Chapter 27.

Mark’s emotions were high and swirling around in his chest making it impossible for him to decide on which action to take next. The sun was setting, darkness had spread through the woods and no alarms went off in his head, even if he was at the bottom of the woods.

All he could focus on was the face below him. The white glowing eyes, the black ruffled hair, his freaking handsome features that had lured Ten into a trap. Mark was swallowed by rage and he raised a fist before forcing it down on Taeyong’s perfect face. Taeyong’s head turned with the blow, jaw moving as it was knocked to the side harshly. A smile tugged at Taeyong’s bruised lip, blood already came out from the cut. Taeyong only looked up at Mark who couldn’t help but growl.

  “How dare you?!” Mark raged and threw his fists at the other. “You betrayed him!” He screamed. “You betrayed me!” He stopped punching and lifted Taeyong up by a grip on his shirt. The other’s head hung back, Taeyong’s eyes rolled around in their sockets before they focused on Mark.

  “I-”

  “Don’t speak!” Mark commanded. He didn’t want to hear it. He only wanted the other to suffer. “How dare you follow us?!” He seethed and the look on Taeyong’s face made him look so vulnerable.

  “I had to make sure.”

  “Make sure of what?” Mark snapped. “That I can do my job well? That Ten won’t run to Johnny instead of you?”

Taeyong winced. “No,” he answered. “I had to make sure…” He breathed weakly and Mark threw Taeyong down before standing. He ran a hand over his face then he looked at it. His knuckles were bruised.

Taeyong groaned and coughed. Mark stepped away from the other. The Damned rolled onto his stomach to push himself up to sit on his knees. Mark came back to stand in front of Taeyong. “I told you to leave.” He stated. “Such a simple request. Are you that stupid?”

  “Mark,” Taeyong winced. “Please don’t.”

  “You forced yourself upon him, didn’t you?” Mark asked, he was trembling with rage and hurt. “From what I know… that’s called .”

Taeyong shook his head. “No!” He shouted. “No, I would never.”

  “Well, you did, Taeyong.”

The other was sobbing. Mark didn’t feel even an ounce of pity.

  “The emotions were so strong. Mark, I’m in love with him. He liked it.”

Mark grimaced and turned his body away from Taeyong. The other was still on his knees.

  “Then he did something. Mark, I felt it when I first saw him and you know at that time I didn’t care much about any of you but… This time I also cared, this time it was like I was standing in the middle of a fire. I saw clearer and I heard everything even louder than it was, but… but it was like losing the grip on the reigns of a horse.”

Mark just stared at Taeyong. The other seemed to take Mark’s silence as a sign to continue to speak.

  “Suddenly I felt this dread when I looked at his face, because I didn’t see the same pleasure, I saw only fear.” Taeyong softly shook his head. “Imagine that. The one you love fearing you.” Mark’s glare softened. “I retreated. I felt so cold all of sudden. He fled from me as if I were a monster. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t speak I just sat there where everything had gone wrong. Where I had lost all control and ruined everything.”

  “So,” Mark spoke. “I’m supposed to forgive you? To you let you travel with us?”

Taeyong shook his head. Mark raised his brows.

  “If Johnny sees you, you’re as good as dead, you know? I’ve seen him fight.” Mark warned the other. “I’m showing you mercy, Taeyong, something you’re not as good at.”

Taeyong lowered his head. “It’s your mercy I am worried about, Mark.” He spoke softly.

Mark leaned forwards. “What?” He whispered in a way that dared Taeyong to repeat himself.

  “You being so merciful.” Taeyong looked up at Mark. “I can’t risk it.”

Mark frowned, a small fear appearing in his heart. “Risk what?” He asked. “I can protect them, I don’t need your help!”

  “It’s not them!” Taeyong yelled back. Mark was baffled at the sudden power in Taeyong’s voice. “It’s you.” He said in the softest voice. “It’s you.”

Mark frowned at the other. Why was Taeyong worrying about him? What danger could possible come to him?

Taeyong got up on his feet. He looked at Mark and reached out a hand. “I have to just stay close enough so that I can… I have to make sure.”

