tw/cw: murder and blood, sparse sexual content

you chose:
a) fight back

* * *

Wooyoung felt like his hair was going to get ripped from his skull with how tightly Hongjoong held on to it.

"You did a bad, bad thing by coming here." Hongjoong's voice was slurred, incomprehensible. He looked high off something, and the realization filled Wooyoung with an overwhelming sense of dread. Hongjoong wasn't himself right now, so there was no telling what he could do to him once prompted. "You need to learn your place, Woo-young..."

The childish way the older said his name gave Wooyoung chills. He guessed his terrified expression must've been evident, because Hongjoong threw his head back and laughed boisterously, as if this was nothing but some cruel, sick joke.

Ignoring his rapid heartbeat and the nausea in his stomach, Wooyoung took a deep breath and then headbutted Hongjoong straight on the nose. The older man let out a deafening yelp, but Wooyoung didn't wait for him to react.

In an instant he'd raced out of that freezing cold room. His breath came out in frenzied pants, joints contracting painfully due to the sudden force he put on them.

He felt like crying when something latched on to his leg right then, causing him to nearly hit his head on the hard floor.

"Where do you think you're going?" Hongjoong snarled, cackling madly. Wooyoung whimpered in agony as he roughly twisted his leg, a whole new wave of pain slicing through him.

Wooyoung didn't stay still. He attempted kicking the older's face, but Hongjoong stubbornly held on to him.

"Stay still," Hongjoong grinned, wide eyes alight with gratification, "and I might just make this easier on you."

"Let me go you sick fuck!" Wooyoung yelled, thrashing within Hongjoong's strong grip. His heart raced like mad as panic settled in, because he didn't want to die.

Hongjoong didn't listen. He had Wooyoung pinned under him in no time, knees digging harshly into his ribs. Wooyoung tried to punch him anywhere he could, but Hongjoong missed every time, wringing his arms together before they had the chance to cause any damage.

"Let me go!" Wooyoung roared, hot, salty tears rolling down his cheeks. "I did nothing wrong! Let me go!"

"Shut the fuck up," Hongjoong spat, clamping a heavy hand over Wooyoung's mouth. He winced just as the younger proceeded to bite the skin, only to press even harder, almost suffocating him.

"Hwa should've gotten rid of you a long, long time ago," Hongjoong whispered, his tuts meshing with Wooyoung's muffled cries. "You're too...volatile. It's infuriating."

Wooyoung's eyes widened at the pocket knife now dangling inches from his face, sharply glinting in the dark. Fear seized his veins as he continued to wriggle about to free himself, all to no avail.

"But it's clear he won't do anything to you." Hongjoong stared at the knife with a joyous giggle as Wooyoung's eyes overflowed with terror. "So I should just..." the man smiled down at Wooyoung, "do the honours, I guess."

Wooyoung screamed when he felt the icy knife prick his burning neck, causing Hongjoong to heartily chuckle.

"Don't worry, Wooyoung," the man drawled, gaze focused on the younger's writhing body, "this will all be over before you even know it."

Everything happened before Wooyoung had the chance to process it.

One second, he had Hongjoong on top of him, about to cut him up with a knife, and the next he saw the man splayed on the floor, dark red liquid pouring out of his skull. A black haired Seonghwa stood over him, a metal drawer box in his hand that was smeared with what looked a lot like blood. Hongjoong's blood.

A piercing cry tore out of Wooyoung's throat that very second, horrified at the ghastly scene in front of him. This couldn't be fucking happening.

Seonghwa himself looked stupefied, at a loss of words at what he'd just done. He took a step back, the drawer box clattering against the floor.

"Y-You..." Wooyoung's voice had left him. He gulped once Seonghwa's dark, distressed eyes fell on him. Suddenly, he felt as if the real danger had been the man all along. "You killed H-Hongjoong..."

"Wooyoung," Seonghwa began, his voice cracking. He paused like he needed a second to steady himself. "Wooyoung..."

