— cˡᵘᵇ

HAKYEON: CHECK.
TAEHYUNG: CHECK.
SEHUN: CHECK
JAIJIN: CHECK.
HOSEOK: CHECK.
EUNWOO: CHECK.

[part 8]

Lord knows how, but after wandering out of the swamp, Eunwoo managed to get himself to the club district! His original motivation for leaving the pretty witch doctor behind, was due to being cold and bored.. perhaps it was the heat (and stink) that had managed to attract him to this place. Despite being very drunk, he blended in perfectly with the crowd. On the day of the mardi gras parade.. who wasn't drunk? Thoughtlessly, the 19 year old wandered around for a few minutes, before staring at a flashing sign saying "Black Magic Club" and promptly deciding that he wanted to go inside. Just as he was about to cut in line a hand grabbed him and pulled him back. "You can't do that! You need to wait at the end of the line.. haven't you heard that the doormen here are real jerks?" It was a cute female who was looking at him with a mix of astonishment and concern. He didn't understand much of what she was saying, and just smiled at her. The daft grin and the heavy smell of alcohol (as well as his dilated pupils) were more than enough to tell tales about his present state. Sighing, the girl looked down only to blush heavily. "Yo-!", it seemed she wanted to get mad at him, but looking at Eunwoo's slightly frightened expression, she relaxed and reached down. Like a mother for her son, she pulled up his pants a little, zipped him up and even closed the button for him. She didn't know why he wasn't wearing underwear or why he was running around flashing people, but it probably wasn't his fault. As far as she was concerned, this Asian kid had probably fallen victim to the New Orleans spirit. A tiny smirk danced on her lips. Tonight might be more fun than she'd originally thought. The last thing the priest in training remembered, was the annoyed expression of the doorman and a funky looking cocktail behind handed to him by a handsome and bored bartender.

HAKYEON: CHECK.
TAEHYUNG: CHECK.
SEHUN: CHECK
JAIJIN: CHECK.
HOSEOK: CHECK.

[ 7 / 9 anonymous ; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrdFw3iG52k (song - not post: blood warning) ]

'Wake up. Wake up. Wake up!'

With a choked gasp Jaijin is upright, cheek red from pressing too hard against the table. His head pounds in time with the bass of the music and he winces. Bringing a hand up to his temple Jaijin looks around, eyes widening at the sight before him. Hundreds of people out on the dance floor, bright lights sweeping across empty faces. How in the hell--?

"Oh! You're finally awake." A female voice jumps out at him, clear as day among the background noise. Raising his head Jaijin looks to find a woman with long black hair and silvery eyelids staring back at him. She has a drink in her hand, shimmering with flakes of gold that match her mini dress. It takes a second for Jaijin to process the information, and then he realizes she's speaking a language he understand. "Bet you didn't expect to understand me, right?" she says, grinning a bit and walking confidently in her heels before sitting across from Jaijin. In response he nods, keeping his hand on the side of his head as the pain persists. Her expression turns sympathetic. "Aw. You're friend, the one that brought you here, said you had too much to drink already. Were you at the parade?" Her delicate fingers wrap around the glass flute as she brings the drink to her lips. Jaijin's watches, mesmerized by the break in her pink tiers, before eventually nodding. Then she laughs, tipping her head back. "Wow! You don't talk much, do you?" He shakes his head. Shrugging her shoulders she looks out to the dance floor, immediately waving as two men burst out of the crowd. "Over here!"

As they begin to near the table Jaijin looks away and tilts his head down, resting his forehead against the cool surface of the table. What's going on? A bitter taste invades his mouth, almost like a rotten cherry - a perfect match to the strong headache he has that won't go away. For a moment he feels as if his vision is swimming again, the knots in the table swirling until he's pulled out of his daze by someone scooting in next to him.

"You a friend of Jenny's or something?" Another voice, again, in his own language. Jaijin peeks out from behind his fringe to meet a handsome face. Once more, another shake of the head. "Well, even if you're not, she certainly seems to like you. Wanted me to ask if you'd go out and dance with her."

