The Stray Demon (SKZ Fanfic)

The Reason

"Wh-what do you mean Chan? Why are you keeping it a secret?" Asked Seungmin still couldn't process all the information Bangchan said, it was too much for him, even Han was speechless after hearing it. "Like I said, with my abilities, I witnessed Hyunjin killed someone several times...with the appearance as it is now, different from what we are used to see, I deliberately kept it a secret and buried it for myself to protect Hyunjin and us too, but I feel... what I did was wrong," explained Bangchan then ducked, he regretted exposing it. "You want to protect him...." Han said looking at Bangchan, "Han—", "You're trying to protect him?! Chan, I don't know how your mind work, protect a criminal like him?! How—", "Han! Listen to me!" Seungmin snapped, Han who was shocked immediately turned to Seungmin, "Bangchan can't directly deal with Hyunjin! Can't you see his changing appearance?! How could he bring Felix and Changbin back to life?! I'm sure that even if Chan wanted to act, he couldn't do much," explained Seungmin defending Bangchan, Han's expression immediately changed, he only realized it after Seungmin told him, Bangchan couldn't possibly act without thinking and take futile actions.

In the middle of the conversation, Woojin got a vision in his head, with an evil smile, he approached Hyunjin, "They have come," Woojin whispered, Hyunjin smiled to hear that, "Greet them," Hyunjin ordered, Woojin nodded then left the basement. "Ekhem, I'm sorry to interrupt your conversation, but there's something I want to prepare," said Hyunjin, "Changbin, help me," Hyunjin ordered then came out of the basement followed by Changbin, leaving Felix to guard the three of them.

"This is the location..." Lee Know said when they arrived at Hyunjin's location, Jeongin frowned, "Isn't this place... abandoned long ago?" Jeongin asked seeing the name of the building, "Oddinary Salon", What did Hyunjin do here? Jeongin thought, "Let's check first," said Lee Know then got out of the car followed by Jeongin. Just seeing the building from the outside give Jeongin goosebumps, "Hyung...." Jeongin held Lee Know's arm, Lee Know held Jeongin's hand to calmed him down.

They walked towards the entrance, "Finally you guys came...." A voice stopped the two of them, Lee Know immediately spread his arms to protect Jeongin, "Who's there?" asked Lee Know. As soon as a person's silhouette appeared at the entrance, that person slowly appeared as he approached them, "Woojin?" Lee Know and Jeongin said together when the person's form was completely visible. Lee Know's expression changed instantly, "What are you doing here?" Lee Know asked coldly, Woojin sighed, "Everyone I met asked the same thing... no one asked how I was... or even say hi...." Woojin said already in front of them, Lee Know didn't reply, his hand was still in front of Jeongin.

"What do you mean everyone?" Lee Know asked, Woojin smirked, "Of course all my family," Woojin replied proudly, hearing that Lee Know clenched his fists in annoyance. "Oh, and by the way," Woojin stopped his steps, "Jeongin, your hyungs loves you," Woojin said with his sly grin.

Suddenly Jeongin froze, his expression flat. "Jeongin?" Lee Know called when he saw Jeongin who froze, "Jeo—!" suddenly Jeongin strangled Lee Know with both hands. "Jeongin! What are you...." Lee Know said trying to release Jeongin's grip, while Jeongin tightened his grip on Lee Know's neck with a flat expression. Lee Know took a deep breath, "I'm sorry Jeongin," with one swing, Lee Know slammed Jeongin so that his hands slipped from his neck, Lee Know could finally breathe easy again.

"Jeongin, what happe—!" Lee Know had not finished speaking, Jeongin had attacked him again, fortunately Lee Know managed to dodge. "Jeongin! Wake up!" Lee Know shouted, hoping Jeongin would wake up, but Jeongin still continued to attack Lee Know. "Woojin! What did you do to Jeongin?!" Lee Know asked again avoiding Jeongin's attack, "Nothing... just a little hypnosis," Woojin replied, Lee Know's eyes widened, Shit, thought Lee Know.

Lee Know could only dodge, he couldn't hurt his youngest brother. Lee Know finally managed to hold Jeongin's hand behind his back, "Jeongin I beg you! Wake up!" Lee Know started begging while holding back the feral Jeongin.

