#PLAY TAKE ME HOME BY ATEEZ BC I NEED ANOTHER GOOD CRY AFTER THIS FIC

[justaaveragereader]

OOOOHHHHH MMMMYYYYY GGGGAAAWWWDDDDD! NOT ME OVER HERE CRYING BC OF ZOMBIE SEONGHWA!

“Seonghwa frowned intensely. *I'm strongggg, l'll protect." The hard T left his tongue between his teeth cutely.” Like I just imagine he speaks semi close to the dad from Coraline when he was trying not to hurt Coraline and that alone has me ready to CRYYYYY! When he brings up craving strawberries and not craving the brains. I’m ready to throw everything into the window for zombie Hwa😭.

The part where Seonghwa is watering the flowers and is excited about the new seeds😭, CRYING, SCREAMING, FOAMING AT THE MOUTH! The fact even tho he’s a zombie he still has human tendencies and gardening is one of them has me in such shambles like it’s so cute and domestic. The world is shit and here zombie Hwa is being all cute and gardening😭💙.

"I'm okay?" He asked, looking up at you with big eyes as you stood up.” "Yes, baby, your daisy is healthy and thriving," You assured him.” AUTHOR I WANT YOU LOCKED UP FOR THISSSS😭🤪! The fact that performing maintenance on zombie Hwas flower and he acts like a big baby is just like heart wrenching. IM NOT GOING TO MAKE IT MUCH LONGER! It’s cute that zombie Hwa is so compliant with letting y/n do what they please to the flower like up keeping it, and constantly checking it and he never takes it super personal. ID FAIL EVERY DAMN TRIAL BC WHY IS ZOMBIE HWA SO DOMESTIC/HUSBAND LIKE?!

“More often than naught, you had to tug Seonghwa from searching amongst the zombies for your long lost friends. He was convinced that they had also been saved, like he had, he just had to find them. But Seonghwa always listened and kept up with your pace when you rattled off the flowers you thought each of your friends would sport.

"Daffodil for Yunho," You started to name off,

"Honeysuckle for Yeosang, Larkspur for San, Poppy for Mingi, Marigolds for Jongho and Chrysanthemum for Wooyoung."

"We don't have any marigolds," Seonghwa began to panic.” When I tell you my heart clenched at this part I dead got so emotional. The fact Hwa is still on the search for their friends bc he thinks they may have been saved too he just had to find them is so heart clenching😭. The flowers tho? So accurately match each member. The daffodil for Yunho? Chefs kiss. WHAT IS THIS SERIES DOING TO ME?!? I gotta book two therapy sessions after this chapter bc one session not going to be enough for me.

Oh that," Hongjoong rolled his eyes, "Seonghwa doesn't know who he is, he's simply a demon I made. This Seonghwa, zombie Seonghwa, loves strawberries but demon Seonghwa doesn't even know what strawberries taste like, darling.” Do you guys hear that..? THE SOUND OF MY HEART SNAPPING INTO A BILLION PIECES?! IM HEARTBROKE FRRRRR. OMG I FR WOULDVE KICKED HONGJOONG IN THE SHINS LIKE WHY YOU CRUSHING MY DELULU DREAM LIKE THAT?!?

Seonghwa ignored Hongjoong and strode purposely towards you, gently bumping his forehead against yours. "Remember saving me, remember my cock inside of you, remember our friends--"

"--who are also demons and she's fucked,"

Hongjoong completed Seonghwa's sentence.

"You can't have this one!" Seonghwa pushed you behind him protectively, shouting at Hongjoong.

"I won't let you! She let all of us in."

"I already told you," Hongjoong smiled dangerously, "She's mine." PARAMEDICCCCC SOMEONE CALL AN AMBULANCE, WOMAN DOWNNNN, WOMAN FUCKING DOWNNN😭💔💔KIM HONGJOONG YOU ASSHOLE I HATE YOU love this man and his toxicity in the series SO MUCH!

