last chapter!!

tw: murder, GORE, suicide

you chose:
a) tell seonghwa everything

* * *

"I..." Wooyoung began, trying to find a way to word what he was going to say. At first, keeping quiet about everything seemed like the better option, but Seonghwa would've probably found out about it later on, and Wooyoung wasn't mentally ready for any problems right now. Not when he was already panicking.

"Hmm?" Seonghwa continued driving, but it was clear his primary focus was on Wooyoung. "What is it, Woo?"

"I got -- " Wooyoung ran his fingers multiple times over his hair, a nervous tick. "I got a few texts from Jongho. He said...he said bodies were found miles from here. I-It was on the news and, yeah. Fuck."

He stared at Seonghwa, hoping to see a reaction; see something. But the older man just nodded along, not at all freaked out about their current situation. It annoyed Wooyoung.

"Was it you?" He suddenly questioned, unable to bite back his accusation. "Are those bodies the ones you and the others murdered?"

Seonghwa nodded again. "Yes."

His placid behaviour was driving Wooyoung nuts, highlighting how dreadfully nervous he felt. "Aren't you going to do anything? Do you even care? Why are you so calm, huh?"

Seonghwa's jaw clenched -- his first response for the night. Then he was swerving his car to the right, the speed forcing Wooyoung further into his seat. Before the younger could let out another angered set of words, Seonghwa slammed on the brakes, abruptly stopping the car at the side of the road.

"I'm trying to be calm," Seonghwa retorted. His voice was still husky, still perfectly steady, but Wooyoung had picked up on the slight edge it had. "I want to be calm, for the both of us. Nothing good would come out of us being frightened and alarmed."

Wooyoung faced his lap, realizing his hands had formed tight fists. The aftereffects of his actions -- what he'd done to San -- were starting to catch up to him. He felt like throwing up.

Seonghwa's hands were on his before he registered it, giving it a firm squeeze. Wooyoung guessed it was supposed to be comforting, but all he could feel right now was unbridled anxiety.

"It's gonna be okay."

"I don't want to get caught." Wooyoung's voice was rough and shaky. Emotional. And he hated it, wanted it to be gone. "I've killed people, Seonghwa. I don't want to get caught."

"And so have I," Seonghwa replied. A smile stretched across his face, almost like he was pleased with all this. "I've killed a lot of people, but here I am -- fine. Nothing happened to me, and nothing's gonna happen to me. To us. Alright?"

Wooyoung chewed his lip. With every hurried breath he took, he relived those memories of when he'd killed Yunho and San. They replayed in his head over and over again, and it was horrible.

"Do you feel... guilty?" Seonghwa asked, inquisitive eyes observing his face. They were empty, just like their surroundings, and veiled in darkness. They chilled Wooyoung.

"About what?"

"Everything. About meeting me, about everyone who's died. Do you feel guilt for them?"

The answer pounced on Wooyoung even before he had the chance to verbally formulate it. No, he didn't feel an ounce of guilt. Not really.

"...I don't want to get caught," he repeated again, voice cracking at the end.

"And you won't," Seonghwa concluded. He smiled, twirling and caressing the ends of Wooyoung's hair with his fingers. Wooyoung made sure he kept still. "You have me, remember? I won't let you get hurt."

"What are we going to do now?"

Seonghwa dropped his hand, but after letting his thumb faintly swipe over the smooth skin of Wooyoung's cheek. "Not sure yet."

"Not sure yet?" Wooyoung's eyes widened, the panic bubbling in his chest immediately crashing over him. To his shock, Seonghwa just laughed.

And it wasn't one of those soft chuckles he usually let out, either. It loud and full, reverberating deeply within the confines of the car. He sounded villainous, and it struck horror into Wooyoung's already tumultuous mind.

What the hell was going on?

"Why are you laughing?" Wooyoung asked, fingernails digging so deep into his palm they left painful indents. "Is this funny?"

