Life in Purgatory ch 39
Title: Life in Purgatory
Chapter: 39/40
Rating: R
Pairing: KyuJong/YoungSaeng, HyunJoong/JongWoon, JungMin/Zhou Mi, Kevin/KiBum, HeeChul/SiWon
Crossover: Super Junior, DBSK
Genre: Angst, AU,
Summary: Society is crumbling; salvation walks the earth once more.
A soft glow filled the room, footsteps stopping beside the pool of blood. "You were right, Gabriel. It's finally time."
"We only have a small opening before they return." YunHo crouched next to Zhou Mi's body. "Are you ready, Raphael?"
"Yes," GyuRi nodded, kneeling down between the bodies. "How awful it must have been to watch this happen over and over again in dreams, and then to see it finally happen," she said softly, leaning over to touch the side of JungMin's face.
"We only have one chance at this Gabriel," KiSeop said from the side, his arms crossed. "What if Patience still doesn't believe he can face them?"
"He will," YunHo smiled, touching Zhou Mi's cold cheek before pulling back. "Uriel?"
"Ready and waiting," Henry replied, at the back of the group. His wings were what lit the room, spread out from his back like pure energy.
"Time to wake up," GyuRi said, looking to Zhou Mi first, settling a hand on his chest. Her wings flared out behind her as she closed her eyes, a faint light emanating from her hand. The light seeped into Zhou Mi's still chest, the wound on his neck closing over as well as the deep gash on his leg healing.
Zhou Mi's eyes snapped open, his back arching up off the ground as he drew in a gasping breath. When GyuRi removed her hand to turn to JungMin, Zhou Mi slumped back to the floor, panting as he looked up at YunHo.
"There's a pattern in all your dreams," YunHo smiled softly at Zhou Mi, seeing the Chinese man wasn't all there yet. "They all stop just before what you need to see most."
JungMin gasped as his eyes opened fully, focusing on GyuRi above him. One hand went to his chest, no wound to be found.
"Good as new," GyuRi smiled down at JungMin before getting to her feet, stepping back to stand next to KiSeop. "We should make this quick Gabriel."
"What... do you mean?" Zhou Mi asked, his hand touching at his neck gingerly. "What happened? We... died," he said, glancing at JungMin with wide eyes. "Min? Min, you're okay?" he reached out to take JungMin's hand.
Looking at Zhou Mi, JungMin sat up. "I'm...fine? What just happened?" He reached out and took Zhou Mi's hand, eyes widening at a sudden rush of energy where their fingers met.
"You did die," YunHo smiled. "The dream came true, just like all the other dreams. Because you needed it to come true."
Zhou Mi barely registered YunHo's words, too busy marveling at how it felt to hold JungMin's hand, and the power coursing between them. "What...? How did we... awaken?" he asked, looking up at JungMin with a smile. "I mean... I felt it, right before the end, being confident like I should have been, but you were already... and I couldn't do anything."
"It was something that needed to happen," YunHo said. "Or else you wouldn't have awakened in time."
"Gabriel..." Henry glanced towards the door. "They need to go, now."
"Right. Ready for a second chance?" YunHo looked between them.
"Second chance?" JungMin's grip on Zhou Mi's hand tightened, grin becoming dangerous. "Payback for killing us?"
"Technically they haven't killed you," GyuRi said, an amused curl to her lips. "But you won't have very long to do what needs to be done."
"What? What does that mean?" Zhou Mi blinked. "YunHo?"
YunHo just smiled, standing and stepping back. "The horsemen have every right to fear you...Patience and Wrath were always two of the most powerful."
Not letting go of Zhou Mi's hand, JungMin's eyes went to Henry as the other angel stepped forward. He walked towards them, the glow from his wings intensifying with each step. Eyes closing against the bright light instinctively, JungMin felt Zhou Mi's hand slip out of his own seconds before a hand closed around his throat.
"Going somewhere?"
JungMin's eyes snapped open just in time to see Pestilence smirking at him before he was kicked in the stomach, skidding back along the floor.
Zhou Mi blinked, watching JungMin roll past him before he looked back up. The two horsemen were standing there, just like they were before.
"So, you're the little leader are you?" War said to Zhou Mi, who was having a profound case of deja vu.
That's when it hit him. The second line of the poem. Raphael renews, and Uriel sets it back. GyuRi had revived them from death, and Henry had reset time to just before they were killed. This time though, they weren't going to die.
"You don't seem much of a challenge, I think you're already broken."
"That's where you're wrong," Zhou Mi said, getting slowly to his feet. "We're not afraid of you any longer."
JungMin stood as well, one arm around his stomach. His eyes were dark, focused on the horsemen. "Never were scared of you."
"Brave words for such a weak pair," Pestilence sneered, leveling the gun at them.
"Who's weak?" JungMin stepped up beside Zhou Mi. "Not us."
"Seems to me like you are, you're not at your full power yet," War mused. "Kill them and let's just get this over with."
"Who said we're not at our full power?" Zhou Mi said, taking JungMin's free hand and twining their fingers together. "I think you're the ones who need to be scared this time," he said, feeling the power rushing through him.
"No one's scared of you," Pestilence lifted his gun and pulled the trigger.
The bullet didn't even reach them, rebounding off an invisible surface. Pestilence hissed in pain when it grazed his arm, hand clapping over the skin that was dripping red.
"How...?" War took a step back, eyeing them both critically. "How is this possible? We would have felt the awakening!"
"Guess you're not so smart after all, are you?" Zhou Mi said, eyes narrowing.
"We need to regroup," Pestilence hissed at War, lowering his hand. "This isn't over. Enjoy your victory while it lasts." The flickering lightbulb overhead went out, plunging the room into darkness.
"...Are they gone?" Zhou Mi whispered, his fingers tightening around JungMin's. Not hearing anything else though, he assumed they were and let out a sigh of relief. He turned to JungMin, putting an arm around his neck and clinging tightly to him. "I don't even know what to say..."
JungMin wrapped both arms around Zhou Mi's waist, holding him close. "I told you we could beat them," he whispered, burying his nose in Zhou Mi's shoulder and breathing in deeply.
"I'm sorry I didn't believe you," Zhou Mi replied, resting his chin on JungMin's shoulder. "I guess that was kind of the point though, it was supposed to happen that way. Not that I really like thinking all of this was already planned out for us."
"We made it happen ourselves." JungMin hugged Zhou Mi tighter before pulling back, searching the darkness for his boyfriend's eyes. "Let's get out of here, what do you say?"
"Yes, let's," Zhou Mi said. "I get the feeling they aren't going to wait long before they attack now. We need to get a hold of the others."
"What are we waiting for then?" JungMin took Zhou Mi's hand, curling their fingers together before stepping towards the door. He found it in the darkness of the room, pushing it open.
The light on the other side nearly blinded him, but it didn't block out the shocked "Zhou Mi!" that reached his ears. He opened his eyes again just in time to see HyungJoon nearly tackle Zhou Mi over, flailing in panic over the large blood stain on his pant leg, and the dirt from the room's floor clinging to his skin and clothes.
"...Huh?" JungMin blinked around the younger man at the inside of the church. "...What the hell," he looked behind them to see, not a dark dungeon, but the street outside.
"Joon?" Zhou Mi said, blinking at the younger in confusion. "What are you doing here?"
"I think the better question is what are we all doing here," KyuJong said from where he was seated on a bench with YoungSaeng. "It would be really nice to get a warning before we're transported around the city."
"I'm getting kind of used to it," ChangMin mused, looking around the room from beside JaeJoong.
"Are you okay?! What happened? Why are you hurt? Do you need an ambulance? Why are you standing? You need to sit down!" HyungJoon flailed before nearly shoving JungMin out of the way to help his 'injured' best friend to a seat.
