67 Dying

Hugo thought they would die. Good thing there were old mine carts that protected them from the explosion. Dust and small rocks were still falling from the ceiling. He looked around for his teammates.

"Arlo, Axel, Ares!" coughing while fanning the dust in the air.

"Cough, cough, cough. We're here!" The response was a little weak. He followed the voice, climbing a huge rock and saw Axel unconscious with a bleeding head beside Ares who was coughing heavily, his back leaning in one of the rusted carts. He looked at his comrade weakly breathing with a bleeding head. Took his pulse, then dig clean gauze from his backpack. There's a huge cut on his scalp that won't stop bleeding. Immediately, he took two vials of liquid from his knee pocket. Each of them is equipped with ten vials each. Five in the bag, and five on their bodies. The first vial was poured over the wound. Like magic, they both saw the wound heal in a minute. Although there was a scar, it's incredible! They looked at each other with mouths wide open.

They didn't know it was not pure space water. If it were, he would heal completely without a scar. Its restoration function depends on the severity of the injury. One vial can heal skin injury but leave a scar. It needs two to heal completely. But if it's too deep, it heals from the inside where the water touches the surface. Drinking it would start healing from inside the body, hence drinking at least twenty vials would cure a person completely, but not those with terminal illnesses that still need more, five cups of pure space water. It was diluted intentionally, and mixed with other herbs so if it gets stolen, they wouldn't discover its secret easily. Maybe if they steal ten vials at a time, enough for trial and error. Anyway, one is already amazing as it is. Who would risk so many death-defying medicine for experiments? {ehem aside from Auntie Deborah and Uncle Liam, who has an unlimited source.}

"Did you…."

"Shut up!" Hugo's eyes were firm. His hands were shaking from excitement and loss. Looks at the second vial in his hands. He absolutely believes in Dean and was touched, they were given these life-saving medicines. He's not stupid. There are things that can't be said, especially in this dangerous situation.

Although he has so many questions, like if his comrades in the past had these, maybe they wouldn't meet King Yama early. Maybe….No, he's sure it's a newly developed medicine. They wouldn't hide this if it could save lives. Although no family is perfect, he trusts Dean and General Jin. It's impossible to mass produce because it can lead to disaster!

He hated his weakness in the past, but his guilt still hunts him. Every time he returns from missions alive, he can't help but think, does he deserve it?

After five minutes, Axel's breathing became stronger but still unconscious. Hugo poured the liquid into his mouth, pinch his nose, then swallowed. They sighed with relief.

"Arlo!" Hugo shouts.

"I….I'm here…" It was almost like a whisper, but Hugo heard it under a pile of rocks near them. Together with Ares, they slowly dug through the rocks. They gasped at seeing his sorry state. A huge rock pinned his right leg, they could see the broken bone on his thigh, bleeding heavily. His face was pale with so many scratches.

"Noooo, Arloooo!" They sped up, digging rocks piled like hills.

"No, no, no!" Ares pulled his hair from frustration, he was scared, scared he would die. They were trapped with two injured buddies. Although they were trained to stay calm in situations like this, he can't help but worry. He was lost for a moment, then he suddenly remembered the medicine!

"Listen to me…. Plee…ssse… leave.. me…" He had difficulty breathing but could spit his last words. He was relieved they were fine.

"No, we won't!" He ran to get his backpack he left close to Axel.

"Pleaaasee gooohh…"

"Shut up and save your strength." Hugo tried to lift the rock.

"Ahhhhhhhhhh!" Ares came back and put the bag down. He went to the other side and lift it together.

"One, two, YYYiiaaahhhhhhhh!"

"Ahhhhhhh." Axel shouted, almost losing consciousness. Hugo and Ares's veins were visible on their necks, and with red faces sweating. "Bang!" It was unbelievable! They couldn't believe they could lift such a huge rock, and blamed the adrenaline rush. {ehem nope, with the food Bella cooked, of course, it's normal.

Now they could see his legs destroyed into pieces, flattened by the weight of the rock. Even his foot was bent in a weird position.

