The Black Fox & The White Tiger

Black Turmoil

Minhyun couldn't tell the time from where he was. He just knew a lot of hours had probably pass him. He didn't want to eat the food offered at first but he was getting really hungry and thirsty too. After all, he had just woken up before he got snatched away. He stood up sometimes to stretch his sore body that was numb from all the sitting as well but it wasn't like he could move that much with his ankle practically stuck within a small range. He had tried to reach the blue translucent wall but his fingertips could barely graze it even when he laid down. It also gave him a shock when he felt electric zapping him.

He would go back to sitting and tried to find ways to remove the chain again. If only he had his sword, he could break out of it easily but he didn't and there wasn't anything that could serve as a weapon either. He had tried it with the tray but the tray crumpled uselessly. He glanced at the water and food again, his dry throat craving for just a sip. He knew it was probably not poisonous but still, he didn't want to take it. He wondered if this was how Baekho had once felt when he had first captured him from the battlefield. He also wondered why he was thinking of his past memories but guessed it was because he literally had nothing else to do for the first time in a long while.

He sang softly to himself instead. One thing he was glad for at least was that his allergies weren't acting up. He didn't know why but he hadn't sneezed at all so he counted that as a blessing. It would be torturous if he had to sit here and sneeze all day without any tissue either. Again, the footsteps approached and he looked up to see his captor looking in at him.

"Why haven't you eaten or drank anything?" The male asked. Minhyun chose to ignore him, even turning away. It hurt to see that face now. He knew it wasn't the same person. Baekho would never do such a thing to him. Which was why it hurt to know someone with Baekho's face was doing it to him. Confining him here without any proper explanation. "Giving me the silent treatment now?"

Minhyun heard the weird static sound that the wall seemed to make when it was turned off and then the footsteps came closer. He still refused to look at the other. He felt the presence of the other grow stronger as he squatted down in front of Minhyun.

"You'll die if you keep this up," he spoke gently. Minhyun shut his eyes. It's not him. Even if it's his voice, it's not him. He tried telling himself over and over again not to fall for it. "Minhyun..."

"Don't... don't say my name," he hissed bitterly.

"Minhyun."

"Shut up."

"Minhyun..." Minhyun finally turned to look at the other with bloodshot eyes. He held back his tongue as he glared at the other. "You still have to eat and drink something. I can't have you dying on me."

"No. I rather die then," Minhyun huffed and turned away but his face was forcefully turned back as Baekho held him by his cheeks. Minhyun squinted, slapping his hand away. "Don't touch me."

Baekho sighed and picked up the food, unwrapping the package. "Eat it then. Don't make me force you."

"I don't have to listen to you nor do I want to."

"I can't help that I sound just like him. I already told you. We are the same person, just from different worlds."

"Which is what makes you different from him. Baekho would never treat me like this! He is worlds apart from you and you... you can never hope to be him." Every word he said only made him miss Baekho more even though the male before him looked just like him.

"What about this then... if you're going to be so stubborn. If you don't eat or drink whatever I give you and take care of your health, I'll bring your Baekho here and kill him in front of you." Minhyun's eyes widened with panic and hatred.

"You. You did not just threaten me," he hissed.

"But I did. And I always do as I say." Minhyun gulped painfully. He felt a mixture of anger and fear. He didn't want Baekho to die just because of this. He looked at the food in the other's hand. "Your choice. Eat and live. Or don't eat and... Someone else dies for it."

"You... coward," Minhyun snapped. He didn't know what to do. He didn't want to submit to this Baekho but he didn't want his Baekho to die. Baekho placed the food back onto the tray.

"Your choice. I'll come back again later." With that, he got up and left Minhyun alone again. If only he didn't share the same face, Minhyun swore he would have already gave him a punch. Maybe even strangle him for trying to threaten him. He let minutes pass and gradually reached for the food.

"Damn it... Baekho." He brought it to his lips and reluctantly bit into it. It tasted like nothing he had ate before but it wasn't terrible. He silently ate and drank the water too, cursing himself for being so weak when it came to Baekho. His Baekho. He would never be able to forgive himself if Baekho got hurt because of him again. Never again. It was like a stitched scar that was waiting to be ripped apart. He finished it and put the wrapper down.

Unable to do anything, he sang to himself again. Trying to pass time since he didn't want to sleep and give that Baekho a chance to do anything to him. He didn't even know what made him knocked out back in the bedroom. He could only guess it was some kind of weapon that they had yet to make. It wouldn't be that surprising since they already had machines that were way beyond their current time. Minhyun was sure that this black Baekho was from a time more advanced than theirs which made him lose hope that he would ever be found or saved.