Apocalypse ✦ Nomin

76

⊱ ───── { Jaemin } ───── ⊰

A searing pain in Jaemin's forearm makes him whimper as he gradually regains consciousness. He tries to get a grasp on his surroundings, but a bright light shines overhead while the rest of the room is pitch black around him. His eyes struggle to adjust to the lighting, and it takes him far longer than usual to do so. He barely moves his right arm and yelps at the intense pain. He glances down and finds a blood soaked cloth tied around the area that hurts. Unfortunately, that's not all he sees. Thick metal cuffs are secured tightly around Jaemin's wrists and connect to the arms of the chair which he sits in. He tries to kick his legs, but his ankles seem to be bound in the same manner.

"Awake so soon?" a familiar voice speaks to him, causing Jaemin's blood to turn to ice in his veins, "I wasn't expecting you to come to for another hour or so. A shame the others haven't arrived yet. Tsk. No matter. It's probably better this way."

Jaemin hears someone snap their fingers from somewhere behind him, and a spotlight turns on, shining on someone who stands on a high platform with very little room to move. Their hands and feet are bound by chains, and a noose is tied around their neck, secured somewhere above them. Their identity is concealed by a soaked burlap sack that his covering their head. The sight nearly makes Jaemin vomit right then and there. The man on the platform is Renjun and the man behind him is Jeno's father.

Jaemin's thoughts are further confirmed the second he sees someone walk into his field of vision and they crouch down in front of him. Yuta flashes Jaemin a wide, dazzling smile which displays a perfect set of white teeth.

"So we finally meet face to face. Without my son, of course. I don't particularly wish to count that first occasion since it was so...short and informal," he speaks calmly, "This is a bit informal as well, but...we must make due with the hands we have been dealt."

Jaemin is rendered speechless by the way Jeno's father was speaking to him as if he doesn't have him captured and awaiting his impending torture.

"It's very...interesting meeting the boy Jeno has moved Heaven and Earth to be with. It's a shame. He's truly gone through so much trouble for you. I remember a time when I was the same way. I would have done anything for Taeyong, but he refused to accept me for who I was," he goes on, "I tried raising Jeno not to make the same mistakes I did. You have to understand. This...this all could have been avoided if he had heeded my warnings. If he had done his duties as the antichrist. If you had stayed far away from him after that first night he tried scaring you away. Such a damn shame. You could have been happy with Renjun. I could have made such a thing happen if you hadn't interfered, you know? My son was destined for greatness...and he threw it all away for you. And maybe it's my fault for not properly digging up more information about you sooner, but...it's no use looking back like that, now is it?"

Jeno's father stares vacantly into Jaemin's eyes, as intense discomfort fills his body. He continues to smile at him despite the negative, spiteful connotation which his words give off towards Jaemin.

"But you're not here to listen to me monologue for days on end. No, you've come because you know exactly who's standing on top of that platform," Yuta remarks as he points behind him without breaking his set gaze from Jaemin, "You thought you could barge in here and rescue Renjun. It's too bad Xiao neglected to inform you that the demon he tasked with escorting you has an appetite for angels. I'm actually quite upset with Xiao for it. He knows Sungchan can't control himself, and yet he still chose to send you alone with him. If I hadn't interfered, you wouldn't have even made it here. And...well...I can't afford to let that happen. It would ruin the fun."

Jaemin swallows hard as Jeno's father brushes his fingers gently along his injured arm.

"So I cast Sungchan down into the deepest fire pit where he's to remain trapped while you and the others are still here," the man explains further, "But let's not dwell on Sungchan. I have a question for you."