Fallen

There are things humans will never truly understand. Matters they decide on blindly, without awareness—just by listening to the voice of their hearts. Things like the future, life, and the true nature of others. But… how much can a heart, itself part of an unaware human, really guide them on the right path? Especially when there are demons both inside and outside. Jungkook glanced at his wardrobe. Everything was black. He picked a shirt, rolled up the sleeves to his elbows, and put on his tight black pants. Looking at himself in the mirror, something was missing. A smirk crossed his lips as he unbuttoned two buttons at his collar and slipped a black inverted cross necklace inside his shirt. “Now you’re ready, Jeon.” He checked the time. Still a little before he needed to leave for university, but to catch a good prey, you always had to be early. He grabbed his keys and headed down the stairs. In the parking lot, he chose his black Benz for the day and got inside. “Oh! Almost forgot!” He opened the dashboard, sprayed his favorite scent on his neck and wrists. He loved that bitter, seductive smell. Ha! Seductive… just like… lust. He parked and entered the campus. It was 10 a.m., and the yard was full of students. Jungkook was well aware of the girls staring at him, but none were the prey he sought. Most of them had good lives, so pampered they didn’t even know what hardship or pain meant. Still… he could feel it—close by. The scent of despair… mixed with a hint of fear. He looked up just in time to catch a black-haired boy, distracted, stumbling into him. It was himself—today’s prey. He looked at the boy’s face—but the boy had fainted. Their collision wasn’t the cause; the boy had passed out. Jungkook caught him firmly so he wouldn’t fall. “What a mess.” He didn’t care about leaving him here, but… a smirk played on his lips. “I’m going to hunt you down good, little one.” He carried the lightweight body effortlessly toward the university clinic. When you had a trained body, carrying someone this light was easy. Jungkook looked at the boy cradled in his arms. Up close, you could see how strikingly attractive he was for a guy. Yet, anyone could read the sadness and pain etched into his face. Even with the fading rope marks around his neck and the countless blade scars on his arms—evident when the nurse began cleaning his wounds. Slowly, the black-haired boy’s eyes opened. His hazy brown eyes fixed on the boy sitting beside the bed. Jungkook saw the exhaustion and resignation in those eyes. Still… there was a force holding him back from fully giving up on life—a force Jungkook was meant to destroy. Taehyung, seemingly entranced, stared curiously at Jungkook’s intense gaze. He couldn’t look away from those two shimmering black stars—eyes that belonged to a stranger who had suddenly appeared. “Are you Taehyung? The one who fainted near the campus?” He blushed and looked down. “Sorry, I think I caused you some trouble.” “No worries. You’ll make it up to me anyway. I just transferred here and I’m alone. I think we’ll be good friends.” “What year are you?” “Second.” “Good. I’m second year too. Looks like we’ll share most of our classes.” “That’s great.” He reached out his hand. “Jeon Jungkook. Nice to meet you.” Taehyung, still half-convinced he was dreaming, stared at the muscular hand. He couldn’t tell if this guy was human or some ancient Greek god. “Taehyung Kim.” And they shook hands. Jungkook heard the thought echoing in his head—your scent is really nice. “Taehyung!” An older boy, who looked older than both Jungkook and Taehyung (though no one could be older than Jungkook!), entered the room. Broad shoulders and quick to scold Taehyung like an old man. “Why do you keep doing this? I’ve told you a hundred times to take care of yourself. Do I talk to the walls? Ten times I said if you feel bad, tell me. But you go off like a crazy person wherever you want. When will you stop making me worry? What if something happens to you? Seriously, you’re impossible!” “Hyung, stop already!” He kept grumbling so fast that he was out of breath, his face red. Taehyung glanced at Jungkook. “I had to call someone who knows you. Jin Hyung was the first on your contacts.” The grumpy boy named Jin stood in front of him, thanking Jungkook. “Thanks so much for saving him. I’m tired of him. I keep telling him to be careful, but he does whatever he wants. He’s going to kill himself with this behavior.” Taehyung shot Jin a sideways look and rolled his eyes. “Seriously, like an old man, hyung.” “Yeah, old man who has to watch over a kid like you.” Jin’s voice cracked with a hint of emotion. “It’s my fault for caring so much.” At first, Jungkook didn’t notice, but the more they talked about