●=|Surprise Visit|=|VHopeJin|=●
●=|Monster|=●

°•●•°

The monsters outside were and always had been nightmarish. Shrieking and growling, howls and mourning.

These had all once been human, but the radiation had sprung too far.

These could be mutations of humans. Multiple arms, legs, or spikes protruding from their bodies.

Others had transformed, grown fur or hunched parasites or claws.

Others were unknown. But all were carriers of the radioactive virus.

The virus was stopped by a protective barrier. A dome wrapped around the capital.

Taehyung looks outside with a huff. He lives very close to the edge of the dome and hears every bit of the screaming outside of it.

The sounds they make are horrible.

He's seen more creatures than identified, but never questioned them.

He doesn't care about the flying monstrous parasites that kill above the dome and make a curtain of blood dripping down it, or the small group clawers that nearly rip the barrier to shreds every time they set their tiny claws in the dome.

He's interested in some human lookalikes.

His house is right besides some outside trees, a perfect hidden spot on the sixteenth floor of the scrappy metal plated apartment complex.

Their technology was amazing. Their architecture? Not so much.

Taehyung knows the pain of the radiation, having felt it in the first wave when he lived in the village where the accident occured.

His eye and right arm were struck. Leaving him partly blinded and with a prosthetic.

He knows what it can do and what it feels like.

But then whenever he stares out beyond the barrier and sees the human lookalikes, he wonders if it would've been best to stay out and be affected.

Maybe nothing much would've happened.

Taehyung stares out at the setting sun, watching another horde of parasite kangaroos ripping apart the seven-legged tiger for their survival.

Blood in all kinds of colors existed now. They could have yellow blood, green, purple or even black and white.

It was always thin and runny or thick and grainy.

Taehyung felt shivers whenever he saw it. He should've been used to it by now.

His neighbor was scared of him. Having been hit and scarred. Yet no one near him had felt any effects. So they kept meeting up.

Beers or beverages down their throats and distracting edibles to forget their traumas worked for a moment. After that it was all sex and guilt.

They decided to keep it the way it was. To meet up once a week to not lose their sanity, but keep at a distance.

Especially since the poor kid had started showing signs.

Taehyung did not dare tell him.

The marks across his throat and on his back. Scars almost, sunken and branded into his skin like a blue engraved tattoo.

Maybe, just maybe, he still carried the virus.

°•●•°

The sound of everything around him cursed the monster. Running through the wild and screeching for it all to stop.

His ears twitched and hurt at every turn, too sensitive for the ripping of flesh.

Although he too needs it. Badly. His pale sickly skin had wounds and scars from the many battles he faced, his sharp teeth broken and shattered multiple times where they had to regrow.

His sight blurred, refusing to give in to his infection. But as usual he fails.

From the hiding spot he came, quiet and without a word. No expression on his face, slowly looking up at the monsters that hunted him.

The hunted becomes the hunter.

He bares his teeth, showing each thin long individual slotted in, green saliva dripping down his lips.

He growls, crouching down as his pointed ears perk for any other noise.

The three that chased him follow his threat. Leaning over and howling back.

Warning after warning is enough when the creature hunches over and rips its claws into the dirt.

The laughter of the threats stop. A single one drips down, falling forward into a puddle of its own falling blood.

The monster glares down at it, claws dripping with yellow blood. He opens his mouth widely, showing many more rows of teeth within. His long tongue licks the blood and flesh off his nails, a satisfactory smirk growing on his face.

He turns to the other two, eyes now wide with his sanity lost, letting out a raspy stuttering growl, a predatory threat.

The monsters slowly back away, regretting their attack. Although larger, they knew they were no match for this beast.

Another sharp threat from the monster sends them near to running.

"Now..." The monster speaks with a chuckle, dragging his claws over their dead friend's face. "Who's next?"

°•●•°

"I told you once before and I'm not saying it again, Afa, I do not want to buy groceries!"

"You need them. You humans need food."

"I'm not hungry."

"Hush. I'm ordering."

"If you dare--!"

Taehyung points at the computer, angrily sighing when he sees the order has already been made.

He crosses his arms. "Really. And they said robots wouldn't have a mind of their own."

"I am an A.I, Taehyung. Not a robot."

"Same damn thing."

