Chapter 72: A Pretentious Sinner

____________________________________
A/N: Heyyyy! Been a whole while now.

CONTENT WARNING: This chapter contains the following themes so read with caution:
•blood/blood mentions
•murder
•corpses
•gore
•homophobia
•abuse/bullying
•gun violence
•violence
•psychological torture
•trauma
•choking
•stabbing
•slight mention of sexual abuse
•suicidal ideation
•biblical themes/altered interpretation
•violence
•ANGST
•mind distortion
•emeto mention

This chapter is TOUGH.

But do NAWT SKIP (Tae's backstory finally yall)

Song recommendation?
Please blast some audio machine, secession studios, Eurielle, Ursine Vulpine or one of em dramatic classicals

12k treat so uh enjoy?

____________________________________

A shadow had befallen amidst the rejoice of chaos. It drew long, twisting itself to reach out to nooks and crannies in hopes of snuffing it out.

It was stifling.

Taehyung.. despaired.

He listlessly stared at the ceramic fountain erected in the garden.

Shapes didn't distort or move as much as it did before, everything seemingly falling into its rightful place.

It has been days.. Taehyung thinks to himself.

The fountain hasn't changed.

Has it been a month ?

Taehyung can't remember.

He felt like he has been trapped in his confinement for an eternity. Time stretched continuously- on and on, never cutting ties with him.

Unfortunate.

Tiring.

Taehyung catches the last wilted orchid on the bare shrub disintegrate, leaving behind rows of barren dry land, as if early winter had made home- it's deceiving beauty of oranges and reds from before sapped away.

There is a pang in his chest that has been hard to rid himself off.

Every time he thought about it- it felt like somebody was digging a knife in his heart.

Taehyung cannot decide what hurt him more.

Was it his body traitorously giving into pleasure of coercion or was it falling for a stupid lie- that somebody- that Jungkook... of all could possibly... love him.

It was cruel.

Far too cruel than when the Devil robbed him of his consent. It was incredibly humiliating.

Shameful.

Shameful that he'd been hopeful of the man who had brutalised him in every possible way would regain his memory- that he'd regain some semblance of sanity- that he would forgive him just as easily, leaping to embrace him.

Taehyung was beyond distraught.

All while he was rejoicing- the Devil had smiled wickedly behind his back and he had never realised.

Talking him up in ways, the Jungkook he knew used to- touching him in ways, the Jungkook he knew used to-

It was agonising.

Cruel.

To think that he'd speak of such words and demand to know where he'd gone wrong in deceiving him.

To deceive Taehyung- into believing such an obvious lie.

The Jungkook that he knew would have never said those words to begin with... no matter how depraved he was- Taehyung knows, he wouldn't have spilled such words senselessly.

He does not know of his reason- as to why, but Jungkook of the past had restrained himself from it- he had told this himself.

That he could never love.

That he shouldn't for there was a price for it.

So he wouldn't.

He wouldn't.

I can't

The accursed words that Taehyung hated for causing him so much anxiety, aided him to not fall for such an immature joke.

Even if he loved Jungkook, Jungkook could simply never love him.

That was the truth.

That was where his conniving lie fell apart.

Taehyung lets out a humourless chuckle, the pang in his chest expanding.

Taehyung was not hoping for miracles... he has had rejected God, for long enough to not delude himself into thinking he'd be granted with some divine salvation at this point...

But begging for solace in this nightmare- was it too much of him to even hope for? Was it ironic? Was it cowardice?

He had fallen in love with the Devil.

Would the Divine even waste their mercy upon likes who are him?

"Master" a meek voice calls out from behind him. "Your meal is prepared. Would you like to eat now or later?"

Taehyung exhales, his shoulder slumping "can I have it out here?"

"As you wish, master" the voice replied, followed by swishing of robes.

He can hear the soft clinks of ceramics and a low familiar throaty hum that he faintly remembers it as Viri's doing.

On nights he couldn't sleep, tossing and turning- the tune lulled him. Eerie on the first hear, but Taehyung does not lie when he admits it brought him comfort.

A gesture- mercy, that he wasn't alone.

The tray of food and utensils is set down on the wooden platform before him and he cautiously eyes the food.

A bowl of yellow aromatic soup and toasted bread with a platter full of fresh cut fruits and roasted meat. It looked appetising, except for the meat which by far Taehyung had avidly avoided since his confinement.

It just.... didn't look right.

When he'd asked about its source, Leira had simply insisted that he'd need the protein raising more of Taehyung's suspicions but much to his relief she hadn't forced it down his throat either.

He looks at Viri who thrums in energy, her excitement boundless and Taehyung only stares at her in question, tilting his head.

Viri turns to her sister, flesh unravelling around her mouth to show sharp jagged teeth as she clickers and rumbles her throat in a series of sounds, communicating.

"My sister, wishes to tell you that she has perfected the soup and that she wants you to try it first." Leira speaks for her sister, her tone eloquent and soft.

Viri nods, gleeing.

Some more clicks of throat and huffs, Leira continues translating, "she wants me to tell you that it is made of plant."

Taehyung's expression minutely brightens up at that and he wordlessly picks up the spoon, dipping it into the bowl, taking a sip of the soup.

It tasted like peas, squash and carrots, with a hint of aromatic ginger. It wasn't too salty or tangy-  not too thick on the tongue... it was just right. It was warm when it settled in his stomach.

Taehyung placed his spoon down and looked at the twins, who were eagerly waiting for his response.

"It tastes good, thank you."

Viri grins with joy- her smile beyond haunting if it were not for the way she rocked back and forth unable to hold her excitement.

Seeing this, Leira somewhat frowns and grips her sisters hand to cut off her misbehaviour. She then gingerly bows her head "well then Master, we shall take our heave— "

"No wait!" Taehyung calls out, cutting her off "keep me company."

The twins stiffen at that, unsure how to approach the request.

Taehyung who sees this, exhales softly "if.. if there is nothing else to do- but you can leave if you want to."

He watches the girls' expression closely and he almost catches a faint soft smile on Leira's lips that disappears as soon as it surfaces.

"As you wish, Master " she replies and sinks to her knees, sitting properly with her palms flat on her thighs and back straight.

As for Viri, she sits closer to Taehyung with a smile plastered on her thin lips.

It reminded  him of a golden retriever, if that even made sense.

Taehyung quickly shakes the thought away and picks up the spoon, every sip of the soup warmly enveloping him.

"This is done pretty well.. " he mutters and the Demon beside him beams giddily. "This must have been tedious..."

"It is simply our job to ensure you're nourished. Mortal food is surely new to us, but Viri enjoys tasks like that, besides the Garden has all plants of creation, plenty of which can be used as substitute for protein and other necessities." Leira replies without a beat

Taehyung solemnly registers her words.

So she has noticed his aversion to meat.

He looks at them, clearing his throat "are you not going to eat anything?"

Viri responds with a throaty cackle resembling a giggle and Taehyung's eyes flick towards her sister for a translation but finds the demon narrowly glaring at her other half.

Viri hitches a breath and Leira bows her head "forgive my sister for her insolence, but to answer Master's question- we do not eat the way mortals do, nor do we enjoy do we feel the need to imitate the man. The hearth of hell feeds us with enough energy to sustain ourselves."

"The hearth of hell?" Taehyung asks, curious.

Leira nods in affirmation "the hearth of hell found in the depths of the Infinite Hells, realms apart— but on the land of mortals, a poor imitation of it could do a similar job, although now–" she pauses, hesitating a little "the hearth of hell, is wherever our Lord is"

Taehyung's expression crumples at the name.

He looks down at the bowl and stirs the soup.

It was awkward.

The twins were the sole witnesses to everything that happened to him.

They had watched it and cleaned his wounds in the aftermath. They had watched it and stayed by him on cold nights.

They had watched it all.

Taehyung hated it.

Every bit of it.

"Tell me... about Hell." He mutters, without looking up "about Infinite Hells... tell me about your life there."

Leira doesn't respond immediately and Taehyung wonders if he should look up, he'd find her pitying him.

He doesn't want to see it.

