It's all his fault, isn't it?
...
If he hadn't agreed to going into that abandoned factory, nothing would've happend. He should've listened to Felix's concerns that he openly voiced ever since the idea even appeared. But he thought it'll be fun to break one single rule.. After all, he had never heard of jam that takes over people's minds.
It was only meant to be a fun exploration of an old place.
Too bad.
Because he saw with his own eyes the two youngest of the group going absolutely bonkers. He tried to help Jeongin when Seungmin forcefully fed the jam to him, he tried to hold him, but the maknae was thrashing, screaming, crying.. like he wasn't himself anymore. Just because Chan said that they need to get out of here.
But Jeongin scratched his arms until they literally bleed. He couldn't.. he couldn't believe it. His arms ached because of the raw scratches caused by the boy who didn't hold back even a bit. It was like dealing with a person with actual issues.
. . .
He had to focus on keeping Felix, Hyunjin and Minho safe at least.. They're safe with him, right?
. . .
A blink of an eye.
"Hyunjin?" Bangchan suddenly paused, noticing that the taller member wasn't with them.
Just then, a blood-curdling scream echoed from the hallway they just left a few moment ago.
Hyunjin was caught.
. . .
"I'm the worst."
. . .
But he had to be strong for Felix and Minho, at least. These two probably look up to him with trust, they probably see comfort and the last source of safety in him.
He just wanted to check something.
But then Jeongin suddenly appeared in the same room as him. These big glassy eyes, the sad look on his face.. the way he tugged his shirt. He couldn't stand it. Jeongin promised that he changed the composition of the jam to work against the other corrupted members, he promised that the version he made is healing.
Sweet naivety...
Han apppeared as well, the two promised Chan that they woke up. That the jam stopped working and now they found the cure.
Was it really that easy to convince him?
It probably was.
Because it worked.
. . .
Chan took a slight taste of the jam from a wooden spoon handed to him by Han. How disgusting, the taste was so bitter and artificially sweet that he couldn't help but cringe and arch his head back because of it.
But it was too late. His tongue came to contact with it.
Just in a second, he shoved the remaining jam on the spoon right into his mouth. Sudden hunger, the bright sensation that this taste brought him — it made him want to share it with others too.
Everyone should try it.
Everyone.
. . .
"It tastes so good..!" A sick, oddly relieved smile grew on his face.
. . .
He went back to Minho and Felix after that, intending to give them the jam to eat as well. But once he stepped close enough for them to see him, the two younger survivors noticed it in immediate. They backed off.
"Chan.. You didn't.."
"Don't come closer."
But regardless their fearful and shocked looks, his will to fed it to them only grew. The overwhelming desire to make them taste it.
"Don't you trust me?"
. . .
He ran towards them, attempted to grab Felix. Then Minho. His face was dirty from that red stuff, but he still jumped at them like a wild animal. Like a predator.
They knew they lost him.
But this whole chaos, caused the two to get separated.
While Chan.. He noted that sooner or later, he'll find them. And they'll taste this beautiful taste of relief. He just wanted the best for them, with him, they'll be safe.
"I'll save them." He said faintly to himself, standing like a wild animal in the darkness of the room from which the two younger members fleed away a moment ago.
"I know better. They need my leadership." His lips twitched into a psychotic smile. The once innocent, genuine care, shifting into something more posessive. He didn't care if they wanted his "saving", he was going to do it in his own way.
Regardless of their will.
Because he knew better.