SAN’s eyes brightened as the wind blew hard once again, making the six other men panic. And in a blink of an eye, they weren't standing in the grass on San’s realm but instead, they’ve found themselves in a facility filled with white rooms and white corridors.

“Where are we?” Hongjoong asks as he looked around, “This isn’t a normal hospital, right?”

“Precisely,” San replies as he leaned on one of the walls, “This is the place where Yeosang resided for years before coming back.”

“Wait. You’re telling me that Yeosang has been in this place for almost eight years?!” Jongho can't help but gasp at the thought of Yeosang staying in such a place.

San nodded, “Indeed. And I can only watch him from afar.”

“Wait. Why are we here, San? I thought you’re going to tell us what happened in Yeosang’s past!” Seonghwa said, glaring towards the fox spirit.

“It’s too confusing and long to narrate so I’ll let you see it for yourselves,” San said as he yawned, looking at the patients that was walking around the corridor, “Got any ideas where are we?”

“Y-Yes.” Seonghwa looks away as if just being in this place makes him uncomfortable.

They followed San as the blond male leads them towards a room and when they entered, they’re surprised to see the friend that left them after the gruesome incident on his ninth birthday.

“Hello. This is your seventy fourth day here in the facility, I am going to repeat myself. I am Dr. Son and I am here to ask a few questions,” the male doctor stated as he looked at the child which had a bandage on his neck, “Since you’re unable to talk then blink once if no then twice if yes. Are you ready?”

Yet the child didn’t responded at all as he kept on staring at a wall, not noticing the doctor which sighed before tapping the back of the child’s hand, making it look towards his direction.

“Are you listening well?” the doctor asks, “I’ll repeat myself so listen carefully. I'll be asking you a few questions and since you’re not in the right condition to talk then blink oncr for no but twice for yes, is that clear?”

They saw him blink twice and the doctor smiled at him, “Thank you, Yeosang. Such an obedient child. I shall ask you my first question. Are you aware on where you are right now?”

Yeosang blinked once and the doctor continues, “Are you aware why are you staying here?”

Yeosang blinked once again and the doctor wrote something before continuing to ask him, “Are you aware of what happened to you before you were admitted here?”

Yeosang blinked once. They just kept on looking as the child was bombarded with questions by the doctor and the child just kept on responding by blinking, not being able to speak because of the injury that he got in his throat.

“Do you remember what happened on your birthday?” Blink.

“Have you been dreaming some weird kind of dreams lately?” Blink.

“Can you remember your friends?” Yeosang’s eyes widened as he froze, making the doctor stare at him as if he's examining the child, “You remember them, right?”

Yeosang just kept on widening his eyes as his hands started to tremble before tears started to fall from his eyes, letting out a gurgled scream which made the doctor jump in surprise before pushing a button beside the bed in which a bunch of nurses appeared and held the crying child as a sedative was injected, making the child calm as he slowly lose his conciousness.

“Oh dear. As I expected, the child is still traumatized from what happened to him,” Dr. Son said as he added some notes on the folder, “But I won’t give up on him.”

The six male kept on watching as the days seems to pass too quickly and Yeosang didn’t even spoke a word as he stayed motionless as if he was void of his own emotions. Hongjoong couldn’t help but look away at how miserable he is until he was in the garden with one of the nurses.

“Stay here, Yeosang. I’ll get you some food,” the nurse stated before running towards the facility.

The child was left alone as he looked at the nothingness once again until he heard some rustling on the bushes behind him and when he turned his back, he saw a tiny white fox looking at him with purple eyes. The sight made Mingi squeal in delight as Yunho couldn't help but hissed towards the tall male.

“Is that you?” Seonghwa asks.

San looks away, blushing really hard as he nods “Y-Yeah. Please stop staring at it, it makes me feel so embarassed on how small I am.”

Yeosang kneeled on the grass to face the tiny creature but it immediately ran back to the bushes before coming back with a brown bag bitten by its teeth. Because of the weight, the tint fox stumbled as the contents of the bag flew out of it. Mingi squealed once again and Jongho is currently restraining Yunho on attempting to strangle his bestfriend to death. The fox suddenly went in front of Yeosang to nuzzle on his bandaged neck before running towards the bushes once again.

