Whispers | Stray Kids

Monsters inside

Changbin was used to being alone. He was alone, long before everyone he knew was a physical monster. Because, they were already the monsters in his eyes.

Some of them had been the monsters he grew up with. Others, had been ones he met through his schooling.

He hadn't been there for his Parents' change. But his sister had been, had the scars to prove it. She'd told him about it when they'd met up for the first and last time.

They'd split up after that, neither wanting to stay with living reminders of their past.

He preferred to be alone anyway

Three weeks after the event, he found himself on the east side of Seoul, heading towards Incheon, where he'd last heard from his friend. Of course, he had to be careful.

Changbin had seen a man try to drive through the streets a few days before, to get mauled by the creatures, drawn to the noise. It was enough to know that there wasn't people in them anymore. Not that he knew there were in the first place.

He had shrugged off the sight, hunkering down in the building nearby until he saw the man's corpse move and– Zombies. Zombies and monsters, how cliche.

Note to self, do not let those things kill you. That's when he started carrying around a knife. And maybe... Used it on some of the dead. He couldn't help it if people were out of their minds and trying to kill him as well.

And that's how he found himself where he was now. Watching a pair of boys as they crept into the building he was in. He'd heard the noise that signalled the creatures arrival, and apparently so had they. Only much alter than him.

He figured he had a minute tops to find them, before the creatures arrived. Changbin flicked his knife out, creeping out of his alcove and catching one of the boys from behind. In a moment, the knife was against his throat and he was staring into the blonde man's wide eyes.

"Who are you two, are you trying to get yourselves killed?" He hissed, dragging the other out of view of the doorway. The boy in his arms whimpered.

"Channie hyung–"

"Quiet." He pressed his knife harder, staring at this apparent 'Channie' with a cold glare. "Answer my question Blondie." The other man's eyes flickered to the door.

The boy sobbed slightly and Changbin let his knife move from the boys throat slightly.

"Uh... Fuck," The man cursed sharply, raising his arms slightly, "I'm Chan, that's Jeongin and for the love of god please don't hurt him." There was a slight beg in his tone, and Changbin flicked his knife away quickly.

"Changbin. Now get your ass over here, before those things or the dead notice you." Jeongin was pushed away from him and into Changbin's alcove, with him following soon after. Chan hesitated before jogging over and whispering to Changbin.

"Dead?" And oh gods did Changbin not want to explain.

He woke up, one night, a week later, with Jeongin curling into him. Chan sat staring out of the window as another creature passed with a quiet distaste.

He sat up, untangling himself from the boy and creeping over to Chan.

"I'm thinking of moving on soon, hyung. Maybe you two should as well." Chan turned to him, surprise passing over his face, before some slight sadness grew over him.

"By yourself?" Changbin nodded, and Chan seemed to shrink into himself.

"It's how I've always been." The elder sighed, fidgeting.

"Oh... You could, y'know, come with us if you want. Jeongin's gotten attached, and you're not half bad once you get past the knife to neck." Changbin paused, it... Wasn't something he could say he'd thought about before. Sure, Jeongin was sweet and Chan was comforting in a way.

But, Changbin had always been alone. So it was weird. Chan blinked, waiting for his reply. And hesitantly, he nodded.

"Sure, I guess. I, yea. I'd like that."