"Joon, stop, I'm fine," Zhou Mi said, digging his heels in. "I'm not hurt, not anymore."
"What happened?" HyunJoong asked, eyeing Zhou Mi's soiled clothes. "You look like you were dunked in blood."
"Close," Zhou Mi frowned, taking HyungJoon by the shoulders to look at him. "I'm fine, can you let us explain?"
Eyes wide, HyungJoon swallowed before nodding slowly. "You sure you're okay?" he needed another confirmation, worried.
"Let us sit down and he'll show you himself," JungMin pulled Zhou Mi towards the group.
"Yes, Joon, I'm perfectly fine, more than fine in fact," Zhou Mi said, putting an arm around HyungJoon's shoulder. "JungMin and I were attacked by two of the horsemen."
"Two at the same time? That isn't how they've attacked the rest of us," HyunJoong said with a frown.
"They were worried about how JungMin and myself, I was told Patience and Wrath are two of the more dangerous sins and virtues," Zhou Mi said, pushing HyungJoon down to sit.
"Obviously they were right to be worried then if you two are here with us," KyuJong said, looking between JungMin and Zhou Mi.
"Damn right," JungMin grinned dangerously. "Should have seen them run off."
"Your dream?" HyungJoon looked up at Zhou Mi with wide eyes. "You said...you die in your dream, but you're not dead, you're right here." He poked Zhou Mi's side as if to make sure he was really solid and not a ghost.
Zhou Mi looked at HyungJoon with a small smile, ruffling his hair affectionately. "No, I'm not dead and I am here," he said quietly. "I did die though. We both did. And it took me losing JungMin to finally awaken."
"What do you mean, you died," YoungSaeng stared at them.
"Uh...guys?" JongWoon spoke up from beside HyunJoong, looking a little pale all of a sudden. "I hate to interrupt, but wasn't it day outside a second ago?" he pointed to the dark stain-glass windows. Kevin was shivering uncontrollably.
HyunJoong frowned, pushing away from the wall to go to the door. Peeking outside, he quickly shut the door again. "It's like world war three out there," he said, glancing at the others worriedly.
"Close." A voice said from behind them, Zhou Mi turning around. The angels had returned, and none of them looked happy. "This is the beginning, the pregames of the apocalypse," KiSeop continued. "They decided to get started before you had a chance to get organized."
"Pregames? What's going on out there?" HyungJoon asked, and clapped both hands over his ears at a muffled explosion from outside. "What the hell!"
"There isn't much time to explain, they're moving quickly this time...they sense their disadvantage," YunHo strode past them to the door. The sound of sirens barely made it to them past the building walls. "This building is a safe point, while we're protecting it...but they're gathering strength now, and soon will have enough power to oppose us."
"It's really time, isn't it?" Zhou Mi said softly, looking to JungMin and squeezing his hand tightly.
"So what do we do now then?" KyuJong asked, already on his feet. "We're not just going to sit here and wait for them to come to us are we?"
"No," KiSeop shook his head, glancing at YunHo. "Gabriel will lead the way, and we will do our best to help you as much as we can, but we can't interfere more than we're able."
"Lead us to slaughter is what you mean," HeeChul said, arms crossed.
"It might be hard to believe, but you have more power than us right now," Henry said, pacing back and forth. "Just don't let go of your opposite."
"As if that was happening," YoungSaeng's hand found KyuJong's, looking at the younger man. His heart raced in his chest. "Ready?"
"Ready as I'll ever be," KyuJong nodded, leaning in to give him a kiss. "I'm not losing you though."
"Where are we going?" Zhou Mi asked YunHo, JungMin's hand in a firm grip.
"To face them," YunHo looked back at Zhou Mi, standing at the door with one hand on the knob. "This is where my guidance ends and yours begins. Are you prepared, Patience?"
Zhou Mi stood up straight, his chin lifted and he met YunHo's eyes. "Yes, I am prepared," he said, his voice even. "I think we all are."
YoungSaeng stood up, he and KyuJong stepping around the seats to stand behind Zhou Mi and JungMin. Kevin hugged KiBum tightly before doing the same, HyungJoon reaching out for SooHyun's hand.
YunHo's lips curled into a smile, and he pulled the door open, the street beyond shrouded in darkness. "Then follow me." He stepped out of the church, disappearing into the dark.
************************
The streets were empty, cars abandoned in the middle of the road. Zhou Mi heard a child crying somewhere in the distance, but that was quickly drowned out by an explosion and more sirens. The church was the only building that seemed to be untouched. How had so much destruction happened in such a short amount of time?
"Where did the other three go?" KyuJong said quietly, glancing around. The other three angels had disappeared.
"They probably have enough to do," YoungSaeng looked around at the complete chaos. "Guess we're on our own. Follow the explosions?"
"Good a guess as any...Mi?" HyungJoon stepped up beside him, not letting go of SooHyun's hand.
"Right, that's probably where we'll find at least one of them," Zhou Mi nodded. "We need to stay together, or try to at least."
"Easier said than done," KyuJong said, keeping YoungSaeng close to him.
"It's not going to do us any good to be shaking in our shoes," HeeChul said. "We're supposed to be confident right? Confident super heroes who can take on anything?"
"I wouldn't call us...super heroes, but he's right," Kevin lifted his chin, holding KiBum's hand tightly as he stepped around the group of people standing outside the church and towards the commotion.
"Do we even have any clue what we're going to do when we find them?" JongWoon was trying not to panic.
"Gabriel said we would know when the time was right," Zhou Mi said. "I trust he knows what he's talking about, and you all need to trust me to get through this."
"Of course we trust you," KyuJong said, looking at the others. "None of us would be here right now if it wasn't for you."
"Well then, what are we waiting for, I have a score to settle with those two who tried to kill us." JungMin started walking after Kevin and KiBum. "Yah, don't go too far ahead!"
It was a good twenty minute walk before Zhou Mi thought they were getting close enough. Not only were the explosions getting louder, but the sense of wrongness was becoming more pronounced. He turned a corner towards one of the squares, and up ahead he saw four figures sitting on horses.
"Looks like they're waiting for us," HyunJoong said, squeezing JongWoon's hand.
"That's not a good sign, is it," JongWoon looked at the four with wide eyes. Like the first time they'd seen Death, the horses were swirling masses of energy similar to the angels' wings. Each was a slightly different color...black, red, white, pale green. Famine, War, Pestilence, Death.
The horse of Death reared up as they came into sight, screaming a challenge. Flinching back and resisting the urge to let go of HyunJoong's hand to cover his ringing ears, JongWoon shouted in alarm as the four horsemen charged. "Look out!"
But before the horsemen could reach them, they disappeared, reappearing behind the group. "Hey!" HyungJoon turned around, seeing the four disappear down different streets. "They're getting away!"
"What do we do?" KyuJong said, looking down one of the dark streets. He couldn't see where the horseman had gone.
"We have to stay together, that's what YunHo told us," Zhou Mi said. "We can't chase them down on horses."
"Why not? If they want to kill us, let them try," HyunJoong said, tugging on JongWoon's hand. "Come on, we'll try to corral them back to the square," he said, pulling JongWoon towards one of the streets. The one Death had gone down.
"No more pushing people off of lighthouses." Kevin started after Famine, taking KiBum with him. Having recognized the skinny horseman as the one who attacked him and SooHyun, HyungJoon followed behind his brother.
"Yah! ...So much for staying together." JungMin watched them go, the group splitting up to chase after the four horsemen. "Pestilence was the guy hell-bent on sending you to an asylum, right Mi?"
"Someone needs to stay here Min," Zhou Mi said. "If they even manage to get the horsemen back here, it would be better if there others here waiting to help."
"...I wanted to give him a piece of my mind," JungMin grumbled. It was too late to give chase now, everyone already disappeared into the darkness. "They better not get into trouble."
