A Light in the Dark
Title: A Light in the Dark
Author: Ink_River10
Pairing: HanChul
Rating: R (high end)
Warnings: Violence, Rape, Gore
Genre: One Shot, AU
Disclaimer: I do not own Super Junior. If I did, you’d know it.
Summary: Heechul is kidnapped and Hangeng goes to rescue him
Author’s Note: I have never written anything like this before. It’s violent and dark, so don’t read it if that kind of thing bothers you. Please read the warnings above!
~~~~
Hangeng crept quietly through the castle, his feet making no sound on the hard stone floor. On his back were his sword, a bow and quiver full of arrows. The dim light cast by the torches on the wall cast shadows everywhere, and he slipped between them like a ghost.
Deep inside the castle, Heechul was being held captive. Hangeng moved silently as the memories that brought him here flowed through his mind.
They had come to the castle, forced to pay fealty to the new King. Changhyun was a huge, vicious man who had killed the King and Queen and taken over leadership of the land where Heechul and Hangeng lived together. Changhyun had taken one look at Heechul and Hangeng and had felt his blood run cold at the look of desire and lust on Changhyun’s face. They had left as quickly as possible, Hangeng holding tightly to his lover as a warning that Heechul was his.
But Changhyun was not to be denied. He waited, cunning as a fox until the wee hours of the morning to take what he wanted. Hangeng and Heechul had been sleeping in their bed, wrapped together as lovers do. And then the door had burst open, there were men everywhere, and the sound of Heechul screaming in terror and rage as they took him. He had fought so valiantly, but he was no match for them.
Hangeng had killed four of them before Changhyun himself had walked in, arrogant and huge in the tiny space of their cottage. He had laughed to see Hangeng struggling, but the laughter had stopped when Hangeng spit in his face. Changhyun had taken up his dagger and plunged it into Hangeng’s shoulder above his heart, twisting violently. Hangeng had cried out in pain, falling to his knees as the white hot burn washed over him, dragging him down into darkness. The last thing he saw was Heechul’s face, bone white with fear and shock, and then his piercing scream that shattered the night and still echoed inside him even now.
That had been two weeks ago.
The wound that Hangeng had sustained had not killed him, but he had been delirious with fever for weeks as Ryeowook and Zhou Mi tended to him. They had heard the screaming that night, seen the men leaving the cottage with Heechul tied and struggling, crying Hangeng’s name. And they had watched in horror as the soldiers had set fire to the cottage with Hangeng still inside.
It had been Sungmin who rescued him. They had been burned, but they had survived. The wound had not killed Hangeng, but slowed him down. He knew that he was Heechul’s only chance for survival. This was not the first time that the overlord Changhyun had taken whatever he wanted without consequence, and Hangeng knew that there was a chance that Heechul might already be dead. The idea of his lover being touched by the filthy, huge man made Hangeng’s stomach roil.
Hangeng clenched his jaw at the hatred for Changhyun thrumming through his veins. He continued stealthily through the hallways towards the great hall. Jongwoon had gone in a few days ago during the day as a visitor to Changhyun to spy for him. He had reported that Heechul was there in the great hall, shackled to the wall near the fireplace. Jongwoon’s face had betrayed more than his words had. Hangeng knew that Heechul was hurt, and badly. It had taken all of them to restrain Hangeng from leaving right then to storm the castle and rescue him.
Instead they had planned, and plotted, and now Hangeng was getting closer and closer to the great hall. They were waiting outside for him to flee, all of them hoping not to be caught. Hangeng prayed he found Heechul, and that he was still alive.
~~
Heechul had gone past the pain a long time ago. Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew he was dying. He wanted it. He wanted to die, because it would mean an end to this nightmare. Sometimes when he woke it was daylight, so bright that the pain seemed like a snake inside his head, coiling and squeezing until he was gasping for breath. And sometimes the hall was dark, and the pain was only a dull throbbing reminder of what he had endured. It was then that he allowed himself to think about Hangeng.
Heechul knew Hangeng was dead, and yet he was still alive. That was the cruelest punishment of all. Changhyun had chained him in the hall and laughed, a great huge, booming laugh that had made Heechul’s skin crawl. And then he had leaned down, close enough for Heechul to gag on the stench of his breath.