Seonghwa's laughter decreased, but the harm had already been done. Wooyoung was terrified of him. He placed a hand over his mouth to drown out his giggles.

"I just -- " a rambunctious cackle escaped his lips, "I killed Mingi like, a few hours ago. Poisoned him, actually."

Wooyoung was sure his eyes were like saucers now. "W-What?"

Seonghwa continued to laugh, a few tears spilling out his eyes. They formed wet, shiny streaks down his face. "I killed my best friend because -- because I knew he'd get in the way of us being together."

"What...what do you mean?"

"He's in love with me. Or was in love with me, because he's dead now." The severity of Seonghwa's words clashed insanely with his hearty laughter. It was as if he was cracking some joke instead of recounting how he'd just murdered one of his closest friends. "I knew it for a long time, but, I only wanted you, Wooyoung. Only you."

The dark haired man reached out for Wooyoung's hand, only for the younger to flinch and pull away at the last second. Seonghwa didn't react though, too caught up in himself to notice.

"I did everything for you," Seonghwa continued, his curled lips a remnant of his laughter. "My friends -- I got rid of them, didn't mind sacrificing them to get closer to you. Because you're the most important thing to me. You'll always be."

Wooyoung didn't like what he saw when he looked into Seonghwa's eyes at that moment. He was suddenly reminded of those times in the beginning where he'd been wary and cautious of the older man, feeling like something weird and troubling was going on with him.

And now, that feeling had doubled.

"You and I," Seonghwa grinned like a cunning cat, "we belong together. Don't you agree?"

Wooyoung's palm found the door handle, but before those jittery fingers of his could let himself out, Seonghwa latched on to his arm, his grip nothing short of agonising.

Wooyoung looked up with a wince, pain sparking under his skin. "Let go!"

"You were planning to leave. I saw you," Seonghwa barked, eyes flamed up and voice dripping with acid. "You can't leave. You can't. Not after everything we've been through together!"

"Let me go! Leave me alone -- "

Seonghwa shut him up with a smouldering kiss, all teeth and tongue and resolute, pillowy lips. Wooyoung unwillingly relaxed into his stubborn hold, frustrated tears clinging to his eyelashes.

"You can't go," Seonghwa's voice was like a soothing melody against the younger's trembling skin. "Not when you've already murdered people. No one will take your side once they've found out. The only person you have now is me, no one else. I'm the only one for you, Wooyoung. I'm the only one you need."

You're mad, Wooyoung desperately wanted to exclaim. You're mad and crazy. I wish I'd never met you or any of the others! You've ruined my life!

But he kept his lips sealed, knowing nothing good would've come out of him saying that. The last thing he wanted was dying under the hands of this deranged psychopath.

Wooyoung stiffened as Seonghwa snuggled him in his arms, holding him so close he could almost hear the steadfast thumping of his heart.

"I love you, Youngie." It was a confession Wooyoung had heard many, many times before, but somehow this time around, it made something uncomfortably foreign stir up in his stomach. "And I know you love me too. We've kissed, had sex, held hands more times than I can count. You can't deny it. You can't deny the love we have for each other."

The lump in Wooyoung's throat was too thick to swallow down without it causing him immense discomfort. He fisted Seonghwa's coat, mind racing with a million thoughts.

"Yes, I can't deny it." The words felt like lead on his tongue. Pathetically robotic. "I love you too, Hwa. So much. Please take care of me."

The older's grin broadened, round eyes reflecting off the stark white moon. He looked so giddy, and not once did Wooyoung feel a twinge of guilt. "You really mean it?"

Wooyoung shakily nodded. "Yeah."

Silence clogged the atmosphere, rivalled by his raging thoughts and emotions. He watched as Seonghwa searched through his glove compartment for something, blinking once when he finally saw it.

Seonghwa had opened this small box that continued two rings so golden they still shone in the dark like they were under sunlight. He took the smaller one first, staring fondly at it and then at Wooyoung.