Yeosang looked at the contents of the bag and saw his sketchbook, crayons and colored pencil on the floor. They noticed how the child seems to brightened up with the sight of his beloved items as he slowly took them and put it inside the bag as he went back to him room, which made the nurse in charge of him panic and ran all over the facility to look for him.

“Yeosang—” The doctor and the nurse was cut off when they saw Yeosang sitting on the floor, sketching something on his sketchpad.

The child looked towards their direction, still not showing any emotions as he looked down as if he’s sorry and the nurse understood it “Don’t run like that. At least, tell me if you want to stay here rather than staying in the garden.”

“Where did you get those items?” the doctor asked.

Yeosang immediately showed them the back of the cover which shows his name and the doctor hums, “It’s yours. But who gave that to you?”

Yeosang seems to gesture as if they have to wait as he immediately drew something and showed it to them, making them gasp in surprise “A white dog?”

“Are you serious?” the nurse asked and Yeosang nodded, “Doc, this child is probably hallucinati—”

“No, he’s alright. Leave him to me,” the doctor stated as he went in front of Yeosang, “The dog must’ve been too nice to bring your stuff back, right?”

Yeosang nods as the doctor smiled, “The dog is probably your friend. Do you know it?”

Yeosang shook his head and the doctor hummed, “Ah. It must’ve took a liking to you, I see..”

The doctor looked at the window as the tiny fox immediately disappeared, making the doctor smile before excusing himself.

The scenario started to blur as San managed to grab his composure back and looked at his friends with a small smile. Hongjoong couldn’t help but look at Wooyoung which was slowly drowning in guilt while Seonghwa couldn’t believe what he just saw.

“Any questions?” San broke the silence as he giggled.

“Y-Yeosang.. is he... mentally unstable?” Mingi asks.

San hums, “All of us are mad, Mingi. But let’s just say that the near-death experience made him like that and the fact that he feels so empty after removing all of the memories that he has with most of you made it worse. He was like a walking corpse on the first few months that he was admitted there.”

“But he doesn’t deserve to be in an asylum!” Jongho cried out.

“It wasn’t his decision to be in there. It was his clan’s.” San replied.

“But why? How can a family do that to their own blood and flesh?” Jongho asks, hands shaking in fear and anger.

“Because Yeosang is unloved.” The moment that San stated those words, everyone seems to widened their eyes as they looked at the fox spirit, “Sure. His family cares for him but love? No. Nobody has ever loved a cursed creature because they believe that it doesn’t deserved to be loved at all.”

“But still..” Jongho shut his eyes close and shook his head.

“Believe me, Jongho. We’re the first ones that made him feel loved,” San says, letting out a pained smile “Because ever since he was born, his entire clan wished that he never existed.”

“That’s just mean..” Jongho muttered, looking down.

“Life’s like that. Oh, moving on! I’d like to show you something before we fast forward to some important scenarios of Yeosang’s life in this hellhole.” San said and snapped his fingers as everything seems to stop and the images started to get vivid until they’ve realized that they’re in the same room yet something feels off.

Yeosang is sitting on his bed as his emotions are still the same, not showing too much as the doctor was currently interrogating him about his current status. Until he managed to say something that made the doctor and also them gasp in surprise as the sight seems to be nostalgic for them especially to Wooyoung.

“Hello, Kang Yeosang. This is your one-hundred sixty third day of being in this facility,” the doctor said as he looked at the child that seems to be livelier than the usual, “You seem to be giddy today, may I know the reason for that?”

“W..W..” Everyone couldn’t believe what was happening even the doctor in this flashback got his jaw drop in the sudden change of situation.

“What is it, Yeosang?” the doctor said as he tried to maintain his composure.

“..young.” the child have muttered, “Wooyoung..”

“Wooyoung?” the doctor asks as he looked at how the child seems to be happy despite not expressing his emotions at all, “Wooyoung.”

“What’s with ‘Wooyoung’, Yeosang?” the doctor asks.

“B-Birthday..” Yeosang tries to speak something else aside from his friend’s name as he looked at the doctor, eyes shimmering with a bit of life in the usual glassy orbs “Wooyoung’s birthday.”

