a/n: here's a 4k chapter for ya’ll! traitor’s identity will be revealed in the end! thank ya for reading this fic!

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Yeosang kept on walking until he found himself in the yard of their manor, a lot have changed ever since he left the manor but he can see someone tied up in a crucifix-like wood from afar. He can also see the blackened ones wandering around as he kept on walking silently, weaponless so he kept his footsteps as silent as he can.

He needs something to protect himself, he shouldn’t just run and save that person or else, everyone’s sacrifice will be gone to waste once that the blackened ones got their hands on him— the unfortunate victim of this curse.

“I should head back..” he muttered before proceeding inside the dimmed hall.

He can hear some growling so he kept on walking on the corner of the room, shutting his mouth as he silence himself while walking carefully. He couldn’t see anything so he used his sense of touch and proceeds by touching the cement and avoiding the furniture in order to prevent making any kind of noise that would make the blackened ones find him.

He found the stairs and held to the edge as he kept on walking, he can still hear a bit of growling around so he continued on staying silent. He didn’t even know if he’ll be able to make it to a safer place safe or if he’ll be caught by those hideous creatures.

Yeosang wondered if his friends are looking for him right now. He also wondered who was the one tied up in the middle of their huge ass yard. He wondered if Wooyoung is safe along with the others, he wondered why can’t he use his own powers. He has a lot of thoughts running around his mind but he kept on being alert because his main priority is to be safe.

Fortunately, Yeosang arrived on the area of their mansion with the lights on. He kept on looking around at the corners and saw some blackened ones walking around so he waited for them to turn their backs so he can run on a different direction, he kept on doing it until he arrived on an area that is familiar to him.

“Storage room.” Yeosang mutters as he opened the door, cursing in his mind when it creaked and immediately went inside and locked it before any blackened one can find what the room that he entered, “Damn it.”

He can already hear the growling nearby as a bunch of doors were opened, making his heart beat faster in fear. He can’t help but let the fear crept throughout his system because this room doesn’t have any doors and despite hiding between the shelves, he can be seen easily. There’s no way that he would be able to escape from them knowing how many they are around the floor and he’s empty-handed, not even a knife or a gun with him. Aside from that, his entire body is filled with cuts and bruises from his escape on the glass-like cage.

He can’t help but be sorry for everyone that sacrificed their lives and put themselves into danger just to save him, tears already forming on his eyes. He just closed his eyes and sighed in defeat, waiting for the blackened ones to open the door and catch him so the curse would end.

“I’m so sorry, everyone.” he muttered in resignation.

“Don't be.”

Before Yeosang was able to speak and open his eyes, he felt a pair of arms hugged him from behind and he can feel that he was dragged somewhere as he heard something was closed with a thud. The moment that Yeosang opened his eyes, he realized that he’s in a closet as someone behind him wraps his left arm around the brunette’s waist while the right hand of the person behind him was covering Yeosang's mouth to prevent any kind of noises.

The brunette wanted to speak but from the hole in the closet, he can see that the door was opened by a bunch of blackened ones as they started walking around the storage room. They could hear the growling along with their footsteps, some were getting louder as a sign that they’re near the area on where they're hiding

Some even stopped in front of the closet and Yeosang felt like his heart stopped beating as he kept on sweating because of nervousness along with the cramped closet, the blackened one seems to be looking around and even heard some items falling to the ground with either a crash or a thud.

After a minute or two, the blackened ones decided to leave the room and closed it as they proceeded to an another one as Yeosang and the unknown male sighed in relief. He opened the closet and stretched his arms, hissing when he felt the bruises and cuts running against his sweater. Yeosang kept the scarf around his neck ever since the incident happened, he doesn’t like showing the scar on his neck and he doesn’t even like having a glimpse of it.

After fixing his scarf, he turned around and was about to thank the one that saved him when he gasped at the sight “Y-You.”

“You shouldn’t apologize for anyone. You did well on keeping yourself safe.” the male stated, smiling a bit.

“You idiot.” Yeosang muttered before running towards him and embraced the male, clutching onto the male’s clothes tightly as he sobbed, “I thought that something bad happened to you.”

“I wouldn’t let that happen, Sangie.”

“Jung Wooyoung, you idiot.”

Wooyoung lets his bestfriend sobbed as he hugged him back, nuzzling on the older male’s scarf as he rubbed his back as a sign of comfort. The male kept on sobbing silently as he whispered how thankful he is that Wooyoung is safe and how worried he is. The black-haired male felt bad for making his friend made an outburst like this, he was so scared and worried.

