A Killer's Obsession

Chapter 15

Joshua Pov:

"Hey love, here's your food."

I gently set down the tray onto the coffee table before staring at the despondent woman before me.

"Aera?"

"Leave me be." She finally whimpered, tears falling from her eyes.

"Oh sweetheart. It's not all bad. You will always look beautiful to me and the others whether you have all four limbs or not."

Aera was quiet. I slowly sat beside her and brushed a stray piece of hair behind her ear. When it was revealed that Mingyu had sawed off an arm and a leg, the reaction was quite divided. Half of us sided with Mingyu claiming that Aera had indeed misbehaved, and that now it would be easier to keep track of her, while the other side was worried what her reaction would be to the traumatic event.

"Are you comfortable?" I finally asked. "Do you need another blanket?"

Aera didn't answer but instead burst into tears. I bit my lip in worry.

"Shh. Don't cry, how about we take a trip into the garden for a while?"

With that I stood and gently pushed Aera's wheelchair outside. After parking it under a tree, I plucked a few flowers and brought it back to her, laying them on top of the blanket covering her legs.

"There I got you some tulips, a carnation, rose, and chrysanthemums. Can you wait here for a bit? I'll be back in a minute."

Aera nodded with a stoic face.

"Alright. I'll return soon."

I rushed inside and headed for the meeting room inside the mansion. Opening the door I surprised S.Coups, Wonwoo, Vernon and Mingyu who were in the middle of a serious discussion.

"Joshua? What on earth are you do-" Vernon began.

Smack! Wonwoo and Vernon gasped as I tackled the tall ass beanpole into the ground, punching his stupid handsome face relentlessly.

"Hyung! Stop!" Wonwoo yelled.

"No I won't! Because of him Aera's a miserable mess!" I spat back.

I suddenly was pulled off by S.Coups and carried back, while Wonwoo helped his brother up.

"I didn't want to do it!" Mingyu growled.

"Bullshit!" I screamed.

"She misbehaved, cutting off her arm and leg was merely a consequence."

"Lies! You could have locked her in solitary confinement, or chained her with one of the members, but no your brainless head immediately went towards the chopping block"

"Well she's more compliant isn't she?"

"She's depressed!"

"Both of you calm down!" S.Coups roared.

The room grew quiet.

"Mingyu. Joshua both of you to your rooms."

My eyes widened.

"I can't do that! I promised Aera I would be back!"

S.Coups sighed.

"Fine. you can go say your goodbyes, then go to your room. You're both grounded."

"Who's taking care of her?" I yelped.

"I will." Wonwoo offered.

I sighed. Well, as long Mingyu wasn't the one looking after her. I slowly made my way back to the yard along with Wonwoo. When I reached the tree I had placed Aera under, I was immediately shocked to see that she wasn't there. I looked all around but didn't see her. I felt my mouth dry up. Beside me Wonwoo was also busy running around, for our yard was the size of a small botanical garden, fit with over 13,000 different plant species, a hedge maze, and even a sizable pond.

"Hyung, over here!"

I ran over and let out a shaky breath as my eyes followed the trail of tire marks made by the wheelchair.

"Did she go over to the pond?" I wondered aloud.

We both headed towards the area of water, our hearts a bit more calm, now that we knew that Aera hadn't just run away again. I suddenly felt Wonwoo's grip on my arm tighten.

"What's wrong?"

"Hyung. . ."

I followed the younger male's eyes and let out a loud shriek. There a few feet away lay Aera, face down in the water, still and unmoving her wheelchair on its side on the grass nearby. I stumbled over and with Wonwoo's aid managed to drag the unconscious girl out. I quickly administered CPR while Wonwoo ran back inside to get the others. 1, 2, 3. . .

"What happened?" Jeonghan yelled running over.

I shook my head and continued the rhythmic pushing against Aera's chest.

"Where was she?" Minghao asked.

"Face down in the water." Wonwoo replied.

Suddenly, Aera let out a strangled gasp. My eyes widened and I waited for her eyes to open but they never did. It seemed that for now Aera had fallen into an exhausted state.

"Maybe we should take her to her room?" Jihoon suggested.

I nodded. Hoshi bent down and took the unconscious girl away followed by most of the other members. Only Jun remained. I glanced up at the other male who seemed to be in deep thought. I sighed. The whole house was divided. The ones who had sided with Mingyu on the punishment were Jihoon, Chan, Hoshi, Wonwoo, and Vernon, while the opposing team was made up of Dokyeom, Seungkwan, Minghao, Jeonghan, Jun, and I. S.Coups had remained neutral.

"Hyung. . ." Jun spoke slowly.

"Yes?" I sighed.

"Is this really right for us to do?"

I frowned.

"What do you mean"?"

"I've been thinking. Maybe it's a bit selfish of us to be so possessive over her like this. Like it's not fun anymore. She looks depressed."

I chuckled.

"Of course it's right of us to be like this. She's ours. She was fated to be our perfect match. The Entity promised us!"

"Then is it fine for her to be miserable?"

"Well, Jun, you do know that I agree with Mingyu a little. I do want her to accept us, just not that forcefully. I mean chopping off limbs. Like what was the punk thinking? She'll come around eventually. Look at all we do for her. Make her food, get her gifts, take her out for strolls in the garden. . ."

"Hyung. I think she's really hurting." Jun stated.

I shot back a judging stare.

"What has gotten into you Wen Junhui?"

"Nothing, just common sense. Think about it, why do you think she was floating in the lake?"

I shrugged.

"Dunno. An accident maybe?"

Jun shook his head.

"You said it yourself hyung. She looks depressed. If my intuitions are correct, that wasn't any accident. That was a suicide attempt."

I froze. Our precious Aera. Committing suicide? Jun cocked one eyebrow.

"I'm going to head inside, but you think about it yeah?"

I nodded. Was it really alright for us to act like this?