Chapter Text
"Are you a chicken? Bawk bawk caw!"
A rowdy bunch of teenagers push and shove each other towards an abandoned outpost just outside of town.
Many warned them not to leave town at night but of course teens being teens, they are 'fearless' and reckless.
"Guys please... I'll pay you next time... please leave him alone..." a roughed up girl trembles from behind them. But she looks small against the group of unruly boys.
"Little girl, if you don't want to be scared to death, better leave now, Huening is a big boy isn't he? He isn't afraid of some serial killer."
Huening was in no better shape than the girl, with dirt all over his face and cuts littered everywhere. He still puts on a brave face for his friend.
"It's okay Yeeun... I'll be back... just go back for now..."
They only had each other, so she was stubborn at first but because one of the boys actually liked her, he step forth to guide her away.
"Go, Yeeun, I'll bring kai back..."
That is a lie and they both know it but Yeeun had no choice but to be held back by him as they went on ahead. She tried to follow but was stopped by him.
"Let go! If you have any true feelings you'd let me join him!"
"No... I won't let you..."
The screams fell on deaf ears as they went further away from the town, into the woods and into the river that seperate the town from a desolate road.
Legends tells of a killer that lurks around the river at night. Anyone that dares pass by, be it car, man or woman, will disappear completely after reaching the river. There used to be a bridge here.
"Go!"
Hueningkai did not expect them to be ruthless enough to push him into the water in the dark. He was tall so the depth was fine for him but he had sunk into the water before splashing out. The cold wind immediately made him shiver.
With dripping hair, he pursed his quivering lips and looks up at them.
With his eyes covered, he does look a bit scary so they hesitated for a while but one of them was bold enough to laugh.
"Haha! Look at you! So pitiful, you call yourself a man? Hurry and go to the other side and see if you can find anything," he waves like a young master ordering a dog.
Hueningkai did not want them to follow him despite how they treated him... it was dangerous if they decided he needed a beating.
He trudge over to the other side. But before he could climb out, something traps his feet underneath the river.
At first he had thought it was just a bunch of weeds and he tried to untie it but suddenly something grabbed his hand and he slips into the river.
It was dark so it was unclear what had happened but they did see Huening disappear under the water. After a while, nothing happened.
"Kai?" One of them asks but the water stayed silent.
He frowns and bends down to try and look through the darkness of the river. The rest were already backing up, when the guy near the bank screamed, they immediately bolted.
He looks behind him and scoffs," Ha! What a bunch of losers! Hey! I am just joking! Come back and help me-"
Before he could continue however something grabs him from behind and like Huening, he disappears into the water.
Yeeun was half tempted to just bite him when they both look towards the screaming guys that ran back from the river bank.
"What happened?!"
"Ghost! Ghost!"
"Killer! Killer!"
Yeeun pales as she was dragged away by the panicked gang but all she was thinking of was Hueningkai, Hueningkai...
Hueningkai opens his eyes to see a bright ceiling. He seems to be lying on some bed.
If he hadn't just felt the chill from the river, he would have thought it was all just a bad dream.
But he was somewhat dry, his forehead half covered with a towel and his feet felt very dry. But surprisingly he felt no injury, not on his head or his feet or his hands.
Rather he feels a little numb.
He looks to the side and sees a warm porridge to the side and a chair with a book laid face down on the seat.
Seems like the person that saved him had just left. Ignoring the growl in his stomach reminding him that he haven't eaten yet, he swings himself over the bed and his ears heat up as he sees that he isn't wearing his clothes.
Rather, it was a shirt that looks rather small on him. He grabs onto the blanket, missing the feeling of having a plushie with him, he wraps himself around it and walks out of the room.
The house looks rather big and homely, not so fancy, but he could see that they weren't far off from town. He could hear the distant sound of rushing water.
Someone was humming in the kitchen. From here he can tell he was older... or was he? He definitely looks stronger. Huening tries to hold back a sneeze but fails to do so, he sneezed into the blanket but it still caught the attention of the guy in the kitchen.
For some reason, he felt like he had seen this guy before... but he looks about the same age as him... if not younger...
This must be the rumoured killer... right? No one else would live out here... but his expression looks so innocent as he smiles at him.
"Awake?"
Huening was in a daze as a warm hand covers his forehead, slightly covering his eyes too, his eyelashes flutter a little. He didn't know if he imagined the flinch from the guy's hand.
"You're too cold, did you eat the porridge I cooked for you?" He asks. He does not sound or look like a murderer. He grabs his hands and pulls him back into the room.
Huening is trying to wrap his head around what was off while he grabs the bowl of porridge off the table and smiles.
"It's still hot, here..."
But Huening didn't move, rather he wrapped his arms closer to himself. Taehyun's smile froze but he isn't mad... at least he hoped not. He grabs a spoon and blew softly and taking a bite.
"There, it's not poisoned, it's delicious, trust me~"
Huening didn't think that the food would be poisoned either but his stomach is kicking at him for resisting food placed right in front of his face.
He tentatively peeks out, it seems that he doesn't mind feeding him, he didn't want to leave his blanket burrito either so he allows him to feed him.
The porridge is delicious, they fell into a soft routine of him feeding Huening and in just a few bites, the bowl was empty.