"I...I know it's a bad time, but," Seonghwa cradled Wooyoung's smaller palm in his. His lips twitched with nervousness. "You'd told me that night that you liked rings like these, so I got us couple ones. Aren't they pretty?"

If today were any other day, and if he and Seonghwa had actually had a normal relationship, maybe Wooyoung would've smiled so wide and gushed about how 'cute' and 'romantic' the couple rings were. Maybe he'd even fling his arms over Seonghwa's shoulders, suffocating him with a hug. He'd love the sight of those rings, not feel as sick and disturbed as he was feeling right now.

What had he gotten himself into?

"Yes. Pretty." Even with Wooyoung's tone horribly hollow, Seonghwa slid the smaller ring down his fourth finger, that beaming smile never falling off his face. Wooyoung didn't know how to feel when he saw that the ring was a near perfect fit.

Seonghwa got his own half, placing it over the younger's outstretched hand. "Please, put mine on me. I'd really appreciate it."

Wooyoung wished he could just scream at his face, tell him to start driving so they could get back to that apartment on time and try to plan their way out of this mess, but a single nod was all he could afford. He wasn't in the mood to put up a fight.

After he'd done the same to Seonghwa's ring as Seonghwa had done with his, the older cracked a big smile.

"Feels like we just got engaged, huh?"

Wooyoung nodded again, looking out the window. "Yeah."

"You okay? Are you still thinking about what happened with San?"

Everything, including what he'd revealed about the 'food' you served me. Wooyoung's jaw clenched, knowing he couldn't mention anything about it. At least, not yet. "A little."

Seonghwa placed a hand on top of his, rings identical even to the last detail. The lump in Wooyoung's throat hardened. "It'll be fine, dear. It won't matter in the long run."

That was how he'd gotten away with killing others, Wooyoung realized, because he had no remorse. He wondered if he was just as bad since the only thing he felt was anger that he'd gotten stuck in this situation with Seonghwa, not because he'd killed San tonight.

"Let's go home. You must be tired," Seonghwa spoke, dragging him back to the present.

Wooyoung didn't answer, but as the man drove them to the apartment, he thought a lot about many things, playing out a bunch of scenarios in his mind about how he could get out of this without putting himself in danger.

When he and Seonghwa entered the apartment, Wooyoung was hit with how cold everything felt. Like no one had occupied the place in ages.

"Where's..." His eyes met Seonghwa's, heart stuttering in his chest. "Where's Mingi?"

Seonghwa took off his coat, brows arched amusedly at Wooyoung's question. "Disposed of him."

Wooyoung observed the kitchen and the small livingroom, feeling achingly empty. He remembered all the times he used to hear the others' voices as they bustled about and joked around with each other. "Oh."

He felt Seonghwa behind him, his arms snaking around his hips. "Let's take a shower. I can make something for you afterwards if you're hungry."

Wooyoung shook his head. "I just -- I need to know what we're going to do."

"About what?"

"About those dead bodies the cops found," Wooyoung answered. He was tired, angry and felt like he was making a huge mistake, just like he'd felt on his first night here. Only now, he knew he'd made a huge mistake, one he couldn't reverse no matter how hard he tried.

Seonghwa's sigh made Wooyoung feel like some type of nuisance for even bringing up the topic again. "We won't get caught."

"How are you so sure about that?"

"We won't get caught," Seonghwa repeated, more adamant this time around. He kissed his temple. "You needn't worry, Woo. Nothing will happen to us, I promise."

Wooyoung didn't believe him. Something told him he would have to take matters into his own hands.

Wooyoung didn't say much that night. Didn't say much as he showered with Seonghwa, didn't say much as they landed themselves in his warm bed and under the covers, didn't say much as the older man gradually fell into a deep sleep, showcasing his vulnerability to Wooyoung.

And he certainly didn't say much when he'd tiptoed out of the bedroom and into the kitchen, slipping the first knife he saw into his sweatpants.