"You killed him!" Wooyoung exclaimed. He tried to stand up and leave, but his sore limbs made moving all the more difficult. He resorted to crawling away. "You murdered him. You murdered your friend!"

"Please, I -- " tears built up in Seonghwa's eyes. "I didn't mean to." He pointed an accusing finger at Hongjoong's dead body. "He -- he tried to harm you, Wooyoung. I-I couldn't let that happen. I couldn't -- "

"Just shut up!" Wooyoung slammed his hands over his ears to rid them of the older's incessant blubbering. "Shut up, shut up, shut up!"

Seonghwa dropped to his knees, apologies spewing left and right out of his lips. "I'm so sorry, Wooyoung. Please, please forgive me."

"You're a fucking psycho," Wooyoung seethed, his anger and frustration rising through the roof at the utterly broken look on Seonghwa's face because of his words. "You're a stupid, insane piece of shit that deserves to die! Go die goddammit!"

"I'm so sorry," Seonghwa bawled into his hands, the sound too excruciating to bear. His face was pink and eyes bloodshot, lips trembling with more and more rushed apologies. "Forgive me, please. I-I did it for you. I didn't want you to die. P-Please understand that, Wooyoung."

Wooyoung gritted his teeth together, realizing he was crying too. "I hate you. I hate you so much! Leave me alone!"

"Wooyoung, please," Seonghwa wept, dragging himself closer to him. He held on to his wrists, slippery blood sticking to them.

"Let go!" Wooyoung yelled, shell-shocked at the older's sudden closeness. He smacked his hands off, only for Seonghwa to grab his wrists again.

The man looked absolutely petrified, lost, like he didn't know what to do anymore. The poignant sorrow in his eyes drove Wooyoung crazy. "Wooyoung, I need you, please. I need you in my life. I can't live without you. I can't -- I'll die. Please."

"Then die," Wooyoung replied. A vicious sense of comfort fluttered in his chest at the despair in Seonghwa's eyes. "It'll make me the happiest person in the entire fucking world."

"You don't mean that." Seonghwa kept shedding tears, kept choking up on his words like a big baby. It was disgustingly pitiful. "Don't leave me, Wooyoung. I don't know what I'd do -- what I'd do without you."

"Please don't leave me," he repeated, fisting Wooyoung's shirt and burying his head on his chest, and all the younger could do was look at Hongjoong's motionless corpse in the distance. "I-I love you."

"Shut the hell up," Wooyoung commanded. The nefarious undertone to his voice frightened him, as it was one he'd never heard before. "You're incapable of loving anyone. You're nothing but an idiotic, lowlife murderer."

Seonghwa's tears were now soaking through his shirt, wetting his body, and it infuriated him. He gripped the man's dark hair, tugging harshly at it. He had Seonghwa's face bared in no time, the older still sobbing quietly.

"Go take that knife over there," Wooyoung instructed, tone dark. Seonghwa rubbed his hands together as if asking the younger to spare him. "Didn't you hear me? Go take that fucking knife you son of a bitch!"

Seonghwa stumbled off, grabbing the knife from Hongjoong's limp fingers. His hands shook, lips quivering and eyes lowered as he made his way back to Wooyoung.

Wooyoung eyed the knife dripping with blood, disjointed memories of shattered vases and dead eyes stainting his mind like a kaleidoscope. "Hand it over."

Seonghwa did, gingerly. He was still a crying, emotional mess. "Please, Wooyoung. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to kill Hongjoong. Please forgive me. I'm so sorry."

Wooyoung, at that moment, realized how easy it would've been to give in to his urges and rid Seonghwa of his life once and for all, but something was stopping him. As he looked into the older's pleading eyes, he was suddenly reminded of the times his parents would lock him up in his room, forbidding him from interacting with others in case he'd 'acted out' again. He suddenly remembered all the nights he'd spent sobbing as a result of those vivid nightmares he frequently had, preventing him from getting sleep.