Lee Know couldn't hold Jeongin longer until their positions reversed, Lee Know was now pinned down by Jeongin on the ground, this time, Lee Know couldn't turn things around. "It's finished?" Woojin approached them, "Good, then bring him inside, Jeongin," Woojin ordered walking inside followed by Jeongin who held Lee Know.

Woojin returned to the basement followed by Jeongin with Lee Know in his arms, Lee Know's eyes widened when he saw Felix standing in front of him with the others tied behind him. Felix's expression changed when he saw Jeongin in a hypnotized state, I'm sorry, Jeongin.... Felix thought. Jeongin tied Lee Know beside Seungmin, of course Lee Know struggled.

"By the way, there's one thing I'm curious about," said Woojin approaching Bangchan, "The answer to my question at the cafe hasn't been answered yet, Chan, why do you want to ask for my help, even though you already know I'm Hyunjin's subordinate," Woojin said lifting Bangchan's chin. Bangchan coldly stared at Woojin's face, "Nothing, I know you will definitely take me directly to Hyunjin, so I can confront him directly, it turns out, you guys were more prepared than I expected," answered Bangchan, "Heh, you are naive Chan," said Woojin let go of Bangchan's chin then left him.

"Not really," muttered Bangchan, hearing that, Woojin turned his head, but he hadn't fully faced Bangchan, Bangchan had already hit him with a piece of wood from where he was tied up so that Woojin was thrown quite far. Everyone in the room was shocked when Bangchan was able to release himself and beat Woojin. Bangchan's breath is fast.

Bangchan was about to attack Woojin again, but his steps immediately stopped, he froze, unable to move. "Wow, finally the wolf came out of its cage," said someone, it was Hyunjin, his hands stretched forward indicating that he was holding back Bangchan's movements, Changbin helped Woojin stand up. "How about you calm down now," Hyunjin said, this time from Hyunjin's hands came out the iron chain that immediately tied Bangchan, Hyunjin put Bangchan back to his place.

"Hyunjin, why are you doing this?" Asked Lee Know. Hyunjin was silent for a moment, he then raised his hand and suddenly, an article appeared in front of him, "You all remember about this salon, right?" Hyunjin asked, "The salon I built from the empty dry ground until i make my way to the top and become the most recognizable salon in town, even outside of town. However, I was forced to close this salon, why?... because someone spread bad news about my salon, and it sucks, people believe it, even our regular customers don't want to come anymore," Hyunjin said showing an article about the news he meant. They remembered now, they heard this news, even Bangchan, the most respected person in this city, couldn't protect Oddinary Salon, until finally, Hyunjin's salon had to close down. How could it not be, Hyunjin's salon was reported to have used dangerous chemicals that could shed hair and melt people's skull, stupid news indeed, but many believed and 'proved' this stupid news. Changbin and Bangchan's investigation shows that people who have become 'witnesses' to this news are forming an association that really wants to bring down Hyunjin's good name.

"I confronted the people who spread the news, unfortunately... I lost my life in the process," continued Hyunjin, hearing that, all the members of Stray Kids who were tied up widened, "You... lost your life in the process?" Asked Lee Know, "What does that mean?" Han asked. Hyunjin then remove the articles, "Yes, I died, my body was washed away in the river at that time... but not long after I felt something pulling back my soul and giving my body a power I had never imagined," He explained. Hyunjin then looked at the pendant, "This pendant has given me power and life," Hyunjin said while showing the pendant that Bangchan had given him.

Bangchan was wide-eyed, he didn't know the pendant he gave them had such powerful abilities. "How did you know it was the pendant that brought you back to life?" Seungmin asked, Hyunjin smiled then looked at Woojin, "Because I'm not the first person to be revived by this pendant," Hyunjin replied.

"You mean...." Bangchan turned to Woojin, "Yeah," Woojin showed his pendant, "I thought you took his pendant, Chan," said Lee Know turning to Bangchan, Bangchan was silent for a moment, "No, I can't take something I've already give," replied Bangchan.

Hyunjin smiled, "After I came back to life, the first thing I did, of course, to continue my revenge, and from there, I created the persona of The Red Demon, the serial killer... all of my victims were people who had spread bad news about me and my salon," Hyunjin said pointing at the photos on the wall one by one. "As I kill, my strength increases, and finally... my revenge is almost complete... I can finally collect the payment from those who dropped me into hell...." With that, Hyunjin closed his story with a creepy satisfied laugh.