“Well I've seen the battle and I've seen the war,

and the life laying here is the life I've been told.

Well I've seen the battle and I've seen the war

And the life laying here is the life I've been sold”

Rain beat down hard against the window pane rhythmically, joined by the howling wind that whistled as it fought through the cracks around the edges of the window frame. Shadows of trees danced in the wind, forming shadows on Sungmin's legs as they blocked the light that was trespassing into the room through the open curtains.

He was asleep.

His face contorted as vicious dreams ripped their way through his mind. Quietly - almost timidly - at first he began to mumble, then it began to increase in volume and pitch.

“No.... No..... NO!” he shouted, his eyebrows scrunching. “You can't! You can't!”

His breathing was fast and laboured as his face continued to twist and contort in pain. Slowly tears started to fall from the corners of his eyes, using his face as a road to the pillow, rolling gently across his nose and down his cheek to form a round puddle where it fell.

“You..... can't....” he mumbled softly, almost inaudibly, his voice hitching in the middle. Then his face softened. “.......can't.......”

He lay there for another five minutes softly sobbing to himself before he awoke. He opened his eyes, but swiftly closed them again to prevent the morning sting that inevitably got him; worsened by the tears. Scrunching them tightly, he reached up his arms in a long stretch. Laying then to rest on the bed, he tentatively moved a hand forward, sliding it along the bed, in search of Kangin. But he wasn't there. Reaching the end of the bed with nothing in the way, Sungmin scrunched his face again. He was all alone.

Still with his eyes shut against the sting, he tried to move to get out of bed but his body fought back. Aches and pains cursed through him, setting his body aflame. Defeated, he rolled onto his back, only to forcefully push himself back onto his side as a sudden searing pain cut through him.

Then he remembered. He remembered everything that had happened the night before. How Kangin had beaten him unconscious, then how he had woken up to ice cold water spraying over him. The feel of his back flush against the man's cold chest, string absolute fear one minute then absolute comfort the next. He remembered how the man had dried him, redressed him......... slept next to him.......

Springing his eyes open, he searched the room for the man. He wasn't there either.

Sungmin didn't know where it was coming from but a sudden bubbling panic was rising in him; a feeling of discomfort that was churning in his stomach. The feeling charging him, he managed to push himself up and swing his legs over the side of the bed. Placing his feet on the floor, he used them as a pivot to push himself up. He was unsteady on his feet, his slight frame swaying as he took a shakey step away from the bed. Never had putting one foot in front of the other been so much work.

It was slow but he made it to the door, putting his hand on the handle and pushing it down to open it. Pulling it towards him he began to walk through, only to be stopped as he collided into a hard frame that blocked his exit. What he hadn't expected was for the man to be stood right behind the door, just about to open it himself. Taking a step back and lifting his head, looking the man dead in the eyes, he tried to read his gaze, but once again it was blank. He only had a second to look before two burning hands gripped onto his upper arms, pushing him back unwillingly towards the bed, kicking the door closed when inside the room.

Harshly, Sungmin felt the backs of his legs hit against the bed, instantly putting the little balance he had to start off with into question. The mad didn't stop there, he continued to push, forcing Sungmin's body down onto the bed with an unceremonious crash. Once again, the stabbing pain surged through him as his raw cuts grazed against the bed, a stifled yelp emitting as the man held a hand forcefully over his mouth as he had evidently for sawn the reaction. His other had was resting on the bed next to his shoulder to stabilize his body as he leant above the small man on the bed.

“Shhhhhhhh,” he spoke softly, staring directly into Sungmin's eyes.

Sungmin couldn't help the feeling of dread that rose through him as the man towered over him covering him in an over-bearing shadow. He had been conditioned to expect harsh treatment with every touch, so having the man this close to him, pining him, he couldn't help but panic.

Sensing the panic, the man spoke in attempt to quell it.

“Do not panic. I am not going to hurt you. Do not think that I will.”

“Wh-what are you do-doing then?” Sungmin asked, not fully trusting him.

“Speak quietly.......... You can not leave this room. Not at all. You must stay in here and be quiet. If you hear anything, do not come out. You have to promise me this Sungmin.”

“But.....”

“No Sungmin,” the man cut him off. “I need you to promise me.”

