- Gloat?
There was a mansion with the maids serving the eight monsters.
There was a ward with some crazy doctors venturing into the people.
What was the meaning of those?
Had they been warned?
Was that a warning? Or...
Hyeop woke up from his sleep when he felt like waking himself up from that dream. That same dream came again, just how cruel the people in his dream were. Even though he wasn't there, he still can feel all their pain.
He remembered their mother who went missing after she worked in the ward in the middle of the forest. Until now, their mother was still missing.
Hyeop smiled painfully, remembering all the tragedy that prevailed in their life.
He remembered when they were still in secondary school, the students doesn't want to be close to them as they look weird with almost gray uniforms, Hyeop had broken glasses, Junhyuk had white hair, and especially -- the twins' emerald and gold eyes.
When they had been younger, both twins had the same dream and dreamed of some unknown people coming to take them away, but it had never happened.
At school, the twins had no one. Everybody knew that Jeongsuk's gang hated that odd twins Lee in their baggy old clothes and Hyeop's broken glasses, and nobody liked to disagree with Jeongsuk's gang.
But the thing that struck in his cruel memory that he wouldn't forget is how their auntie told her gamblers to just take them than kill her.
Nobody loved them like their mother. Even their siblings forgot about them including Suyun. It seemed that they only had each other.
But when they grew up, now, he could see all the people's attention were on them, pouring them the attention that Hyeop hated.
Do they only love them because of their faces?
Maybe...
He sighed shakily, he felt like crying but he forced himself not to. Yes, they've been a downfall of their own family and to think about their mother's sacrifice for their living made him feel guilty.
Where they've been disgraced for being weird?
No, he shouldn't be feeling like this.
They were in peace now, living in the forest with only each other, without anyone judging them, hurting them.
He felt happy now, content although their situation was a bit tangled. He felt happy to the point that he doesn't want to let this happiness go.
Was he really happy?
Hyeop flinched when he felt something rubbing his cheek. He turned to his side and saw Junhyuk, wiping his tears away, eyes full of worries and he couldn't help but silently cried again.
Junhyuk sighed deeply before pulling Hyeop into his arms. He instinctively tightens his hug on Hyeop’s middle in hopes to make him feel safe, to make him feel secure, and to make him feel like everything is okay.
Hyeop sighed shakily as sobs escaped from his mouth. He leaned his face on Junhyuk's shoulder as he hugged him back, clutching his fists on his twin's both arms. Junhyuk brushed his twin's hair softly before planting a soft kiss on it.
"Are you having nightmares again twinie?" he asked softly while brushing Hyeop's soft hair.
Yes, he wanted to say but doesn't like to worry his twin so he shook his head a no. He doesn't want to talk about it. It only makes him worst, worst for being like this.
Suddenly, the event yesterday hit his mind. Hyeop jolted after remembering that a killer was lurking around in this area. Should he call the police or should they move to another cabin? But they don't have much money to buy another cabin.
He sighed his worries away. Maybe... he should buy traps to secure their safety?
Hyeop looked up at his twin. What if Junhyuk regrets coming with him? He forced him to live with him in the forest but he gave him choice.
Does he wanted to live in the city or come with him?
What if he doesn't want to run away from the city?
There are so many 'what ifs' in his mind and this is making him anxious. He doesn't want to cry but what else he can do to make himself feel at ease. Is he being too selfish to think about himself taking away Junhyuk's freedom?
The thoughts of their weird illness, their relationship as siblings, their situation...
Hyeop doesn’t know what came to him but at that moment, so many doubts and ‘ifs’ clouded his mind. It’s as if those thoughts were eating him alive, and he’s unable to stop thinking about the negativity.
"It's not like that..." he shakily answered.
His face buried on Junhyuk's shoulder again.
"Then...what is it? You can tell me everything."
Hyeop pulled away and decided to smile and shake his head. "It's nothing...just a weird dream," he sadly answered with a forced smile on his face. "I'm used to it anyway -- "
Hyeop paused when Junhyuk gently took his twin's face in his palms, his moves were so delicate as if he's afraid of hurting his fragile doll of a twin, and made Hyeop look at him in the eye.
