Whispers of the Underworld (SunSun)

Chapter 3

January 18th, 2021

The days that followed were a
blur—an indistinct haze of pain, fear, and confusion that swallowed every detail of my existence. News of Heeseung-hyung burning down the Kims' mansion, killing every soul within its walls that night, reached me like a distant echo. He had destroyed what had been a place of torment for me, and part of me was grateful for his actions, for the liberation they represented. But another part was overwhelmed with terror.

Jinyun’s retaliation was swift and unforgiving. He demanded compensation for the ruin of his property and, more painfully, for the return of his omega. In the eyes of everyone in our world, I was no longer Lee Sunoo; the moment the marriage certificates were signed, I became Kim Sunoo—a possession of the Kim family, tied to Jinyun, the heir to their throne. In our world, omegas were treated as property, not people, and my identity had been reduced to a mere transaction.

Heeseung-hyung, despite being the mafia boss of the Lee family—one of the most powerful families—had no claim over me once I became a Kim. To challenge an alpha’s claim on his omega was to risk inciting a war, and with Heeseung-hyung’s actions, it seemed that war was not only possible but inevitable.

Fear consumed me. It wasn’t just the threat from Jinyun but the worry about what Heeseung-hyung and Jake-hyung might face because of me. They had put themselves in danger to protect me, and I couldn’t bear the thought of their suffering as a result.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, I saw them together on the balcony. The scene was unexpectedly serene, a rare moment of peace amidst the chaos. Jake-hyung had his arms wrapped around Heeseung-hyung’s waist, his head resting on Heeseung-hyung’s shoulder. They looked as if they were sharing a secret only they understood, a quiet intimacy that sharply contrasted with the tension of our situation.

Heeseung-hyung turned slightly, cupping Jake-hyung’s cheek in a tender gesture. Jake-hyung leaned into the touch, eyes closed as if savoring the warmth of the moment. Heeseung-hyung pressed a soft kiss to Jake-hyung’s forehead, a gesture so full of love and devotion that it almost made me forget the dread that weighed on me.

Watching them, I felt like an intruder, but I couldn’t pull my gaze away. Their connection was a small comfort in the midst of the storm—a reminder that even in our world of chaos and violence, there was still room for tenderness and love. It gave me a fleeting sense of calm, a brief respite from the fears that plagued me.

But as always, the calm was fleeting. The dread returned as soon as the moment passed, overshadowing the brief peace I had found. My status as a possession haunted me; it felt like a shackle that bound me to a fate I couldn’t escape.

Later that night, as I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, I pondered my situation. The darkness seemed to press in around me, a suffocating weight. How much longer could I endure this? How long could I keep up the pretense of normalcy when everything around me was falling apart? The thought of returning to Jinyun’s control was a crushing weight, making me want to retreat from the world entirely.

But then I remembered Heeseung-hyung’s promise. I recalled the fierce determination in his eyes when he vowed to protect me. That promise was a fragile thread of hope, something to cling to even when everything else seemed bleak.

The sound of voices drew me from my troubled thoughts. I awoke to the muffled argument between Heeseung-hyung and Jake-hyung, their voices laced with urgency and concern. I strained to catch the fragmented phrases—“meeting tonight,” “can’t risk it”—but the full context remained elusive.

I pushed myself up, wincing at the pain in my body, and ventured out of the room. “Hyung? What’s going on?” I asked, my voice rough and uncertain.