When he arrived, the boy was lying lifeless on the floor, eyes shut so tight he thought they would never open again.

He stumbled into the dim room, collapsing by the pale figure. With shaking hands, he touched the boy’s shoulder, noticing how hard it was from the tension of being twisted backward, leading down to wrists tied between his back, hidden from light pouring through the front door.

He called his name. Softly, but with a determination he didn’t know came from where. It was as if he knew that if he called him, if he called hard enough, the boy would wake and everything would be ok and they could go back home….

He shuddered uncontrollably, remembering the chaotic ruins of what was once their home.

Donghae fought back a sob before balling both hands into fists. He clenched his teeth, pushing himself off the ground, looking around to see if there was anything sharp he could use to free the boy in front of him.

Mechanically, drawers were flung open and covers thrown away. He didn’t care how much of a mess he was making. All he could think about was Hyukjae… but he tried to stop those thoughts. He couldn’t afford to get distracted with panic. Not today. Not now.

He cut open the cable tie with one quick, hard motion.

“Who did this to you?” Tears finally broke free when he picked the boy up, the coldness of his skin impossible to ignore. He tried not to look at the other’s face, diverting his gaze away from the bangs stuck to his forehead and his drained lips, the sharp cut of his skinny chin and the eyelashes that had not so much as fluttered since he found him.

Donghae tried not to look, but of course it was futile.

When he left, the room was in shambles, everything either torn apart or cracked on the floor. The only light, coming from the front door, took a quick glance around the ruined room before jumping outside as the door shut with a bang, saying its goodbye to the poor furniture inside as if it knew what was about to happen in a few seconds.

Too quick for anyone to react, the whole room caught on fire all at once, and no evidence of the two boys—or anything else for that matter—remained.

Hyukjae breathed faintly in the arms of his captor.