☾︎ Hwang Hyunjin ☾︎ [hyunlix]

Finding himself in a dark alley at night, huddled in the farthest corner, the light-haired boy was trembling from the cold, clutching his knees to his chest and wrapping his arms around them. He couldn’t remember—who he was, where he came from, how old he was… he couldn’t even remember his own name. The only things he could feel were the cold, the dampness, and the fear of the unknown. Tears welled up in his eyes, and he quietly sobbed, burying his face in his knees, feeling the wet fabric of what used to be white clothes unpleasantly cling to his thin, pale body. He didn’t know where to go… didn’t know who to turn to for help… he was completely alone in this big, dark, frightening world. Suddenly, the boy heard footsteps—someone was walking directly toward the corner where he sat. He hesitantly lifted his head from his knees, and his gaze met a young man—fairly tall, with shoulder-length black hair. That was all he could make out in the darkness. “Well, what do we have here?” said the stranger, and at the tone of his voice, a shiver ran down the boy’s spine. There was something strange, dark, mysterious about the older man… Everything inside screamed that he should run from this unknown person, but judging by his appearance, the younger couldn’t even move. “Hey, do you understand what I’m saying?” the stranger asked, his tone almost challenging, as he crouched down beside him. The boy responded with an uncertain nod and pressed lips. “Good,” the man’s tone made it clear he was smiling. “Will you come with me? I promise I won’t hurt you.” He extended his hand, watching the boy with a strange kind of gaze — it felt as though he was looking right through him. The younger boy hesitated.