Jaijin blinks, looking across the table at the woman - now named Jenny - and offering a painful smile. Apparently it's a good sign to her as she suddenly stands up, downs her drink and proceeds to drag him out of the booth. Without words (nor protest on Jaijin's part, too pained to action anything) she pulls him into the crowd. The lights wash over again, red and yellow and blue, hitting the sparkles of her dress and igniting it. Before he knows it her hands are on his body, against his chest and along his back. Jaijin doesn't know what he's doing. Is he dancing? He can't seem to focus, mind getting caught up in the fervor of the club.

"You're a great dancer!" Who said that? "Hey, hey! Are you lis-" Who's there?

His awareness falls away, replaced by mindless noise and sight. As he's dragged through the crowd again he catches glimpses of gold and black and oh, hello handsome face, what's going on? He's moving, through the club where the crowd is dwindling, towards the entrance. Someone's crying. "-ust take him." Female? "He seems drug...ou sure that's okay?" Handsome. "He probably wants it anyways. Doesn't seem to like girls." Gold. "Let's just leave him a-" Handsome. "-right." Gold.

"I can take him off your hands." New. "He's actually my fri-"

Gone.

[ Part 6 ]

22:00.
Myunjae's digital watched flashed, indicating that it was time for them to set their plan into action. Dressed in clubbing attire, the man leaned against the wall near the back entrance, eyes scanning the narrow alley leading to this place. J-Hope should arrive any time soon.

22:15.
Although a little worried, Myunjae believed the younger man simply got caught up.

22:29.
Still no sign of J-Hope.

22:47.
Hope was absent. Both with the J and without. From the very beginning, Myunjae had his reservations about J-Hope's sudden determination to take down his Master. After all, the kid had been raised by the man. He had a feeling this was a failed mission from the beginning, but he wanted to give J-Hope a chance. The boy was probably either fleeing or dead in a ditch somewhere. Shaking his head in disappointment, Myunjae made his way back, accepting the fact he was never going to get out of his predicament.

Little did the man know that J-Hope was already inside the club. Inside the VVIP room. On his Master's lap.

Clad in only a thong, a short wrap around his waist, some other accessories and lots of make up, J-Hope had entered the club as part of the group of es rented for Master's pleasure. Thankfully, by the time he had arrived with the other girls and boys, his Master and crew were already pissed drunk. Which made it easier to charm the pants off his Master. Not that it had been a task of great difficulty in the past, but at least the man wouldn't recognize J-Hope in his drunken state.

"You're so tiiight.." grunted the man, face flushed from the alcohol and the heat around his . J-Hope inwardly grimaced, wondering how he put up with this crap for all these years. He didn't know what made his mindset change; something had happened — the memories were in that black hole void — but he definitely thought it was for the better. "And you're so.. so h-hot.." he mewled out, slowly bouncing up and down on his Master's lap like he had countless of times in the past. Only now was he absolutely appalled at how disgusting this was.

"Faster," commanded his Master. Complying not because he was told to, but because he wanted to get over with this quickly, J-Hope started riding the man faster, trying his best to suppress the bile rising in his throat. To distract the Master, the young boy kept gyrating his hips and squeezing his walls around the hard in him, watching with morbid fascination at the varying expressions on the man's face. It was easy to tell the moment his Master came. Most notably, the pure look of ecstasy on his face, and then the warm liquid filling him up the , some of it even trickling down past J-Hope's thighs. Disgusted was an understatement.

"Come visit me again, hm, baby?" Master said with a twisted smile, groping the poor boy's cheeks harshly. J-Hope simply smiled at him, tying the and pretending to dispose of it, but he simply tucked it into a plastic bag which he hid with the wrap around his waist. "For sure," he whispered into the man's ear, striding past his Master with a sultry sway to his hips. That was the last time the man would ever be laying with someone.