****************************
"Which way did he go?" HyunJoong panted, the four of them stopped at a cross street.
"I thought I saw him go left," HeeChul said, bent over in half and trying to catch his breath. He wasn't made for this kind of exercise.
"And I thought he went right," HyunJoong said. "Okay, you two go left then, we'll go right."
"You'd think it would be easier to follow a crazy person on a horse," JongWoon whined, trying to catch his breath before turning towards the right. If it weren't for HyunJoong pulling him along, he would have fallen behind a block ago, and he had the feeling it would have been the same for HeeChul.
"If you don't see him in a block or two, head back this way!" SiWon called as he rubbed HeeChul's back before heading the other way down the street.
"A crazy person a horse is one thing, a horse that doesn't make any noise as it runs is another thing," HyunJoong said, glancing down side alleys as they passed. "You would think they'd be wanting to get at us though, why these games?"
"I don't know, maybe they want us to be falling down exhausted first," JongWoon panted, trying his best to keep up. "So why are we going after the scariest one exactly?"
"Because he's the one who wanted to kill us in the first place," HyunJoong said, glancing at JongWoon with a smirk. "I want to return the favor."
Even as freaked out as he was, JongWoon had to give a shaky grin in return.
That was before the ground gave below him and he fell with a shout, losing his grip on HyunJoong's hand. The drop wasn't a large one, landing in a heap of rubble four feet down, but after hitting his head on the asphalt he was too dizzy to get back up.
"Let's see you 'return the favor' then." Death appeared on the other side of the large pothole that had opened up, looking down at them with curled lips.
HyunJoong had fared marginally better in the fall, though his leg was caught in between two slabs of asphalt and he couldn't move. "I'll be sure to do that!" he snapped back up at the horsemen, pulling futilely at his leg. "JongWoon? Are you okay? Can you move?"
"...Ow...my head..." JongWoon shakily tried to get to his hands and knees, the rubble shifting under him at the movement. He fell back onto his stomach, coughing. From the stickiness when he touched the side of his head, he was bleeding.
"How pathetic..." Death dismounted, his horse pawing the ground and snorting as it's master stopped at the edge of the hole to look down at them. "I was expecting more of a challenge than this."
"How about you come down here and say that!" HyunJoong said, pulling harder on his leg. The longer he and JongWoon were out of contact, the more vulnerable they would be. "We're not the ones running away, so who's pathetic now?"
"Who's running. I lured you here alone, and you came like lambs to the slaughter." The horseman dropped down into the hole, landing easily on the rubble. "The only question is who to kill first. What do you think?" He casually rested a foot against one of the slabs keeping HyunJoong pinned, the asphalt groaning as it was pushed down.
HyunJoong couldn't help the cry of pain as his leg was slowly crushed, using his arms to push against the dirt wall of the side of the hole to try and get free. It was no use, he was firmly stuck, especially with Death adding more weight to the asphalt. "Still... you're kind of pathetic," he panted, glaring up at the horseman.
"Agreed." A light voice said from above them, a bright light forcing HyunJoong to close his eyes and look away. "The mighty and powerful Death, can't face your enemy without them being injured?" GyuRi dropped down into the hole, wings flared.
Death's eyes narrowed at the angel's appearance, lips twisting into a snarl. "If you value your hosts' life, Raphael, you will leave. My power is ten times yours, and your chattering bores me." He lifted one hand, the horse above them pawing the ground impatiently and snorting.
"You want me to leave? Very well," GyuRi smiled sweetly. Her wings flapped once, the light flooding the small hole.
When HyunJoong was able to open his eyes and see clearly, he blinked in confusion. His leg was no longer trapped, and he and JongWoon were standing on the street not far from the sink hole.
"I've bought you both time," GyuRi was saying, her hand smoothing over JongWoon's head. "Don't let go of each others hands again, I don't know if I can save you again."
Blinking in shock, JongWoon touched the side of his head after GyuRi's hand had dropped away. There was no blood, no wound.
The horse's battle cry rang through the air, the animal leaping over the sink hole and expanding into a rush of energy, heading straight for GyuRi's turned back. "Look out!" JongWoon yelled, grabbing HyunJoong's hand and pushing past her.
The energy never touched them, diverted on either side by an invisible wall. When they could see past it, Death had stepped out of the sink hole and was calling the horse back to him, expression twisted in fury. "You'll pay for your interference, Raphael!"
"Maybe next time, rider!" GyuRi called to him before looking at the other two. "Get back to the others, separating was a foolish idea," she said sternly. "Good luck." With a nod, the angel disappeared.
"I think she's right," HyunJoong said, his hand tightening around JongWoon's. "Let's get back, any luck and he'll follow us."
"You aren't going anywhere!" Death snarled, the horse reappearing beside him and stomping both hooves into the ground. The road began to shake again, the tremors sending cracks up the wall beside JongWoon and HyunJoong. Pieces of the building rained down on them.
"We need to get out of here!" HyunJoong barely spared the wall a second glance, running for the alley and pulling JongWoon with him. Death was far too strong for them to take on their own.
A few alleys over, HyungJoon looked around warily as he, SooHyun, KiBum and Kevin followed where they thought Famine had gone. "Don't go too far ahead," he said, seeing KiBum and Kevin were pulling ahead again. He could hear sirens going by on a nearby main street, screaming in the air. How had it gotten so bad so quickly? Were the horsemen causing this on their own, or were they influencing the city people much like how the sins and virtues could?
"Maybe we should have stayed back with Zhou Mi," KiBum said, slowing down. "What are we even going to be able to do if we catch up to him?"
"I have no idea, but we can't just stand there and do nothing," Kevin looked back at them, biting his lower lip. "They're going to destroy the whole city."
"I know but... I kind of feel like an ant going up against an elephant," KiBum said.
"Sh, did you hear something?" SooHyun stopped, glancing down a darkened alley. "I could have sworn I heard..."
"I can't hear anything over the sirens," KiBum said, but he stopped as well, peering down the alley. "What is it?"
"It sounded kind of like horse shoes on stone," SooHyun said, taking a step back. "There! I hear it again." SooHyun was right, it sounded like a horse was charging towards them.
"But which way is it coming from?" KiBum said, looking all around. It was coming in from all sides.
HyungJoon's grip tightened on SooHyun's hand, looking too. "I...I don't know." They couldn't see far in any direction, the darkness thick. But the sound was getting louder. "Stay together!" He faced one of the alleys, clenching his teeth. It had to be a trick, they couldn't be surrounded.
The sound grew louder and drew closer, until SooHyun was sure the horsemen would have to be right on top of them. They were all looking in every direction, but no there was no sign of the horsemen or his horse.
As soon as it had started, the sound stopped, and there was silence once again. SooHyun exchanged a wide eyed confused look with HyungJoon, just before the pavement in front of them exploded. Yelping and falling backwards, SooHyun heard the scream of the horse, felt the ground shuddering from the horses hooves.
KiBum and Kevin had fallen back, KiBum staring at the horsemen who had seemed to leap out of the ground in front of them.
"Such brave little tasties," Famine sneered at them. "But so stupid."
Falling over with SooHyun, HyungJoon nearly let go of the younger man's hand, holding on like a lifeline as he stared up at the horseman. How were they supposed to beat this? This kind of power...
"You don't scare us!" Kevin yelled, hoping the horseman wouldn't catch the lie. "Hyungdeul, move!" Searching frantically for anything that would help, his hand closed on a loose piece of pavement and he threw it at Famine.
The horseman easily avoided the rock, watching it land on the ground beside him before turning back to Kevin. "You seem pretty scared to me, just like you were at the lighthouse," he said, turning the horse to point straight at Kevin. "Let's see how brave you really are." The horse reared up, screaming its challenge before slamming its hooves back down to the ground and leaping into a gallop right towards Kevin and KiBum.
