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xisadorapurlowx · 1 year ago

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Bloodstained Lilium: Chapter 3

Leo and Jai hadn’t spoken to each other in the weeks since that moment in the Doctor’s office.

Adairia and Kyung-Mo had made attempts to get the two to reconcile their friendship, to which Jai had immediately left after seeing Leo’s face. Even the Doctor attempted to get them to makeup but all Jai and Leo did were sit in silence and look at the ground.

Leo wasn’t really sure why he let Adairia, Kyung-Mo or even the Doctor drag him along to these futile meetings, maybe there was a desperate part of him that wanted to save the friendship they’d built up when Leo had first arrived.

Leo was sitting outside in the back garden one day, checking endlessly through Twitter again, seeing that there was an investigation into his father’s work life.

Lucifer still followed Leo around, but from time to time, he would just disappear and Leo would be able to sleep without fear of nightmares or seeing what he had done in the Crypt.

Lucifer leaned over Leo’s shoulder, staring at the phone in Leo’s hands, “I wonder if they’ll catch him for all the filthy shit he’s done.” Lucifer said, “Maybe then they’ll throw you in prison too. The apple never drops far from the tree.”

“They won’t.” Leo said, grimly, “He’s never been caught by the Police. Our family has been doing what they do for decades. They’re not gonna catch him now.” Leo sighed, disappointedly. He will never be fully free of his father. Leo was petrified of looking for ways to escape his father, he knew that he had to, but knew that someone would find out, notify his father and then he risks his life. It was like being trapped in the bottom of a well; If he falls from climbing it, he could die.

“They won’t even catch him for what happened he did to mum.” Leo mumbled to himself.

A faint pitter-pattering started and Leo gazed up at the sky as a small hard ball struck him on the head.

He hissed painfully as he looked down at the object that had hit him and his eyes widened, “Hail.” He muttered.

Leo looked up at Lucifer who smirked at him, “Don’t look at me, you think I have the power to control the weather?” He asked.

Leo pulled his jacket over his head and frantically looked around for shelter before he laid eyes on the greenhouse. More icy orbs fell all around him, hitting the ground with a thunk that shook the earth beneath him, the pellets varying in size.

Lucifer strolled behind him, the glacial bullets hitting him on the head, but no reaction of pain was given. Leo sometimes envied Lucifer for his inability to feel pain. Physical pain at least in the mortal world. Leo had deduced that anything that tried to hurt the demon wouldn’t and he would be completely fine.

Leo sprinted over to the house. He flung the doors open and threw himself inside as the thundering of hail got harder and harder.

He slammed the door shut behind him and sighed a sigh of relief, pulling down his blazer and rubbing the places where more hail had hit him on the head from his sprint.

The clunking of the hail on the greenhouse soothed Leo slightly, he was safe from the clatter of the sky above him.

He sucked in a deep breath and sighed as Lucifer walked through the door and stood next to him in the greenhouse, “You didn’t need to sprint, you would have been fine. You humans are such babies, seriously.”

“Says the demon who ran away when I needed him the most.” Leo shot back.

Lucifer rolled his eyes, “You make it sound like I didn’t even try!” He snapped, “Don’t you dare make it sound like I was just letting Them drag me back to Heaven!”

“Oh shut up you-”

“Leo, who the hell are you talking to?”

Leo felt his blood turn cold at the sound of the other voice. He slowly looked around to the corner of the Greenhouse and saw Jai sitting at a garden table, surrounded by plants. A canvas was in front of him a palette of mixed colors and paint brushes soaking in a plastic water cup.

Tense silence filled the room as Jai gave Leo a boring glare that could carve holes in someone’s skull.

Leo didn’t say anything but just stared back, trying to match Jai’s cold glower.

“God, this is a new level of immaturity.” Lucifer said, crossing his arms, “We’re now stuck in here, with him. The man who called you lazy for not caring about your mental health.” Lucifer said, mockingly, “Just thought I’d reiterate it to you.”

Lucifer inspired some words in Leo to say to Jai, gritting his teeth Leo spoke, “That was really childish of you to say the other day.”

Jai’s angry stare turned into one of confusion, “What?” He asked, “It’s true. You make it sound like it’s my fault that that’s the reality of your situation!” Jai pointed at Leo, “It isn’t my fault that you’re the reason for your problems!”

There was another moment of silence before Jai kicked out the chair in front of him, “Sit down. Let’s talk.”

Leo hesitated.

“We’re here for the next half an hour at least, the hail doesn’t sound like it’s letting up anytime soon so we might as well sort out our problem,” Jai said, rolling his eyes.

With that, Leo didn’t need any more convincing, then walked over to the chair and sat opposite Jai.

Leo looked at the picture that Jai was working on. It was a conjoined house with a block of houses, stairs leading up to the front porch to a door that was wide open, with a man and a woman with a younger woman with them, all smiling and happy.

What a luxury to have.

The house looked well off, green healthy grass covering the front lawn with sunlight shining down upon them.

Jai said before he turned to Leo, “Do you know why you upset me?”

Leo shook his head, “Well, you said that I was privileged.”

Jai nodded, “We’ve lived very different lives and I know people from work who would really benefit from this place, then you come in here and refuse all the help they give you.” Jai narrowed his eyes at Leo, “I admit, I had it pretty good, I got into Mensa and worked my ass off, but my friends and the company I created and worked for had a lot of incredibly smart and capable people, but they were all damaged and broken in some shape or form.” Jai had turned his attention back on the painting, picking up a paintbrush and dipping in brown paint, “And then there’s you. I hear about you and your dad and all I can think is ‘This guy is rich and he’s raised in a really good family, I shouldn’t blame him for his ignorance on what it’s like for the people I know to live’ The people that I worked with have terrible lives and horrible homes or their circumstances made them fall short unlike me.” Jai cleaned off the brush before looking up at Leo, “But, going back to you, I thought, ‘He doesn’t get that he’s lucky for receiving all this. Unless his dad is a crime lord or something, he’s gotta have lived an okay life – up until this point.

“But then, you ended up with 3 murders on your hands, that weren’t exactly your fault.” Jai put down the paintbrush and looked at Leo again and leaned back in his chair, “And you’d think that you would leap at the opportunity to get better. But you don’t. I’m not even sure if you realize you do have a problem.” Jai locked Leo in a gaze, unblinking, “Being the tiny little white-privileged edge-lord you are, you refuse to receive any of the help and that is selfish, rude and above all else very insulting to the people I know and others who can’t have access to a place as helpful as this.” Jai glared at him again, “You have no idea how lucky you are Leonard. You have no idea.”