“He’s dead. I killed him. No one is coming for you. You’re mine now.”
He had fought at first, screaming and kicking and cursing. Changhyun had just laughed at his struggles, and the pain of being raped so violently had been so searing and blinding that it had eclipsed everything. He had blacked out from the force of it, and that had been a blessing.
That was so long ago now. He had stopped fighting. He simply didn’t have the strength. He had lost count of how many times he had been beaten or raped, or how many of them besides Changhyun had used him. He had lost count of the days, couldn’t remember when he had last eaten anything other than scraps of bread or meat. He just wanted to die and be with Hangeng again in peace. Eventually, death would come and he would go willingly. It was the only thing he waited for now.
~~
Hangeng crept silently into the great hall. The stench was nearly overpowering. The room was empty but for a few passed out soldiers on the floor. Changhyun was not there, and Hangeng wasn’t sure if that made him relieved or uneasy. He made his way across the room towards the hearth and what he saw there made the bile rise up the back of his throat.
His lover, his Heechul was lying on his side on the floor, the shackles around his wrists and ankles had rubbed the skin raw until they were bleeding freely. The shackles were attached to chains that were bolted to the wall, and they were impossibly thick. Heechul looked like a broken doll laying there, his hair matted and dirty, his skin covered in thousands of tiny scratches, cuts and bruises. His beautiful face was also marred with bruises and dried blood, and one eye was swollen shut. His clothes were filthy and torn. He was laying on a dirty pallet of straw, and the scent of blood was so strong that it nearly made Hangeng gag.
He knelt down, his throat burning with horror at what they had done to him. As he got closer, he could see Heechul was shivering. The fire in the hearth had died hours ago, and the chill had settled in. He bit down on the sob trying to claw itself out of his throat. Heechul wasn’t dead yet, but he was close. Death hung heavy in the air, waiting for him. Hangeng reached out, placing his palm over his lover’s cheek.
“Heechul-ah.” He whispered softly.
Slowly, one eye opened and Heechul looked at him. His face did not change at first, he merely looked at Hangeng in amazement, as if this was a beautiful dream he was having. And then one tear formed and rolled down his face. His lips cracked and he opened his mouth, his voice raw.
“I’m dead, aren’t I.” It wasn’t even a question, merely a statement.
Hangeng’s throat tightened and the healing wound in his shoulder burned as he leaned down to kiss him.
“No, you’re not. I love you and I’m going to get you out of here.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m dead. If you’re here, it means I’m finally dead.” Heechul smiled a little, and the sight of it was heartbreaking.
Hangeng kissed him softly and then leaned back, reaching in his pocket for the tiny hook that Sungmin had assured him would work to unlock the shackles. Heechul’s eyes slid closed again as Hangeng worked quietly. It was frustratingly slow work, but when the click finally came it made his heart jump. He looked around to see if anyone heard, and was relieved to see all was the same. He quickly unlocked both wrist and ankle shackles and took a deep breath.
This was going to be the most difficult part. He had to pick Heechul up and carry him back through the castle without being noticed. He slid his hands under Heechul’s shoulders and knees. Bracing himself, he lifted him up as carefully as possible.
The sound of Heechul’s painful shriek echoed through the room, making him freeze. One of the unconscious guards stirred, but did not wake up. Hangeng could feel blood seeping through the thin fabric of Heechul’s clothing. Fear raced through him and he wondered if he was really going to lose him. He pulled the cloak over him and knew there was no choice but to make a run for it.
The healing wound in his shoulder screamed in pain as he quietly and quickly raced through the Great Hall, holding his lover in his arms. Heechul must have blacked out from the pain again, because he was limp and silent.
He carried him back through the hallways, following the route he had memorized. Heechul made no sound as he walked quickly and quietly, and Hangeng could not tell if this was a good thing or not. He was growing heavier by the second, and finally Hangeng stopped briefly, leaning against a wall for just a moment. He looked down and was shocked to see blood dripping from Heechul’s hands to the stone floor.