“Oh. So today is Wooyoung's birthday? November 26?” the doctor asked and Yeosang nods.

“Where is he?” Yeosang mutters, looking around the room.

“I’m afraid that he won’t be able to visit you because he’s busy with school,” the doctor said as he patted the child's head.

“Y-You’ll be back later?” Yeosang suddenly asks and looked at the doctor that surprised him more.

The doctor nods, “I’ll be back later, Yeosang.”

And unlike the usual interrogation, Yeosang seems to be responding too much. Acting as if he wasn’t an unresponsive doll that usually had breakdowns and such. Wooyoung can’t help but feel a pang on his chest as Yeosang was interrogated about him.

“Wooyoung is your friend, right?” the doctor asked.

“Yes.”

“How can you describe him?”

“He’s small and loud. He laughs all the time and grins at everything as if he wasn’t alone but deep inside, he’s lonely. That’s why I promised to be with him, to be his bestfriend so he wouldn’t be lonely.” Despite Yeosang talking in such a small voice, everyone can hear how sincere he is “He must’ve been looking for me. He knows that I’m here, right?”

The doctor nodded, “Yes, he does.”

“He’ll visit me soon, right?” Yeosang asks, hope shimmering on his eyes.

The doctor nodded once again, “He will if you’ll participate on the check-ups frequently.”

“Okay!” he stated.

The doctor excuses himself as Yeosang took the sketchbook in the drawer and sat on the floor as he took the crayons out of its container as he started to draw. Everyone just watched as the child seems to be eager on what he’s doing that when he finished, he can’t help but gasp at his work and hugged it.

“Wooyoungie will love this.” he muttered.

After a few hours, his meal was served as the doctor came back to check on his current status. The younger child seems to brightened up as he saw the doctor and waved at him, a small smile plastered on his face.

“Hello, doctor.” Yeosang greeted the doctor as he kept on waving.

“Hello there, Yeosang.”

“Can I ask a favor from you?” Yeosang says as he held a folded paper with both of his hands.

“Of course, you can. And what is it?” the doctor asked.

“You see, I kept on giving Wooyoung a lot of gifts for his birthday but I can’t give him a decent one so I guess this will do for this year,” Yeosang said, giving it to the doctor, “Wooyoung loves to look at my drawings and it might cheer him up if he’ll receive that.”

“You’re such a good friend,” Dr. Son said as he put the paper in his pocket, “I’d like to ask you about something, Yeosang.”

“What is it, doctor?”

“Aside from Wooyoung, can you remember your other friends?” the doctor asked.

Yeosang tilted his head in confusion, “Wooyoung is my only friend.”

“Are you sure about that?” he asks.

Yeosang nods, “Yes.”

“I see.” the doctor scribbled something on his folder before turning his back at him, “See you tomorrow, Yeosang.”

“Why can he only remember Wooyoung?” Yunho asked.

“Even I was surprised during that time,” San replies, “I was sure that I wiped every single memory that he had with all of you yet something must’ve triggered him. He can only remember Wooyoung and no one else, he can remember everything about his memories with Wooyoung clearly except from the one during our pact.”

“Yeosang..” the black-haired male gasps.

“You’re his saving grace on the moment that he lost his sanity as if his memories with you literally got out of my grasp and forced itself to stay with you. It’s so annoying,” San said in such a grumpy tone while looking towards him, “Why are you so special to him?”

“San.” Hongjoong’s voice might be calm but the blond male knew the warning so he just huffed.

“Yeosang kept on mentioning you for years and the reason why he got better was because of the memories that he treasured with you yet what have you done? You pushed him away and labeled him as a traitor on the moment that you two have reunited.” San said as he smirked, “Talk about being pathetic and self-centered.”

Everything started to blur once again as Wooyoung’s knees failed him and he fell to the ground as he couldn’t stop the tears falling on his eyes, “Yeosang.”

“So let me show you a bit of a fast forward because Yeosang’s life kept on being like this. I’ll let you see the times how he was really hopeful that you’ll be visiting him on your birthday that he didn’t even mind his own. And the presents that he gave you..” San said as they’ve seen the scenarios where Yeosang kept on giving the doctor a bunch of sketch and paintings, “As you can see, Yeosang’s past times are playing his drones and also drawing. He had been excelling in art that even the nurses are fond of his works.”

