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

N I N E

CHAPTER NINE: THE ESCAPE

WARNING: VIOLENCE AHEAD

Jaeyun’s heart pounded in his chest as he crept through the mansion’s darkened hallways. His mind raced, panic swelling with every step. For days, he had watched, waited, and planned for this moment. The brief window where Heeseung would be away, and Sunoo would be distracted—his only chance to escape.

The back door creaked open just enough for him to slip through, and the cold night air hit him, sending a shiver down his spine. Freedom was just a few steps away.

He ran. His feet pounded against the ground as he bolted toward the woods behind the mansion. The thick trees and underbrush would be his cover, a place where Heeseung couldn’t follow him—where he could finally be free of his tormentor.

Every breath felt like fire in his lungs as he pushed through the forest, branches whipping against his face, the ground uneven beneath his feet. He stumbled but forced himself to keep going. He couldn’t stop now. Not when he was so close.

But as the adrenaline coursed through his veins, a terrible thought clawed at the back of his mind. Heeseung always found him.

Jaeyun’s eyes darted around as he ran, his chest heaving. Was it paranoia, or was Heeseung already on his trail? The snapping of a branch nearby sent a bolt of terror through his body. He picked up his pace, heart hammering in his ears.

Just as he thought he might make it, a voice cut through the silence.

“You really think you can run from me?”

The icy tone stopped Jaeyun in his tracks. He whirled around, only to see Heeseung standing there, illuminated by the dim moonlight filtering through the trees. His eyes burned with a mix of fury and satisfaction, his expression cold and unforgiving.

Before Jaeyun could react, Heeseung lunged, grabbing him by the arm and yanking him back with brutal force. Jaeyun stumbled, his body slamming against the rough bark of a tree.

“You think I wouldn’t catch you?” Heeseung’s voice was a low growl, and there was a sickening calm to it, like the eye of a storm. “Did you really think you could just walk away?”

Jaeyun’s breath hitched as Heeseung’s hand tightened around his arm, his grip like iron. He struggled, trying to pull away, but it was no use. Heeseung’s strength was terrifying, his power overwhelming.

“I—” Jaeyun stammered, but before he could finish, Heeseung’s fist collided with his stomach.

The force of the punch knocked the wind out of him, and he crumpled to the ground, gasping for air. Pain radiated through his body, but Heeseung wasn’t finished. He grabbed a fistful of Jaeyun’s hair and yanked him up, his voice dripping with contempt.

“You belong to me,” Heeseung snarled, his eyes flashing with anger. “You think you can run? After everything I’ve done for you?”

Jaeyun whimpered, his body trembling as he tried to push Heeseung away, but another punch to his ribs sent him sprawling on the ground. Pain shot through his chest, and he coughed violently, his vision swimming as he tried to stay conscious.

Heeseung kicked him hard in the side, and Jaeyun screamed, the sound echoing through the woods. His body convulsed from the impact, but he couldn’t move. Every part of him hurt, and fear gripped his soul.

“You think you can leave me?” Heeseung hissed, crouching down beside him, his hand wrapping around Jaeyun’s throat. He squeezed, slowly, methodically, watching as Jaeyun’s face contorted with terror. “You’re mine, Jaeyun. You’ll always be mine.”

Jaeyun’s vision blurred as he struggled for air, his hands weakly clawing at Heeseung’s wrist, trying desperately to pry his fingers away. But Heeseung didn’t let go. He tightened his grip, his thumb pressing down on Jaeyun’s windpipe, cutting off his air supply.

“You can’t run from me,” Heeseung whispered, his breath hot against Jaeyun’s ear. “I’ll find you every time. No matter where you go, no matter how hard you try to hide, I’ll always find you.”

Jaeyun’s lungs burned, his body twitching in a futile attempt to escape. Black spots danced in his vision as he felt himself slipping away, but just as he was on the brink of unconsciousness, Heeseung released his grip.

Jaeyun collapsed to the ground, coughing and gasping for breath, his body shaking uncontrollably. His throat throbbed, and every breath was agony, but at least he could breathe again.

Heeseung stood over him, his face twisted with a mixture of fury and amusement. “Pathetic,” he muttered, kicking Jaeyun again, this time with less force, but enough to make him wince. “You can’t even put up a fight.”

Jaeyun didn’t respond. He couldn’t. His body was too battered, too broken. Tears streamed down his face as he lay there, helpless and terrified, knowing that there was no escape. Heeseung had won. He always won.

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Heeseung's POV:

Heeseung watched as Jaeyun lay crumpled on the ground, barely able to move, and something dark twisted inside him. He had caught him. Again. Jaeyun would never learn.

A part of Heeseung relished these moments. The chase, the fear in Jaeyun’s eyes—it was exhilarating. The power he held over him, the knowledge that no matter what Jaeyun did, no matter how hard he tried to run, Heeseung would always be there, pulling him back into his grasp.

His heart raced, but not from the chase. No, it was from the sight of Jaeyun—so broken, so vulnerable, so completely his. The control he had over him was intoxicating.

Heeseung crouched down beside Jaeyun, watching him with cold, calculating eyes. His hand brushed against Jaeyun’s cheek, wiping away the tears that had spilled down his face.

“You look so much better like this,” Heeseung murmured, his voice soft, almost tender. “Broken. Helpless. It suits you.”

Jaeyun flinched at the touch, but Heeseung’s grip tightened, fingers digging into his skin with enough force to bruise.

“I don’t understand why you keep trying to run,” Heeseung said, his tone turning cold again. “Do you really think you can escape me? That someone will save you?”

Heeseung leaned closer, his lips brushing against Jaeyun’s ear. “No one’s coming for you, Jaeyun. No one cares. The only person who matters to you is me. You’ll see that soon enough.”

He stood up, dragging Jaeyun to his feet by his hair, ignoring the weak protests and pained whimpers that escaped his lips. “Now, get up,” Heeseung commanded, his voice hard. “We’re going back.”

Jaeyun’s body slumped against Heeseung’s, his legs barely able to support him. But Heeseung didn’t care. He wrapped his arm around Jaeyun’s waist, dragging him back toward the mansion.

With every step, Heeseung’s grip tightened, his mind racing with thoughts of what he would do next. Jaeyun needed to be punished—properly punished—for thinking he could run. He had been too lenient before, too soft. But not anymore.

This time, Heeseung would make sure Jaeyun understood just how futile it was to resist him. He would break him—completely, utterly break him—until there was nothing left but obedience and fear.

And Jaeyun would have no choice but to submit.

Heeseung’s lips curled into a cruel smile as they approached the mansion. Tonight, Jaeyun would learn what it truly meant to belong to him.