"I will lock you out of your room."

Taehyung rolls his eyes. Everyone got an assistant. People who were incapable of living a normal life because of being poor or trauma.

He named his assistant Afa. Artificial Fullplanned Assistant. It did the work, the planning, the updating.

Whatever neccessary to keep the apartment from breaking down.

"Have you heard anything of Hoseok yet?"

"No. Nothing."

Afa sighs a robotic tune. "Hopeless. You two used to be so much."

Taehyung glares at the screen where their model appeared, arms crossed. "Were. Now I've ruined him."

"Oh shut up, you only infected him."

"You shut up. You know the Capital reads your code!" Taehyung shouts.

He usually was never this stressed with Afa, but he's been so on edge. He hasn't heard from his neighbor for a full week now.

He's very worried.

"Maybe you should just knock?" Afa suggests.

"How about no?" Taehyung shrugs with a sad chuckle. "I don't want to risk it growing. I saw it. It's only become worse."

"What did it look like?"

"Blue. Dark and light." Taehyung mutters. "Sharp turns and engraved structures all over his back, like a wolf snatched him and ripped out his back. Dented in like scars. His neck looks like a lace tattoo but half cut, triangular spacing."

"That indeed sounds bad."

"No kidding."

Taehyung huffs, landing on the couch with a loud sigh.

Afa's model moves into a relaxed stance with a sad expression. "Taehyung, you need to see him. Hoseok is a nice guy and he deserves to know."

"I know, I know. But what if he gets scared and loses it? Then the infection will get worse and go to ranges it's never been. My eye and arm were my punishments, what if he loses his humanity?"

"There is no denying that Hoseok is dangerous now." Afa says. "But I still stand by my decision."

Taehyung sighs and nods. Maybe he should...

He huffs and gets up, saying goodbye to Afa and fixes his blue jacket. He walks a few meters over, clicking the button besides the code lock.

There is a soft melody before it cuts off.

"Hm?"

"Hey, Hobi!"

There is silence before the door clicks open. Taehyung opens the door and is met with an arms crossed man.

He closes the door behind him, eyes wide. "Hoseok... I am so sorry--"

"I don't wanna hear it." Hoseok snarls. "What did you do?!"

Taehyung looks down. "I'm sorry..."

"You're sorry?" Hoseok scoffs. "LOOK AT ME! I'm a monster!"

"Hoseok, calm down!"

"Calm down?! CALM DOWN?!"

Taehyung flinches when Hoseok slowly steps towards him, closing him in on the wall.

Hoseok opens one of his hands. Inside is a wildly moving open eye, rolling in the palm of his hand and staring out at the air.

"It hurts if I don't close my hand, Taehyung. I have to hydrate all of my eyes!"

"You do look... intimidating..." Taehyung shrugs sheepishly.

Hoseok tilts his head. "Is that some bad joke?"

Taehyung looks down again. Hoseok has eyes all over him. Three extra on his face, six around his collarbones, one on each hand, and some small one scattered across his arms.

"I can see out of every single one of them. I can feel them all blinking on me. I can feel them rolling on my flesh! And do you know what's worst?"

"What is...?"

Hoseok opens his mouth, the half of his chin splitting open to a fleshy rope as his mouth splits in half, sharp long teeth revealed.

Taehyung looks at him, sighing deeply. He ruined Hoseok's life.

"I am a monster. I can't go outside anymore. I should be out there. With the others."

"You're not a monster--"

"You're a liar." Hoseok growls. "Do I look human to you?"

"Hoseok, please, listen to me."

"NO! You've done something to me I can't forgive you for!" Hoseok screams.

Every single eye on his body turns to stare at the boy, pupils shrinking to a threatening gaze.

Hoseok crouches down, grabbing his hair tightly. He groans, tugging and growling.

"Hoseok, are you okay?"

"Get. Out."

"Hoseok--"

"OUT!"

Hoseok shrieks, his mouth splitting open and snapping to bite.

Taehyung jumps to his side, barely missing the claw that now dents the wall.

Hoseok's breathing is shaky and heavy, all eyes glaring at him. Even with his mouth and teeth waiting for a bite.

"Help me Tae..." Hoseok mutters. "I've been losing my mind..."

Taehyung gulps. "I know a way that might help. It's risky, but if it works it can keep you strong for a couple of days."

