Everything had happened so fast that Wooyoung still didn't know how to process the fact that he was speeding away from his personal hell.

The only thing that he could focus on was the pain he was in. All the running and climbing up stairs had not helped his bruised and battered body, and now sitting in the car was making it worse.

But he bit the inside of his cheek and put up with it. He had to.

For Seonghwa.

He glanced over at the older to study the stone-cold look on his face. It was unreadable. Which made sense... He had just risked everything to help Wooyoung escape.

And now they were speeding down some back road with no plan and no place to go. If either of them were caught... Seonghwa might be spared, but Wooyoung knew that Mercer would kill him.

It wouldn't be pleasant either.

Mercer had often talked about all the horrible things he wanted to do to him... Things that made Wooyoung pray he could shoot or stab himself long before they actually happened.

His thoughts strayed to something Mercer had said tonight... Why was he scared about losing Seonghwa? They had always been together.

But more importantly... Why was he scared that Wooyoung had stolen Seonghwa from him again.

None of it made sense.

Wooyoung shifted in his seat a little and pulled off another knife off his body suit and studied it. He had never been allowed to be near a weapon before. He wrapped one finger at a time around the hilt and found he loved the weight of it in his hand.

It felt right.

"Careful with that." Seonghwa said, capturing Wooyoung's attention. He quickly pressed the knife to his thigh again.

"I know."

"Are you ok?" Seonghwa's grip on the steering wheel tightened and his eyes never left the road, but there was a hint of concern in his voice.

"I'm not sure. I'm still... Why did you do that?"

The silence was thick and heavy as he waited for an answer. But he would wait as long as it took, because he needed to know why Seonghwa just gave up everything for him.

Part of his abused mind was worried that this was some kind of trap or sick game Mercer had created just to torment him more. He wouldn't put it past the man.

But the look on Seonghwa's face told him that this was real, and that Seonghwa had just betrayed his own flesh and blood and the most powerful man around.

"Where are we going?" He asked when he received no answer, but once again Seonghwa stayed silent.

The younger let out a little sigh, then shifted in place.

"Here." Seonghwa reached over with one arm and guided Wooyoung so that he was laying down over the center console with his head in Seonghwa's lap facing his stomach.

The relief it brought was almost instantaneous and Wooyoung couldn't help but groan with relief. The console wasn't the most comfortable thing to lay on, but he would take it over the constant burn from his punishment earlier.

Seonghwa surprised him by leaving an arm draped over him in what felt like an attempt to show some kind of comfort. It made him blush a little, but he didn't want to read into it too much.

They drove in silence for several more minutes before Seonghwa let out a long sigh. "I don't know where we are going. Father has eyes everywhere. We should ditch this car as soon as possible."

"Ok." Wooyoung said softly. Even though the situation was awful, he couldn't help but smile ever so slightly. He closed his eyes and moved a little closer to Seonghwa, then reached a hand up to grab onto his shirt.

A weight felt like it was being lifted off his shoulders the further they drove. He almost wished it wasn't the middle of the night so he could see his surroundings. Mostly so he could see if his memories of the outside world were correct... It had been so long since he had been allowed outside.

Before he knew it, Wooyoung was trying his hardest not to give away the tears running from his eyes. He thought he had cried himself dry earlier, but apparently not. So many mixed emotions were running through his head right now and there was no way he could keep them all contained.

Seonghwa must have been able to tell, though, because he tightened his grip on Wooyoung. He still remained silent, but that small gesture meant everything to Wooyoung.

"I have one place we could try." Seonghwa's tone was cold but hesitant as he spoke. "It would be the last place my father would expect me to go, but honestly, it could kill me too. I just... I don't know where else we can go."

"I'll watch your back." Wooyoung tilted his head to look up at the older. "But any place has to be better than back there."

Seonghwa chuckled softly and let his fingers drift back and forth over Wooyoung's back. "As nice as that sounds, do you even know how to use anything I put on you?"

"Well... No." Wooyoung said with a pout. "But it can't be that hard. You stab them with the pointy end and point the gun away from you when pulling the trigger."

"The fact that you just described that to me does not make me feel any better."

Wooyoung could hear the amusement in his voice now and was glad he could lighten the mood. "That was the point. But yes, I know how to use them. Maybe not well, but if I get the chance to practice then I know I'll be ok. Until then, I'll figure it out because I'm not going back there."

"You won't." Seonghwa's fingers stopped moving for a moment, then resumed their gentle touch.

"So where are we going?"

"You'll see soon enough. We are almost there." At his words, Wooyoung started to sit up, but Seonghwa applied pressure with his arm. "Stay."

Wooyoung felt his gut flip a little at the command and he shrunk into himself a little. He bit his lip and closed his eyes once more. There was something about the way Seonghwa was holding him that told him he was going to be ok, but it didn't stop the knot from forming in his stomach.

About fifteen minutes later, Seonghwa tensed and pulled the car over. "I'm going to leave the car here. Come on." He said in a whisper.

Wooyoung nodded and bit back a whimper when he sat up and rotated to get out of the car.

