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The first time Park Joowoo open his eyes, he could only see a dim black sky and both of his side are tall, evergreen shrubs.
He looks around and couldn't recognize the place he is currently at. He stands up and gets closer to the shrubs as he raise his hand to check on the leaf before he accidentally poked into a thorny stick. He hisses in pain, looking over to his fingers but there are no blood coming from it.
He looks back at the tall green fences and even though Park Joowoo can adapt into the dark faster than the other spArk members, he couldn't apply the same on this place. The fences are as tall as two times of his height.
He squint his eyes between the leaves and could see a flower.
A black rose.
A significant of something.
He starts to walks between the shrubs and the road starts to split into a few crossroads that he has to take, not by choice. He doesn't know where he is going to or where he currently is, but he certainly knows that the place he is in now is a Garden Maze.
Park Joowoo had went to one with Jeong Seongbin for fun at a park before, but they were quickly out from the maze in no time. It was so fun back then.
But not this one.
He doesn't know how long has he been walking but he doesn't feels any exhaustion coming from his body. It's weird coming from him that has the lowest stamina out of all the members.
Park Joowoo begins to questioning himself. How did he gets here and what is the last thing he remembered.
He was invited to perform at a Music Show. There's Kim Iwol, Lee Cheongyeon and Kang Kiyeon insisted to follow him , sitting on the audience seat, and cheering during his turn. Jeong Seongbin and Choi Jeho were having a different schedules, so they will be waiting at the dorm for the returns.
What's more?
He stops walking as his head starting to hurt. A flash of memories plays inside his mind.
He was in the van, on their way back to the dorm. He was on the left side of the back passenger seat, just behind Im Chanyoung that was driving the van. On the middle of the seat was Kang Kiyeon and on the other end was Lee Cheongyeon. Kim Iwol was seating on the front passenger seat.
They were talking about his performance during the show.
His head was leaning on the window due to his usual motion sickness.
There's green light.
And there's blaring horn and a white light coming on the other side of the road.
It suddenly gets closer to him, just by his side.
And that's all.
Park Joowoo gasp for air while holding his head. He couldn't comprehend the memory he just saw when a sudden loud echoes coming from the sky. His eyes twitch from how loud it was.
[They said Joowoo can wakes up in any moment.]
[It has been a week.]
It is Jeong Seongbin and Lee Cheongyeon's voice.
[The doctor said he might be able to hear us, but whether he can remember after he wakes up, it depends on the individual.]
"Seongbin! Cheongyeon! I'm here, I can hear you!"
Park Joowoo's voice echoes in the space but Jeong Seongbin keeps on talking to each other, without hearing anything from him. Park Joowoo continue to run inside the maze, trying to get closer to the source of the voice while calling for Jeong Seongbin and Lee Cheongyeon's names.
He can deduce where he is now by listening to his members talking to each other.
He is in a realm between living and death. Apparently something happened and he is in coma.
[How is your arm, Cheongyeon? Please take a break from the composing.]
[They said it might take 6 weeks before they can uncast it. But Gi-yeong's leg...]
What happened to Kiyeon's leg?
Park Joowoo kept on deducting the situation. Lee Cheongyeon's arm is in casting, so it is broken. The hand that has been producing a top tier music for them is broken.
Why? How?
He kept on running and running, turning left and right from the intersection, without knowing the end. The shrub fences growing higher and higher.
[Jeho hyung will bring Kiyeon here. I think they just finished with the daily wound cleaning]
[They said Gi-yeong's legs will take the longest to heal, they'll uncast it in 11 weeks]
[It's okay, we'll take it easy from the start.]
[He has to take a break from dancing..Gi-yeong loves dancing.. I hope there's no side effect from it.]
[Did Kiyeon said anything?]
[He said he's fine and he's more scared that I can't make anymore music with my broken arm.. and then we argue.]
[I should change your bed partner when we get back home]
[Ah hyung!]
[Stay still.]
