𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚢𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 ⁿᶜᵗ

two.

"okay, so... lets say i do want to steal this hard drive... what do i do? how does it look like?"

the boy tried to quell the growing sense of nervousness and shock manifesting in the depths of his soul. kill someone? steal? he had only agreed to meet up with those boys because they were the first people to approach the boy ever since he enrolled in the school. furthermore, they had promised him that it was "a safe outing". at these tender teenage years, all anyone wanted was to have a group of friends. the boy desperately yearned for that. torn between making friends and the lawful choice, he felt like tearing his hair out and screeching.

but what would his parents say if he agreed-

however, he stopped short of finishing the sentence when the reality hit him yet again like a five- ton wrecking ball.

"your parents are dead..." came an echo from the back of his mind. he took a deep breath.

they... would never come back for him.

after that brief hesitation, the boy had made up his mind fully. it was not like anyone cared if he lived or died, whether he thrived or wilted. he would just do it. he took a deep breath and looked the boy with the mullet straight in the eye.

"so, how do i take it? how does it look like? do i just stab the dude and run? will you guys be outside?"

"chiiill, we will give you instructions along every step of the way. we wont abandon you. i swear." the boy with the cap mused with a smile, giving a earpiece- mouthpiece set to the other boy, then attaching an identical earpiece into his own ear.

he then noticed that all the others had earpieces in their ears too. however, he still had no idea why he was even agreeing to all this in the first place. it was probably because of the company that hed earn after he completed this task...

after some explaining, the boy was ushered out of the car with a weapon in hand and an image of both his victim and target seared in his mind. he flexed his arms and started to find the opening in the palatial house mentioned by the other boys. he turned around to see the 4 crowded at the window of the car, their breaths fogging up the glass, their cheeks smushed up against it. on other circumstances, the boy would have laughed out loud. but not then. this was a risky mission, but essential if he wanted to have some company.

his heart pounding from the adrenaline and fear, his hands icily soaked with sweat, he disappeared into the opening of the house.

the interior was cool and spacious, and the boy gaped in silence for a while.

"what are you doin boy?" voices whispered hoarsely into the earpiece, snapping him back into reality.

"dont leave any trace of yourself. keep those gloves that we lent you on your hands always." another voice resounded, this time with a slight edge of warning.

the boy started to look for the place where the hard drive was. hopefully, it was still there.

with the help of the voices coming from his earpiece; he recognised the voice as that guy with the bowl- cut, he finally came to a stop in front of a black door.

"okay, i will pick the lock with that small knife... and kill the owner..." he went through the plan that the boys had whispered to him over the small contraption in his ear.

the boys heart was a machine gun, firing at a rapid pace when he took out the slender instrument. the knife nearly slipped out of his clammy, cold hands slick with sweat, and his heart missed a beat.

calm down.
calm down.
breathe.
action.

jamming the blade into the keyhole, he unlocked the door with a few skillful twists of the weapon.

"okay are you in?" voices echoed into his earpiece.

"yes," he whispered back. "ill make this quick-"

he scanned the room, only lit with the stray wisps of moonlight streaming into the abode. a computer lay on a table.

hard drive, hard drive... there it was.

plugged into the device was a small oblong rectangular piece of metal. wasting no time, he pulled the drive out of the computer and tucked it in his pocket. he felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders, but he knew the worst had yet to come.

"im done with the hard drive-" he rasped softly into the earpiece. "give me the instructions. how do i get to the dudes room?"

a few minutes later, the boy had entered his victims room and was poised above the sleeping figure, ready to strike.

he took a deep breath and tried to ignore the nausea he felt tickling his throat and the sickening gleam of the knife. just do it. itll be over soon. youll have friends.

"hey boy you done?" the voice boomed through his skull, a dizzying wave of sound especially in that situation.

he knew then. no more pauses.
3
2
1
grabbing the hilt of the knife, he squeezed his eyes shut and plunged it deep into the sleeping persons chest. a sickening squelch emanated, followed by red oozing out of the wound. the boy quickly pulled the weapon out of the body, and as he ran out of the room, he could not help but notice the coppery smell leaking into the surrounding air.

hands clutching the wet knife, he burst out onto the front porch, his hair a mess, eyes wild with terror. that was a scene he would never forget. another crushing blow was dealt.

was he... a murderer now? why did he do it? why did he follow these guys? were they like this too? he was starting to lose it. collapsing onto the ground, he let the truth slip into his mind like a dangerous fog. the knife slipped from his hands, smeared with blood.

"you
just
murdered
someone
..."

he looked up to see who had spoken. it was the boy with the bowl- cut again. strangely, he was... smiling proudly?

"....this was all a test." the guy with the bowl- cut revealed.

the boy with the mullet grinned seemingly victoriously at him.

the boy furrowed his eyebrows and twiddled with his blood-stained hands.
did he pass? what test was this?

he apprehensively stared at the four in front of him. the one with the bangs shot him a reassuring grin. it was then the one with the mullet spoke, his black eyes boring into the young boy's brown ones with much triumph.

"welcome to nct, minhyung,"

w/n:
the tea just got dowwnnnnn b00min system up up-