"There's nothing wrong in our relationship twin, it's just that... what else are we gonna do?" Junhyuk said as if he can read his twin's face.
Junhyuk was fully aware of what kind of situation they were in, and what they're facing right now.
The people from the outside would think about their relationship as weird and forbidden. They love each other as twins, nothing deep, and besides, Junhyuk likes Hawon.
Junhyuk remembered how his twin suffered more than him, how his twin protected him before from the commitment to the other people's judgments.
It seriously has a great effect on Hyeop's sanity and those will drag him down into his despair.
They fought once because of his stubbornness but he realized that living in the middle of nowhere, away from people, this way, he can help Hyeop out of his devastation.
Junhyuk noticed his twin's eyes started to water again.
"Don't cry Hyeopie." He sighed. "Don't think too much," Junhyuk assured him before placing a soft and gentle kiss on Hyeop's forehead.
Hyeop sighed heavily before nodding his head, standing up from the chair. The event yesterday came again to his mind and he remembered running away until he got home safely.
He hoped the killer didn't see him.
"Are you alright? You look bothered. What happened yesterday? You were shaking so hard until you fell asleep in my arms,"Junhyuk asked, stretching, his back pained him a little from falling asleep in the chair.
"There... I think... "
Is he going to say it? Junhyuk needs to be warned or else...
"I saw... a house not far away from here and a boy, covered in blood." He finally said.
"What?!" The younger gasped, standing up and peeking up the window.
"I assume the house I saw was the killers' nest. I-I... I tried to help the boy but... b-but... "
Junhyuk noticed the panic and worry in his twin's eyes. He scooted beside his twin and wrapped an arm over his shoulder.
"You try... at least. Don't you dare blame yourself for not helping the boy." He said before turning away and taking his phone, he dialed Jinki's number, asking him if they can stay over at his place for a while.
Junhyuk put his phone down on the drawer and turned to Hyeop, pulling his arm and pressing his lips on his twin's soft one.
"We will stay over at Jinki tonight," he said and walked to their room to pack their things.
Hyeop sighed, being kissed by his twin was their hobby ever since they were still kids.
"I told you before, staying in the middle of the forest is dangerous!" Jinki said, a box of chicken wings in his hands.
"Lower your voice!" Junhyuk groaned before hitting Jinki's arm.
"I am lowering my voice!" Jinki shouted with a whisper, biting the crispy wing.
Homin snorted at Jinki, looking at the students eating while chatting in the cafeteria. Once he caught one of those staring at them, he'll probably shoot them a stern stare too until they looked away.
"You are not actually," Homin scoffed before digging the tip of his chopsticks in the meat.
"I am!" whispered Jinki again.
Hawon walked passed them with her friends and Jinki caught Junhyuk staring at her. He nudged Junhyuk's side and the younger looked at him in wonder.
"Uncrush him already!" he whispered, pointing to Hawon who took a seat not far away from their table. "She's a witch!"
"Don't say something like that to others. Hawon is not a witch. She's kind and very pretty -- "
"Oh gosh! Stop complimenting her! She's the worst!" Jinki groaned, pointing at Hawon again with his chopsticks.
Homin hit Jinki's chopsticks with his. "Stop pointing, they might notice you and before you know it, you are already their target," Homin warned.
"See?! You heard what Homin said! She's bad!" Instead, Jinki said, trying to convince Junhyuk that Hawon is bad. "She's a bully!"
Homin watched Jinki and Junhyuk fighting over again, he shrugged and continue eating.
Hyeop flipped over the pages when an egg suddenly landed on the page of his hardbound book. He heard all the students gasped, not that all but a few of them who were near at their table or witnessed the scene.
Hyeop watched the broken egg slides on his book, frozen for a moment.
"Who threw the egg?!" Jinki shouted, standing up. "I swear to rip your eggs instead!"
"Oh really huh? If I know, you're only good for sucking eggs!"
Jinki turned his head to the group of the students who smugly looking at them, marching near their table. Jinki suddenly felt smaller after seeing them up close, these guys were very muscular and tall.
"What do you want?" Homin asked calmly, glaring up at the guys.