Fear flooded through him, and he shifted Heechul against him, taking off once more down the hallway. He turned and saw the giant oak door in front of them and let out a breath of relief. They were so close.
They almost made it, too.
Only a hundred feet from the oak door of the castle, Changhyun rounded a corner, coming face to face with Hangeng, Heechul lying unconscious in his arms.
Changhyun gaped at them in shock for all of two seconds and then roared in fury, his huge frame lumbering towards them. Hangeng had no choice. He turned and ran again. Changhyun was huge, but he was not as fast as Hangeng. He raced down hallway after hallway, losing himself in the maze of the castle.
Soldiers awoke everywhere, some blocking his way as he twisted and turned, racing through rooms and chambers, past windows and locked doors, hallway after hallway. Always he heard Changhyun on his tail, and desperation began to build. If they were caught, they would both be killed, but not before Changhyun had his revenge. The very idea of what the man would do to them if they were caught made Hangeng’s feet run even faster.
He narrowly escaped the clutches of a guard and turned down an unlit flight of stairs, his heart racing. He heard Changhyun bellowing in rage but he raced past the dark stairway entrance, leaving Hangeng gasping for breath, relieved they’d made a temporary escape. His whole body seemed to be on fire with the pain radiating from his shoulder, and he pulled in oxygen desperately trying to gather more strength for another attempt at escape.
Hangeng was pulling Heechul tighter against him, preparing to flee again when he heard a noise. He turned, ready to fight but there was a woman standing there. She was pointing down the stairs to a door at the end, her pale features sharp and beautiful in the dim light. She shimmered with a strange kind of sadness as she looked at him. Astonished, Hangeng recognized the young Queen who had been murdered only a year beforehand, slaughtered with her husband the King in their bed by Changhyun.
“I did not escape him, but you will.” She whispered. “Go.” Hangeng gaped in shock as she vanished from sight, and a door at the end of the stairway opened. He sprinted towards it, bursting out into the courtyard. Hangeng could not believe his luck, but he didn’t question it. He began to run, carrying Heechul tight to his chest as he ran towards the little cart.
Zhou Mi and Jongwoon sat holding the reins, staring at him in shock. They had not expected him to come out this way. They jumped out and helped him place Heechul in the back of the cart just as Changhyun flew through the oak doorway, his shouts bouncing around the courtyard. In seconds all the outer guards were awake and alerted that something was wrong.
“GO!” Hangeng screamed at Zhou Mi, who looked from Heechul to him, hesitant to leave without Hangeng.
“Get in!” He shouted. Jongwoon was already in the back with Heechul, trying desperately to stem the flow of blood.
“NO! Get him out of here, I’ll catch up!”
Hangeng turned, pulling out his bow and arrows from his back. He shot four in rapid succession, killing at least three of the guards racing towards him. Changhyun was at a full run, his face bright red with fury. Hangeng shot again, missing him by inches. The cart was already out of the courtyard and halfway down the bridge. Hangeng knew they would make it. He turned and notched one more arrow, closing his eyes and praying to all the gods that it would find it’s mark.
He let fly, and seconds later Changhyun shrieked in pain as the arrow sank into his shoulder. It was the exact same place he had stabbed Hangeng. He went down like a giant, falling hard and skidding to a halt only three feet from Hangeng. The soldiers scattered in confusion, unsure whether to chase the cart or go after Hangeng.
Hangeng drew out his sword as Changhyun lifted his head, hissing in pain, his eyes black with rage. He lifted his huge hand to reach for his sword, but he was too late. Hangeng felt no remorse, only grim satisfaction as he plunged his sword into Changhyun’s skull, cleaving through bone and muscle, spattering blood everywhere.
Hangeng withdrew his sword and Changhyun slumped forward. He was dead.
Hangeng looked up, a fierce bright light in his eyes. He was covered in blood and gore, but it was over. He raised his sword to the soldiers, but they shook their heads, stepping back. He knew their loyalty had once been to the King and Queen, and now that Changhyun was dead, they would not stop him.
He turned and limped towards the cart, praying that Heechul was alive.