“Yeosang-hyung sure does loves to draw way back then,” Jongho said as he lets out a pained smile, “He looks so happy during art class.”

“But wait..” Seonghwa looked at Wooyoung, “If Yeosang kept on giving you those drawings then why haven't you received any?”

“And that is where we’re about to head next!” San said as he snapped his fingers, “Next stop, Wooyoung’s thirteenth birthday. In this moment, Yeosang is allowed to roam around the halls to interact with the other patients and to hang out on the garden alone.”

In the next flashback, they can see Yeosang walking around while holding an another ripped paper from his sketchbook. He seems to be on his way towards the doctor’s office when he suddenly heard loud noises from the room which made him stop, feeling uneasy to interrupt what is currently happening inside.

“Doctor Son, is there any progress on that child?” he heard a familiar voice, it seems to be one of the nurse that takes care of him too.

“Kang Yeosang? Of course.” He heard his doctor said in a firm tone, “Haven’t you noticed how he started to interact with the other patients? His mental health is getting better.”

“Today’s that day, right? He’ll be passing you an another drawing of his.” the nurse said, giggling “That child is such a gifted one. His artworks are superb despite someone that wasn’t even able to see the outside world.”

“He has his drones to be the eyes for him. He’s a child born in a rich family so you can see the luxurious items inside his room,” Dr. Son said as he hummed, “He even have his gadgets in there as if he’s just at home.”

“He isn’t fit in this facility at all. I think that he’s getting better, wouldn’t it be possible for him to be discharged soon?” the nurse asked.

The doctor sighed, “The outside world is too dangerous for him and to tell you the truth, it’s better for him to be confined in here rather than taking a step outside this facility.”

“But the child needs to interact with other children instead of being in a special education class in this facility,” the nurse retorted, “He deserves to be visited by his friends too. Especially that one that he’s been talking about.”

“After all the years that he has been away from that town, his friends probably forgot him. His family doesn’t even bat an eye on him aside from the sympathetic grandparents of his.” He heard the doctor said which made the thirteen-year old Yeosang widened his eyes “And that friend of his, that Wooyoung? He will never meet him again.”

“Why? Didn't he sent those sketches to him?” the nurse asked.

“No.” Yeosang heard a drawer was opened and as he took a peek, he couldn’t believe what is he currently looking at.

“You’ve told the child that you’ve sent those!” the nurse gasped in shock, looking at the papers inside a folder— the drawings that Yeosang did for Wooyoung was compiled in that folder, never reaching his friend at all.

“It’s futile. It’s better for him to stay in this facility,” the doctor said as he took the papers and ripped it into shreds, making the nurse gasp in horror.

“H-How could you? The child worked hard on that!” the nurse felt bad for the child that has been hoping to see his bestfriend.

“Why?”

Both of them looked at the door as Yeosang watched everything in horror, the doctor was surprised to see such an expression on the younger male that haven’t shown anything aside from the fake smiles and longing that he have plastered on his face. Meanwhile, the nurse can’t help but cover her mouth as she looked at how miserable Yeosang looked right now.

“Yeosang, let me explain.” The doctor doesn’t even seems to be sincere with his words as he took a step near the child.

“No way. Wooyoung..” Yeosang took a step back before dashing away from the office.

“Come back here!” He heard the doctor scream.

“Yeosang!” The familiar voice of that caring nurse was heard.

Yeosang kept on running as he found the stairs, climbing up until he reached the rooftop. He didn’t even hesitate as he jumped past the railings and when he heard the doctor and nurse’s voice, he didn't even think about anything else aside from the fact that he should escape from this place, jumping on the rooftop.

Yet before he was even able to hit the ground awaiting for his body to be splattered in it. The same white fox that visited him once appeared, catching the child as it leaped upwards and landed on the rooftop, gently placing the child that seems to be unconscious on the ground as it looked at the doctor and nurse.

“Who are you?” the doctor asked but instead of responding, the fox leaped away as it slowly disappears in thin air.