Seonghwa's eyes reminded him of his painful, nostalgic past, and it made his heart ache.

"I'll do anything, Wooyoung. Please don't kill me. I love you, always have." Seonghwa's face was drowned in tears. "E-Ever since I s-saw you. You probably don't remember me then, but it's okay. Because -- because I remember you. I've loved you since then, Wooyoung."

The knife tumbled onto the floor.

Wooyoung felt himself swallow as Seonghwa fell into his embrace, holding him like he wasn't ever planning on letting go.

"I love you so, so much Youngie. You make me so happy. Please don't hate me. I won't survive without you," Seonghwa babbled, sniffling into Wooyoung's chest.

"You...killed someone, Seonghwa," Wooyoung said, despising how shaken up and affected he'd gotten due to the older's tears. "I saw you with my own eyes."

Seonghwa looked up, round eyes displaying clear guilt. "I'm so sorry. I did it for you, Wooyoung. Can't you see?" He lightly cupped his face. "I can do anything for you, anything you want. You're the most important person to me, and no one -- no one else even comes close."

Wooyoung's eyes fell shut as Seonghwa delicately, softly kissed him, savouring the moment. And hell, he wanted to laugh and bawl until he had no tears left at the absurdity of it all, because what was happening to him? He had no idea anymore.

He shuddered, heart soaring when the older man clambered over him, deepening their kiss. The hallway reeked with the repulsive stench of blood, but all that mattered was Seonghwa's hands slithering under his shirt, lips leaving a trail of warm kisses down his collarbone.

He moaned as Seonghwa grinded on him, his jeans tightening at the friction. Teardrops slipped down his eyes just as the older's lips connected with his once more. He loathed himself for loving this.

Something draped over Wooyoung's nose right then, blocking his airways. He tried to pull it off, but a certain drowsiness quickly overcame him. He soon went out like a light.

Seonghwa carried him bridal style down the stairs, only stopping when he spotted San at the bottom.

"What happened?" San's eyes were aghast, anxiously nibbling his lip. His hands were fisted, knuckles stark white. "Why is Wooyoung unconscious?"

"Hongjoong..." Seonghwa brought Wooyoung closer to his chest, "Hongjoong is dead."

San didn't hesitate. He clumsily rushed up the stairs, and the woeful wail that escaped him seconds later was one Seonghwa would never forget.

* * *

- unknown number
stay away from wooyoung

- jongho
what?

- unknown number
he doesn't need you
he despises you and wants you gone

- jongho
excuse me??

- jongho
who the hell are you?

- unknown number
stop talking to wooyoung if you know what's good for you

- jongho
are you one of wooyoung's roommates?
is this some stupid prank or what?

- jongho
because until wooyoung tells me to my face that he doesn't want my company, i'm not listening to some stranger that's too much of a coward to reveal their identity about what i should or shouldn't do with him.

- unknown number
watch your back

- jongho
you know this counts as a threat, right?
i can just report you to the police

- unknown number
leave wooyoung alone or you'll regret it

- jongho
are you park seonghwa??
i'm sure you are

- unknown number
yes i am
what about it?

- jongho
nothing
i just think it's very creepy and strange of you to force me to stay away from wooyoung, who is my friend btw, just because you don't like it

- unknown number
and thats what he'll always be to you.
a friend

- jongho
what are you talking about?

- unknown number
wooyoung loves me.

- unknown number
he kissed me countless times, told me how much he cares about me and how much he needs me in his life

- unknown number
he can't live without me

- unknown number
we have feelings for each other

- unknown number
i know you like him, but he already has me

- unknown number
and he'll continue to have me
there's no room for you
seen

* * *

Wooyoung let out a pleasured moan as Seonghwa slipped out of him and onto the pillows, hair matted with sweat and dazed eyes set on him.

Goosebumps spread over Wooyoung's skin at the loss of contact, and as if Seonghwa had noticed that, he pulled him close, muscled arms wrapped around his bare body.

