8.

Warren felt something soft being rubbed on his wrist. He tried to open his eyes, but they were too heavy to move. All he could see was darkness, pitch-black darkness.

His head was spinning, the kind of dizziness one feels after a dreadful ride on a Ferris wheel, coupled with a nauseating sensation in his stomach. The smooth and soft dabs continued on his wrist.

He tried to move his mouth, but his throat felt painfully dry as if he had been walking in a desert for ages without a single drop of water.

"Warren, are you awake?"

Oh crap!

What the heck is he doing here? Don't tell me he found me doing it again. He questioned in his foggy mind.

The movements stopped suddenly. Warren's heartbeat quickened, but he still couldn't open his eyes.

"Warren?" He heard the voice again, wishing the floor beneath him would open up and consume him. He struggled to open his eyes; his vision was blurry, and the continuous whirling in his head wouldn't halt. The fan hanging from the ceiling was spinning just as his head was. He fought for some sort of clarity. Feeling the sheets beneath him sink, as he stirred in drowsiness.

He turned his face to the side, taking in the image of his so-called friend, who never gave a damn about the nonsense he spewed.

He didn't believe in religious things. But if there was a devil in human form, it would certainly be him.

"What did you do again?" Tiger asked, surprisingly in a low and..soft voice. Wow.

"Can't you see?" Warren retorted. He was in no mood to talk to the bastard sitting beside him, who was now oh-so-carefully dressing his cuts as if he hadn't just spat nonsense at him earlier.

Thinking of this, he wondered what time it was.

"Sarcastic much, I see," The raven-haired sighed.

Warren breathed out a cold sigh too. He stared up at the ceiling, observing the circular patterns the fan created. Silence prevailed as neither of them spoke for a while. Tiger was busy cleaning the cuts and wrapping adhesive bandages around them, while he was busy with his thoughts, feeling them creep up and destroy his peace completely.

He never felt grateful for committing such acts against his skin, but he felt satisfied every time. Those blades had the power to numb his pain, to numb his inner thoughts, to numb him.

"You promised to not do this again."

Warren snapped out of his trance, turning his face towards him.

"Well, I told you not to ask me for a promise I can't keep." He exhaled. He never liked talking about this stuff.

"Warren," Tiger's voice switched to a deeper tone, "you need to stop doing this to yourself. This won't get you anywhere."

Trying to be a big brother now? Only if he didn't know how heartless he could be, how heartless he is, he would fall for his kindness, which, actually doesn't exist.

"Honestly, I don't even want to get anywhere with it. I am just trying to stay alive. That's it," Warren exclaimed, still weak from the dry throat and the sting at his wrist.

"And you can stay alive without making cuts on your skin too."

"No, I cannot." He looked away, feeling his throat form a lump. Memories flooded back into his mind, swirling in his head as he shut his eyes and tried to close off their presence from his friend.

"Okay, all done." Tiger released his hand from his grip, placing it carefully on the bed beside him.

Warren glanced at him, meeting his intense gaze.

If we weren't of the same gender, we surely could have been a thing.

What the fuck, Warren?

He pressed his elbows to the bed, trying to sit up.

"Careful. Your cuts might open." Tiger gripped his arm, helping him up to sit.

Warren knitted his eyebrows, wondering if his Ti had bipolar disorder or something. One second he acted like a rude, lethal bastard like he for sure is, and the next second he is all soft and caring.

What the hell is his deal?

Just be loyal to one of your personalities, man. He snickered mentally.

"Why suddenly so lovey-dovey with me, Ti? Have you finally started to consider being my boyfriend or something?" Warren raised his eyebrows flirtatiously, trying not to laugh at the latter's expression.

He loved to tease him. Tiger never liked it when he flirted, and Warren loved it when the other lost it.

"Stop with the fling thing and get yourself a girlfriend already. I am tired of you practising your flirting skills on me." He rolled his eyes, dragging himself out of the bed while placing the first aid box in the cabinet beside him.

"Girlfriend? I don't want a girlfriend, and no girl wants me." Warren chuckled dryly.

