A Killer's Obsession

Chapter 23

Minghao Pov:

I watched as Mingyu came up from the basement, eyes crazed, and blood dripping from his hands. Our eyes met and I gulped as he approached, learning near my ear before whispering,

"How does it feel, Minghao? The one brother you trusted the most has now betrayed us all, by siding with her? Hmm? You were his priority. Not anymore."

"Fuck off." I hissed.

I shoved Mingyu away roughly before walking away. Seungkwan's tale of Jun's actions had taken all the members by surprise, and the punishment was swift. If he wanted to be like the other survivors, then by golly he would be strung up like them on the damn hooks. I quietly descended the rickety steps in Killer shack down into the basement and stopped as I saw Jun. Blood poured out of the male's shoulder, spilling onto the floor, while the gaping wound revealed torn muscle and crushed bone. Despite the gruesome visual, Jun maintained a calm expression, eyes gazing at the ground as all around him Jaemin, Chris and Felix groaned and heaved from the excruciating pain.

"Jun. . . why'd you do it?" I whispered, staring at the male's hanging body.

"Minghao. You came."

I glanced up to see that Jun had raised his head, a weak smile decorating his bruised face.

"Why did you decide to betray us like that?"

"I never did. We claimed that we loved her right? So I showed her what a true act of love that we should have all done earlier."

"Of course we do love her. So I don't understand why you tried to tear us apart." I sighed.

'I didn't. All I did was try to do the most loving act we could have done." Jun breathed.

"Which is?"

"Setting her free."

I shook my head.

"I want to help you, Jun. But you need to get those delusional thoughts out of your head before I can convince S.Coups to unhook you from that thing. I'm begging you. Wake up and open your damn eyes!"

"I am not the blind one, Minghao. You and I both know who's the one with fantastical thoughts. Do you really think saying sweet nothings and gifts will win her heart? Aera's been trapped with us for years due to the Entity. Game after game she was forced to live in fear and the threat of death. She wanted nothing else but to be free. Holding her from that dream seems to be the opposite of loving does it not? So tell me Minghao. Who needs to open their eyes. You or me?"

I was quiet.

"I will not force you to join me. I will die willingly if I must. All I ask of you is to release her. Let her breathe. Let her live how she always wanted. Free."

I gulped. I could feel the intensity of Jun's eyes burning into me as I tried to find an answer.

"Jun, I-"

"Minghao? Are you down there?" A voice called from above.

"Yes! What is it?" I replied.

"It's me Hoshi. S.Coups called us for a meeting. Looks like the Entity is going to be there as well."

"Okay. Be up there in a second."

I glanced back at Jun who had grown quiet. There was nothing else for me to say now. Turning on my heel I quickly left the basement and followed Hoshi to headquarters. When we arrived the room was in absolute chaos.

"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN I CAN'T TALK TO HER?" Mingyu roared at the black cloaked figure that was shaking it's head at him.

"Kim Mingyu show respect to the Entity!" Jeonghan hissed, slapping the younger male's head.

"I will rip your hands off, if you try that again!"

"Like with Aera?" Joshua spat back, earning a warning glare from Jeonghan.

"Guys. . . we shouldn't fight, Aera will be here any minute now." Wonwoo sighed, rolling his eyes.

"And what makes you think that she'll come willingly?" Seungkwan exclaimed, sipping on an iced americano.

"We have her friends impaled on large meat hooks. Why wouldn't she come?" Vernon huffed.

"Because she doesn't want to be near a psycho named Mingyu who cut off her limbs?" Dokyeom suggested smirking at the taller man.

"Why you. . ."

I gasped as Mingyu sprinted towards Dokyeom and landed a strong punch across his jaw.

"Mingyu what the- OW!"

A messy brawl soon broke out and S.Coups leapt up to separate the pair. As I watched, I felt a hand on my shoulder. It turned out to be none other than Jeonghan.

"Minghao. Could you take the message? The Entity says Aera sent a message for us just an hour ago. S.Coups was supposed to take it but. . ." Jeonghan gazed at S.Coups who now had Mingyu in a secure headlock and was attempting to calm the male down.

"Yeah. I'll get it."

I bowed to the Entity who led me into a separate room, where a table, chair, and a single glowing cube sat in waiting. After the door closed, I slowly picked up the cube and tossed it lightly up in the air watching as the object hummed and burst into several columns of light before finally projecting an image of Aera, almost like a video call. Aera stared at me for a moment before speaking in a clear voice.

"Minghao. What an interesting surprise. Anyway as I'm sure you and your brothers are all eager to hear my answer in response to your threat, I have a proposition to make. I will make this clear. I do not enjoy the idea of going back to live with you, so I shall offer a deal. Haewon, Lily, Kyujin and I will play the game. 12 vs 4. We will play as normal with the girls and I have to repair 4 generators in order to power the exit gates and escape. Each member can take turns to chase us once while the generators are being repaired. To keep it interesting the Entity has agreed to grant you guys the ability to switch maps in order to spread confusion among my team. The flip side to that is all 12 of you must only be able to use one special ability instead of the usual 4. When all four generators are done only then can all 12 of you come out at once to attempt to stop us from escaping. My team's goal is this: Repair the generators, stay alive, rescue the four boys, and escape. If I lose, I promise to stay with you for the rest of my life, in complete obedience and servitude. If I win you must grant me my freedom and promise that you will never come after me or my friends ever again. Do we have a deal?"

I stared at the girl projected in front of me. I could see it in her eyes and her stance. A willpower stronger than death, and a survival instinct more vicious than the coldest killer. A confidence that would never die, and a fighting spirit fueled by all that was put on the line. Her freedom. She was serious and so was I.

"Deal."