Hoseok nods, ripping his claw from the wall and frowning at the damage.

°•●•°

Again the creature hides, but not for prey. A scent he's never had before struck him. It scared him.

Unknown scents could mean danger.

He bares his sharp fangs staring at whatever the monster there was.

"I don't feel safe out here Hobi. Do whatever you need to but make it quick."

"Shut up. You're not the one who's hungry-"

The monsters stops. Slowly its fingers twitch. The man with him looks terrified.

The creature's eyes widen when the monster slowly turns his head and shrieks.

The creature's breathing slows, staring at all of its eyes. He then looks at the man behind him.

Mortal. Human.

The creature shrieks loudly and rapidly sinks its claws into the tree, climbing up and lunging for the human.

The monster quickly counters, lunging up to stop him.

Both of them growl and snarl at each other like animals, pushing and clawing each other away.

The human immediately tries to pry them apart. Both of them immediately try to go for him and his flesh, snapping their jaws.

"Woah! Back!"

Wrong word choice. Both monsters grow more frustrated, letting go of each other and grabbing onto him instead.

Taehyung flinches back in fear. He mentioned the risk was big. Hoseok may not have been ready for such a big step. Many prey do not come out during this time of day.

Instead, he's now found himself wounded with two monstrous gazes on him.

The eyed creature lets out a raspy growl, sniffing the air a little.

The monster besides him follows. Both turn to the small obnoxious little critter.

It was either the human, or that thing.

The eyed creature slowly lets go, launching himself at the critter.

The other monster shrieks something, as if scolding as it rolls its head before grabbing a tighter hold.

"It's kinda hurting? Can you--"

The monster snarls at him and points at the barrier.

With a few snarls, Taehyung slowly understands what he wants.

How he got out.

There are two options. Telling the truth and spreading an infection through the city once more to ruins.

Or lie and risk dying.

He takes a deep breath and points at the strange bushes covering a large part of the barrier.

"Through there." He whimpers. "The barrier does not cut through leaves. The fluids cannot be destroyed."

The monster lets go of him, staring at the bushes. With the other infected monster there and bloodied from its prey, a slight sting of jealousy kicks in.

Craving blood and flesh, and he took what was there. The human isn't worthy to be killed. The stench of the virus comes right off him.

The monsters connect eyes and exchange a string of growls and snarls.

That's when the monster dashes forward and runs into the bushes, bot thinking about any blockage or halt. Just the food that's in there.

All the flesh to be his, the blood that'll be his.

Human or not, Taehyung is still worried. Seeing that thing running got his heart jumping to his throat and his arm latched in pain.

He unleashed a beast into the town...

He looks at his friend who looks back. Without a word he follows, sniffing for the monster who had entered the dome.

Taehyung swiftly follows, too scared to say anything to his friend.

The dome had an open space. He showed someone who had to stay outside how to get in.

He spread the virus.

°•●•°

Quick. Swift. Horror and terror.

Setting his nails into the unstable bricks he climbs onto the roofs of the outer buildings.

Staring into the city. Moving things. The scent of smoke and electricity blocks the smell of flesh and blood.

It annoys him. It annoys him up to a point of anger.

He came to feed, not to search.

A hand grabs onto his ankle, a loud shriek coming from behind.

The sharp nails and wetness drips down his legs.

Now with all the other scents, observing each other is essential. Most likely, they are the only two beasts inside.

Against his will, he's going to have to trust him.

"Are you out of your mind?!" The eyed monster screams, shrieking at him. "This is dangerous for us."

The beast huffs. "You still reek of mortals."

"We're both starving, aren't we? Might as well find us both a way to finally get what we want."

"And how will we do that? Are you seeing that?!" The monster points at the capital, modernized and improved.

"I lived here all my life. I know these streets. That mortal is my friend."

"A mortal? Your friend?" The beast lets out a shrieking laugh. "You lie to yourself."

"Trust me." The monster grins. Every single eye turns to the opening of the barrier, where from the bushes pops the human's head carefully. "He's an idiot. He'll trust us and help us."

Following the other eyes its finally sinking in. That mortal is stupid. He let him in.

A smirk slowly crawls on his face, saliva drizzling down his lips. "Alright... So what do I call you?"