Leo stared at Jai. He was right, Jai was completely right and Leo felt like an asshole after what Jai had explained. And Leo wished he was better. The least he could do was give it a go, right?

He sighed, “Maybe you’re right…”

Jai nodded, “I am right.”

“I’ll turn my phone in, I’ll give in to the treatment,” Leo said. He looked around at Lucifer when a thought occurred to him.

Lucifer had been leaning against the side of the greenhouse walls as they’d been listening in to Jai’s perspective.

“What are you looking at?” Jai asked him.

“One of my main problems.” Leo looked around at Jai, “And I’m not sure if you’re going to believe me once I tell you this.”

Jai rolled his eyes at Leo, “Oh really? It better be good.” He said, crossing his arms.

“Well, long story short, a demon is following me around because I accidentally killed my best friend that was essentially his savior,” Leo said, quickly.

Lucifer scoffed, “Nice try, he’s not going to believe you.”

Jai stared at Leo before he burst out laughing. He fell back into his chair and hunched over putting his head on the garden table.

“What?!” He laughed, “That’s ridiculous!”

Leo bit his lip nervously as Lucifer stared at the pair.

“A demon?! You mean like with horns and the goat legs?!”

Leo looked at Lucifer, whose face had turned slightly red.

Leo’s blood turned cold as his eyes darted from Lucifer to Jai.

“Does he have a goat face too?!” Jai asked, looking up at Leo, “Has he got bat wings?!”

“Bat wings?! I don’t have any wings at all!” Lucifer bellowed, outraged. He raised his hands in the air and drew an x with the both of them before the Holy Seal broke and Jai flinched as a dash of light flashed in front of his eyes.

Jai hissed painfully, “What the hell was that?!” He rubbed his eyes as Lucifer snarled, “A painful stab of reality.”

Jai took his hands away from his eyes and screamed.

He fell backwards and out of his chair and picked himself up and scrambled out of the greenhouse and into the hail.

“Jai!” Leo shouted. He ran after the other man and stood at the door, watching as Jai scrambled inside the manor and slammed the door shut.

“What the fuck Lucifer?” Leo looked around at the demon.

“I had my wings ripped out of my back; you think I’m not gonna react to that!?” Lucifer protested, “Honestly, you human beings are so nasty sometimes.”

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xisadorapurlowx · 1 year ago

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Bloodstained Lilium: Chapter 2

The mental hospital that Leo was sent to was a new establishment, far away from the city. It was a sixteenth century manor house that had been converted into a hospital for those who are unfit for prison and became more of a secure mental health hospital specializing in people under the age of twenty-five.

Out in the back garden of this large looming manor house sat Leo, squatted down in what was his regular attire: A brown tweed blazer and matching trousers with black oxfords and mustard yellow turtleneck. Compared to him everyone was severely under dressed. Leo felt slightly self-conscious when he’d first entered, after seeing staff walk around in white coats and other patients in hoodies and jeans, he’d regretted only bringing turtlenecks, blazers, smart trousers along with other essential items.

He wasn’t sure how long he’d been at the manor house, all the days seemed to bleed into one as he had adjusted to the new environment.

A few rules had been lifted for Leo and so he could do a lot and get away with it without consequence, such as having a phone.

He scrolled through his phone as a gust of wind picked up, Leo pushed his overgrown hair back behind his ear as he read through the sea of comments on a social media website. The comments were all about him; These people whom he didn’t even know making the most unfair judgments on him, Leo wasn’t frightened by what these people said and or threatened anymore. They would all say similar things:

Leonard should be in jail!!

Leonard was a coward who chooses to hide away and-

I was court-ordered here, he thought and rolled his eyes. These people have no idea what they’re talking about. One of the only reasons why people knew of his existence was because of his mother.

There was a weight on Leo’s shoulders that he found impossible to shift. The weight of Charity’s death, the weight of his father’s reputation of having a mad son, the secret his father had forced him to keep from a very young age and to have the public condemn him for what was an act of self-defense that resulted in murder because of his actions.

Leo shivered slightly and looked to his right at Lucifer who was chuckling to himself. Lucifer’s transformation into a real demon was nearly completed, charcoal black nails had grown out of his fingers, now pointed and sharp like cat claws, along with the horns on his head which were now the same color as his fingernails. His greasy hair had parted way for the black horns that stuck out of his head like a bull.

“Care to remind me why you’re stalking me everywhere?” Leo asked the demon coldly.

Lucifer ran a finger under his eyelid to stop the tears of laughter from falling, “I want to stick around.” Lucifer pushed himself up from where he was squatted next to Leo and hung over him, “Your misery is so entertaining and as long as I’m here, I’m going to remind you every day of what you did to Charity until you go batshit crazy from it.”

Lucifer had changed a lot personality-wise. He was once fun to joke around with and it was good to have a conversation about all he’d seen over the time he had lived. But now he’s bitter and cruel, not hesitating to spit harsh words Leo’s way at any time of the day. One could argue that the weight on Leo’s shoulders was Lucifer.

When Lucifer left him alone, Leo felt somber, a friend turned enemy and someone who he would never win back. Remembering the times before the Crypt happened was sour now and Leo could no longer look back on them with fondness. Everything was discontent and tart.

Other times it would be harsher things, Leo’s nightmares consumed him with ghastly events and images of Hell.

Leo’s eyes widened and as he got up to rush away from Lucifer he collided with another patient.

“Addy!” Leo jerked away from her as he heard Lucifer’s burst of laughter from behind him, “What do you want?!”

The ginger woman rubbed her nose and pushed back her long unruly locks, “Dr Harold said he’d like to talk to you. He’s asked me to escort you.” She said, her thick Scottish accent emphasizing the last few words. She ran her nose along the sleeve of her faded hoodie, “C’mon then.” She said, jerking her head for him to follow her as she scratched her neck.

“I hate going to see him.” He muttered before he started to trudge after Adairia.

“Well, it must be irritating since you get into fights with him every time he opens his mouth,” Adairia said, who skipped next to him. “Did you hear about those two guards?”

“Yeah, all too well.” Leo looked over his shoulder at Lucifer, “They both got killed right?”

“Well, one stabbed another guard to death and then took a shit ton of pills.” Adairia explained, “Scary when you think about it, isn’t it? It’s stupidly ironic that this is a mental hospital and that they end up killing themselves here.”

