⚠️Warning⚠️
Graphic depictions of violence

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Jaemin wasn't sure why he stared into his mirror that night and saw red. He wasn't really certain what it was that struck a nerve with him and caused him to act out this way. God, he wasn't even aware of his finger playing dangerously close to the trigger as he turned away from his reflection and angrily stormed through the base. Everything could've been blamed on teenage hormones, or lack of affection, or the need for attention. He was an odd character to deal with, so even in three years time when people spoke of this story.....nobody could discern the catalyst.

Members such as Lucas and Taeil passed him as he took long strides towards a specific bedroom, calling out to him with questions like 'what's wrong?' and 'why are you scowling?'

I wasn't aware my feelings were anyone else's concerns, was what he thought, playing with Bandit in his hand as he rounded a corner and began his short journey towards the leader and his lover's bedroom.

Maybe he was just salty that they could feel this way for each other and he would never find that.

Kicking the dark wooden door open, he listened to to the 'clink' of the mechanics cracking and the gasp of fright from within. Jaemin loved those kinds of sounds...the ones of fear. He stepped through and took a brief look around the space before settling his gaze upon Huang Renjun who was standing by the bed with shorts and a t-shirt on. Poor boy was probably getting ready to sleep.

"Jeez, Nana," he sighed, clutching his chest and looking all too relieved. "I had a miniature heart attack. Just walk in quietly or knock."

"Where's the fun in that?" Jaemin tilted his head, unable to prevent the smug and sly smile that played at his lips. "Being dramatic should be my defining characteristic."

"What is it?" Renjun ignored him. "I'm sleepy."

"Where's Mark?"

"The Plan Room on his own. I couldn't convince him to call it a night, but....." the smaller only then noticed the handgun by the younger's side, clasped firmly in his grip like a rare jewel. "What's that for?"

"Oh, nothing special," the taller grinned deviously, raising it up to point at his friend and disabling the safety lock. "Just a kill."

Renjun's figure tensed up now that he was looking down the barrel of a gun, even if a couple of metres away. His fingers trembled once dropped by his sides, playing with the hem of his shorts. "You're not serious....are you?"

"Oh Baby, I'm dead serious. I'm finally overthrowing two weak members and making room for the stronger ones. Look at you, you're cowering."

"Jaemin, put that away-"

"Still not taking me seriously?!" He hissed, shooting the ground beside the older and making the Chinese male leap back with a shriek. Involuntary tears welled up in Renjun's eyes as he sized up the horrible and unexpected situation that had arisen. He was unarmed. Facing someone who he'd assumed was his friend, even if they fought a lot. And he had no will to fight back.

"Jaemin, please. I don't understand...."

"Fuck it, neither do I. But I can honestly say you're the one obstacle in my life, and I'm getting rid of you. It was....interesting, I should say, being your friend."

"Holy shit, what the fuck are you-"

Bang.

The sentence was never even completed before the bullet whizzed straight from the weapon and embedded itself right inside Renjun's chest. Blood instantaneously started dampening the white fabric of the shirt, growing and growing in that strange elongated puddle shape. The small male had no words. No pleas. He just stood there for a minute before falling to the side and landing half on the bed, half on the ground. His legs splayed out over the floor as his torso bled over the mattress, gushing crimson life-force like it could be replaced so easily.

Jaemin twisted the gun in his hand for a minute, watching the red envelop the white sheets before wandering over and pulling Renjun's head back by his soft, brown hair. His eyes were closed, blood trickling from his lips dangerously and body limp.

"You are so weak," he whispered against the other's ear, laying him back down and smiling now that half of his personal mission had been completed. Little did he know that the bullet was millimetres off, having missed the heart and instead severed a few nerves and arteries.

A ruckus had formed outside now that the gunshots had rung out, a cause for alarm and discord. The young gang member sighed to himself and started walking out of the bedroom and heading towards the Plan Room where Mark supposedly resided. Bandit was warm from use, and still had four bullets out of six in the magazine.

What a beautiful night this would be when painted a deep rose hue.

The said location was thankfully not too far from the bedroom, and while all hell had broken out around him, it appeared his silly, naive best friend was still pondering over soon-to-be-useless documents. The younger kicked the door down much like earlier and wore a shit-eating grin before slamming it shut behind him.

Mark looked up immediately, eyes soulless and tired from lack of sleep. "Oh, it's you. Renjun already told me to head to be-"

"I'm not here to lecture you," Jaemin hummed, clicking the lock behind him and assuring that without man-power, no one would get in. "Oh, and Renjunnie is dead."

