Empire | ATEEZ

009

"Are you really making your second do all of your dirty work for you, Hongjoong?" Felix asked, furrowing his brows, though I could tell his confidence was wavering as Hongjoong didn't move the gun and Seonghwa didn't back down either.

The blue-haired man simply chuckled at that, "Isn't Chan? I will go to extreme lengths to protect my family, Felix, even if it means getting my hands dirty, but I am a leader after all. I am the king, after all."

When none of the men moved, Hongjoong rolled his eyes before moving his arm to aim the gun at the night sky instead, making me flinch and whimper as he fired a shot into the darkness before once again aiming the gun at Felix.

"Are you willing to accept the consequences for your stupidity right now or will you run back to Chan instead?" he asked, his tone eerily calm and cold as Felix finally took a step back, Changbin immediately moving away from me as well as the blond sent one last glare at the two furious men before both of them headed down the street.

I had barely caught my breath before my knees buckled and I felt my legs give out, stumbling forward at the same moment Seonghwa hurried over to catch me, desperately clinging to him as he embraced me and pressed me closer, sobbing into his chest as Hongjoong simply watched the two of us in silence.

Seonghwa rubbed my back in soothing circles as he simply held me close, whispering "Everything will be okay," over and over again as I broke down right in front of him, clenching my eyes tightly shut as my entire world came crumbling down.

〄

Seonghwa carefully laid you down onto his bed and tucked the covers around you, letting out a deep breath as you sniffled a little before falling completely still.

He couldn't resist the temptation to reach out and softly brush away the hair falling into your face, the sight of you momentarily taking his breath away before he once again felt his heart sink as a tear trickled down your cheek, gently wiping it away with the back of his thumb as a sigh left his lips.

He frustratedly ran a hand through his hair as he got back up, "What have I done?" he whispered, lingering only for a moment longer before making his way to the door and slipping out of the room, carefully closing it behind him before heading down the hallway towards the meeting room.

"She's asleep," he mumbled, walking past the others before sinking down into the chair on Hongjoong's right, closing his eyes with a deep breath as Jongho turned to him, clearing his throat, "What do we do now?"

"She gets one week," Hongjoong said, tapping his knuckles on the table, "Seonghwa and I have already been over it. One week and nothing more. I will feed her, I will house her, but I will not be responsible for her. She might have saved his life but she does not belong in it, belong in this world."

Everyone's attention turned to Seonghwa at that. He nodded slowly as his eyes fluttered back open, bowing his head respectfully at the leader in gratefulness. "One week," he breathed.

〄

I woke up with a start, sitting straight up in bed as my eyes widened at my unfamiliar surroundings with mixed feelings of awe, and surprise; dark, was the first word that came to mind as I took in the black bedding, the rug, the wall behind me, and the overall lack of lighting in the room.

"Where the hell am I?" I whispered only to halt as memories of last night washed over me with a chill, suddenly remembering Seonghwa, his warm embrace, his soft words-

An audible gasp left my lips as I immediately tore off the covers only to sigh in relief as I was still wearing my own clothes. All of them, at that.