He was surprised to see Seonghwa already there, facing away from him and crouched over. At first, Wooyoung wanted to ask what he was doing, but then a deep flush crossed his face when he realized Seonghwa was offering to carry him. Bit his lip and slowly moved out of the seat so that he could wrap his legs around Seonghwa's waist for the older to hold on to. Then he carefully wrapped his arms around Seonghwa's neck and held on tight while Seonghwa stood.

"Comfortable?"

"Yes, thank you." Wooyoung said before turning to hide his face in the crook of Seonghwa's neck.

The couple moved forward at a cautious pace, with Seonghwa looking around corners before proceeding any further while Wooyoung kept an eye behind them.

Wherever they were, good fortune shined on them because there was no one on the streets.

Seonghwa hurried forward at a quick pace, only slowing when they neared a building semi-hidden in shadows. "I can't believe I'm doing this... Can you walk now?" He tilted to the side to look at Wooyoung.

The younger nodded and slid to the ground. He winced a little at the sudden pain he felt, but he shook it off and put on a brave face.

"Alright, stay close to me." Seonghwa gave one short, harsh sigh, then turned to walk through the front door and into the dimly lit store.

He stopped after taking three steps inside and started to rise his hands up slowly once a gun clicked.

"Get the fuck out of my store."

"Please, I'm not here for the reasons you think." Seonghwa stayed in place. Wooyoung was so scared he didn't move either, he just stared at the Seonghwa's back, hoping it hid him from view.

"Do you really expect me to believe that? Get out! GET OUT!"

"Please." Seonghwa said again. "I know I don't deserve it, but I swear I'm not here to hurt you."

The other person snorted. "Yeah, looking at how many weapons you've got attached to your body I highly doubt that."

Seonghwa looked to the side and his shoulders fell a little. "I know this looks bad, but please..."

The sound of a gun clicking came from the other side of the store and Wooyoung found himself reacting before thinking and he stepped out in front of Seonghwa. "Stop!"

The man in front of him looked at him with wide eyes and lowered the hand gun he was holding. His faded pink hair looked disheveled, but the scowl he quickly adapted sent a jolt of fear through him. "What is this, Seonghwa? Where's your pet dog?"

"Watch it." Seonghwa growled. "Woo, get behind me." Seonghwa tried to pull him back by his shoulder, but Wooyoung refused to budge.

The man raised his gun again and pointed it right at Wooyoung's head. "I'm not going to say it again. Get out of my store. Or I put a bullet in your skull."

"Hongjoong." Seonghwa finally managed to step in front of Wooyoung and held up his hands again. "I'm begging you. Check your cameras, I have no one else with me. I'll give you all my weapons if you want, but please, I need your help."

"Why should I trust you?" Hongjoong moved his hand slightly up to aim at Seonghwa's head. "You're scum, why the hell should I believe anything you say?"

"Because I need your help hiding from my father."

Wooyoung could see that was the last thing Hongjoong expected Seonghwa to say. He looked startled and confused. "Y-Yeah right. I'm not playing with you Seonghwa. Get out."

"I'm serious. You're the only place we couldn't figure out, he would find us anywhere else." Seonghwa let out a small disgruntled sound, then slowly lowered himself onto his knees. "Please Hongjoong. Just until I figure out a next step."

"Damn, I never thought I'd see the day when Prince Seonghwa would be on his knees in front of me." Hongjoong smirked and lowered his gun. "This must be pretty humiliating for you. How does it feel, to be a little bitch at my mercy?"

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Wooyoung said, getting so loud it almost came out as a bark. "You have no idea what we've been through tonight! Are you really so heartless that you can treat someone else like this?"

"Woo, don't." Seonghwa reached up to grab his arm, but Wooyoung ripped it away.

Meanwhile Hongjoong's eyes narrowed and he stuck his tongue out the corner of his mouth while taking Wooyoung in. "Where did he find you?" He arched his eyebrow and crossed his arms.

"That doesn't matter. Are you going to help us or not?"

"No. I will no help him. I will never help him." Hongjoong turned around and stepped behind his counter. "Get out now or I will shoot you."

Wooyoung looked down at Seonghwa and saw the conflict in his eyes. "Please." The older said. "I'll get you whatever you need. Anything. Just hide us. Help us, please." Seonghwa now bent forward to press his forehead to the floor.

It broke Wooyoung's heart to see him in this position and he immediately knelt next to him and placed a hand on his back. "Seonghwa, we can just go... If we keep going maybe we can stay ahead of him."

"You really left?" Hongjoong asked, giving them a wary look.

"Yes." Wooyoung looked at him and noticed Hongjoong's eyes flick down and back up again.

Hongjoong pursed his lips and then let out a string of profanity that had Wooyoung turning his head away from, but then he surprised them by saying, "I'm going to regret this. Get back here, now."

Seonghwa lifted his head off the floor and waited a moment, but with a quick jerk of Hongjoong's head, he scrambled to his feet and grabbed Wooyoung's hand before pulling them into the back room.