𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐄𝐘𝐄𝐒 𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐋. | 𝘚𝘶𝘯𝘬𝘪

V.

*ೃ༄

The room was black. The blood, running down his throat agonisingly slow, was not.

Gripped by mild panic, his fingers noted the bite mark on his neck. Bile threatened to heave up his throat, his vision getting blurrier by the minute.

Around him, the place lay in looming indifference. No matter how hard he urged his mind to focus, he had no memory of the space he found himself surrounded by. It was unlike anything he'd ever laid eyes on. Room, as he'd initially called it, didn't quite fit the scenery, however. The space had a striking resemblance to the realm Eleven traveled to in Stranger Things. Though he sincerely hoped his story would take a more generous turn than it did for the girl in the series.

A few metres away, he spotted his members obscured by what appeared to be the ghostly silhouettes of black branches, gathered around a bonfire. He forced his legs to move forward, the action causing water to splash around his feet with each stride. The scene unfolding in front of him would've seemed normal, mundane even, a bunch of teenagers having a good time, if it hadn't been for the red liquid smeared across their necks. No.

Sunoo gasped when he made eye contact with Riki who was positioned a little bit further away. His lips turned into a taut smile, a warning. Out of the six, he was the only one spared from the red stains. The irony almost made Sunoo laugh.
Unfazed by what had been done to them, his members sat in fateful oblivion. They seemed to be stuck in their own world, not aware of the looming presence of Riki beside them who, by then, only had eyes for Sunoo. It didn't come as a surprise to him, then, when they didn't look up as Riki moved toward Sunoo at a leisurely pace, predatory.

"You did this?" The question was downright pathetic and Sunoo was sure if he'd seen it in a movie, he would've complained about its dullness. In that moment, however, it hit him that words could try, but they could never fully convey the emotions implied by them. The thought made him shudder. Opposite of him, Riki chuckled dryly. The action seemed wrong, immoral, coming from a face so innocent. Akin to a peasant occupying a king's throne. Nonsensical.

"They offered themselves willingly." His eyes flitted over him in ominous curiosity. "Will you do the same or need I be a bit more", he clicked his tongue, "forceful?"

Disbelief evident on his face, Sunoo pointed towards his bite mark. "Isn't that enough already?"

Riki roamed over the spot, the intensity of his gaze making the wound blaze anew. "That's nothing. Barely a peck." His tone was contemptuous. "You lay unconscious over there for ages. I had to make my presence known. Would've been a shame not to."

Fear rose up Sunoo's chest, the realisation of a boy lost just slowly dawning upon him. He let the feeling wash over him, considering —just for a moment— to let it drown him. It was a tempting offer. A lethal one, too. Maybe, he reasoned, that was the point.

Hiding the unsteadiness in his voice was impossible when he spoke again. "Don't you dare lay hands on me ever again. I'm only saying this once, so listen up. Whatever you think this", he gestured toward the bonfire, "is, I'm not gonna let you be the death of me."

Riki crossed his arms in somber gratification, visibly enjoying the effect he had on the elder whose vehement denial made it all the more pleasant.

"Please, humour me. Grant me the joy of watching you attempt it."

He took a step back, his face turning into a wicked grimace. "Have a nice fall." Sunoo furrowed his eyebrows in perturbation, entertaining the foolish thought of running, when he heard the thunder. Without prior warning, the ground he stood on disappeared, the rumble of something cracking pervading the space. He watched in horror as the younger boy turned to leave, pale hands clasped behind his back. Even his farewell was cruel.