The nurse who witnessed everything collapsed on the ground, unable to grasp every single unbelievable incident with her own eyes. The doctor couldn’t help but let out an amused laugh before snickering as an  incantation was heard— creating a barrier that even a high-class demon wouldn’t be able to enter.

The other scenarios was shown to the six people quickly, letting them see how lifeless Yeosang is as he yearn for his own freedom on the next four years. And everything started to get blurry once again before San took a deep breath and turning his back to face his friends.

“This is taking a toll to my energy but I’d like to show you one last thing before we get out of this place.” San said and without letting one of them respond, he snapped his fingers.

They’ve found themselves on the doctor’s office as the doctor was leaning on the wall, stabbed by a knife on his abdomen as he glare at a cloaked person which was holding a bunch of scalpels.

“You!” the doctor gritted his teeth.

“No hard feelings, sire. I was just tasked to exterminate the witnesses of the cursed child’s berserk moments.” San can't help out but smirk when the other recognized this voice and looked at its owner which seems to be quite calm.

“Aren’t you working for the Kangs?” Dr. Son tried to enchant a spell but his magic disappeared when the cloaked person’s eyes brightened.

“Aren’t you being a little unfair, doctor? No using of magic. Besides, my power is way better than yours. I can easily rip you apart in a blink of an eye,” the cloaked person stated, humming a melody as he kept on playing with the scalpel on his right hand.

“Answer my question! Are you betraying the Kangs?!” the doctor screamed.

“I wasn’t. I’ve already fulfilled my duty on them but someone like me can be hired by others, y’know?” the cloaked person took a step forward and walked then stopped in front of the doctor, “A demon. Perhaps? Does that ring a bell, doc?”

“Don’t tell me. The one that saved the cursed Kang before is the one that hired you?” Dr. Son couldn't believe what he was seeing right now, “And how can someone as gentle as you do such a thing?”

“Oh. Thank you for the compliment, I never thought that I’ve acted too well on that.” The cloaked person stated then grins as he stabbed the doctor’s hand where a catalyst was marked in it, “But I've heard that you’ve hurt my friend, rising his hopes up just to crush it down. Why? Because you thought that it’s better for a cursed child to suffer alone until his last breath? Or are you enjoying watching him as a specimen?”

“You’ll never get away with this!” the doctor threatens, “The Kangs will know about this.”

“Oh. Those wrenched people? Half of them are probably devoured by the demon that hired me. The innocent ones are probably spares but the damned ones are tortured,” the cloaked person said as he stabbed the doctor once again, making him scream in pain “That's it. Scream it all out. Just like those pathetic staff of yours. All of them died in fear and horror as the other patients hurt them too.”

“Why? Why are you siding with a demon?” he asks.

“Just like what I've said, no hard feeling for I am just a hired man.” The cloaked person stated, laughing as he kept on stabbing the doctor, “I kept the stab wounds a bit shallow so you wouldn’t die easily. And the fact that both of us aren’t fully human makes it better because you’re going to die slowly, without the ability to heal yourself because I’ve blocked your powers as you bleed to death. Isn’t that nice?”

“You’re sick!” The doctor gritted his teeth as an another stab was done by the cloaked person.

“Hell yes. After suffering from being beaten until I lose consciousness by that bastard? Yes, I’m sick in the head. But was it my fault? I tried seeking for help, doc. But no one batted an eye on me because that bastard can change the law,” the cloaked person said before raising his hand to slash the doctor’s face, smiling in delight on his act as he continued slashing him, “So I wouldn’t let our friend suffer that much. I’m getting him out of here soon!”

“He w-won’t be able to last long,” the doctor muttered which made the cloaked man pause on his actions, “He wouldn’t be able to continue living when he turns eighteen.”

“What?” The cloaked person’s face paled before stabbing the doctor in his shoulder, “Don’t fuck with me. I’m not in the mood for your pathetic jokes.”

“I wouldn’t lie to you  It’s true that his life is only a few days left and no one will be able to save him,” the doctor said, smirking in triumph “No cursed one in his clan have ever made it way past their eighteenth birthday, some have even died on their ninth birthday.”

“Stop.”

“It’s useless.” The doctor smirked.

