celestial strings | h.js

two.

You huffed sardonically, but you listened. Giving him an attitude was merely child's play, something you needed to do to overshadow the sense of dread present over your body.

"Come home with us, and I will let him go," the councilman said. "Your friends will return to their daily lives. They will never hear from us, and you, ever again."

"That's not a daily life, asshole," Jisung spat. "You're taking my soulmate away from me. How can my life be normal?"

The councilman ignored Jisung, believing the boy was not worth his time. "If you don't take the deal, we will start with this... thing over here," the councilman gestured at Jisung. The clone gave his neck a threatening squeeze, causing Jisung to gasp out a fearful breath. "And you know what happens to the rest of your friends."

Your shoulders slumped. It was a deal. To you, it was even a generous deal that he was willing to let go of loose ends in return for your cooperation. You eyed Jisung, who looked appalled that you seemed to be considering the councilman's words. His face further disintegrated into a silent type of madness, where he has words pushing out the corners of his mouth, but his voice was rendered silent when you began to negotiate with the elder.

"What about my uncle? He's still in a coma."

"He will remain so, but we will not kill him."

"What about me?"

The councilman hummed. "Framed for your family's murder and sentenced to prison. But, if you come now, I can secretly arrange something more comfortable for you."

Jisung whipped his head upward to stare at the man in shock. The councilman must be out of his mind, not just because the plan may not work in his favor but also because thinking of doing something so heinous was beyond Jisung's imagination. You have spent years as a runaway just for him to waltz into this city and ask if you could take the fall for your family's death. That made no sense! Who in their right mind would believe that? Was ridiculous crimes like this typical among magic users, and he simply would never understand it?

But you were considering it. With Jisung's life on the line, you were considering it.

You have partially given up on curing your uncle, and it has been years since what happened that you held more hatred than grief toward your family's tragic demise. You have, more or less, gotten over the past. With the help of this newfound friend group, your legs were able to move you to the present and help you look forward to the future. If these people die, if your friends die because you weren't strong enough to save them all, that would be a fresh wound waiting to be nursed inappropriately through avoidance and overexertion. That would be a scar you pick at just to keep feeling it to fulfill your unquenchable thirst to suffer for your mistakes.

The councilman was making you a deal. A good deal.

It was a deal you did not want to take.

"How do I know you will leave my friends alone?" you asked.

"I don't wish to have anything to do with children like them," he replied. "I'm only here for you."

You couldn't trust him, but you have to. You have to let yourself believe that he would leave everyone alone—your soulmate, your friends, your uncle, and perhaps even you, eventually. All you had to do was go with him. Looking over at Jisung, who had a strangled expression on his face, your palpitating heart came to a quick halt at the recollection of all that had happened ever since you met him.

He has done so much for you, and you hurt his feelings. Immediately after you promised each other that you would never do so again. You just keep hurting him.