Mark shook his head. “No.” He replied. “No, you can’t.”

  “You’re the leader, Mark.” Taeyong stated. “Maybe you haven’t noticed all your great qualities because you’re oh-so-humble, but others have. The good and the bad sides have seen what you can do.”

Mark looked at Taeyong with wide eyes. He had never dreamt of this. Never imagined himself being in danger. He was in disbelief, because who could possibly care about him? He was just helping, guiding, he wasn’t special to the group. They could do great things without him. Yet he had a passion to guide them, to walk and fight with them and could that possibly make him a good leader? A leader? Mark had always thought Taeyong was the leader.

  “I’m not here to guide you. I’m here to-”


  “Get away from him.”

The two looked to two figures walking towards them. Mark had forgotten that Haechan had followed him. He’d been too focused on Taeyong.

Renjun stood behind Haechan and Mark narrowed his eyes on the other. Renjun seemed to shield himself from Mark’s eyes behind Haechan, who had raised his sword, pointing it at Taeyong. Taeyong squinted at the other.

  “You.” He whispered and Mark immediately stepped in between Taeyong and Haechan. Taeyong gave Mark a look of confusion. Mark turned back to Haechan. He opened his mouth to speak but Haechan had read him before he could make a sound.

  “You’re not seriously considering that?” Mark stepped back in surprise at the tone in Haechan’s voice. “Think about Ten. He’s the one who gets decide whether this scumbag gets to be near him or not. You don’t.” Haechan stepped to the side to look at Taeyong. “You don’t either.” He stated.

Mark shook his head. “I’m not considering letting him back into the group.” He assured Haechan and then noticed Renjun huff. Mark tried to focus on Haechan. “He explained himself to me. Which is what I expect from everyone.” Mark gave a look to both Haechan and Renjun. Haechan’s eyes widened.

  “Oh, I explained myself to you.” He shot back and Mark raised a hand.

  “Of course, you did.” Mark quickly assured the other. He tried to look past the fire in Haechan’s eyes. “And I appreciate that.” He didn’t completely convince Haechan, he could see that.

  “He should go back.” Haechan then said. “Nothing good will come out of him being here. He’s not in control of himself.”

Mark sighed. Haechan was right. Ten shouldn’t see Taeyong and even though Taeyong was worrying. It was only worries. Mark could handle himself.
So Mark turned around to face someone he had fought so hard at the start and then come to fight for. The bruises on Taeyong’s face were caused by him. Mark felt the ache in his hand and knew Taeyong must be hurting even more. Mark had come to care for the other, he had trusted the other. Mark felt hopeless because he wanted everything to better. For Taeyong to be in control and for Ten to be happy, but that wasn’t life. He hated life in that moment. His shoulders slumped. He had to turn Taeyong away. Taeyong understood the look in Mark’s eyes. He backed off and nodded before looking at Mark one last time, eyes glowing white. Then he ran off into the darkness. Mark watched until the other was far away.

He realized how cold it was outside and how far they were from the gates of the Land of the Damned.

  “There’s a ladder not too far from here. Let’s get up to safety.” Haechan explained and Mark looked at the orange hue of the torch Renjun held. He walked beside Haechan who radiated with understanding. Mark sighed and then stared at the back of Renjun’s head.

As they reached the bridge. Mark felt a little more daring. He was still full of unleashed anger.

  “Funny. Jeno stayed back and you went alone, since when?”

Haechan gave Mark a look but Mark just waited for Renjun to turn around and face him. Renjun’s eyes glowed in the darkness. “I can fend for myself, thank you very much.”

Mark nodded with a hum. “I don’t doubt that.”

Renjun narrowed his eyes on Mark. “Then what is your problem?” He seethed, and Mark felt a switch go off inside of him before he sped forwards. Haechan shouted Mark’s name, while Mark pushed Renjun up against a tree that supported the bridge.

  “My problem?” He asked and felt Haechan have a firm grip on his arm. He ignored it. “You going around and playing games. You haven’t been totally honest, have you?”

Haechan groaned. “Mark, please!”

