BOUND BY OBSESSION|| L.HS X S.JY

T W O

CHAPTER TWO: KIDNAPPED

'AURTHOR'

The ride felt eternal, a silent torture filled only by the hum of the engine and the pounding of Jaeyun’s heart. He couldn’t focus, his mind lost in a whirlwind of fear. His father’s abuse had always been harsh, but Jaeyun had never felt like this—utterly helpless, completely at the mercy of someone else’s whims. Lee Heeseung’s presence in the driver’s seat felt suffocating, even though the man hadn’t said a word since they’d left the alley.

Jaeyun stared out the window, trying to memorize the streets, the lights, anything that might give him a sense of where they were going. But the deeper they ventured into the city, the less recognizable everything became. The neon signs faded, and the roads grew narrower, more isolated. The buildings seemed to grow darker, as if they were slipping into another world altogether—a world that belonged to people like Heeseung.

Finally, the car came to a slow stop. Jaeyun looked up to see massive iron gates looming before them, a fortress hidden from the rest of the world. Beyond the gates was a sprawling estate, far grander than anything Jaeyun had ever seen. The lights from the mansion flickered faintly, casting eerie shadows across the well-manicured grounds.

Jaeyun’s breath hitched as he realized what this place was—a prison. Not the kind with bars and chains, but a prison all the same. There would be no escaping from here, not without Heeseung’s permission. And something told him that permission wasn’t something Heeseung would ever grant.

The gates creaked open as they drove inside. Jaeyun felt his chest tighten with dread as the car rolled up the long driveway. Every part of him wanted to run, but his body was paralyzed, his legs shaking too much to even attempt it.

Heeseung got out first, and without a word, he walked around to Jaeyun’s side. The door opened with a slow, deliberate click. Jaeyun hesitated for a split second, his eyes darting toward the empty street outside the gates, a fleeting hope of escape. But before he could act, Heeseung’s hand clamped down on his arm with a firm, unyielding grip. There was no need for words; Heeseung’s touch alone was enough to convey that any attempt to flee would end badly for Jaeyun.

“Out,” Heeseung ordered, his voice cold yet composed.

Jaeyun swallowed hard and stepped out of the car, feeling the gravel crunch beneath his shoes. The mansion towered above him, a monument to the power and wealth that Heeseung possessed. It was the kind of place people like Jaeyun’s father dreamt of owning, but even in all its grandeur, it felt wrong. There was an air of darkness here that made Jaeyun’s skin crawl.

Heeseung led him up the stone steps, his hand never leaving Jaeyun’s arm. The front doors opened on their own, revealing a man in a dark suit standing just inside. He nodded wordlessly to Heeseung before stepping aside to allow them entry.

Jaeyun’s gaze swept over the foyer, a vast room of marble floors and high ceilings. Chandeliers hung from above, casting a dim, almost ghostly light across the space. Everything was pristine, perfectly arranged, yet it felt sterile, lifeless. No warmth, no soul. Just like the man who owned it.

They continued down a long hallway, their footsteps the only sound in the eerie silence. Jaeyun’s mind raced with questions—why was he here? What did Heeseung want from him? He had seen the man kill someone, yes, but why take him? What possible reason could there be for keeping him alive, let alone bringing him to this place?

Finally, they stopped in front of a door. Heeseung pulled a key from his pocket and unlocked it, pushing it open with a slow creak. The room inside was… luxurious. Jaeyun blinked in surprise, his eyes scanning the plush furniture, the silk curtains, and the enormous bed in the center. It looked more like a high-end hotel suite than a prison cell.

“This will be your room,” Heeseung said, his voice low and devoid of emotion. “You’ll stay here. You don’t leave unless I say so.”

Jaeyun stared at him, his mind struggling to keep up. “Why are you doing this?” The words slipped out before he could stop them. His voice was shaky, filled with a fear he couldn’t hide.

Heeseung’s dark eyes fixed on him, unreadable, but there was something unsettling behind them. Something that made Jaeyun’s stomach twist with dread. “You saw something you shouldn’t have,” Heeseung replied, his tone casual, as if he were discussing the weather. “And now you belong to me.”

Jaeyun’s chest tightened. “I-I won’t tell anyone. I swear. I—”

Heeseung stepped closer, cutting him off with a single, cold glance. “I know you won’t,” he said, his voice smooth. “But that’s not why you’re here.”

Jaeyun froze, confusion flooding his mind. “Then why? What do you want from me?”

For a moment, Heeseung said nothing, his eyes drifting over Jaeyun’s face with an intensity that made Jaeyun feel like he was being peeled apart layer by layer. “I like seeing you afraid,” Heeseung said, his voice so soft it was almost a whisper.

Jaeyun’s heart stopped. His brain struggled to process the words, to understand the implication of what Heeseung had just said. The fear he had felt earlier now multiplied, twisting into something darker, something more primal. “What do you mean?” Jaeyun’s voice was barely audible, trembling as he spoke.

Heeseung didn’t answer. Instead, he smiled—a slow, chilling smile that sent a wave of nausea through Jaeyun. He turned away, walking toward the door, leaving Jaeyun standing in the middle of the room, his mind spinning with terror and confusion.

“Get some rest,” Heeseung said as he stepped out. “You’ll need it.”

The door clicked shut behind him, followed by the sound of a lock turning. Jaeyun rushed to the door, tugging on the handle, but it didn’t budge. He was trapped.

His breaths came fast and shallow as he pressed his forehead against the door, his entire body trembling. What had he just gotten himself into? Who was this man who seemed to take pleasure in his fear, and why did Heeseung claim to have wanted him for so long?

Jaeyun backed away from the door, his legs giving out as he sank onto the plush carpet. He could feel the weight of the room closing in on him, the luxury doing nothing to ease the suffocating sense of dread that filled his chest.

No one was coming to save him. Not his father, not anyone. He was completely alone.

Jaeyun curled up on the floor, his body shaking as silent tears slipped down his face. He was a prisoner in a gilded cage, and he had no idea how he would survive the days to come.