Wooyoung ran through the forest as if chased by the forces of evil. Though what spurred him might be far worse than any devil that could have latched onto him. His fear of what might happen to San if he arrived even a second too late was stifling. It robbed him of the panted breath that escaped his lungs in icy clouds and it had his heart constrict in his chest.

Yeosang was with him, the kindest protector and friend Wooyoung ever had. As they chased between the looming tree trunks and the treacherous thicket, Yeosang didn't doubt for a second whose side he took in this matter that didn't directly concern him.

The crowd of people was far ahead of them. In the time it took the two men to stumble their way through the forest, the angry mob had long since arrived and crowded the castle on the hill with their weapons. The foreboding light of their torches illuminated the night. As if unable to bear the gruesome sight about to unfold at the castle, the stars hid away from it.

Wooyoung willed his legs to run faster. Every bit the snow slowed him seemed enormous, and he wanted to cry because he wouldn't be there on time. Inwardly, he cursed at the entire world in a way he had never done before. He cursed at the townsfolk who so foolishly followed Yunho, cursed Yunho for his selfish arrogance, and cursed himself for not being fast enough.

Behind him, Yeosang panted as he kept up despite his illness. The temperatures wouldn't bode well for his health, but Wooyoung didn't have any room left in his mind to be worried about that. He had to run faster, even faster.

By the time they made it to a clearing at the foot of the hill that cradled the castle, Wooyoung picked up on the noise in the distance. The townsfolk had crowded around the castle as they tried to find a way in. Angry fists hammered at doors and windows, challenging the beast to show its face.

Wooyoung didn't understand why San didn't act. He surely could scare them away with a subtle trick, right? Or had he hidden so they would give up their search? If Wooyoung got there soon, he might be able to convince them that the castle was long abandoned and he had got locked in at his own fault.

However, the wood of the backdoor burst open under the men's brutal hands before he could finish such thoughts. Yunho's triumphant cry echoed through the forest.

"Let's go find the monster! I will have its head!" He called and with him, the cheerful villagers crowded inside.

"No!" Wooyoung yelled, out of breath, but nobody heard him. Their blood lust took every shred of humanity away from them as they followed the warmonger into the castle.

Wooyoung threw a hurried gaze over his shoulder. His feet sunk into the thick layer of snow. Behind him, Yeosang struggled, but he kept up.

"Onwards. So far, nothing is lost," he heaved with red cheeks.

More thankful than he had ever been, Wooyoung pushed ahead and scaled the slippery path up the hill. The trees supported him and launched his step as if they, too, were afraid for San.

The villagers raided the castle without regard for what it was. Even outside, the crashing of furniture and vases could be heard as they shattered everything in their blind rage. Wooyoung flinched at every noise, dreading it might be a scream. He hoped the feux follet had hidden well, and that San kept them safe.

After what felt like an eternity, the agitated duo arrived at the open gates. The cast iron was wrung open and thrown aside as not even an open door had stopped Yunho and his evildoers. Even the snow was muddy from the many feet that had crossed it and Wooyoung slipped twice as he hurried to the broken back door.

The kitchen was a mess. Pots that Jongho had stirred in so passionately were dented and strewn over the floor. The doors had been ripped off their cabinets, and San's expensive dishes that had travelled from a far country to be his present lay shattered across the room.

Tears welled in Wooyoung's eyes as he took in the needless cruelty that befell a place holding his precious memories. He gingerly tiptoed over the debris on his way inside. He would help the feux follet clean up once this terror was over.

Yeosang followed silently. Their steps took them through the dining room, which was in a similar state of chaos. The grand table was broken through the middle and the chairs were shattered from being thrown into walls and trampled over. The combined strength of an angry group of people was devastating.

The vase with dried roses Wooyoung had tended to lay in pieces.

In the entrance hall, they caught up with the angry mob. The people had spread out to search the rooms around the lower floor, while Yunho led a few upstairs to search the corridors. The stables, the foyer, and even the ballroom got invaded by the brutal hands of the fools.

Wooyoung came to stand in their midst and roused his voice.

"Stop this, at once!"

A few faces looked up at him, others hesitated. Then, most ignored him to go back to their investigation. Pain ripped Wooyoung's heart further as the painting of San and his family got thrown from the upper gallery and broke on impact with the ground.

"Yunho!" Wooyoung ran up the stairs, for he knew the only one who could stop this turmoil would be him. The call had him halt where the tall man was about to kick in yet another door. His goons took the job for him and filtered inside. All fabrics and books in their way got torn apart, as if the beast they sought was as tiny as a mouse.

This was not about revenge. It was about the brutal nature of man.

"Wooyoung? Who told you- We are here to avenge you. Find the one who did such bad to you and point it out to us. We will punish the monster."

As he lingered, Wooyoung joined his side. Without Yunho's commando, some destruction slowed. Others, Yeosang had to bodily shove aside so they would stop their abuse.

"Nobody did anything to me! You are destroying an empty castle!"

With a coo, Yunho trailed a hand down Wooyoung's cheek. Wooyoung whipped his head aside, unwilling to be touched by him.

"Look how the evil sullied you. You are talking like a madman. Don't worry, Wooyoung. We will banish the villain that haunts you, and then we will speak our prayers to have you cleansed. I will still marry you, even if your mind is in a disarray. Your face is still beautiful."

