Baekhyun's dream was much like his reality now: a mansion, pillows and a smiling Yixing. But there was a feeling of paranoia that clung to the back of his mind, squeezing his chest. He walked down an empty hall, heart thudding as he stopped to study a painting on the wall. Everything was sombre now, except for the bright painting with light reflecting off its frame. He lifted a finger to touch the picture, but something flashed in the corner of his vision.

He spun around and was met with emptiness. Slowly turning back to the wall, trying to breathe and calm his racing heart, he glanced at the painting again. The edges had begun yellowing, curling in, away from the frame.

Then he saw it- a leering face reflected in the frame, right behind him.

He wanted to scream, but when he opened his mouth, a hand covered it and dragged him backwards.

~ ~ ~

Baekhyun woke up panting, gasping for breath. But then he realized it wasn't the fear from the nightmare that had woken him up- it was the loud muffled noises outside his bedroom door. Straining his ears, he thought he could hear Yixing's voice arguing with someone. There was someone else in the mansion?

Not really knowing what he was doing, Baekhyun began climbing out of bed. One foot was on the ground when the door was forced open, blinding light flooding in. A tall figure- looking like nothing more than a shadow in front of that light- advanced towards him. The shadow hooked an arm over Baekhyun's throat and forcibly dragged him off the bed and out the room.

He was thrown onto the ground and landed, disoriented, at Yixing's feet.

“Would you like to explain?” someone asked mildly.

“I- I . . .” Yixing stammered.

“Mr. Zhang, if you would allow me to do what I need to do, there will not be any more trouble for you.” Yixing began to stammer again, trying to protest, but the man paid no heed. Bodiless arms grabbed at Baekhyun, yanking him up.

As he was forced away, he caught Yixing's eyes, almost drowning in the unreadable agony.

So this is how dreams end, Baekhyun thought vaguely.

♔ A  u  t  h  o  r  '  s    N  o  t  e ♔

random short chapter because of my editing