A soft sigh reaches his ears and Leira begins, "it is as it's described, a place of filth filled with filthy creatures." She pauses "our life was mundane...as far as I know. My sister and I worked as servant girls at a brothel in Civitas of Daemonum... a city where all sinners unite"

"Did you... have parents?" Taehyung asks, hesitating

"No... I don't think any of us did... there is no such familiarity as to that in the Infinite hells... we are afterall meant to be solitary- fending off for ourselves right away as we open our eyes." Leira replies, smoothing out the creases on her skirt. "We can only exist, as we do. It doesn't matter where we come from or where we go- survival doesn't need a name... doesn't matter how you do it."

"It must have been difficult... to survive- as a child." Taehyung muses and the Demon lowers her sheer white eyes.

"But we are not children... Master.. we are creatures of Infinite Hells. If anything, we are evil as we are and damned to perish. Rightfully so, for we are accomplices of your... disposition"

Taehyung watches the Demon in stunned silence.

Leira bows her head "forgive me, I may have overstepped."

"No- I... I just " Taehyung cuts in quickly, ignoring the pity lathered words " have never liked how that phrase sounded- it's something some people I knew used to say- it sounds unfair that you wouldn't let me decide that for myself"

Leira cocks her head to the right "you wanted to decide for yourself... if our Lord and his demon guard were truly evil as foretold and deserved to perish?"

Not that it's put out in the open, Taehyung feels pathetic.

He chews his bottom lip.

It sounded foolish.

Of course the Devil is evil.

Ofcourse he is Damned.

For all the right reasons.

"Perhaps... there was a time like that." Taehyung mumbled, eyes downcast.

He cannot meet their gaze, ashamed.

He hears a throaty hum, curled fingers sliding against the floor towards him, but not quite touching.

He glances at Viri and finds her sharp white eyes, somewhat glazed.

"I... Master— it slipped my mind... but there is a relation of familiarity of sorts that exists in hell beyond all odds" Leira exhales, her fingers curling over the fabric of her skirt.

Viri snaps her gaze at her sister, eyes seemingly alarmed.

"A Queen... " she continues "the one who surpasses all trials and tribulations in their paths- shall be crowned as the rightful Queen of Infinity Hells... for a land where no union between two particular beings exist- this unison, of the King and His Queen, is the closest we will be to salvation and atonement than we have ever been."

"The ultimate unison, a contract beyond flesh and bones, beyond blood rituals, beyond anything that has ever been created and that's yet to fruit..." she pauses, lifting her gaze to meet Taehyung's perplexed ones

"...my sister and I- we've walked in Infinite Hells for all our lives... for as long as I can remember... and for being allowed so, to exist freely such that I could keep my sister by my side— my loyalty, gratitude and perseverance ultimately rests within our Lord, the King." She folds her fingers together, placing them flat on the ground. Her eyes bright, with determination. "But for the days that I have watched over you, along with my sister— I can only hope..." she bows her head diligently

"... pray... that you pass all the tests. That you Master... are the one to bring us salvation"

Taehyung feels discomfort swirl in his chest.

Again with that, same as how Jimin begged him.

Survive... you have to survive.

To pass the tests.

To be their salvation.

He watches the twins bowing before him in melancholic silence.

He is not someone who can bring salvation.

He has lost many- broken too many things beyond repair.

But he cannot find himself to fault the twins, as they tremble before him in complete servitude.

How can he assure anybody else that he could bring them salvation when he has never hoped for his own salvation ?

Taehyung averts his gaze, pained.

**********

"This is NOT working! How many times do I have to tell you?!?" A snarl and a scuffle.

"BECAUSE YOURE NOT DOING IT RIGHT!" The warrior yelled back.

"OH SO YOURE GOING TO TEACH ME NOW?! GO AHEAD AND KNOCK YOURSELF OUT THEN BAEL!" The brunette Silver Angel snapped, angered.

"YOU IGNORANT—"

"Bael! Namuel! Quit it both of you!" A feminine voice thundered, angrily "as if we haven't already had enough deaths of our siblings. Go ahead and kill each other if that would make you feel any better! What good is left anyway? Prove that we're the same as Demons and hellions! Go on!"

The two Silver Angels in the scuffle stare at each other intently and then reluctantly part ways, moving over to the other side.

Katya, the mediator sighs in frustration.

The tension was high in the air.

It was the 5th day of their confinement.

No visitor had graced them since the Demon guard's visit and it kept each and every one of them on an edge.

Katya warily glances at the heap of ruffled orange-white feathers everybody has been avidly avoiding. The atmosphere bled ominously around the figure, deterring the rest from approaching.

Katya and the others were huddled to one side of their prison, whilst the other half of the room was taken up by the unmoving Guardian and their young orange-haired sibling who had transitioned into something... unforeseen.

Katya grimaces watching Jeongin's back, his temperament clearly deteriorated as he dug his fingers into the dirt under them, clawing at it in slow mechanical movement.

It was unnerving to say it at the least.

Jeongin was sweet and kind, in their memory. A sunshine of sorts— yet he was reduced to what he was at the moment.

A creature void of any trace of what it was before.

Even as a trained warrior, she found it hard to look into her brother's fierce crazed eyes.

She tears her gaze away and looks at the Guardian instead who hadn't moved nor given them an instruction.

They had lost Yinan.

They lost Kiwoo too.

What was left of the warriors now isn't enough to overthrow the madness that had festered into mortal soil.

Katya can't help but worry, fear.

They had no way to contact the outside or the Silver Gates. With no sources to calculate the extent of bloodbath outside or draw a solid plan B, they were stumped without hope, slowly succumbing to lashing out at each other.

Being far more younger than the Guardian- like the rest, she found it difficult to approach him. It was always Yinan who took that lead- Kiwoo... too.

And they were.... gone.

It brought them no solace.

Being driven to a brink of insanity, of having to do nothing— Katya couldn't help but wonder if this was the end.

It wasn't that she didn't trust their Guardian-

She couldn't afford to not trust him....

The Guardian was all that they had.

She walks over to the man sitting amicably with his back against the wall, his restraints untouched.

She kneels before him, sitting on her heels.

"Brother... the others- we are restless.... Tell us... what we should do." She pleads, her voice filled with uncertainty.

The Guardian opens his eyes for the first time in two days, his irises haunting gold .

"We wait." He replies.

Katya lowers her gaze, her hands curling into fists over her armour.

"We are not doing well.. brother. The miasma has... been affecting us. If we stay here any longer- I fear– something will go wrong ..." she grits through her teeth, pouring her honest thoughts but still afraid to meet the Guardian's eyes.

There is silence and Katya suddenly feels being pinned by many eyes.

"It is not the miasma..." the Guardian replies "impatience will do no good"

Katya flushes at that in embarrassment and looks up, pleading "I apologise, but I haven't- couldn't be at rest when- I can't help but worry. We lost two of us.. and I just–" she pauses glancing over to the other isolated Silver Angel

The Guardian follows her gaze and watches the young angel.

More silence descends against the faint scratches of pristine fingers in dirt.

Katya looks back over to the Guardian and feels remorse engulf her chest as she catches his saddened expression.

The Guardian sighs.

"Jeongin" he calls out.

The scraping stops.

"Come here."

Another beat of silence and the heap of ruffled feathers folds back neatly. The young Silver Angel stands and turns to face the Guardian, his hair all mussed up with grime and dirt.

Katya swallows the shock down her throat as the rest watch grimly at the oozing unbridled blood lust in their youngest's eyes.

A haunting golden that almost matched the Guardian's own tame eyes.

The silver angel dropped to his knees before Namjoon, in servitude and the Guardian outstretched his hands pushing against his restraints.

Without another sound, the young silver angel put his dirtied palms over the Guardian's clean wide ones.

They don't speak.

Nor does anyone else.

Namjoon dutifully pushes the dirt off the Silver Angel's fingers, dirtying his own while at it.

It takes a while, to get through the nail beds and the crevices between the soft slender fingers.

But the time the Guardian is almost done, the young angel's hands are trembling.

His shoulders are shaking too.