[It reminds me, Chanyoung hyung just got discharged from the hospital yesterday. The laceration on his left arm will gives him a large scar though.]
[I see. Well, let's drink after everyone has fully healed. Hah.. I can't believe Jeho hyung even suggested that last night.]
[..Everyone...]
[Cheongyeon..]
Park Joowoo could feel a dread coming from Lee Cheongyeon's tone. A vocal laced with emotional upset and slight trembles.
Is his coma really make that impact to the other members?
I'm here, Cheongyeon. I'm fine.
There's a sudden noise that sounds like a door has been open, echoes loudly in the sky, making Park Joowoo uncomfortable. Someone greets Jeong Seongbin and Lee Cheongyeon as the voice gets louder.
He can guess, with the further the sound is, the higher the distance. Thus, when a voice gets so loud, it means the person are getting closer.
Jeho hyung.
Kiyeon.
The newly appeared members talks about the wound cleaning and the update regarding to Kang Kiyeon's broken tibia. At the moment, they said the company has put a definite hiatus break for spArk to recover their health physically and mentally before any activity can be continues.
The run has turn into a walk. The shrubs are getting taller and thicker the more he walks.
The claustrophobic starts to kick in. He can feel his chest turns tight.
[I should've insisted on telling Iwol hyung to not sit on the front..]
[Jeong Seongbin, it's not your fault..]
[..Hyung loves the front seat after all.. I never once see him on the back with us..]
What's wrong with Iwol hyung?
[But if he's in the back seat.. Iwol hyung wouldn't get impaled by the guardrail..]
Impaled?
Who?
Iwol hyung?
[The driver that hit us was drunk and he said he isn't guilty but he will compensate.]
[That shit fuck.]
[He hits right on Joowoo hyung's side!]
A memory seeps into Park Joowoo's head. He remembered laying his head on the window and a sudden car coming from the other side, hitting right onto his door. He remembered being hit and squeezed to Kang Kiyeon on the side.
The van swerved to the right and hit a pedestrian road.
The last memory he clearly remembered was seeing red and broken glasses everywhere. Kang Kiyeon and Lee Cheongyeon passed out and bleeds. Manager Chanyoung's head hang on the side.
And a guard rail passed through the van and hits the front passenger side. The metal being passed through cleanly into the seat, almost hitting Lee Cheongyeon on the back with blood dripping from it.
On the front seat was where Kim Iwol was in. He couldn't see the whole view of his hyung but he know something was wrong.
He remembered trying to call for Kim Iwol and his hyung slowly turns his head back staring at Park Joowoo with blood pouring out from his mouth and ear. Kim Iwol mouth moving as if calling for Park Joowoo's name before everything turns black.
Park Joowoo gasp and his feet trips on each other before he falls down on the black floor.
"I-Iwol hyung.."
A screen suddenly pops up in front of Park Joowoo
+[SYSTEM] A condition has been fulfilled.
▷ When 'Party C' has remembered the 'Subject's' last moment, an automatic support system will be announced.
▷ 'Party B' has put on emergency support system on 'Party C' as per 'Trade Agreement'.
+[SYSTEM] A temporary support system will commence.
▷ A support chat system will be installed based on 'Party B' interference.
▷ 'Party B' support system's application 'BUG SYSTEM' has been installed.
What is this?
+[BUG SYSTEM] A support chat system has arrived.
▶ Joowoo, keep on walking, don't stop.
"H-Hyung..?"
He can't hear the voice, he can't see him, but Park Joowoo in all his senses knew it is Kim Iwol.
+[BUG SYSTEM] A support chat system has arrived.
▶ Stand up now , Joowoo. Before the maze eating you alive, run.
Park Joowoo quickly and sloppily stands up and running. He could hear the plant screeching in on his back, getting closer.
"Hyung, I don't know where I'm going!"
+[BUG SYSTEM] A support chat system has arrived.
▶ You do. Just run ahead, don't look back.
