Treasures of The Damned

39. Daily Delights

Briar glanced behind her and saw Hongjoong, who was dragging a weak Mingi by the hair.

Mingi glanced up at his daughter, pausing for a few moments and shaking his head. "I'm okay..." He mouthed to his daughter softly, trying to stand up to follow after Hongjoong, but he was taller than the other so it was easier for him to just be dragged.

Hongjoong chuckles as he watched Logan for a few moments, still yanking harshly on Mingi's pretty silver hair. He spared a glance down at Briar and cooed softly, laughing at how weak she looked, settled on the floor.

"God this is pathetic. Poor little Birdy, can't even walk on her own. Logan doesn't know how to control his own animatronic body. And Mingi. The perfect little rapper who doesn't know how to protect his own family."

"Stop." Mingi hissed but didn't say anything else, yelping softly when Hongjoong yanked at his hair and threw him to Briar.

Briar let out a yelp of pain when Mingi tumbled into her wounded arm, and her papa instantly sat up and wrapped his arms around her.

"Songbird? Are you okay?" He whispered in a worried voice, taking a worried breath when Briar nodded her head softly.

"Yeah...yeah, I'm okay...it just hurt..." She whispered and smiles a little bit at her father. "I'm glad you're okay..." She muttered to him before she looked up at Logan, who stood in front of her and Mingi, protecting them from Hongjoong.

"Leave my family alone, Hongjoong."

"Why? Why on Earth would I do that? There's no reason for me to protect you. Or let you go. You've been fighting against me all night. I'm not just going to let you live, and let you get out of here for no reason."

"Because we're a family. And we're the only living family that any of the members have out there!"

"That's not true, dad...Cyril, Prisma, and Eun-Ji are still alive and well...all grandparents..."

"But still. That's only three families." Hongjoong snapped and snarled, glaring down at Logan.

"You don't scare me, little boy. Remember who gave you life. Remember who allowed you to sleep in one of the dance rooms when you were still homeless? Remember who ALLOWED you to date and eventually marry Mingi? I'm the one who fought for you. KQ hated you. They thought you were a homeless little human who was just wanting to marry one of the members for his money."

"Are you fucking insane? I never would have used any of you like that! You know that! I never had ill intentions. You're the one who let me sleep in the dance room, yes. But it took all the other members to convince you. And by then I'd already gotten a job as a backup dancer for you."

Just as Hongjoong was about to say something once more, Mingi stood up between them, having to settle his hand on Briar's head to keep his balance. "Will you two stop?! We don't have time for this! We need to get out of here. It's already 5:15. We only have 45 minutes before the staff comes in to open the park. We need to get Briar out of here, Logan."

Logan nodded his head. "You're right, sorry. I'll keep looking to find a way to get us out of here." Before he silently turned back to the gate, trying to find a way to unlock the gate for them. He hummed softly and pressed his lips together, looking at the locks.

Hongjoong snarled and walked forward, reaching out to stop Logan, but Mingi grabbed his wrist before he could get too close and yanked Hongjoong away from Logan. "Don't touch him."

"Don't tell me what to fucking do. I can touch him if I damn want to."

"Consent is sexy, Hongjoong. Isn't that what you always told us?" Mingi snarled back, tilting his head and raising an eyebrow. Hongjoong didn't say anything, just yanked harshly on Mingi's arm and pushed him towards the fence.

Logan let out a surprised yelp when Mingi slammed into the fence beside him, stepping back before reaching forward to help his husband up.

"Uncle Hongjoong. Please. Stop this. You're hurting everyone around you. You're showing them just how much you care about them. That you'd be willing to kill them just to get a simple human girl and kill her." Briar said, trying to plead with him.

"Stop. Stop talking. You don't know what the hell you're saying. You don't know what I've given to make sure they're safe here. That they can stay alive without other people knowing." Hongjoong said.

"Are you sure about that, Hongjoong? Because for the past five hours you've been killing us with no hesitation." Mingi spoke up, standing up with the help of Logan, who set Mingi down beside Briar so he could keep looking for a way out.

Hongjoong snarled and narrowed his eyes. "Think what you think, Mingi. But I've done everything to save you. Not hurt you." He walked forward silently, reaching out and grabbing Mingi by his silver hair, yanking him up so they were face to face.

"Don't. Test me. Mingi. I've done everything for you and your family. It's time you do something for me."

"You've done nothing for us, Hongjoong. Not in years." Mingi bit back with a pained tone of voice, staring directly at Hongjoong before sighing softly. "Just let us go. Or let them go. But please. Don't hurt them."

"Oh? Let them go? But what about you, Mingi?"

"I'll stay here. I'll be your loyal puppet again. Please- I can't lose my daughter, or my husband again."

"Papa, no!" Briar began to argue against his words when Mingi glanced at her and set a gentle hand on her cheek. "It'll be okay, Songbird. You and your papa can still come to visit me. Still, come see how I'm doing."

There wasn't another word said for a moment before Logan stepped over and gently settled his forehead against Mingi's. "Mingi, my love. Please don't do this."

"I have to, Princess. Please...it's the only way to keep you and Briar safe." Mingi paused before glancing up at Hongjoong. "Will you make that deal with me? Trade my life for Briar's?"

Hongjoong blinked, looking over at Mingi before gently narrowing his eyes and staring at the family in front of him. "Maybe. Logan, I'll allow you to leave the gate, however you need to finish and find a way to unlock the gate yourself. And move Briar closer to the gate. I need to have a conversation with Mingi here." He smirked as he walked closer to Mingi and Briar.

Logan paused for a moment, before pressing a kiss to his husbands lips and standing, gently picking up Briar and walking them both to the gate, leaving Briar to where she could watch Hongjoong and Mingi as he got to work on unlocking the gate.