He turned to leave when he caught sight of the shadow looming in front of him. Seonghwa.

He pulled out the knife.

Seonghwa was quick in slapping it away from his grasp, but Wooyoung didn't hesitate to scramble for it again, this time securing it in a tight grip.

Seonghwa's dark hair was slightly messy with sleep, black eyes flashing with distant fatigue as they darted between Wooyoung's face and the knife he held. He raised a hand, as if admitting surrender. "Woo, drop that knife. Please."

Images of him killing Yunho in that very kitchen burned into Wooyoung's eyelids, until he could think of nothing else. He remembered the red sea of blood, Yunho's still expression and his mangled, shredded tshirt. It infuriated him. Frightened him.

"Wooyoung," Seonghwa was saying again. The way he said his name made Wooyoung's insides twist with disgust. "Please, put that knife down. Let's go back to sleep."

"No," Wooyoung whispered. He sounded parched, like he hadn't drank anything in a while. He stared at the knife in his hand, noticing with a strange sense of detachment how white his knuckles had turned. "I'm not going back to sleep with you."

"We made a promise, Wooyoung," Seonghwa pressed, voice growing louder. He didn't appear drowsy or half-asleep anymore, he was wide awake now. "You said you'd stay by my side, and that I'd protect you. I love you, please don't do this to me."

Wooyoung didn't want to listen to him. He could see Seonghwa slowly inching closer, probably intending on snatching the knife from him before he could harm him with it. He wouldn't let that happen.

"You need to trust me, Woo. Whatever I do is for your own good. For our own good. I'm the only one on your side here," Seonghwa continued, gaze planted on that knife. "I'm the only one who won't ever judge you for anything. I'm the only one who won't abandon you."

"Shut up!" Wooyoung yelled, charging at him with the knife. It slit clumsily through Seonghwa's forearm, dousing it in bright red.

Seonghwa reacted to the attack much quicker than Wooyoung had expected. In a second, he'd grabbed the weapon, shoving the younger boy against the fridge.

"Stop it," Seonghwa threatened, his husky voice low and commanding. "You better stop it right now."

"Let me go!" Wooyoung shouted, landing a fist to the older's cheekbone. Seonghwa stumbled back, fingers grazing the cut on his cheek with unsettling tenderness.

Wooyoung waited with bated breaths, expecting Seonghwa to lash out -- to do something -- so he'd have an excuse to kill him off without seeming like the bad guy.

Only, Seonghwa stepped closer, gaze lifting from the reddened knife to Wooyoung's shaken eyes. "...Kill me."

"What?" Wooyoung spat incredulously.

"Kill me, Wooyoung," Seonghwa repeated, so close now that their noses nearly bumped. "If you're so sure that's what you want -- that that's the right thing to do -- then do it. I won't stop you."

Wooyoung clenched his jaw, furious at how Seonghwa had managed to manipulate his way into his mind and make him feel dumb for even going ahead with this impulsive plan. His fingers trembled, letting the knife fall to the floor. The dried blood splattered on it made him nauseous.

Seonghwa hugged him, pushing his head to his chest as he muttered praises and assurances that Wooyoung barely paid attention to. He couldn't believe he'd blown his chance of getting rid of the older, but then again, if he killed Seonghwa, wouldn't he be just as bad as him?

You sound just like Seonghwa now. He's rubbed off on you, Wooyoung... Wooyoung squeezed his eyes shut at the thought.

"You just need to trust me, Woo," Seonghwa said, voice soft against the younger's brown hair. "I have a plan."

* * *

Jongho hesitated as he pulled his cousin's car in front of Wooyoung's apartment, contemplating if he should suggest entering the place to help the older boy with his things.

He decided against it, before taking out his phone to dial Wooyoung's number. The older had phoned him earlier that Monday evening after missing a whole day's worth of classes that needed his help with a ride as he was finally moving out of that apartment. And of course, Jongho had been absolutely elated to hear the news, rushing here as soon as he could.