HAKYEON: CHECK.
TAEHYUNG: CHECK.
SEHUN: CHECK.

part 2

Was this was he had done to all the people that had ended up on Sehuns table back then? Battered and broken and nothing more than bloody pulps, begging for death to come at the surgeons hands who was simply recycling them into a new life that wasn't their own? He didn't know. He didn't want to know. Those days were over and after tonight, there would be no trace left in this world that Oh Sehun had ever existed. Tomorrow, he would truly be Oh Shixun, pediatrician and people person.
"I'm Shixun.", he introduced himself after a longer pause in their conversation, letting go of his glass long enough to offer his hand to the other, who immediately reached out and took it, thick fingers curling around Sehuns slender ones, sweaty palm sticking to his own.
"Jaekwang.", was the answer he got and Sehuns eyebrows shot up on his forehead, disappearing behind silky black. It was another alias, one he had never heard the man use before. So maybe this had been the reason Sehun himself had never been able to find him - the reason he had to rely on somebody else to do the work and find him. The reason he had sold his own flesh and blood as bait to lure him out.
"It's nice to meet you, Jaekwang.", he simpered, giving the tallers hand a tiny squeeze as he let his eyes crinkle into tiny crescent moons, teeth on full display as he smiled. "Cheers."
"Cheers.", Jaekwang echoed him as he raised his beer bottle to his lips, but his eyes lingered on Sehuns own mouth, the way he curled his lips around the edge of his glass and Sehun knew - he ing knew - he had already won this.

It was surprisingly easy to fall into a normal conversation with Jaekwang, making small talk and lying straight through his teeth as he told the other man about College, about the way his friends always for being a grind and how he did nothing but study most of the time. (This wasn't even a lie, really. He had done all that back when he had attended College, when he still had friends who he considered worthy of his time)
And Jaekwang was hanging off his lips by his fifth beer, body swaying heavily from side to side as if he had to try not fall flat on his face - or onto Sehun for that matter.
"You have such a pretty mouth.", the older muttered, sloppily reaching out to press a thumb to the swell of Sehuns bottom lip, dragging it down a little. "I bet you are great at ."
"Ew.", the younger raven head felt himself about to reply, nose wrinkling already - but he managed to stop himself once more, making himself brush the tip of his tongue against the salty tip of the thumb on his lip.
"I might be."; he shot back, feeling hot and tingly all over from both the adrenaline that was starting to spread through his body like wildfire, and the alcohol that was making his tongue and limbs loose and the pain in his leg nearly forgotten.
"God, I want you to.", he heard over the music, blurry but still audible and his insides did a twist of victory, almost of joy, fingers already itching as if they yearned to close around the hard metal handles of his scalpels.
"Alright.", he nodded, slapping a bill onto the counter and seizing his cane, hobbling away as ungraceful as he could to make himself appear way more drunk than he actually was. "What are we waiting for then?"
".", Jaekwang muttered under his breath, emptying his bottle in one long drag and shoving it onto the counter, sliding a hand over Sehuns shoulder - to steady himself or the slightly smaller male? He didn't care.
"Maybe later.", the surgeon snickered, the end of his hunt already like a lingering taste on the tip of his tongue. "Yes, maybe later."

[] Part 7 of Shixuns journey

part 1

If there was one thing in the world Sehun had to decide to hate, it would be nightclubs. He hated them with a burning passion, almost as much as he hated the man he had come to chase down all the way to New Orleans.
He had sworn it. Not only to himself but to the one that had lost her life in all of this.
So he had to grit his teeth and bite down hard as he made his way towards the brightly lit bar in the back of the club, neon colors dancing across his complexion and making him shine like a ghost that didn't belong into this world anymore. Alcohol would numb his senses, he was aware of that more than anything else - even more than he was aware of the eyes that followed him across the room or the touches that lingered on his skin unwelcomed and unasked. And yet he needed the couple of shots he threw back as soon as he had reached the bar, knocking his head back to swallow the bitter, burning liquid that slid hotly down his esophagus and pooled even hotter in his stomach. He felt like he was about to die tonight, like he was having his last meal replaced by Tequila and salt right now. A part of him knew that he was the one who would win tonight, the one coming out of this victorious, with yet another life taken by his hands. Or at least that was what he had to tell himself to not lose his mind. Damn this leg, damn it all. He was still strong, wasn't he?
But the thug he had tracked down to this town and to this club was in training while Sehun himself had gotten a little sloppy with his work outs, lulled into a state of tranquil by the safety the island provided. It was foolish to do that - getting out of shape as much as he had. It was, because he had been waiting for this day to come and now that it was finally there, he didn't feel ready.
His body was still strung taut like a wire, hard under soft skin that was pulled tight over sinewy muscles and tendons, veins popping out along his arms and the v of his pelvis. The raven haired doctor still told himself he was able to take down anyone he wanted to, when he looked into the mirror, but right now... he felt small.