The leader suddenly perked up, no longer resting on his palms, but paying full attention to his childhood friend. "What?! That's sick, Nana. Don't mess with me like that-"

"It's not a joke, my good sir. It's the honest truth. I just put a bullet through his heart, and I'm about to do the same for you."

Mark furrowed his brows and proceeded to start standing up, though the taller swiftly held the same silver weapon up to him and made him freeze. "Don't move, Markie. You'll only make it harder on yourself."

The ravenette eyed him cautiously and examined the very gift he'd bestowed upon this boy years ago. His heart ached rather suddenly when he took into account that this was actually happening. He was looking at his precious Nana who had now apparently killed Renjun, and would soon do likewise to him. It didn't make any sense. There was no obvious motive....

"Wh-Why are you doing this?"

That was all he could muster. Pretty pathetic for last words, he knew, but there was nothing else all that relevant that came to mind. The taller tilted his head cutely, like a curious kitten. "Because I want to. Why else?"

"Is this about power? Are you killing me for my position? Are you ready for that responsibility?"

"Ugh, no! This isn't about any of that! I'm doing this because I hate you! I hate you, and I hate Renjun, and I'm fed up of this stupid loneliness!"

Mark flinched at his raised tone, and probably because of Bandit which was precariously pointing towards him and moving with the other's rant. He grazed his tongue over his lip and could honestly say he felt quite empty inside. The danger was gone, and the reasons he fought to live through each fight were Jaemin and Renjun. If the love of his life was already dead, and his precious friend was the one holding death against his head....then what the fuck was he holding on for?

"Nana...it's not too late."

"Too late for what? To stop this? Dear God, Sweetie, why would I stop now?"

"Because this isn't you!"

"Well it is now. Say hello to the new Nana, Markie," he smiled maliciously before shooting downwards at the adult's thigh, hitting exactly where he targeted and causing the leader to hiss out in pain and drop down to the ground. Mark fought it. He fought the urge to submit and let the younger just end him. He didn't want this life if Renjun wasn't in it. He didn't want it if Jaemin wasn't by his side.

But for some reason, he was dragging his limp body away from the table and across the room. Blood spurted from his leg in rapid pulses, probably having been hit in the fatal femoral artery. His eyes locked with Jaemin's all-knowing irises, the attacker's usual coco colour now stained with auburn tendrils - painted with bloodlust.

"Aaaaw, you're gonna put up a fight for me," he gushed, pointing his tool towards Mark's other leg and placing his index finger over the trigger. "Come on, throw one of those infamous knives at me."

"You're losing it."

"Baby, I already lost it. I'm a stone's throw from being clinically insane...." he stepped in closer to to press the tip against the older's stomach, "Or perhaps I'm already there." Bang. Again, he shot an ill aimed bullet straight into the man's abdomen, but perfectly on purpose. He still had two little bullets left.

Mark cried out, arching his back off the cold ground and bringing his hand to his new wound and pressing against it uselessly. "F-Fuck."

"Mhm, hurts doesn't it? I'll bet it does, I think I hit your intestine, huh?"

"J-Jaemin.....what the fuck?" The ravenette let his head drop to rest on the concrete, breaths coming out rushed and laboured. He couldn't feel his leg through the searing pain, and by God did his gut hurt now. "I don't know what you w-want."

"I want to watch you squirm," the younger whispered, sitting in the growing puddle of sanguine fluid around him, stretching out farther and farther like it wanted to escape the body it came from. The scarlet colour was gorgeous, to Jaemin, and he revelled in the feeling of being the best. "Now be a darling and scream for me," he pressed the barrel against the other's head.

"The only time I'll scream for you is when you're dying in my arms."

"That's not happening."

"Precisely."

Jaemin tsked lightly, irritated by his cockiness even as he drew his last breaths. "Bye Mark. Thank you."

The older held his gaze firmly....right 'til the very end when the shot rang out and the metal was planted deep inside his head.

Even then, his eyes never closed. They never got the chance to. Maybe because they wanted to gaze upon their killer forever, and remember his face for eternity. Jaemin's lower lip trembled when he returned that stare, unable to peel away from it for fear of losing the last morsel of life Mark possibly had.

The lights dimmed.

The shine went away.

The deed was done.

"Shit," the blonde sighed, sitting back into the blood again and massaging his temples. "That was crazy." Bandit dropped from his fingers and splashed against the floor.

Wild knocks and screams from beyond the door suddenly became audible now that silence had been served.

Two of 'The Original Three' had been taken down....and it was only himself left.

Renjun would be taken away upon Nana's temporary leadership, supposedly left to rot somewhere Jaemin couldn't find him.

Again, so he thought.

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