╰─➤lily was a little girl,
                afraid of the big wide world

➳༻❀✿❀༺➳

there wasn't much he could remember.

his feet thrumming against the pavements, perhaps. the streetlights illuminating his route home, even. but not much else...not how he'd gotten here. 

everything was pitch-black, like he was a blind man all too suddenly. the air in his lungs was disgusting and stale, causing a slight rasp to his breathing. it had to have been a lifetime of this already...of nothingness. because for lee donghyuck, being left to face his own thoughts for any lengthy period of time could've been deemed a punishment.

the darkness wasn't due to lack of light; in fact, it was forced upon him in the form of a blindfold. the fabric wasn't uncomfortable in nature — a tad scratchy, perhaps. the knot was nearer to his left ear than the back of his head, for he'd been lying down for an eternity already. his hands weren't free at all, contrarily cuffed over his blonde hair to what he could only assume was a headboard.

the mattress underneath him was lumpy with dangerous springs cracking every time he shifted a little. the material of the sheets was coarse, like burlap, but not quite. everything was like a slap to his tender skin, and the poor korean hadn't even a slightest notion as to what the hell was going on.

"please..." the omega croaked, blinking under the blindfold once and hating the sensation of his eyelashes getting folded. thus, he kept them closed for comfort. "please let me out..." donghyuck's vocals were a weak, gnarled mess. had he stopped screaming the hour ago he'd done so, maybe they wouldn't have been so tethered.

the cool air surrounding the male's figure tickled his tanned, exposed skin. he was on show for whatever or whoever could've possibly been there, or would arrive. his feet slid along the sheets, toes curling and relaxing as he felt around a little. am i going to die here? he wondered, trying to pull his arms back once more, and eliciting a soft whimper when they only cramped up further. the muscles were tight and spasmed, presumably. the blood had stopped flowing up there and it hurt like a bitch.

eventually, after another ten minutes of wallowing in self-pity, the screechy alert of a heavy door opening sent the young adult into a frenzy. he gasped, curling in on himself though pulling at his restraints again all the same. "i-is somebody there?" desperation finally enveloped him. "oh my god! please! you have to help me!"

"sh sh sh," a soft hush followed, and the patter of gentle footsteps trailing over a floor donghyuck could only assume was cement, sounded. his chest swelled with worry, since he couldn't see a damn thing, nor discern where anyone was.

from the audial alone, the twenty-year-old figured there were at least two people walking towards him. their steps were out of rhythm, and one of the arrivals had a crooked gait — perhaps a limp.

"you're right," a pretty low voice hummed in a tone that resembled a cat's purr. the sound was delicate and satisfying on the ear, yet intense enough to allow others to know he was capable of something. "he's quite pretty."

"i always know the right ones," another responded, confirming donghyuck's previous analysis of numbers. the mattress suddenly creaked under an added weight, and the blonde's breathing picked up to a rapid beat as he curled up more.

"wh-who's there? what's happening to me?"

"relax, doll. you'll get nowhere if you panic," the latter of the two voices explained, and with it came a cold hand against his thigh. hyuck cried out from the shock, shrieking wildly and panicking. his lungs were taking in too much air too frequently, and his heart was a frantic hammering.

"he's nervous, jen. try to be gentle," the feline-like vocals then spoke up. this time, the same hand on his thigh started to slowly rub what were probably supposed to be soothing strokes. they eased the skin into the coldness of them, and the captive took deep breaths to calm his erratic gasping. "there you go."

"you're so good with them," the male whom the blonde now decided to call 'jen' cooed. "how did i ever tame you, hm?"

"you didn't need to."

donghyuck whimpered when his legs were slowly spread and the feeling of a figure sliding onto the bed between them came about. he tried to slam them shut, but the other was stronger...far stronger. "p-please don't do this..."

"it's merely an examination, darling. try to relax."

"i-i want to go home..."

"that's not happening," the man stated before the knot by the boy's ear was slid closer to his cheek and unwound, finally falling away to allow him sight. "the only way out of here is death now. understand?"

oh my god, the omega once again proceeded to hyperventilate. the mere sight of a gorgeous man with multiple piercings in his ears, his nose and one over his brow had his chest convulsing. beside him was another similarly decorated boy, but with white hair instead. he was utterly stunning, and wore a somewhat conniving, snide expression regardless of what donghyuck had heard only moments prior. "n-no!" he wailed, bursting out into tears and backing his naked body up against the headboard with the handcuffs.