Unprepared.

Easy prey.

He couldn't help the shudder that ran down his spine when he felt a hand settle at the small of his back, a warm body pressing into his side and a shadow leaning into the bar in his peripheral vision. The need to throw up was there again, suddenly and overwhelming and he reached for his third and last shot of Tequila quickly, before he could give in to it.
"Didn't think you would come.", the tall figure by his side slurred and Sehun forced himself to act surprised, eyes big under his black fringe as he turned his head. "Why not? Everybody is partying tonight. I thought I shouldn't hide in my room..."
"Ahh.", came the drawn out reply to his words, the mans unfocused eyes landing on Sehuns alcohol glistening lips, then wandering up over his nose to his eyes, although they were glassy and seemingly looking into the distance. Perhaps, Sehun entertained the thought as his smile grew almost genuine (not for the reasons this probably wished for). Perhaps he didn't even need the little jar of powder he had gotten from the witch doctor, the substance in it strong enough to knock a man off his feet for at least a couple of hours. No, he decided then an there as he dared to lean in a litte closer towards his chosen victim, it would be more fun if the bastard was awake and aware of the things Sehun would do to him.
"You seemed like you wanted me to come tonight.", he purred, letting his tongue flicker over his bottom lip, before he bit into it, dragging his pearly whites over the slowly reddening flesh. "And my whole group ditched me, because..."
He shot a look down at his crippled leg and cane, eyebrows furrowing sadly as his voice trailed off.
"You know what?", the taller declared loudly over the booming music, dragging the hand he had in the small of Sehuns back upwards to pull him a tad closer, beer tainted breath fanning over the youngers face. "I'm actually really ing glad they left you hanging. Company tonight until you got here."
"You don't know me yet.", Sehun answered easily, ordering another drink with a wave of his hand, cocking his head to the side as he let the trail of his eyes wander from the thugs face to his neck and torso.
Oh God, how satisfy it would be to slice into that soft flesh, to cut the smaller veins under the mans inked skin open so slowly, he would feel every drop of blood leaving his body.

"I'm sure you are good company.", he heard the other mutter and he barely withstood the urge to crush a bone right then and there when he felt a large hand cup the round of his and giving it a good, hearty squeeze. Disgusting.

@jeongguk j. 〈 jeon |H| HAKYEON: CHECK.
TAEHYUNG: CHECK.

[ 1 ]‘–i’mma wake up, pull the reaper out the door,’ Arms held high above a head, fingers out stretched and body swaying to and fro to the beat that reverberates through the entire area. Breaths mixing together and bodies grinding helplessly against one another. Alcohol should be helping by now, but it was left discarded on the bartop. His body in a light sheen of sweat as he recalls the letter that was finely pressed into his suitcase, laid neatly on top like it had been there all along. A picturesque moment that sent chills through his heart and set his body into a frenzy.

Lights blare around him as wild eyes search fortuitously for a sign. A sign of help, help pressing into clothing, help in the form of bodies writhing together in a mass like penguins straight from the Antarctic. But he was far from warm with them. The letter was the leopard seal that prays on the helpless one that lags behind. People’s faces were changing in front of him, it felt. It felt as if his heart was being squeezed and there was a burning in his leg. Most mistook it for a drunk man stumbling across the dance floor, hands pressing restlessly against the wall for the support he didn’t know he needs. Red hair no match for the red that was suddenly coursing down the side of his leg. Hot and sticky and drenching the fabric of his black jeans. Thank the lord that they were black.

