Oneiric Tryst

15. Axe Murderer

Hongjoong found Seonghwa in a field of flowers. They were on a hill in the middle of a mighty mountain landscape. It reminded him of the alps in Europe, with their sheep herds and little brown huts strewn around like legos. Their surroundings were painted by colourful splotches of yellow and white.

Seonghwa stood in his uniform. His empty gaze was directed into a far distance, unseeing of the world around him. The expression was unfitting from such a beautiful spot. Hongjoong wondered where that dread he suffered came from. The monitor had said running, but the still picture remained serene and unbothered.

Hongjoong walked up to Seonghwa shyly. The wind ruffled through his hair and whipped his jacket back as he joined the man's side.

"Beautiful dream you have here."

Seonghwa didn't comment on the stumbling statement. He just chuckled, with meagre enthusiasm behind it.

"It will change soon. I can feel it." His eyes scanned the sky, the quickly accumulating clouds covering its blue expanse. "And also, you are here," he added. This time, his smile was more genuine.

Hongjoong copied it right away.

"Yeah, I tend to give these things away."

For a while longer, Hongjoong relished in the magnificent sight. No city nearby, not a single human soul. Just him and Seonghwa up on that hill. The higher gods thought fondly of this spot. They had crafted it with exceptional diligence.

"I heard you're taking some time off work."

Seonghwa hummed in agreement. When Hongjoong studied his profile from the side his eyes trailed over the slope of Seonghwa's nose, the curve of his cheeks. His lips had thinned, taking some of their usual pillowy fullness away.

"I am. It might be good for you. Less dead bodies and anxiety in my dreams."

Hongjoong doubted those developed only from work. The execution had meant Seonghwa's loss of purpose in his job. His heart hadn't taken kindly to that.

"It's only for a while, right? And taking care of your grandmother is a noble thing to do," Hongjoong reminded him diplomatically.

Once more, Seonghwa just affirmed him. No thought that he could share with Hongjoong passed his eyes.

"Right. She has nobody else."

When thunder rolled in the distance, Hongjoong cast a brief glance over his shoulder. Ominous clouds hung to the mountain tops and shrouded the world in darkness.

Hongjoong began to walk downhill slowly, and Seonghwa followed. The grass was less soft than before under Hongjoong's feet.

"What are we listening to today?"

For a second, both of them concentrated their ears on the faint music. It came from the mountains and echoed in the steep valleys sweetly.

"Just a playlist I found online. I didn't check what it was."

Wistful, the piano sang its song. Nobody listened apart from them. A lonely call in the distance.

Hongjoong wanted to search for its source. Wanted to find the piano that played such sad tunes and sit down to pay it company. It deserved someone who listened to it.

"Do you like it?"

For the first time, Seonghwa turned his head to look at him. In his dream, dark shadows painted his hollow features. They sunk his eyes deeper into their caves, making them look tired and weary.

"I do."

Their steps quickened when faint rain drizzled onto their faces. Hongjoong didn't know where they were going. They had no goal in mind as they descended from the mountain.