"Hoseok." The monster growls. "And the human is Taehyung."

Both of them look at each other. "Seokjin's the name. It's a pleasure."

°•●•°

Taehyung stares at both of the monsters. One looked more humane, only slight advantages and mutations, his friend kept his eyes on him constantly.

"So, you two want me to do what?"

Introduced and acquainted, Seokjin nearly snaps. He shrieks out and claws at the wall behind him, ripping the wallpaper to shreds.

"Feed us!" He screams. "I've been starving for months! I spared you because you helped me, but if you don't get me something that smells exactly like you, I'll turn you into my dinner."

Taehyung gulps. The nails are right besides his head, acidic saliva burning into the wooden floor.

"I'm sorry... I'm not well off with other people either!"

Seokjin growls, getting more and more angry with the passing seconds. "You said he'd help us!"

Hoseok turns to him. "I said he would. I never said how."

"Why you--" Seokjin screams and cusses, slamming everything he can get his claws on.

That's when he notices the screen.

Slowly looking towards it, he watches curiously as the female figure on screen shakes a little.

Seokjin sniffs it, disappointed to find it smelling like every other thing.

"Do you like it?" Taehyung asks softly. "It's Afa."

"Afa?"

The figure stiffens even more.

Seokjin tapes and scrapes the screen, huffing at the noise and scratch. He's not interested.

He moves to the balcony instead, sitting down by the edge and dangling his feet.

"KIM TAEHYUNG!!" Afa screams once the door slides shut. "I'm programmed to--"

"Notify the capital. I know." Taehyung says. "Please don't."

"You brought all of us in danger!"

"There is no reason for you or the capital to be. Or me."

"ARE YOU A MORON?!"

"Look at him." Taehyung says. "He's curious and hungry. He's starved."

"Well what do you want me to do?!" Afa huffs. "I can't order flesh!"

Taehyung nods and crosses his arms, Hoseok quietly joining him.

"Afa. Send everyone around the area an emergency meeting for five minutes. Out by the barrier." Hoseok says. "That's what you'll do."

Afa's model stutters and huffs. "Coming from you that's a clear no!"

"Now, Afa." Taehyung says. "Do it for me, please."

The model sighs and nods. What can it do but obey. That's all their kind was designed for.

Within seconds she sent the confirmed sign on the board, showing them it's been recieved by all.

Hoseok looks at Taehyung. His eyes blink a few times, not knowing when to wet but to see.

"You're a weird one." Seokjin grumbles to him. "For him."

"I don't know what it is." Hoseok huffs. "He does so much for us, knowing we'd destroy what he loves."

Seokjin looks at the human with a tilted head. "How come he got to stay, when we are cast out?"

"They never discovered him. It was so hidden, he even forgot himself sometimes."

The two monsters watch the lesser roam around his living space, bearing a burden of infecting, creating, and killing life.

"I wonder if it's so hidden..." Hoseok mumbles. "What would happen if it got out?"

"Impatience." The other answers. "I've seen it. They have not met the side they've locked away and end up losing their own side they've known."

"Why is it so... heavy?"

"It's our punishment for accepting it. It's his nightmare for pushing it away." Seokjin sighs.

Hoseok looks at him. "Would it be too late? Can you see if it's too late?"

Seokjin shakes his head. "I don't know. We don't even know what type he is."

Taehyung glares at them. "You are not that quiet. Shut it."

Hoseok rolls some of his eyes, shivering at the feeling.

Seokjin growls at him, glaring down ever vein in his body. His robotic parts and shining skin. Hoseok was right. At this rate the people were useless.

Hoseok looks at him, laying a hand on his shoulder. "Don't."

Seokjin ignores him, almost like he no longer exists to his ears. His head twitches a bit, saliva slowly dribbling down from the corners of his mouth.

Taehyung screams when his body is pushed and pulled along with the suddenly attacking beast, a strong grip on his arms and terrifying snarl in his ears.

A crack tears in the wall when his bones meet the hard concrete, nearly shattering them on impact.

Seokjin's drool drips on the floor, his nails digging into Taehyung's soft tender skin.

"Why can't you just be like us?!" He screams. "Why are you such an idiot about it?!"

"Jin! Get down from him!" Hoseok growls, running in to pull the fighter away.

