#pathcode

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He wandered aimlessly away from the city and people. The peace of nature gave him solace from the loneliness he had been dealing with around the crowds of people walking the streets. He could also escape the confused stares he received at his too many layers of clothing.

Chanyeol wasn’t sure what was causing it, but he couldn’t seem to stay warm even in the Arizona heat. Their powers had been gradually growing more and more unstable and he hoped the research that Chen was doing would give them some answers. But the chances of being able to find anything among human knowledge in regards to it was slim.

The sun was starting to dim and he looked up at his surroundings, realizing he’d wandered for too long and would need to find his way back soon, otherwise he would have to make his way in the dark.

A fog was beginning to settle around the forest and he fought back a shiver, surprised that there was enough moisture in the air to cause it. The setting sun reflected off of it through the trees tinging it a soft red, a cool breeze stirring it and the brush. He tried pulling on his powers for some warmth as the chill began to set into his limbs and make him drowsy. Energy beginning to wane, he leaned against a tree and then slowly took a seat on the dry brush surrounding it. The cold was sinking into his bones and he pulled harder on his powers.

His hands sparked suddenly, causing him to jump. They sparked several more times and he tried to control it, but instead, his hands ignited completely. He tried shaking them to get the fire to go out, but they only sparked again, embers falling and igniting the ground next to him. He scrambled, struggling to get to his feet without the use of his hands. Attention split between trying to stomp at the growing fire and his hands, he stumbled forward as another wave of drowsiness hit him. 

The fire engulfing his hands finally died out and he stood still, surrounded as the fire he had started slowly spread. Exhaustion was weighing him down and he dropped to his knees in despair as the smoke began to mix with the red fog.

Red.

His vision started to double and he looked up at the now deepening purple and blue sky. There was no longer enough light from the sun and his brain worked slowly to piece everything together.

Chanyeol dropped his head, no longer able to fight whatever had been used to trap him. There was a glimmer of relief as his eyes closed and his body met the forest floor. Relief that the Red Force finding him alone would hopefully keep the others safe for a while longer.

And for the first time, relief that he had left Myeong-Suk. Keeping her off of the enemy’s radar. 

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The sky was overcast and the humidity was oddly heavy for the overly dry weather of the season. The added moisture in the air should have made him feel more at ease, but he was left feeling rather alone. He looked around his empty house and his shoulders slumped with the wish that he could hear his brothers’ laughter as they goofed around.

The longing was too heavy today and he pushed away all thoughts of productivity as he made his way out, hoping that walking through the countryside would help ease the thoughts away. The hunger that had pushed him to get up was gone now and he decided to just pick up something from one of the local shops if it came back while he was out.

He walked his normal path that was typically unpopulated, through abandoned buildings and ruins that were much older, till he came to the forest. Now that he was among more of nature, he took in a deep breath, reaching for a connection to the water in the plants and the air. The connection was numbing more and more as the days passed, but he’d grown used to it and pushed forward through the woods. Instead of helping him feel more awake, the humidity seemed to be lulling him to sleep and he exited back out of the woods, deciding to go ahead and grab some food and head home for the day. 

His breathing grew heavier and he paused to take a break in an empty pool as the wind picked up. He didn’t have the energy to fight against it and he chuckled to himself, thinking about how the others would call him an old man if they could see him.

Hoping once more that he could gain a little bit of energy from the water in the air he took another deep breath and his heart stilled as his limbs began to tingle as though they’d fallen asleep. It was then that he picked up an unnatural sweetness in the air. He tried to move, but his limbs refused to respond, so he turned his attention to pulling on his powers. He could faintly feel the water in the pipes that opened in the sides of the pool and tried to pull it towards him. Whatever was in the air was dangerous, but if he could successfully submerge himself he would be able to clear it out of his system and get away. 

The Red Force had found him. They’d known his location long enough to set a trap. 

Had they found the others too?

He felt a flicker of hope as water suddenly surged out of the pipes. But his control over his powers quickly disappeared as his eyes blurred and his mind succumbed to unconsciousness.

Bringing the warm glass to his lips, he paused and then quickly placed it down as he lifted up the morning’s paper. A small section near the base of the newspaper’s front page caught his attention and he quickly flipped through the pages to find the full article. 

His heart stuttered as he processed the words that made him feel sick. A light flickered and his eyes shot up just as a bulb shattered. He brought the newspaper up to protect himself from the flying debris as he flinched at the noise, but the debris never hit. The cafe went silent instead of beginning to clammer at the danger, and he looked around to find the cause.

His breath caught when he realized he’d frozen time without even realizing it. 

The hold he had was wavering though and he knew he needed to get out. The Red Force had found a way to track them down and using his powers would likely narrow down their search parameters if they had the right tech. Chen hadn’t been able to determine how they had been found, but he and Suho had cautioned against using their powers in case that had been the cause.

He rushed out of the cafe in a daze, trying to ground himself enough to find his way back to the small room he was staying in. After what felt like forever he made his way back and stumbled multiple times as he ran up the flight of stairs and through the door, gaze darting around to keep an eye on his surroundings. 

Once inside he rushed to grab his bags and throw in any essentials he had left lying around. He tried to make a mental list as he double and triple-checked everything. Unable to handle being there any longer, he prayed he had everything that couldn’t be replaced. He’d need to go by the public locker and grab a different ID and some money, and then maybe take a train to another city to fly out of. Deciding on his next location in the moment would hopefully throw off any tail he might have. Something completely random. 

Slinging his bags over his shoulders, he exited the small space and quickly made his way down the stairs and outside to the sidewalk.

Someone collided with him, his fast pace and height making him completely miss their presence.

“I’m sorry,” he stumbled, arm encircling the young woman to keep her from falling.

“It’s okay,” she said, her hands fully grabbing his arms to steady herself. “You should pay more attention to your surroundings though. You could get hurt.”

A chill washed over him at her words and he tried to see her face, but she had kept her head bowed. She let go of one of his arms and grabbed the other tightly before he could move and he winced when there was a sudden prick, immediately followed by what felt like fire in his veins. Stumbling back, he found a purchase against the brick wall and dropped his bags as his head erupted in pain, making him drop to his knees. He cradled his head in his hands as the pain drowned out his other senses and his breathing became labored. It ended as quickly as it started and he slumped against the wall, his arms falling to his sides in exhaustion. Tao blinked at the young woman standing over him, but his eyes were too blurry to make out her features and drooped closed as he fell into unconsciousness. 

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