Namjoon warmly grips his young brother's hands, his own stained brown ones matted with residuals

"It is not your fault." Namjoon assures, his eyes downcast.

"Whatever happens... is of our Lord Almighty, our Father's will. It is not your fault."

The trembling Angel doesn't cry before him- and it feels like a haunting nostalgia.

"Brother... I... feel wrath covet me"

Namjoon has heard that once long before.

An anger he decidedly chose to placate and ignore.

And it was his ignorance... that gave birth to the chaos of today.

Namjoon sighs deeply "Tell me... all that you want to say. I will listen to you"

At that, the young silver angel looks up how meet the Guardian's eyes.

"Why... did our brothers and sisters have to die... if all this time you knew something?"

There's startled gasps in the air and Katya's expression sours immediately. "Jeongin watch what you're saying—"

"I am not speaking to you." The youngling coldly snaps, without casting a glance at the Warrior.

Namjoon narrows his eyes and exhales.

The Guardian is aware of what everyone speaks, a gist of everyone's most innate desire- of how they view him, of what they think about him— the admiration, their suspicion...

To think it would take the youngest to be the bravest was one thing he didn't see coming.

"You ask me... why I didn't kill the Devil, when I had a chance?" Namjoon reiterates his question.

The Guardian thinks about it.

Why couldn't he kill Jungkook before?

Why had he clunged onto hope?

He looks into Jeongin's fierce eyes.

"Because I didn't want to." He decides for honesty.

More shocked gasps and startled whispers.

"Why?" Jeongin asks.

"Because he's my brother." Namjoon confesses.

"And even if he was the reason so many of our other siblings died?"

Namjoon looks down at his dirt stained hands.

He remembers the last time his hands were dirtied- he remembers it vividly.

Clawing into the mortal soil, crying and begging under the flame struck skies that the Silver Gates couldn't see him through

He had cried until his throat had gone hoarse.

He had cried until the shores had brought in the sea to envelope the blood stained soil.

He had cried and cried.

That day, where the accursed mortal soil- had swallowed his brother- stealing him away from his dirtied hands.

Namjoon remembers that day. A fresh wound that he could never heal from.

"I... have nothing to say- but to repent." Namjoon whispers . "Of all my mistakes... Jungkook's fate— is the one I regret... the most"

"What... what do you mean by that?" Katya asks, her breath feathered

Namjoon closes his eyes.

It's something not everybody knew.

Except for the elders and higher order Silver Angels.

And Yinan.

"Jungkook- the Devil was not a former warrior.." Namjoon begins a tale untold. "He was a sickly young thing, that I taught despite him being no student of mine."

"I taught him words, the skills and the sword... only because I could.... "

"I taught him everything I could teach.. because I hoped"

Namjoon looks up, his eyes glazed.

"The Devil, was born with the abundance of purpose of which even the Silver Gates couldn't fathom"

"Jungkook... " Namjoon pauses "my brother... was inherently born a healer who could save sinners"

************

Taehyung faintly smiled looking at the frail paper, as the splotches of ink doused through it messily.

Viri cackles in glee regardless and hands him a fresh sheet of paper.

"What? I can't.. I can't draw" Taehyung pushes the paper back, but the handmaiden huffs and returns it to him, nudging the ink stone.

Taehyung sighs, defeated and picks up the brush.

Viri makes a fluttering sound, full of enthusiasm and delves into her own fresh sheet of paper.

Taehyung dazedly draws lines on the paper.

He glances over to the Demon's piece and the handmaiden makes a guttural sound, narrowing her eyes and then proceeds to sit facing away from him, admittedly trying to hide away her artwork.

Taehyung chuckles, amused.

Viri squints her eyes over the shoulder- a faux stern glare. She huffs, gesturing his paper and then goes back to focusing on her own work.

It was serious then.

He pushes the brush in circles, the ink moving with it.

He's not a good artist in any means.

He can't remember the last time he picked up a traditional brush to write let alone paint-

The circles morph, overlapping over each other. Going from nothing into something that invokes a memory.

What is your favorite flower?

What an absurd question.

Taehyung has never had a favorite flower.. and yet it was something both of the Jungkooks demanded to know from him.

Taehyung grimaces at the thought of Jungkook.

He cannot forget his crazed expression when he had gone out of his way to destroy that wilting red orchid before his eyes.

Red orchids weren't even his favorite.

He didn't have a favorite flower.

He only treasured it... because it came from him.

Pathetic.

Taehyung stares at the splotchy attempt of a rose, doused violet black.

How infuriating.

Taehyung didn't have a favorite flower.

"Master, your tea" Leira interrupts his thoughts, placing down a tray with cups and assorted treats.

Taehyung nods, picking up the porcelain cup, his lips pressed against the smooth edge as he sips the mildly sweet flavoured drink, rejuvenating his senses.

"Forgive me for asking, but what is this supposed to be, Master?" Leira asks, her speech refined, yet a lot more lax than it was before.

Taehyung, embarrassed of his skills at art- flushes at the question.

"It's nothing." He mumbles and then looks away, sipping his drink .

He watches her scrutinise his efforts, trying to understand it and Taehyung immediately interjects, clearing his throat.

"Do you like art?"

Leira looks up, eyes wide "a little, Master"

Taehyung hums along "I suppose so does Viri"

Leira peeks to look at her sister, who was hellbent on privacy before the big reveal of her art. The demon handmaiden, snickers, her eyes all playful.

Hearing this, Viri looks over her shoulder and makes another threatening snarl and her sister chuckles, her white eyes crinkling in delight.

Taehyung watches the scene unfold before his eyes in amusement .

Leira was admittedly too closed off when he first met her, yet now she too had grown comfortable to show this playful side of her.

Taehyung cannot pinpoint his feelings over it.

He watches the demon pick up the spare brush, running delicate strokes of ink across the white sheet.

Taehyung averts his eyes, going back to grinding the ink stone.

He tries not to glance at either of their works.

Taehyung does not think of anything, as he sips his tea and nibbles on some sweet treats.

He stays quiet, savouring the silence and comfort of his overgrown nightmare.

The evening rays of the faux sun, felt warm to his skin, cascading down the marble of the floor

The curtains billowed under the gentle breeze.

The setting sun was pretty.

Even if the sky was splattered with hues of orange and red... it was pretty.

A small tug at his sleeve distracts his focus. Peering down, he finds Viri's delightful grin.

"Are you done?" He asks and the Demon makes a fluttering sound in her throat, nodding along.

He resits the urge to pet her hair, curling his fingers into a fist.

He glances over at Leira who was sitting up properly, her sheer white eyes pinned onto him, unmoving.

Taehyung looks down at her sheet of paper, that was covered by another fluttering paper- perhaps an attempt to hide it.

Taehyung understands and doesn't prod.

He had felt like hiding his stupid attempt of art too, but had miserably failed at it.

Another impatient tug at his sleeve and Taehyung diverts his attention back to Viri, albeit momentarily displeased but nevertheless- her face brightens just as soon he moves his focus onto her.

"Okay okay I'm watching. Go on" Taehyung prompts and the Demon handmaiden quickly pulls out her sheet of paper, revealing her art.

Well.... It was something.

Taehyung chews the inside of his cheek, trying to understand the chaotic strokes of ink.

It was splattered blue and green, with a castle of some sort with two pillars on its either side.

Taehyung squints his eyes, drawing out a long "oh" in acknowledgment, nodding his head.

Viri sticks her pale finger to the center piece of the castle and then grins, as she lifts it up to point the ceramic finger at him.

Bewildered, Taehyung asks, "is... is that me?"

Viri nods her head, ecstatic.

Taehyung tries not to laugh out loud.

He purses his lips instead and bites back his grin. "Well um- wow... uh yeah now that you pointed it out- I can see it."

Viri clicks her throat, grinning and then points out the supposed identical 'towers' standing beside the 'him'.

"Riiiiii..." she points to her own chest and then to her sister "Irrrrraaaa"

Taehyung blinks.

"Is this.. me... you and Leira?"

Viri hums, nodding her head, rocking back an and forth.