No lie in that. As he thought.

"Well, if you keep on doing such stuff, then of course no one will want you."

Ouch.

"Ah right. This is all my fault anyway. I chose to be like this, right?" Sarcasm dripped with every word, but he meant what he said.

"You didn't. But you're choosing to harm yourself. That's what your fault is." Tiger pushed the drawer shut, turning to leave the room.

"It's all for you-" Warren's mouth blurted out the words before he could stop. By the time he realized, it was too late. He had already said them, Tiger already heard them.

He briskly turned around to face him. "What did you say?"

"Nothing-"

"It's all for me?" He raised his eyebrows, his deep eyes piercing Warren's.

Just why did I say that? He regretted.

"Just so... You know, to get you to accomplish your mission. I need to be alive till then." And then I can take a long dip in some far hill station and die finally afterwards.

"Yeah, you need to." Tiger nodded, his face not showing even a tiny bit of empathy while he indirectly revealed that he was living-no, surviving-just for his sake, and he didn't even care. He doesn't care if he lives or dies. He just doesn't care at all.

His heart twisted in agony, but his face was covered splendidly with a faint, assuring smile.

Something inside him broke again.

The raven-haired was no longer in view, and the urge to cut again resurfaced in his veins. He threw his head back, back colliding with the headboard as he stared at the ceiling absentmindedly.

His eyes stung with tears while his fingers itched with a hazardous desire. He always knew what he was doing, from the first time till now. He knew just how horrible his acts were. He knew he wouldn't be able to stop once he started, though he convinced himself that it would just be a small cut, it wouldn't hurt much.

But as time moved on, with uncountable demons getting the best of him throughout the years, the blade in his fingers dug deeper and deeper each time. He used to have just red lines; now he could even see a whitish layer of his flesh sometimes.

And the blame was on him too. Of course, nobody likes people with such a weak resistance.

His shoulders slumped tiredly. He couldn't let anything ruin his sleep tonight because tomorrow night he wouldn't get any. They were expected to be on the spot and complete the work successfully. There was no way on this cruel earth he would like to make a mistake and get beaten up later by the gang members.

DK took good care of all of them, but he was a monster after all. He had rules, and all of them had to follow up, without a word. If anyone ruins his plans, he will make sure to ruin them.

Warren adjusted himself on the bed, being cautious not to hurt his wrist, and laid down as sleep finally consumed him and he drifted off to his wonderland.

-----

The next day came by earlier than expected. She didn't get any food that night from Warren, as he was now barred from doing so.

The whole time they seemed to be busy, there were an uncountable amount of calls since morning till it was time for them to leave.

She didn't talk, just asked one time to let go to the washroom to which he asked, "You're not planning on pushing me and trying to run again, right?" with his infamous smirk. But let her use the washroom nonetheless.

They both got ready, for what seemed, as to go for whatever hideous crime they were going to commit tonight.

"Get up." She blinked up at the pair of mesmerizing deep brown eyes.

"Why?" She asked confused.

"Because you're going to stay at the DK's bungalow till the time we are done." He informed, his voice stoic and rough.

Her heart forgot to beat for a moment as her mind comprehended his words.

"Why? Just leave me here." She exasperated.

Her hands were shaking already.

"Leave you here? So you can run away?" He scoffed.

"I... I won't do anything, I promise. Lock all the doors and windows if you want." She blurted out in haste, not wanting to live a nightmare again.

He squatted down to her level, a dark look decorating his face as his hand grabbed hers.

"Get up already. Don't make me mad." He threatened, his deep masculine voice sending shivers down her spine.

She stilled, he looked dangerous as if he wouldn't even think once before shooting her dead.

She sucked on her lower lip, blinking timidly at him. Not wanting to wake up his beast side, which was prominent through his eyes, she accepted her cruel luck and helped herself to get up. She couldn't feel her legs, the cold floor numbed her senses.

"Follow me." He got up too, taking her hand in his.

She stopped in her steps, blinking several times to register the little touch.

