Dreambound Shadows

Chapter 4: Flashback - The Edge of Control

The night was dark and still, a heavy silence draped over the room like a shroud. It had been three nights since the incident, and the atmosphere had grown tense, oppressive with unspoken fears. Aera, not yet touched by the dawn of puberty, lay peacefully in her bed, her chest rising and falling with the gentle rhythm of sleep. She was blissfully unaware of the storm brewing within the small room, where Jimin sat in a single sofa at the corner, his figure slumped, his face buried in his hands. His thoughts swirled with torment, and every breath he took seemed to fan the flames of his desire.

For the past three nights, Jimin had fought a battle within himself, a battle he was increasingly uncertain he could win. The words Ji-eun had spoken to him two days prior echoed relentlessly in his mind. "This smell," she had warned, "will only grow stronger and drive you to madness." And she was right. The scent, once a subtle lure, now filled the room, grew more intoxicating with each passing hour, Jimin was on the verge of losing his sanity.

In a fit of frustration, he yanked at his hair, desperate to ground himself, to fight against the overwhelming temptation. But it was no use. The scent was too strong, too enticing. His body responded instinctively, a low, primal growl escaped his throat, a sound born of frustration and desire.

Jimin bit down on his lip, hard enough to draw blood. The sharp, metallic taste filled his mouth, jolting him back to reality, but the effect was short-lived. The scent was relentless, seeping into his thoughts, his soul, until it was all he could think about. He exhaled heavily, his breath ragged, before slowly lifting his head.

His eyes flicked toward the bed where Aera lay, her small figure cocooned in blankets. She was so innocent, so unaware of the danger she was in. The sight of her should have calmed him, should have reminded him of why he needed to stay in control. But instead, it only intensified the war within him.

With his thumb pressed against his teeth, Jimin thought hard, desperate to find a way out of the spiraling darkness that threatened to consume him. He knew he needed to do something, anything, before he completely lost his grip on reality. An idea began to form in the depths of his mind, a dangerous, desperate idea. He knew it was risky—too risky. If it didn’t work, the consequences could be catastrophic, not just for him, but for Aera as well. Doubt gnawed at him, a voice in the back of his mind whispering warnings of what could go wrong. But that same voice was drowned out by the insistent, maddening urge that clawed at him, pushing him toward the only solution he could see. He had no other choice.

Without allowing himself to hesitate any longer, Jimin rose from the chair, his movements slow and deliberate as he made his way toward the bed. His heart pounded in his chest as he approached the bed, every step weighed down by the gravity of what he was about to do. He stood beside Aera, looking down at her as she lay with her back to him, her breathing soft and steady.

The scent was overpowering now, a thick, intoxicating fog that clouded his mind and sent heat coursing through his veins. He could feel sweat beading on his forehead as he fought to maintain control, to resist the urge that was threatening to consume him entirely.

Swallowing hard, finally, with a deep breath, Jimin slowly lowered himself onto the bed, positioning himself behind Aera. The proximity only made the scent stronger, more unbearable. His body reacted violently, every nerve alight with sensation, heat coursing through him as he struggled to keep his sanity intact. His throat was dry, his mouth parched, and he found himself swallowing repeatedly, as if that could somehow quench the fire within him.

He reached out, his hand moved toward Aera, trembling slightly as it hovered over her skin. When his fingers finally brushed against her, it was like an electric shock, a jolt that sent a shiver down his spine. He quickly pulled her toward him, wrapping his arms around her in a tight embrace. The contact was both torture and ecstasy, the scent now so strong that it felt like it was searing his lungs.