"What was Hongjoong talking about when he said you wrote a good story? What was that?" You asked.

"It's my story, Seonghwa admitted, "There's no title because it's incomplete. I write it because-" he pressed his lips together, "I want to feel loved." He met your eyes and then avoided them guiltily,

"I write it so that perhaps a future traveler will get sucked in and won't go to the restricted section."

Y/N WHY WONT YOU LOVE HIM?! LET ME IN THE LIBRARY I GOT ENOUGH LOVE TO GO AROUND ILL TREAT THEM ALL RIGHT! MY HEARTTTTTTT IS CRUSHEDDDD! The fact it’s no title bc it’s incomplete just💔😭!!! HE JUST WANTED TO FEEL LOVED! Y/N LOVE HIM YOU JERK BAG! The fact he wants a future traveler to get so sucked in they just stay put. Let me know the directions to the library bc fear no more a true lover girl is on her way Seonghwa😭!

"For what it's worth," Seonghwa called out to you,

"I did love you." GOOD FUCKING BYE WORLDDDDD! GOOD RIDDANCE, IM NEVER COMING BACK😭💔. Seonghwas chapter was so damn heart and gut wrenching like this was some angst angst fr. Did I cry while reading this chapter? Yes. Yes I did. Did it fog up my glasses? Yes, yes it did. Do I regret it? Nope. No I do not. My Gawd..this chapter was so damn amazing. You absolutely are crushing this series. I’m going to be so sad when it ends😭but this series is going to be a constant reread for me. I applaud you once again, you did another phenomenal chapter. I’m so excited to see what Joongs chapter has in store! Now if you excuse me…I have to contact my insurance company and tell them to start billing you for emotional distress😭😂.

Library of Illusions~ Keeper of the Keys

Strawberries and Cream

📚Part Seven for the Library Of Illusions Event

📚Pairing: Zombie! Seonghwa x Survivor! Reader (f)

📚Genre: Fantasy au, Apocalyptic au, Zombie Au, established relationship

📚Warnings: mentions of death, bdsm (bound and gagged, collar and leash hwa), penetrative sex without a barrier, strength kink, female masturbation, cum eating, oral (m receiving), marking (scratching), f and m orgasm

📚Word Count: 4,779

📚Rating: 18+ MDNI, smut

📚Summary: Upon being sucked into a story involuntarily along with Seonghwa, you appear in a world where zombies are subdued with flowers, but will you ever leave???

📚Dedication: @mejuii & @downtoamagicalland the best beta readers a writer could bribe have

📚A/N~ Shout out to this text post that has haunted me with ideas for two years but finally i'm seeing it through: https://www.tumblr.com/wingkkun-main/663711029046411264/plotbunny-hutch-otherwindow-palceholder?source=share

↫The Mystery Section ↭ MasterList ↭ The Restricted Section ↬

Seonghwa blinked several times. “I’m not sure that’s supposed to happen.”

You weakly pushed him away but ended up collapsing in his chair. “What do you mean? You’re the keeper of the keys!”

Seonghwa winced. “I know that! You acquire the six keys, they open the gate, I’m the one that explained the rules to you!”

You threw up your hands in exasperation. “And yet?!”

Seonghwa brought his thumb and forefinger to his chin. “There has to be something we’re missing. But why can’t I recall?”

“There’s still one more key to acquire.” The confident voice that had been teasing and mocking you this entire journey spoke and you bristled with anger immediately.

“Is this another trick?” You demanded. You stood up but then your head pounded wildly again.

“What’s one more demon to seduce, hmmm?”

A demon appeared, one with a curling smile that you were very, very familiar with. “Hongjoong?!”

“Don’t you want to see me?” Hongjoong prompted you.

Seonghwa looked wildly from you to Hongjoong several times. “How do you know him?”

“How…how are you here?” You demanded. Your throat was tight and tears pricked your eyes.