~~
He heard voices, and they were so indistinct that at first, he thought they were singing. He was somewhere between dark and light, and he was merely floating there. He was warm, and the stinging, sharp ache had dissipated, leaving him feeling only a mild, dull pain.
And then the voices coalesced, and became softer. As then they focused even more, and Heechul could hear Hangeng’s voice. It was the sweetest sound he had ever heard. He knew he must have died, and be in heaven, because Hangeng was there with him.
“Heechul-ah.” The voice said, and Heechul opened his eyes slowly. It was bright, but not the brightness he expected of heaven. Hangeng was there, his beautiful face hovering above him, his eyes filled with worry. Heechul wanted to reach up and touch him, but he couldn’t seem to move.
“Hangeng.” He smiled. And then Hangeng was crying, leaving Heechul confused. Hangeng’s arms were around him, and the pain grew, leaving him gasping in surprise. He heard another voice.
“He’s going to be all right. We’ll leave you alone.”
It sounded like Jongwoon. Heechul blinked, and realized with a sudden clarity that he was alive, and that Hangeng was alive too. Love and relief flooded through him, and he clung to Hangeng like a drowning man.
“You’re alive.” He cried, not caring that he was sobbing, because Hangeng was here, and Hangeng was alive, and he wasn’t in the castle anymore. “I don’t understand.”
“Changhyun is dead. We’re free.”
Heechul closed his eyes, the memory of it all sweeping in and nearly crushing him. He felt dirty and used. The memory of the men and Changhyun, the memory of his screams for mercy….he couldn’t bear it. He shuddered and pushed Hangeng away, desperate not to taint him with that filth. But Hangeng held on, refusing to let go.
“No.” Hangeng said, reading his mind. “It doesn’t matter. None of it matters. He’s dead. We’re free, and you’re home, and you’re going to be okay. I won’t let anyone hurt you ever again.”
Heechul was strong, but not that strong. He gave in and let Hangeng hold him, sobs wracking his thin body as he let go. It had been the worst time of his life, but Hangeng was right. They were safe, and they were together, and that was all that mattered.
Now, they could begin again.
.
Author: Ink_River10
Pairing: HanChul
Rating: R (high end)
Warnings: Violence, Rape, Gore
Genre: One Shot, AU
Disclaimer: I do not own Super Junior. If I did, you’d know it.
Summary: Heechul is kidnapped and Hangeng goes to rescue him
Author’s Note: I have never written anything like this before. It’s violent and dark, so don’t read it if that kind of thing bothers you. Please read the warnings above!
~~~~
Hangeng crept quietly through the castle, his feet making no sound on the hard stone floor. On his back were his sword, a bow and quiver full of arrows. The dim light cast by the torches on the wall cast shadows everywhere, and he slipped between them like a ghost.
Deep inside the castle, Heechul was being held captive. Hangeng moved silently as the memories that brought him here flowed through his mind.
They had come to the castle, forced to pay fealty to the new King. Changhyun was a huge, vicious man who had killed the King and Queen and taken over leadership of the land where Heechul and Hangeng lived together. Changhyun had taken one look at Heechul and Hangeng and had felt his blood run cold at the look of desire and lust on Changhyun’s face. They had left as quickly as possible, Hangeng holding tightly to his lover as a warning that Heechul was his.
But Changhyun was not to be denied. He waited, cunning as a fox until the wee hours of the morning to take what he wanted. Hangeng and Heechul had been sleeping in their bed, wrapped together as lovers do. And then the door had burst open, there were men everywhere, and the sound of Heechul screaming in terror and rage as they took him. He had fought so valiantly, but he was no match for them.
Hangeng had killed four of them before Changhyun himself had walked in, arrogant and huge in the tiny space of their cottage. He had laughed to see Hangeng struggling, but the laughter had stopped when Hangeng spit in his face. Changhyun had taken up his dagger and plunged it into Hangeng’s shoulder above his heart, twisting violently. Hangeng had cried out in pain, falling to his knees as the white hot burn washed over him, dragging him down into darkness. The last thing he saw was Heechul’s face, bone white with fear and shock, and then his piercing scream that shattered the night and still echoed inside him even now.