As he waited for Wooyoung to pick up, Jongho spared a glance at the building again. If darkness and unease could be replicated by something, that apartment matched it to a T. It stood before him like some imposing figure, every window absent of light and actual living shadows. It looked like the scene of a horror movie.

The call went through.

"Wooyoung?" Jongho spoke first, rolling down his window. The cold outside air nipped at his nose and cheeks, but it wasn't enough to get annoyed with.

There was a pause on the other line, and then the sound of something being hastily zipped up. "Yes -- yeah. It's me. Wooyoung."

Jongho felt like he'd imagined the hoarseness he'd heard in Wooyoung's voice. "Hey, Woo! I'm outside right now. How are you? Are you okay? Do you need me to come in and help with your bags?"

"Nah," another stiff pause, "I've got it all under control."

"Oh, okay. I'm still waiting outside though."

"Yeah. Thanks."

Wooyoung's words were oddly short. Straight-to-the-point. It worried Jongho, but he convinced himself everything was fine.

He only had to wait a minute before Wooyoung strolled out of the apartment, three suitcases clutched firmly in his gloved hands.

Jongho immediately got out of the car (he truly wanted to help), hugging Wooyoung deeply for a moment before stepping away to really look at him.

And Wooyoung...he didn't look alright. His hair hung over his red-rimmed eyes in loose, damp waves, his beige scarf only covering half of his lips, which noticeably quivered.

"...Are you okay?" Jongho asked, not because he wanted to pry, but because he was actually concerned.

"I'm fine." Wooyoung's words were blank. "Let's go."

"Okay."

It was a bit awkward on their way to the car, mostly because Wooyoung insisted on holding his bags. And Jongho listened, even leaving those suitcases at the backseat like Wooyoung had wanted.

As soon as Jongho started driving, he glanced at Wooyoung, noting how emotionless his face had turned. He wanted to ask how the older was doing, but didn't want to seem like a bother.

"Uh, where are you now going to stay?" Jongho hoped Wooyoung wouldn't get angered by all his questions.

Wooyoung leaned his head against the window, exhales condensing over the clear surface. "...I'm going back to my parents'."

"Oh," the disappointment in Jongho's voice was apparent, even when he'd tried to hide it. "Do they know?"

Wooyoung shrugged, yet another thing he'd done tonight that worried Jongho. "They will when I show up."

Are we still going to keep attending the same university? Will I get to see you again? Will we still be friends? These questions were ones Jongho sincerely wanted to ask, but they died off in his throat, forever unheard. All he could manage was another slow nod.

A few minutes flew by with no chatter, the only sound in the car being the faint tunes playing from the radio.

"Okay -- it's way too early to be playing Christmas carols," Jongho joked to try and ease the atmosphere, but Wooyoung didn't laugh. Not even a small quirk of his lips did he receive.

Jongho didn't know what was going on with Wooyoung, but he didn't like it. Even if it was none of his business. He was so used to the older being his bright, cheerful self that it felt extremely odd seeing how cold and unresponsive he was acting tonight.

He wanted to say something, god he seriously wanted to, but nothing wanted to come out.

"...I'm kinda hungry," Wooyoung muttered after a while.

"Oh -- " Jongho perked up, quickly grabbing the chance to talk to him. "It's no problem. We can go grab something to eat before you go back to your parents'. That is, if you want."

"I'm okay with a snack."

"Then to the convenience store we go."

Fortunately, Wooyoung cracked a smile at that, even if it was a tiny one.

When Jongho parked down the road at the first open one they saw, Wooyoung said he felt too tired to enter and was going to wait for the younger to return with the snacks he bought. Jongho agreed and went in, happy to be of some use to Wooyoung even if was just something small.

As he cashed in the stuff he brought, a horrifying screech penetrated the store. It came from outside. Unable to ignore it, he immediately pushed himself past the many customers that were also leaving the store to see what the commotion was.