Hongjoong shrugged. “It’s the world we live in, where anything is possible, as long as you think it, right?”

“I’ll do whatever is required of me.” You fell to your knees. “Just as long as you don’t go anywhere.”

Hongjoong laughed, a belly laugh that made your heart ache. “Well that would make Seonghwa’s story awkward, wouldn’t it?”

“Seonghwa’s story?” Your eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

“Ah, shit,” Seonghwa said with a pained expression.

The book that Seonghwa had been reading when you had woken him up upon returning from Wooyoung's section, the one with the flowers along the spine but no title, flew from its spot on Seonghwa’s desk. It landed upright with its pages flipping open until it halted and grew to the size of a door. The center for the book was transparent except for a field of flowers and a cottage.

Seonghwa’s eyes widened in surprise. “But that’s--!”

This time there was no voluntary walking into the book, the book sucked you in like a vacuum, but this time, Seonghwa traveled with you. One minute you were inside the library, books surrounding you, and then next, you were in the middle of a garden that appeared both human designed and wild.

Seonghwa no longer sported his shoulder harness, black tank top with leather cumberband and baggy black pants. Instead he wore a turquoise bomber jacket, jeans and white t-shirt.

“Seonghwa, where are we?” You wondered.

Seonghwa cocked his head. There was another tiny detail that you noticed that you had missed. There was a tiny daisy growing from his ear. He smiled, it was slow but happy. “Myyyyy flooweerrrrrr.”

That was weird. Why did he sound like a…the word zombie popped in your head and all went crazy. Rushed memories of running from creatures that only attacked bad smells. The discovery that flowers and all good smells were the only way to stay alive. The world adapting to flowers being the center of everyone’s world. Seonghwa getting bitten by throwing himself in front of a zombie that was about to bite you and protecting you. You lovingly planting a small daisy in his ear that you found where he was bitten, desperate to keep your boyfriend with you. The move from the city to an abandoned cottage on the outskirts. The learning curve of what Seonghwa could and could not do. The garden you cultivated by learning the meanings of flowers.

You shook your head. What had you been doing before?

“Pretty flower,” Seonghwa whispered, cupping your face.

“Hi Hwa,” You smiled adoringly.

“Foraginggggg tiiiimmeee?” He asked, adjust the woven basket he had in his arms.

You wrinkled your nose. “We’re running out of mushrooms but you know how dangerous it is to go to where the trees are decaying. The zombies are so prevalent there.”

Seonghwa frowned intensely. “I’m stronngggg, I’ll protect.” The hard T left his tongue between his teeth cutely.

“Alright, alright, I won’t insult you anymore. Let me just make sure I have my emergency seed packs and machete and we’ll go.”

“Straaaaawberries?” Seonghwa wondered as you two began your trek into the deep forest.

“You think the wild ones are ready to pick? I don’t want to pick them when they’re still growing, sir, that’s a tragedy.”

Seonghwa chuckled slowly. “But I craaaaave themmmm.”

You froze in your spot and turned around slowly. Your eyes went to Seonghwa’s daisy and he frowned. “Just strawberries. Not brains.”

You pressed your lips together. “I’m sorry, baby,” You murmured. Still you moved to his side, went on your tippy toes and Seonghwa patiently turned his head so you could inspect the cheerful daisy that kept him from trying to tear you apart. It was healthy and vibrant. You placed a kiss on Seonghwa’s cheek in thanks for enduring your worries. “I’ll pick the strawberries for you, even if they aren’t fully grown. I’ll even see if the neighbors have milk. Maybe we could have strawberries and cream as a reward for getting the mushrooms.”

Seonghwa growled in happiness and then the two of you began your journey.

Once back at the cottage, mushrooms masked in a pack sewn with rosemary, a fresh bottle of milk and carefully picked strawberries, you made a feast for the both of you. Even though there was always the risk of the zombies, the anxiety was always washed over by the sense of domestic bliss with Seonghwa. You’re reminded every day that you could be living in this world without him, so you always try to soak up as much love and time with him as you can.

