He's Dead. [Angst Drabble/One-Shot]
The harsh slapping of footsteps against the pavement echoed throughout the alley. He had no idea where he was going, but he knew why he was running: to escape. To escape all the lies, his heart - him.
The realization crept in and the burden collapsed on his shoulders, weighing him down - but he kept running. He had to.
Following his heart, he turned into another passageway, dark and foggy - he didn’t know what would be at the other end; doom or hope.
Apparently, all odds were against him on this day, because he slammed into a brick wall, panting. The pain didn’t even register, but he thought with despair that it was all over. All over. The last thing he felt was the sensation of cold metal being pressed against him.
“Goodbye, Kim Jongwoon.”
It was the hardest Kim Ryeowook had cried in a long time. The tears just kept bubbling back up. When the news of Yesung’s death reached him, his face had crumpled up in defeat, loss, and fear. “Why would anyone do this to him?” The entire house had trembled with his sobs.
This was like the time Kyuhyun was hospitalized, except worse - Yesung was never coming back.
“Who would do this to him?” Leeteuk had murmured, wrapping an arm around the tearful Ryeowook. “I promise you, I will find out who did this.”
“Thank you, hyung,” came the tiny reply.
Ryeowook had no siblings, no family. That was why he lived with his friends: Leeteuk, Kyuhyun, Eunhyuk, and Yesung. Even though he wasn’t the youngest out of the group, he definitely acted like it. He needed more reassurance and support than Kyuhyun himself.
His friends were afraid he’d eventually become mentally challenged with the impact of the change. But he’d just wave off the matter and return to his room with a box of tissues. “Ryeowook,” Leeteuk called, “I’ll be at the police station to report Jongwoon’s death, okay?”
“Yes, hyung. Yesung’s death must be avenged!” His words, although muffled, rang loud and clear.
Leeteuk headed out into the night. He was sure it would be safe - this was nowhere near where Yesung got shot. Besides, the police station was only about a block away. The streets were empty and it frightened Leeteuk - “A little,” he told himself. “Just a little.” - but he continued walking, now quickening his pace, toward his destination.
“Hey. Jungsoo,” a voice called. Before he even had the chance to bolt away, something small and yet painful hit him in the back.
Leeteuk’s vision blurred as he collapsed onto his back, writhing. “You...” he croaked as the figure stepped into his view. “You...”
“Goodbye, Park Jungsoo.”
Another shot.
Park Jungsoo... was dead.
“Oh no...” Eunhyuk breathed. “First Yesung and now Leeteuk?”
Ryeowook buried his face into Kyuhyun’s shoulder. “I’m scared, Kyu. What if he tries to kill one of us next?”
Kyuhyun pulled the older male close. “It’s okay. As long as we don’t leave the house, we’ll be safe.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever survive without you two here with me,” Ryeowook mumbled gratefully as Eunhyuk seated himself next to him, cushioning him between the two. He drifted off into slumber.
Eunhyuk nudged Kyuhyun before whispering, “Do you think we’ll be safe here?”
“I don’t know. I think the murderer is aiming for the members within our little ‘family.’”
“I don’t think he knows where we live. Yesung was coming home from work that night, remember? And Leeteuk was outside, about to report to the police. I think we’re safe...”
“So far.” Kyuhyun’s expression turned solemn.
“Let’s just sleep. I’ll think of a solution in the morning.”
“Goodnight, hyung.”
Ryeowook jolted up from his bed the next morning. The house was empty. “Kyuhyun? Eunhyuk? Anyone?” A bright yellow sticky note on his desk caught his eye.
I’ll be at the gym. Make yourself breakfast, okay? -Eunhyukkie ;)
P.S. - The strawberry milk is mine!
Ryeowook hopped out of bed, eyes darting about. So where is Kyuhyun? he thought.
Eunhyuk never actually used the equipment at the gym. He just went there to practice his dance moves, or to think. His theory was that the killer only appeared at night. “Someone who knows us. Someone who knows where we’re going.” He paused, shocked. “It might even be one of us. Kyuhyun? Ryeowook? Heck, it might even be me doing it in my sleepwalking. Though I’m sure I don’t hide guns under my bed. That’s it! Guns! Under my bed! I have to go check. Wookie might be in danger! Aish, such a babo. Leaving Wookie home alone like that.”
“Hey. Hyukjae.” It echoed throughout the gymnasium. That voice - it was familiar. He slowly turned, facing his death in the eye.
“I knew it was,” - the blast of a gun interrupted him - “one of us.”
“Goodbye, Lee Hyukjae.”
He dropped to the ground, crumpled in defeat.
Lee Hyukjae... was dead.
“Kyuhyun!”
“Wookie hyung?”
“What are you doing outside?”
“I should be asking the same for you, Ryeowook.”
They stood, facing each other, ignoring the wail of sirens that suddenly erupted as an ambulance headed toward the site of the recent killing. “Eunhyuk hyung got killed,” Kyuhyun confirmed slowly.
“I know that.”
Kyuhyun glared at the older. “I believe there is something wrong with this picture.”
Ryeowook smiled. “Hey. Kyuhyun.” He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a weapon.
“Why, Wookie? Why? We love you. We loved each other. Leeteuk hyung loved you, Eunhyuk hyung loved you,” - Kyuhyun paused - “Yesung hyung loved you.”
“It’s that simple. Jongwoon loved everyone. I’m the only one he’s supposed to love. He’s mine. If he’s gone, he won’t be able to love anyone else anymore, right?”
Kyuhyun blinked, confusion swimming in his eyes. “But why did you have to kill the others? They didn’t do anything.”
“They were the ones he also loved. That is why they must go. And so must you, Kyu.”
“You know, Ryeowook? You’re good at acting, but... you really are crazy.”
“Why, thank you. Goodbye, Cho Kyuhyun.” He pressed the trigger once. Twice.
Cho Kyuhyun... was dead.
“They were the ones he also loved. That is why they must go. And I was one of those people he loved.” He held the gun to his head with a bittersweet smile. “Goodbye, Kim Ryeowook.”
Kim Ryeowook... was dead.