"what a terrible reaction," the one directly in front of him tutted. "nana, am i that ugly?"

"of course not, jen. you look fine."

"please leave me alone..." the second oldest wept and sniffled, rubbing his nose against his wrists and feeling his whole world collapse down on him. if his wise intuition was correct, these guys weren't here to offer ransom for his return. they weren't keeping him to gain any money or information.

they were part of one of the local crews who made life so much harder to live in the city. there were multiple mafias out there, obviously...but which one had he been taken by?

"lovely, i don't think you quite comprehend the point in kidnappings," the navy-blue-haired male whispered with a slight glint in his eyes, the silver adorning his face glittering a bit with movement. the only light supply in the room was a weak and crippled bulb up above, and the door seemed to be closed again. "we're not giving you back. you aren't in possession of such liberties to leave just yet, and your name won't exist for much longer."

"what...?" the blonde sniffed, tears no longer pouring from his ducts, though still cascading in tiny waterfalls towards the bridge of his nose and down to his wet lips. "my name?"

"mhm," the blonde who was still standing started to explain. "you're most likely well aware of garnet, aren't you?"

fuck! of all the gangs to get taken by...garnet?! donghyuck's face paled as he swiftly prepared for the inevitable death he presumed was on the way. "oh god..."

"don't write this off as your funeral, doll," jeno gushed. his name was actually well-known, so the victim was in no need of an introduction anymore. "we won't kill you if you perform, obviously."

"i don't want to do anything," hyuck pleaded with quivering lips. he was the cutest thing, really, all terrified yet adorable. "i-i never stole anything, o-or met anyone...so please..."

"not how it works," the standing boy interjected. "your pretty face landed you here, and you can consider this a paradise if you learn to live a little. it'll be your forever hell if you choose not to cooperate."

just kill me, donghyuck suddenly thought as a change of tune. if the only escape from this situation was through the divine gates above, then dear lord he'd do it. his wrists cut against the cuffs painfully as he struggled to free himself. "i'm not doing anything with you!"

"he's done for today," jeno groaned, getting up and tiredly pulling his younger partner under his arm. "i thought he'd be easier than the others, nana. i overestimated him."

"it'll be fine. he has a trial period, anyway," jaemin smiled cutely and latched his arms around the man. "let's go."

"mhm."

as the pair turned on their heels and commenced their journey back towards the door in each other's embraces, the struggling blonde suddenly felt extremely alone. "wait! don't leave me here! let me out! please!"

"maybe tomorrow, doll," the bluette smirked, letting his lover out first before flicking off the light and allowing the door to click shut behind him. hyuck's heart dropped a whole metre at that sound. the darkness re-encased the room, though this time he didn't have a blindfold to worry about.

what have i done? he then questioned, crying in pain as he continued to try and rip his hands from the warmed metal. the blood poked through the graze marks and tried to flood down his bare arms. it was all very hopeless at this stage. i don't deserve this.

the rest of that night had been rough. no sleep. no dreams. no helpful thoughts; just hurtful memories. his gut was twisted with anxiety and grief, but there was nothing he could do. not like this, anyway.

for now, he'd just have to discover what it was he was here for.

>>>>>

a routine was established as about three days moved by. donghyuck was at a loss for a sense of time, but it seemed as though the same two men who visited him the first occasion came once a day. with them they brought food, but not the particularly good type. dry bread, a bit of fruit and strange pills that gave him vitamin d boosts as he had no sunlight exposure.

he'd learned that jeno, the infamous leader, was one of the few alphas around with two alpha parents. he was pure, strong, almost invincible it seemed. the other, jaemin, was simply a beta. why they felt the need to explain themselves and their lives to the male was a mystery to him...but there was definitely an ease present now that hadn't been there initially.

this particular day, however, on the fourth visit...it was only jeno. he trailed in with that all-knowing smirk of his and a tight black shirt taut over his strong chest. his pheromones were quite strong this time, making the omega shiver against the sheets. in fact, the man's attire in general was a bit different — more causal. the black cargo pants were a nice addition.

"good morning, hyuck," he hummed, the door slamming shut behind him from the heaviness. "you look...tired."

