❝ i paced around for hours on empty❞
bloodbound: blood is never the strongest

──

Grayson had his lips zipped, afraid to open and talk to her. His fear was justified, after all, he back-stabbed the only real person he befriended in this hell school. He enjoyed every bit of time he had with her, from the time she made silly jokes that never made him laugh to the time she sold her soul for being high. His care about her was true. All the time he was with her, he never acted and he was genuine, the only sad thing about their friendship was he had to tell the council everything that happened and details about Blaze.

"What did they promise you? what was your payment?" her facial expression was weary, despair tinted in her tone. Grayson sunk his front teeth inside his lips, preventing himself from breaking down before everyone. The class was packed with students, so they had to keep it lowkey. He gripped the hem of his blazer, building up answers to tell her. It was the least he could do. "Out," he added, forcing himself to speak.

"Out of this school," his voice cracked making him talk hasty. "I was a foreign exchange student. It started as a short-term program, and everything was fine until a student asked me to gamble. I played once and lost, leaving me a huge dept. Every student in this school has gambled at least once and a dept is forced upon them, so they can't leave nor spill the secrets about faline academy to any outsider. We are blackmailed. And even if we try to leave or run away, we will be added to the blacklist. Our whole future will be ruined. 

Somehow, the council found out I was your acquaintance. And they promised to let me leave if I provide them with information about you. I- I am sorry, I was left with no choice at that time. It was a selfish and stupid thing to do, but at that moment I just wanted a way out. It felt so right that everything else was wrong," his head was hung down in shame. Blaze ran her finger on her chin, picking up a decision.

"I am not clearly a good person, Gray," emotions were scattered on her words. It was quick to assume a result of his crime, but he already knew how this would end. He deserved the hatred, he felt filthy of his mind. "But, you are."

His cast changed, relief filled the holes in his heart when a smile stretched on Blaze's lips. "It's fine. You're forgiven," crescents formed near her eyes when she smiled, showing the front row teeth and a tear escaped his eyes. "W- What?" Grayson widened his eyes, her words were too pleasant to be true. He had many thoughts about how this situation may end, but being forgiven that easily didn't even show occur to him for a second.

"You did what was the best for you. I'm not a saint to hold a grudge against your actions, Gray. Being selfish doesn't make you a bad person, it's just a symptom that you're a human. And besides, you remember me of someone who I used to know."

Grayson forced himself to stay silent from the eruption of emotions; an urge to squeeze her into a big hug and. But, as much as joy her answer brought him, it gave him that much guilt. His eyes tapped in his locked-up emotion in oblivion. Blaze subtly raised an eyebrow at his downturned expression ⸺ looking all gloomy and troubled. "How did you find it? I never lied to your face, there was no chance you could have found it on your own," Grayson said.

"There is a mole inside the council, isn't it."

Blaze smiled, "You're not as stupid as you look. No offense."

"None taken. I'll keep it a secret Blaze, I know it's not enough for what you did but, it's the best I can do for now."

Grayson exhaled deeply, trying to align his divergent emotions. Blaze forgiving him was godsent, a prize he wasn't worthy enough to possess, and that made him feel guilty more. He was wrong and he knew it. The pain of remorse started eating up his mind and heart.  Adding the newly arisen problem inside the council into the mix troubled him more. "You don't have to tell me who it is, but if I can help you in any way, I would be most honored to do so," he said. Blaze puffed her right cheek.

"mhm, then how about you do me a favor?" She asked, and it was not only a selfless intention to wash away his condign needs.

***

The blow of the wind grew brawny each and every second he stood before the graveyard and a gravestone engraved with the name of his beloved mother. Jin felt the robust subdue of whiskey soar his throat, making him forget the damp rain cloaking his sultry body. He was silent, he didn't dare to even utter a single syllable.

He was standing there for hours in silence in the rain, his legs started to grow numb to his adamancy. The pitch-perfect stillness of the air was disrupted when a car roared before the gate and a man in his burgundy uniform got outside of his limousine. Jin nevertheless didn't spare any attention to the sudden welcome of Jeongguk, unlike the latter speeding up his phase and running towards the mourning one.

"J- Jin," he stuttered panting. Jin turned to him, gazing upon Jeongguk's unkempt self with a formal cast on his face. "shush," he placed a finger on his lips ordering Jeongguk to follow his actions. Jeongguk took over the order annoyed by Jin's dominating and cursed persona. A few minutes passed and the younger one started to get impatient and started to tap his heels on the muddy ground, trying to convey his frustration in actions. The rain wasn't of any help either to Jeongguk.

"Now, what happened?" Jin spoke, his words slightly drowned by the rain. "There was no council election, Jin," he kept his sentence short to see how Jin would react to the sudden surprise. "What do you mean?" Jin spoke disturbed, growling at Jeongguk's bluntness. "Lady Evette lied, Jin. There was no council election and there is no council election. Namjoon had no meetings, he has deceived us."

Jin chewed the inside of his mouth, he expected this. The loyalty of the council members wouldn't be everlasting and that's a hard truth he had to accept. Jeongguk sniffed, his eyes shrinking as if he was about to cry, "I- I don't know why he is doing this. What was so important to him that he would betray his own blood?" 

Jin sighed, "It's hard to believe but, I am afraid he isn't brave enough to get involved in such matters alone. There are moles in the council, Jeongguk. We need to weed them out."

──

❝ i jumped at the slightest of sounds❞

+ there are imposters among us 🧍‍♀️