And that includes getting fucked by him.

Seonghwa looked so damn good, happy and content to have had the strawberries with fresh whip cream, that you climbed on his lap as he licked his lips. “Baby, do you think we could fit in some playtime today?” You chirped.

Seonghwa’s eyes widened in surprise. “Can we?”

“I’ll just--” Seonghwa’s hand clamped down on your wrist as you sought to scramble out of his lap, pulling you back against his chest. He was always careful with his extra strength after becoming a zombie but he was aware of how you enjoyed it when he used it against you sometimes.

Seonghwa brought his lips to yours, carefully, slowly, and you could taste the strawberries still on his tongue. His tongue explored your mouth and you let him, because soon enough, he would be without choice in anything while you played. You felt his dick twitch in his pants as he kissed you and you dove your hands into his thick hair.

“Does Hwa wanna play?” You cooed again and Seonghwa nodded quickly. “Do you want all the equipment this time, baby?” Seonghwa nodded again, this time with a little shy duck of his chin against his chest.

Preparation for playtime, with all of his equipment, included a collar and leash, bindings to keep his arms behind his back and a ball gag. The performance that Seonghwa was a raging zombie, that you had to keep him restrained, but that you still wanted to fuck yourself on him, was a game you both enjoyed. Seonghwa enjoyed being restrained and you enjoyed the pretend danger.

Seonghwa’s clothes all remained on but you slowly began to tug yours off. Seonghwa’s eyes remained glued on your body, eyes zooming to your tattoos, one for each of your lost friends. A switchblade for Wooyoung on your shoulder, a motorbike on your neck for Yunho, a drop of blue blood on your bicep for Jongho, a pyramid on your sternum for San, a tentacle on your forearm for Mingi, and a dragon on your hip for Yeosang. Seonghwa yanked hard on his restraints, dying to run his tongue along them all. But that’s what made playing with Seonghwa so fun! He wanted to do many things for you but couldn't.

You sat on a beat up loveseat and spread yourself for Seonghwa’s viewing pleasure and began to play with yourself. “Oh hwa, remember the days when you used to spend hours in between my legs? You would eat me out through so many orgasms, god, I used to be at the mercy of your libido.”

Seonghwa made needy noises in front of you and you couldn't help but smile mischievously. “Those were the days, huh, Hwa? And now look at what I have to do? Have to--” You bit down on your lip as you pushed a finger into your eager hole, “--have to prep myself with my fingers.” You moaned as you started to pump yourself a few times before taking the wetness and playing with your clit. “Not as nice as with your pretty fingers, Hwa baby, but it’ll have to do hmmm?”

Seonghwa’s adam’s apple moved as he swallowed, his tongue moving the ball gag in his mouth slowly. “I’m gonna be so wet for you Hwa, just you wait, you’re gonna slip right into me,” You promised.

Seonghwa’s desperation showed as he thrusted forward in his jeans, barely acquiring any friction to his poor, pathetic, needy cock.

“Hey remember the time we figured out you liked being restrained, before the zombies dropped?” You mentioned absentmindedly. “Mingi ate me out so fucking well while you watched.” You groaned as you continued to play with yourself. “Your dick was so angry and so wet, it was so hot. And Mingi loved every moment of getting what you owned but couldn't have.”

You almost brough yourself to completion but there was more fun to have with Seonghwa so you halted yourself. You crouched in front of Seonghwa, undoing his jeans and pulling down both them and his underwear to reveal his long, extremely hard but velvety cock. You cooed at how his precum was already dripping from his slit. Then you got up off the loveseat, bending over in front of Seonghwa, and bracing yourself with both hands against the cushions of the loveseat. At last, you pushed yourself back on Seonghwa's cock, rolling your eyes into the back of your head. "Fuck, Seonghwa, every time!"