"What do we want?" The guy who they assumed was the leader laughed.
Homin knew these guys, especially the guy who talks to them. It's Hawon's boys and her boyfriend. Sure thing, Junhyuk is making a fool of himself for liking someone like that bitch.
The leader suddenly grabbed Hyeop's collar, pulling him up from his chair but Hyeop have sharp reflexes as he solidly slammed the book right against the leader's face.
This left the whole students to gape widely at the poor guy whose face is now all red.
The guy quickly let go of him and Junhyuk was fast to pull Hyeop behind him.
"Why did you do that?!" One of the leaders said.
"Sorry, our best friend has pretty sharp reflexes when it comes to dick like you!" Jinki mocked, laughing like a maniac.
The book was hardbound which means it will inflict more damage on the face.
"My… my nose! I think you broke my nose! Why you sunavafucker!"
"Ya old haggard! Your fake nose is BLEEDING! Serves you right for messing with us!"
The leader's hand quickly shot up to his nose and his boyish screams filled the air as he threw a glare at them, especially the guy who broke his nose. His other minions immediately hand him a handkerchief to cover his bloody nose.
"Ya! that namja just broke our leader's nose! He needs to pay the damage!" one of the minions said, pointing at Hyeop.
"Ha! I bet you can’t even pay us you poor little small dicks!"
Hyeop incredulously looked at him while Junhyuk and Homin stared at the broken nose, deciding whether they should say something or not.
A loud screech of tires filled the air which made Jinki stop from mocking and wonder what that is.
"Ya! The pres is here!" Someone yelled from somewhere.
Homin tugs Jinki's neon pink jacket.
"It’s not yet late to run for our lives?" He whispered and Jinki snorted.
"Me? Running for my life?" Jinki paused once he sighted the councilor instead, he cursed before pulling his friends' tie and running to the other side of the door.
Jinki looked left and right and continued his running, earning perplexed stares from the students around them. He then lock themselves in the boy's bathroom and checked the cubicles one by one.
When he realized that no one was there, he heaved out a sigh and finally let go of them.
"I almost got choked!" Homin groaned.
"Sorry, we are doomed anyway. I have no choice!"
Hyeop felt his phone vibrated and he took it out and see their boss from the public library sent him a message.
Homin seemed to receive the text message too and grab Hyeop hand. "I think we need to go," said Homin and showed the text message.
They stepped out of the cubicle and pulled Hyeop out of the bathroom leaving the two who will deal with that guy's gang.
"We'll come with you!" Junhyuk quickly said and follow after them.
_____
"What's the matter?" Hyunsung asked while washing his hands. "I'd like to enjoy stuffing the bodies all night long if you hadn't interrupted us but well, I'd rather enjoy painting using their blood."
"Well..." Seunghyun starts, wearing his specs, staring at all his lovers inside their little treetop wolf den.
He typed something on his laptop before turning the screen in front of them, it was a video. "Watch."
The boys watched the video. Its news about the body bags that dump near the bay, inside it was a bunch of rotting parts of the human body while on the other bag were the human organs.
Hyunsung's eyes snap open wide as his mouth is half open and the others? Well...just being they were, calm and composed.
"Hyunsung didn't clean his trash properly..." Minhee sighed, rubbing his forehead.
It's such a pain whenever Hyunsung doesn't like the food. He'll just dump it whenever he liked it, even Minhee wants himself to do the stuffing instead yet Hyunsung complains a lot.
It's better to burn the body than dump it, that's what Minhee always tells them must do but sometimes Hyunsung easily forgets it on purpose.
"I... I forgot the lighter and the gas! Besides, someone is strolling around in that area." Hyunsung reasoned out which is true.
"Whatever your reason has, just make sure to burn the body, got it?" Seunghyun remind them, especially Hyunsung who nodded in return.
"You're older than me, so don't act like a kid Sungie. Don't forget the rules in purpose. Arasso?"
Hyunjsung nodded again and said 'Ne, Hyunie-sshi,' as he bowed politely even though he's older than Seunghyun but the behavior the younger had showed as if he was the mother of their little group.
"Someone locates our location and I am afraid someone will come with the cops. I'm warning you, you should be careful," he added as he showed the flip-up phone.
