Chapter 10: The twisted cruelty

Sergei's eyes roamed over the garden, a manic glint of amusement sharpening his gaze. His heavy boots crushed the neatly arranged grass as he stalked forward, his laughter echoing through the night. His men scoured the grounds like hounds on a fresh trail, but Sergei moved at a slower pace, savoring the thrill of the hunt.

"my Jiwon..." he drawled, his voice low and taunting, slipping into the darkness like venom. "Did you really think you could run from me? Haa!."

He took his time, prowling around the garden's shadowed corners, knowing his presence alone would suffocate any sliver of hope the man dared to hold on to. His fingers idly traced along the wrought iron fence as he moved, the chill of the metal matching the iciness in his eyes.

"Where are you hiding,my little mouse?" he called out with mock affection. "You think you can outsmart me?" A scoff escaped his lips. "Don't make me laugh."

He continued to wander, his boots crunching over gravel, crushing delicate flowers underfoot. Sergei's gaze darted between the trimmed hedges, his ears pricked for the slightest rustle, the faintest breath.

The garden stretched on, a labyrinth of shadows and cold night air. Sergei's patience wore thin, but his twisted pleasure only grew.

"Come out, Jiwon!" he barked, voice rumbling like thunder. "You can't hide from me forever."

But there was no answer. Only the stillness of the night and the quiet chirping of crickets.

Sergei's lips curved into a wicked smirk. He relished this game of cat and mouse. His eyes trailed over every bush, every tree. The shadows were his allies, his tools of torment. And he would use them to his advantage.

He took another few steps forward, then paused, his gaze narrowing as he spotted something—an old, weather-worn dog house tucked between two thick bushes, half-forgotten and barely noticeable.

"Hmmm?" he mused with a delighted hum. "Now, what do we have here?"

He moved with calculated slowness, his steps almost soundless as he approached the little shelter. Bending down, his fingers drummed lightly against the side of the dog house, his eyes gleaming with cruel anticipation.

"Come out, Jiwon," he taunted, his voice now sickeningly gentle. "I know you're in there. Why don't you save us both the trouble and crawl out like the good little pet you are?"

He waited, relishing the tension that hung thick in the air. His smile widened when he caught the faintest, sharp inhale from within.

"What's the matter?" Sergei sneered, amusement dripping from his words. "Scared? Hurt? You should be. You should be very, very afraid."

He knocked again, harder this time. "Come out, Jiwon. Before I drag you out myself."

Jiwon bit down on his lip so hard he tasted blood. His body shook, his mind spiraling between desperation and hopelessness. He couldn't stay hidden forever. Sergei was right. He was helpless.

But he wouldn't give in. Not yet. Not without a fight. Even if his body was shattered, even if his mind was torn apart, he would not surrender to that man's cruelty.

Jiwon tightened his fists, his gaze narrowing despite the tears prickling at his eyes. Even if he couldn't escape, he would make Sergei work for it. Make him bleed for every bit of suffering he inflicted.

Sergei's lips twisted into a dark, satisfied smile as he rapped his knuckles once more against the wooden dog house. The pitiful little structure was hardly fit for a stray animal, yet it served as the perfect trap for the desperate creature he was hunting.

"Are you really this stupid, Jiwon?" he taunted, his tone light, almost playful.

"I expected more from you. To think you'd throw yourself from a window just to avoid me. Was it worth it, huh? Breaking your own ankle for a fleeting moment of freedom?"

Sergei's eyes gleamed with sadistic amusement as he crouched down, the polished leather of his shoes pressing into the dirt. His fingers grazed the edge of the dog house, his touch slow, deliberate, as if savoring the anticipation.

"Not going to answer me?" he continued, his voice dropping to a mocking whisper.

"Or are you just so terrified you've gone mute?"

He listened closely, the shallow, hitched breaths from within the darkness betraying Jiwon's pathetic attempt at silence. Ah, so the little bird could still breathe after all.

"Let me make something very clear, Jiwon." His tone sharpened, the venom within his words unmistakable.

"You will never escape me. No matter how hard you try, no matter where you run, I will always find you. Because you…"

He leaned forward, his voice lowering to a deadly purr"…are mine."

The moment the last word left his lips, Sergei yanked the flimsy door open, his gaze locking onto the trembling, wounded figure crammed within.

Jiwon flinched, his wide eyes staring up at him with a mix of terror and defiance. Blood smeared his lower lip from where he'd bitten down too hard, and the pain twisting his features only seemed to deepen Sergei's twisted satisfaction.

"What a pitiful sight," Sergei remarked coldly, his gaze trailing over Jiwon's dirt-streaked face, his disheveled hair, the bruises already blooming on his pale skin. "You look like nothing more than a cornered rat."

"Go to hell," Jiwon hissed, his voice strained, broken, but not completely defeated.

Sergei's smile widened. "Aaah ? It seems you haven't entirely lost your fire. Good. It'll be more satisfying when I crush it."

Jiwon's fists clenched, but he made no attempt to move. The pain of his ankle had to be excruciating, Sergei figured, but it was the terror in those dark eyes that truly fascinated him.

"Let's see how well you can crawl, shall we?" Sergei drawled, grabbing Jiwon by the collar of the chemise he'd been forced to wear. Without warning, he dragged him out from the dog house, tossing him roughly onto the dirt.

Jiwon cried out, his hands scraping against the gravel as he landed. But still, he didn't scream. Even when his injured ankle twisted under his own weight, he choked down the pain, his face going deathly pale.

Sergei's gaze was merciless. "Crawl."

"Fuck…you," Jiwon spat, his breaths ragged and uneven.

"Oh, I don't think you understand the situation, Jiwon." Sergei crouched beside him, grabbing a fistful of his hair and forcing his head up. Their faces were mere inches apart, Sergei's icy stare boring into Jiwon's soul. "You will crawl."

He released Jiwon's hair with a shove, watching as the man crumpled against the ground. The sight was glorious.

"Move" Sergei ordered, his voice a whip cracking through the air. "Or should I make your other ankle match the first?"

Jiwon's body shuddered violently, his hands trembling as they pressed against the ground. For a moment, Sergei thought he would comply. That he would finally surrender and grovel like the broken creature he was.

But instead, Jiwon glared up at him, his eyes burning with hatred. "I'd rather die than give you the satisfaction."

Sergei laughed—a low, menacing sound that echoed across the garden. "You really think you have a choice in this, don't you? How adorable."

He reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a sleek, silver lighter. Clicking it open, he let the small flame dance between them, the warm glow highlighting the madness etched into his smile.

"You see, Jiwon," he began, his voice calm and almost gentle. "The sooner you understand your place, the better. You can resist all you want. But the outcome will always be the same."

Sergei ran the flame dangerously close to Jiwon's cheek, just enough for the heat to kiss his skin without truly burning him. Yet.

"Now, I'll ask you again." Sergei's voice dropped to a chilling whisper. "Crawl."