out of the woods [yeonjun x reader]

chapter 9: fear and intimidation

My eyes widen as Yeonjun's narrow.
"There you are."
He steps out of the elevator with a daunting aura and I take a shaky step back, knowing I have nowhere to run now.
"Come here," he commands, grabbing my arm and in a panic, I attempt to shove him away. "Stop, let me go!"
"You really thought you could escape? You know why you're here, bitch—you're not going anywhere." He hisses into my ear as exhaustion and hunger cloud the corners of my mind. "Let me go, please—why are you doing this to me?"
"Shut up." He commands, using his grip on my arm as leverage to shove me to the floor and despite being utterly disrespected, my achy knees and energy-less body appreciate the comfort of the ground.
"Who the fuck let her out?" He snaps, eyes flashing with obvious anger at everyone but me, for once.
There's no response as my gaze takes in the group of people from the kitchen that attempted to chase me down the hall.
They don't look terrified, like they just got threatened with being thrown off the roof to their deaths. But more of a fearful respect, like a child that's getting scolded by their parent and wants to avoid punishment.
"I did." Yunho speaks up quietly, not looking at all concerned by the possibility of Yeonjun's wrath.
"Jeong." Yeonjun scowls at him before switching to Korean as he seemingly begins to chastise Yunho.
Yunho stands there, dead silent, just listening and I anxiously look between the two men.
"Does no one else care that we lost one of us?" Yeonjun switches back to English, eyes flashing as he looks between the faces in front of him. "We lost a friend, a brother."
"We all care, Yeonjun." One of the girls' gaze tears into him, heated with passion. "You're not the only one that misses Hyunwoo."
"But this isn't right," one of the other guys speaks up, the doctor, straightening his posture in an act of building confidence.
Yeonjun scoffs in obvious offense while I'm dumbfounded by the conversation going on in front of me.
This gang-family dynamic that's actually unsupportive of Yeonjun's psychotic kidnapping.
I feel like there's so many pieces I'm missing and so much I don't understand.
"So, what do you propose we do, Minho? Hm?" Yeonjun looks at him challengingly. "Let her go? Just forget about Hyunwoo's killer altogether?"
"Of course not." Minho responds mildly, glancing at me before looking at Yeonjun again. "But you know Yunho is right. She's useless to us like this."
I try to make myself as small as possible, knowing my life is quite literally hanging in the balance.
Somehow, I find myself thankful to these strangers for speaking on my behalf even if it's not for my sake.
"What do you do when fear and intimidation don't work?" tall, long brown-haired Johnny raises an eyebrow in curiosity.
Yeonjun doesn't say anything for a moment and instead lets his gaze trail to me.
I stare up at him, nearly shaking in terror—unsure of what his next moves will be.
Will his companions words literally just push him into a further state of psychosis??
Will it be the final grain of rice that tips the scale balancing his already fragile mental stability?
But what comes next is far beyond what I could've imagined in all my years of life.
With zero hesitation or remorse, Yeonjun extends his hand down to me.
I stare at it.
"Take it," he commands, yet in a gentle tone.
Frozen in fear, I don't know how to react.
What will he do if I do? What will he do if I don't?
"Take my hand." He enunciates, not in a threatening way but in such a voice that promises he isn't asking, he's not suggesting. He's telling.
So.
I do.
I take his hand.
Only God knows what paths my life might've taken had I chosen differently at every prominent twist and turn.
Would I be worse or better off??
I choose not to think about it too much.
Intrusive thoughts, however—are common.
Much like the musing knocking at the door of my brain in this exact moment.
The last thing I should be thinking about is how perfectly my hand fits into Yeonjun's.
His palm comfortably warm and fingertips refreshingly cool.
The slight thumb brush over the back of my bruised hands.
Bruised from being thrown around like a ragdoll, demeaned and neglected.
I swallow hard as Yeonjun guides me up to my feet, not letting go of my hand as I stand.
He doesn't break eye contact throughout the entire process and I find myself shifting nervously under his intense gaze.
There's a few moments of dead silence. Silence so powerful it felt like it last for hours.
That is, until, those perfect pouty lips spread apart and formed words I couldn't begin to fathom were dropping from this man's mouth.
"Well, then—let's get you something to eat. You're hungry aren't you?"
Thoroughly caught off guard, all I can really do is stare blankly at him, mouth slightly ajar.
"Jisoo, see if you can find something for Y/N to eat." Yeonjun says, turning his attention to the girl I recognize from the murder scene, sobbing over Hyunwoo's body.
Jisoo doesn't say anything immediately but eventually nods obediently. "Sure. Y/n, come with me."
I tentatively begin to pull away from Yeonjun but before I can, he pulls me closer to him and presses his lips next to my ear. "Remember. You're only eating because I'm letting you. You're only breathing because I'm letting you. Got it?"
I don't say anything, my stomach aching beyond all reason—a mix of hunger and anxiety.
"Do. You. Understand?" He doesn't release me. "Or should I take your ass back to the basement? Hm?"
My pride wrestles with my basic bodily needs but eventually my innate human nature wins out, fueling my desire to consume and re-energize.
I can play along with whatever this is, at least for a little bit.
I nod.
"Words."
I inhale a couple of choice ones I'd like to use and instead just give him what I know he actually wants.
"Yes, I understand."
"Good."
He only then releases me and as the group clears a path in the hallway, I shuffle alongside Jisoo back to the kitchen.
This isn't me surrendering. This is just me making the best of this situation until I can figure a way out of it.
Yeonjun can't control me— he won't. I won't let him.
And yet: "You're only breathing because I'm letting you." is all I hear in my head as Jisoo rummages around in the kitchen for a filling, nutritious meal.
He's right though. My life and my death hang on whatever his next whim is—his next mood swing.
And all I can do is hold my breath.
Well. For as long as he lets me.

((Love you all, my angels!! Hope you enjoy the update!! Quick reminder, this book has VERY toxic and mature themes so pls read w caution, babes xoxo ~ brianca❤️❤️))