Sacrifice || ENHYPEN FF

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 69

~Hulloooo~

-Start of Chapter 69-

The library's stillness feels heavier now, as if the walls are holding their breath, waiting for me to do something—anything. 

The roses sit in the centre of the table, their vibrant red almost reflecting off the walls.

The creak of the library door pulls me from my thoughts. I glance up and see Taehyun peeking in, his expression carefully neutral. Behind him, Beomgyu and Hueningkai are whispering furiously, clearly debating whether they should enter or retreat.

I raise an eyebrow, folding my arms. "If you're here to explain why you thought keeping things from me was a great idea, don't bother."

Taehyun steps in first, his hands raised in mock surrender. "We're here to grovel, not explain."

Beomgyu snorts from the doorway. "Speak for yourself, Taehyun. I'm here for the free entertainment."

"Beomgyu hyung." Taehyun warns, shooting him a glare. "Not helping."

I narrow my eyes at them, my lips forming a pout that I can't quite hide. "Do y'all think a simple sorry will fix all this? Because I can assure you they won't"

Hueningkai shuffles in next, holding a plate of cookies awkwardly in his hands. "We brought these too..." He sets them on the table, offering me a hopeful smile. "Peace offering?"

I stare at the cookies, then at him. "You're trying to bribe me with food?"

"Well, technically yes" Beomgyu says, finally stepping into the room and plopping down into a chair. "But in our defence, they're your favourite. They always were since you were little"

They remembered...

I look back at the cookies, and a small part of me softens. They are my favorite.

Taehyun sits across from me, his gaze steady and sincere. "Y/N, we know we messed. It would just mess everything up."

"Not telling me about the engagement made it  worse you know?"

"I know" he admits, rubbing the back of his neck. "We just... we didn't want to see you hurt."

Beomgyu leans forward, resting his chin in his palm. "And now you're mad at us and hurt anyway. So, mission failed."

I shoot him a glare, but I can't help the tiny smile tugging at my lips. 

When I was little Beomgyu always used to have a way of disarming me, no matter how angry I was.

Guess some things never really change.

"Look" Taehyun says, his voice soft but firm. "We were wrong. Completely wrong. You deserved to know everything. But we can't change the past. All we can do is promise to do better from now on."

Huening nods eagerly. "We'll tell you everything from now on. No more secrets."

Beomgyu grins mischievously. "Even the embarrassing stuff, like how Taehyun cried during that one tragic play at the royal theatre—"

"Hyung!" Taehyun snaps, his ears turning red.

The corners of my lips twitch, and I finally let out a soft laugh. "You guys are impossible."

"Impossible to stay mad at?" Beomgyu offers, winking.

I roll my eyes but let out a sigh. "Fine. You're forgiven. For now."

"Does that mean we're still your favourite brothers?" Huening asks with wide, hopeful eyes.

"You're all tied for last." I reply, but my smile takes the sting out of my words.

~~~~~~~

...

...

I want to sleep—I need to sleep—but peace always feels like a distant memory. When it does come, it doesn't come quietly.

The vision begins the moment my eyes close.

Blackwood Forest looms around me, endless and suffocating. The trees stretch tall and gnarled, their branches clawing at the blood-red moon hanging low in the sky. Shadows twist unnaturally, dancing without a source of light, as if the forest itself is alive.

I walk forward, though my legs don't feel like my own. The brittle crunch of dead leaves beneath my feet is the only sound, and the air is thick, heavy, pressing down on my chest like a weight.

The figure appears suddenly, cloaked in darkness at the edge of the clearing. Crimson eyes burn bright against the shadows, their glow almost hypnotic.

And then I see it—see her.

It's me. 

My reflection stands in the clearing, cloaked in shadows so deep they almost swallow her whole. But it's unmistakable—it's me, staring back with hollow, lifeless eyes. My lips part, and black, viscous blood spills out, dripping down her chin, disappearing into the darkness as if the forest itself drinks it.

The sight roots me in place, fear wrapping around my chest like a vice.

The reflection doesn't speak. It doesn't move. It just bleeds.

The forest grows darker, the shadows closing in tighter, suffocating me. My reflection takes a step forward, and I can see it more clearly now—the black blood pooling at her feet, staining the ground, spreading out like ink.

She opens her mouth wider, and the blood spills faster, thicker, choking out any chance of words. It doesn't feel like her suffering—it feels like mine.

I want to scream, but my throat burns, and my voice refuses to come.

The forest falls silent, an oppressive stillness that makes my skin crawl.

"It's too late."

My voice cuts through the silence, warped and distant. The words echo, splintering the vision like shattered glass.

The vision collapses into nothingness as I jolt awake, gasping, my body trembling violently.

Then the coughing starts.

It tears through me with a vengeance. I clutch my chest, leaning forward as thick, black blood spills from my lips, staining my trembling hands. The room spins, the world tilting wildly, and my breaths come shallow and fast.

My chest heaves, trying to keep up with my pounding heart.

I stare at it for a moment, my breathing uneven.

The dizziness follows quickly, pulling me down like an anchor. The room spins, and I grip the edge of the bed, desperate to stay upright. Cold sweat beads on my forehead, chilling me even as my body burns with unease.

I press my free hand to my mouth, swallowing down the taste of fear and blood.

Whatever is coming—it's closer than ever. And I don't know if I'll survive it.

-End of Chapter 69-

~author's note~

srry for the late update.

Im just rlly blank okkk

So im having a writers block. Its not much of a chapter but its better than nothing.

Anyways,

Don't forget to VOTE and COMMENT

And...

Stay tuned for Chapter 70

Okii baii !! Luv ya'll <3

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