siren [prologue]
minkey, taekey, r, au
with the slide and click of the viewing panel a burning band of light illuminated the curled up body in the corner of the small, cramped cell behind the door. the body shifted closer to the torn padding of the farthest wall as the clanking of the metallic locks stirred the cell’s occupant from sleep. a quiet groan was emitted as he fully woke up for the noises but he kept his back turned to the door.
"good morning kibummie. are you going to listen to me now?"
kibum closed his eyes against the assaulting fluorescent brightness from the corridor and tucked his head in the crook of his right elbow, wanting to continue with his sleep and for his sole visitor to leave.
"aren't you tired kibum? aren't you getting lonely down here in the dark? it’s so much nicer out here, if only you would listen," the syrupy sweet drawl of the older man's voice spiked the pulsing pain of his headache as he forced himself to move out of the light and up onto the low plastic bench along the wall. he had to bring his knees to his chest to lie on the bench, arms digging into his chest as he felt the coldness seep into his skin. only a few moments of dark solitude passed before the door was pushed open and light flooded the room. "you're only hurting yourself with your disobedience, kibum. it's been what three months you’ve been in here- and almost fifty days without food now? aren't you hungry?"
kibum mustered up enough strength to sit up, head lolled onto his shoulder as he blinked rapidly. the man stepped inside and the crisp ironed suit he wore barely wrinkling with his movement. crouching to the boy’s level, he tapped his knee thoughtfully.
"ah, i forgot; you're past hunger now, right? but we both know you're getting weaker every day," he chimed. his pleasant tone was laced with the ever present threat of control, something kibum had grown used to and even overlooked when he spoke. "are you willing to starve to death for this?"
in response the boy barked out a raspy laugh that shook his body with the effort.
“listen to me-!” the man snapped his head back in revulsion, cut off by the spray of spit aimed at his face. incredulously he stood still, mouth agape in shock. when his thoughts came back to the present he restrained himself from grabbing a hold on the boy’s neck, instead slamming his fist into the wall inches to the left of his head. “this is costing me more than you’re worth, you stupid bitch - stand up!”
as if his command fell onto deaf ears the boy kept his gaze fixed on the dirtied concrete beneath the bench tracing patterns in the scuffs and scratches in the floor. between the man’s heavy, agitated breathing the scratchy sound of the dying laughter drew out for a few slow minutes. kibum kept his head rested on the padded wall and his fingers occasionally tapped the hard plastic to stay alert when he felt his energy slipping away from him.
his face was the picture of defiance, eyes now staring blankly over the shoulder of the man and his jaw set confidently. he never shifted when he sensed the man’s gaze roam over his body, he just squared his shoulders and hid his reactions. the man disgusted him and at this point of his holding, he was terrified. he knew he was weak. he knew that if he wanted to live the choice to just agree to obey the man but in his mind the better choice was staying right where he was, ignoring the man’s words.
if he had the strength he would’ve thrown himself at the man and ripped out his jugular with the ease that he knew had long been starved out of him. the only wrong move he felt he had made and now regretted not making was doing that exact thing sooner. but he remembered that at the time he’d been more concerned with the guards that kept their hands lingered above the holsters of their guns and the horrible time he would have had escaping when he wasn’t sure of the layout of the mansion grounds. all of those pieces seemed trivial when he felt his arms brushing against his gaunt frame and when he sometimes touched his own face in the darkness, he felt the heavy bags below his eyes and sharpening edge of his cheekbones traced by his fingertips.
even if he wanted to give in, it was too late.
“kibum.” the sharp face that suddenly appeared too close to him had his attention immediately focused on the other, panic causing his heart to jump and his throat nearly clamped shut. and even as he remembered he should have swallowed his fear and kept the cool demeanor but the glint in the man’s eyes had his pulse hammering in his veins and the hair on his arms erect. the gasp that slipped out of him was choked back by the hand that brush his chin. “this could have been easier.”
"just one word, kibum, and you could have come out and we could have forgotten this ever happened and put it behind us, hmm? i'm not your enemy here, i just want my money's worth. you could have been happy kibum, with me and-"
"sir we've got to go." he looked toward the open door, eyes meeting the distressed stare of the young woman who’d interrupted him. she paid no mind to the limp beaten body her boss loomed over nor the wrath still burning in the man’s eyes as he brought his bloody fist to rest on his side and straightened her posture. "i'm sorry but the company rep says that they don't have the resources to delay the conference- we need to get going soon. i'll call the maids to prepare a new suit in your room and start your shower sir; please, let's go."
the man let his head fall forward and breathed slowly, looking down at kibum tiredly with his chin resting on his chest. the younger was still breathing at least, the rise and fall of his twisted torso said as much; but the awkward position of his body and gashes visibly surging deep red onto the floor made the woman almost doubt it. but still she said not a word until her boss stood, fixing invisible creases in the fabric of her blazer and shuffling the papers she held to busy herself in order to avoid the sight.
"i want him out of here before i return. have him cleaned and lined up for the next auction. he's of no longer of any use so don't bother with the specifics; he's to be sold as a common slave like the rest of them."
