I just began to laugh. It wasn't exactly the right time but to hear those words leave his mouth, I just had to. There was no way...but judging by forthright stare that held onto his face, my belief began to slip.

"Wait, you're being serious?"

San nodded. "He says for you to be able to see him you need to use your precognitive skill and link it with his."

Skill? Since when did I possess a future seeing skill?

That's when it hit.

The magical occurrence took place in the same vent of the last encounter. Without it, I would have been dead from a guard shooting me straight away. Yet it was random, I had no control over when it happened. But there was no reason to not try understand and harness the power of the unknown.

I shut my eyes and let the wavering whispers be the only thing in my presence. Energy surged it's way from my fingertips all the way round my body as if I was a living circuit. Uncontrollably, my pupils opened to see a forming man sat on the rim of the bedpost. The energy reduced itself as the mumbles were gone; I felt humane again.

In the flesh, was my father. We peered at each other with such unconditional love. All this time I thought Yeji and I were alone, but we weren't. One parent was here, right in front of my bawling orbs.

Despite being chained up, Daewon held up his arms for me, his youngest child. I ran into them and clung for dear life. He brushed my hairs out of my face while placing a kiss on my forehead.

"Don't cry my child." he said sorrowful and yearning.

This time I let my actions overpower my words completely, there was nothing to say or do but shower my father with all the affection, compassion and warmth that I had missed the past six years of my life.

"Thank you for looking after my daughter and keeping her safe." he said with true gratitude towards San.

He gave an accepting beam back, flashing his dimples the cutest way they have ever been.

Lisa cursed in frustration as she threw her ear pierce to the floor.

"It's fried. Just about when he was going to warn us about something els-"

COUNTDOWN BEGINS NOW.

BUILDING SELF DESTRUCTING IN 10 MINUTES.

10 MINUTES REMAINING.

Fear immediately laved over the heartwarming scene, a prolonged bell started to ring it's haunting melody into the corridors and into every room. If anxiety, panic, worry and dread were physically real at this point, they would be the Four Horsemen.

"We need to find a way out and fast." the blonde  firmed, typing in the code of the entrance door to then box it off into pieces.

I stayed in my father's arms as San charged at the metal door till it gave way and crashed into the ground.

"Haewon, we need to go."

"But what about my father?" I asked with such woeful pleading.

In no way was he disturbed by what was going on. There was no fear in his eyes only tears.

"I'm bound to this building for eternity, I can't leave even if I tried to my child." He paused, frowning empathetically to me. "Go, your friends and your sister need you."

9 MINUTES REMAINING.

We couldn't just leave him here, he is the only real parent figure I have left. Why did destiny have to bring me all the way here just to experience pain once again? I don't understand why the higher power up there has done this. Was I being selfish? Putting both my accomplices lives at risk just for one?

"There's still so much I don't understand, how can I get answers if I leave you here?" I cried, gripping onto his back childlike.

"You have your grandmother Sister Sooyoung, for everything you seek dear."

Lisa was dazed by the unexpected discovery, she had met her friend's ancient grandmother multiple times already.

"I'll try meet with the others and find a way out, I will tell you the location as soon as we find it." San stated, bolting down the coloured corridor.

"That's if we even make it out in time!" the blonde yelled at the out of sight figure, studying her watch as she lifted her finger in sync with the artificial voice as it informed:

8 MINUTES REMAINING.

"You will be fine right?"

"I don't know Haewon, the second the building is gone, I don't know what's going to happen to me." Daewon sighed. "Who knows? Maybe I will become a spirit forced to walk on the earth for as long as my ashes live.

A text message beeped from Lisa's back pocket, she pulled it out and saw San's notification informing that they managed to clear a exit at the main room's window.

"What does it say?" I questioned zealously.

"Says that they got an exit." she replied, "But that exit is the large rectangular window that once broken will literally plummet you down into to the city's busy streets and possibly to your death."

7 MINUTES REMAINING.

With each bewilderment that got in our heads, another minute was wasted. I silently prayed that someone would keep my father safe as I released my hold and propped myself up; patches of the dried tears stained his torn shirt.

"One last word before you two leave." the tender hearted man requested. "Haewon, you have grown into such a strong, beautiful kind hearted young lady. All those years that I caused you pain and suffering for not being there as the main family figure, I am so sorry for. If at some point, the stars choose to bring us together again, I promise to give you everything that I failed to do before. The gift that they blessed me allowed me to watch you spiritually as you grew and that, I am so thankful for. I love you so much Haewon, I really do.

My breathing became ragged, gasping for air as I fought the weakness of falling to my knees. Those last words would stay in my heart for a while but in my soul it would last forever, until the moment I lose my last breath.

"Haewon please, we need to go now." The banged blonde reminded, positioning herself in the posture to run.

Taking a final teary look at Daewon, I rotated to Lisaand ran side by side with her.

Only shortly, I looked back at the prison room and mouthed a "I love you" to my father.

So much was still unanswered, but those answers would come eventually as long as I kept believing.

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a/n : we are in the final few chapters now...