Wooyoung had woken up a while ago only to find himself on Seonghwa's bed. As soon as the man realized, he'd started with his bullshit lies again, annoying Wooyoung and shoving him further into hopelessness. He felt he was losing control and it was something he greatly feared. Next thing he knew he smashed his lips against Seonghwa's, fingers unbuckling the man's jeans, and everything else that happened after that was a lustful, carnal haze.

"...I loved it," Seonghwa sounded amazed, like he couldn't believe what they'd done. He looked at Wooyoung with so much adoration it made him guilty, even when he knew he had nothing to be guilty about. "I love you."

Wooyoung didn't love him, not even close. He'd only had sex with him for his personal gain, and the realization had his moral compass in shambles. What was he turning into?

Instead of replying, he deeply kissed Seonghwa, rubbing his hands down his body and feeling the older pleasantly shiver and hum into his mouth.

"Wooyoung -- " He groaned roughly, shallow, excited breaths fanning Wooyoung's face as he rolled them over so he was on top, straddling him.

"You want me, right?" Wooyoung didn't know how his voice sounded so direct when his heart was currently racing a mile per minute.

"I want you so bad," Seonghwa whined, his hands running all over his chest and waist. His eyes shimmered with need, staring at Wooyoung like he was precious treasure. His precious treasure.

Wooyoung rocked his hips against his thighs, feeling the older become like putty under him. It rejuvenated Wooyoung in the sickest of ways, and when he clawed his hips, hearing the man whimper in pain and enjoyment, a sly smile stretched over his face.

"What happened to Hongjoong?"

"Youngie -- " Seonghwa gasped as the smaller male grabbed his face, digging his fingers so deep it bruised.

"Where is he?"

Seonghwa moaned as Wooyoung palmed him, eyed squeezing shut at the pressure.

"Open your eyes and tell me where he is."

"He -- " Seonghwa hiccuped just as Wooyoung began sucking his burning skin. "San and Mingi, th...they took him out. B-Buried him. And they haven't returned."

"So they knew you killed him, but did nothing," Wooyoung remarked, Seonghwa panting heavily while he left hickeys all over his jaw. "Answer me."

"They didn't do anything because..." Seonghwa gulped thickly as Wooyoung sank himself on his member, riding him. "Because they l-listen to me. They listen and obey."

"Have you killed others too?" Wooyoung questioned. "Tell me."

"We have."

"And what do you do with their bodies?"

Seonghwa shook his head. "Please, Wooyoung..."

"Answer me!" Wooyoung exclaimed, increasing his pace. "Answer me Seonghwa, or I swear I'll ruin you."

He wiped off the first sign of tears off the older's face, hating how bad he felt for him. "Please, just tell me everything. You said I just needed to ask, remember? You told me you'd do anything for me. Don't you love me?"

"I love you," Seonghwa answered with so much conviction. "Only you."

"Then answer my question."

"W-We cut them up and bury them. Sometimes... we just feel like killing others, and then we go out, bring them here, and kill them all," the older man said. He was out of it, basking in the high Wooyoung's warm body provided.

His breathing stuttered as Wooyoung continued to ride him.

"Good job, baby." Wooyoung kissed his cheek. "Now, tell me what really happened to Yunho and Yeosang."

"Yeosang, he killed himself. And Yunho..." Seonghwa's glazed eyes met his. "I -- I can't -- "

Wooyoung peppered kisses all over his chest. "Tell me what happened to him."

"He and Mingi broke up," Seonghwa hurriedly explained. "They broke up and Yunho left. He didn't want to stay here anymore."

Wooyoung let him go, wondering if the man was telling another lie. He didn't look like he had. "Okay."

Relief flushed over Seonghwa's features. "You believe me?"

"Yeah." Wooyoung got off him, disliking how sweaty and gross he felt down there. He made a move to leave the bed, but was stopped by Seonghwa's hand.

"Where are you going?" The confusion on his face was so apparent it was almost funny.