"no sleep," the boy admitted quietly before doing as he always did; retracting his legs up towards his chest. it exposed certain areas of himself, yet hid other parts. there was no winning in this situation, really. "where's jaemin?"

the oldest chuckled without much humour, just amusement. "why? you fancy him?"

"what? where did you get that idea?!" donghyuck hurried out, stomach churning with both hunger and anxiety. "i was just—"

"shhh, relax. i'm teasing," the bluette snickered before setting himself down onto the edge of the mattress like he would the other three days, and placing his icy hand over the younger's ankle. "you must learn to ease up."

"how should i?" he sighed, resting his head back against the headboard. the bruising along his wrists and forearms was enough for him to give up fighting the cuffs, for now anyway. "when can i go?"

"so stubborn," the leader yawned and rubbed his eyes wearily. "the answer to that depends on your behaviour, you see. you aren't exactly...cooperating."

"you've kidnapped me!"

"stop the yelling!" jeno hissed, eyes darkening into an intense mahogany colour, abandoning the mocha shade. "it's annoying."

"i-i'm not here to entertain you!" hyuck tried, testing the limits a bit and instantly regretting it. the older growled and grabbed both of his ankles, dragging him down along the old bed and pulling the two limbs to either side of his waist. the sudden jerky movement forced the restraints to cut into the omega's wrists, and he screamed painfully. "ah-ow. please—"

"shut it! you've clearly misinterpreted who's in charge here, who's mafia this is! learn your place!"

donghyuck whimpered, sobbing for the nth time in the past four days. his thighs trembled around jeno's hips, tempting the leader with their soft touch. the blue-haired adult slid his fingertips along them carefully and ended at the hipbones. his grip tightened on the skinny width of them, nails digging into the tender flesh.

"o-ow..." the blonde wept, pushing his waist up to compensate for the burn. "th-that hurts..."

"naughty boys are always trained, understand? your resistance is starting to irritate me, and i refuse to let you out until you've switched your attitude."

what the hell am i supposed to do? hyuck wondered whilst drowning in his own tears. he hated this. he hated all of it. he just wanted to go home, curl up in bed and forget any of this nightmare had ever happened. "why do you want me?" the male then choked out, breath hitching when jeno's face lowered to his chest and his lips left a small, feather-like kiss there.

"that's for me to know and you to find out, lovely. the more you struggle, the longer you stay in confinement. there's an entire new world waiting behind that door over there. don't you want to see it?"

"i..." he tried to respond, but as the older licked along his chest to his collarbone, their groins pressed firmly together in the process, he felt his words evaporate in this throat. he did want to see what was out there. but his weak body wasn't up for the fight.

"all you have to do is submit," jeno whispered, lightly nipping at that sensitive point between the collarbone and the neck and causing the omega to moan involuntarily. he knew exactly how to treat the people he cared for or wanted to to care for...it was just a matter of gaining the same respect and treatment in return.

donghyuck couldn't fall for this though, could he? to submit, as an omega, was to hand over the keys to his life and allow someone else to own it. he was his own person, and his own leader. the young adult didn't need an alpha. "no," he uttered weakly, still tilting his head to the side all the same to grant the man better access.

"your loss," the taller hummed and sat back again, dragging his hands over the other's torso and allowing them to venture under his body and feel his ass. "you're running out of time to agree. i won't keep you here forever...but there's only one way out. you know what i'm talking about."

i wish i didn't, hyuck grimaced and slowly pulled his eyes closed. smelling those pheromones, seeing those eyes and that body as well as hearing the voice of such a fine man was fucking his senses up. he couldn't let this happen.

"be that way," jeno scoffed and got up, beginning his walk towards the exit. "you're not being wise. think of what's best for you instead of defying every suggestion. otherwise, there's a knife with your name on it."

the boy swallowed thickly and flinched when the door slammed shut yet again. he'd never get used to this darkness. he'd never grow accustomed to these living conditions.

he didn't want to join a mafia. not today, not ever.