Taehyung and his inability to care for himself, the stronger the scent grew—despair and helplessness. But traces of the power inside Taehyung’s soul were also in Jin. Jungkook smiled to himself. Things were going perfectly. The doctor said it was due to malnutrition. His body was weak and he needed to eat more and take care of himself. And Jungkook finally got what he needed to confirm his suspicions—Jin’s deep sorrowful gaze. Exactly what Jungkook wanted. Maybe it was too soon to start, but he was sure it wouldn’t hurt. He leaned close to Jin’s ear. “I understand how you feel. It really hurts when you can’t take care of someone. Like you just want… not to be in this world anymore…” He patted Jin’s shoulder, the scent of cold sharpness growing stronger every moment, and helped Taehyung up from the bed. “I’ll drive you guys home.” “N-no, that’s not necessary. We’ll manage.” Seeing the worried look exchanged between Jin and Taehyung, Jungkook knew there was something he shouldn’t find out. So he glanced at Taehyung’s refusal. He followed Jin and Taehyung to the car. When they saw Jungkook’s car, their jaws nearly dropped. Now he could smell the strong scent of regret from Taehyung—a coldness tinged with bitterness. Taehyung felt strange. Jungkook had helped him, and seemed like a good guy, but… he couldn’t quite put his finger on the uneasy feeling. It stirred something painful in his past—a similar feeling from someone equally dangerously charming. “Let’s go.” Jungkook’s voice pulled them out of their thoughts, and they got into the car. Jin took the back seat, Taehyung the front. Despite his uneasy feelings, Taehyung sat up front so as not to upset Jungkook. “Where to?” Jungkook dropped Jin off at his old apartment, where a worried grandmother stood at the door. Jin’s only family, and possibly his greatest weakness. “Poor guy…” Jungkook muttered under his breath with a faint smile. “I’ll get off around here.” “Tell me where you live. I’ll take you right to your door.” “No thanks, it’s just down this alley. You’d have trouble getting back.” “Are you sure?” “Yeah, really close. Thanks for today.” “You’re welcome.” “Bye, Kookie.” “Kookie? What’s that now? They got close fast.” “Bye.” Jungkook smirked. Wow, the scent of lies was thick—sharp and bitter. For humans, disgusting, but for a demon like him, intoxicating. A lie Taehyung told to keep his reputation safe in front of his new rich friend. “By the way, I saved your number in my phone. Call me if you need anything.” Taehyung nodded and thanked him, then got out of the car, pulling his black hoodie over his head. His steps were slow and lifeless—his exhaustion evident even in his walk. Jungkook parked a little ahead and followed Taehyung to his home. If it could be called that. A run-down building, small with a rotten old wooden door. Part of the roof was collapsed and the windows broken. Large cracks ran along the walls. Jungkook pulled a knife from his pocket and stepped inside. If I lived here, with this neighborhood full of criminals, I’d carry a knife too, he thought. This story is getting interesting, Mr. Kim. He laughed quietly and headed back to his car. It had been a good day—two great prey caught, and a feeling told him this was just the beginning. Parking in his garage, Jungkook entered his home. Turning on the lights, he lay on the couch, staring at the wall. He got up and headed to the bathroom, feeling good enough. Turning on cold water, he stepped into the bathtub fully clothed. He submerged his head underwater, then slowly surfaced after a while. Water dripped from him as he left the tub, turning off the lights. He took off his shirt and dropped it on the floor. Quietly, he descended the stairs to the basement and unclasped his necklace. He placed the inverted cross on a black door at the end of a cold, narrow hallway, adorned with pentagram designs. The door creaked loudly as it opened. The sight inside made him laugh—tall, hysterical. Brick walls covered with pentagram patterns and hanging skeletons created a terrifying atmosphere. A purple mist filled the room with mystery. At the room’s end hung a pair of enormous black wings, their tips spread across the floor like a carpet. He hid his bare upper body beneath those wings and curled up. Once, you and I were connected… strong, beautiful, beloved… but they separated us. Made me fall. Made me weak. He sneered. But I’m here. I will become strong again. All the pain… all the sorrow… all the torment… He stared at his reflection in the mirror. Beautiful… sweet… I love you! They don’t even deserve this! His laugh echoed louder than before in the stone and darkness. He ran his hand along the scars on his chest and arms. “I’ll get back everything. I swear.”