"Now, let me get to the point." Minhee interrupt. "Tomorrow, there's a bunch of senior students, you know who could those be."
The others nodded and smiled, they know them very well, aren't they the famous U-tuber by video blogging? Sure, they have plenty of money in their pockets.
Minhee is going to make a small talk to them while Seunghyun gonna hacked their back accounts. Them? Well...let's just say, a watcher or lookout.
"I know you're getting bored but...I'll let you go fishing this weekend. Is that find?" Seunghyun asked, eyes on them.
"I'd like to but I like fishing people more than fish." Sungjoon joked but that wasn't a joke at all.
Seunghyun and Minhee sighed. There's nothing they can do with their behavior. A psycho is always a psycho, they can't control their desire and needs. They'll kill and kill until they are satisfied.
In this town, Seunghyun knew that there was no sort of a club or bar to lighten up their heads.
It's just a small town away from the city.
It's called Gwasang Town which is very rare and unique. No, history but full of ghost stories.
"Ok, do whatever you want after this but make sure to burn the body. And please...don't invite other people into our house."
They just whoo as a promise. Minhee sighed and noticed his brother turned quiet all of a sudden. He looked bothered.
Minhee dismissed them and the others hurriedly run to the bridge. Jihae decided to stay at his mate's side, even him, he can feel something wrong with their angel.
Minhee sits down next to him and Fin almost instantly makes himself comfortable in his arms.
"Was there bothering you?" He asked and he noticed the younger suddenly snarled a little. He looked frustrated now.
"Keep that teeth to yourself lil pup." The older scolded and Fin sighed.
"What's wrong with you?" Jihae asked too, worried and confused as to why his mate acting moody. It started since the hunt yesterday.
He's been distant to him ever since and so he assumed his mourning over the boy. But it's not the issue here, Fin makes sure of that.
"If something was bothering you, we can help you," Minhee assured, holding his little brother's small hands.
"Gloat... " he finally said, almost in a whisper.
Fin nearly vibrates at the thought of the scent of the gloat he smelled yesterday in the hunt. He closed his eyes, trying to remember the sweet but very strong scent from him.
"Gloat? There was no gloat and if ever, we make sure to kill that gloat guy Gong Pil!" Jihae said.
"Aren't we killed that only gloat in the ward? There was no way he survive, I cut his head in half!" Minhee said sternly.
"But... I smell something sweet and strong scent. It's impossible I was mistaken, I clearly smell a gloat!" Fin shouted panic lurched in him.
Gloat is their big enemy. They only fought one gloat which was Gong Pil and make sure he was dead, and killing one gloat was a much of effort and energy.
Gloat or known as foxes, if packs are werewolves, well, the gloat is a fox. It's the blood-sucking race based on the book about gloats. It was the werewolves' close relative but never once become close.
They choose their taste or food - humans - by the smell of their blood. Well, gloats are the close relatives of werewolves and become of the packs too, they've also had mates or they can be mated too by the packs just smelling their blood and once they mark their mate or the gloats called it, taste, there's no escape -- same for the packs.
Alpha, beta, or either omega need to stay at the gloats forever once they are marked. Gloats are sometimes very possessive, angry, and aggressive to the point it'll be hard to handle them especially when they didn't drink the blood from their mates within months. But alpha and omega are the most very territorial, violent, and jealous races after the mating. They can get even worse to the point that it'd lead to a bloody mess between the race.
They never leave their mates once of course.
The smell of gloats is very strong and sometimes bitter but they can smell sweet sometimes. They are allergic to omega's scent or any better sweet scent coming from the packs, it making them sneeze or worst, it can lead to allergies.
Gloat is easily provoked just by the sweet smell and becomes aggressive. They have no rut but as a sign of a gloats' rut, they'd be super thirsty. And it's hard to identify which the humans is a gloat since they only release their scent whenever they felt thirsty.
Minhee has no clue if it applies in real life since that was only in the myth. But it seemed so.
"Fox... or gloat... is a very aggressive one. If there's one, if Gong Pil survives, then we must be careful then." Minhee said and pats his brother's shoulder.