Blossoms of the Night (ATEEZ Seonghwa fanfic)

Chapter 5: Shadows of Despair

Hana was thrown into another room, this one even darker and more foreboding than the last. The days blurred into nights, and the nights into days as she became a tool for Viper's cruel games. Men came and went, each one leaving a new scar on her already battered soul. She felt like she was sinking deeper into a pit of despair, each touch, each cruel whisper, a reminder of the life she had tried to escape.

Viper had made it clear that she was his to use as he pleased. The men who visited her were rough and demanding, their hands roaming her body with greedy intent. She had to endure their lecherous touches, their degrading words, and the pain they inflicted on her without mercy.

"You're nothing but a slut," one man had whispered in her ear, his breath hot against her skin. "You exist to please us."

Hana bit back her tears, refusing to let them see her break. But each night, when the darkness was her only companion, the tears would come. She cried silently, her body shaking with the force of her sobs. Lila, her only friend in this hellish place, would hold her, whispering words of comfort that did little to ease the pain.

"I can't do this anymore," Hana had confided in Lila one night, her voice barely a whisper. "I miss the flower shop, the peace I found there. I miss Seonghwa. I wish we can be free, Lila"

Lila squeezed her hand, her eyes filled with sadness. "I know, Hana. But we have to survive. We'll find a way out of this, I promise."

Days passed in a haze of exhaustion and despair. Hana's body became numb to the abuse, her mind retreating to the memories of Seonghwa and the sanctuary of the flower shop. She remembered the warmth of his smile, the gentleness of his touch, and the safety she felt in his presence. Those memories were her only solace, her only escape from the nightmare her life had become.

---

She remembered the night she overheard the conversation that changed everything. She had been forced to entertain a powerful politician, a man whose corruption knew no bounds. As she served drinks, she couldn't help but listen to his conversation with Viper. They spoke of bribes, illegal deals, and plans that could ruin countless lives. The politician, drunk and careless, revealed more than he should have.

Hana had tried to leave quietly, but Viper caught her arm, his grip like iron. "Where do you think you're going?" he had hissed.

"I... I need some air," she stammered, but Viper's eyes were cold and calculating.

"You heard too much," he said, pulling her into a secluded corner. "You're in this now, whether you like it or not."

Hana had pleaded, her eyes wide with fear. "I won't say anything, I swear."

Viper's laugh was cold and cruel. "Oh, I know you won't. Because if you do, I'll make sure you take the fall for all of it. I can make it look like you were blackmailing us, that you were in on every deal. You'll go down, and no one will believe you're innocent."

What kept her bound to Viper even more was the precious item he held over her: a small, intricately carved locket that belonged to her late mother. It was the only thing she had left of her family, and Viper had taken it, using it as leverage to keep her under his control. But there was more—her friend Lila was still trapped in Viper's world, a victim of his cruelty. 

Hana had come back to face him, to get back what was rightfully hers, and to free Lila from his grip. She hoped to finally be free and to save her friend. But she had underestimated his reach, his cruelty.

---

One night, as Hana was being used in the club, a group of men pawing at her with rough hands, she caught a glimpse of a girl in the crowd. The girl was laughing, enjoying her night out, but there was a moment when their eyes met. The girl's expression changed, a flicker of concern crossing her face. Hana looked away quickly, but the moment stayed with her.

"Who was that?" she wondered, her heart aching with a longing for kindness, for someone to help her escape this life.

Despite the constant abuse, Hana clung to the hope that things might change. But each day was a struggle, her spirit eroded by the relentless brutality she faced. The men treated her like an object, their demands growing more depraved with each passing hour. She had to remind herself to keep breathing, to keep surviving, even when every part of her wanted to give up.

She missed Seonghwa desperately, the thought of him a constant ache in her heart. She wondered if he was okay, if he thought about her, if he missed her too. But there was nothing she could do. She was trapped in this hellish existence, her body and soul ravaged by the men who saw her as nothing more than a plaything.

"Look at you, all pathetic and desperate," another man sneered, his fingers digging painfully into her flesh. "You were born for this, weren't you?"

Hana's resolve began to waver. She was so tired, her body weak and her mind foggy. She hadn't noticed the girl from the club watching her again, this time with a determined look in her eyes. Hana was too lost in her own despair, too consumed by the darkness that surrounded her.

Each night, she would cry herself to sleep, wishing for the warmth and safety of Seonghwa's flower shop. She dreamed of his gentle touch, his comforting presence, and the love she had started to feel for him. But those dreams were always shattered by the harsh reality she woke up to.

"I hope you're okay, Seonghwa," she whispered into the darkness, her voice filled with longing and sorrow. "I hope you're safe and happy, even if I can never be with you."

On a cold, hard bed, her body bruised and her spirit broken. Her cries echo through the empty halls, a haunting reminder of her suffering.