>>>>>

sometimes he found himself reminiscing. there really wasn't an abundance of activities for one to do while securely strapped to a wooden post in a room of nothing but emptiness. occasionally he considered if this bed had been used during torture, or rape even. but somehow it seemed he'd have been annihilated earlier if it were true.

memories came back every now and then. he assumed a week had gone by already, but donghyuck couldn't be sure. the little apartment he shared in the city with other flatmates caused him to think a lot. about whether they had noticed he'd gone, or if they cared at all. the blonde was exceedingly antisocial at the best of times — an introvert through and through. the room he had shared with a creepy beta was still more appealing than this shithole.

when will my life look up? he pondered, eyes lazily scanning the black ceiling that could well have been white. it was too hard to tell with the light switched off. his nerves were shattered and abused from unwavering stress and worry, and the small touches he'd receive from the gang leader still affected him hugely. it was like his entirety caught alight at the slightest sensation from jeno, and it was so embarrassing.

whispering sounded from beyond the walls encompassing him. murmurs and slight giggles. donghyuck used all the willpower and strength he could muster to inch up the bed again and sit stiffly, wondering if now would be his daily visit. jeno came alone more often than not lately, but there were definitely multiple voices out there. what's taking so long?

a scratch or two sounded against the door, and the knob was twisted open slowly but surely, the whole thing groaning on its rusted hinges. "j-jeno?" donghyuck squeaked, hungry as hell and more than ready for some food.

"he's so pretty," someone whispered, although not a recognisable voice. the omega stiffened in his place as his nose twitched and sniffed the air. that smell...it was way too familiar.

"shhh, jen will here us," a more familiar voice then echoed, and in stepped none other than jaemin. the blonde had only seen him two visits ago, but it felt far longer. "hello lovely."

"j-jaemin?" he gushed hoarsely, sitting up more and shaking his handcuffs. "are you—?"

"please keep it down," the white-haired boy insisted before opening the door further and switching the light on. it was as dim as ever, but still shedded enough of a golden glow for visibility enhancement. "he's asleep...he'll punish me for visiting you alone."

"jeno will?"

"mhm." jaemin gracefully entered fully and exposed his look for the day. utterly stunning visuals sent a dull ache to the pit of donghyuck's stomach, like he craved something. the attire in itself was that of asian fusion it seemed.

the younger had a cropped top on, but it was korean slanted in that it had to be wrapped around the upper half of his torso and tied in a loose knot to the side. the sleeves were incredibly long and flared, falling far beyond his hands and closer to his mid-thighs. it was baby-pink and white, pulled together with low-waisted leather pants. the endearing naval piercings decorating his bellybutton were so pretty, glittering atop his toned but flat tummy.

will i look like that if i hang around? the boy wondered, gulping a gathering of saliva down and clearing his throat. "what are you doing here then?"

"introducing you to a certain someone. come on in," he turned around and peeped his head out the door for another person. when he pulled back, however, he sighed with a soft frown. "i knew it."

"knew what?"

"that he'd leave. he's too much of a kiss-ass. that guy won't defy jeno even if the consequences killed him."

hyuck nodded weakly but without comprehending what that meant. he didn't really care much either, since he had escaping on his mind. "jaemin...can you please let me go? i'll do anything you want. i can't do this anymore."

"you make it sound like we torture and abuse you, baby. that's not fair either," he chuckled and cautiously crawled up onto the bed after closing the door. his movements caused the scratchy, unchanged bedsheets to crumple and wrinkle. "i won't let you go, so please don't ask."

"god, then why are you here?" he whined, scrunching his nose up in distaste. "i don't understand you people."

"you smell something, don't you?"

"what?"

"i can see it. your little omega nose has been picking up multiple scents this whole time. describe it to an inept beta like me," jaemin requested, caging donghyuck against the sheets and slowly examining his form. "our noses are weak compared to alphas and omegas...i want to know."

"i just," he gasped, embarrassed to admit that he quite liked it when the taller's head ducked down and the boy started to kiss at his neck. he didn't suck though, probably avoiding discovery. "i-i can smell an omega..."

"mhm, thought so," the younger muttered as he lowered his hips down and pressed them to hyuck's. the smooth leather against the older's sensitive area had the blonde whimpering out and accidentally grinding up, legs tightening around him. "ugh...you're needy," he giggled cutely.

"p-please..." donghyuck swallowed, panting heavily now and pulling at the cuffs as per usual. "feels...feels funny."

"you must be so close to your cycle, right? jeno's alpha senses have been going crazy, and it's not over renjun."

"who...ngh," he moaned and pushed his chest up as jaemin nipped at the tender skin. "who's he?"