"To take a shower."

"...Can I come?"

"Only if you show me what's in that freezer."

About forty-five minutes later, Wooyoung allowed Seonghwa to dress him up in one of his favourite shirts, before tugging the man upstairs along with him to see that freezer that Hongjoong had died trying to protect.

And what Wooyoung saw...wasn't what he'd expected.

"Meat," he said, sounding as disappointed as he'd felt.

Seonghwa had his arms around him, chin nestled into the curve of his shoulder. "Yeah. Were you expecting something else?"

Wooyoung did. He'd hoped that freezer had hidden something far more scandalous and horrible so that he'd have something much more tangible to use against Seonghwa, more evidence. But he came up empty.

"Are you afraid of us? Of me?" Seonghwa asked.

Wooyoung pushed out of the older's hold, turning to face him. Now that he looked at Seonghwa more clearly, he could see how unsure and nervous he looked, like a little kid who craved the affection and love he'd never received from his parents. The more he looked, the more he resembled... him, and that was the most terrifying part.

"I'm not," Wooyoung lied. "I just...need some time to process this, that's all."

"I will never harm you. Never," Seonghwa stated, entwining their hands. "As long as you're here with me, you're safe."

"You kill people."

"I'll never kill you, Woo. What I do is what keeps me sane. It makes me feel better, calms me down. It's like finding something you actually love after many, many years of being an outcast and shunned because you're you. I know you've felt that way, Wooyoung. I know you've felt alone, like you didn't fit in or belong anywhere. Your parents always controlled you and never cared about you. Even your friends, they never liked you for you. You've felt like you lost yourself, like there was no one there for you." Seonghwa inhaled a breath, placing Wooyoung's hand on the left side of his chest. "But I am. I won't ever judge you for anything. I love you, Wooyoung. I'll take care of you, give you whatever you want. You won't feel alone ever again."

Wooyoung was speechless, every word resonating with him. He could feel how rapidly Seonghwa's heart raced under his palm. It's beating like this for you.

"My parents," Wooyoung began, "they want me back. I don't wanna go back."

"Then stay with me."

"It's not that simple. They'll start looking for me in no time."

"We can leave this place and go somewhere else, together. Just you and I," Seonghwa replied. "I can't live without you."

Wooyoung's thoughts at that moment highly worried him, because he had no qualms about the older's suggestion. In fact, he'd started to prefer it.

* * *

Jongho's conscience was eating him up alive. Here he was, using schoolwork as his excuse to bail on Wooyoung that weekend just because he was too much of a wimp to confront him after all he'd heard from Park Seonghwa.

Jongho knew there was a possibility that the man was only lying about everything, but he knew in his heart that something was going on between them, despite how much he didn't want to admit it.

He'd seen the marks on Wooyoung's neck that Wednesday night, seen how taken Seonghwa seemed to be with him. He'd introduced himself as his boyfriend, for Christ's sake. Jongho didn't know how he hadn't figured it out sooner.

He raked his hand through his hair as he drove his cousin's car down a lane that showcased a multitude of houses that looked like they'd seen better days.

Jongho continued to drive until he spotted a smaller house at the end of the road, encased by a rusted fence and untended, overgrown grass. Just like she'd described.

He parked at the first available spot he could find, before stepping out and heading towards the house.

Inhaling a deep breath to compose himself, Jongho pushed past the fence and walked up to the door, knocking curtly on it.

A woman opened it, short blond hair laying messily over her head and cigarette perched between her lips. Up close, the resemblance was dangerously uncanny.

"Oh. You're here. Hopefully with the police." It was hard to tell if Seonghwa's sister was joking or not.

"Uh, not exactly," Jongho answered, feeling awkward.

"Come on in," Siyeon grinned, stepping aside to allow him entrance. She plopped the cigarette elsewhere, eyeing him up and down. "So, you wanted to see me about my brother, huh?"

Jongho surveyed the interior of the house, noting how bare and basic everything looked. He cleared his throat. "Well, yes."