He cannot help but feel touched, his heart squeezing in his chest.

He looks back at the paper with a faint smile hanging on his lips.

It seemed like he was holding their hands on the paper.

It was affectionate, warm even if Taehyung has never held their hands.

Viri leans in close, eager- her white eyes wide and her bangs swishing over her forehead.

Taehyung, lifts his hand in hesitation— unsure but the Demon handmaiden, like iron drawn to magnet, she nudges her head into his palm.

The Demon grins with her eyes closed, purring.

Taehyung chuckles at the sight.

She truly reminded him of an indulgent curious puppy.

He rubs his palm messing up her silky smooth hair- which she paid no mind to, seemingly content. She opened her eyes, despite no iris- nor pupils, they seemed enamoured and large.

Taehyung watched in amazement.

Such a terrifying looking sight, yet Taehyung could no longer find it in himself to ostracise it.

Like a perpetual cycle, he can never learn from.

What purpose is there of rationality in someone who finds beauty in chaos?

Taehyung stills, his lashes fluttering.

"Viri!" A sharp voice cuts and the demon quickly gurgles her throat in protest— which snaps Taehyung out of his thoughts.

He glances upon Leira who had a stormy expression painted on her face.

She narrows her eyes at her twin and Viri reluctantly sits back.

Taehyung comically stares at his hand and then awkwardly puts it down.

He smiles sheepishly at Viri who grins at him and Leira simply releases an exasperated sigh— hearing which  her mischievous twin begins to cackle.

Taehyung chuckles too, amused.

"Oh look how lovely—"

Taehyung's pupils constrict in alarm and fear hearing the voice behind him.

Leira and Viri are quick on their feet, encircling him protectively.

Taehyung peers over his shoulder- knuckles white.

"While I was thinking you might have been ripped apart already leaving nothing for me to scourge- but it seems you're doing well and good" the hooded figure mocks.

Taehyung's chest palpitates, fear of an unknown source coursing through his veins as the figure sheds his cloak.

Viri bares her teeth, her sharp claws drawn out.

"Looks like you've even managed to smitten these mongrels" the figure sneers- eyes flaring red.

Taehyung's face pales, a phantom pain shoots down his head like a lightning bolt.

"You..."

"Yes me, I hope you've not forgotten." The Demon chuckles, drawing his hands apart "you have no idea how long I've been meaning to meet you again-"

He steps forward and a sharp slice cuts through air- prompting the demon to stop.

Leira watches in cold silence, her eyes dazzlingly bright while her sharp claws ooze obsidian.

"Do not step any further, Hyunho" the Demon handmaiden warns.

Hyunho snickers "you and your mute twin are no match to me bitch."

Leira's gaze hardens.

"State your purpose." She demands, her chin high.

"Nothing that has to do with you. My business is with the mortal. So, do step aside, while I'm being nice"

Leira narrows her eyes, glaring sharply at the Demon.

"Did our Lord send you?"

Hyunho sneers at the question "aren't you quite chatty for one of two? What if I tell you, yes ?"

Leira purses her lips, her claws clinking against each other as she steps forward to completely block off Taehyung from the intruder's line of sight.

"Then that'd be a lie" Leira spits venomously.

Hyunho laughs, unabashed as he shrugs in nonchalance.

"Correct." Hyunho agrees and with a swift movement he prowls forward, sending Leira flying away.

Viri gnashes her teeth and charges forth, only to meet the same fate as her sister.

Taehyung who watches all of it happen before his eyes, can only stare- horror stricken, his limbs refusing to move.

His arm is seized with a vice like grip, his face mere centimetres apart from the Demon's who stares at him with his crazed red irises.

Panic rushes into Taehyung like a raging waterfall, his struggle fruitless. He glances to his left, watching Leira scramble out of the rubble of bricks and dust-filled distortion- her eyes laced with a sense of urgency Taehyung has never seen.

Her mouth moves- but Taehyung can't hear anything.

His chin is gripped tight, his face pulled back to gaze into those awful shade of red once more.

"There is no use in begging for help. I've awaited and scorned you long before you were even born, Kim Taehyung, son of a sinner"

Taehyung's eyes widen at the words.

"Eons long of torture, I bled and suffered through- for this day, to hold your conscious mind in my hands"

Taehyung trembles, watching the Demon's skin move and devolve, as flesh surfaces with numerous sets of blue coloured gems pop up on the arm he was trapped under.

The blue gems move, shaking and screeching on its own violation as they all fixate upon him like numerous blue eyes.

Its shade familiar— an eeiry close resemblance to Dr.Min's own precious ones.

"The Descent to pits may not always give rise to a being as supreme as my Lord who can command the Infinity Hells— but that doesn't mean, I'm incapable of retuning without knowledge... tell me, do you appreciate my knowledge?"

Taehyung squirms under the grip of his hand.

"LET GO OF ME!" Taehyung yells and the grip on his chin tightens.

"You lousy whore for a man, you are in no position to command me–" the Demon snaps his teeth and wrenches his chin aside.

Taehyung watches as ink pools into the corner of his vision, sallowing him.

He free falls through the ground, his throat running dry. The demon only peers at him from above, standing aloof with a menacing grin on his lips.

"May you suffer pain unlike any other. See you on the other side"

Taehyung's sight on the Demon blackens out completely, sparks of electric blue rippling across his skin in a harsh current and nicking him in places.

He keeps falling further into the abyss, his limbs flailing for support but he can catch onto nothing.

He grits his teeth and flips himself over to catch a better perception of the sinkhole he was trapped in, yet it doesn't aid him in any way.

His vision is limited, except for the electric blue zaps of current that  weee smothering him in his proximity.

The wind blows faster, his robes fluttering in the air whilst his skin tingles under the sensation of the needle thin air.

The cogs in his mind spin- preparing him mentally, yet he doesn't see the flat wall at the bottom he pierces through—

His body rattles at the impact, sharp pain shooting up his spine. He cannot bite back his pain, so he screams.

"Kim Taehyung!"

His eyelids fling open and he winces under the bright light, his vision splattered with black dots and his mind equally- if not, perhaps more dazed.

"Taehyungie!" The voice calls again with a couple of snap of fingers.

Taehyung squints his eyes open and looks at the girl.

"....Areum?"

"Yes it's me! I said do you wanna go get ice cream later with me?" The girl, clad in her school uniform grins with pink dusting her cheeks.

Taehyung rubs his eyes and sits up, dazed.

"Oh? Ah... no I uh— have something to do" he replies scratching his head.

Meet Dohwa that is...

Taehyung doesn't tell Areum that.

Yet something was amiss- like dejavü, it felt like he's lived through this before.

Areum pouts in disappointment "aw cmon just this once. It will be my treat!"

Taehyung grins cockily, slinging his bag over his shoulder as he stands up "bribing me now eh?"

"If I have to spend time with my friend????  Call that a bribe if you want to!" Areum crosses her arms and looks away.

Taehyung chuckles and ruffles her hair as he passes by her.

"Next time Areum I promise! See ya tomorrow!" He nonchalantly waves his hand, back facing her.

He makes it to the door, his hand inching towards the handle but then a crippling pain shoots into his abdomen.

He feels the warmth of an embrace against his back as his red-rimmed eyes gawk at the blood soaked knife tip protruding out of his stomach.

"If you were a faggot you should've just told me that years before" The sweet voice whispers behind him "do you know how many years I wasted tailing behind you?"

The knife is pulled out and Taehyung staggers to his knees, breathing harshly as pain wrecks him through and through. He glances behind, blood draining his face as he catches the deranged expression on Areum's face.

Her hair haphazard and her eyes, a spark of red and blue, turning deep purple that seemed clouded. A long psychotic grin drew across her lips.

"You fucking disgust me Taehyung Oppa." She says licking the blood off her thumb and she charged ahead once more.

Taehyung jolts awake, familiar ceiling greeting his eyes.

His limbs have heavy like logs, unmoving.

He lowers his gaze and finds his mother before him, her eyes quite sad.

Taehyung wants to reach out to her and wipe away her tears, but finds himself tied down.

