royal blood | sim jaeyun ✓

twenty-four🩸

Miyeon's heart pounded as she sprinted through the dimly lit halls of Sunghoon's mansion. She could hear his footsteps behind her, relentless and steady, closing the gap with terrifying ease. 

Desperately, she tried every door she passed, hoping one would open and offer her an escape, but each one was locked and Sunghoon would always find her hiding places. Her body ached, and fear clawed at her mind she couldn't keep running like this. 

Finally, she found herself cornered by the front door, breathing heavily as she backed up against it, her gaze fixed on Sunghoon. His expression was void of the usual warmth he carried. His eyes were cold, empty, with a hunger that made her blood run cold.

"Sunghoon, please," she whispered, hoping to break through whatever had come over him. But he didn't respond, his lips twisting in a chilling smile as he advanced.

Just as he lunged forward, the door behind Miyeon burst open. She stumbled as it swung inward, and in came Jaeyun's friends, their faces registering instant shock at the sight of Sunghoon poised to attack.

"Sunghoon, what are you doing?!" Heeseung shouted, moving quickly to put himself between Miyeon and Sunghoon.

Sunghoon hesitated, his eyes flickering as if struggling with something. Ni-ki grabbed his arm, trying to pull him back, while Sunoo and Jungwon quickly ushered Miyeon away from the door.

"Snap out of it, man!" Jongseong yelled, gripping Sunghoon's shoulders and shaking him. Sunghoon's eyes softened for a moment, a spark of recognition flickering through them, but it quickly faded back to that eerie emptiness.

"Miyeon," Heeseung whispered urgently, "are you okay? Are you hurt anyway?"

Miyeon, still shaken, managed a nod, though her gaze stayed locked on Sunghoon. "Sunghoon's not himself. Something's wrong with him."

Sunghoon snarled, baring his fangs as he thrashed against Heeseung and Jongseong, who tightened their grip around his arms. His strength was unnatural, fueled by whatever force had taken hold of him, and it took all their might to hold him down. Ni-ki and Jungwon quickly moved in, helping to pin his legs to keep him from breaking free.

Sunghoon struggled fiercely, managing to break an arm free and swipe at Ni-ki, who barely dodged in time. His vacant, hungry gaze flicked to Miyeon, his face twisted in a cruel sneer. It was clear that he wasn't seeing his friends—just prey.

"Stay back, Miyeon!" Heeseung shouted as she took a step forward, concerned for him. "We'll handle this. Whatever's controlling him,it's strong."

Sunoo, standing protectively in front of her, added, "There's something seriously wrong here. He wouldn't act like this not unless he's been compelled or something."

With a combined effort, they finally managed to pin Sunghoon to the ground, restraining his limbs with every ounce of strength they had. For a brief moment, Sunghoon's eyes flickered, and a flash of recognition crossed his face before the lifeless stare returned. Heeseung placed a hand on his friend's shoulder, speaking softly, "Come on Sunghoon fight it. Don't let it control you."

The boys then managed to tie Sunghoon up with ropes to prevent him attacking again.  Miyeon's heart raced, her mind racing to piece together what had just happened.  "Wait Sunoo, you said that Sunghoon was compelled? What did you mean by that?" she asked, her voice tinged with urgency.

Sunoo turned to her, panting from the effort. "Some vampires have the power to control others' minds and actions. That's what compulsion is. They can manipulate you to do their bidding against your will."

"But it its a very rare ability. You can be born with it or it can be passed by genetics. Like in Jaeyun's family," added Ni-ki.

Miyeon's eyes widened as she connected the dots. "You said Jaeyun's family has this ability right? Do you think Jungwoo did this to Sunghoon? I mean it makes sense. Ever since this engagement has happened, he keeps on trying to kill me."

The boys nodded grimly, the weight of her realisation hanging heavily in the air. "He must've used his power on Sunghoon to draw him into his plans," Jungwon said, concern etched on his face. "It sounds like something he would do but why though?"

Sunoo glanced at the struggling Sunghoon, who was still fighting against the ropes, his expression a mix of anger and confusion. "If Jungwoo is behind this, then he's probably got a bigger plan in mind. We need to find Jaeyun and quickly."

Jungwon furrowed his brow, the concern etched on his face deepening. "Yeah where is Jaeyun?" he asked, glancing around as if expecting him to appear at any moment.

Miyeon's stomach twisted at the thought. "He went to the shops but he should've been back by now. What if Jungwoo hurt him?" Her voice trembled with fear.

Sunoo stepped forward, a determined look in his eyes. "We can't waste any time. We need to find Jaeyun before it's too late."

Jongseong nodded in agreement. "But we can't just leave Sunghoon like this. We need to figure out how to break Jungwoo's control over him first."

"Right," Heeseung added, glancing between the two pressing concerns. "Some of us need to stay here and work on freeing Sunghoon from the compulsion. The rest should go look for Jaeyun."

The group quickly divided, each team understanding the urgency of the situation.

"Okay, Miyeon, Heeseung, and Jungwon, you three go and look for Jaeyun," Jongseong instructed, his tone serious. 

"We'll handle things here," Sunoo added, his expression resolute. "We'll figure out how to break Sunghoon's compulsion and keep him safe. Just focus on finding Jaeyun."

Miyeon nodded, her heart racing with both fear and determination. "We will. 

As Miyeon, Heeseung, and Jungwon stepped out of Sunghoon's mansion, a heavy weight settled on her heart. The cool evening air brushed against her skin, but the chill was nothing compared to the anxiety swirling within her.

"Let's stick together," Jungwon urged, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "We need to cover as much ground as we can without drawing attention to ourselves."

Heeseung nodded, his expression serious. "We should check the last place Jaeyun mentioned that he was going to the shops. If Jungwoo has him, he might have taken him there."

Miyeon swallowed hard, feeling a knot in her stomach. "I just hope he's okay," she murmured. "Jaeyun wouldn't let Jungwoo get the best of him, but..."

"But he could be in trouble," Jungwon finished for her, his voice low. "We'll find him. We have to."

The three made the way outside Sunghoon's estate and towards the marketplace hoping to find Jaeyun there. 

"Please be safe Jaeyun," she whispered under her breath, wishing she could reach him somehow. 

The night was silent, but the tension in the air was palpable. Miyeon's thoughts were consumed with visions of Jaeyun, and she silently promised herself that she wouldn't give up until he was safe.