A sound Jongho had never heard before escaped his mouth at the sight that befell him.

The door to his cousin's car was ajar, and inside was Wooyoung, a large gash splitting through his neck, thick red blood spurting out of it.

Jongho ran to him before he could think twice about it, shakily cradling the older's body as his blood soaked through his clothing. "W-Woo -- oh my god."

"...I'm s..sorry," Wooyoung rasped, more blood gurgling out his mouth.

People were pointing fingers, talking, shouting, screaming, but Jongho didn't move. He couldn't move, frozen still with shock at how tonight had turned out. Wooyoung was dead, and there was nothing he could do about it. There was nothing he could do about it.

Someone grabbed him then -- hands, yanking him away from Wooyoung's limp body. He yelled bloody murder, but no one was listening. It was all too chaotic -- everything was.

Jongho choked on his tears as the rough gravel scratched his cheek, eyes taking in the first suitcase that had been mercilessly torn apart.

Body parts sealed with thick plastic. Mutilated ones. They decorated the insides of the suitcase like a train-wreck, guts spilling out into the congested road.

Jongho suddenly remembered Wooyoung carrying those bags earlier, and how reluctant he had been to let him take them.

A rabid cry tore out his throat when the second suitcase was zipped open to reveal Seonghwa's head, his glazed over, lifeless eyes boring into his soul.

"Let me go!" Jongho screamed, police sirens blaring through the air. "I didn't do anything! I had nothing to do with this! Let me go!"

Firm hands dragged Jongho to his feet, another one grabbing the piece of paper that'd fallen out of his hoodie pocket. A bunch of locations faced him, scribbled in hangul that looked scarily close to his handwriting.

Wooyoung had put the paper in when they'd hugged.

"I didn't do anything!" He kept yelling, kept trying to convince everyone of his innocence, but no one was listening. They were all too caught up in the gruesome scene in front of them.

"...under arrest...right to remain silent..."

Jongho felt like death would've been a much better fate than being convicted of a crime he didn't commit.

* * *

"I have a plan."

"What plan?"

"We blame the dead bodies on someone else, and once everyone's distracted with that, we can finally leave and be together for as long as we want."

"...But who are we going to use?"

"Maybe that friend of yours. Jongho."

"Jongho?"

"Mhm. He won't see it coming. He trusts you, right?"

"...I guess..."

"Stop worrying, Wooyoung. I killed my friends for you. Surely you can use him for me."

"You truly don't have a heart, do you?"

"Some things are just more important than others. And you're the most important thing to me, Wooyoung. Always will be."

F I N.

* * *

a/n: moral of the story: dont be nice else you'll get framed for murder lmaoo i'm just kidding. overall thoughts??

thank you soooo much for sticking with me through this literal rollercoaster!! i appreciated every comment, every read, every vote! they cheered me up whenever i wasn't feeling the best. you guys are awesome for sure 😍😍

and, just to clear some things up: yes, wooyoung did follow seonghwa's plan because he'd been brainwashed into doing it, and he wanted to rid himself of the burden he felt. he just ended up killing seonghwa and himself too. he had no intention of going back to living with his parents.

also, wooyoung knew jongho's handwriting 'cause he's seen him write things down a couple times. a few readers guessed this already, but wooyoung had intermittent explosive disorder, which caused him to lash out anytime he felt angry or felt his safety being threatened.

and those memories he kept having of blood and broken vases was of him attacking one of his maids as a kid with a vase, resulting in her death. but he'd forgotten about what he'd done then because he also had dissociative amnesia, just like how he'd forgotten about nearly choking san and stabbing yunho before san reminded him of it. which meant wooyoung's parents had hidden everything from him. thats why they're so 'overprotective'.

and yes, i KNOW seonghwa and wooyoung could've died without jongho getting involved, but what's a good horror story without a twisted and evil open ending?? >:)

have any more questions about this fic? drop them here and i'll answer them!!