Sungmin felt as though the man's eyes were boring him into the bed with the intensity that they were staring at him. He looked almost afraid. Panicked.

“Please Sungmin,” he pleaded, eyebrows raised.

“......okay....... I promise.” Sungmin spoke out.

The man seemed to release a stifled breathe before letting his head drop a little, some tension dispelling, before climbing off Sungmin slowly. Reaching out his hand for Sungmin – who took it – he pulled him up into a sitting position on the bed.

“I will come for you.” The man told him definitely before turning and exiting the room.

Sungmin watched after him as his long limbs moved with fluidity out of the room, his long fingers grasping the handle and pulling the door open and then closing it behind him. He was alone again.

Sungmin looked around the room before his eyes rested on the alarm clock on the bed side table, it was 12:46 in the afternoon. How had he slept so late? He never usually sleeps for this long. These thoughts mingled with his curiosity as to why he wasn't allowed to leave the room. What could possibly be happening for him to have to stay away. The thought sending his mind into overdrive, Sungmin found that he could no longer stay still. He pushed himself up to stand on his shakey legs and began to move around the room carefully as not to make too much noise on the creaky floorboards. He was barely moving but his back ached, his skin feeling tight and sore. Walking over to the window, he pulled the curtains open to fully reveal the day. It was a horrible one. The grey clouds that bruised the sky cast dark shadows everywhere. Rain was falling from the clouds down in sheets, blown by the strong wind against the house, pounding as it hit the windows. The scene outside was almost invisible, made hazy by the rain. Watching it sent Sungmin into a sort of trance. Listening intently for any sound in the house relieved an eerie silence.

Slicing through his stupor like a razor blade came a loud crash. Jolting him, Sungmin stood up straight, wincing at the sudden movement of his back. Moving a hand round to rub the pained area, he listened intently.

Joining with the initial sound came a repetitive pounding, coming in intervals that increased in volume and ferocity.

BANG

BANG

BANG

BANG

They reverberated throughout the house like a shock-wave seeming to shake it.

Turning to face the door, he started to shuffle towards it, pressing his ear up against it when there in an attempt to locate the source of the sound.

It continued, getting louder still.

BANG

BANG

Then it stopped, replaced with a quieter banging. Sungmin pulled his head away and looked at the door in confusion before placing his ear back up against it. The noise continued still. When it stopped Sungmin was about to grab the handle but, remembering the man's words, he opted for locking the door instead.

That was when the handle started to twist. Then the door was pushed lightly at first, but spurred on by its unmoving, the handle began to wiggle vigorously.

Shocked and afraid, Sungmin started to step backwards slowly and unsteadily on his shakey legs.

The vigorous shaking transformed into a furious pounding on the door that practically shook the room. Mirroring the frequency of the banging, Sungmin started to step back quicker. Legs hitting the bed, he climbed on it and pushed himself back until he hit the wall it was up against. He was now as far away from the door as possible. He watched on as the door shook on its hinges. It wouldn't hold forever.

For a moment the banging subsided, only to be replaced by an even louder bang – the sound of someone's foot hitting the door. This occurred a couple of times before the door flew open, the lock completely coming off and falling to the floor as the wood of the door frame splintered. The door collided with the wall and bounced back a bit but not enough to hide the form that was stood in the doorway, almost blocking out all light that would be emitted from the hallway.

It was hard to see from the dark shadows that were cast all over the figures face, but Sungmin knew who it was. He'd know that figure anywhere because it was the one he had been looking at for the past few years. But there was something different. A sinister air hung around him, a ferocious, murderous air. He just stood in the doorway, his eyes clouded, staring at what Sungmin could only assume was himself.

“Ka...kang.....” Sungmin tried to speak but it was stifled, the words straggled within his dry throat. “Ka..........”

Tilting his head to the side slightly as if listening for something, a wild grin spread over his face. Slowly he started to move forward, every step accentuated by the creaking of the floorboards that adjoined it.

“So this is where you've been hiding,” he spoke quietly, almost too calmly. “I've been looking for you.”

With every word, he moved closer to the bed.

Sungmin didn't know what to do, he felt impossibly frightened but at the same time he wanted to just run at Kangin and throw his arms around him, beg him for the comfort that he so desired from him. The sweet caresses that he used to give him. If he would give him them, all would be forgiven in an instant. Not that he blamed him much any more, he had long come to the conclusion that he was getting what he deserved, that he had wronged Kangin somehow and the beatings were recompense.