Seonghwa whined, thrusting forward choppily. Drool was now dripping from his mouth to your ass, in fact, running down your asshole and into your pussy. Seonghwa couldn't help it, your cunt made him feral. There was a reason he had to have a collar with a leash, a ball gag and his hands tied behind his back.

With no way to control the fucking at all, Seonghwa had to take what you gave him. And in the beginning, it was always slow. You savored him like this, filling you, pushing into every inch of you. Then you would grow just as impatient as he would and you would bounce against his pelvis.

Seonghwa growled, the ball rolling wildly in his mouth. He wanted to slam into you, pound into you, hear that skin on skin slapping noise when he used to pin you against your bed and fuck you. But Seonghwa was a zombie now, the flower growing from his ear his only saving grace. He would never eat you, he would never decay like the others. He was perhaps a little more slower, a little more animalistic than he was previous to the apocalypse, but he still loved you. He was still Seonghwa.

"Gonna come for me, sweet boy?" You cooed, bringing his focus back on the present you. "Gonna fill me up with your sweet, sweet cum? Don't you love seeing it spilling out from me? Give me your cum, Hwa, and I'll scoop it out from my cunt and eat it."

Seonghwa came with a loud, painful-sounding whine. He spurted ropes and ropes of cum into you and you milked his cock for all that it was worth. And when Seonghwa whined about being overstimulated, you laughed. "Silly Hwa, you know you're good for at least two more rounds! Besides you gotta make me come. I need your long cock to fuck me good."

You pulled yourself off of him and took back your position on the loveset. You spread your pussy lips, dipping two fingers into your stretched hole, scooped up his cum, and eagerly sucked on your fingers. Seonghwa’s head was bent forward, breathing heavily, drops of sweat dripping off his sharp jawline. His eyes were wild with lust however and it sent a shiver down your spine.

“You like when I eat your cum from my pussy, baby?” You sang at him. Seonghwa whined and nodded his head. “You want me to take the gag off now?” Another nod and you did so for him.

Upon removing the gag, a long line of spit remained connecting between the gag and his tongue and your body reacted to it.

“Please, want your mouth,” Seonghwa begged.

“But Hwa, I’ve barely gotten off yet?” You pouted. You played with his now soft cock and Seonghwa whimpered but bucked into your touch. “You’re not ready to play yet anyways.”

“In. Your. Mouth.” Seonghwa enunciated every word carefully, very clear that he wasn’t asking anymore. And you’d do anything for your boyfriend.

You crouched in front of Seonghwa again, taking his soft cock into your mouth and Seonghwa moaned. Lust seemed to make his mind extra sharp sometimes, even though he was quite distracted by your mouth right now. “Made you suck me off in front of Yeosang, remember?”

You would have smiled in fondness if not for the fact that you were rolling and sucking Seonghwa’s dick back to life in your mouth.

“He was so whiney and so jealous. He didn’t even touch himself, he just watched as I guided your head down my cock. That was the first time you deepthroated me too,” Seonghwa mused.

You hummed happily, feeling Seonghwa’s cock begin to stir finally. You felt it as it grew in your mouth, until you could suck happily on his sensitive head while staring up at your zombie boyfriend. This was the life, wasn’t it? Reminiscing about your lost friends, giving Seonghwa all the pleasure he deserved, perhaps taking some for yourself.

And then you had a sharp, painful headache.

“Flower?” Seonghwa sounded worried.

You shook your head. “Probably just a headache from not getting off,” You joked.

“Untie me? Let me make love to you now? Playtime is over,” Seonghwa said.

You nodded, “You’re right.”

You undid his hands and arms first and then while you busied yourself with undoing his leash, he put his hands on yours. “Not the collar,” he commanded softly.

“Seonghwa,” You said his name, part gentle scolding, part love.

“I’ll always be yours,” He said, bumping his forehead against yours.