Left. Right. Left. Left. He kept on running on the intersection while the voices in the sky keeps on echoing from the members talking.
[..Iwol hyung's funeral..]
[..after.. Joowoo's..]
[..wakes up.. will he?]
"Hyung, what are you? Where are you?"
+[BUG SYSTEM] A support chat system has arrived.
▶ I'm sorry Joowoo
"Hyung, don't apologise. Just tell me."
He can finally see a dim light coming from behind a distanced shrubs. He keeps on running. The voices that are echoing getting louder yet turning more static.
[..Joowoo's.. beeping..]
[..doctor.. call..]
[..shouldn't.. about.. Iwol..]
[..can hear..]
[..Joowoo?...Joowoo..?]
He could see the height of the shrubs getting lower and lower and the light is getting closer, but he can't see any exits. The moment the shrub's height the same as his, a message from the screen keeps on popping out.
+[BUG SYSTEM] A support chat system has arrived.
▶ I couldn't accompany you until the end.
+[BUG SYSTEM] A support chat system has arrived.
▶ I'm truly happy being with spArk.
+[BUG SYSTEM] A support chat system has arrived.
▶ I truly wish for your happiness.
+[BUG SYSTEM] A support chat system has arrived.
▶ You need to make your own door.
+[BUG SYSTEM] A support chat system has arrived.
▶ Thank you for everything.
+[BUG SYSTEM] A support chat system has arrived.
▶ Please tell them I'm sorry.
+[BUG SYSTEM] A support chat system has arrived.
▶ Goodbye, Joowoo.
+[SYSTEM] A support SYSTEM has ended.
▷ A 'Trade Item' has been received as a payment.
▷ 'Trade Item' Kim Hyoil's Soul has been 'Traded' and send to 'Constellation Market'.
+[SYSTEM] A contract has been fulfilled.
▷ Thank you for using our universe SYSTEM.
"Hyung..?"
When the screen suddenly turns off, Park Joowoo is facing on a wall of the shrub. He could see the light seeps out from the top of the shrub fence that a little bit shorter than his height. He looks down on his hands.
"..Hyung, why did you keep on leaving?"
Park Joowoo grab on the thorn leaves and sticks, pulling it out.
"..Why is my family keep on leaving me alone.."
The pain in his heart is dulling the pain on his palms that are finally bled from the thorns. He grab on the black roses and squeeze it hard, the petals falls over.
He knows very well the meaning of the black rose.
Park Joowoo had to accept it.
Kim Iwol has....
"..Mother..Father.. Iwol hyung.."
The one he loves has all the same way of dying. Car accident. How irony.
He is halfway pulling the shrub when the voice from the sky echoes the loudest.
[..Joowoo.. waking up..]
[... doctor.. Jeho hyung..]
[..is crying..]
"..Why did you save me..."
"Let me just follow you, hyung..."
"So you won't be lonely.."
He is finally at the end of the final pulling. He screams out loud and reach for the light.
Park Joowoo could feel his body seems heavy. He couldn't move any of his limbs. He try his best to open his eyelids. Slowly and slowly.
His ears are ringing with all sorts of noises as he could see a blurry silhouettes hovering in front of him.
The noises becoming more clear but his eyes still couldn't see much. It too moist for his liking. He could feel something wet dripping on the side of his temple, to his ears.
"Park Joowoo!"
"Joowoo.."
"Joowoo hyung.."
"Hyung!"
He blinks a few times and the silhouettes turns into a familiar figures. It's his team members.
Lee Cheongyeon with a cast and sling on his arm while Kang Kiyeon sitting on a wheel chair by Choi Jeho's side. Jeong Seongbin is rubbing away on Park Joowoo's temple that seems to be wet, coming from the corner of his eyes.
He ignores the hand and he looks around as Jeong Seongbin's face turns dreadful.
"Joowoo..?"
Park Joowoo's lips moving.
"...Where... is...Iwol hyung..?"