“How did you know that?” Leo asked her.

“Doctor Harold was talking about it to a nurse.” Adairia explained, “Again, ironic considering he’s a mental health professional.”

“I guess a little bit.” Leo murmured. He checked over his shoulder, “And maybe mildly concerning.” Lucifer probably did this and here he was, following behind them.

It was strange to see Lucifer walk, Leo thought to himself. The fallen Angel would only ever fly around or hover a few inches of the ground before the incident.

“Are you going to talk today?” Adairia asked Leo, “To the doctor I mean. And no, I don’t mean you yelling at him. They can send you to prison for it.”

“No, they won’t. I know they won’t.” Leo answered confidently, “And, I don’t like talking about my problems. They normally all just go away when I tell dad that I have an issue.” He said, stubbornly.

The only thing that was keeping him here was his father really. Leo had heard the nurses discussing the fact that his reports keep on getting ‘lost in the post’ or vanishing and that’s why he hadn’t been kicked out and sent to prison yet.

While Leo hated and feared his father, he would not hesitate to jump behind him for defense had an attack of anything came his way. He was the only one who knew of his father’s sway and had used it to his advantage a couple of times; Getting into bars when he was under aged (Which was a rare event nonetheless), when in secondary school, getting his bullies to ‘move abroad’ when they beat him up for the millionth time (Which was one time and after that everyone left him alone.) If you’ve got power or someone you know has power, why don’t you use it to your advantage? Leo had thought. That being said, it was always a last resort if he was desperate.

And desperate times, call for desperate measures.

“You keep on about your father Leo, but he’s not going to be around forever.” Adairia turned around to face him as they made their way past the dining hall and up a flight of mahogany, red-carpeted stairs, “You have to face your problems on your own. You can’t be reliant on your dad all the time.” Her eyes were filled with concern as she spoke again, “I’m seriously worried about you Leo. It can’t be healthy keeping all that locked up. Your dad gives me some bad vibes. I don’t want to bring your mum up but…”

Leo looked at her and narrowed his eyes, annoyed, as Lucifer spoke.

“If only she knew.” Lucifer moaned, mocking a woeful tone behind Leo, throwing a hand over his forehead and leaning backwards.

Leo turned around and scowled at Lucifer who then grinned at him, sticking his tongue between his teeth and lower lip.

“What are you looking at?” Adairia asked him.

“Nothing important.” Leo said. He was severely aware that he and Charity were the only ones who were able to see Lucifer. Which was great for the latter, who could batter and bully Leo to the point of tears. With no hope of getting rid of Lucifer, Leo had just settled on ignoring him, unless he said something that agitated him to no end. Which was most of the time.

“I’m fine, Addy, really.” Leo said, going back to the previous topic of conversation, “Really, I’m alright.”

Adairia pursed her lips and sighed, “Okay… I apologize in advance.”

Leo frowned, furrowing his eyebrows, “What are you talking about?”

Adairia opened the door and jerked her head to the room in front of her.

Leo looked at her, then looked into the room and stepped inside.

Inside stood, Kyung-Mo, Jai and the head practitioner, Dr Harold. He was a tall man with combed-back hair, wearing a white lab coat and suit underneath.

“What is this?” Leo asked as Adairia shut the door behind them. Confusion stirred in him as he looked around the room.

“An intervention.” Jai said, with a raised eyebrow and crossed arms.

“We thought that maybe, this would help you with going into treatment since you’re struggling a lot.” Kyung-Mo explained.

Kyung-Mo, in Leo’s opinion, was probably one of the best-looking men he’d seen in a long time and his heart would do back flips in his rib cage whenever Kyung-Mo was in the same room as him.

Kyung-Mo was the first person to also talk to Leo when he first arrived and in the first few days, Leo stuck to the man like super glue.

“I don’t understand why you’re all doing this? I’m not a drug addict.” Leo looked around at Adairia.

She rolled her eyes at him, “As I said earlier, I’m worried about you. And so are the others!”

Leo sighed, exasperated at the whole situation they’d put him in, “Look, I’m fine. I don’t need any more help than I’ve already got.”

Hot breath passed Leo’s ear and he jumped at Lucifer’s words, “Well, I’m not doing my job properly then, am I?”

“But you don’t show up to therapy sessions.” Dr Harold said, oblivious to Leo’s reaction, “You avoid them. And you yell at me when I confront you about it.”

“Yeah, but I feel like time away from society has helped me a lot!” Leo lied, putting on a fake smile, “And…”

“We’re going to go around the room and have your friends explain why they’re concerned about you and why they think you should have more treatment.” Dr Harold said, unconvinced by Leo’s fib, “We’ll start with Kyung-Mo.”

Kyung-Mo cleared his throat, “Well, I’d just like to start by saying that I understand why you’re upset Leo. But you got sent here for a reason. And particularly with the circumstances behind why you’re here…” Kyung-Mo bit his lip nervously, looking Leo up and down, watching his reaction carefully before he continued, “I fought the treatment too when I got here so I understand that feeling of not trusting the people here. But they all do have good intentions and we do too.” Kyung-Mo looked at the Doctor, “And we’d all like to see you get better and move on with your life because no one should have to dwell on what they did in a moment of panic.”

Lucifer rolled his eyes and fake gagged onto his fingers as if he was making himself throw up, “Yuck, that was a bit too optimistic. Once a killer, always a killer.” Lucifer grinned at Leo, who shot him a death glare.

Dr Harold gave a stiff nod, deaf to Lucifer, “Well said Kyung-Mo. Jai, you next.”

Jai crossed his arms and spoke, “Y’know, I’m confused by you, really Leo,” Jai began, “I think you’re an okay person, nicer and kinder than most people. But when you come here, a place where these people,” He gestured to Dr Harold, “Are willing to help you and you completely dismiss their attempts to help you. You claim that you’re fine, when really, I think you’re in denial. I find it insulting.”

“Denial!?” Leo repeated angrily, “I’m not in denial!”

“That just proves it!” Jai threw his arms out at Leo, “You don’t think you need help, murdering three people has got to mess someone up mentally.” He rubbed his face in irritation, “I want you to be happy, I’ve already said you’re one of the better people of the world. And a part of me thinks that you think you’re beyond help, which I know is not true.”

“Well, someone thinks he is.” Lucifer chimed in.

Leo looked down at the ground, trying to ignore what the demon had said about him, to a room that very clearly was never going to reach the ears of the others.