Confusion rapidly spreads through his body.

What the hell is happening?

"We have to do it, don't we?" She speaks into the air.

"We have no choice Heewon-ah" the other voice rattles and Taehyung feels uneasy.

What are they talking about?

Taehyung looks for answers in his parent's faces but they project nothing but guilt and sadness.

"Taehyungie... forgive your eomma and appa okay?" she caresses his face gently and Taehyung chases the warmth of her fingertips.

She smiles sadly, as she wraps her hands around his throat.

Taehyung's eyes widen in panic, feeling the squeeze on his throat tighten, restricting the air supply.

"Eomma should have killed you years ago my dear son" she laughs through her purple infused eyes "don't feel bad okay?"

Taehyung chokes, convulsing in his mother's hands

Blood spurts out of his nose, his mouth hanging ajar for air.

"If only you were normal... believe me my son, eomma wouldn't have to do this— if only you were normal"

Tears cascade down his cheeks. Taehyung claws out against his restraints but his attempts is cut short just as soon his father immobilises his hands.

"Why couldn't you just be fucking normal?" The man wearing his father's skin rasps out loud, sporting the unfamiliar purple shimmer in his eyes, same as his wife.

Taehyung wants to cry out, his heart tearing into bits.

He wants to explain, he wants to make amends—

His father digs his nails into his arms.

Taehyung can't even scream, eye bloodshot and ears ringing.

"Hyunwoo died because of you!"

Taehyung gasps for air as he sits up.

"Ow! What the hell—"

Taehyung looks at his trembling hands. His chest heaves in succession, desperately trying to calm himself down.

"What is wrong with you?" The voice scowls nasally.

Taehyung looks over to the peach-blossom eyed  boy, sitting against the tree trunk with his palm holding his nose.

"I... had a weird nightmare" Taehyung explained.

"Oh? No excuse to knock my head and give me a nosebleed" Dohwa mumbled.

"You... nosebleed?! Are you okay— show me-" Taehyung scrambled towards the boy who gripped his hand, grinning mischievously at him.

"Mm kiss it better to make my pain go away" Dohwa stuck his tongue out.

Taehyung rolled his eyes and laid back down on the boy's lap.

The branches overhead swayed gently to the wind.

The sky was painted in sunset yellow, that was slowly being swallowed up by hues of orange red.

The shade, almost familiar.

"What was your nightmare about?" The boy asks, his fingers gently carding through his hair.

"That..." Taehyung pauses, thinking deeply "I... can't remember" he sighs, fiddling his fingers "it was.. scary— but I don't remember... I don't know if I want to remember"

Dohwa hums in acknowledgement. "If it was something scary... then it's best to leave it forgotten"

Taehyung gives the boy a look and then averts his gaze.

"Tell me what are you going to do after graduation?" Dohwa asks instead.

"Me?" Taehyung muses "I don't know... my parents are insistent on having me take the college entrance exam- perhaps become an ordinary salaryman.... Or maybe I'll go give my military service first and then look for other options..."

"You'll be leaving to the States after graduation, won't you?" Taehyung asks.

Dohwa sighs "yes... my parents want me to study abroad"

Dohwa cups his face "I think I'll miss you the most"

Taehyung scoffs at that, nudging his palm away and sits up right.

"Like hell you will..." Taehyung shakes off the discomfort in his heart "I never expected you to stay with me forever anyway"

Taehyung stares at the palms of his hands.

Why was it all so familiar?

Why does it feel like I've been left behind before?

Anxiety washes over him as he brainstorms.

/I can't /

A hollow whisper brushes past his ears

Who had said that?

Taehyung sighs, turning to face Dohwa but in a swift brutal manoeuvre his face is pushed to the ground, the resonating ache in his skull intensifying.

"How cruel of you to say that Taehyung!" Dohwa sneers into his ears "was all the time we spent together meant nothing for you?"

Taehyung grapples for the upperhand, shocked that Dohwa would even hurt him over such an insignificant matter.

"Dohwa you're hurting me! Quit it!—" Taehyung cries out, nervously

"Shut your mouth Taehyung!" Dohwa snaps, his pupils dilated, swallowing its purple edges "all this months of reckless back and forth, leaving me high and dry and you say this was nothing?"

Taehyung squirms, kicking his legs out in vain when Dohwa lands his idle hand on his backside.

"The least you could have done is got down on your knees just like this and given me a piece of your ass."

Taehyung eyes widen in fear.

"No— no Dohwa! Get off me! Are you mad?! GET OFF ME!"

"Mad? You should meet my mother Taehyung..... if I am mad, then she exceptionally surpasses my levels—" Dohwa grins madly "trust me— I don't want to do this, I really don't want to do this"

"This is all your fault" Dohwa cries out

"You are to blame for everything that happened"

Taehyung cowers in the dark.

His shoulders tremble under his soaked shirt that pressed into his skin.

"Hyaaa... he looks like he's bouta have a seizure..." the voice chides. A pair of shiny expensive shoes click before him on the dirty ground he was kneeling down on.

"Trembling like a little chick hahah do you miss your mother Kim Taehyung?" The voice behind him mocks, landing a harsh kick on his calves making him lose his balance and flop onto the floor.

The electrifying pain zaps him through his entire body and he can only lay there, clutching his leg and grit his teeth to hold back his cries.

I'm  not going to cry.

Not in front  of them.

"Hya Kim Taehyung are you gonna cry?" The shiny shoes click infringed of his face again,it's too nudging into his cheek. "What use is there of you if you're crying right at the start?"

Taehyung swallows the lump in his throat, his eyes brimming with tears of hatred as he watched the girl— Junghye snicker down at him.

"Junghye-ah don't stand too close to that pervert, he can look up your skirt from down there" the other voice drawls .

The girl flicks her long hair to the other side and slowly descents to sit in front of him "looking up a girl's skirt does not give this pervert a boner, catching a glimpse of your boxers probably will"

She laughs, pressing her dainty fingers to her lips.

"Shut the fuck up Junghye. Don't piss me off with that homosexual shit!" The other snaps angrily.

Junghye only snickers, her eyes folding into soft crescents in her delicate face.

"Do you wanna try and see Doyun-ah? We still got time until Cheongwook comes..." she pouts.

"You crazy bitch I told you to keep me out of that homosexual nonsense." Doyun clicks his tongue and goes back to sit in his chair.

"Cmon it will be fun. We can both show him our panties and see which one gets him aroused first! Do you wanna make a bet with me? I bet on you Doyun oppa!" She grins, gesturing her hand comically.

"Crazy bitch do you want me to punch you in the face?" Doyun clicks his tongue, visibly angry.

"Alright alright I was just kidding geez... can't even joke anymore gosh—"

"Don't joke about that it pisses me off" Doyun scoffed, running his hand through his hair

Junghye rolls her eyes "Oh my god alright—"

The door to the shed, slams open and Taehyung winces, dreading.

"Ah! Cheongwook oppa–!" Junghye gleefully calls out, running out to greet the monster disguised human.

Taehyung curls on the ground subconsciously, fear paralyzing him.

"You made it!—" Junghye clings onto the boy, pressing a chaste kiss to his cheek "so– how did it go?"

Cheongwook huffs and then smirks down at her "it was such a pain to smuggle it out but— I managed it"

Junghye squeals, hugging the boy "I can't wait- quickly ah—"

She frowns and clicks her tongue, pulling her phone out. Her eyes cloud with annoyance when she flips it open, groaning out loud "I need to take this. Don't start without me oppa!"

Cheongwook snorts, watching the girl leave their hideout with her phone pressed to her ear.

"Who the fuck does she think she is?" He snickers, shaking his head and then turns to face the boy lying still on the floor.

"Did you kill him without me?" He chuckles into the air.

"Do you think I'm crazy like you?" Doyun scoffs.

Cheongwook snickers and walks upto Taehyung and nudges him with his shoe.

"Sit upright on your own and perhaps I'll try not to break your spine with my shoe" Cheongwook grins lazily, his eyes glazed with madness.

Taehyung contemplates for a second and haggardly, sits upright on his own– straggling all the while.