Wooyoung doesn’t want to see Yeosang suffering like this. If Wooyoung only knew that bringing him back to their hometown would cause Yeosang to cry like this, he should've thought a lot more about his life decisions before fucking everything up.

“It's alright, Sangie. I’m here..” Wooyoung can only assure him that he’s alright, he doesn’t have the heart to push him away just like before.

“Youngie, I was so scared.”

“I know, Sangie. I was scared too.” Not just because of the situation but also because of the ones residing inside him.

“I was so worried. The moment that I woke up, I immediately looked for you. I thought something bad happened.”

“I’m okay, Sangie. I’m okay,” Wooyoung reassures him as he kept on rubbing his back in circles as his gentle voice is the only thing that Yeosang is focusing at right now.

“I won’t forgive myself if something bad happened to you, Youngie.”

“Even I would do the same,” Wooyoung replies, slight nodding in agreement.

He waited until Yeosang calmed down as Wooyoung wiped the tears on the corner of his eyes, smiling apologetically for making him wept such tears filled with fear and longing. He kept on holding both of Yeosang’s hands until he was able to breath properly and looked at him.

“Youngie, I'm scared..”

“You're stronger than what you think you are, Sangie.”

“There’s a lot of blackened ones outside. How are we supposed to escape?” Yeosang asks, eyes kept on wandering around the corners of the room as he bit his lower lip.

“How about getting a weapon first then I’ll tell you something about my plan?” Wooyoung said as he looked at the pickaxe beside the closet, “Can you carry that?”

“Yes.” Yeosang went in front of it and carried the pickax with both of his hands, “Now, will you tell me your plan?”

“I’ll be the decoy.” Wooyoung announced.

Yeosang widened his eyes and shook his head, “No.”

“Sangie, listen to me—”

“I won’t let you do that, Youngie.” Yeosang said in a firm tone.

“Sangie, you have to listen to me.” Wooyoung retaliates, “You have to escape this mansion and find Hongjoong and Yunho, they’re probably outside. I’ll distract them so you can get out of the mansion on your own and don’t look back.”

“Youngie, no.”

“Sangie, trust me. I won’t let myself die here,” Wooyoung assured him once again, “You just have to trust me.  I’m your friend, right?”

“Yes. But—”

“Then trust me.”

Yeosang wanted to say no. He wanted to escape this mansion together with Wooyoung, he wanted to be beside him in order to make sure that Wooyoung is alright. But Wooyoung wanted him to trust him just like how Wooyoung trusts him that he’ll be safe.

“Make sure that you’ll be safe, okay?” Yeosang softly stated as he looked directly at Wooyoung.

“Of course, who do you even think is the one in front of you? I’m Jung Wooyoung! I’ve been through a lot so I’m sure that I’ll be able to get through this too!” Wooyoung proudly exclaims as he grinned.

“Just make sure of that.” Yeosang wanted to scream and hold his hand tight but the way that Wooyoung is giving him a reassuring smile. How can he say no to that?

“Our plan is that you’ll be running, you’ll keep on running and if there’s a blackened one in front of you then kill it. Just keep on running until you’re out of the mansion and find Hongjoong or Yunho as soon as possible,” Wooyoung stated as he held both of Yeosang’s cheeks gently with his calloused hands “No matter what happens, don’t look back.”

“Why shouldn't I look back?”

Wooyoung’s smile falter as he looked down, “Please just trust me this time and listen to my request, Sangie. I’ll tell you about it soon.”

“I trust you, Wooyoung.” Yeosang dropped the axe on the ground to place his hands on top of Wooyoung’s hands as he smiled, “Even if everyone will turn their backs on you, I will still be here to trust you. Even if you’ll stab me in the back a lot of times, I’ll still let you in and trust you.”

“Sangie, you’re too good.” Wooyoung rested his forehead on Yeosang's, closing his eyes “You’re too good for this world.”

“Even though I’m cursed, you still think that I’m like that. Thank you, Youngie.”

The moment that Wooyoung pulls his hands off, Yeosang already missed the warmth that his friend provided and felt cold. He picked the axe once again as they made a silent oath for each other that they’ll trust one another until Wooyoung opened the door and they ran in different directions. And just like what Wooyoung told him, he didn’t even looked back. He just kept on running just like what Wooyoung have told him.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

Yunho looked at Hongjoong with worry on his eyes as he lets go of his hand, he wanted to decline the proposal that Hongjoong made on their way back but they needed to end this as soon as possible. Even if they’ll be nothing but collateral damages on this curse, it’ll be worth it.

