A/N: I hope you like this AU! I have a lot of chapters planned out, so I’ll try to update it as often as I can!♥
“...ke up...wake up!”
Your cheek feels numb on the cold floor. You slowly push yourself up enough to be able to look up to the person shaking your shoulder. Once you recognize him, you turn around and close your eyes again.
“Shut up and let me sleep, Hongbin.It’s still dark outside.”
You’re still half asleep and can’t do much more than grumble under your breath.
“What outside? Have you even seen where we are? Now wake up and help me find out what the hell happened to us before I leave you here by yourself!”
His worried tone is what pushes you to finally sit up, your eyes quickly getting accustomed to the dim light that seems to be emanating from the walls of the room you’re in. It’s surprisingly empty, the only piece of furniture being small mirrors on which, upon greater inspection, you figure out the words “usque ad mortem, vos autem diaboli”.
“What does that even mean?” Hongbin laughs at your question.
“It’s Latin, you silly. It means ‘until death, you...uh, something...devil.’ “
After inspecting every single one of the mirrors, you decide to try and find an exit, the atmosphere beginning to feel heavier by the second.
“This is seriously starting to creep me out. Why are we here? Just yesterday, I was….I was…”
“Yeah, I don’t remember either. I figured it out earlier but I hoped I would be wrong...We’re both stuck here without any memories except from the fact that we remember each other.”
“Who could forget an idiot like you? We literally grew up together, of course we remember each other!”
He chuckles at your remark before playfully hitting your shoulder.
“Hey! Be careful of what you say! I could say the exact same thing about you, you know…”
Laughter fills the room as you both momentarily forget where you are, reassured by each other’s familiar presence. The thought of danger is far from your mind as you continue to bicker and giggle. Until something changes.
The light becomes blindingly white and clear, seeping through the mirrors surrounding you. Your first reflex is to almost jump into Hongbin’s arms as a deafening sound echoes and bounces off the walls. Your head feels like it is on the verge of exploding and your hands fly to your ears. You feel Hongbin moving to do the same and you shut your eyes, trying to keep tears from running down your cheeks. This is horrible, I feel like I’m dying. You can see the light becoming even more intense through your closed lids while you pray for the sound to stop. I’d rather die than hear this for one more minute.
And then, nothing.
You wake up, on the floor again and surrounded this time by a warm red light. It is kind of disorientating at first, since it blocks out any other colors from your vision, but you slowly get accustomed to it.
“Hongbin? Hongbin, where are you?”
No answer. At least, you still remember what happened after you woke up the first time. Your leg feels numb, the position you were in cut your blood flow and you’re struggling to sit up. But you have to. You really want to get out of this place. As soon as possible.
Looking across the room, you realize that it’s different from the one you first woke up in earlier. How much time have I been knocked out for? Minutes, hours? It’s only when you start wondering who brought you here that you hear grumbling coming from over your head. A table. You didn’t notice it at first since the legs are made out of thin metal rods, but you’re under a table. Slowly, whilst making the least amount of sounds possible, you peak your head from under your cover. Not seeing anything threatening, you finally stand up.
Lying on top of the table, a man. He’s visibly sleeping and probably having an interesting dream, judging by how he’s mumbling incoherently under his breath. His hair falls softly on his forehead but you can see his brows furrowing in annoyance. He seems very displeased by whatever is happening in his dream and his lips turn into a pout while he turns away from you. You contemplate waking him up, and dread what would happen but, since you can’t see a way out, you figure that he might know one.
He probably didn’t expect you to be awake, since he shoots up when you carefully shake his shoulder.
“mmmmmh….of course not...don’t get mad….why...no…..huh? YES, YES I’M AWAKE!”
He’s even more startled when he notices you, shuffling around to get down from his improvised bed. He stands up next to you and fumbles with his words, his dark eyes looking you up and down.
“H-hi, I’m Hyuk. Well, Sanghyuk, but no one actually calls me that.”
“Uhh...hi Hyuk? I’m (y/n). Nice to meet you...I guess?”
“Uhm, I was supposed to greet you when you woke up, but I guess I...fell asleep? I’m really sorry…”
“Don’t worry...do you know a way out of here?”
“Uhg N is going to kill me”
He’s now sitting down on the edge of the table, running a hand through his hair. You can hear him exhale loudly before he continues.
“Okay, so...where should I start….this place is a maze and, as far as we know, there is no way out.”
“We?”
“Yes -please let me finish, you’ll understand after. So, as I was saying, me and my...brothers, we look for new huma- people, new people who appear in here. Our job is to keep them safe with us, but some get away and we never see them again. Now, follow me.”
He sticks his hand out for you to take, but you don’t move.
“But...from what are you keeping them safe? And can you explain to me where the hell is my friend?”
He looks annoyed now, as if he thought you were just going to agree and go with him.
“We can go and see if he’s with N if you want! Or you could….you know, just stay here and never find your way out of this room...”
I don’t really have a choice… You agree, following him without taking his hand. He simply pushes a portion of the wall, which automatically opens. A hidden door. The new room has normal lighting, helping your eyes rest from the previous room’s harsh one. You can now study the man standing before you. He is tall and well dressed. Rings decorate his hands, the red shimmer of what appears to be rubies being the only color that pops from the dark clothes he’s wearing. He doesn’t look that dangerous.
Thoughts are running through your head as you politely decline the food he offers you, the recent events having made you lose your appetite. Should I trust him? Who are the others? Is Hongbin okay? Where is he?
“You sure you don’t want to eat anything?”
“No thank you, didn’t you tell me that we were going to find my friend?”
Is it me or did his eyes flash red for a second? He moves to place a hand on your shoulder, but stops his movement as his fingers brush against your shirt. He winces and backs away, taking a deep breath before answering.
“Why are you so impatient! I told you he was with N! He’s in good hands, don’t worry. I’m just making sure you’re feeling well.”
His eyes definitely flashed red now.
“Who is this N you’re talking about anyways? I don’t know him, why should I even believe you?”
He lets out a small pained noise as he suddenly turns around, his hands flying to his head.
“What’s happening, are you okay-”
“Dammit, I thought I would make it this time! Don’t worry, I’m quite accustomed to pain, even if I prefer seeing it that feeling it...”
You gasp when he faces you again, his dark eyes having changed to a bright red. Two small points erupt from the top of his forehead, through his hair. How can this be real? His smirk and laugh make you back up towards a darker part of the room, you hand finding a small crack through the wall. That’s my way out.
“I know what you’re thinking. ‘Demons don’t exist’ Well, we do. And you should get it through your mind since you’re not leaving this place.”
Before he has the time to move in your direction, you push the wall behind you as hard as you can. Feeling the door turn in its hinges, you back up in the opening and start sprinting through the poorly lit hallways of the maze the demon told you about. When you stop running, exhausted, you hide in an empty room, making sure he didn’t follow you. Hongbin’s in trouble. I have to find him.
Catching your breath, you look around the room and find another exit. You can see the light under the closed door. Would it be...it is him!
On the other side, you can hear your friend’s shaky voice. Your eyes widen when you understand what is happening. You act on impulse, not thinking your actions through, and slam the door open.