You intertwined your hands with his and tugged him to your shared bed. Seonghwa didn't have to sleep necessarily but you two liked to keep up the illusion. You lovingly helped Seonghwa out of the rest of his clothes and then wrapped your arms behind his neck. "How do you want me, lover?"

Seonghwa bent his neck and placed soft kisses on your neck, paying special attention to the motorbike tattoo there. His teeth helped mark your skin along your collarbones and you shivered for him. He kissed his way down the valley of your breasts and traced the pyramid tattoo there while his dark eyes met yours. Then he traveled down your tummy, finding the dragon tattoo, giving it one long lick and then he stood back up. "Want you to ride me," Seonghwa breathed out softly as a finger adoringly traced one of your nipples. "I want to look at your face when you take your pleasure from me."

"Hwa," You sighed happily

"Love you, Flower," he murmured.

"I--" A sharp headache interrupted you once again.

“No!” Wooyoung insisted, somewhat brattily, “I love you a lot, you know. A lot a lot. Forever and ever.”

You shook your head. That didn't seem right. What an odd time for you to imagine Wooyoung fucking you against a door?

"I love you too, baby," You cooed, pushing his hair out of his face.

But it was not until you pushed San's hair out of his eyes that he moaned into your mound and shifted upwards. His lips wrapped around your clit and he sucked, hard. It brought you to place your hands on the floor, bracing against the stone. The reaction only made him more enthusiastic. He greedily sucked at your swollen flesh, tongue lathing back and forth until you felt your climax approaching. So soon? Were you not a goddess? Was this really how you were to bestow the knowledge of--

Okay, that was really weird, you knew for A FACT that San never ate you out, even though he had begged Seonghwa after hearing Mingi had the same privilege before.

You watched with a distracted mind as Seonghwa moved backwards, almost falling over his own damn long legs, but making it to the bed and laying back, ready for you to ride him. Then you climbed over him and straddled--

You remained straddling Yunho on the floor but Yunho sat up, his upper body now vertical, holding himself up by his arms, palms flat on the concrete floor. You were cradling his head to your chest as he sucked on your tits. His eyes had widened upon seeing your nipples had been replaced with a cosmetic upgrade, making them a sea-foam green color. You continued to dominate your boss, having discovered that he also had a Mommy kink.

Not that you were into kink shaming anyone but you had zero recollection of Yunho having a mommy kink or sucking on your tits. You’d remember those lips around your nipple, that was for sure. What was with these odd memories that didn’t fit your world at all?

“Flower?”

“Baby, I’m gonna fuck you good, kay?” You attempted to disperse the odd thoughts and aching heart.

Seonghwa’s hands traveled up your legs before cupping your hips. You brought his eager, hard dick to your lower lips and rubbed his head against your folds. You were still wet and his cum was still leaking from your cunt, so it was easy to sink down on him. Even still, once you had him fully seated inside of you, his hand traveled over your hip and his thumb brushed your clit with a mixture of your juices and his. “Oh fuck, Hwa, yesssss,” You hissed in satisfaction.

Seonghwa smiled up at you. “If you wanted it so badly, all you had to do was ask.”

"Oh pretty, all you had to do was ask!" Jongho assured you and then plunged one finger inside of you.

The pain in your head was so bad that you slumped over onto Seonghwa’s chest. “Flower, if you have such a bad headache, we should stop.”

“No,” You whined, “Please, wanna cum.”

Seonghwa ran his fingers up and down your back, fingertips skimming the sensitive skin there, looking to soothe you. He anchored you to him, mentally, and you were connected to him physically, so what more could be done? You shifted your hips and the both of you moan at the sensation. You rocked against him, starting off slowly, tongue lazily playing with his nipple, until the urgency of your orgasm made you sit up straight. You began to bounce on Seonghwa’s cock, breasts moving with your motion, trying to do the most to give Seonghwa a pretty picture to view.