HyungJoon's eyes widened. "Get out of the way!" he yelled, trying to get to his feet.
There was no time to move, Kevin shaking before he clenched his free hand into a fist. It was either face the attack, or be mowed down from behind. If he was going to die, right now, he wasn't going to die a coward. "KiBum?" His fingers curled against his boyfriend's.
"I love you," KiBum said, lifting his chin to face what was coming. He felt the power coursing through him from Kevin's hand, once again feeling like he could do anything. There was something more there though, and when he lifted his eyes to the horseman's it felt like the flood gates had opened.
SooHyun was holding HyungJoon back from getting in the way, watching in astonishment as the black and white auras around Kevin and KiBum disappeared just before a bright yellow light shot up around them. The horseman didn't have time to veer around, his horse plunging into the light. Both the horse and rider screamed, Famine falling over to the ground and clutching at his head.
The horse's screams cut off, the mount burning from being exposed to the light until it fell into ash.
Staring in shock, HyungJoon nearly fell onto his face as he stopped struggling. "...What was..." Straightening, he watched the bright light slowly taper off until he could see KiBum and Kevin again, standing in the same spot looking down at the horseman at their feet.
"KiBum? Are you okay?" HyungJoon asked, following their gaze to the horseman.
"We're fine," Kevin said, a large part of him surprised and confused at what had just happened, and another part not really surprised at all. "Guess we're braver than you thought," he watched the horseman with narrowed eyes.
The horseman didn't respond, still recovering from what had happened. KiBum squeezed Kevin's hand, looking to his brother and SooHyun. "Think we can just drag him back to the others? I don't think he'll be giving us any trouble."
"Uh...okay," HyungJoon nodded, warily stepping closer in case Famine attacked them again. "But...what was that? What did you do?"
"I'm not completely sure..." Kevin looked at KiBum beside him. "It felt like when we affect normal people around us, because of our sin or virtue...it affected him too." He bent over to take one of the horseman's arms with his free hand, not daring to let go of KiBum.
"Something like that, but not exactly," KiBum said, watching SooHyun take Famine's other arm. The horseman wasn't really moving so they pulled him down the street. "It's really hard to explain, just that... we knew it would hurt him."
They hadn't even taken five steps before a green light shot up into the sky from a few streets over, the ground shaking violently under their feet before stopping just as suddenly. Holding onto KiBum to avoid falling over, Kevin looked up with wide eyes. "Was that one of the others?"
"There's another one," HyungJoon pointed to a blue light to their other side, that disappeared almost as soon as it appeared.
"Well, I guess YunHo was right about knowing what to do when the time came," KiBum said, looking around for more lights. "I wonder which ones those were."
"We'll have to find out later," SooHyun said, glancing down at the horseman. "We need to get back to the others before he wakes up."
"He wakes up, we'll just do the same thing," Kevin said, still feeling confident as he smiled at KiBum.
By the time they found their way back, Zhou Mi and JungMin weren't the only ones there. KyuJong and YoungSaeng were waiting as well, War crumpled at their feet.
"Two down?" HyungJoon blinked as they approached.
"Looks like three, actually," Zhou Mi said. He nodded towards where he could see JaeJoong and ChangMin approaching from another street, Pestilence being dragged between them.
"Still no sign of HyunJoong, JongWoon, SiWon and HeeChul though," KyuJong said, alternating between scanning the sky and the cross streets.
No sooner had he said that then another explosion rocked the street, a small building nearby crumbling to the ground.
"...I still say follow the explosions," JungMin pulled Zhou Mi into a run towards the commotion.
As they approached, HyunJoong and JongWoon appeared from the side street, coughing from the debris. "Look out!" JongWoon yelled when he saw them, Death appearing behind them.
Zhou Mi immediately stopped, turning back around to run towards where the others were. He glanced over his shoulder to make sure HyunJoong and JongWoon were following. It was only a little bit further, but then what?
An idea popped into his mind and he searched through the others as they approached. "Joon! A circle!"
"A what?" HyungJoon wasn't following Zhou Mi's train of thought. "...Oh! A circle!" He flailed one hand at the others, trying to get them to form a circle around the three fallen horsemen. SiWon and HeeChul had appeared from another side street, running towards them.
Seeing the group waiting for him, Death halted his mount, eyes narrowed when he saw the other horsemen had already been taken care of. "You won't stop me so easily!" The horse reared up and wheeled around to flee.
Points of light appeared around him, enclosing him in an illuminated web. "Going somewhere?" YunHo held onto one side of the web, the three other angels doing the same. Death snarled in anger, the horse's form distorting and attacking the web.
"Hurry, bring him into the circle!" Zhou Mi called, keeping an eye on the other three horsemen who looked to be rousing.
"What are we doing?" KyuJong asked, one hand in YoungSaeng's, the other in HeeChul's.
"Maybe we're going to sing to them," HeeChul rolled his eyes.
The four angels pulled on the large web, bringing it and the trapped horsemen closer to the group. HyungJoon watched with wide eyes as Death's power seemed to rise, strands of the web snapping. "They're not going to be able to hold him..."
A wave of energy ruptured one side of the web. With a scream Henry was slammed into the side of a building, wings flickering and disappearing as he dropped to the ground.
"Now!" YunHo yelled, and the remaining three angels pushed the trapped horseman into the center of the group. HyungJoon and SooHyun took their places to close the circle just as the web vanished, Death turning on them.
The angels forgotten, Zhou Mi gripped JungMin and HyungJoon's hands tightly, watching Death warily. It wasn't just JungMin's power he could feel now, but he felt it coming from HyungJoon as well as SooHyun and all the others. There was a strong current running through all of them, so strong a current that Zhou Mi knew if he lost concentration for the briefest of moments that it could be disastrous.
"The time has come Death, rider of the apocalypse," Patience said. "No more tricks, and your power here is useless."
Death knew he'd lost, JungMin could see it in his face. The other three horsemen were staggering to their feet, still recovering from the attacks.
"You can't prevent the inevitable," Death replied lowly. "One day, you will be powerless to stop us and this world will meet it's fate."
"But that day is not today," Patience said. "And whoever you face in the future will be able to defeat you just as easily as have."
"You haven't defeated us yet!" War spat, wobbling a little on his feet. "You haven't done anything to us yet!"
"Who's pathetic now," Envy's eyes narrowed, fingers tightening around the hand in his grip. He could feel it under his skin, that same strange power that had saved them just a few minutes prior, but stronger.
Stronger, because it wasn't just Envy and Kindness anymore...it was all of them, and he could feel them inside him just as he felt Kindness, Patience anchoring them together. He could see in the corners of his vision as the black and white auras that surrounded the other sins and virtues shifted, merging together and taking on color.
The horsemen looked uncomfortable, standing together in the center of the circle and looking around them in fear. The colors intensified and pulsed like a heartbeat. Patience smiled, seeing each color of the rainbow. For a moment, nothing happened, an eerie calm settling over the circle. The next moment though, the colors surged forward to surround the four horsemen, mixing into a brilliant white that enveloped them.
The ground shook underneath their feet, but Pride stood firm. He could hear the screams from the spirits of the horsemen as they were ripped from the bodies they possessed. He could see them as they escaped, clawing their way up to get free of the light that pained them. There was no escape though, and the four black shapes twisted and convulsed until they exploded into nothingness.
The light shrank into nothing, Sloth breathing in slowly as he watched the four bodies crumble to the ground, like puppets with their strings cut. Then the current of shared power disappeared, and he wasn't Sloth anymore, just HyungJoon, the feeling of being someone else who'd lived much longer and seen much more fading away. He looked at SooHyun beside him, not letting go of his hand.