"See? You should've been born as a dog. You hear orders so well." Cheongwook walks around him, dragging a chair across the dirty floor and props it in front of him and promptly sits down, crossing his legs.

"I saw two male dogs going at each the other day. It fits you so well— haha fucking pervert." Cheongwook sneers at his face and Taehyung grits his teeth. His eyes hidden away by his long overgrown damp hair.

"You know I got you a present today— and I went through so much trouble for it, you should beg and thank me no?" Cheongwook laughs out loud, leaning back into his chair. He pulls outside his bag and pull out a sleek case.

"Say, Kim Taehyung—" he pauses flipping open the case, running his finger across the smooth cold metal which he picks up and presses to Taehyung's forehead "how do you like my present?"

Taehyung trembles under the pressure, aware of the weapon that was pressed to his head.

He cannot fathom how far into depths Cheongwook would go just to torture him— infact he's not willing to put that to a test.

If Cheongwook should pull the trigger, Taehyung knows he's dead.

He doesn't speak, resorting to silence.

He prays.

To whoever that's listening to him.

None of it works.

Taehyung winces

Why is it familiar

His chest hurts.

The door slams open once more, shaking him out his stupor.

"Oppa! I told you to not start without me!" Junghye whines and Cheongwook grins sheepishly, pulling away the gun from Taehyung's forehead.

"Look who I found loitering around outside—" Junghye announces smiling as she leans into the side of the door frame. "Hya Kim Taehyung— why didn't you tell me you brought backup hm?"

Taehyung raises his head at that, confused as to what the girl was implying— but it takes him only a second for terror to seize his heart.

"Hyung?"

The voice is meek, soft— like a quiver of a leaf in the wind.

Taehyung whips his head around to face the door, his dark matted bangs swishing aside.

Eyes wide, his throat dries up as his heart hammers in his chest.

"Hyun... Hyunwoo?"

He watches the first tear cascade down his brother's cheek. And then another.

"HYUNG! HYUNG! WHAT ARE THEY DOING?! WHY ARE YOU ON THE FLOOR?!" The boy cries out, his voice shrill with panic.

Taehyung cannot speak, too choked up.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY HYUNG?! LET HIM GO LET HIM LET HIM GO LET HIM GO!"

Taehyung grits his teeth, unable to stop his own tears.

"HYUNWOO." Taehyung calls out, clenching his eyes shut and the boy stops struggling "Go home. Just go home."

"No.. No.. Hyung—"

"Hyunwoo just listen to your Hyung. Go home. You saw nothing. Just GO home!" Taehyung pleads, voice straining as he falls forward. His bruised knees hurting with every second that passes.

Yet it doesn't compare to what he feels watching Hyunwoo cry, his lips wobbling, his smaller frame trembling.

Taehyung prays.

This was the last place he wanted Hyunwoo to be—

He doesn't want him to witness the life he's been living for months now.

Taehyung despairs.

He doesn't want to disappoint him; the one and only hope that has remained in his pathetic existence.

Taehyung pulls himself together, his tone more desperate and angry "Hyunwoo just go home! Don't throw a tantrum just GO!"

Hyunwoo's expression shatters at that, sniffling he starts to wail and Taehyung's chest feels like it's being ripped open.

"Hyung please—" the boy chokes, wiping his tears "I'm– I'm going to go tell mom– I'm going to— tell her what they're doing to you–"

Taehyung's expression pales.

Stupid child!

"Ah ah— cmon Hyunwoo-ah don't think bad things now. We're all Kim Taehyung's friends!" Junghye intervenes, ruffling the little boy's hair.

"No no you're a liar! Liar! Friends don't do this! You're bullying my Hyung!" Hyunwoo fiercely cries out.

"Bullying?" Junghye chuckles "are you even old enough to know what that means?"

"Hey Kim Taehyung- seems like you've taught your brother a lot of things. Unlike you he's seemed to got his spine" Cheongwook drawls lazily, the chair creaking under his weight.

Cold metal presses into his nape and Taehyung freezes, suddenly remembering the presence of the lethal weapon in the room.

A room where Hyunwoo was right there in it.

Taehyung's throat wobbles, his face pale as a sheet of paper

"Tell that brat to shut his mouth. If word goes out, I'm gonna be shutting it for you—" Cheongwook breathes into his ear "and you don't want me doing that, trust me for that you son of a bitch"

Taehyung grits his teeth. His heart pounds in his chest like a sledgehammer.

Relentless.

"Hyunwoo please please— please just go home. Please— if you love your hyung, then you will not tell anyone what you see here." Taehyung pleads, a sense of urgency drowning his voice.

Hyunwoo squirms in Junghye's hands, desperately trying to free himself from her grip, but to no avail.

"Let me go! Let my hyung go! Let him go! I said let him go!" He protests instead, kicking and lashing out.

Irked at the tantrum, Junghye frowns "are you deaf? Didn't you hear your hyung? He's telling you to shut your mouth- can't even do that? How old are you? Aren't boys your age supposed to respect your elders? Hm?"

Hyunwoo twists and turns and the girl tightens her hold on his collar, forcing him to steady himself against his smaller stature.

Equally annoyed and frustrated, Hyunwoo doesn't take it well and instead sinks his teeth into her arm.

Junghye flinches and screams, shoving down the younger boy on the floor. The impact barely saved by the cushioning of his backpack.

"You dirty rat! How dare you—?!" She screeched, rubbing the teeth indents on her red skin.

Hyunwoo wastes no time and flips back onto his limbs. A worthless attempt to crawl his way over, leaving his sides vulnerable- he almost does, his hands almost reaching out to his brother; while it left him unprepared to the sharp kick that strikes him in his frail ribs.

The young boy lets out a sharp cry, clutching onto his side, heaving and sniffling with every breath he takes in.

Taehyung feels his skin prickle.

Insanity choking him, his fingers tremble with an intense desire to dig his fingers into the girls neck and tear her face open.

Taehyung can no longer hear the whirring of the ventilation in the room, or the clinking of the bulb.

White noise fills his ears, a faint muffled voice booms "HYA JUNGHYE— what the fuck you're taking it too far! Bitch are—"

Something jolts awake inside him for the first time in his entirety, twisting and sinking its claws into his veins.

Unadulterated wrath.

A sensation so raw, a feeling of pure rage.

Adrenaline shoots up his spine and he immediately springs to action, throttling towards his target with a single purpose.

His face must have revealed something among his many intentions, with the way Junghye backs up— her face pale with terror.

But Taehyung was too far gone beyond this point.

Like an incoherent beast that only knows blood in its teeth, Taehyung grapples onto Junghye's legs and yanks her down in a single go.

She lets out another shrill cry, having slammed her head and scrapped her elbows in the scuffle.

His fingers curl into a fist whilst his face embraces a deep shadow under the flicker of the bulb overhead, paralysing the girl underneath him.

He strikes his fist and the girl escapes by a hair's width when Doyun intervenes, holding his arm back from making contact to Junghye's face.

"Ahh! Agh save me! Save me! This psychotic freak! Oppa! Save me!" She cries out, desperately.

"Fuck!— Cheongwook-ah I can't hold him back—!"

Face shrouded with blood lust, Taehyung grabs the girl by her hair with his idle hand and she lets out another scream, crying out for help.

He rocks back, to gain back his momentum and ends up shaking off Doyun off of him who crashes into Cheongwook sitting behind.

Freed of his bounds, he yanks at her hair while she pleads for mercy.

She looks funnily at him.

How pathetic, Taehyung thinks to himself.

Was this the face of someone who has been tormenting him for months?

A sharp click slices the air.

Taehyung has a vague understanding about it, terror rapidly seizing him as he quickly gets off of the girl, scrambling his way towards Hyunwoo who was whimpering in pain on the floor.

"You son of a bitch—! You're really asking for it aren't you?" Cheongwook yells, his voice laced with anger.

Taehyung doesn't stop by to respond

His eyes zeroing on the sole light of his life.

Hyunwoo

Hyunwoo

Hyunwoo.

His mind chants as his hands reach out to his brother.

