Night fell soon enough and Minho and Key disappeared on an off-campus date. Taemin hooked his belt, tightening it accordingly before going to put on his shoes. So long as Key wasn’t around and Minho wasn’t around, then they couldn’t stop him from going partying.

Before, they would tag team and keep him “safe” which was all nice and sweet but man could it get annoying. Taemin was already a senior in high school. The last thing he needed was for two nosy people telling him the difference between right and wrong.

Furthermore, he had already come to his answer. That guy Onew was right. There was no more time. Whatever had existed between him and Mir was gone. They…they were over.

Taemin shook the thoughts away. It was a good thing wasn’t it? Now there was nothing stopping him from doing what he pleased. He could stay out with whoever he wanted for however long he wanted. There had been so many restrictions when he was dating someone, but now it was all over!

Be happy…right?

“You ready, kiddo?” Jonghyun called, appearing in the doorway.

“Yeah,” Taemin replied, finishing the knot of his shoe and standing up.

The older boy smiled his approval, slinging an arm around the boy’s shoulders. “You’re not really as innocent as you look, I hope. Or else I’ll get hell for tainting you.”

“Trust me,” he chuckled, “I’m nowhere near innocent. It’s just the misleading face.”

“Well, if you say so,” Jonghyun muttered.

They crossed the campus, passing different, unfamiliar buildings along the way. The older boy pointed out one of the larger facilities and grinned, “That’s the fine arts building. You’re going to come here and major in dance, right?”

“How did you know I like to dance?” Taemin questioned, brow knitting.

“Key talks about you a lot,” he answered, “he really cares about you as far as I can tell. Whenever you come up he starts acting like a mom or something,” Jonghyun laughed.

The blonde eyed the older one for a long moment, trying to figure out why he was so bothered by the fond tone used when speaking about Key. Taemin slowly shrugged off the discomfort, figuring it was just intimacy of roommates. They were probably extremely close if they lived together.

“That student teacher, Onew,” Jonghyun began, “is a singing major and education major. He’s learning under the head of the Music department so we got to know one another well.”

“You like to sing, hyung?”

“Yeah, I really do,” he replied, and even in the darkness, it was obvious how sincere those words were. He didn’t even have to see Jonghyun’s face to know there was only honesty in those large eyes.

Taemin put his arm around the taller boy’s waist, “You’re really cool, hyung.”

“…are you sure you’re not going to be corrupted by going to this party?” Jonghyun prompted anxiously.

“No,” he retorted, pouting at uncertainty.

After some minutes of walking, Taemin caught the heavy bass of amps and techno. His eyes narrowed in the dark night, trying to locate the source. Jonghyun indicated a blurry, spastic light in the distance.

They strode up to the shadowy entrance, and were quickly admitted. Taemin surveyed the area, smiling a bit. It was really similar to KUG, except noisier somehow, and less clean. He shook off the disdain and pulled Jonghyun into the pit of dancing bodies.

It was all very safe, very relaxed. That’s why he wasn’t sure what happened. There were just so many lights, and laughter, screaming, liquid…and at some point, Jonghyun had drifted away. That wasn’t exactly a problem. Or it shouldn’t have been a problem.

Taemin knew what clubbing and raves were like. Hell, it was practically his life a couple of years ago. So what was making this situation any different?

There was a lot of giggling disturbing his mind and he closed his eyes, one hand curling in his hair. Why was everything spinning? Taemin leaned against a sticky wall, touching his sweaty neck.

“Hey baby, what’s wrong?”

“Huh?” he mumbled inaudibly, turning around to see who was grabbing his waist.

“I said, what’s wrong, babe?” the person laughed throatily, shoving Taemin back against the grossly moist wall.

He struggled against the restraining arms, heart beating rapidly and breaths coming out more as pants. “Get away from me!” he felt like the words were loud, but apparently they weren’t.

“Why?” the captor asked, “You’re the one who was grinding all over me a few minutes ago.” He shoved one leg between the blonde’s, forcing their bodies together to create an far too rough friction.

Taemin ground his teeth, still trying to get a bearing on what was going on. When had he touched an oaf like that? “I never danced with you!” he insisted, breathing hard from the recycle air and mixed scents. “Get your big, fat, ing hands off of me!”

“You little !” the person slurred, slamming his beefy palm into Taemin’s cheek.

The boy skidded across the ground, coughing and gasping for air that wasn’t there. Why was this happening to him? He closed his eyes, still unable to ascertain the predicament. There was only a second of peace though.

“Let’s go have some fun,” the deep voice grunted, “I’ve been waiting to your tight all night.”

“Stop touching me!” Taemin yelled, thrashing around. The struggles only resulted in a heavy fist to his stomach and his gag reflex waking up.

The walk into who knows where felt like forever and by the time the smell of the rave was gone, it was already too late to stop what was happening. Taemin felt himself crash into the cold outside concrete. A bright orange light blinded him as any number of hands started tearing at his clothes.

What’s going on?               

He swallowed, covering his eyes against the artificial brilliance. Suddenly, he jolted and screamed out loud. All the nerves in his body felt on fire reacting simultaneously to the touch of someone’s tongue – whose, he wasn’t sure.

“Damn, took long enough for it to kick in,” someone laughed. There were other voices too, none of them even slightly familiar.

Taemin tried to back away from the rough fingers but they just dragged him back down.

Why are they doing this?He wanted to voice the words but it felt like the world had stopped listening. There was no one around, no one that wanted to hear him anymore.

If Mir were here…he would protect me. You would protect me, right Mir? You love me so you would save me.

“Is he crying?” one of the people snorted.

When the world stops listening you’ll keep listening because we’re in love, isn’t that right? Are you listening to me Mir? You’re the closest thing I’ve ever had to a safe place…you’ll save me…

“Whatever. Just cover his face,” another figure said brusquely.

You won’t save me because I didn’t save you? Am I not worth it Mir? I’m sorry…

“I’m sorry,” Taemin whispered, breaking the weak sobs and tremors, “I’m sorry Mir…please don’t hate me…”

“Who the is Mir?” the person muttered, looking at the crying boy.

Taemin gasped harshly, tears dribbling down his sweat soaked face, “Please Mir…don’t let this happen,” he begged brokenly, “I love you so p-please come save me…I p-promise…I promise I’ll be better…”