"yes sir, right away."
masterlist, next
with the slide and click of the viewing panel a burning band of light illuminated the curled up body in the corner of the small, cramped cell behind the door. the body shifted closer to the torn padding of the farthest wall as the clanking of the metallic locks stirred the cell’s occupant from sleep. a quiet groan was emitted as he fully woke up for the noises but he kept his back turned to the door.
"good morning kibummie. are you going to listen to me now?"
kibum closed his eyes against the assaulting fluorescent brightness from the corridor and tucked his head in the crook of his right elbow, wanting to continue with his sleep and for his sole visitor to leave.
"aren't you tired kibum? aren't you getting lonely down here in the dark? it’s so much nicer out here, if only you would listen," the syrupy sweet drawl of the older man's voice spiked the pulsing pain of his headache as he forced himself to move out of the light and up onto the low plastic bench along the wall. he had to bring his knees to his chest to lie on the bench, arms digging into his chest as he felt the coldness seep into his skin. only a few moments of dark solitude passed before the door was pushed open and light flooded the room. "you're only hurting yourself with your disobedience, kibum. it's been what three months you’ve been in here- and almost fifty days without food now? aren't you hungry?"
kibum mustered up enough strength to sit up, head lolled onto his shoulder as he blinked rapidly. the man stepped inside and the crisp ironed suit he wore barely wrinkling with his movement. crouching to the boy’s level, he tapped his knee thoughtfully.
"ah, i forgot; you're past hunger now, right? but we both know you're getting weaker every day," he chimed. his pleasant tone was laced with the ever present threat of control, something kibum had grown used to and even overlooked when he spoke. "are you willing to starve to death for this?"
in response the boy barked out a raspy laugh that shook his body with the effort.
“listen to me-!” the man snapped his head back in revulsion, cut off by the spray of spit aimed at his face. incredulously he stood still, mouth agape in shock. when his thoughts came back to the present he restrained himself from grabbing a hold on the boy’s neck, instead slamming his fist into the wall inches to the left of his head. “this is costing me more than you’re worth, you stupid bitch - stand up!”
as if his command fell onto deaf ears the boy kept his gaze fixed on the dirtied concrete beneath the bench tracing patterns in the scuffs and scratches in the floor. between the man’s heavy, agitated breathing the scratchy sound of the dying laughter drew out for a few slow minutes. kibum kept his head rested on the padded wall and his fingers occasionally tapped the hard plastic to stay alert when he felt his energy slipping away from him.
his face was the picture of defiance, eyes now staring blankly over the shoulder of the man and his jaw set confidently. he never shifted when he sensed the man’s gaze roam over his body, he just squared his shoulders and hid his reactions. the man disgusted him and at this point of his holding, he was terrified. he knew he was weak. he knew that if he wanted to live the choice to just agree to obey the man but in his mind the better choice was staying right where he was, ignoring the man’s words.
if he had the strength he would’ve thrown himself at the man and ripped out his jugular with the ease that he knew had long been starved out of him. the only wrong move he felt he had made and now regretted not making was doing that exact thing sooner. but he remembered that at the time he’d been more concerned with the guards that kept their hands lingered above the holsters of their guns and the horrible time he would have had escaping when he wasn’t sure of the layout of the mansion grounds. all of those pieces seemed trivial when he felt his arms brushing against his gaunt frame and when he sometimes touched his own face in the darkness, he felt the heavy bags below his eyes and sharpening edge of his cheekbones traced by his fingertips.
even if he wanted to give in, it was too late.
“kibum.” the sharp face that suddenly appeared too close to him had his attention immediately focused on the other, panic causing his heart to jump and his throat nearly clamped shut. and even as he remembered he should have swallowed his fear and kept the cool demeanor but the glint in the man’s eyes had his pulse hammering in his veins and the hair on his arms erect. the gasp that slipped out of him was choked back by the hand that brush his chin. “this could have been easier.”
"just one word, kibum, and you could have come out and we could have forgotten this ever happened and put it behind us, hmm? i'm not your enemy here, i just want my money's worth. you could have been happy kibum, with me and-"
"sir we've got to go." he looked toward the open door, eyes meeting the distressed stare of the young woman who’d interrupted him. she paid no mind to the limp beaten body her boss loomed over nor the wrath still burning in the man’s eyes as he brought his bloody fist to rest on his side and straightened her posture. "i'm sorry but the company rep says that they don't have the resources to delay the conference- we need to get going soon. i'll call the maids to prepare a new suit in your room and start your shower sir; please, let's go."
the man let his head fall forward and breathed slowly, looking down at kibum tiredly with his chin resting on his chest. the younger was still breathing at least, the rise and fall of his twisted torso said as much; but the awkward position of his body and gashes visibly surging deep red onto the floor made the woman almost doubt it. but still she said not a word until her boss stood, fixing invisible creases in the fabric of her blazer and shuffling the papers she held to busy herself in order to avoid the sight.
"i want him out of here before i return. have him cleaned and lined up for the next auction. he's of no longer of any use so don't bother with the specifics; he's to be sold as a common slave like the rest of them."
"yes sir, right away."
masterlist, next