Teeth pull into a clench, lips drawn taut around the pearly whites when cool air hits his body. He’d seen better days. BUt this sudden pain? Was -- Taehyung’s eyes widen from behind the aviator’s that sat on the bridge of his nose. There was no blood. His fingers move up towards his head, the tips rubbing soft along his scalp and his breath shuddering with flutter of his lungs. He’d imagined the blood. Not here. Not like this. These ‘why’s filling his head as he stumbles away from the nightclub. He doesn’t make it far before he’s leaning on the wall for support once more, brick digging into his bicep.

Why did he say he would go alone? He couldn’t last until dawn. The beats of the music thudding in the club are soon drowned out to the restless silence around him, cars whipping past and laughter apparent on faces that were too far away for him to hear.

Nothing felt real anymore.

His nails bite into the scar that’s on his neck, memories blindsiding him and making his body slump against the wall. He’d been waiting for this to happen, he just didn’t expect to be pulled into it like this. He didn’t expect any of this. But maybe it was the fuel he needed to get through this.. This task that would lead to exposure.

He swore he saw the cordiform lips smiling at him from the dark of the alleyway, charcoal eyes boring into his soul. He’d seen so many better days. He’d sent prayers through the roof to be left alone - he didn’t need all the answers, he’d just been praying for a minute. Just say anything at all.

“Go away,” He croaks at the face that wasn’t there, and for once the shadows dip away.

His body protests in forms of growling, and Taehyung pulls himself up the side of the wall to properly take care of himself. For once, in this state of mind, he needs to take care of himself.

Alcohol is merely a temporary solution. It simply covers the grief and pain for the night and rouses you to wake with twice as much pain.
Hakyeon was never fond of it. The smell is foul and the taste two times worse as well. The stench constantly throws him back to his past where his memories are only a bitter reminder of his violated mind and body.

13 year old Hakyeon, who was finally free from his parents' abusiveness was only left with what was a fearful and broken soul searching for help to mend his imperfect body and shattered heart. He sought refuge and was hopeful he had finally found his safe haven when his uncle took him in.
The child with such high hopes of a peaceful and simple life had his dreams crushed the moment his uncle laid hands on him the very first night he slept at his new home. Who would have thought that his uncle was exactly like his mother?
'Like brother, like sister', Hakyeon could only think, as the filthy son of a trailed his grimy and dirt hands along his sides towards his groin area.

And who would think that the nightmare would become worse?

~ * ~
The club music was a nuisance, the beats thumping in Hakyeon's head only annoyed him even further. His head was already throbbing enough just from a sip of liquor. He left the half filled glass to the side and swiveled in his seat, raking the club with attentiveness.
It was way too loud, the crowd made it even hotter within the room, and Hakyeon felt extremely suffocated. But there was a reason why he was here.
Hakyeon finally found him soon enough - that repulsive and disgusting man, gulping down shot after shot just like he always did back at the shed. He had a woman on his lap and he wore a smile on his face - Hakyeon wanted to rip it right off right there and then. The man chuckled, his disgusting and tainted hands roamed along the lady's thighs before slipping in between them.
Their lips touched, and the teasing kisses turned into a heated make out session, as though no one else was around, as though the entire world revolved around them, as though no pair of eyes lingered upon them for more than a minute.

But Hakyeon was watching. He always is.
Hakyeon knew exactly what the man would taste like. His tongue would taste like the bitter liquor he downed just a minute ago, but his lips crusty and stale. His stubble would brush against the chin and the corner of the lips, ticklish and uncomfortable.
Body against body, heavy breaths panting in sync, and Hakyeon merely sat there, silent and un-moving, and he watched and watched and watched until it was almost possible for his eyes to bore a hole straight through the man's head.

His fingers twitched in impatience, and his feet jerked against the stool.

But he had to wait.
It wasn't the right time just yet.

OPEN.