Maybe Jai was right, or that Lucifer had finally gotten to him. Perhaps he was beyond help and that’s why he wasn’t giving in. His subconscious knew he didn’t deserve it. Killing his best friend was unforgivable.

“Look I’m grateful that you want to help me even more, but I think Jai’s right. I think that some people are just naturally bad and that that’s who I am. That’s where my whole life has been building up to.” Leo thought about his father, the business his father was in and the dark secret.

He could still smell the gun smoke in the air even now and he hated that he could remember it. His stomach churned uncomfortably.

“And now I’m here and I’m getting sick and tired of people thinking that I can move on in my life.” Leo’s eyes felt hot and angry as tears clouded his vision as a cold silence swept the room.

Lucifer whispered to him, “Finally, it’s about time you realized how bad of a person you are. This is all you are and all you’ll ever be.”

‘This is all you are and all you’ll ever be’, The words rang through Leo like a gong from a church bell.

“You’re pathetic.” Jai snapped.

Leo’s head shot up and looked at Jai, “Excuse me?”

“Look at you, so fucking privileged.” Jai was glowering at Leo like Leo had just pulled a million pounds from his pocket and waved it in front of Jai and the others mockingly, “I can’t believe you. I held back because I knew that this wasn’t the way to go but now, I see it’s not that you’re guilty.” Jai gritted his teeth as he spoke, “You’re just lazy.”

There was silence again before Jai continued, “You can’t be bothered to fix your mental health. You’ve lost all faith in yourself to try and get better. What’s the point of trying to cover up your problems and hiding them away if they’re just going to get worse and nothing will change in the end? You might as well just go to prison.”

Jai walked past Leo, crashing into his shoulder and heading for the door and past Adairia.

He opened the door and slammed it shut behind him.

Silence swept the room.

Leo looked around at the Doctor, Kyung-Mo and then at Adairia.

“I don’t know if we handled that in the best way.” Adairia said in a disappointed tone.

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xisadorapurlowx · 1 year ago

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Bloodstained Lilium: Chapter 1

Leonard: England, Brockenhurst, 9:26am

Leo raised his bag over his head as he stomped down the pavement. Rain crashed down upon him as Charity’s house appeared. He pushed the rusty old gate and entered the front garden and weaved his way through the overgrown plants and weeds. Leo reached the front door under the porch and shivered as he rang the doorbell. His clothes where cold and stuck to him like a wet shower curtain.

The dark moss coloured door had chunks missing from it like someone had jabbed a knife through it over and over again. The handle and lock hung off as if further evidence of a frenzied attack.

The door opened and Charity smiled at him, moving out of the way as Leo rushed inside to the safe and dry house. They had been friends since they first met at Catholic school. She was the only friend Leo had.

“So, what’s this about?” He asked her, as she shut the door.

Charity turned around and her smile grew wider, her long brown hair flying behind her as she finished twirling, “You’re never going to believe who I’ve met!” She whispered, excitedly.

“Who?” Leo looked over his shoulder, peering into the front room and up the stairs he asked, “Who have you met? That K-pop star you’re obsessed with ah!” Leo flinched as a bright dash of light danced across his vision, making his eyes water painfully. Once the light had faded from Leo’s sight, he shook his head, rubbing his eyes.

“Did you do that? Why would you do that to me?” Leo pulled his hands away from his face and looked at Charity.

Charity shook her head and pointed a delicate finger behind him, “Look behind you!” she said.

Leo rolled his eyes and turned around. His jaw fell open as Leo stared at one of the most beautiful men he’d ever seen.

Golden blonde curls fell around this man’s face, bright clear almost translucent skin, bright blue eyes and a face that had been carved by God himself. The man was decorated in thick gold bangles, one around his neck, two around his wrists and two around his ankles. All that clothed his body was a sheer white robe, reaching to just a few inches off the floor. Two enormous wings were grown out of his back, the feathers the whitest things Leo had ever seen.

“My God.” Leo stepped back to get a better look at the man, to take him all in. There were no words to describe him, he was just so… Gorgeous.

The man spoke, “Hello, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Leo.”

“You know my name.” Leo stated, stupidly.

He heard Charity’s laughter from behind him and she pushed Leo upright, he must have been nearly falling over.

“Surprise! This is Lucifer!” Charity giggled, gazing at the man.

Leo’s eyes darted to her and back at the being, “Lucifer?” He deadpanned.

“Hmhm!”

“Doesn’t that mean you’re a demon?” Leo asked, narrowing his eyes at Lucifer and then quoted, “’How art thou fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer, son of morning’?”

Lucifer shook his head, his blonde curls moving effortlessly along with his head. “No, down here that’s how I have been portrayed unfortunately. And it was a rather unfortunate mistranslation. When someone used my name during the writing of the first English version of the Bible they messed up. How can a King make such a silly mistake?” He sighed, shutting his eyes as if the depictions had been blasphemous to him, “I had been lying in slumber in the Earth until I was discovered by Charity who was planting flowers in the back garden.”

“Right, sure.” Leo said, sarcastically, “Why should I believe you?” Although the name is only used once in the Bible, it still refers to the Fall of Satan and Leo was not risking anything here.

“Well, I wasn’t here and then I was, right?” Lucifer said.

Leo didn’t have an answer back for him. Lucifer did kind of just… appear and Leo didn’t hear any thunderous steps behind him.

Leo pointed at him, “What about your parents, Charity? Can they see him?”

“Nope! They have no clue he’s here.” Charity said, “Didn’t you see the flash of light in front of you? He was removing the Holy Seal that stopped you from seeing him.”

“Everyone has one,” The Angel explained, “It’s to make sure they aren’t seeing things like us unless we grant them the ability to. Or, you abuse illicit substances that break it.”

Leo traced the Angel’s form up and down.

“Okay, so, you are an angel. Why tell me?” He asked, furrowing my eyebrows.

There was a short pause as Charity moved from behind Leo and stood next to Lucifer, “Well, that’s the real reason why I brought you here.” Her eyes flitted to Lucifer before they went back to Leo, “Since Lucifer has appeared, he has been following me around and talking to me. And we were spotted. When I was talking to him.”

“‘Spotted’.” Leo echoed, “What do you mean?”

“There are these cultists or followers of some sort and the other day they tried to break into the house.” Lucifer explained.

Leo stared at the both of them, “No, you’re joking, really?”

Charity shook her head and pointed to the door, “Did you see the door knob?”

“That was them?!”

Charity nodded gravely, “It was.”

