FELIX CENTRIC (Sunlight Through the Shadows)

chapter 9 : escape plan

The next day dawned quietly, as if nothing had happened. Felix lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind numb. The events of the night before replayed in his mind like a broken record. He had tried to escape, and they had stopped him. The people he once trusted were now his jailers, and his world had shrunk to the walls of this dorm.

He heard a soft knock on the door, and Han’s voice floated in. “Lixie, breakfast is ready. Come on out.”

Taking a steadying breath, Felix rose and went to join them, determined to keep up his act of compliance. He knew now that any open rebellion would only be met with resistance; if he wanted to get out, he had to play their game, to bide his time and wait for the perfect moment.

In the kitchen, they greeted him as if nothing was wrong. Hyunjin smiled warmly, handing him a plate, and Minho placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. Their kindness felt hollow, laced with the threat of their obsessive control.

“We made all your favorites,” Changbin said, gesturing to the table, a proud smile on his face. “Eat up.”

Felix forced a smile, nodding as he took a seat. “Thanks, guys.”

As they ate, Felix observed them, noting every movement, every glance they exchanged. He realized that they weren’t just possessive—they were insecure, desperate to keep him close because they feared losing him. That was their weakness. And he could use it.

Over the next few days, Felix put his plan into motion. He became softer, more compliant, giving them the affection they so desperately craved. He laughed at Jeongin’s jokes, let Minho sit close to him, and allowed Chan to fuss over him. He became the Felix they wanted him to be, a vision of warmth and loyalty.

And it worked. They began to relax around him, their vigilance lessening with each passing day. They believed they had “tamed” him, that he had finally accepted his place within their carefully controlled world.

But Felix was biding his time, waiting for the right opportunity.

One evening, as they were gathered in the living room watching a movie, Felix excused himself to grab some water from the kitchen. He moved quickly, slipping his phone from his pocket and typing out a message to his old friend, the one he had thought of contacting before.

“Please help me. I can’t explain everything, but I need a way out. I’ll be ready tomorrow night.”

He hit send, his heart pounding as he slipped his phone back into his pocket. He returned to the living room, his expression calm, as if nothing had happened. But inside, hope stirred once again.

The next day, Felix acted like it was any other. He laughed with Jeongin during breakfast, helped Chan with the dishes, and practiced hard in the studio with the others. He made sure not to do anything that would arouse suspicion.

As the evening approached, he felt a growing sense of anxiety. His friend had replied, promising to meet him outside the dorm around midnight. It was his one chance, his final shot at freedom.

That night, Felix lay awake, counting the minutes until the dorm fell silent. He listened carefully, waiting until he was sure everyone was asleep. Then, he quietly slipped out of bed and crept towards the door.

But just as he reached for the handle, a voice whispered behind him.

“Going somewhere, Felix?”

He spun around to find Hyunjin standing in the hallway, his face half-hidden in shadow, his expression unreadable. Felix’s heart sank as he realized he had been caught.

“Hyunjin, I just… I just needed some air,” Felix stammered, hoping his voice sounded convincing.

Hyunjin took a step closer, his eyes narrowing. “Air, huh? Funny, that’s what you said last time too.”

Felix’s mind raced as he tried to come up with an excuse, but he saw the suspicion in Hyunjin’s eyes, the faint hint of betrayal. This time, Hyunjin wasn’t going to let him go so easily.

Just then, other footsteps echoed in the hallway as the rest of the members appeared, their faces a mixture of confusion and anger.

“Felix,” Chan said, his voice filled with a strained patience. “Why are you trying to leave us again?”

Felix looked around, his heart sinking as he saw their expressions. They weren’t angry—no, they looked hurt, like he had broken some unspoken promise, shattered their fragile sense of trust.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, feeling a pang of guilt despite everything. “I just… I can’t breathe here. I need space.”

Minho shook his head, his gaze sharp. “You don’t need space, Felix. You need us. We’re your family.”

Felix’s resolve hardened. He had tried to reason with them, to escape without hurting them, but they refused to listen, to let him go. They were too far gone in their obsession, too consumed by their need to possess him.

“Family doesn’t hold each other hostage,” Felix said, his voice trembling but firm. “If you really loved me, you’d let me go.”

Silence fell, and for a brief moment, he thought he had broken through. But then Chan stepped forward, his expression resolute.

“Felix, we’re not letting you go. You’re ours, whether you like it or not.”

Felix’s heart pounded as they closed in around him, their faces filled with that same twisted affection, that same possessive love. He realized, with a sinking feeling, that his words would never be enough to change them.

In that moment, Felix knew he had no choice but to fight. If he wanted to be free, he would have to break free on his own terms, no matter what it took.

And as they reached for him, he steeled himself, ready to face whatever came next.