"It's over."
Chapter: 39/40
Rating: R
Pairing: KyuJong/YoungSaeng, HyunJoong/JongWoon, JungMin/Zhou Mi, Kevin/KiBum, HeeChul/SiWon
Crossover: Super Junior, DBSK
Genre: Angst, AU,
Summary: Society is crumbling; salvation walks the earth once more.
A soft glow filled the room, footsteps stopping beside the pool of blood. "You were right, Gabriel. It's finally time."
"We only have a small opening before they return." YunHo crouched next to Zhou Mi's body. "Are you ready, Raphael?"
"Yes," GyuRi nodded, kneeling down between the bodies. "How awful it must have been to watch this happen over and over again in dreams, and then to see it finally happen," she said softly, leaning over to touch the side of JungMin's face.
"We only have one chance at this Gabriel," KiSeop said from the side, his arms crossed. "What if Patience still doesn't believe he can face them?"
"He will," YunHo smiled, touching Zhou Mi's cold cheek before pulling back. "Uriel?"
"Ready and waiting," Henry replied, at the back of the group. His wings were what lit the room, spread out from his back like pure energy.
"Time to wake up," GyuRi said, looking to Zhou Mi first, settling a hand on his chest. Her wings flared out behind her as she closed her eyes, a faint light emanating from her hand. The light seeped into Zhou Mi's still chest, the wound on his neck closing over as well as the deep gash on his leg healing.
Zhou Mi's eyes snapped open, his back arching up off the ground as he drew in a gasping breath. When GyuRi removed her hand to turn to JungMin, Zhou Mi slumped back to the floor, panting as he looked up at YunHo.
"There's a pattern in all your dreams," YunHo smiled softly at Zhou Mi, seeing the Chinese man wasn't all there yet. "They all stop just before what you need to see most."
JungMin gasped as his eyes opened fully, focusing on GyuRi above him. One hand went to his chest, no wound to be found.
"Good as new," GyuRi smiled down at JungMin before getting to her feet, stepping back to stand next to KiSeop. "We should make this quick Gabriel."
"What... do you mean?" Zhou Mi asked, his hand touching at his neck gingerly. "What happened? We... died," he said, glancing at JungMin with wide eyes. "Min? Min, you're okay?" he reached out to take JungMin's hand.
Looking at Zhou Mi, JungMin sat up. "I'm...fine? What just happened?" He reached out and took Zhou Mi's hand, eyes widening at a sudden rush of energy where their fingers met.
"You did die," YunHo smiled. "The dream came true, just like all the other dreams. Because you needed it to come true."
Zhou Mi barely registered YunHo's words, too busy marveling at how it felt to hold JungMin's hand, and the power coursing between them. "What...? How did we... awaken?" he asked, looking up at JungMin with a smile. "I mean... I felt it, right before the end, being confident like I should have been, but you were already... and I couldn't do anything."
"It was something that needed to happen," YunHo said. "Or else you wouldn't have awakened in time."
"Gabriel..." Henry glanced towards the door. "They need to go, now."
"Right. Ready for a second chance?" YunHo looked between them.
"Second chance?" JungMin's grip on Zhou Mi's hand tightened, grin becoming dangerous. "Payback for killing us?"
"Technically they haven't killed you," GyuRi said, an amused curl to her lips. "But you won't have very long to do what needs to be done."
"What? What does that mean?" Zhou Mi blinked. "YunHo?"
YunHo just smiled, standing and stepping back. "The horsemen have every right to fear you...Patience and Wrath were always two of the most powerful."
Not letting go of Zhou Mi's hand, JungMin's eyes went to Henry as the other angel stepped forward. He walked towards them, the glow from his wings intensifying with each step. Eyes closing against the bright light instinctively, JungMin felt Zhou Mi's hand slip out of his own seconds before a hand closed around his throat.
"Going somewhere?"
JungMin's eyes snapped open just in time to see Pestilence smirking at him before he was kicked in the stomach, skidding back along the floor.
Zhou Mi blinked, watching JungMin roll past him before he looked back up. The two horsemen were standing there, just like they were before.
"So, you're the little leader are you?" War said to Zhou Mi, who was having a profound case of deja vu.
That's when it hit him. The second line of the poem. Raphael renews, and Uriel sets it back. GyuRi had revived them from death, and Henry had reset time to just before they were killed. This time though, they weren't going to die.
"You don't seem much of a challenge, I think you're already broken."
"That's where you're wrong," Zhou Mi said, getting slowly to his feet. "We're not afraid of you any longer."
JungMin stood as well, one arm around his stomach. His eyes were dark, focused on the horsemen. "Never were scared of you."
"Brave words for such a weak pair," Pestilence sneered, leveling the gun at them.
"Who's weak?" JungMin stepped up beside Zhou Mi. "Not us."
"Seems to me like you are, you're not at your full power yet," War mused. "Kill them and let's just get this over with."
"Who said we're not at our full power?" Zhou Mi said, taking JungMin's free hand and twining their fingers together. "I think you're the ones who need to be scared this time," he said, feeling the power rushing through him.
"No one's scared of you," Pestilence lifted his gun and pulled the trigger.
The bullet didn't even reach them, rebounding off an invisible surface. Pestilence hissed in pain when it grazed his arm, hand clapping over the skin that was dripping red.
"How...?" War took a step back, eyeing them both critically. "How is this possible? We would have felt the awakening!"
"Guess you're not so smart after all, are you?" Zhou Mi said, eyes narrowing.
"We need to regroup," Pestilence hissed at War, lowering his hand. "This isn't over. Enjoy your victory while it lasts." The flickering lightbulb overhead went out, plunging the room into darkness.
"...Are they gone?" Zhou Mi whispered, his fingers tightening around JungMin's. Not hearing anything else though, he assumed they were and let out a sigh of relief. He turned to JungMin, putting an arm around his neck and clinging tightly to him. "I don't even know what to say..."
JungMin wrapped both arms around Zhou Mi's waist, holding him close. "I told you we could beat them," he whispered, burying his nose in Zhou Mi's shoulder and breathing in deeply.
"I'm sorry I didn't believe you," Zhou Mi replied, resting his chin on JungMin's shoulder. "I guess that was kind of the point though, it was supposed to happen that way. Not that I really like thinking all of this was already planned out for us."
"We made it happen ourselves." JungMin hugged Zhou Mi tighter before pulling back, searching the darkness for his boyfriend's eyes. "Let's get out of here, what do you say?"
"Yes, let's," Zhou Mi said. "I get the feeling they aren't going to wait long before they attack now. We need to get a hold of the others."
"What are we waiting for then?" JungMin took Zhou Mi's hand, curling their fingers together before stepping towards the door. He found it in the darkness of the room, pushing it open.
The light on the other side nearly blinded him, but it didn't block out the shocked "Zhou Mi!" that reached his ears. He opened his eyes again just in time to see HyungJoon nearly tackle Zhou Mi over, flailing in panic over the large blood stain on his pant leg, and the dirt from the room's floor clinging to his skin and clothes.
"...Huh?" JungMin blinked around the younger man at the inside of the church. "...What the hell," he looked behind them to see, not a dark dungeon, but the street outside.
"Joon?" Zhou Mi said, blinking at the younger in confusion. "What are you doing here?"
"I think the better question is what are we all doing here," KyuJong said from where he was seated on a bench with YoungSaeng. "It would be really nice to get a warning before we're transported around the city."
"I'm getting kind of used to it," ChangMin mused, looking around the room from beside JaeJoong.
"Are you okay?! What happened? Why are you hurt? Do you need an ambulance? Why are you standing? You need to sit down!" HyungJoon flailed before nearly shoving JungMin out of the way to help his 'injured' best friend to a seat.