“In here the whole time.” Kangin spoke up again, cutting through his thoughts. “You know you shouldn't have me looking for you like that. Making me worry.” His voice was still calm and almost soothing.

Uneasiness subsiding a bit, Sungmin dropped his guard and slumped forward on the bed, bringing his body closer to Kangin's ascending one. When he reached the bed he stopped. Sungmin could now fully see his face, his eyes flicking from his dark orbs to his mouth that was wearing a sickly sadistic grin. This lasted for a few seconds before the smile dissipated, draining entirely from his face and giving way to a vicious scowl.

Before he had time to react, his guard dropped almost entirely, Kangin pounced forward grabbing a large chunk of Sungmin's long hair in his vice grip, pulling him up so that he was kneeling on the bed.

“Big mistake,” he spat.

Forcefully dropped his arm, his hand still laced into Sungmin's hair, taking him with it until he was crouched over on the bed. Then he turned and began to walk away, pulling Sungmin with him all the while. Panicked, Sungmin lifted his hands to Kangin's hand and tried to pry the fingers away, but it was futile. His fingers had locked meaning there was no escape unless he let go himself or the hair was ripped out. Sungmin was now perched on the edge of the bed, trying with all his might to stop Kangin from taking him any further, but this too was no use as Kangin was far stronger, so if he wanted him to go some where, he would have no choice. Sungmin's body was also so emaciated, along with the pains that seared across his back with every movement that the little strength he did have was now nil. He was a puppet entirely at Kangin's disposal.

With one hard tug, Sungmin was pulled off the bed, his body landing hard against the cold wooden floor with a bang. He let out a stifled cry as he landed awkwardly, his wrist bent under his back as he attempted to break his fall with his hands. He was on his back, his upper half held in the air by the the hold that Kangin had on his hair.

Kangin continued to walk forward, dragging Sungmin behind him. Pushing his feet against the floor, he tried to push himself up but every time he got a good grip, Kangin would tug him, preventing him from doing it, leaving his legs scrambling. Moving through the door way, Sungmin tried in vain to hold onto the door frame only to be stopped by another swift yank on his hair that caused him to yelp out in pain, hot tears stinging his eyes.

“Kang... in..... please........” he pleaded out, his words floating in the air around his head then dissipating.

It really was no use. Kangin was like a monster. With every step he could feel hairs being ripped out from the roots. Fearing they would all be torn out, he reached his arms up and grasped tightly onto Kangin's wrist with both of his hands.

When they got to the stairs, Kangin continued to pull Sungmin down, his bones banging and bouncing off every step. With every hit he let out a sob, the raw cuts on his bank repeatedly hitting and sliding against the harsh points on the edge of every step. His fingernails were digging harshly into Kangin's wrist, scraping and scratching at the flesh, drawing blood.

“P...p...please........ it h..hurts” he begged again, his voice sounding whimpery and pathetic.

Reaching the bottom, Sungmin's body slid down the last few steps. Kangin pulled him until he was in the living room then let go of his hair, throwing his suspended body to the floor. Feeling something wet trickling down his hand, Kangin lifted it to his face. Around his wrist were several crescent moon shaped puncture marks, blood spilling from the majority of them. Scowling at them, he knelt down next to Sungmin, grabbing his hair again with his other hand and lifting his head from the floor.

“Look what you've done!” he spat as Sungmin's half lidded eyes scanned his wrist and hand that were now streaked with blood. It had collected into a violent red puddle in Kangin's palm where it had soaked down through the fingers of his clenched fist, Sungmin's own hair matted into it.

Gritting his teeth at the him, he let go of his hair, pushing his head as he did so. He stretched to his full height, lifting his hand and swiftly throwing it back down to discard of the hair, sending blood spaying across the room. Towering over the broken man on the floor who was using what little strength he had left to hold himself up, Kangin seethed. The only emotion he could dredge up in his mania was hatred. Pure hatred. He hated everything about him: from the way his eyes looked at him with his pathetic love, to the way his fingers reached out to touch him when he was half asleep. He hated every single hair on his body. He wanted to break it down until there was nothing left.