That had been two weeks ago.
The wound that Hangeng had sustained had not killed him, but he had been delirious with fever for weeks as Ryeowook and Zhou Mi tended to him. They had heard the screaming that night, seen the men leaving the cottage with Heechul tied and struggling, crying Hangeng’s name. And they had watched in horror as the soldiers had set fire to the cottage with Hangeng still inside.
It had been Sungmin who rescued him. They had been burned, but they had survived. The wound had not killed Hangeng, but slowed him down. He knew that he was Heechul’s only chance for survival. This was not the first time that the overlord Changhyun had taken whatever he wanted without consequence, and Hangeng knew that there was a chance that Heechul might already be dead. The idea of his lover being touched by the filthy, huge man made Hangeng’s stomach roil.
Hangeng clenched his jaw at the hatred for Changhyun thrumming through his veins. He continued stealthily through the hallways towards the great hall. Jongwoon had gone in a few days ago during the day as a visitor to Changhyun to spy for him. He had reported that Heechul was there in the great hall, shackled to the wall near the fireplace. Jongwoon’s face had betrayed more than his words had. Hangeng knew that Heechul was hurt, and badly. It had taken all of them to restrain Hangeng from leaving right then to storm the castle and rescue him.
Instead they had planned, and plotted, and now Hangeng was getting closer and closer to the great hall. They were waiting outside for him to flee, all of them hoping not to be caught. Hangeng prayed he found Heechul, and that he was still alive.
~~
Heechul had gone past the pain a long time ago. Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew he was dying. He wanted it. He wanted to die, because it would mean an end to this nightmare. Sometimes when he woke it was daylight, so bright that the pain seemed like a snake inside his head, coiling and squeezing until he was gasping for breath. And sometimes the hall was dark, and the pain was only a dull throbbing reminder of what he had endured. It was then that he allowed himself to think about Hangeng.
Heechul knew Hangeng was dead, and yet he was still alive. That was the cruelest punishment of all. Changhyun had chained him in the hall and laughed, a great huge, booming laugh that had made Heechul’s skin crawl. And then he had leaned down, close enough for Heechul to gag on the stench of his breath.
“He’s dead. I killed him. No one is coming for you. You’re mine now.”
He had fought at first, screaming and kicking and cursing. Changhyun had just laughed at his struggles, and the pain of being raped so violently had been so searing and blinding that it had eclipsed everything. He had blacked out from the force of it, and that had been a blessing.
That was so long ago now. He had stopped fighting. He simply didn’t have the strength. He had lost count of how many times he had been beaten or raped, or how many of them besides Changhyun had used him. He had lost count of the days, couldn’t remember when he had last eaten anything other than scraps of bread or meat. He just wanted to die and be with Hangeng again in peace. Eventually, death would come and he would go willingly. It was the only thing he waited for now.
~~
Hangeng crept silently into the great hall. The stench was nearly overpowering. The room was empty but for a few passed out soldiers on the floor. Changhyun was not there, and Hangeng wasn’t sure if that made him relieved or uneasy. He made his way across the room towards the hearth and what he saw there made the bile rise up the back of his throat.
His lover, his Heechul was lying on his side on the floor, the shackles around his wrists and ankles had rubbed the skin raw until they were bleeding freely. The shackles were attached to chains that were bolted to the wall, and they were impossibly thick. Heechul looked like a broken doll laying there, his hair matted and dirty, his skin covered in thousands of tiny scratches, cuts and bruises. His beautiful face was also marred with bruises and dried blood, and one eye was swollen shut. His clothes were filthy and torn. He was laying on a dirty pallet of straw, and the scent of blood was so strong that it nearly made Hangeng gag.
He knelt down, his throat burning with horror at what they had done to him. As he got closer, he could see Heechul was shivering. The fire in the hearth had died hours ago, and the chill had settled in. He bit down on the sob trying to claw itself out of his throat. Heechul wasn’t dead yet, but he was close. Death hung heavy in the air, waiting for him. Hangeng reached out, placing his palm over his lover’s cheek.
“Heechul-ah.” He whispered softly.
