The Scent of Your Blood

Chapter 15

(6:11 PM)

Hongjoong and Mingi's apartment building soon came into view. Hongjoong let out a sigh of relief even though he knew what he will be walking back into was a nightmare. But he wanted to stay.

"Hongjoong-hyung, are you sure you don't wanna come to stay at mine?" Yunho asked and Hongjoong nodded.

"I'm sure. You can come around tomorrow to help pack, okay?" The taller nodded and Hongjoong went to get out but Yunho stopped him.

"Hey."

He turned back to look at his friend.

"Remember what I said and be careful."

Hongjoong smiled as he nodded and got out of the car.

Mingi had grabbed their suitcases and was waiting for him at the entrance/exit of the building.

"See ya, Mingi!" Yunho called out with a wave and Mingi waved back. The others waved to the two as the car pulled out of the parking lot and drove off. The two men quietly made their way inside and over to the elevator. They said nothing to each other until they had arrived at their apartments.

"Hyung," Mingi spoke up and Hongjoong turned to face him.

"Yeah?"

Mingi opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it again, kind of like a fish out of water.

"Is there something going on between you and Yunho? I know you said you see him as only a friend, but, is there something more with you two?"

Hongjoong was quiet. He smiled and walked up to place his hand on the taller man's shoulder.

"Mingi, there is absolutely nothing going on between me and Yunho. So you don't need to worry about me stealing your man." The taller's face flushed pink. "Bye, enjoy the rest of your day," Hongjoong said with a cheeky smile and unlocked his door before stepping inside.

"Hyung! You little shit!" He laughed when he heard Mingi shout after he had closed the door and the other man laughed as well. He felt a sense of relief when Hongjoong told him, but the smile on his face dropped. Yunho probably didn't like him the way Mingi did.

Hongjoong heard the other's front door close and he sighed as he looked around his, surprisingly clean, apartment. Nothing was moved, everything was left how it was before Hongjoong went camping. He rolled his suitcase over to his bedroom and stopped outside the closed door. He took a deep breath in as he closed his eyes, then when he opened the door, he opened his eyes.

His room was...

...The same. Nothing was out of place except for the crucifix that was now laying on the floor. He swore he left it on his bed. Hongjoong bent down to pick it up and just as his fingers brushed over it, the floorboards in the lounge room creaked, causing Hongjooong to jump. He quickly turned around and saw a shadowy figure move away from the doorway. His heart was pounding and he rushed over to see nothing.

What was that?

Hongjoong let out a sigh and ran a hand through his hair. Maybe staying here for one last night was a bad idea, but he felt the need to stay. It was weird, like an invisible pull making him want to stay even though he was scared. Hongjoong turned around and walked over to pick up the crucifix but as he went to grab it, it slid under the bed. He gasped loudly and fell back onto his butt, his hands behind him, holding him up. Hongjoong's heart was pounding hard against his ribs and his breathing was erratic.

The sound of tapping on the carpet caused him to jump again then it halted.

"H-hello?" He struggled to get out and watched as the crucifix slid out from under the bed, stopping just in front of him. Whatever this thing was, it liked playing around... like a child.

"What are you?" Hongjoong whispered but, of course, no response. "Have I made a mistake staying here?" No response.

His bedroom door suddenly slammed shut, pulling an embarrassing scream from his throat.

"Fucking hell," he breathed out and his hand came up to his chest. His heart was racing. He laid on his back with his arms spread out and he inhaled deeply.

"My poor heart can't take this. I feel like I'm living in a horror movie."

———

Hongjoong was sitting on the toilet, his head in his hands and he sighed, it sounding loud in the bathroom. He sniffed and jumped when a sudden strong cramp hit.

"Ow," he whispered. The pains were so bad. His hips, back and lower abdomen hurt so much. Hongjoong's right hand gripped onto the bench when another cramp hit. "Ow! Ow." He silently cried, his teeth clenched and his eyes squeezed shut. He could feel the blood leak out and the water droplet sound echoes around the bathroom. "Fuck. I need to take more panadol to ease the pain."

A few minutes had passed when the toilet flushed and he washed his hands. Hongjoong laid on the bed on his back and rested his hand over where his uterus was.

"Wheat pack and Panadol. That will help," he muttered to himself.

After having two Panadol capsules and had heated the wheat pack, he laid on the couch with the warm bag resting on his lower abdomen. He soon fell asleep with the T.V playing some random movie and a shadowy figure watched him from a corner in the room.

It could smell... blood. It salivated at the smell and moved closer to where Hongjoong was laying, leaning over to observe the male's face. It snarled and moved away, going to the pentagram.

(10:33 PM)

Hongjoong walked out of the bathroom after brushing his teeth and changing his pad to an overnight. He climbed into bed and pulled the blankets up to keep him warm. He rolled onto his side and reached over to turn the lamp off but the crucifix caught his eyes. He grabbed the cross and then turned the lamp off. He placed the wheat pack on the stomach, his hand resting on it.

It took a while for Hongjoong to fall asleep since he was scared of being dragged out of bed, or being scratched or seeing SOMETHING he didn't want to see.

(3:33 AM)

The carpet in the lounge room was flipped over and the pentagram carved into the wood glowed red. Suddenly, a clawed hand shot up and dug its talons into the wood, leaving scratch marks. A figure with horns pulled itself out of the pentagram. This figure stood up straight, the height reaching 6'6. It let out a breath from its mouth, a mist forming and it rolled its neck, then shoulders, the joints cracking.

The glowing red eyes peered around the apartment and a sinister smile filled with sharp teeth appeared on its lips. A tongue slid out and licked its lips. It knew Hongjoong was back, it could feel his presence, could smell him.

The demon slowly made its way towards the human's bedroom and as it did, the gentle sound of a heartbeat reached the demon's ears and the smell of blood getting stronger... It stopped right outside of Hongjoong's bedroom door and closed its eyes, the red glow disappearing behind eyelids.

It inhaled deeply through its nose then its eyes snapped open, a tongue peeking out between its lips. So it definitely smelt blood earlier and it smelled divine. The aroma was so good and the demon salivated. It stalked closer to the end of the bed and stood there, just looking at the human.

The scent of his blood was driving the demon crazy. He wanted to devour him.