Leo shook his head, “Well, what do you want me for then? Can’t you do something?” He looked to Lucifer, “All Powerful Mighty Angel, Messenger of God?”

“That’s the other problem. If I were to use that power, it would shock the world. Literally,” Lucifer said, “I would much rather have it so that Charity will be safe, than have her be put in danger by me.”

“So, I was going to ask you about some of your dad’s men. Y’know those men.” Charity suggested. She jerked her head to the door.

Leo shook his head, heavy stones settling in his stomach, “No. I’m not letting you have any of those people around. They are not people you want around, Charity.” Leo said through gritted teeth. His eyes briefly darted to the side of the front room and then to the door, afraid that someone might be listening to their conversation.

“Well, what if these people come after me!?” Charity shrieked, suddenly. Tears welled up in her eyes as her voice filled with panic and anxiety, “Please, Leo I don’t know what that group will do to me, you have to protect me!”

Leo jumped at her words as they spilled from her mouth with her tears rolling down her cheeks.

He didn’t know what to do.

The men who worked with Leo’s dad ‘took care’ of people who are perceived as a threat to Leo’s family, but mainly his father as he was the boss. And those people who worked for him, have done some of the worst things imaginable, who would time after time escape the law because of his father.

But Leo looked at Charity and Lucifer who was powerless overall in this situation as well. Charity was the victim. It’s not like she asked to find an Angel in her back garden. Some Angel Lucifer is.

Leo sucked in a deep breath and sighed, “Fine, I will see if two guys are up for it.”

Charity’s dismal look fell away as quickly as it had appeared and her wide grin returned, “Thank you so much Leo. I’ll have to find a way to thank you somehow.”

Leo paused looking at Lucifer who stared back at him, “What is it?” Lucifer asked.

An Angel, a real one. No one else had access to the afterlife as Leo did in that moment. He made his decision right then and there, “If you want to pay me back, I’d like to pick Lucifer’s brains anytime I like.” Leo said.

Lucifer raised his eyebrows and tilted his head in surprise, “What makes you want that?”

“Well, it’s a rare opportunity, isn’t it? No one else would usually get this chance and I am Catholic.” Leo explained.

“That seems fair enough, I’d like to hear too, you never tell me anything about that even when I pick your brain.” Charity agreed thoughtfully. She raised an eyebrow at him, “How does that sound?”

Lucifer pursed his lips, thinking it over before he spoke, “I suppose if it’s all for your safety, Charity then I guess it would be alright.”

***

Over the past few weeks, Leo had gotten the heavies Charity had asked him for and he’d been mulling over questions for Lucifer. He reminded Leo of something at the school his dad sent him to.

Leo had been over every day since their agreement was made. He wanted to give extra protection so that everything was safe. There was no way anyone would do any harm while Leo was around. It was also so he could get to know Lucifer or ‘Lucy.’ It turned out that Lucifer was quite fond of the nickname. It had slipped out on accident a few days into the surveillance from Leo, they all laughed about it and the name just stuck.

Another day, while Leo was around, he watched Lucifer float past a bouquet of dead lilies and they came back to life as if they’d been freshly picked. He’d never been so astounded by anything in his life.

The day came once Leo had decided on his questions. He knocked on the door to Charity’s house, giving the two guys at the gate a curt nod while he waited for the door to open. Charity opened it and grinned at him, “Hey! Back again?” She chuckled as Leo stepped inside, “Lucifer’s in the front room.”

“Thanks, come in and join us. I’m going to pick his brains today.” Leo smiled back at her.

“Leo, you’re finally here!” Lucifer hovered over and grinned at Leo, exposing blindingly white teeth, “I was just about to go and grab you myself.”

Leo rolled his eyes and smiled as he sat down on the sofa in Charity’s front room, “I’m gonna ask my questions today.”

“Are you now?” Lucifer asked, raising an eyebrow as he drifted next to Leo. Charity sat on the separate sofa chair, watching the two both converse.

“Yes, I am, Lucy.” Leo responded, “So, this is the only question I have really.” Leo said, “And I hope I don’t offend you with this question.”

“Go on, just ask.” Lucifer rolled his eyes.

“Okay, so,” Leo started, “A while ago, I read the Book of Enoch, the one with the story of The Observers. They were these angels who were sent by God to observe over humanity, to not interfere but they did and took human women for wives and had giants for children. And those Angels were encased in the earth until the day of the Rapture and where they will be taken down to Hell as God’s punishment to them. Along with the flood that Noah made the Arc for.” Leo paused before he asked, “Were you one of those Angels?”

Lucifer fell silent. His eyes glazed over and he suddenly seemed off in his own head. It was uncomfortable and an unbearable silence, the playful joking in the air had gone.

Leo regretted asking him the question.

Lucifer finally spoke, “And if I was, would you be scared of me?”

Leo bit his lip, “Probably not. I know you now, not as you were thousands of years ago.”

Lucifer sighed, leaning back into the sofa, “I had narrowly escaped God’s grasp as Samyaza and the others were chained to the core of the Earth. It wasn’t my idea to begin with and I hated the thought of it. Sure, there were some very lovely women back then, don’t get me wrong but, it didn’t sit right with me and then when the Nephilim had been born, it was as if Beelzebub had made those children and not us.” Lucifer sighed, “Enoch that poor mortal man, God sending him to us with the prophecy of our demise was the worst thing that He could have done.” He shivered, “I live in fear that if I get too loud, God may find me here and I have no idea what he will do to me if he does find me. If I use my powers, He will hear me and see me. God is omniscient and omnipotent. But I can stay invisible as long as I don’t use my powers.”

“Is that why you can’t protect Charity?” Leo asked him, “You’ll be seen and heard? But then the flowers, I’ve seen you revive from you walking just past them.”

“I don’t do that consciously. It’s a curse, wherever I walk, there is life reborn.” Lucifer sighed, “Occupational hazard really. And those won’t make God come for me.”

Leo stared at Lucifer, mulling over Lucifer’s words. He was sat in the same room as an Observer, one from a religious text that had been deemed fanfiction compared to canonical Bible stories.

A chill went down Leo’s spine.

It was awful what they did, but Lucifer’s different now, seemingly. He’s hiding away from God and he hasn’t done anything weird to Charity so it must be okay.

Charity leaned forwards in her chair, “So, what are you really?” She asked.

