FELIX CENTRIC (Sunlight Through the Shadows)

Chapter 5: The Cage

The tension in the air was suffocating. Felix could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he sat frozen on the couch, surrounded by the others. Their gazes, once comforting and familiar, now felt oppressive. His mind raced, trying to make sense of what was happening, but every time he thought he understood, the situation seemed to slip further out of his control.

Seungmin was the first to break the silence, his voice low but disturbingly calm. "You’ve always been important to us, Felix. More than you know."

Felix glanced at him, searching Seungmin’s face for some hint of reassurance. But there was none. Seungmin’s eyes were dark, intense, and there was a strange sense of calm about him that made Felix’s skin crawl.

“You don’t have to worry about anything,” Seungmin continued, inching closer to Felix. His hand reached out, gently resting on Felix’s knee, a touch meant to be comforting but that only added to the growing sense of dread. “We’ll take care of you, Lix. We’ll make sure nothing ever happens to you.”

Felix swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. “What… what do you mean?”

“We mean,” Hyunjin interjected, his voice soft but with a strange edge to it, “that we want you with us. Always. No one else.”

Chan leaned in closer, his hand still firmly gripping Felix’s shoulder. “You don’t need anyone else, Felix. Just us.”

The weight of their words hung in the air, heavy and unavoidable. Felix’s mind was racing now. They weren’t just being protective—they were controlling, possessive, and it terrified him.

“But I—” Felix began, but Seungmin cut him off, his hand tightening slightly on Felix’s knee.

“You don’t have to worry about anything,” Seungmin repeated, his voice almost hypnotic. “We’ve got everything figured out. No distractions. No outsiders. Just us.”

Felix’s breath hitched. He tried to stand, to get some distance, but as he shifted, Seungmin’s grip on his knee tightened even further. “Where are you going, Lix?” Seungmin asked, his voice deceptively soft, like he was coaxing a frightened animal. “We’re just talking.”

Felix felt like he was suffocating, the room closing in on him. He forced himself to stand, gently pushing Seungmin’s hand away. “I—I just need some air.”

Seungmin stood with him, moving in front of Felix before he could step toward the door. His face was calm, almost serene, but there was something dangerous in the way he positioned himself, blocking Felix’s exit. “You don’t need air,” Seungmin said quietly. “You need to stay here. With us.”

The others stood up as well, surrounding Felix in a way that felt calculated, intentional. They weren’t letting him leave. They were closing in.

“Seungmin…” Felix whispered, pleading, hoping for some break in the tension. But Seungmin only smiled—a soft, almost loving smile, but there was no warmth in his eyes.

“We’ve all agreed,” Seungmin said, stepping closer to Felix. “This is the best thing for you.”

Felix’s pulse quickened. He glanced around the room, searching for a way out, but there was none. They were too close, too coordinated, moving in sync with one another in a way that left no room for escape.

Minho moved in from the side, his voice low and gentle, almost coaxing. “We don’t want to hurt you, Felix. We just want you to understand.”

Felix took a step back, his heart racing, but Seungmin closed the gap between them instantly. He placed his hands on Felix’s shoulders, guiding him gently back toward the couch. “You’re safe with us,” Seungmin said, his voice soothing. “Always safe.”

Felix wanted to believe him, wanted to trust that they wouldn’t do anything to harm him, but the way they were acting—the way Seungmin’s hands gripped him with such calm authority—made Felix feel more like a prisoner than a cherished member of the group.

Felix shook his head, his voice barely above a whisper. “You guys… this isn’t right. This… this is too much.”

Seungmin’s expression softened, but his grip remained firm. “You’re overwhelmed,” he said, his tone reassuring. “That’s why we’re here. To make sure you don’t have to worry about anything.”

Chan nodded, his voice calm and steady. “We’ll take care of you, Felix. You don’t need anyone else. No one can care for you like we do.”

Felix’s eyes darted between them, his mind racing for a way out. But no matter where he looked, they were there, watching him, waiting for him to fall in line.

“We’ve made a pact, Felix,” Jeongin said quietly from the side, his eyes never leaving Felix’s face. “We’re all in this together.”

Felix’s breath caught in his throat. “A… pact?”

Seungmin’s hands slid down Felix’s arms, guiding him gently back into his seat. “We’re a family,” he said softly, kneeling in front of Felix, his hands resting on Felix’s knees again. “And we’re going to make sure you stay with us. No one else gets to have you.”

The words sent a chill down Felix’s spine. He had always thought of them as his family, but this… this was different. There was something possessive, something obsessive about the way they were looking at him. It wasn’t love—it was control.

Seungmin leaned in closer, his voice barely a whisper now, but filled with an eerie calm. “We won’t let anyone take you from us, Felix. Ever.”

Felix’s mind raced, panic rising in his chest. His eyes flicked between Seungmin and the others, searching for any sign of weakness, any opening to escape. But they were all watching him too closely, their expressions unwavering, united in their shared obsession.

The room felt smaller, the air thicker with each passing second. Felix’s heart pounded in his chest as the weight of their intentions pressed down on him, suffocating him.

For the first time, Felix realized there was no way out. Not unless they let him go.

And they weren’t letting him go.