“Gonna come undone, just for you,” You panted, “It’s always for you, Hwa.”

Seonghwa rubbed your clit with his thumb again, and together with his cock hitting the end of you, you came with a strained cry. Your thighs shook and your pussy clenched and Seonghwa came for a second time. You sighed in satisfaction, eyes closed and happy your headache was now gone. Maybe it really had been because of your denied orgasm!

The two of you fell asleep in a rumbled pile, still connected as one, and you rose the next day, happily sore and got up to find some water that would have warmed up with the sun. You bathed and pondered how you would spend today. Seonghwa was busy doing his morning duties of watering the flowers. He murmured to them at how they were doing a great job keeping you safe and you had to duck your head to hide your smile. He could be so ridiculous sometimes! He thought since the flower kept him tame, that made him have a connection with them, thus he could communicate with them.

“Seong--hwa!” You leaned out the window on the first floor. "What do you wanna do today?"

Seonghwa cocked his head, forgetting that he was watering the flowers, letting the water pool on one poor flower. “Neewww seeeedssssss?”

“Well, we’re gonna need some after you drown those poor flowers,” You muttered under your breath and then moved to prepare for the day.

Seonghwa’s eyes became wide with the realization and moved the water spout away but it was too late. He smiled painfully and shuffled off to put away the gardening supplies.

You ate some dandelion root and arugula salad for breakfast, studying Seonghwa’s face. He had his lips together, swaying in the chair and humming. He seemed happy. He seemed content.

After food, you did the maintenance for Seonghwa’s flower. He wouldn't stop saying "ow ow ow" even though nothing actually hurt him. He winced and he whined and he made noises of discontent until you were done. "You're such a big baby," You teased him before pecking him on the lips.

"I'm okay?" He asked, looking up at you with big eyes as you stood up.

"Yes, baby, your daisy is healthy and thriving," You assured him.

The trip to the farmer’s market wasn’t arduous because the path was well worn and well used. But it was long. More often than naught, you had to tug Seonghwa from searching amongst the zombies for your long lost friends. He was convinced that they had also been saved, like he had, he just had to find them. But Seonghwa always listened and kept up with your pace when you rattled off the flowers you thought each of your friends would sport.

“Daffodil for Yunho,” You started to name off, “Honeysuckle for Yeosang, Larkspur for San, Poppy for Mingi, Marigolds for Jongho and Chrysanthemum for Wooyoung.”

“We don’t have any marigolds,” Seonghwa began to panic.

“Seonghwa,” You raised your hands in an attempt to calm him, “That’s fine, we haven’t even --”

Seonghwa’s hands grabbed your arms desperately. “Can we get some marigolds when we buy new seeds?!”

“Park Seonghwa,” You said sternly. You grabbed his face and squished his face together to stop his panic babbling. “Listen to me.” Seonghwa’s eyes were big but they weren’t shaky anymore. “We can buy the marigolds but you have to calm down first.”

Seonghwa closed his eyes, and you watched as he breathed in deeply and then out, opening his eyes and showing he had found his inner peace. “Good,” You said, patting his cheek and moving forward.

“I was thinking of growing an evergreen tree. The needles were expensive last year and maybe if we can trade for a queen bee, I can start making candles, wouldn’t that be--” You turned around to smile but…

Your words died from your lips because instead of Seonghwa behind you, a different man was. “Hello, do I know you?”

The man laughed. It both made your blood freeze but also your heart leap. “In a sense. Hongjoong by the way.”

You looked around. Where had your zombie boy gone? “Seonghwa?”

“Oh, I tucked him away for a bit,” Hongjoong let you know, “I wanted to talk to you.”

“Tucked him…” You pulled your machete out immediately, “Give Seonghwa back to me right now.”

Hongjong clucked his tongue in a mocking way. “Interesting how protective you are over a man who you know truly nothing about.”