"Joon, stop, I'm fine," Zhou Mi said, digging his heels in. "I'm not hurt, not anymore."
"What happened?" HyunJoong asked, eyeing Zhou Mi's soiled clothes. "You look like you were dunked in blood."
"Close," Zhou Mi frowned, taking HyungJoon by the shoulders to look at him. "I'm fine, can you let us explain?"
Eyes wide, HyungJoon swallowed before nodding slowly. "You sure you're okay?" he needed another confirmation, worried.
"Let us sit down and he'll show you himself," JungMin pulled Zhou Mi towards the group.
"Yes, Joon, I'm perfectly fine, more than fine in fact," Zhou Mi said, putting an arm around HyungJoon's shoulder. "JungMin and I were attacked by two of the horsemen."
"Two at the same time? That isn't how they've attacked the rest of us," HyunJoong said with a frown.
"They were worried about how JungMin and myself, I was told Patience and Wrath are two of the more dangerous sins and virtues," Zhou Mi said, pushing HyungJoon down to sit.
"Obviously they were right to be worried then if you two are here with us," KyuJong said, looking between JungMin and Zhou Mi.
"Damn right," JungMin grinned dangerously. "Should have seen them run off."
"Your dream?" HyungJoon looked up at Zhou Mi with wide eyes. "You said...you die in your dream, but you're not dead, you're right here." He poked Zhou Mi's side as if to make sure he was really solid and not a ghost.
Zhou Mi looked at HyungJoon with a small smile, ruffling his hair affectionately. "No, I'm not dead and I am here," he said quietly. "I did die though. We both did. And it took me losing JungMin to finally awaken."
"What do you mean, you died," YoungSaeng stared at them.
"Uh...guys?" JongWoon spoke up from beside HyunJoong, looking a little pale all of a sudden. "I hate to interrupt, but wasn't it day outside a second ago?" he pointed to the dark stain-glass windows. Kevin was shivering uncontrollably.
HyunJoong frowned, pushing away from the wall to go to the door. Peeking outside, he quickly shut the door again. "It's like world war three out there," he said, glancing at the others worriedly.
"Close." A voice said from behind them, Zhou Mi turning around. The angels had returned, and none of them looked happy. "This is the beginning, the pregames of the apocalypse," KiSeop continued. "They decided to get started before you had a chance to get organized."
"Pregames? What's going on out there?" HyungJoon asked, and clapped both hands over his ears at a muffled explosion from outside. "What the hell!"
"There isn't much time to explain, they're moving quickly this time...they sense their disadvantage," YunHo strode past them to the door. The sound of sirens barely made it to them past the building walls. "This building is a safe point, while we're protecting it...but they're gathering strength now, and soon will have enough power to oppose us."
"It's really time, isn't it?" Zhou Mi said softly, looking to JungMin and squeezing his hand tightly.
"So what do we do now then?" KyuJong asked, already on his feet. "We're not just going to sit here and wait for them to come to us are we?"
"No," KiSeop shook his head, glancing at YunHo. "Gabriel will lead the way, and we will do our best to help you as much as we can, but we can't interfere more than we're able."
"Lead us to slaughter is what you mean," HeeChul said, arms crossed.
"It might be hard to believe, but you have more power than us right now," Henry said, pacing back and forth. "Just don't let go of your opposite."
"As if that was happening," YoungSaeng's hand found KyuJong's, looking at the younger man. His heart raced in his chest. "Ready?"
"Ready as I'll ever be," KyuJong nodded, leaning in to give him a kiss. "I'm not losing you though."
"Where are we going?" Zhou Mi asked YunHo, JungMin's hand in a firm grip.
"To face them," YunHo looked back at Zhou Mi, standing at the door with one hand on the knob. "This is where my guidance ends and yours begins. Are you prepared, Patience?"
Zhou Mi stood up straight, his chin lifted and he met YunHo's eyes. "Yes, I am prepared," he said, his voice even. "I think we all are."
YoungSaeng stood up, he and KyuJong stepping around the seats to stand behind Zhou Mi and JungMin. Kevin hugged KiBum tightly before doing the same, HyungJoon reaching out for SooHyun's hand.
YunHo's lips curled into a smile, and he pulled the door open, the street beyond shrouded in darkness. "Then follow me." He stepped out of the church, disappearing into the dark.
************************
The streets were empty, cars abandoned in the middle of the road. Zhou Mi heard a child crying somewhere in the distance, but that was quickly drowned out by an explosion and more sirens. The church was the only building that seemed to be untouched. How had so much destruction happened in such a short amount of time?
"Where did the other three go?" KyuJong said quietly, glancing around. The other three angels had disappeared.
"They probably have enough to do," YoungSaeng looked around at the complete chaos. "Guess we're on our own. Follow the explosions?"
"Good a guess as any...Mi?" HyungJoon stepped up beside him, not letting go of SooHyun's hand.
"Right, that's probably where we'll find at least one of them," Zhou Mi nodded. "We need to stay together, or try to at least."
"Easier said than done," KyuJong said, keeping YoungSaeng close to him.
"It's not going to do us any good to be shaking in our shoes," HeeChul said. "We're supposed to be confident right? Confident super heroes who can take on anything?"
"I wouldn't call us...super heroes, but he's right," Kevin lifted his chin, holding KiBum's hand tightly as he stepped around the group of people standing outside the church and towards the commotion.
"Do we even have any clue what we're going to do when we find them?" JongWoon was trying not to panic.
"Gabriel said we would know when the time was right," Zhou Mi said. "I trust he knows what he's talking about, and you all need to trust me to get through this."
"Of course we trust you," KyuJong said, looking at the others. "None of us would be here right now if it wasn't for you."
"Well then, what are we waiting for, I have a score to settle with those two who tried to kill us." JungMin started walking after Kevin and KiBum. "Yah, don't go too far ahead!"
It was a good twenty minute walk before Zhou Mi thought they were getting close enough. Not only were the explosions getting louder, but the sense of wrongness was becoming more pronounced. He turned a corner towards one of the squares, and up ahead he saw four figures sitting on horses.
"Looks like they're waiting for us," HyunJoong said, squeezing JongWoon's hand.
"That's not a good sign, is it," JongWoon looked at the four with wide eyes. Like the first time they'd seen Death, the horses were swirling masses of energy similar to the angels' wings. Each was a slightly different color...black, red, white, pale green. Famine, War, Pestilence, Death.
The horse of Death reared up as they came into sight, screaming a challenge. Flinching back and resisting the urge to let go of HyunJoong's hand to cover his ringing ears, JongWoon shouted in alarm as the four horsemen charged. "Look out!"
But before the horsemen could reach them, they disappeared, reappearing behind the group. "Hey!" HyungJoon turned around, seeing the four disappear down different streets. "They're getting away!"
"What do we do?" KyuJong said, looking down one of the dark streets. He couldn't see where the horseman had gone.
"We have to stay together, that's what YunHo told us," Zhou Mi said. "We can't chase them down on horses."
"Why not? If they want to kill us, let them try," HyunJoong said, tugging on JongWoon's hand. "Come on, we'll try to corral them back to the square," he said, pulling JongWoon towards one of the streets. The one Death had gone down.
"No more pushing people off of lighthouses." Kevin started after Famine, taking KiBum with him. Having recognized the skinny horseman as the one who attacked him and SooHyun, HyungJoon followed behind his brother.
"Yah! ...So much for staying together." JungMin watched them go, the group splitting up to chase after the four horsemen. "Pestilence was the guy hell-bent on sending you to an asylum, right Mi?"
"Someone needs to stay here Min," Zhou Mi said. "If they even manage to get the horsemen back here, it would be better if there others here waiting to help."
"...I wanted to give him a piece of my mind," JungMin grumbled. It was too late to give chase now, everyone already disappeared into the darkness. "They better not get into trouble."