Slowly, one eye opened and Heechul looked at him. His face did not change at first, he merely looked at Hangeng in amazement, as if this was a beautiful dream he was having. And then one tear formed and rolled down his face. His lips cracked and he opened his mouth, his voice raw.
“I’m dead, aren’t I.” It wasn’t even a question, merely a statement.
Hangeng’s throat tightened and the healing wound in his shoulder burned as he leaned down to kiss him.
“No, you’re not. I love you and I’m going to get you out of here.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m dead. If you’re here, it means I’m finally dead.” Heechul smiled a little, and the sight of it was heartbreaking.
Hangeng kissed him softly and then leaned back, reaching in his pocket for the tiny hook that Sungmin had assured him would work to unlock the shackles. Heechul’s eyes slid closed again as Hangeng worked quietly. It was frustratingly slow work, but when the click finally came it made his heart jump. He looked around to see if anyone heard, and was relieved to see all was the same. He quickly unlocked both wrist and ankle shackles and took a deep breath.
This was going to be the most difficult part. He had to pick Heechul up and carry him back through the castle without being noticed. He slid his hands under Heechul’s shoulders and knees. Bracing himself, he lifted him up as carefully as possible.
The sound of Heechul’s painful shriek echoed through the room, making him freeze. One of the unconscious guards stirred, but did not wake up. Hangeng could feel blood seeping through the thin fabric of Heechul’s clothing. Fear raced through him and he wondered if he was really going to lose him. He pulled the cloak over him and knew there was no choice but to make a run for it.
The healing wound in his shoulder screamed in pain as he quietly and quickly raced through the Great Hall, holding his lover in his arms. Heechul must have blacked out from the pain again, because he was limp and silent.
He carried him back through the hallways, following the route he had memorized. Heechul made no sound as he walked quickly and quietly, and Hangeng could not tell if this was a good thing or not. He was growing heavier by the second, and finally Hangeng stopped briefly, leaning against a wall for just a moment. He looked down and was shocked to see blood dripping from Heechul’s hands to the stone floor.
Fear flooded through him, and he shifted Heechul against him, taking off once more down the hallway. He turned and saw the giant oak door in front of them and let out a breath of relief. They were so close.
They almost made it, too.
Only a hundred feet from the oak door of the castle, Changhyun rounded a corner, coming face to face with Hangeng, Heechul lying unconscious in his arms.
Changhyun gaped at them in shock for all of two seconds and then roared in fury, his huge frame lumbering towards them. Hangeng had no choice. He turned and ran again. Changhyun was huge, but he was not as fast as Hangeng. He raced down hallway after hallway, losing himself in the maze of the castle.
Soldiers awoke everywhere, some blocking his way as he twisted and turned, racing through rooms and chambers, past windows and locked doors, hallway after hallway. Always he heard Changhyun on his tail, and desperation began to build. If they were caught, they would both be killed, but not before Changhyun had his revenge. The very idea of what the man would do to them if they were caught made Hangeng’s feet run even faster.
He narrowly escaped the clutches of a guard and turned down an unlit flight of stairs, his heart racing. He heard Changhyun bellowing in rage but he raced past the dark stairway entrance, leaving Hangeng gasping for breath, relieved they’d made a temporary escape. His whole body seemed to be on fire with the pain radiating from his shoulder, and he pulled in oxygen desperately trying to gather more strength for another attempt at escape.
Hangeng was pulling Heechul tighter against him, preparing to flee again when he heard a noise. He turned, ready to fight but there was a woman standing there. She was pointing down the stairs to a door at the end, her pale features sharp and beautiful in the dim light. She shimmered with a strange kind of sadness as she looked at him. Astonished, Hangeng recognized the young Queen who had been murdered only a year beforehand, slaughtered with her husband the King in their bed by Changhyun.
“I did not escape him, but you will.” She whispered. “Go.” Hangeng gaped in shock as she vanished from sight, and a door at the end of the stairway opened. He sprinted towards it, bursting out into the courtyard. Hangeng could not believe his luck, but he didn’t question it. He began to run, carrying Heechul tight to his chest as he ran towards the little cart.