Lucifer looked at Charity and then at Leo, “I suppose, the correct name would be a demon. But I’m nothing like the ones that come up from down there.” Lucifer pointed at his bangled feet, “They are much worse than me. Anything you can imagine, honestly.” He looked at Charity, “I am so grateful you found me in the dirt, I don’t know how else I would remain undercover for so long before being thrown to suffer with the others.”

Charity’s face was pale, tinted slightly green as she nodded in response.

“I’m also glad you asked Leo. I knew I had to bring it up at some point, it’s important to know how I got here.” Lucifer said, “I’m sorry it took a long time to come out about this.”

“No, it’s okay.” Charity shook her head, “It’s a lot to talk about. It’s a very difficult subject from the sounds of it.”

“Yeah, it is very complicated. Lucy, we get it.” Leo said, putting a hand on his shoulder, “God has a very complicated plan for all of us and unfortunately, maybe for you too.”

The robes on his shoulder were soft as if they’d been freshly cleaned that day, once again, amazing Leo.

“How were you able to keep your robes clean under that dirt?” Leo asked, absentmindedly.

“Charity washed them when I came out of the dirt and they’ve stayed clean ever since.” Lucifer explained.

“During which you didn’t wear anything else, it was agony.” Charity said, narrowing her eyes at the Fallen Angel.

“It’s not as if I didn’t try to find something! Your dad’s clothes made me break out in hives!” Lucifer retorted, “Mixed fabrics remember?!”

Leo teased, “Is the Fallen Messenger of Gods’ skin too delicate for all we can offer him or is he really just a fancy posh twat?”

“You know that is not the case!” Lucifer snapped, crossing his arms, floating up and away, “This is bullying, I might as well go and bury myself in the dirt again.”

“No!” Charity got up and ran after him, “I’ll have to wash your robes again and I am not having your arse crack hanging out again!”

Leo’s breath formed clouds of steam as he made his way up to Charity’s house. It was around 10 o’clock at night as he found the gate to the house flung aside on its side.

He hadn’t heard from Charity in a while. They’d normally text every now and again during the day and more often at night. But there were no tonight messages. Everything was too quiet.

Leo furrowed his eyebrows as he stared down the path up to the front of the house where the two guards’ legs were hanging out of the threshold.

His blood ran cold as he walked up the path, hardly daring to believe what he was seeing. Leo stopped at the lackies’ feet and looked down at their bodies. Two knives were firmly jabbed into their white shirts, blood seeping through them and staining them. The door had been broken down and split in half as if the abductors had used a battering ram.

Leo peered over the bodies and into the house. The wallpaper had been ripped and torn as if there had been a fight, large deep knife gashes in the wallpaper, exposing the drywall and insulation.

His heart pounded in his chest, a beeping broke him out of the trance and he moved the first victims out of the way to reveal a portable GPS.

Leo shakily picked it up, examining it. He found a way to reverse the GPS so he could follow them. It looked like they’d gone into a forest area. Perfect for a sacrifice Leo supposed, no one would be around for miles.

He ripped the knives from the chests of the lackeys and stuffed them into his coat pocket, quickly turning around and storming up the path to find Charity.

***

The cold night air burned in Leo’s lungs as he ran through the forest, glancing down at the GPS as he went.

Leo tripped over his feet, sending himself flying and landing flat on his stomach, knocking the breath out of him. His heart was in his throat as he yelled in agony and got up and continued to run in the direction of the church. Leo couldn’t allow the wind being knocked out of him to stop him from preventing whatever was going to happen.

Leo pushed himself up again and went on until he found the church, he tossed aside the GPS and found the entrance to the crypt, where there were blood curdling screams, echoing up into the night.

Shooting down into the crypt, Leo pulled out the blood-soaked knives and ran inside and found the first robed person, plunging the knife into their back. There was another loud scream as he took it out again and rammed it back in, “Out of my way.” Leo growled.

Blood splattered on his face, some landing in his mouth as Leo wrenched the dagger back out again and turned his attention onto the others, “Where’s Charity?!” Leo spat at them.

When he got no response back from the remaining two, Leo ran at one of them and slammed the dagger into the man’s hooded face. The man went down and Leo straddled him, the sound of his cracking skull rang out through the room. The man shrieked at Leo as he pulled the knife to the side and split his skull, his brain spilling out in a gooey blob into his hood.

Leo stood up and looked over his shoulder at the final person here in the crypt with him.

He was just watching Leo, whether the other person was paralyzed with horror or not Leo didn’t care. The person got his arms spread, his back to Charity who lay unconscious on a concrete slab, almost as if he was protecting her from Leo. Like Leo would hurt her.

Leo raised the knife again, “Walk away, I’m serious. Otherwise, you’re next.” he hissed.

The man didn’t move or make a sound, he still just stood there. Why is he just standing there? It didn’t matter, he’s not a moving target.

“So be it.” Leo charged at him and raised the knife at him, ready to plunge into his face, for his skull to break, for his blood and other bodily fluids to splatter all over himself.

Leo swung the knife down, aiming for his head before he jumped out of the way, and the knife went straight through Charity’s chest and into her rib cage, right above her heart.

Her eyes flew open and she gasped before she locked eyes with Leo. The madness in her orbs, the blood pouring from her chest, running down her front.

Charity’s hands shakily reached for the knife lodged in her chest and held onto it, tears rolling down her cheeks, “Leo…?” She asked weakly.

Leo stared at her as she writhed in agony, falling off the slab, blood pooling at her feet before she stopped moving, crumpling on the floor. Charity didn’t take her eyes off him throughout the whole time she suffered, her eyes filled with a whirlwind of emotions; Anger, fear, the agonizing pain, and above all else betrayal and confusion.

Leo couldn’t move the entire time, but seeing her lifeless form made something snap.

“Charity!” Leo tried to hold her up, pulling the dagger out of her chest and putting pressure on the wound he gave her.

His blood pumped loudly through his ears, his breath ragged and shaking as he stared down at Charity’s body.

He looked down at his hands, still clutching the other knife in his left hand. Leo let the knife slip from his hand as he raised his hand to his face. Tears obscured Leo’s vision as he stood there shaking. I killed her, he thought, I killed them.

I killed them.

I’m a killer.

I’m a murderer.

I’m no better than dad.

Where is Lucy? Where is he?!

***

The next few days were grueling and hellish. The police had found Leo, Charity and the bodies in the basement, Lucifer was nowhere in sight, the other cultist man had been excused by the police as Leo screamed for Lucifer to come and help him. To bring back Charity and reverse all this. Turned out that those three people were Paranormal enthusiasts turned cultists after witnessing a tree re-bloom in a park where Lucifer and Charity had taken a walk in and had thought that Charity was possessed by the Devil or was talking to demons which had to be purged by killing her.

