fiendish heart [1]

3 。the boy of the lake

-

It was beyond any rational thinking to find appreciation in a place that created fear. A place beyond reality, where every rule and law no longer applied. To picture a place, anyone would envision a place far from their own. In truth, it was right in front of their eyes, yet still left unnoticed. For it was only found when one truly had the desire to look.

Taehyung spent the night under the midnight sky, wondering exactly how many misfits lived amongst these trees. His thoughts tarried in the silence, waiting for any given order that would tell him he could leave. Instead, curled up under the creaky trees and winter air. He lay there until his skin turned purple and lips froze still. Frostbite lurked in the shadows, waiting to strike.

In early dawn, he was woken up by the soft crackling of a fire and the heavy smell of smoke that filled his lungs when he breathed too heavily. Warmth overcame his body and his eyes opened to stare at the young boy curled up by his side, stoking the fire to keep them warm. Taehyung could tell it was Kook from his young features, the one's that flowed in the presence of the burning embers. His eyes were slightly lidded due to fatigue, lips parting with each breath, pale complexion crinkled up in concentration and thought. There was a strong aura that came from the boy, one that Taehyung could not put a description to in that time. But it set in determination for him to find an answer.

The two did not speak, they simply sat in the warmth of the small pit, listening to birds sing their morning songs under the darkness of winter dawn. Taehyung was unable to ignore the constricted feeling around his throat any longer, so he looked down to find a golden scarf that matched the one he'd previously seen on Hoseok, wrapped tightly around his neck. It was obviously symbolic of something, though he didn't know if he wanted to find out what it was. When he looked up at Kook again, the boy's eyes were set on him, even in the dark there was an abnormal glow to them. They were not brown, but they were not blue or green. They were midnight, almost pure black even in the light.

„You are mine now."

-

„How old is he? Kook." It was a question that had been lingering on Taehyung's mind, ever since their encounter in the morning light. The boy had disappeared not soon after sunrise, leaving Taehyung close to the centre of camp where Hoseok soon joined him with a cup of fresh water and some bread.

„Eighteen, why?" There was a clear hesitance in Hoseok's movements as he took a seat beside Taehyung. The both of them looked toward the treetops, keeping silent for a moment longer. Though Hoseok still felt like someone Taehyung could not trust, it was clear that he was making an effort to comfort him. He picked at the core of an apple he'd offered to Taehyung numerous times, waiting for either of them to say a word.

„I was just curious..." He began, though soon faltered when he saw Hoseok laugh and shake his head in dismay. "Does that amuse you? My curiosity?"

„My advice, don't be. You'll get yourself in a whole lot of trouble." He paused, biting the apple and spitting a seed onto the ground. "Don't take this all to heart. We mean well here. Enjoy yourself, make friends, become family. It's why we're all here. Come on, how about I introduce you to our team, hmm?" Taehyung didn't trust him, and he did a sorry job at hiding it. Hoseok didn't seem to mind his grim expression, turning to face the sky again. He starts to hum to himself whilst intaking the beauty of the world around him. „Every morning, we get the fortune of watching this. There is so much more down there kid. Why did you come here to begin with? Surely not to waste time lingering on the negative."