This is Not My Obituary

The Town Is A Cult

"Okay... what happened?" Shuyang's hand warmly wrapped around MingRui's wrist as the older sat on the plush couch, a ring of old friends surrounded him, all of their eyes boring into him.

He gulped and wolfed at the air lodging itself in his lungs. "I-"

He looked around Hanyu's living room once again and tried to find a point of escape. He didn't want to say anything while they all stared at him. This wasn't MingRui's usual disposition. He had loved the spotlight since he was young and it was known to the group. Him and Xinlong being rather an obnoxious pair when they were together. The man wanted to sink into the couch and never face the truth head-on. He wanted Shuyang to keep him in close proximity and knock anyone who asked him. But now, it was Shuyang asking the question.

"Uhm.... I was walking..." he began, voice broken and small. "And Mr. Yi asked if I wanted a ride home."

The group nodded, the younger of the couple threw a protective arm around his shoulders and tangled his fingers in the charcoal hued locks.
"A-a ride home-" Rui looked downward where Shuyang's empty hand was now holding his own. "Take it slow." The Junior said softly.

Dela could feel her heart squeeze at the sight. Hanyu hadn't informed her of the two's relationship until just a few minutes ago and she was already on board with relief. For one she was relieved that Shuyang wasn't living up to his playboy reputation. He seemed to have real and true adorations for MingRui.

"He asked if I wanted a ride home and I was kinda- a little drunk so I said yes." He confessed. "So when I got into his truck he locked the door and started singing that old school anthem. The one we'd sing before all the football games."

The room was dead silent as only a hint of a summer's breeze blew through the cracked windows.

"He started nudging me to sing along. Of course when I'm drunk I can't keep myself quiet so I just, I just did. I don't think we were a minute into the song before he busted my head on the dash. He's not so strong but I wasn't expecting it. It took twice before I blacked out." He explained as a cold trickle of harboring anxieties all flooded back to him. He had felt so defenseless despite being able to handle himself very well. The man was no weakling by any meaning of the word. He was usually a very socially and physically able man, but something had happened. He would have never needed Shuyang's support like this, though he really did love him dearly. If he was being completely honest he was usually Shuyang's supporter. It was nice to know Shuyang would step up to the plate when he needed him most.

  "That's creepy." ZeYu muttered quietly from the reclining chair near the fireplace. Xinlong now sat cuddled with his wife on the floor, pillows stuffed behind their backs to aid the wear and tear of their tailbones.

  Zihao and Lona stood shoulder-to-shoulder, pinkies intertwined behind their backs while Dela held tight to Hanyu's hands which were instinctively placed on her stomach as he embraced her from behind. The room was tense, but no discomfort emanated except through a very tired MingRui. Shuyang squeezed him scoringly and tried to telepathically tell him that he was there for him. He could expect his full and undivided attention.

  "Then- I don't really know. I woke up someplace dark and wet. Some man talked a lot while another did the beating." MingRui thought over the clobbering that he could still feel in his lower back.

   "How did you get out?" Hanyu questioned. Rui looked towards the leader, encasing himself deeper in Shuyang's ribs.

   "I don't know." He confessed.

His eyes went red as long deserved tears began to fall. Everything was a blur yet as clear as day, he simply couldn't explain it. He wasn't sure how he really got out, sure some Devine intervention was the only plausible way. He remembered knifing his way out of a sea of already disposed bodies, a few he had stolen the soul from himself just to leave. He didn't want to look at the damage he had done, afraid he might have recognized a face or two. MingRui was terrified that he might be familiar with the ones who put him in so much danger. He swung blindly with that blade, though his body knew exactly what to do with it. It seemed to scream survival.

   Little did he know, Shuyang had done the same for him in a way.

   "What do you mean you-"

"Shh! Leave him alone!" Shuyang growled as Xinlong piped up. The older grunted angrily but obliged to the request. It had been a quite inappropriate moment. Rui sniffed and wiped a tear from his face. Shuyang held the man closer, as if it were possible.

"You two should stay here for the time being." Hanyu suggested, Dela nodding though reluctant. She didn't mind having them there, but Hanyu hadn't even discussed it with her.

"You all should. Safety in numbers you know." Hanyu let out an occupied hum.

"Do you think something will happen?" Xinlong asked as he gripped his wife tighter.
Hanyu shrugged though his head was a muddled mess of overwhelming ideas.

"Maybe. You know what Shuyang told us about." He sighed.

The room went silent as the men nodded in unison.

Generational Sexual Cleansing.

The town was a cult.

And their entity was whatever had  accompanied ZeYu, Xinlong and Shuyang since they were children.

They were obviously dangerous.

"Shuyang." Hanyu said suddenly. "Yes?" He asked attentively.

"Go home and leave GouGou here. You sleep there for the night-"

"No way!" He protested, gripping Rui's shoulder.

"Sleep there for the night! If you bump into anyone act like you're still grieving. Then, grab his things and come back here in the morning." Hanyu finished his order through grit teeth. This kid really didn't listen to anything.

Shuyang hated the thought of being apart from MingRui so soon, but he nodded.

"Okay, kiss him goodbye or whatever and get going. It'll be dark in a few hours and I don't want you to look suspicious." Hanyu huffed.

Shuyang nodded and took Gou's hand into his own and lead him into the kitchen, a few heads turning to watch the couple.

"I'll be here tomorrow I swear." Shuyang whispered gently into Rui's now clean hair. Rui nodded but pulled the younger into a tighter hug. The two pulled away slightly and Shuyang placed a loving, loving kiss to MingRui's split lips. "I love you." He rested his forehead to the older's and closed his eyes, just taking in his long awaited presence.

"I love you too." GouGou answered heartfully.

He watched with an ache in his heart as Shuyang climbed into that old red truck and pulled out of the driveway. He wanted nothing more than to be right next to him in the leather bench seat. He thought back to when they had just started dating each other and Shuyang would take him out to the back cavern where they'd mess around until early morning. He missed him already.