“Enough, I said!” The cloaked person’s eyes turned into bright green as the doctor started writhing in pain as if he was about to wilt.

The doctor’s screams halted as his life was drained from his vessel, turning into a crystal in which the cloaked person broke with his own hands. He spat on the corpse in front of him before leaving the room, seeing that he made quite a mess on the whole facility as the white walls was covered with blood. Dead staffs and patients lie on the floor as he steps on them until he was out of the building, he looked at the moon that was shining above before chuckling.

“It’s up to you now. My job is done.”

Meanwhile, a certain brown-haired patient sleeps in peace— unaware of the tragedy that happened outside his room.

San snapped his fingers and in a blink of an eye, they were back in front of the shrine as the fox spirit was smiling mischievously. Everyone seems to be either breaking down or just staring at an empty space from what they’ve seen.

“Have you enjoyed the scene?” San asks as he immediately dodged an arrow which made him snicker, “Oh my. Have I enraged you, Yunho-hyung?”

But instead of an enraged Yunho, he can see Yunho smiling at him but the bloodlust in his eyes shows how much he wanted to shred San into pieces “Why did you show them that?”

“So I can get you off their suspect list. Or maybe you’re working for an another person this time? And this time, it’s the Monsieur?” San asks, looking towards him as if he didn’t exposed Yunho acting like a madman towards his friends.

“Who knows? I am not allowed to reveal my boss’ true identity whenever I’m hired,” Yunho said as his bow and arrow disappeared, “You should be thankful because your and Yeosang’s life is connected and I care for a friend.”

“Thank you,” San said as he looked at their other friends, “Wooyoung, how does it feel to be the wrong one?”

“Stop making a mess, San!” Hongjoong cried out as he kept on comforting the black-haired male.

“I am not making a mess. I’m revealing what must be revealed for all of you to see that none of us here are alright,” San said before looking at Hongjoong, “Except from you. You are way precious than them but not as much as Yeosang.”

“What are you talking about, San?” Seonghwa asks.

“Look, don’t you get it?” San said, groaning at them, “You, Seonghwa, with your wrath against humans.”

“Hongjoong with his undying pride as a leader.”

“Jongho’s gluttony for strength and attention with his hero complex.”

“Mingi being envy to mortals.”

“Wooyoung being a sloth as a friend because of him being irresponsible.”

“Yunho’s hidden lust for violence.”

“And me, with greed. Greed for what? Not actually a what but a who. I’m greedy when it comes to Yeosang.” San proudly announced as he pointed at him, “Do you get what I’m saying?”

“What is that supposed to mean? All I’m hearing are the seven deadly sins—” Unfortunately, Jongho was cut off by San cackling.

“Exactly! In our clans, we are the embodiment of the seven deadly sins!” San stated as he raises his arms, “The reason why all of us are united like this is because of our sins!”

“And why?” Jongho asks.

“If you can recall, where are your beloved family before this incident happened?” San asked back.

“Mine was on a trip.” Jongho replies.

Yunho said, “My grandparents are in the city for a family reunion but I decided to stay because I’m aware of the curse.”

“My family lives in the city,” Hongjoong said, “They’ve sent me a ‘Be careful and take care' message before this incident happened though.”

“My grandparents died last year so I’m all alone.” Wooyoung muttered as he started calming down.

“My parents are in the underworld.” Mingi stated.

“I fucking live alone,” Seonghwa spat.

“See? That means one thing. It’s fated for you to be in this cursed area because of your sins!” San said, laughing out loud like he just said a funny joke yet no one laughed with him.

“What are you trying to imply then?” Seonghwa asked as he toom a deep breath.

San stopped laughing as his eyes turned into a mixture of red and purple once again as the wind blew hard before looking at all of them with an amused expression, “It means that all of us are punished and we’re bound to suffer by seeing our beloved friend die in our sight as an atonement of our sins.”

“What?!” Mingi screeched.

“But then again, why don’t we team up and prove them wrong?” San offers as everyone seems to be surprised, “Because I believe that a sin isn’t something that you can atone for.”

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

henlo again, folks! here’s an another filler (probably but i've put important scenes in here) chapter where you’ll be more confused about the traitor and also about yeosang :>

death flags are everywhere though so...

; )