Zhou Mi and Jongwoon sat holding the reins, staring at him in shock. They had not expected him to come out this way. They jumped out and helped him place Heechul in the back of the cart just as Changhyun flew through the oak doorway, his shouts bouncing around the courtyard. In seconds all the outer guards were awake and alerted that something was wrong.
“GO!” Hangeng screamed at Zhou Mi, who looked from Heechul to him, hesitant to leave without Hangeng.
“Get in!” He shouted. Jongwoon was already in the back with Heechul, trying desperately to stem the flow of blood.
“NO! Get him out of here, I’ll catch up!”
Hangeng turned, pulling out his bow and arrows from his back. He shot four in rapid succession, killing at least three of the guards racing towards him. Changhyun was at a full run, his face bright red with fury. Hangeng shot again, missing him by inches. The cart was already out of the courtyard and halfway down the bridge. Hangeng knew they would make it. He turned and notched one more arrow, closing his eyes and praying to all the gods that it would find it’s mark.
He let fly, and seconds later Changhyun shrieked in pain as the arrow sank into his shoulder. It was the exact same place he had stabbed Hangeng. He went down like a giant, falling hard and skidding to a halt only three feet from Hangeng. The soldiers scattered in confusion, unsure whether to chase the cart or go after Hangeng.
Hangeng drew out his sword as Changhyun lifted his head, hissing in pain, his eyes black with rage. He lifted his huge hand to reach for his sword, but he was too late. Hangeng felt no remorse, only grim satisfaction as he plunged his sword into Changhyun’s skull, cleaving through bone and muscle, spattering blood everywhere.
Hangeng withdrew his sword and Changhyun slumped forward. He was dead.
Hangeng looked up, a fierce bright light in his eyes. He was covered in blood and gore, but it was over. He raised his sword to the soldiers, but they shook their heads, stepping back. He knew their loyalty had once been to the King and Queen, and now that Changhyun was dead, they would not stop him.
He turned and limped towards the cart, praying that Heechul was alive.
~~
He heard voices, and they were so indistinct that at first, he thought they were singing. He was somewhere between dark and light, and he was merely floating there. He was warm, and the stinging, sharp ache had dissipated, leaving him feeling only a mild, dull pain.
And then the voices coalesced, and became softer. As then they focused even more, and Heechul could hear Hangeng’s voice. It was the sweetest sound he had ever heard. He knew he must have died, and be in heaven, because Hangeng was there with him.
“Heechul-ah.” The voice said, and Heechul opened his eyes slowly. It was bright, but not the brightness he expected of heaven. Hangeng was there, his beautiful face hovering above him, his eyes filled with worry. Heechul wanted to reach up and touch him, but he couldn’t seem to move.
“Hangeng.” He smiled. And then Hangeng was crying, leaving Heechul confused. Hangeng’s arms were around him, and the pain grew, leaving him gasping in surprise. He heard another voice.
“He’s going to be all right. We’ll leave you alone.”
It sounded like Jongwoon. Heechul blinked, and realized with a sudden clarity that he was alive, and that Hangeng was alive too. Love and relief flooded through him, and he clung to Hangeng like a drowning man.
“You’re alive.” He cried, not caring that he was sobbing, because Hangeng was here, and Hangeng was alive, and he wasn’t in the castle anymore. “I don’t understand.”
“Changhyun is dead. We’re free.”
Heechul closed his eyes, the memory of it all sweeping in and nearly crushing him. He felt dirty and used. The memory of the men and Changhyun, the memory of his screams for mercy….he couldn’t bear it. He shuddered and pushed Hangeng away, desperate not to taint him with that filth. But Hangeng held on, refusing to let go.
“No.” Hangeng said, reading his mind. “It doesn’t matter. None of it matters. He’s dead. We’re free, and you’re home, and you’re going to be okay. I won’t let anyone hurt you ever again.”
Heechul was strong, but not that strong. He gave in and let Hangeng hold him, sobs wracking his thin body as he let go. It had been the worst time of his life, but Hangeng was right. They were safe, and they were together, and that was all that mattered.
Now, they could begin again.
.