Archive of Our Own ^beta

Seulhae felt as though her legs had turned into jelly. Horror dawned on her as she saw Chawoong’s irises turn obsidian; her jaw clenched and her hand ached from pressing nails into skin, but she didn’t dare run. Not when she couldn’t bear to see him like this.

“Chawoong-ah,” she hissed lowly, reaching a hand out before hesitating just moments from touching him, “are you still there? You can’t let him win.”

“Your Chawoong is gone,” a voice purred. It sounded sickeningly sweet. “He’s not coming back, little princess!”

Seulhae shook her head firmly, believing she still had a chance. She couldn’t lose Chawoong. Not now. 

The sight of him handcuffed to the pole, and a too wide, dark smile on his face, left her stomach churning. She was hardly equipped for this, but he needed her. Just as much she needed him.

“What? Is this not what you expected?”

“Release him,” she growled lowly, trying to stench her own quivering voice. Seulhae didn’t flinch as the wearer of Chawoong’s face barked out a laugh.

“You just had to get involved, didn’t you?”

She wanted to scream, and for a brief, flashing second, Seulhae was dressed in a regal pink-and-white hanbok; she saw someone take her hand, whispering sweet words into her ear. The image flickered away before she found herself back in the warehouse - choosing to ignore the wetness forming in her eyes.

“Chawoong-ah…”

She gently placed a hand on Chawoong’s cheek.

“Come back to me-“

It hardly lasted, but she could see herself reflected in his chocolate irises, and a low, pained grunt followed.

“I- I don’t want to hurt you,” Chawoong murmured, tugging at the restraints which rattled for a second though just as suddenly, his eyes went black again.

“Awwww, did you think he was in control? Your poor, little magician won’t stand a chance against me.”

Every minute felt excruciating, knowing Chawoong was pushed back into his own mind - nothing more his own prisoner, wrestling the entity trying to take over. After everything they’d gone through, all their traumas, she refused to be left alone again. They had to see it through to the end.

“Princess,” the spirit crooned again, eyes gleaming dangerously, “you have the choice to join me in the darkness. Why don’t you? Do you really want to live such a boring life?”

“You can be something greater.”  

“That’s not an option,” Seulhae snapped. “You’re just a murderer wearing his face. Let him go.”

“You silly girl. Don’t you remember what he did to you?”

She refused to say anything, not wanting to tempt the situation anymore than she already had. She wasn’t about to let the spirit possessing Chawoong get a rise out of her; whether its words were true, she didn’t entertain the thought.

“You’re going to continue on like the miserable human you are, hm~? Fine. Be that way.”

Tension remained thick on her shoulders though the restraints held firmly even as the spirit continued its jeers. She ignored the tear rolling down her cheek, remembering her earlier conversation with Chawoong (before he found himself the participant of a possession).

“Seulhae-ah,” Chawoong murmured, letting his own vulnerabilities show. “If something happens to me- you have to let it go. You’d be in too much danger.”

“Don’t,” she warned, eyes narrowing.

“I won’t lose you a second time.”

“And what about you?” Seulhae’s tone softened. “Why do you get to put yourself in harm’s way? You can’t do this to me.”

“I’ll come back to you. No matter what, Seulhae.”

Seulhae’s eyes closed as she hoped to hell and back Chawoong would keep his promise.