Sungmin could feel the figure that was looming over him. He was practically drowning in the thick black shadow that was being cast over him, almost holding him suspended. He was leaning on his right side, his quivering arms that were holding his quivering body were threatening to give way. He was running on empty. His body was ready for giving up, but his mind wasn't. He couldn't let himself crumple into a quivering mess, he must fight it. Fight Kangin. Show him he wasn't pathetic. Moving his legs, he tried to push himself up to his feet, but he was getting no response. His legs just refused to move.

Seeing the sight below him, Kangin just scoffed: “Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic. Why are you even bothering?” It wasn't a question; rather a statement.

Sungmin heard every word as he struggled.

Turning away from him, Kangin walked in the direction of the kitchen, practically humming as he went.

When he was fully out of sight, Sungmin stopped moving and began to look around the destruction that was once their living room in attempt to find something that could help him. This was the room they had before talked in, laughed in, kissed in. The room they had once been happy in. Tears pricked his eyes, which he quickly disregarded with a flick of his eyelids. All around him was chaos. In the pale light that was fighting its way through the closed curtains, he scanned. Photos and ornaments were smashed, the coffee table overturned, just barely in one piece, any thing that was on it no strewn across the floor. Utter chaos. Behind the overturned table, Sungmin's eyes settled on a large dark mound. Narrowing his eyes for a better look, his vision focussed on the form, taking in the contours and realising it was human – or at least human formed.

Then his thoughts flashed to the man. Where was he? He had been up to see him earlier to tell him not to come out of his room, but he hadn't seen or heard him since. Eyes widening in fear, he let out a gasp as he realised that could be the man laid on the floor. Struggling even more, gasps and huffs released from his mouth as he tried in vain to lift himself.

“Come on. Come on.” he spoke to himself. Words of encouragement that really were no use.

CRASH!

Sungmin stopped dead in his tracks and looked towards the kitchen in shocked reaction at the sound that emitted from its direction.

“WHERE THE HELL IS IT?” Kangin could be heard shouting, vicious anger dripping from the words.

Looking back towards the form crumpled on the hard floor, Sungmin tilted more onto his side and began dragging himself along the floor in desperation. His breathe was laboured as he pulled as hard and as quick as he could, pushing any object that blocked his path out of the way. Sweat poured from his head, trickling down his face and to the floor.

“Come on.”

When he reached him he began to shake him softly There was no reaction, his body just moved willingly from side to side. Dropping hard down onto his elbows, Sungmin leant down close to the man's head, his hair falling forward and touching gently onto the man's blank face, caressing his skin.

“Hey,” he whispered into his ear. “Wake up. You need to wake up.” He could feel the tears once again pricking his eyes. Pulling back and surveying the man, questions rampaged through Sungmin's mine. What has happened? Did Kangin do this? Why?

Sitting up fully, he brushed the hair away from the man's face, out of his eyes. All at once he was overcome with a strong feeling of foreboding which surged through his veins like poison, suffocating his senses.

“H-he-he's d-dead.......” he stuttered. “He's d-dead.....”

Letting out a strangled cry Sungmin lunged forward once more and began to shake the man harshly, rejecting the thoughts that drowned his mind. Placing both his hands on the man's head, one either side of his face, he began to push and press at the cold, malleable skin. Leaning his face as close as he could, he pulled the man's bottom eyelids down to try to look at his pupils. He was no doctor so he didn't know what he expected to be able to read from them, but they looked dead. Glazed over and dead.

“no.... no....”

Releasing his eyes, he continued his attempt to wake him up, now slapping at the side of his face. At first it came in gentle taps, but soon built up to harsh slaps that snapped at the contact.

“no....” he whimpered out.

Feeling the last of his life dripping from him with every hit, Sungmin gave in, dropping his body down onto the man. His head rested on his firm chest, finding solace in the warmth given by the life that had possessed his body.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wow, nearly an entire month has passed by since I last updated. I am soooooo sorry. Time passes so quickly........ I've been so busy with uni work (dissertation!) that I have barely had time to breathe. But now its done so I will be able to get this completed.

I felt so bad when I read your comment Missldash. This was supposed to be the final part, but since I haven't updated in a long time, I have split it up so you don't have to wait any longer for an update.

The final part should be odne within the next couple of days!

Any way, hope it was enjoyed by all!!!! Thanks for reading!!

xo