“The fuck are you on about?!” You demanded, “I have been with Seonghwa for years. I know everything that there is to know about him. Now give him back to me.” You lined your machete blade with his neck, letting the flat of the blade rest on his shoulder.

“Oh that,” Hongjoong rolled his eyes, “Seonghwa doesn’t know who he is, he’s simply a demon I made. This Seonghwa, zombie Seonghwa, loves strawberries but demon Seonghwa doesn't even know what strawberries taste like, darling."

"What?" You said in disbelief.

Hongjoong snapped his fingers and Seonghwa was back. He teetered as if he had been transported but when his eyes landed on Hongjoong, they grew angry. "How did you get in here?"

Hongjoong threw his head back and laughed as if Seonghwa had just told the funniest joke he had ever heard. "You wrote a very good story to keep her occupied, Hwa, but she's mine."

Seonghwa ignored Hongjoong and strode purposely towards you, gently bumping his forehead against yours. "Remember saving me, remember my cock inside of you, remember our friends--"

"--who are also demons and she's fucked," Hongjoong completed Seonghwa’s sentence.

"You can't have this one!" Seonghwa pushed you behind him protectively, shouting at Hongjoong. "I won't let you! She let all of us in."

"I already told you," Hongjoong smiled dangerously, "She's mine."

Hongjoong snapped his fingers and disappeared but everything came crashing back to you. Hongjoong. Your journey. The six keys. And now this: the seventh story.

Your throat was raw with emotion. "Take us back, Seonghwa. The others did it, I know you can."

Seonghwa’s eyebrows furrowed together. "But our life here. You were happy!"

"It's a lie Seonghwa! A pretty lie, but a lie nonetheless. And you pretended like you didn't know I needed your key."

Seonghwa winced. "I can't convince you to stay here?"

You shook your head stubbornly. "If the other six couldn't, neither can you."

The air tensed, warping and stretching and suddenly it snapped and you were back in front of the Gate to the restricted section.

Your head felt more clear than it had in a long time, maybe even since you had entered the library. You still only had one goal: to revive your lost love. And that was what you were going to do.

Seonghwa wrung his hands, glancing towards you and then looking at the ground. It was starting to get on your nerves. But you still had questions.

"What was Hongjoong talking about when he said you wrote a good story? What was that?" You asked.

“It’s my story,” Seonghwa admitted, “There’s no title because it’s incomplete. I write it because--” he pressed his lips together, “I want to feel loved.” He met your eyes and then avoided them guiltily, “I write it so that perhaps a future traveler will get sucked in and won’t go to the restricted section.”

“Seonghwa, I didn’t come here for you,” You said primly.

“I know that,” Seonghwa said forlornly.

“Then why would you try to trap me? I get the others, they’re trials, but you? I already did the quests, I got the keys, why try to stop me when I did what you asked?” You demanded.

Seonghwa couldn't meet your eyes. He didn’t answer your question. He simply said, “I’m sorry.”

All the nerves in your body urged you to reach out to him, to comfort him, but you resisted. Of all the stories you had delved into, Seonghwa’s clung to your soul, battling with your lost love. “That’s not good enough,” You said coldly.

“Flower…” Seonghwa reached out towards you but you sidestepped his reach.

“You don’t get to call me that,” You denied him gruffly, swallowing down the emotions that were threatening to escape. “Now give me my damn key!”

Seonghwa pulled a strawberry shaped key from his book and wordlessly handed it to you. You spun on your heel immediately and strode to the large, intimidating gates that held back the restricted section. The key sunk into the metal when you pressed it to the section where there should be a keyhole and the gates swung back on their own accord, granting you admittance.

“For what it’s worth,” Seonghwa called out to you, “I did love you.”

“It’s not worth a lot when you have to be pulled into a story that isn’t yours and to be made to feel love that isn’t your own feelings,” You replied before stepping into the restricted section.

“Damn you, Hongjoong,” Seonghwa cursed, tears streaming down his face, and then the gates closed behind you.

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