She then gazed up at him with wide eyes.

"What?" He tilted his face, a confused frown shadowing his features.

She only tugged at her hand to get it out of his grip as an answer.

"Why are you so resistant in everything?" His frown deepened.

"Because you're touching me without my consent. Leave my hand." She raised her voice, tugging at her hand continuously.

"Stop it." He said indifferently, tightening his hold.

She continued her attempts and he got enough of her nonsense tantrums.

He jerked her towards him, his other hand gripped her free arm, tossing both of their bodies at the wall behind.

Her eyes grew twice their size, breath no more having a passage to come out as his face dipped closer to hers, leaving no space but just a few inches.

"I said, don't make me mad." He whispered, yet he sounded so impossibly dangerous.

She could feel his breath, fanning against her nose and lips. He was way too close, and she couldn't move.

Her mouth opened to retort back, but words wouldn't come out of her throat when she saw the look in his eyes.

Brown eyes, with deep strokes of coffee in each of the iris, menace decorated with mesmerizing black pupils, disclosed a sense of emotion in her that she never felt, for anything, or anyone.

His fox-like eyes were intense and alluring, resembling the ocean when the sun bides its goodbye to the fervent waves. She felt herself drowning in them, slowly and helplessly.

He was beautiful, undoubtedly.

"Understood?" He raised one of his brows slightly, just as he usually does.

She nodded, lost in his orbs and the feeling which settled in her stomach and chest as if something was flying in her insides.

"Good girl." He uttered with his usual smirk back on his face, realizing it was easy to tame her this time.

So it just takes to look in her eyes, and that's it?

Interesting.

"Come on. Warren's waiting outside." He turned, pulling her with him.

-----

The wide gates opened as their car strolled in.

The demonic bungalow grew bigger and bigger as they drove closer.

She held her breath, a knot forming in her throat while her stomach sank. Anxiety crept into her subconscious self, her mind busy replaying the screams because of the torture imposed on her years ago, in the same place, by the same people, for the same, evil reason.

The car parked at the side, Tiger gave Warren a look to which he nodded and opened the door.

"Little one. Come out." He always used a soft tone with her, but today he sounded the same as Tiger. Cold and dangerous.

Why God? Just what did I do to deserve this?

Tears brimmed at the corner of her eyes, her lungs fighting for stable breathing as she took her feet out on the ground.

Cold air washed over her weary skin, brushing past her naturally brown hair.

If she were to count the number of bodyguards standing in security, it would require a whole night to do so.

All of them faced straight ahead, with a constant frown settled on their faces, creating a high sense of eerie atmosphere.

Three men approached her, forcing her to walk back in defence.

Her attempts were meant to fail, there wasn't any room for her to run away with so many bulky men surrounding the wide area.

She looked at the two men who accompanied her here. But they just stood watched, refusing to help her.

Helpless. That's what she felt.

Eventually, they dragged her in despite her constant struggle of resistance.

-----

The two cars parked at the far end of the luxurious hall. They all left their seats and assembled in one place.

"All set?" Derek, the right-hand man of DK, asked.

To which, they all nodded and straightened themselves.

"Be lean with your work guys. We cannot make any sort of mistake or leave any sign behind." The secret discussion took place amid the dark, faint evening.

The sun was already down and heavy grey clouds embraced the city, indicating the possibility of a high rain shortly.

"Yes, boss." The guys bellowed, except Tiger and Warren. They never considered him to be so worthy to entitle him with that word.

"Warren, you know what to do." All the pair of eyes were on Warren now.

"Yeah, I know." He nodded.

"Ah... It would have been good if Leo was here too. Dunno where he disappeared suddenly." Derek exhaled, remembering one of their very loyal, and skilled members.

All of them felt gloomy for the mentioned person. Except two.

"I hope he's not dead, I haven't heard from him in a while." One of the men spoke.

Tiger and Warren exchanged knowing looks, both having their lips curved in secret smirks.

"Anyways, let's get back to work boys."

They all prepared for the last-minute details before executing their plan.