All is abruptly stopped. Hoseok's breath quickens, Seokjin shuts his mouth and stops his growling, Taehyung stares at the balcony.

Out there, pushing their way past the security of Afa, are the police.

"Afa. What did you do?!" Taehyung yells.

"I'm sorry! This is unacceptable!" Afa huffs. "Holding two of those... those... monsters!"

Seokjin slowly lets go of the human, turning his attention to Afa. "Monsters...?"

"Monsters!"

"Monsters." Hoseok scoffs. "Look at you, Afa. So protective of your owner. You know he's just like us."

"He will never be like you!"

Taehyung gulps. He looks down at himself. He still carries it. He's part of both. But they can't see him split.

Hoseok growls at Afa, then gets quiet, and then suddenly bursts into laughter. A maniacal, insane and chaotic laughter.

"YOU ABSOLUTE MORONS!" He screams loudly, making a quick turn to glare his eyes at the policeman who was just about to strike his electrified staff.

Seokjin huffs. "Idiots." He snaps. "IDIOTS! ALL AGAINST US! KEEPING US AWAY!"

"I have eyes on all of you!" Hoseok growls. "You can't surprise me."

The cop gulps nervously as his colleagues quickly stand by him.

Seokjin hisses loudly, baring his sharp teeth and claws. His crawl was not humane, and they all knew it.

Hoseok tilts his head, looking back at Taehyung. Slowly turning back on the cops, he reaches out a hand to his friend.

"It's your choice."

The eye inside of the palm blinks, the skin around it pleads. In some way it's scary. Taehyung feels for his friend, but he can't let down the people who keep him safe.

He stands put, torn in between.

He shakes his head, rubbing his face in disbelief of the situation and leaves his apartment, slamming the door shut.

Hoseok slowly pulls his hand back, stares at the cops and says, "Don't try anything stupid." Before running after his friend.

Seokjin looks back, growls at the cops, and then chases after the others.

°•●•°

"KIM TAEHYUNG!"

In the hallway stands the young man, with crossed arms over his head.

"Hobi."

"Did we do something wrong?" Hoseok asks. He kneels down, holding his friend's knee.

Taehyung shakes his head. "No... I'm just not sure what to do. This place... my home? You're my best friend, but I can't lose what I have when I've already lost so much..."

The poor boy is almost in tears, his voice stutters along his speech. Hoseok sighs and nods.

"I don't want you to choose between your home or me. Not at all. I want you to make peace with the part you've always denied." Hoseok lays a hand on his robotic arm.

"The parts you lost don't make it any less miserable." Seokjin mumbles, crawling closer. "But you are not alone. You never have been. You have him, and now me, and all of them around you! We are not all bad! We just... have the bad genes."

Taehyung sighs. "Listen, I like you both, but... I've lost all I loved to what I carry." He looks at Hoseok. "Literally."

Hoseok sighs. It's true. He will never be the same man he used to be. Visually nor mentally.

He is an infected, a beast, or a monster.

"But he's still Hoseok!" Seokjin huffs. "Look at him! Look at that smile! He cares for you the same!"

Hoseok nods. He does. Feelings haven't changed. But what trust can be left if his eyes betray his own.

Taehyung smiles a bit, chuckling alongside the two.

"Maybe it's not so bad... Maybe-"

There is a loud crackling, eyes wide with fear, shaking in pain.

Seokjin looks down at his stomach. Blood leaks down the hole, the electric weapon pulled out slowly from behind.

"Suspect one, terminated."

"Well done Yoongi!" A few of the cops rush towards the scene.

The white haired man stares down the trio, wiping the soft leaky blood off his weapon.

"You should've ran when you could, monster."

Seokjin gulps, picking parts of his own flesh. His eyes well with the remains of life, reaching for his new friends as his body slumps down into the arms of two shocked witnesses.

Hoseok flinches and stiffens when the weapon is set against his neck, still twitching from the kill.

"What color will your blood be?"

Taehyung shakes Seokjin's body, screaming for him to wake up, looking up at the cop with a rage he's never had before.

"Put. That. Down." He trembles, holding onto Seokjin's bleeding body like it's his last breath.

Hoseok smiles at Taehyung. "It's okay... This is life to those who cross what they're not supposed to."