He'd managed to successfully contact her through social media, and fortunately, she hadn't said rejected his offer about wanting to meet up. He'd planned to bring Wooyoung along too, only to change his mind because of what Seonghwa had told him.

"Want anything?" Siyeon asked, resting on a battered couch.

"No, thank you. I already ate."

"Then take a seat," Seonghwa's sister said, chuckling at his stiffness. Once Jongho obeyed, she added, "So, what do you want to know about him exactly?"

"Well -- this may sound strange, but I discovered this news thing about Seonghwa and...and his deceased twin."

To his surprise, Siyeon laughed. "Oh, Jaehwa?"

"Yeah."

"I was a hundred percent convinced Seonghwa killed him." The furious way she spat her brother's name made Jongho wince. "But no one wanted to believe me, even when it was clear he did."

"What do you mean?"

Siyeon stood up, telling Jongho to wait as she went inside a room to bring something out. He soon realized it was a set of photos.

"There." Siyeon slapped them on the table. "Look through them. Do you see what I see?"

Jongho observed every picture. Most of them were of Mr and Mrs Park and Siyeon, but a few had Seonghwa and his twin standing together or within a few feet of one another. And even when Siyeon hadn't pointed out who was who, Jongho could still figure out who Seonghwa was from the two of them.

It was all in his eyes.

"Since the start, Seonghwa's always had this...darkness in him," Siyeon continued. "He was always serious, always quiet, and his eyes held no life whatsoever. I was even convinced he was possessed at some point."

"He had trouble making friends too," Siyeon explained. "His only friends were those foster kids he always used to hang out with like, every time. Yunho and Mingi? I think those were their names. He'd almost always sneak out of the house at night and go spend time with them like it was his last day on earth."

"Oh." Jongho racked his brain for what else to say. "Did he have any...obsessive behaviours?"

The question was very strange, so he half expected Siyeon not to answer him. However, the woman's face lit up, undoubtedly recalling a few memories.

"Well, apart from his nightly escapades with those childhood friends he had, I also spotted him a few times outside KQ prep. It was a middle school for those rich kids back then, and I usually passed it on my way home after finishing my highschool classes. There I'd find him, looking for someone." Siyeon played absently with her hair. "One time I'd pretended to care and asked him who he was always searching for. Said it was some kid by the name of Minyoung. Junyoung? Or was it Wooyoung? I can't really remember."

Jongho's eyes widened as soon as he heard the last name. "Wooyoung?"

"Yeah," Siyeon was still stroking her hair, nonplussed. "Now that I think about it, I think their name was Wooyoung."

"Do you... happen to know his family name?" Jongho questioned, finding it difficult to breathe properly.

Siyeon shook her head. "No, sorry. Did you find something?"

"Not really, no," Jongho said. He stood up, the urge to call Wooyoung more prominent than ever. "I have to go now. Thank you for everything."

Siyeon looked puzzled at his sudden change in behaviour, but she never mentioned anything about it. She also got up to her feet. "You're welcome, I guess. Is everything okay?"

"Yes."

Once Jongho left the house, he dialled Wooyoung's number, cursing out loud when he didn't pick up. He entered Jinah's car and tried again.

Nothing.

Jongho started to drive, a part of him wanting to head to Wooyoung's apartment.

He's not your boyfriend. You don't need to worry about him so much. He can take care of himself, he thought, but he couldn't help it. He didn't want Wooyoung getting hurt.

As if his thoughts were heard, messages popped into his phone right then.

- wooyoungie
hi jongho!

- wooyoungie
i just saw your calls

- wooyoungie
sorry i missed them

- wooyoungie
wanna come over? we can hang out if you want

what does jongho do next?

a) refuse

b) come over

***

a/n: me writing this chapter:

thoughts? can y'all guess whats going on with woo? and,, hwa's a sociopath if you didnt know

and dont come at me. my *smexy times* writing skills are super shittyy it aint my fault