GUNS & ROSES | ꜱᴇᴠᴇɴᴛᴇᴇɴ

xiv. ✓

𝒙𝒊𝒗.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

I frowned at the sound of dripping water; familiar but at same time, foreign.

The rhythmic sound of water droplets echoed through the room, mingling with the confusion swirling inside my head. As I gradually regained consciousness, a wave of soreness washed over me, causing my body to ache with every movement.

I forced my eyes open, only to be greeted by an intense flood of light pouring in through an arched window. I found myself lying on a queen-sized bed, cocooned in a plush dark maroon comforter. The room was sparsely furnished, with only the bed, an elegant Victorian couch, and an empty vanity.

Glancing towards the mirror above the vanity, I caught sight of my own reflection. Startlingly, my head was wrapped in a bandage, hinting at an injury I couldn't recall.

"You're awake."

The voice, tinged with a mixture of relief and concern, snapped my attention toward the doorway. My heart skipped a beat as I recognized the figure standing there.

"Jihoon!" I exclaimed, my voice filled with a mix of surprise and relief. He strode into the room, closing the door behind him and swiftly locking it, the click of the lock resounding through the silence.

"Jihoon, where am I? Where are Seungcheol and the others?" I bombarded him with questions, desperation seeping into my voice. I noticed the way his lips twitched at the mention of Seungcheol's name.

"You always manage to get yourself into trouble, don't you?" Jihoon retorted, his lips twitching with a mixture of annoyance and amusement. His tone carried a hint of bitterness that I was all too familiar with.

Jihoon took a seat on the Victorian sofa, crossing his legs and resting his clasped hands on his thighs. His gaze narrowed, studying me intently. "You could have made it through your senior year and graduated, but you're so nosy, Dani. Do you know that?"

Annoyance flickered within me. I knew Jihoon had never been particularly fond of me, and his biting words only confirmed that. But what was his problem with me?

"I have nothing against you," he suddenly stated, his words cutting through the tension. I bit my lip, slightly taken aback by his unexpected statement. Did I say my thoughts out loud again?

Clearing his throat, Jihoon continued, "Do the ritual."

It took me a moment to fully process his words, my mind struggling to comprehend their meaning.

"W-What?" I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.

Jihoon rose from his seat, causing me to flinch instinctively. He strode closer to the bed, leaning in so that our faces were mere inches apart. Panic bubbled within me, and I tried to retreat, but Jihoon's firm grip on the nape of my neck prevented any escape.

"Do the ritual," he repeated, his voice laced with urgency. "Sleep with Seungcheol and undo the damned curse."

Silence enveloped us, the weight of his words sinking in. I struggled to comprehend the magnitude of what he was asking.

"Why me?" I managed to utter, confusion etching into my voice.

Jihoon remained close, his eyes piercing into mine, his grip on my neck tightening. My breath hitched, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Do the ritual. You're the last key, Kim Dani," Jihoon finally divulged, averting his gaze momentarily before locking his eyes back onto mine. "You're carrying the last cure that can undo the curse. But to activate it, you have to sleep with Seungcheol during the Bloody Harvest."

His words hung in the air, a heavy weight pressing upon me. My heart throbbed painfully, and my mind spun with disbelief.

"Sleep with him?" I repeated incredulously, my voice trembling with shock.

Jihoon pinched the bridge of his nose, frustration was evident on his face. "Yes, Dani. Do I need to spell it out for you?"

Seungcheol entered the room, breaking the tense atmosphere. I called out his name, relief flooding through me as I saw him. But his expression was strained, beaten by something unseen.

"Seungcheol," I gasped, panting heavily as I took in his appearance, searching for answers.

He looked at Jihoon, his voice seething with anger. "Lee Jihoon, what do you think you're doing?" He moved swiftly, grabbing Jihoon by the collar and lifting him off the ground.

"What do you think you're doing?" Seungcheol growled, his voice filled with fury.

Jihoon snorted, earning a punch to the cheek from Seungcheol. The sight horrified me, and a gasp escaped my lips.

"Are you insane, Lee Jihoon?" Seungcheol bellowed, his grip on Jihoon's collar tightening. "Are you fucking insane?"

Jihoon managed to stand on his own, wiping away the blood trickling from his split lip.

"So what if I'm insane? I'm doing this so that we can all survive!" Jihoon grumbled, his eyes meeting Seungcheol's fiery gaze. "Only a few days remain before the Bloody Harvest ends, and if we don't undo the curse, the Sakura Clan will become nothing but history. The entire island will perish!"

Seungcheol groaned in frustration, the weight of their exchange weighing heavily on him.

I remained on the bed, watching the two of them with wide eyes, unable to comprehend the gravity of the situation unfolding before me.

"She was meant to die," Jihoon's voice trembled with a mixture of sorrow and determination. Tears welled up in his eyes, streaming down his cheeks. "Rose's death was predetermined, Cheol hyung. We couldn't have prevented it. It was her destiny." Jihoon's voice cracked, his words carrying the weight of his grief.

Seungcheol's frustration was palpable, his anguish evident in every fiber of his being.

"I know we are all traumatized by Rose's death," Jihoon continued, his voice choked with emotion. "But her sacrifice was necessary for Danielle to fulfill the final step in undoing the curse. Without her, Danielle wouldn't even be here, hyung."

Confusion swirled within me, my mind struggling to grasp Jihoon's words.

"What do you mean?" I whispered, my voice barely audible amidst the intensity of the room.

Jihoon averted his gaze to me, his eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions.

"Your own father, Kim Danielle," Jihoon began, his voice heavy with sorrow. "He sold you to our clan."

His words struck me like a lightning bolt, the world around me suddenly spinning out of control.

"W-What?" I gasped, tears streaming down my face as my mind reeled with the revelation.

Jihoon crossed his arms, his gaze unwavering as he stared at me, his eyes void of emotion.

"Your father sold you to our clan, Danielle."

***

sorry for the short update!