Leo had cried silently as his father had ripped into him about his irresponsibility and recklessness, about how it would ruin his father’s image to several other families and the eyes of the public.

A few days later, Lucifer had appeared in Leo’s room in the dead hours of the night, hidden in shadow as if he was a wild cat preparing for an attack, his now yellow eyes gleaming from the darkness.

Leo was not sleeping. He couldn’t sleep with all that was going on. His father was cleaning up what Leo had done to the robed figures, paying off police men. Leo seemed unable to dispose of the memories of what he had done, so monstrous to himself and even so, he wouldn’t sleep soundly for long. He would be panicked, waking up in the early hours of the morning, screaming his head off and seeing the robed men surrounding him. Becoming paranoid of blood on his hands, dirtying the very expensive bed sheets and walls his father had paid for with his own dirty money.

“Lucy?” Leo whispered to the figure that sat on his desk.

He stood up from his bed and went to make his way over to the Angel before he spoke, “Don’t Lucy me.” Lucifer hissed.

“Lucifer, please I didn’t mean to kill her.” Leo begged, “I’m serious, I was so angry I couldn’t stop myself…”

“As if that’s an excuse!” Lucifer shouted. The walls shook angrily. A cross above Leo’s bed fell down and hit his pillow as Lucifer continued, “Those thugs you had at the door were bloody useless! I had to use my powers!”

Leo’s blood started to boil as he bellowed back his defense, “Well it’s not like they were any help! You vanished while I went off to get her back from those maniacs! If it weren’t for you vanishing, I wouldn’t have had to go after them!”

“I don’t think you heard me correctly, asshole! I used my powers to try and stop them!” Lucifer put emphasis on the last words as he emerged from the shadows, “Look at me!”

Leo shrieked, falling back onto his bed as Lucifer jumped out of the shadows.

Lucifer’s wings had gone. He no longer hovered above the ground, but he walked like a man. Angry, red, irritated sores had appeared on his head, parting his now dank and greasy hair that hung limply at the sides of his head. His sheer white robes had been replaced with a black hoodie, black jeans and scuffed black and white laced sneakers, “He heard me.” Lucifer hissed, “Do you have any idea how painful it is to get wings ripped out of your back?!”

Leo shook his head in fear, as he jumped over his bed and ran for the door, Lucifer screamed out to him, “Look at what He did to me!”

Leo opened the door, and crashed into his father’s front, “Dad!”

His father looked down at him in confusion, “Are you alright? I felt the whole house shake, there was shouting and I thought I would check to see if you were okay.”

He’s putting on his ‘caring father’ act again, Leo thought.

Leo looked over his shoulder at where Lucifer would have been but he was gone, the cross put back up on his wall.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I just fell over.” Leo lied. He gripped his hand into a fist, diverting all his anxiety to that one point as his father continued, “Well, if you’re sure.” His dad straightened his jacket before continuing on, “So, I’ve also come up here to tell you about what we’re going to do with you regarding the… incident.” His father said, “You’re a good boy Leo. You always have been, you stay in school, generally stay away from my business… Kept quiet about what happened between your mother and I.”

Leo looked at the ground, trying to push away the unwanted memory.

“My lawyers have swayed the Jury; you’re going to a mental hospital.” His father put a hand on Leo’s shoulder, attempting to be reassuring, “Everything will be alright my son.”

His father’s fingers were cold and his words icy rather than comforting, piercing Leo’s heart with a steely cold dagger. How Leo longed to be away from this man that was his birth father.

Leo would do anything. Absolutely anything, to be away from his father.

Jai: U.S.A, San Francisco, 0:01

His sister opened his bedroom door, “I know what you’re doing.” His sister glared. She was only a couple of years younger than him and although she didn’t hold Jai’s intelligence, she was very observant and could probably tell if something was off within seconds of meeting you.

Jai swore she was psychic sometimes.

“And what am I doing?” Jai raised an eyebrow and smiled at her, pretending to not know what she was talking about.

“You and your group of computer geeks steal shit from the Government. I heard you talking about it to one of your friends on Discord.” She narrowed her eyes at him, “You know what happened to the Jenkins kids the other day right? Cops stopped them for no reason and then when they tried to be calm and proper, the police drew their guns on them and shot one of them.”

“Shit, really?” Jai frowned, “But they’re good kids, what are they twelve? Thirteen?”

“Yeah, but pigs don’t give a shit. And because of that, we should be on more high alert. I don’t want you getting shot in the street, even if you’re stealing shit from different governments.” His sister continued, “Particularly ‘cos of…”

“Okay, okay,” Jai got up from his chair. He understood his sister’s concerns. The news and social media were rife with talk about that incident. It had been a shock wake up call to an ignorant nation that had brought up all sorts of reactions all around the world. Mostly outrage and fury at the police force who had been doing this for years and had been getting away with it. But that wasn’t going to happen to Jai or his family. And it wouldn’t happen because he had put precautions in place to make sure it didn’t.

“I know you’re concerned, Abby, but there is no way they’re going to catch me. Me and the boys all have security we need to make sure we’re okay. Ozzy lives in the UK and the police broke down his door to search his place but he’s still on the job!” Jai explained, “We’ve got VPNs and other sorts of stuff to scramble signals like that.”

Abby frowned, unconvinced.

Jai sighed, “I’m only going to be doing this until mom and dad get back on their feet. The money I’m making is keeping the house over our head and the food on the table. After they get sorted, I promise you, I will stop.” Jai gave her a reassuring smile, “Besides, I’m sure that the police will understand our situation if I told them why I was doing this.”

Abby bit her lip, “Yeah, maybe.”

The doorbell rang and the two looked down the stairs, confused, “I’ll answer it… but who is calling at this hour?” Jai muttered the last part under his breath as he opened the door.

His blood turned cold as saw who was on the other side of the door, “Hello, Officers, is there a problem?”

Adairia: Scotland, Edinburgh, 22:20pm

Adairia sucked in a deep breath as she stirred awake.

Ah, she’s still alive.

Her head pounded painfully as she sat up. A strong metallic smell wafted through the air as Adairia wrinkled her nose in disgust.

Her mother and father probably tried to make breakfast and melted the pans again from leaving them on the hob for too long.

Adairia pulled her bed covers off of herself. Her vision span as she stabilized herself, she had no idea how doing drugs is enjoyable for her mother or father. It was the worst feeling ever.

