"Is there anything more perfect that the love I can gift you with?"
The words, although spoken softly, almost kindly, made a yellow, warning light appear in your head. You closed your eyes for a moment, letting the man take the lead. He guided you forward, into the dark, empty room. Coldness emanated from the brick walls, urging you to wrap arms around yourself. However, soon you realized, that the chill was not the only reason for your trembling.
"Smile, love."
A dry laugh escaped your throat; the request sounded naive, as though the man who spoke was unaware of your current state. Truthfully, the kind look on his face seemed to see no evil in his own doing. As though – in fact – he expected you to feel good.
"How can I smile when you hurt me?"
The smile on his own face faltered; and by now, you knew that you should be careful. Displeasing him was not in your best interest, that much you already figured out.
A hand grasped yours gently. The man stepped backwards, pulling you further into the basement. The warmth of his skin was surprisingly welcome. The thought of his arms wrapping around your freezing frame was comforting. In the dark, scary space you found yourself in, he was the light. He was what could make you feel human, wanted, needed.
Yet you forced yourself to push it away, not wanting to take the consequences that came with this confession.
Were you greedy to want only the good sides?
But how could he call his love perfect if so much pain came with it?
"Think again, love. Why, you think, do I hurt you?" he asked, letting go of your hand and you instantly felt an unpleasant pang of loneliness. Once again, you wrapped arms around yourself, trying to save any warmth your body still provided you.
You wondered. The answer was there, you knew. He's already told you before, yet all along it sounded too ridiculous for you to believe.
"You said it... but I don't understand it."
He smiled again, understandingly. Stepping forward, he was next to you again. His fingers reached to your face, enjoying the way you flinched at first, afraid that a pain would follow. But it didn't; instead, the man caressed your skin gently, tracing your hairline and jaw, rubbing your chin gently, his thumb brushing your trembling lip.
"I will tell you again, then, and as many times as it takes for you to understand." He leaned forward. His cheek brushed yours, his lips found themselves next to your ear. His warm breath caressed the side of your face, and when he spoke, it tickled your ear. "You see, it'd be unfair to restrain you from the outside world. I want you to choose me willingly. I want you to see how evil and cruel the world is, and return to me, to what only I can give you. And to do that, you must see what it means, to be away from me."
His hand pushed your chest, making you stumble backwards and collide with the cold, brick wall. You flinched at the cold and winced when your hand brushed something even colder than the wall, something metal. You instantly recognized the shape, having experienced the cold touch many times before.
"I'm not stupid, my love. I know that what I'm doing to you now, is anything but love" he whispered, reaching for your wrist and wrapping it with the cold handcuff. The thing didn't restrain your movements, but it ensured that you wouldn't be able to move further than a meter away from the wall. "But you haven't earned my love yet, and therefore, I have no choice but to show you what the world without me is."
You closed your eyes, sliding onto the floor. It was uncomfortable, but you realized that you wouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon. Whenever he brought you here, you'd spend here at least a day or two; the darkness was something you started to accept, though, the displeasure being nothing in comparison to other ways of showing you the world's cruelty you've had a chance to experience before.
You didn't fight anymore. The words of comfort he spoke were like a spell, pulling on the strings of your sanity, slowly drowning you in the man's daydream.
"What do I have to do? To earn it?" you asked, sounding pitifully.
Hoseok knelt down in front of you, and you reached forward in attempt to steal some more of his precious warmth. And he let you, guiding your cold fingers onto his cheek, burying his face in your hand for a brief, blissful moment.
"Be strong, love. Have faith. And I promise you, it'll be worth the outcome."
The chain connecting your wrist to the wall clinked when the man eventually moved away, letting your hand fall onto your lap. The coldness surrounded you yet again, no source of warmth making you curl up, trying to save your own.
In fact, the only thing you craved for now, was his embrace.
Because, truthfully, there was nothing more perfect than the love he could gift you with.
