왜...?(Why...?) Hyunjin x SKZ

.2._Into the Unknown_

Into the Unknown

Disclaimer:
English is not my native language, so please excuse any mistakes.
There may be some swearing, though it's minimal.
Text within '_____' represents characters' thoughts.
If you are uncomfortable with these elements, please consider not reading further.

Hyunjin's Perspective:

'It's dark, so dark...'
'Where am I?'
'Why am I here?'
'Who did this to me?'

Hyunjin's mind raced, a torrent of frantic thoughts as he struggled to piece together the fragmented moments that led to this place. The last thing he remembered was the grand ballroom, the sea of expectant faces, and the heavy weight of his father's hateful gaze. Then came the crash—the chandelier shattering like brittle glass—followed by smoke, screaming, confusion... and then nothing.

He was now surrounded by a darkness so thick, so consuming, that it felt almost alive, like a heavy blanket pressing down on his chest. He strained to see something—anything—but the void was complete. His heart thudded loudly in his chest, a rapid beat echoing in the stillness.

'What is this place? Why can't I see anything?' His breaths were shallow, his body tense. He tried to move, to shift his limbs, but his muscles felt stiff, like he had been tied down for hours. 'Am I... am I restrained?'

He heard a faint noise—something subtle but unmistakable—a shuffling, a creak of wood. His senses went into overdrive, his ears straining to catch any sound in the oppressive silence. A sharp, overpowering smell suddenly reached his nose, cutting through the stale air around him. It was pungent and intense, a scent that made his skin prickle with instinctive fear.

'What is this smell?' He took a tentative breath, his nose twitching as he tried to decipher it. 'Wait... it's the scent of a true-blooded alpha...!' His heart stopped for a beat, then pounded even harder, his body stiffening with alarm. 'And he's angry...!!! What am I going to do? I'm surely doomed!!'

Panic surged through him like a rising tide, causing his own scent to shift, subtly tinged with lime and fear. His wolf stirred inside him, agitated, reacting to the presence of an alpha—an unknown, powerful alpha whose fury was palpable, almost a tangible force in the room. He could feel his hands tremble against his sides.

But then, just as quickly as it had come, the overpowering scent began to fade. It was replaced by something softer, more subdued—two new scents, like gentle streams flowing into the sea, pushing back the angry waves. They were comforting in their simplicity, almost like the scent of betas, though with an unfamiliar twist that set his heart slightly at ease.

Hyunjin strained to hear voices, faint and distant at first, but growing clearer as he focused. The sound of two men, their tones hushed yet tense, their words broken by the walls separating them from him. He couldn't make out the details at first, just a murmur of sound in the dark.

But slowly, the voices grew louder, and he began to make out their words.

First Beta, with a voice tinged with frustration, muttered softly "I don't understand why he's so angry all the time! It feels like he doesn't care about us anymore! What do you think?"
His tone was filled with deep concern, carrying a strange musical quality—almost sing-song, yet heavy with anxiety.

Second Beta, responding with a light chuckle that seemed oddly reassuring "Don't be so dramatic. You know him well. You're his first mate; he could never truly hurt you."
The chuckle was warm, almost comforting, a contrast to the underlying tension.

First Beta, quicker this time, almost defensive "I know, but it still feels like a stab to the heart. The plan was successful, but our men kidnapped him at the wrong time."
A brief pause followed, accompanied by a sigh that seemed to echo through the room. Hyunjin felt a chill run down his spine, his heart skipping a beat. 'They're talking about me...' he realized, a sinking feeling settling in his chest. 'But why?'