His arms wrap around the little body, in an attempt to shield him.

Like a slowed recollection of memories he's lived through- he sees it as he falls on his back, the exact moment where his eyes met Cheongwook's

Taehyung swears he sees a monster.

A monster who had no mystical eyes just like him—

He watches it unfold in real time- the monster's gaze that looked oh so fierce morphing into pure fear and terror.

Tinnitus makes him wince, his fingers digging in.

Taehyung has never seen Cheongwook make that face.

Not once.

His trembling fingers turn wet as a strong metallic scent invades his nostrils and the body wrapped in his arms starts losing its warmth.

Silence stuns him first until paranoia wrecks him completely.

His hands scramble to close up the profusely bleeding wound in Hyunwoo's chest.

There's somebody screaming in the background, scuffling and running out.

Taehyung cannot hear them, not over his own incoherent screams.

There's too much blood on his hands.

There's blood everywhere.

He tries to cup the wound, a poor attempt to stop the bleeding.

His chest felt like as if were doused in gasoline and lit on fire.

Taehyung cannot stop screaming.

There is no hint of heartbeat behind his bloodied palms.

Devoid of warmth.

He cries, hugging the corpse of his brother that had long gone cold and limp.

He looks up in desperation— rocking back and forth, he stares at the skies past the moldy ceiling-

"Please please... God please.. please please—"

Taehyung prays.

He begs, in servitude on his knees.

He lays himself bare before the omnipotent—

"Bring him back!— bring him back please no no NO HYUNWOO— please God please God—"

No God replies to him.

Torn with grief and driven to insanity, Taehyung did what many unfortunate men did m.

He rejects God, clutching the corpse of his brother.

There was no God in the confines of those four walls.

No God would have let an innocent child die.

His vision whites out and he heaves a breath.

His stomach empties over on the floor, the sour bitter pungent taste stinging him in the back of the throat.

He coughs and heaves in more air, trying to steady himself on the ground he was kneeling upon.

He blinks away the tears that were blurring his vision. Spotting the swishing robes and laced boots make its way towards him, he inadvertently falls flat on his back, trying to gain his momentum but fails—

His ears ring, the throbbing sensation in his head heightening with every second.

It felt as if someone had dug their fingers inside his skull and tried to rearrange its contents.

Taehyung flinches, his face smothered with sweat and tears, whilst his mouth hung open, drool dripping down his chin.

"Get.. get away from me—" Taehyung rasps "what did you.. what did you do to me?"

The Demon only smiles, insincere "how rude of you... to think I went through all this hassle to deliver my humble greetings to the Queen-to-be"

Taehyung reels in shock, only processing the words.

"You needn't worry yourself, it's only a symbolic title afterall— like a horse with no soldier on it that's set free on the front lines, tragic truly." The Demon grins maliciously, his eyes gleaming red.

A flash of cream fabric zips past, toppling the Demon off his balance, followed by a vicious inhumane snarl.

Taehyung's eyes zero on Viri clawing at the Demon, spraying blood everywhere and his face distorts into a deep sense of worry and fear for the girl.

His mind screams at him to do something about it, but his limbs don't comply.

Frantically, he tries to inch towards her and his sight is blocked off by another set of cream colored robes.

"Master please do not move from here—! Our shortcoming has injured you enough please let me handle this!" Leira sternly cuts him off before he could even put a word in.

With a swift swipe of her hand, she charges towards the wrestling duo- seeing which Hyunho immediately flips into offence, kicking away the handmaiden that was grappling at him and quickly gets backs up on his feet.

Leira is a tad faster and successfully digs her claws into the Demon's neck who spits out blood, his face marred with a flurry of furious expression.

His eyes shine sharp crimson , as he retains himself with faint white threads piecing him together— much to Taehyung's and Leira's own horror.

He lets out a menacing chuckle now that the cat was out of the bag. He seizes Leira by her head and leans in close to her face "if you wanted to kill me that bad, you should've gone for my eyes." He snickers "but oh well— too bad for you, even that wouldn't work on me"

Flesh moves on his hand, giving rise to many cerulean blue eyeballs that shine ominously as the shade of his own crimson eyes flickers in and out between red and blue like lightening.

Taehyung, who sits on the front row seats of this haunting nightmare can only feel terror seize his heart, watching Leira's hands go limp as the blue light encapsulates her—

Her robes billow, her ruffled hair fluttering aimlessly— a faint static breaks the silence, that grew louder by each second; turning into a series of desperate screams.

Leira thrashes violently, crying out and shrieking— the blue light reflecting in her eyes and mouth like hollow chasms.

And amidst all this pain and suffering, the Demon only laughs— his eyes gleaming ecstatically like a child watching their favourite television show.

It was grotesque and sickening.

A sight so terrible that it evokes some things in his mind as he connect the dots.

'They're far more cunning than a fox'

'Wickedness runs in their blood'

Taehyung finally understands, after several rounds of silent denial.

Dr. Min was nothing close to the monster he was perceived as, now that he's watching the horrors that his kind could inflict first hand.

The torture of mind so surreal it leaves you paralysed.

Distorting memories to instil suffering and pain, that's sure to shatter your spirits.

Her screams elicit a ferocious snarl from Viri, who charges once more like moth drawn to flame.

Taehyung can only feel dread watching Leira weakly put her hand up in a frail attempt to dissuade her sister from attacking Hyunho who eagerly turns to her with a face full of amusement, the blood lust in his eyes barely concealed.

Taehyung does not see how it happens, his eyes failing to comprehend.

He only watches Viri fall limply to the ground, unmoving with the top of her skull missing and her brain scattered on the floor.

The Demon lets go off the other twin who dazedly fall on the ground and stares at her sister's corpse, horror-stricken.

Nobody makes a sound.

Not until the Demon steps over the handmaiden's corpse and walks up to Taehyung.

He watches her silently gather Viri in her arms.

Her steady eyes no where to be seen, replaced by an expression so human, it breaks Taehyung's heart.

She cradles her body, her cream robes stained with blood. She sniffles first aided by whimpers that turn into gut-wrenching wail of grief.

"You cry looking at them as if you share blood" Hyunho taunts him, mockery laced to every word that slips out of his mouth.

"Well I suppose— this sight must be too familiar for you"

Taehyung's throat wobbles at that and he looks up with tear-ladened eyes, burning with anger.

"Why are you doing this?" Taehyung asks, trying his hardest to block off Leira's suffering from his ears. "What was the purpose of this?"

"Purpose?" The Demon guffaws "you think I need a purpose to do this? I don't need a purpose, I simply wish to assess the one that has been plaguing me with insight of today for several centuries of my descent to the pits." Hyunho looks down at him, between his lashes "to speak that faceless figure would coalesce into yours..."

"I am disappointed, truly— my Lord can do so much better with a face like his— for he seldom chooses something so distasteful, it's unnerving." Hyunho clicks his tongue and crosses his arms over his chest. "And yet— to see a thing like you still being left alive and well fed.... " he pauses and then sneers "like a cow on standby in a slaughterhouse, that's what you are."

Taehyung's lips quiver "what is that supposed to mean?"

The excitement in the Demon's eyes soars "you don't know?"

Taehyung feels the discomfort in his entire being sways like harsh waves at a rough sea.

"You seriously don't know?!? Hahaha what a fool truly, my Lord is truly wicked— he didn't tell you himself, nor did he let that cripple quack reveal it to you"

A foreboding sensation wraps around him.

"My Lord, the King of the Infinite Hells, will kill you with his own hands"

Taehyung does not move.

Static noise fills in his ears.

He's unsure as to what he was feeling .

Too many emotions rush to his mind all at once, thrown into a storm of denial, sorrow, disbelief.

Calm.

It was all going to end. Atleast, it will end.

Hope.

If dying is what it would take to end this nightmare, Taehyung would take it at this point.

His hands cannot ever move to snap his neck himself, he's too cowardly for that.

If someone could— if it were by the hands he's loved—

"You're least surprised, it's almost like you're hoping someone would kill you" the Demon nitpicks off his expression.

