POISONED YOUTH: TWISTED

CHAPTER 24

The midnight air brushed against Haechan's bare skin as he walked through the designated alleyway, his thin shirt shifting with every step. His long brown hair fell messily over his forehead, occasionally tickling his dark, stoic eyes. Both hands remained buried in the pockets of his black leather jeans while his boots carried him deeper into the narrow passage.

His nose scrunched slightly.

The familiar, intoxicating smell of drugs mixed with the thick scent of smoke hanging heavily in the air. It rushed through his senses almost instantly, bringing back a familiarity he didn't bother fighting.

He needed them.

"Oh, Haechan! Glad you came!"

The familiar voice of one of his friends pulled a smirk from him. The two of them continued deeper into the alley until they reached their usual secret hangout.

"My boy's here!"

Three boys sitting around the makeshift area immediately looked up, their faces breaking into wide grins. The friend who had welcomed Haechan grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him down onto a chair made from stacked bricks.

"Only four of you?" Haechan asked, his eyes moving from one person to another.

"Well, the others are busy living their heavenly lives," Yuta answered mockingly, leaning back against the wall. "We don't want to disturb them, do we?"

Haechan let out a quiet scoff. "Still no contact?"

The boys exchanged glances before shrugging.

Haechan didn't question it any further. He reached toward the small stash sitting on the table, intending to take a piece for himself, but the moment his fingers brushed against it, the tattoo on his wrist suddenly reacted.

"Oh, hold there. You met your soulmate!" Johnny's eyes widened.

"Johnny, you shouldn't have called him here," Taeyong said, disappointment evident in his voice.

"Oh, come on." Johnny laughed, flashing Haechan a cheeky smile. "He didn't even tell me that he met her. Let my boy live."

Haechan glanced down at his wrist.

The tattoo had already settled, but the warmth remained faintly beneath his skin.

Trust me. She can taste that. Mark's warning from before came back to him.

Haechan simply smirked and pushed the thought aside. He picked up the drug and lit it anyway, leaning back against the brick wall.

"Nah. It's fine."

He took a slow drag, letting the smoke settle into his lungs.

He ignored the strange feeling in his chest that told him otherwise.

───────

Yeoreum woke with a sudden rasp in her throat.

Her mouth felt dry, and the faint minty taste lingering on her tongue only made the unpleasant feeling worse. She slowly opened her eyes before jolting upright, immediately regretting the movement when dizziness washed over her.