"Do you want more?" He asks.
Huening shakes his head, getting rather drowsy as he brings the blanket closer to himself.
"I'm Taehyun, 20, you seem to be about the same age as me... aren't ya?"
Huening nods, slightly relieved that he wasn't going to ask for his address or anything.
"I-I'm Huening kai..." he mumbles sleepily.
Taehyun smiles," Huening huh, cute name."
Huening did not realise that he isn't drowsy because he was tired... rather he was sent back to oblivion. Taehyun catches him and gently lays him on the bed. He stares at Huening for a moment before leaving with the room's light turned off.
When Huening woke up, he was feeling much better. He is still wearing the other guy's clothes. He feels rather embarrassed and walks out of the room. It was already morning... or was it the afternoon.
Rain clouds loom overhead, seems like he will be staying here for a while. The guy was nowhere to be seen.
For a serial killer, his house is pretty clean, all the storage room have are 2 bikes, a skateboard and some posters. The closet is also pretty normal, with different clothes and even some pictures he didn't see properly, not wanting to snoop too much.
Though... he looks at the boiling pot of water, threatening to overflow, he turns the gas off. Seeing as he was not inside the house. He walks towards the balcony where he can see the figure squatting down to pet a cat, an empty bowl left in front of it.
"Taehyun?" Huening asks.
Taehyun looks back and smiles," you're awake, are you hungry? I can whip something up for you."
The cat mews at the human that stops petting him but Taehyun ignores it. So it went to Hueningkai who immediately bent down to pet it. Satisfied, it purrs.
"I'm good, I should get going... I don't want to take up too much of your time..." Huening replies.
Only when Huening followed Taehyun's gaze did he remember that he was wearing what he assumed to be his clothes. Huening shudders a little, that gaze a little too dark but he had no idea what it meant.
"It's going to rain soon, I don't mind if you decide to bunk here," he shrugs and walks pass him.
Huening's shoulders sagged in relief when he simply enters the house, he didn't force him to stay... and yet, Huening walks into the house, the cat following closely behind.
There was no cat toys but it was satisfied with just playing with the straps on Huening's hoodie.
Taehyun enters the living where Huening and the cat are playing and placed a plate of steak in front of him and another for himself and a can of wet food for the cat.
"You want to give her a name?" Taehyun asks.
Huening looks at the silver cat that is devouring the food in the can, almost squeezing her head in.
"Mm juna?" Huening asks.
Juna perks up and looks at him with the can stuck to her face. Huening chuckles and helps the feline out of her predicament. To thank him, she hopped on his lap and snuggles close to him.
"Wow, she has never been this affectionate to me," Taehyun snorts. Seeing him dig into the steak is making Huening hungry too so making sure she doesn't hit her head, he took a bite too.
It was surprisingly good... better than any of the food he can afford obviously.
"So, your parents must be worried sick huh..." Taehyun says casually.
Huening pursed his lips as he slowly chews on the steak.
"I..." he clears his throat," I do not have any parents... just a sister or well... a friend I live with..." he mutters. He wonders if Yeeun is doing well...
"Well, you're free to come over to my place any time, I don't have much but I have a decent paying job at least..."
Job? So he's not a killer then?
"I'm curious... why would someone like you choose to live here?" Huening asks.
Taehyun shrugs," it's better than the city, it's quiet here."
"You live alone... right?"
"Well... I used to have a friend that lives here... he's now in a different town and won't come back until next holidays..."
Huening places the fork down. So is it possible that Taehyun's roommate is a killer then? That meant that if anyone was caught last night... they would have been fine... right?
Huening shakes his head, why was he thinking that any of them could be killers, it was just a rumor.
Taehyun smiles, collecting their plates," I don't mind cooking for you everyday... if you would have me..."
"Oh... um..." but Taehyun had already left.
Huening and Yeeun do rent a room together in a clothing shop... often they were asked if they could show them their house but... it was a little shameful to admit so they lied often saying that their parents are very strict.
Technically they aren't lying, the lady in the shop is quite fierce.
Huening was contemplating it until he realise that even though he said he had a sister, Taehyun had only said him. He wonders if that was on purpose or accidental.
"Ow!" Huening retracts his fingers as it was nibbled by Juna. Juna looks over his shoulders and immediately ran away.
Huening was confused until he feels the couch behind him dip.
"Well, your clothes should be dry even if it rains now, if you want to, you can return me my hoodie," He mutters, quite closely to his ears.
Huening must have been mistaken... he fights his urge to turn around.
"Oh right..." he mutters in embarrassment," well after I change I'll get out of your hair."
Suddenly a thud could be heard, Huening jumps and turns around worried that Juna or Taehyun might have hurt themselves but Taehyun's face was just inches away from his own. Huening splutters and kept a straight face.
"Why are you like this? Do you not like me?" He asks, his voice dangerous but Huening didn't understand the intent behind it.
"No! It's just... I don't want to be a burden..." Huening mumbles, quickly looking away.
"You're not a burden," Taehyun replies, and he was hugging him.
Fighting the urge to flinch, Huening had always been a person that loves touch so he melted into the hug.
"Taehyun ah... have we... seen each other before?"
Now it was Taehyun's turn to flinch.