This is her… She stopped counting a while ago how many blackouts she was having after the third or fourth time they drugged her.

Adairia got up, walking to the bathroom and looking in the mirror and she gasped at the sight.

Her whole front, drenched in red. Adairia’s arms, hands, face, torso, Hell even her hair was covered in…

She shakily held up her hand and sniffed, gagging at the smell. This was the metallic smell:

Blood.

Adairia rushed to the sink, trying to wash away the fluid. She scratched at her arms and scrubbed her hair clean; Her parents would kill her if they saw her like this, causing more problems for them than they already had which was most likely, choosing which way to do cocaine next: smoke it or inject it.

Once her arms and torso had been scrubbed clean, her hair drenched in water, she squeezed out the remaining water and went to rush back to her room to change. She’d burn the clothes later.

Once Adairia had changed, she went into the kitchen to prepare for the day.

She had no idea where any of it came from, she had no time to think about it. It’s not her blood and therefore, shouldn’t be concerned about it.

Adairia went into the front room and found both her parents on the sofa, gazing at the TV, which was blaring static, while a high-pitched tone rang from the speakers.

Adairia mustered up her courage, “Hello!?” She called to them.

They didn’t even look at her, their heads still turned to the TV.

“You’re not even watching anything!” She rolled her eyes, storming over to them.

She went to hit the back of her father’s head before she caught a whiff of iron emanating from the both of them.

Adairia gagged, stumbling back and dry heaving, before pulling her shirt up and over her nose, making her way around the sofa and to stand in front of her parents.

Adairias’ eyes widened to the size of dinner plates; Both her parents had their jaws, hanging off by a ligament, their tongues lolling out of their mouths, blood dripping from their faces. Their arms and legs had been restrained with duct tape, the same duct tape they’d make her use to tie together batches of cocaine and weed.

Adairia’s legs had become weak and she collapsed to the floor, staring at them both, blood staining the fronts as she let out a loud whimper.

Adairia’s going to prison… She was going to be put in prison for the rest of her life and it wasn’t even her fault! Leaving out the drugs she’d been forced to make! She leaned over at their feet and balled.

Her blood turned to ice as someone knocked at her door, “This is the police! Open up!”

Kyung-Mo: South Korea, Seoul, 23:33pm

The beep of the heart monitor next to Kyung-Mo was like a metronome steadying his breath that was the song of his sorrow and the source of his pain. His lungs still burned from being in the river for so long and from swallowing so much water, his throat was sore from screaming.

There was a soft knock at the door and it opened to reveal Mr Kim and the Manager.

“Mr Kim…” His voice broke, his eyes filling with tears, “Sir, I’m so sorry, I…”

“Kyung-Mo, you were an idiot to do something like that.” The manager said, angrily, “In front of all those people, your fans above all else. You should be ashamed.”

Kyung-Mo lowered his head again. The manager was right, it was stupid of him to do that, so insane of him to do it.

“Hey, calm down. It’s not like he’s destroyed the whole world.” Mr Kim shushed him, “I’ve known him for a very long time, something pushed him to do this.”

Mr Kim and the manager walked over to the chairs next to his bed and sat next to him, “What happened?”

“I found out Grandpa died, then I cut myself and someone saw. He told you.” Kyung-Mo darted his eyes to the manager, who would know who he was referring to, “I freaked out, ran out and to a random bridge and I accidentally gathered a crowd and threw myself off there.” Kyung-Mo’s eyes welled with tears.

“Bullshit.” The manager spat, “You ran out because you’re lazy! You’ve never been serious about your music and this is where you end up! Bringing the rest of the group down with your carelessness! You were being an attention seeker by drawing that crowd!”

“Stop that, ridiculing Kyung-Mo isn’t going to help him.” Mr Kim hissed, “Be quiet for the moment.”

The manager grumbled something inaudible and crossed his arms, sinking in his chair.

“I was the one who brought you into this. Are you really happy doing this?” Mr Kim asked him.

“I was doing it for Grandpa. I didn’t want him to die in that shitty slum, so I wanted to get the money. You know that.” Kyung-Mo admitted.

The producer sighed, “I’m sorry to hear that. I know you liked music, but if this was all really for your Grandfather…”

“I grew up in that shit hole! And they tossed him back there as soon as he retired and that’s how they treat him! And then he had to raise me on his own!” Kyung-Mo lied, “Grandpa deserved better, more than that! All I wanted was to let him live out his last few years as a happier man rather than the grumpy one I knew!” This last part was not a lie.

Mr Kim sighed, “After that whole fiasco and with what you’re telling me now. I think you need some help, Kyung-Mo.” Mr Kim said, “I know of a mental health hospital in the UK that could probably help. Its main use is to treat the criminally insane but…”

“But I’m not criminally insane.” Kyung-Mo said, “I’m depressed.”

“You’re a burden on the group. And unfortunately, we have to go by the contract you agreed to which was three years. We’re putting the band on a hiatus for now.” The manager glared at him, “And it’s all your fault.”

Kyung-Mo gritted his teeth. He’d take that.

As soon as he could, he’d find a way out of the contract, regardless of however he had to do it, Kyung-Mo would find a way.

The manager’s face suddenly faltered, “Maybe, this is a good thing.” He said, his whole tone changing, “This would be great for marketing.”

“What?” Mr Kim asked flatly.

“Yeah! Maybe we can turn this around. The band will still go on hiatus, sure but during this time, maybe we could partner up with a mental health organization or something.” The manager continued.

Kyung-Mo rubbed his face in frustration, “No, for the love of God no.” He murmured.

“But this’ll be good! We could make you the new face for mental health problems!” The manager said, “I’m so stupid, why didn’t I think of this before?!”

Mr Kim rolled his eyes and sighed, “No, we’re not doing that.”

“But why?!” The manager almost whined, “Think about the money!”

“And look at him!” Mr Kim snapped, pointing at Kyung-Mo, “He cannot do that! Look at what made him do this in the first place! Putting more pressure on him isn’t going to do any good! If he was a different man, he could sue us!”

Kyung-Mo covered his ears in annoyance, “I don’t understand why I should air out my problems to the world when I nearly ended my own life. Stop trying to exploit me more than you already have.”

The manager opened his mouth to say something, but then shut it quickly.

Mr Kim sighed, “It’s written in his contract that we legally have to help him. I’ll go and get the plane tickets to the mental hospital in the UK.”

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