Deep End | Hyunlix

7

Felix woke with a jolt, his head pounding with an intensity that left him gasping for air. The ringing in his ear only added to the chaos inside his mind. His body felt heavy, each movement sluggish and painful. He tried to adjust to the bright lights overhead, but the discomfort was overwhelming. He shifted his body, only to realize with dread that he was chained to the wall.

Damn it, Felix thought, frustration rising as the weight of his situation settled in. How long have I been out? The realization that his escape just became a whole lot more complicated gnawed at him. His head still throbbed, and the fog in his mind made it hard to think clearly. He needed to focus, he needed a plan.

As he tried to settle his thoughts, the door creaked open. Felix's eyes snapped up, and he froze. The tall man with brown eyes from before stepped into the room again, leaning casually against the wall. This time, he seemed more put together, his outfit sharper than before, though the mask and baseball cap were still there, concealing much of his face. Felix narrowed his eyes, studying the man, both wary and curious. Neither of them spoke.

Then, Felix's stomach growled loudly, the noise cutting through the silence like a warning. He blushed in embarrassment, turning his face away in an attempt to hide the sound.

The man chuckled softly, and Felix's heart skipped a beat. Something about the sound of his laugh caught him off guard. It was light, almost warm. Felix blinked, his mind racing. The man's eyes squinted slightly when he laughed, making him look... almost adorable. Felix shook his head, irritated with himself. What the hell am I thinking?

"Are you hungry?" the man asked, his voice familiar.

Felix's eyes widened. Wait. I've heard this voice before. Where have I heard it?

Felix didn't answer immediately, still trying to place the voice. The man's patience clearly wore thin.

"If you're not going to answer, I can just leave," the man said, his tone hinting at impatience.

Felix's mind raced, but he refused to back down. He needed information, and this was his chance.

"Why am I here?" Felix asked, his voice steady despite the fear creeping up on him.

The man stared at him for a long moment, as if considering whether or not to respond. Felix didn't expect an answer, but he had to try. He needed to buy himself some time, time to figure out what these people wanted and how to escape.

"Who else from my team did you capture?" Felix pressed, hoping to learn something that would give him an advantage.

The man sighed, clearly getting annoyed. "How's your head?"

Felix chose not to answer, though his headache still made it hard to think clearly. He was still struggling to remember the events that had led to his capture, but his thoughts kept slipping through his fingers like water. His head was a mess of fog.

"The doctor said you had a concussion. You should eat and get your strength back," the man continued, as though offering advice.

Felix wasn't in the mood for any of it. "Why am I here? What do you want with us?" His voice was firmer now, a mix of frustration and desperation.

The man's jaw tightened at the question, annoyance flashing in his eyes. He pushed himself off the wall and started to move toward the door.

"Please, I need answers," Felix called after him, but the man didn't look back.

He paused at the door, glancing over his shoulder at Felix one last time. Without a word, he stepped out, leaving Felix alone once more. The door clicked shut, and Felix let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

The man walked down the hallway, pulling off his mask and sighing. The cool air hit his face as he ran his fingers through his long black hair, his mind preoccupied with a thousand things. His sleeves rolled up, revealing tattoos along his arms, and he reached for his phone.

The call connected almost immediately.

"Hyunjin?"

"Lee Know, I need you to make sure food is ready for the prisoner tonight," Hyunjin's voice was flat, yet there was an edge to it. "Make sure the area is cleared. No one is to disturb him."

"Okay, I can do that," Lee Know replied, "But why are you doing this all for him? I don't understand what you have planned."

Hyunjin's jaw clenched, irritation and something else simmering beneath the surface. "Did I ask you to question me? Just do as I say. What's going on is need-to-know, and you don't need to know right now."

"Fine," Lee Know muttered, "I'm just looking out for you."

"There's nothing for you to worry about," Hyunjin snapped.

"Just be careful," Lee Know said, his tone having implications behind it.

Hyunjin paused, his thoughts briefly lingering on Lee Know's words. "Okay," he replied curtly before hanging up.

He walked into his office and threw his mask and baseball hat onto the desk with a frustrated sigh. He collapsed into his chair, spinning it around a few times, trying to clear his thoughts. Why am I so obsessed with Felix? The question had been nagging at him ever since the first time he saw the young man. Every time he saw him, there was a pull, a curiosity he couldn't shake. Felix had some kind of magnetism, something that fascinated Hyunjin, and it only made him want to know more.

He sat back, staring at the ceiling, trying to make sense of the whirlwind of thoughts in his mind. I'm going to find out everything about him, he vowed, a strange determination rising in his chest. And for some reason, he felt the need to be the one to do it.

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