Everyone is Obsessed With Me (reupload)

Chapter 15

Like rats in a sewage, the smell of death clung to him like perfume. He couldn't see, nor does he know where he is going. Everything around him was pitch black, with only a few dim lights that barely lit up a few inches of space. All he could do was rely on the twins' expert eyes. He could tell based on how easily they maneuver throughout the dungeon that their eyes have long been used to the darkness. Or at least long enough to remember the exact pathway. It scares him how easily they walk through the dark.

He can distinctly hear the sound of his heartbeat thumping against his chest. He could hear the distinct sound of dripping. Maybe from the pipes? Or maybe it's from another source. Hanbal couldn't place it, but it sounds thicker. He could feel the coldness coming from their hands. It was as cold as a corpse.

The further they walked in the dark, the more fear began to overtake his body. He felt as if he were walking into the mouth of a beast. He's nervous. He's scared. Was he scared they might do something to him? Or was he more scared of the dark itself? But at the same time, he felt accustomed to the dark. It was as if he was used to it.

Suddenly, he felt a cold hand gripping his shirt. Startled, he turned to throw off whatever was holding him. Only to find a dozen or so pairs of pale arms reaching for him. Boney, pale arms reached through the cold metal bars. Raspy voices of desperate souls moaned and groaned, their eyes dead, waiting for their physical bodies to follow. Their hearts no longer beat; instead, they stayed silent. He glanced around, his eyes accustomed to the dark. All around him were pale figures, desperately reaching out from all corners of the wall.

Save me.

I am sorry.

Save me, please.

It hurts...

Giggles

Cyneric let out a sweet noise. It was gentle yet loud enough to bounce through the walls. His voice, despite being soft, overpowered the moans and groans that surrounded them. Like prey in the presence of a predator, not a sound was uttered. All he could hear was his own beating heart and nothing else.

Hanbal gripped his shirt; his eyes gleamed darkly. Sweat began forming on his skin despite it being cold underground. The urge to pick at his fingernails almost overtook him for a second before he was able to calm himself. He was scared, not because of the gruesome scene in front of him. But because of how indifferent he felt toward them. And that is what scared him most. He felt as though his humanity was escaping him the longer he spent in this place.

"Little brother, look what we have prepared for you!" Cyneric giggled, his eyes gleaming mischievously beneath the dim light. He could smell a strong metallic smell in the air, as well as the smell of something rotting. "We were planning on giving it to you for your birthday... But we fear it might not be fresh..."

Hanbal furrowed his eyebrows. He watched as Cynerik let go of his hand and grabbed a lantern from a table. After a moment, he took a step back, his eyes narrowed in disgust, and his hands flew to his mouth.

How many people were there? 5? Maybe 6? He could not tell. It looked like a mesh of flesh and bones, all mangled up together like a heap of meat. They looked...familiar. Some were still alive, moaning and groaning and twitching like some limbless beast. He could see the bones peaking out from the melted flesh, almost like wires from a machine. Their skin was practically melting and rotting on their bones, creating a puddle of black and green tar-like liquid filled with maggots and flies. He could not make out exactly what was spilling from their stomach, but it looked like black worms all tangled up together in knots.

"Oh...dear."

Hanbal took a step back, his body shaking like it was cold. The smell of rotten flesh had caused him to hover over and throw up on the already dirty ground. He threw up so hard he could faintly taste the iron in his throat. His legs gave out, and all he could do was try to crawl away from the smell. But he was stopped by Cyneric's cold arms wrapping themselves around his waist like a thick metal chain. He couldn't even struggle due to the intense fear gripping his body. But... This felt different from the fear he was accustomed to...

Why is his heart beating so fast, but his brain seems fine?

"Don't be scared, baby brother! You should be happy. We had spent so long on this gift..." Cyneric hummed in his ears, his voice uncharacteristically cold. Hanbal couldn't see Cyneric's face, but he could feel the sweet smile on his face, and that deranged... all-knowing eyes.

"Hanbal. Did you enjoy our gift?" Cynerik's cold, raspy voice echoed through the walls.

Hanbal bit his lips, his voice quavering from a certain emotion that he could not figure out.

"Y-yes... Brother. I am thoroughly s-satisfied..."

For survival, he has to lie. But why did that lie feel strange coming from his lips?

He ignored the intense gaze from the twins. He ignored the constant sound of wordless noises coming from the pile of death. He closed his eyes and thought of his appa to calm his beating heart. Then, he took a shallow breath in and out before opening his eyes.

"Brothers, I am grateful for this thoughtful gift. But you see, Father needs to see me... And I do not want to anger him..." Hanbal spoke in his most sincere voice.

Cyneric froze for a second before returning to his normal hyper self. He reluctantly released Hanbal and sighed dramatically.

"I guess I can not go against father's wishes..." He flung himself dramatically at Cynerik and used a white handkerchief to dab at his nonexistent tears.

"I will c-cherish this gift." Hanbal bowed lightly and took the lantern that Cynerik handed to him.

"I will show you the way!" Cyneric giggled and leaped forward, but Hanbal just shook his head.

"No worries, brother. I will show myself out."

Hanbal let out a strained smile before walking out. His footsteps echo through the almost quiet halls before they slowly dim.

Cyneric watched, his eyes suddenly dull and his entire body shifted. He watched silently as Hanbal walked back through the exact way they came from. This dungeon is a maze built by them only a year ago. Only they know the way in and out. Anyone else would be lost in a matter of seconds. So how did Hanbal...

"Hm, brother. Are you sure this is his first time here?"

Cynerik smiled lightly, his eyes gleaming darkly in the corner.

"I am sure..."

___

Not sure if I wanna turn this into a full-fledged horror....