He scowls. "But from you, Yoongi, I expected better."

"That coming from you I find quite the joke." The cop chuckles. "Beg for your final meal."

Hoseok chuckles. The two make quick eye contact. "Do you remember when we were young? You promised me to tell no one?"

Yoongi grits his teeth. "Not the time, beast."

"Really? Cannibalism isn't in your genes, I believe." Hoseok growls. "How DARE you kill your own kind! Your species! I am so disappointed in you!"

Taehyung looks up, eyes wide as he clutches Seokjin's body. Seokjin lets out a breathy chuckle.

"I knew you'd catch up to me..."

Yoongi says nothing. He just stares down at him.

"You finally won... Your first win at our little games of tag..."

"You know nothing." Yoongi snarls. "You did that to me."

"And guess who gets punished now?" Seokjin laughs, quickly interrupted by a string of bloodied coughs. "Good luck living in our shoes, Min fucking Yoongi..."

Taehyung looks up at the policeman with wide eyes as he slowly pulls his weapon away.

"You... he... but?"

Yoongi shakes his head. "I don't care about this spiel of trickery. I killed you, after years of you having ruined my life, after me chasing you for answers. I am done."

Hoseok chuckles. "No. No you're not." He grabs the cop's arm and harshly pulls him down. "You murdered someone I just befriended. You are coming with us!"

Taehyung stays quiet. He's too shocked to even process words. He's holding the body of someone he helped into this place.

If he just hadn't...

Hoseok looks at him. "I know it's sad. He was a good guy, but we have someone who needs to be punished."

"Punished?" Yoongi laughs. "I save you from something you hate!"

"Are you forgetting something?" Hoseok growls, glaring at him. "You are like us." He growls.

Slowly, like a rusty knife. The words of denial for the cop. No. He will never be like them.

Hoseok huffs, looks back, then gets up and drags Yoongi by the throat, with the other arm taking Seokjin's dead body over his shoulder.

Taehyung quickly gets up. His lap is soaked with blood, chasing the two.

Hoseok is leading them away. To safety.

Outside of the barrier.

Yoongi screams to be let go, to be saved and to be human. Taehyung quietly stays.

Hoseok forces Yoongi to the other side, not letting the man have a choice, and then once again, holds his hand out to Taehyung.

This time, he takes it, watching Seokjin's limp body as they leave their homes.

Yoongi screams, cries, begs, anything to return. He slams his fists against the barrier, unable to find the gap as he slumps down in tears, defeated by his childhood friend.

Hoseok looks down as he gently lays Seokjin's body on the grass. Taehyung gazes at the cop.

It was all... so chaotic...

Hoseok hugs his friend. "I know. It's scary. But you have to admit that you don't belong in there. You've always known."

Taehyung gulps. Maybe. Maybe he did, maybe he didn't. He doesn't know anymore.

Yoongi starts screaming at Hoseok. Cursing the unimaginable. "HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?! WHAT HAVE I DONE TO YOU?!"

Hoseok quickly shuts him up with a loud growl. "Shut up and sit. You're lucky I haven't killed you yet."

Yoongi sniffles. Inside he knows Hoseok is right. He could've murdered him. But he didn't.

In silence, Yoongi looks down at the grass, slowly digging his nails into the dirt. With a glare, he slams his fist into the ground and gets up.

"What is the meaning of you taking us to our demise?"

"Demise?" Taehyung asks softly. "It's not... our death. It's a home. Maybe not to you or me, but to them..."

Yoongi follows Taehyung's hand to a small creature. A dead one. Rotten, fed on.

"To them, this is home. Why don't we make it safer for them? Didn't you keep us safe?"

Yoongi huffs, looking at Hoseok who playfully crosses his arms.

Without a single word, Yoongi bumps both of their shoulders, taking his first steps into his new environment.

The two look down at Seokjin. Its almost like he's smiling. With a small grin, they follow the oldest, allowing the nature to bloom around their friend, protecting of those who refuse to accept.

●=|THE END|=●

Questions of the Chapter:

How come the virus is there in the first place?

Why would there be a gap in the barrier?

Why did Taehyung not turn into a monster even though he carries the virus?

What did Seokjin help with?

Why did Hoseok choose not to kill Yoongi?

What kind of monster do you think they are?