“Yunho, you have to go. I know that you’ll be able to do it,” Hongjoong said as he patted his shoulder, “Thank you for everything.”

“Hyung, I want to keep on protecting you.” Yunho stated in a firm tone.

“You have to. You still have to kick his ass for being such a dick, right?” Hongjoong teased as he crossed his arms, “Don’t be too rough on him. No matter what happens, he’s still one of our dearest friend and he might have a reason for doing it.”

Yunho huffed, “That depends on his reason. If it’s a shitty one then he must prepare for the worst.”

“You’re such a hot-headed person when it comes to him,” Hongjoong said before looking towards the yard, “You’re always like that when it comes to him. Whoever the traitor is, I would try to talk to him about it. I might be a failure as a leader but I won’t let myself fail as his friend.”

“Kind words won’t reach someone like that,” Yunho hissed.

“He’s still our friend, Yunho.” Hongjoong reminded him.

Yunho wanted to retort but he knew that no matter what kind of explanation he has on his sleeves, Hongjoong would still continue to trust everyone. That’s just how gullible Hongjoong is, as much as prideful as he is when it comes to leadership, he has a soft spot for the people that he cherishes— unfortunately, that includes the traitor.

“Are you even sure that the traitor would follow you?” Yunho asked in a hushed tone.

“I bet that you’ll be the last person that the traitor will approach knowing that you’re a skilled one,” Hongjoong said with confidence as if he wanted to assure Yunho.

Yunho sighed in resignation, “I wouldn’t be able to stop you, huh?”

“Indeed. I’m a prideful person, Jeong Yunho.” Hongjoong said in such a proud way and Yunho can’t help but laugh.

“Alright. You win,” Yunho says, grinning at him “Let’s just see what happens in the end, huh?”

“It was worth dying in this place,” Hongjoong said as he looked at the starless dark sky, “It was nice to know that I’ll still be here with my friends until the end. I just hope that Yeosang survives this, we probably have lived our lives happily but him? He was barely even living so he deserves his own chance of living a happy life.”

“Maybe if I’ll die, I’ll be able to meet my mother soon.” Yunho smiled at the thought of meeting his mother soon before looking at Hongjoong, “So this is it?”

“Indeed.” Hongjoong nods before looking at the mint-haired male for the last time, “As your leader, I want you to fulfill my last order. Assassinate the traitor in order to prevent him from killing the others.”

“Noted,” Yunho said before gripping the bow and arrow tightly, “Any last words?”

“Just bid my farewell on the others,” Hongjoong responded as he grinned, “See you later, Yunho.”

“See ya.”

Hongjoong didn’t even looked back on the moment that he kept on walking until he reaches the farthest part of the manor which was filled with trees. He can’t help but smile as he can hear a bunch of footsteps following him, whoever the traitor is, he’s bad at stealth.

So that clearly means that San and Yunho is already out of the choices. Those two are too stealthy that you can’t even hear their footsteps despite walking casually and would be able to get through a lot of areas without getting caught by any blackened one in the area.

When they’re far away from the huge yard, Hongjoong halted on his tracks. He kept on sensing the traitor’s presence behind him as he lets out a frustrated sigh, somehow bothered on how uneducated this traitor is on concealing himself.

“I know that you’re behind me. Show yourself.” Hongjoong stated with authority.

He can hear the bushes behind him rustle and the footsteps went louder as an unsual voice was heard, as if it was programmed to be something as static as this one “How did you know?”

“You suck at concealing your presence,” Hongjoong replies before turning around to face someone wearing a long dark cloak with a scythe on his back, “So are you an associate of Death or something?”

“Close enough.”

“As much as I wanted to fight you, I've already resigned to my fate. I really don’t know what is your intention on killing your comrades,” Hongjoong stated as his lips curled upwards into a melancholic smile, “I failed to understand your intentions. I really failed as a leader, huh?”

“No hard feelings, leader. I love you so much but I need to do this,” the traitor said as he gripped on his scythe tight.

“What is that reason for you to do such things?”

“I’ll take all of you to a safe place where all of us can be together. Where no one will be able to hurt us,” the traitor replied.

Hongjoong scoffed, “A place like that doesn’t exist. People will still get hurt as long as they kept on existing.”