****************************
"Which way did he go?" HyunJoong panted, the four of them stopped at a cross street.
"I thought I saw him go left," HeeChul said, bent over in half and trying to catch his breath. He wasn't made for this kind of exercise.
"And I thought he went right," HyunJoong said. "Okay, you two go left then, we'll go right."
"You'd think it would be easier to follow a crazy person on a horse," JongWoon whined, trying to catch his breath before turning towards the right. If it weren't for HyunJoong pulling him along, he would have fallen behind a block ago, and he had the feeling it would have been the same for HeeChul.
"If you don't see him in a block or two, head back this way!" SiWon called as he rubbed HeeChul's back before heading the other way down the street.
"A crazy person a horse is one thing, a horse that doesn't make any noise as it runs is another thing," HyunJoong said, glancing down side alleys as they passed. "You would think they'd be wanting to get at us though, why these games?"
"I don't know, maybe they want us to be falling down exhausted first," JongWoon panted, trying his best to keep up. "So why are we going after the scariest one exactly?"
"Because he's the one who wanted to kill us in the first place," HyunJoong said, glancing at JongWoon with a smirk. "I want to return the favor."
Even as freaked out as he was, JongWoon had to give a shaky grin in return.
That was before the ground gave below him and he fell with a shout, losing his grip on HyunJoong's hand. The drop wasn't a large one, landing in a heap of rubble four feet down, but after hitting his head on the asphalt he was too dizzy to get back up.
"Let's see you 'return the favor' then." Death appeared on the other side of the large pothole that had opened up, looking down at them with curled lips.
HyunJoong had fared marginally better in the fall, though his leg was caught in between two slabs of asphalt and he couldn't move. "I'll be sure to do that!" he snapped back up at the horsemen, pulling futilely at his leg. "JongWoon? Are you okay? Can you move?"
"...Ow...my head..." JongWoon shakily tried to get to his hands and knees, the rubble shifting under him at the movement. He fell back onto his stomach, coughing. From the stickiness when he touched the side of his head, he was bleeding.
"How pathetic..." Death dismounted, his horse pawing the ground and snorting as it's master stopped at the edge of the hole to look down at them. "I was expecting more of a challenge than this."
"How about you come down here and say that!" HyunJoong said, pulling harder on his leg. The longer he and JongWoon were out of contact, the more vulnerable they would be. "We're not the ones running away, so who's pathetic now?"
"Who's running. I lured you here alone, and you came like lambs to the slaughter." The horseman dropped down into the hole, landing easily on the rubble. "The only question is who to kill first. What do you think?" He casually rested a foot against one of the slabs keeping HyunJoong pinned, the asphalt groaning as it was pushed down.
HyunJoong couldn't help the cry of pain as his leg was slowly crushed, using his arms to push against the dirt wall of the side of the hole to try and get free. It was no use, he was firmly stuck, especially with Death adding more weight to the asphalt. "Still... you're kind of pathetic," he panted, glaring up at the horseman.
"Agreed." A light voice said from above them, a bright light forcing HyunJoong to close his eyes and look away. "The mighty and powerful Death, can't face your enemy without them being injured?" GyuRi dropped down into the hole, wings flared.
Death's eyes narrowed at the angel's appearance, lips twisting into a snarl. "If you value your hosts' life, Raphael, you will leave. My power is ten times yours, and your chattering bores me." He lifted one hand, the horse above them pawing the ground impatiently and snorting.
"You want me to leave? Very well," GyuRi smiled sweetly. Her wings flapped once, the light flooding the small hole.
When HyunJoong was able to open his eyes and see clearly, he blinked in confusion. His leg was no longer trapped, and he and JongWoon were standing on the street not far from the sink hole.
"I've bought you both time," GyuRi was saying, her hand smoothing over JongWoon's head. "Don't let go of each others hands again, I don't know if I can save you again."
Blinking in shock, JongWoon touched the side of his head after GyuRi's hand had dropped away. There was no blood, no wound.
The horse's battle cry rang through the air, the animal leaping over the sink hole and expanding into a rush of energy, heading straight for GyuRi's turned back. "Look out!" JongWoon yelled, grabbing HyunJoong's hand and pushing past her.
The energy never touched them, diverted on either side by an invisible wall. When they could see past it, Death had stepped out of the sink hole and was calling the horse back to him, expression twisted in fury. "You'll pay for your interference, Raphael!"
"Maybe next time, rider!" GyuRi called to him before looking at the other two. "Get back to the others, separating was a foolish idea," she said sternly. "Good luck." With a nod, the angel disappeared.
"I think she's right," HyunJoong said, his hand tightening around JongWoon's. "Let's get back, any luck and he'll follow us."
"You aren't going anywhere!" Death snarled, the horse reappearing beside him and stomping both hooves into the ground. The road began to shake again, the tremors sending cracks up the wall beside JongWoon and HyunJoong. Pieces of the building rained down on them.
"We need to get out of here!" HyunJoong barely spared the wall a second glance, running for the alley and pulling JongWoon with him. Death was far too strong for them to take on their own.
A few alleys over, HyungJoon looked around warily as he, SooHyun, KiBum and Kevin followed where they thought Famine had gone. "Don't go too far ahead," he said, seeing KiBum and Kevin were pulling ahead again. He could hear sirens going by on a nearby main street, screaming in the air. How had it gotten so bad so quickly? Were the horsemen causing this on their own, or were they influencing the city people much like how the sins and virtues could?
"Maybe we should have stayed back with Zhou Mi," KiBum said, slowing down. "What are we even going to be able to do if we catch up to him?"
"I have no idea, but we can't just stand there and do nothing," Kevin looked back at them, biting his lower lip. "They're going to destroy the whole city."
"I know but... I kind of feel like an ant going up against an elephant," KiBum said.
"Sh, did you hear something?" SooHyun stopped, glancing down a darkened alley. "I could have sworn I heard..."
"I can't hear anything over the sirens," KiBum said, but he stopped as well, peering down the alley. "What is it?"
"It sounded kind of like horse shoes on stone," SooHyun said, taking a step back. "There! I hear it again." SooHyun was right, it sounded like a horse was charging towards them.
"But which way is it coming from?" KiBum said, looking all around. It was coming in from all sides.
HyungJoon's grip tightened on SooHyun's hand, looking too. "I...I don't know." They couldn't see far in any direction, the darkness thick. But the sound was getting louder. "Stay together!" He faced one of the alleys, clenching his teeth. It had to be a trick, they couldn't be surrounded.
The sound grew louder and drew closer, until SooHyun was sure the horsemen would have to be right on top of them. They were all looking in every direction, but no there was no sign of the horsemen or his horse.
As soon as it had started, the sound stopped, and there was silence once again. SooHyun exchanged a wide eyed confused look with HyungJoon, just before the pavement in front of them exploded. Yelping and falling backwards, SooHyun heard the scream of the horse, felt the ground shuddering from the horses hooves.
KiBum and Kevin had fallen back, KiBum staring at the horsemen who had seemed to leap out of the ground in front of them.
"Such brave little tasties," Famine sneered at them. "But so stupid."
Falling over with SooHyun, HyungJoon nearly let go of the younger man's hand, holding on like a lifeline as he stared up at the horseman. How were they supposed to beat this? This kind of power...
"You don't scare us!" Kevin yelled, hoping the horseman wouldn't catch the lie. "Hyungdeul, move!" Searching frantically for anything that would help, his hand closed on a loose piece of pavement and he threw it at Famine.
The horseman easily avoided the rock, watching it land on the ground beside him before turning back to Kevin. "You seem pretty scared to me, just like you were at the lighthouse," he said, turning the horse to point straight at Kevin. "Let's see how brave you really are." The horse reared up, screaming its challenge before slamming its hooves back down to the ground and leaping into a gallop right towards Kevin and KiBum.