Ares immediately took five vials from his bag. Because of his nervousness, he totally forgot those in his knee pocket.

"Go, gooohh, leave, saaaave youoooohhr...." His vision blurs. Hugo went to get vials from Axel's backpack.

"Hey, common stay awake for me buddy please, here, drink this." he slapped his face lightly then poured the liquid into his mouth. He stopped after five vials then Hugo came back.

Although his vision starts to clear, he's still confused about losing too much blood. He felt like he was dying.

"Aares, I'm soorry….It was me. I…I hid your favorite underwear because you stole my last bottle of chili sauce. Don't worry, I washed it already and was planning to return it after the mission." He lost it, he was dying. It doesn't matter if he spills it out. Anyway, what could they do to him? He'll die soon. Black lines appear on Ares's forehead, his eyes were red because he was keeping himself from crying. Now, his hands itch and wanted to punch someone. But no, he wasn't finished. Both of them didn't notice Hugo's blackening face.

"Please, tell Arrow I'm sorry, I gave his picture to an Auntie who was searching for a son-in-law for her niece. She was pestering me for a long time. That's why he received love letters from an unknown girl. We teased him so much. From the chaos, he mistakenly punched Dash, who was innocently sleeping. Also, I tell him I am so so sorry.

Please, tell Jet it was me who brought everybody to listen to his horrible voice while he was singing in the shower.

Please tell Core, I'm sorry. During the surprising inspection, I panicked and hid the bar of chocolate on his pillow. I forgot about it because we were so tired from the training until we were woken up from his swears at dawn because the ants crawled and bit him all over.

Please tell…"

"Shut it! Drink this!" Hugo couldn't take it anymore. He fed him two vials at a time. Arlo didn't notice he was talking so much in between. When he poured the eight vials, Arlo covered his mouth.

"I'm not thirsty anymore!"

"Driiinnnk!!" Hugo's bushy eyebrows were almost touching each other, with his deadly gaze. Afraid, he drank it, then felt a sharp pain from his damaged leg.

"Ahhhhhhhhhh! The f**** it hurts!" He hit his already bloody thigh. They were shocked for a second when he shouted but hurriedly blocked his hands. The bone that tore the skin from the inside slowly retracted and the foot twisted back to place.

"Noooooo, ahhhhh!" Tears, snot, and saliva flushed from his face. He was kicking his good leg struggling.

"Hold on, listen, it means the medicine is working."

"But it hurts so muuuuuchhhh, huuuhuuu!"

"F*** are you a baby? Men don't cry!" Ares felt sorry he wants to cry too but was angry at the same time. Hugo took another vial and tried to pour it into his mouth, but he spits it out. He was struggling, he can't imagine the pain his feeling.

"Listen, if you spill even a drop, let's see how Boss cleans you up!" Like a switch, he calms down and drank everything totaling nineteen vials. Then he poured one over the wound. Ignoring his gritting teeth.

༄༄༄༄

Dean was more surprised than Bella because she felt it. Something was about to happen. There's a bit of fluctuation around them before the brick appeared. Maybe because her sensitivity increased when her abilities advanced, small particles similar to dust flew above his hands like a small black hole swallowing them. It happened in a blink of an eye. It's almost the same as her space ability, but weaker. Does this mean he also felt it when she took things from her space? Damn, she was careless. A little frustrated, her hands shook a little and Dean saw a glimpse. He walked in front of her to cover up.

"But it's useless against bullets."

"....." 'He's right, but I'm weak now. I dunno what to exchange, aside from my life.' His excitement changed to sadness. His gaze lowered and felt lost. This time, maybe they will really die. Without escaping, it's the end. He's getting weaker, and it's getting harder for him to keep them inside. The food they saved would only last for a month. Without the help of these guys, they won't last long. He's not really bothered to die alone, but he knew, without him, they would also….

Bella sighed. There's nothing she can do about it, anyway. What's done is done. There would always be a solution. What's important right now is to find the exit. They can't stay here for a long time. He tap his shoulder she walked in front.

"You saw it?"