“That’s the point, leader.” the traitor responded, “We will still feel hurt if we keep on existing. I can solve that problem, Hongjoong-hyung.”

“Hyung, huh?” Hongjoong sighed in relief as Seonghwa was crossed out on his suspect list leaving two person in it.

“I’m really sorry but I have to kill you right here.”

Hongjoong smirked, “As much as I’m willing to be killed by you, I won’t let you until you explain why are you doing this.”

The cloaked man lunges forward as Hongjoong prepared himself, dodging gracefully on every slash and attempts of stabbing him with a scythe. The redhead can’t help but feel a bit in ease because out of all the possible weapons that the traitor would be using, he prefers to use a scythe. Something that needs to be trained a lot before being able to use it with grace and power since it’s a complicated weapon.

Using a scythe is quite complex unlike how it was shown on dramas and games, Hongjoong saw how the traitor unprofessionally held the scythe and the force that he uses, making the hits a bit out of control. He even noticed how the traitor stands and how he launches himself towards the valkyrie.

“You’re someone that isn’t trained to fight,huh?”

“I’m trying!”

Hongjoong chuckles, “The way you stand, it isn’t befitting for a warrior.”

“I said that I'm trying! You don’t need to point it out!”

“I’ll let you kill me if you’ll explain the reason why you’re killing us in a specific way,” Hongjoong stated.

“If all of you dies, I can keep you in a safe place until I find a way to wake all of you up.” The traitor stated as he clenches his fists, “Even Yeosang-hyung, I’ll do everything to claim his soul in Hell once that he was offered to Monsieur.”

“Monsieur doesn’t even know your existence,” Hongjoong stated firmly.

“It’s the alchemist inside Wooyoung that I made an agreement with,” the traitor explains, “But I’m going to betray that shithead. I’m going to send everyone in a place where they wouldn’t be able to feel pain as they kept on sleeping until I find a way to wake them up someday.”

“And what is that place?” Hongjoong asked, “Be more specific.”

“The realm of the dead.”

“I see.” Hongjoong stated as he nods before standing straight as he raised both of his hands as if he’s making a crucified person’s pose “Okay. I’m all yours.”

“Why?”

“Why why?”

The traitor seems to be hesitating on even hurting Hongjoong as he took a step backward, “Why are you offering yourself like that?”

“Maybe my retribution for being a bad leader to all of you,” Hongjoong replies, grinning at him “And if it’s for the other’s sake, then I’ll gladly offer myself.”

“This doesn’t make sense.” The traitor said as he shook his head in disapproval, “It’s too pointless.”

“Everything is pointless.” Hongjoong looks at the sky before directing his gaze towards the cloaked man, “As long as my death can contribute something then I’m fine with dying.”

“Are you out of your mind?!”

“That’s quite funny coming from someone with such a childish intent!” Hongjoong jeered, “Saving us by killing all of us? What kind of bullshit is that?!”

“Stop.”

“Oh come on! I’m telling you the harsh truth!” Hongjoong said as he grinned in such a menacing way, “What kind of reason is that? That’s something that probably lived a happy and pampered life would have thought.”

“I’m doing my best, Hongjoong-hyung! I want to save everyone!”

“You aren’t saving anyone, shithead!” Hongjoong blurted out as he clenched his fists, “If you don’t want to kill me then I’ll be the one to kill you, you should be grateful when a warrior offers his life.”

“Hyung!”

Everything happened too fast. As Hongjoong was a few feet apart from the traitor, he swung his scythe with full force as it stabbed the male valkyrie in the chest that pierced through his back too. Hongjoong spat blood yet with his remaining strength, he managed to remove the hood covering the man’s face as his eyes widened in surprise. The traitor expected to see hurt, hatred and betrayal on his leader’s expression.

But he was surprised when Hongjoong was looking at him with fondness and with such a kind expression that the traitor wanted to burn himself. He doesn’t deserve this.

“I didn’t expect you to be the traitor but hey, I’m glad to know that you’re alive.”

The traitor couldn’t believe what he heard and looked at Hongjoong in disbelief, “I am the reason for your death in a few minutes yet that’s the thing that you’ll be saying?”

“Of course. I love all of you,” Hongjoong stated as he smiled, “Dying in my beloved ones’ arms is quite comforting.”

“Hyung..” Hongjoong can’t help but chuckle at how worried the traitor is right now, which is quite unfitting because he should be the villain.