"the omega you can detect. a real beauty...much like you."

"there's another one?"

"only one more, though. your kind are very difficult to come by, hm?"

the older sighed airily as jaemin rocked his hips against his own, creating enough friction for the smaller to grow hard. "i...i can't~"

"i can't do anything for you, love. you need to submit to our master on your own, or else none of this will go away. please consider this a gift, not a burden. life in the harem isn't so bad."

"the what?"

"oh yikes," the white-haired boy nervously chuckled and sat up, refraining from going any further for fear of losing himself for older and defiling him. "that was a secret."

"a harem? that's what i'm supposed to agree to?" donghyuck whined before pressing his thighs together to stop cold air from teasing his length. "sign me out. i'm not an ass waiting to be fucked."

"that's not what this is about—"

"no? then define a harem for me, jaemin. he's probably seduced you too and uses you for sex. wait 'til you get old—"

"shut up! jeno isn't like that!"

"how many of you are there?! five? twenty?"

"you're impossible!" the younger snapped, getting up with complete irritation adorning his face before edging off the bed. "maybe it's best you don't agree. you'll never get along with any of us with an attitude like that."

"well i won't be submitting!"

"fine!"

"fine!"

"na jaemin, where the fuck are you?!" a louder voice suddenly interjected, scaring the shit out of both of them. the younger's eyes widened, lips parting in shock.

"crap, i have to go."

"wait, where—?"

"don't breathe a fucking word," he ordered before sprinting as fast as he could towards the exit and out of the room. donghyuck couldn't believe what the hell was happening and instead flopped back against the pillow and angrily kicked his legs.

"let me out of here!"

the backs of his eyes burned painfully as he stared up at the ceiling again. the sense of hopelessness squeezing his heart only grew each day, and he really didn't know what to do. though a moment of realisation washed over him as his gaze flickered to the lightbulb.

"oh no..." he murmured under his breath, the ginger hue cooling him right to the core.

"well, well, well," the same angry tone as before huffed from the entrance, and the omega shifted up again in a huge panic. "you had a visitor, right? can i assume it was my mischievous vixen of a lover?" jeno sneered.

"you don't understand—"

jaemin whined when his master pulled him closer and into donghyuck's line of vision. his bottom lip was caught between his teeth and due to that, the lip piercing had disappeared inside.

"how annoying," the leader rolled his eyes, and the look in the blonde's orbs reflected that of a meek little lamb without its mother. he had no explanation and no concept of what the punishments around here were like.

"i'm sorry..."

"we didn't do anything!" jaemin insisted, pressing his hand with many rings over his fingers against his master's chest. "come on, i just wanted to see him."

"you've disappointed me. go to the room."

the younger's expression fell from determination to anxiety. "what? jen, you aren't serious—"

"now!"

with that, the beta gritted his teeth and stormed off, peeved beyond belief. however, the newest addition was not so confident in the older's trust. "jeno, i swear nothing happened."

"you have two options right now," he glowered. "interactions and touching with my boys only happens within the harem, and within the bedroom. nobody lays a finger on any of them, even innocent people such as yourself. so, you can face the punishment that comes with being around jaemin alone against my permission; death....or, you can join the harem and learn the new way of life. what will it be?"

"what?! that's ridiculous!"

"i can pull out my catalogue of those who dared to break my number one rule. their deaths weren't sweet or painless, i can assure you."

this is so stupid, the boy thought while poking the wall of his cheek with his tongue. but, the perks of joining this said group seemed to be phenomenal; full time protection, top-quality clothing, and if the others looked anything like jaemin, then perhaps a makeover. was he really going to lose out on much?

and if he agreed, wouldn't this just open up a potential escape route down the line if shit hit the fan? hopefully, anyway.

"tick tock, darling. i have a naughty kitten to train."

"i-i'll do it."

"do what? use your words."

"i'll join the harem. just...just be gentle with me."

jeno's hazel-brown eyes suddenly regressed into that scary mahogany colour again, and those impossibly strong alpha pheromones flooded the room once more. "i see. wise decision, love. you won't regret it."

i hope not...

➳༻❀✿❀༺➳

...to be continued

side note; chapters will probably be updated slowly since i want to keep them long. i'll try my best to keep the content entertaining as the updates will be spaced, so thank you for understanding~

-lily