Renjun gave Haechan a look to back off. “I can handle it on my own.” He said through gritted teeth. Mark grinned.

  “Handle what?” He challenged, but as Renjun separated his lips to speak Mark pressed on. “I don’t like it. The way you seem to know things. The knowing look in your eyes. What is it that you know that we don’t?” Mark asked and Haechan’s grip on his arm was now bruising.

  “Mark, get off him.” Haechan demanded in a low voice. Mark looked into Renjun’s teal eyes and then he pulled away, but he was ready to pin Renjun there if the other tried to run. Haechan’s grip on him vanished and Haechan caressed the spot instead, as if he knew he had held on too tight. Mark exhaled to calm himself. Haechan looked at Renjun, who was glaring at Mark. “He’s shaken.” He explained. “You know what Taeyong did. After Ten, Mark is the one most hurt out of us all.”

Renjun nodded in understanding, but his glare didn’t falter. “I know the anger.” He confessed. Mark noticed the way Renjun opened and closed his hand; the knuckles on the hand holding the torch were white. If Mark had pushed on much more would the other have flipped out? Mark shouldn’t go around agitating the other Damned, when he knew how sensitive they were.

Mark lowered his eyes before looking into Renjun’s. “I’m sorry.” He apologized and Renjun raised his chin.

  “You’re a good leader, Mark.” He said. “You’re young, but from what I’ve seen, you’re better than most leaders in this world.” Haechan nodded and Mark relaxed into the touch on his arm. Renjun stood up straight a sudden look of determination taking over his features. He spoke in a clear voice. “I’ve learned that I have visions of what the future brings. I- see it when I sleep. Kind of like Doyoung’s but it’s only short moments. I only know when exactly they will happen right before they do.  The future is never set, it changes.”

  “You saw Jisung fall?” Mark asked and Renjun gave him a look. “I saw you jump in the way before he was thrown.”

  “I saw him fall to his death.” Renjun admitted. “I saw Ten struggle too, but I didn’t know who it was he was fighting, I didn’t hear a name… I couldn’t have known-”

  “It’s okay, you have a chance, but not a duty, Renjun.” Mark spoke, eyebrows sinking low into a frown as he spoke. “If you see anything you’d like to share with me, do tell.”

Renjun nodded. “I will.” He promised and Mark smiled. Renjun glanced at the torch in his hand. “Be careful with me.” He then warned the other. “I had to stop myself from setting you on fire.”

Mark’s eyes widened. “.” He muttered and chuckled at the look in Renjun’s eyes. “Thank you for not setting me on fire.”

Renjun bowed. “At your service.” He smiled mischievously before heading towards their camp. He left Mark and Haechan in the darkness and Mark found himself not following before his eyes had adjusted to the darkness. He loved that he could see so much better than he could before he was Damned.

  “You’re smiling.” Haechan pointed out. Mark looked at him and then found himself avoiding Haechan’s eyes that were looking in his direction.

  “You can see in the dark?”

  “I’ve trained in the darkness for many nights.” Haechan revealed. Mark hummed in reply, in awe of what the other could do. Haechan snorted and then hit Mark’s arm. “I just sensed it. I can’t see right now.”

Mark felt a laugh bubble through his throat and he found Haechan’s hand in the darkness. “I’ll lead you back.” He promised and felt his heart flutter as he held Haechan’s warm hand. The other went quiet and the two of them walked in silence. Mark could hear Haechan’s heart beat so much faster than it usually did. He couldn’t help but smile again.

A/N:

SORRY FOR TAKING SO LONG!

I was pretty busy. But I finally pulled myself together and re-read the chapter! How are you guys doing? I'm drowning in NCT updates. 
What the heck is happening????

Finished my INSPIRE contest and these are the winners check these three stories out !!!! 

 1st Place: Sail by Ari-yah                        2nd Place: Daybreak by Dalalaeda         3rd Place: Blur by Hot

 

Also do not be afraid of subscribing to INSPIRE because I'm going to change it into a one-shot challenge instead. I won't leave the posters unfinished! <3

Love,
Emma <3