"You're not worthy of dying from my Lord's hands—" he cocks his head, crouching before him. "For a pretentious sinner of you— killing yourself should solve it"

Hyunho doesn't immediately elaborate his words and Taehyung feels his guts twists uncomfortably.

"Isn't it so? For all I've seen inside your head, the thing that fascinates me the most is how you've deluded yourself to an extent to a point you've accepted that as your truth" Hyunho rambles and Taehyung's conscious starts to rove in circles behind his eyeballs.

Hyunho laughs at his face, delighted.

"Still in denial? Even when I can see past your sweetened lies?"

Taehyung jerks away, panic surging inside him "shutup- you don't know what you're talking about!"

Amused, the demon leans in "what part? The fact that you're a conniving piece of trash? Or the fact that you killed your own brother?"

Taehyung's pupils constrict, his fingers dig into his skin, drawing blood.

"Shut... your mouth"

Hyunho grins "The only reason you've been visiting his grave is not because you're grieving, rather it was you who killed him—"

"Shutup"

"—you didn't want to even save him. Infact you wanted to shut him up so bad because he witnessed you at your lowest. How hideous!"

"SHUTUP!"

"—you knew what you were doing when you lunged at him on the ground. You saw the exact moment the other boy held up his gun—

Taehyung opens his eyes, greeted once more by the moldy walls of his torture chamber.

His arms are wrapped around his brother's smaller torso, his body warm.

Voices billow in and out,  full of unprecedented chaos until one taps in over the other—

"You didn't want to save your brother— oh no, you used him like a human shield—"

Taehyung's eyes widen at the words, fear lacing his palms as they tremble in response.

He wants to reject the words by pushing Hyunwoo away, but his hands were seemingly glued against the boy's body.

"And all for what?"

Taehyung looks up, a reflection of his own mirroring him with eyes so insidious— he couldn't fathom it was him.

He looked murderous.

Just as the words bespoke in his ears, he holds up his brother upfront in the range of fire like a shield.

He sees the very moment he locks eyes with Cheongwook. His gaze peeking over Hyunwoo's shoulder just by an inch— a sight devoid of any sense of morality.

"—you didn't want to save him"

Taehyung feels cold suffocate him.

No NO! That's not true!

He watches the him in the reflection pull Hyunwoo up, when the gun sets off.

"You wanted revenge"

He feels his heart crumble as he watches his brother being pierced in his chest.

Taehyung cries out, reaching out to him but goes nowhere.

He's back in his town cemetery, before his brother's heads stone.

"That's why you wanted to hide it away. That's why you left town because you couldn't bear the guilt of killing your own brother. That's why you're ashamed to visit your poor grieving parents. That's why you became a Detective, in the name of bearing torch to your deceased brother's dreams when it was all purely guilt-ridden, a well-kept facade."

Taehyung sinks to his knees, hands clutching his head .

"Thats why you wanted to hide it away even from my Lord? Wasn't it so? Isn't that why you urged him to not look into your past? Are you still ashamed? You should be. Even my Lord, as the Devil himself hasn't killed a sibling of his to this day—"

Taehyung's vision is blurred with tears, the pang in his chest spreading to his limbs- shackling him to the ground.

He wants to cry out and defend himself- say outloud that, that's not what had happened.

That's not what had happened!

I did not want Hyunwoo to die!

I didn't want him to die!

I didn't...

"You say you didn't want him to die, but you killed him nevertheless—"

Taehyung pulls his hands away from his face only to be greeted by blood on them.

He hastily rubs on his clothes, but that only seems to make it worse— sticking to his clothes and climbing up his skin.

The scent of iron was so pungent in the air, that he struggled to breathe.

There was too much blood.

There was too much blood!

The body in his arms was bleeding too much!

"Help! Help! Someone please help!" Taehyung cries out frantically holding onto Hyunwoo.

He pushes back Hyunwoo's hair, pleading for help as he cradled him close to his chest and the boy in his arms turns his face to him, his eyes stark purple.

"Help? You killed me hyung." He speaks monotonously.

Taehyung wails out loud "no no- I did not! Please believe me Hyunwoo-ah I did not—"

"Then why am I dead and you're alive?" The boy asks and Taehyung feels the burn in his chest flare up, his words choked up in his throat.

"If that truly were the case- you'd have died here instead. If not atleast that, you'd have died with me hyung."

Taehyung's lips quiver.

"I can die for you. I can die for you so please— Hyunwoo-ah come back! Please come back! Please I'm begging you— please I need you... eomma appa need you— please I'm sorry! I'm sorry !" Taehyung clutches the boy in desperation, crying out "It was all my fault I'm sorry Hyunwoo please come back! I can't do it without you here! We can't do anything without you! Please I love you please Hyunwoo—"

"Love?" the boy parrots, a flicker of saddened emotion on his otherwise still face "unfortunate for me, your thirst for punishing Cheongwook was deeper than your love for me"

"NO NO ITS NOT LIKE THAT HYUNWOO! PLEASE IM SORRY PLEASE! PLEASE SOMEBODY HELP!" Taehyung yells like an animal that was being ripped apart.

His voice scratchy and raw, as he tries to hold onto his brother's disintegrating body.

"PLEASE HELP ! HELP! SOMEONE HELP HIM! PLEASE!"

He's returned with silence.

"NO NO PLEASE NO SOMEBODY PLEASE PLEASE— AHHH SOMEBODY HELP HIM! IM BEGGING YOU PLEASE!"

"SOMEBODY— PLEASE AHH— PLEASE... please... ahh... somebody... somebody..." His agony reduced to whimpers of defeat.

"Save me... please.. Jungkook.. save me"

Taehyung slumps to the ground on his stomach, exhausted and numb to his surroundings.

His ears feel muffled like stuffed cotton- although he does catch a faint scuffle and a sharp slice that felt like it cut air as something drops on the ground in his line of sight.

Taehyung dazedly squints at it.

An arm.

An arm full of blue jewels.

Taehyung closes his eyes, exhaustion sinking into his bones as the once-familiar warmth cradles him.

The source of warmth lifts him off the ground and Taehyung subconsciously hides his face.

"I didn't...." Taehyung mumbles

He weakly clutches onto the fine fabric "I didn't.. I didn't want Hyunwoo to die..."

There is no immediate response. Not at first, until—

"I know."

Taehyung buries his face into the man's chest, his tears seeping in "I really.. didn't want him to die..."

"I know." He mumbles again.

"I wish I'd have died that day" Taehyung whispers, his fingers curling.

There is no reply.

Taehyung's head meets with the softness of his mattress, his fingers still clutched onto the fine fabric.

He squints his eyes open, unable to see properly under the harsh light.

"I really... didn't want him to die- I really didn't want him to please trust me!— "

A large hand clasps over his eyes, shutting them out.

"I know." The voice sounds nearer, like an inch away from his nose.

"Do you... trust me?" Taehyung pleads, his voice shaking at his final stand, as he's slowly slipping into sleep.

"I do" the voice replies, warm lips pressing to his forehead

"surprisingly so... I do"

___________________

___________________

Authors Note:

Damn.

Oh well.

RIP Viri I guess??????

Lmao...

There's too much happening in this chapter- but I can assure you everyone crazy in this house!
Namjoon (+7)
Jeongin [NEW] (+1)
Leira (+1)
Viri (-1)
Hyunho (=6)
Cheongwook(+1)
Junghye(+1)
Doyun(-1)
Katya[OUT]
rest of the confined warriors[NEW] (+1)
Taehyung(+2) —> [NEW] (+2)
Jungkook (+10) —> [NEW] (-1)

Crying. Lmfaoooo

There's no TBC today cause a bih too tired but I wanna see what yall thoughts on em (esp to what they did in this chap) so spin your own TBC and maybe I'll answer?

Namjoon

Leira

Viri+Leira

Hyunho

H/S bullies

Hyunwoo

Silver angels

Taehyung

Jungkook

Others/

Yeap anywho

Thanks for all the love and patience.

Prolly will not update any time soon cause um uni -related stuff again ;-; but will def try if I've got time <3!

Until next time,

Love
J