“You know what? Valkyries are the ones that lead the heroes to Valhalla,” Hongjoong said, “But what if it’s the valkyries that’s been perished? And a male one. I wonder where will I be heading.”

“In my realm,” The traitor caressed the leader’s cheek, “I’m going to lay you down in a bed of roses.”

“Sweet.” Hongjoong laughs but the unbearable pain made him cough more blood.

“I-I’m terribly sorry, Hongjoong-hyung!”

“You’re the traitor yet I really can’t feel any kind of negative emotions towards you,” Hongjoong stated as he grins, his left hand shaking as he raised it up to gently place it on the traitor's cheek, “You’re even crying for me, brat. You’re supposed to be cackling because you’re the villain.”

“I’m sorry, hyung! I’m really sorry!”

“It’s alright but always remember this,” Hongjoong mutters as he felt his energy depleting immediately, “Are you happy?”

“What?”

“Are you happy?” Hongjoong closed his eyes as a smile still crept on his face, “Is this what you really wanted?”

Before the traitor was even able to say something, Hongjoong’s hand fell to the ground and all that he can do is to scream his hyung’s name as he held him in his chest. He kept on sobbing before calming down and carried the redhead in a bridal style. Tears still kept on streaming on his face as he started to walk, it’ll be painful but once that Hongjoong resides on his realm, he will be safe. Once that he activates his power outside the manor, he’ll open the portal and just like what he said to their leader, he’ll lay him down in a bed of roses.

He doesn’t deserve kindness at all yet Hongjoong and Jongho gave him a smile before they died. They were relieved to die because of someone that they cherished instead of the wrenched creatures in this curse. He looked at the valkyrie that looks like he wasn’t dead at all, it’s like he was just sleeping and having a good dream. The traitor wondered if he was in that happy dream despite the fact that he doesn’t deserve to be in there.

“I fucking knew it.”

The traitor gasped as he looked towards the gate of the Kang manor where a certain someone was outside, eyes flashing in bright green. And the traitor saw the expression that he thinks he deserve at all, smiling sadly towards the male outside the manor. He knew that this will be the male’s reaction when he finds out the truth and he knew that he probably have an idea about it. He looked at Hongjoong’s smile and he realized what is currently happening.

Hongjoong sacrificed his life so he can be caught by them.

“I swear to the Gods that you and your life decisions will put you in danger.” The way Yunho said those words filled with venoms of hatred in every syllable gives him goosebumps, knowing that he’ll be having a bad time “Song Mingi, you fucking donkey.”

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to the ones that got it right, congratulations! also dropping some of the hints that i dropped about mingi being the traitor.

traitor: mingi

• chapter 13. he just mentioned his father as a guardian of Persephone, a goddess of the underworld. reapers resides on the underworld.

• chapter 14. cupcakes gave yunho a subtle hint about six person can change the cursed one’s fate. cupcakes is aware of mingi’s betrayal but didn’t say a thing about it to anyone else aside from yunho. yunho also discussed it to the group during the bonfire scene.

• also at chapter 14. jongho knows that mingi is up to something, he gave them a hint about it but it was during one of their joke times where they're talking about their group chant.

• chapter 17. idk if you can consider this as a hint but the outfit that the young mingi wore on their first meeting resembles a grimreaper.

• blame san (and the author) for this but he forgot to mention that the only thing that can kill a representative of sin is an another representative. even jongho said it before dying. if jongho is the first one to die in the hands of the traitor as everyone else is alive then what happened to mingi?

• actually chapter 27 gave lots of hints, it's a huge giveaway for the identity of the traitor. san is against the lunatic. hongjoong, yunho and seonghwa are together while yeosang was taken by monsieur- which is actually using wooyoung's body as a temporary vessel so who's the only sin representative that isn't with somebody that time aside from jongho? mingi.

• chapter 28. remember what mingi can summon? a cerberus. a black cat. a chimera. a hydra. mingi summoned his hydra on that chapter. i described it as a serpent though. but that's because it's foggy and none of them can see it aside from its shadow and the fact that it came from the river.

• in this chapter, during hongjoong and mingi's fight, hongjoong observed how unprofessional mingi is when it comes to fighting. out of all the seven sins representative, wooyoung and mingi are the only ones that aren't trained. but since wooyoung is already out of the list, it’s absolutely mingi :>

only four to five chapters before i publish the poll for the different endings! also! thank you for the 7k reads! i don’t deserve ya’ll. how can you even stand such a worthless fic like this when there’s a lot of fics out there that is way better than this? Q wQ