Despite Wooyoung's dodges, Yunho stepped in to wrap the arm that held his sword around Wooyoung. He pulled him in to leave a kiss on his forehead, even as Wooyoung struggled against him.

When Yunho loosened his grip, Wooyoung shoved him back. His eyes blazed in a fury no villager had seen of him before.

"That's not true! Leave this place at once, or I am the one who you have to fight to get past!"

Yunho looked at him with pitying eyes. Then he turned around.

"Let's go, everyone. There aren't many places left where the vermin can hide."

Cheers of delight answered him as the people blindly followed along. They shouldered past Wooyoung and Yeosang, uncaring of the way they yanked and tugged at them to hold them back.

As the clamouring lot continued their plundering down the eastern corridor, Yeosang caught up with Wooyoung. His clothes were tattered and torn from some brawl, but his eyes remained on alert.

"What now? How can we stop this madness?"

Wooyoung shook his head, helpless. He wanted to cry, but no tears were adequate for his failure.

"I don't know... He can't leave the castle, I can't protect him. I can only hope he hid in the shadows and they will give up soon."

He glanced over Yeosang's shoulder at the irate crowd. When he spotted Yunho nearing the door to the library, he broke out in a run.

"No, not that place!" He shoved through the townsfolk, clawing and elbowing until they staggered aside. He made it in time to slide between Yunho and the room, as he had just pushed open the door. When he glanced between Wooyoung and the abundance of books behind him, his lips pursed.

"Is this what you wasted your time with while we were worried sick about you? Books?"

With his arms stretched out, Wooyoung stood firmly rooted to the ground.

"If you want to destroy it, you will have to kill me first."

Pale and worried, Yeosang's head floated in the tense crowd.

Yunho shook his head at Wooyoung.

"I should burn this place to the ground. You know reading is a waste of time."

When Wooyoung didn't budge, he sighed. Another glance through the library found it empty of any beasts he could imagine. He beckoned the mob to move on.

"I'll leave it because I don't want you to hate me during our entire marriage. I hope you know it's worthless," Yunho said with his haughty arrogance. His sneer carried on to other townspeople that passed Wooyoung.

Relieved, he dropped his defensive pose. At least one thing precious to both him and San he could protect.

His joy quickly turned into horror when he saw Yunho make for the door to San's room. The forbidden room. The one with the hourglass in ice that seemed to be as important to San as his own beating heart.

"No!" Wooyoung's shrill cry startled the crowd. They recoiled while he broke through. The ones who slickly made for the library got withheld by Yeosang, who had picked up a discarded pitchfork and glowered at everyone who came too close to the door.

Wooyoung once more slid between Yunho and a door. This time, Yunho's impatience distorted his features into an ugly snarl.

"What do you think you can achieve by doing this, Wooyoung? Let me have the beast and we are right out of this grimy place that is so important to you."

When Wooyoung replied, he saw his breath in the air.

"You don't even know what you are searching for! You simply destroy everything of worth. Doesn't my opinion matter to you at all? How can you ever make me happy if this is what you do?"

Impatiently, Yunho nudged his shoulder. It was a warning, not yet force, but Wooyoung stood his ground.

"This is your isolation speaking. The beast cast a spell on you and did horrible things. Its death will free you, I promise. You will thank me." He shoved harder. Wooyoung tumbled into the door, but his eyes clenched shut against the pain of the impact.

"I refuse! You are vile and this will make me hate you more than anything! Enter this room and I won't ever marry you. I will hope you choke on your tongue as you sleep."

Yunho halted. His face was uncaring of the grimace on Wooyoung's face as he rubbed his injured shoulder. Instead, austere curiosity painted it.

"So, you're saying that if I leave this cursed place alone and spare the wretched creature, you will marry me? Willingly?"

Wooyoung came up short. He hesitated, his mouth opening and closing. Should he agree just to appease Yunho's rage? He could still run away.

Though San was here. There was no running away from Yunho beyond this place. And he would do the very thing that Yeosang had done. Only that this time, the one to suffer the fate might be less lucky.

"I..."

"I don't expect you to love me, though I hope you can learn that later on. But I will tend to you and make sure you live a fulfilled life. You will have food and warmth wherever you go. I can even take those wretched books for you if that is what you desire. If you promise me your hand right now, we shall leave and prepare for the ceremony instead."

Wooyoung's stomach coiled at the idea. He wanted to throw up, for Yunho cared so little about him and only wished to buy his hand.

However, if such a promise would save San, Wooyoung would do it. He would rather marry Yunho and live their lives apart in yearning than see San get murdered in cold blood.

He lowered his head, shameful. Throughout the years, he had refused Yunho so proudly. The triumphant grin on his lips now shattered Wooyoung's confidence.

"If that's the case, I will do it. I will marry y-"

Icy hands made of black smoke slid through the door and settled over his mouth. Wooyoung didn't scream, for they were so familiar to him, but his heart jumped into his throat.

"He's mine," said an ominous voice, as a white mask on a formless body appeared from the dark of the doorway.

Someone in the crowd screamed, and the sound carried over. As they stumbled back on reflex, the door creaked open to make way for the towering mass of the beast. Its shadows spread to engulf Wooyoung and dragged him towards it.

"Wooyoung!" Yunho called out. He stretched his hand out, but he was too late. The door closed on him as San took him away. When it fell shut and its lock clicked, the agitated crowd remained outside, unable to get to the one they acted to protect and whom they had just lost to the claws of the beast.