HyungJoon's eyes widened. "Get out of the way!" he yelled, trying to get to his feet.
There was no time to move, Kevin shaking before he clenched his free hand into a fist. It was either face the attack, or be mowed down from behind. If he was going to die, right now, he wasn't going to die a coward. "KiBum?" His fingers curled against his boyfriend's.
"I love you," KiBum said, lifting his chin to face what was coming. He felt the power coursing through him from Kevin's hand, once again feeling like he could do anything. There was something more there though, and when he lifted his eyes to the horseman's it felt like the flood gates had opened.
SooHyun was holding HyungJoon back from getting in the way, watching in astonishment as the black and white auras around Kevin and KiBum disappeared just before a bright yellow light shot up around them. The horseman didn't have time to veer around, his horse plunging into the light. Both the horse and rider screamed, Famine falling over to the ground and clutching at his head.
The horse's screams cut off, the mount burning from being exposed to the light until it fell into ash.
Staring in shock, HyungJoon nearly fell onto his face as he stopped struggling. "...What was..." Straightening, he watched the bright light slowly taper off until he could see KiBum and Kevin again, standing in the same spot looking down at the horseman at their feet.
"KiBum? Are you okay?" HyungJoon asked, following their gaze to the horseman.
"We're fine," Kevin said, a large part of him surprised and confused at what had just happened, and another part not really surprised at all. "Guess we're braver than you thought," he watched the horseman with narrowed eyes.
The horseman didn't respond, still recovering from what had happened. KiBum squeezed Kevin's hand, looking to his brother and SooHyun. "Think we can just drag him back to the others? I don't think he'll be giving us any trouble."
"Uh...okay," HyungJoon nodded, warily stepping closer in case Famine attacked them again. "But...what was that? What did you do?"
"I'm not completely sure..." Kevin looked at KiBum beside him. "It felt like when we affect normal people around us, because of our sin or virtue...it affected him too." He bent over to take one of the horseman's arms with his free hand, not daring to let go of KiBum.
"Something like that, but not exactly," KiBum said, watching SooHyun take Famine's other arm. The horseman wasn't really moving so they pulled him down the street. "It's really hard to explain, just that... we knew it would hurt him."
They hadn't even taken five steps before a green light shot up into the sky from a few streets over, the ground shaking violently under their feet before stopping just as suddenly. Holding onto KiBum to avoid falling over, Kevin looked up with wide eyes. "Was that one of the others?"
"There's another one," HyungJoon pointed to a blue light to their other side, that disappeared almost as soon as it appeared.
"Well, I guess YunHo was right about knowing what to do when the time came," KiBum said, looking around for more lights. "I wonder which ones those were."
"We'll have to find out later," SooHyun said, glancing down at the horseman. "We need to get back to the others before he wakes up."
"He wakes up, we'll just do the same thing," Kevin said, still feeling confident as he smiled at KiBum.
By the time they found their way back, Zhou Mi and JungMin weren't the only ones there. KyuJong and YoungSaeng were waiting as well, War crumpled at their feet.
"Two down?" HyungJoon blinked as they approached.
"Looks like three, actually," Zhou Mi said. He nodded towards where he could see JaeJoong and ChangMin approaching from another street, Pestilence being dragged between them.
"Still no sign of HyunJoong, JongWoon, SiWon and HeeChul though," KyuJong said, alternating between scanning the sky and the cross streets.
No sooner had he said that then another explosion rocked the street, a small building nearby crumbling to the ground.
"...I still say follow the explosions," JungMin pulled Zhou Mi into a run towards the commotion.
As they approached, HyunJoong and JongWoon appeared from the side street, coughing from the debris. "Look out!" JongWoon yelled when he saw them, Death appearing behind them.
Zhou Mi immediately stopped, turning back around to run towards where the others were. He glanced over his shoulder to make sure HyunJoong and JongWoon were following. It was only a little bit further, but then what?
An idea popped into his mind and he searched through the others as they approached. "Joon! A circle!"
"A what?" HyungJoon wasn't following Zhou Mi's train of thought. "...Oh! A circle!" He flailed one hand at the others, trying to get them to form a circle around the three fallen horsemen. SiWon and HeeChul had appeared from another side street, running towards them.
Seeing the group waiting for him, Death halted his mount, eyes narrowed when he saw the other horsemen had already been taken care of. "You won't stop me so easily!" The horse reared up and wheeled around to flee.
Points of light appeared around him, enclosing him in an illuminated web. "Going somewhere?" YunHo held onto one side of the web, the three other angels doing the same. Death snarled in anger, the horse's form distorting and attacking the web.
"Hurry, bring him into the circle!" Zhou Mi called, keeping an eye on the other three horsemen who looked to be rousing.
"What are we doing?" KyuJong asked, one hand in YoungSaeng's, the other in HeeChul's.
"Maybe we're going to sing to them," HeeChul rolled his eyes.
The four angels pulled on the large web, bringing it and the trapped horsemen closer to the group. HyungJoon watched with wide eyes as Death's power seemed to rise, strands of the web snapping. "They're not going to be able to hold him..."
A wave of energy ruptured one side of the web. With a scream Henry was slammed into the side of a building, wings flickering and disappearing as he dropped to the ground.
"Now!" YunHo yelled, and the remaining three angels pushed the trapped horseman into the center of the group. HyungJoon and SooHyun took their places to close the circle just as the web vanished, Death turning on them.
The angels forgotten, Zhou Mi gripped JungMin and HyungJoon's hands tightly, watching Death warily. It wasn't just JungMin's power he could feel now, but he felt it coming from HyungJoon as well as SooHyun and all the others. There was a strong current running through all of them, so strong a current that Zhou Mi knew if he lost concentration for the briefest of moments that it could be disastrous.
"The time has come Death, rider of the apocalypse," Patience said. "No more tricks, and your power here is useless."
Death knew he'd lost, JungMin could see it in his face. The other three horsemen were staggering to their feet, still recovering from the attacks.
"You can't prevent the inevitable," Death replied lowly. "One day, you will be powerless to stop us and this world will meet it's fate."
"But that day is not today," Patience said. "And whoever you face in the future will be able to defeat you just as easily as have."
"You haven't defeated us yet!" War spat, wobbling a little on his feet. "You haven't done anything to us yet!"
"Who's pathetic now," Envy's eyes narrowed, fingers tightening around the hand in his grip. He could feel it under his skin, that same strange power that had saved them just a few minutes prior, but stronger.
Stronger, because it wasn't just Envy and Kindness anymore...it was all of them, and he could feel them inside him just as he felt Kindness, Patience anchoring them together. He could see in the corners of his vision as the black and white auras that surrounded the other sins and virtues shifted, merging together and taking on color.
The horsemen looked uncomfortable, standing together in the center of the circle and looking around them in fear. The colors intensified and pulsed like a heartbeat. Patience smiled, seeing each color of the rainbow. For a moment, nothing happened, an eerie calm settling over the circle. The next moment though, the colors surged forward to surround the four horsemen, mixing into a brilliant white that enveloped them.
The ground shook underneath their feet, but Pride stood firm. He could hear the screams from the spirits of the horsemen as they were ripped from the bodies they possessed. He could see them as they escaped, clawing their way up to get free of the light that pained them. There was no escape though, and the four black shapes twisted and convulsed until they exploded into nothingness.
The light shrank into nothing, Sloth breathing in slowly as he watched the four bodies crumble to the ground, like puppets with their strings cut. Then the current of shared power disappeared, and he wasn't Sloth anymore, just HyungJoon, the feeling of being someone else who'd lived much longer and seen much more fading away. He looked at SooHyun beside him, not letting go of his hand.
"It's over."