26

Chapter 26

Riki had no idea.

That was the part that sent a slow, sharp thrill through Sunoo’s chest—the part that made his pulse race as he sat there, as he let Riki’s fingers trace the inside of his wrist, slow and lingering.

Riki thought he was winning.

But Sunoo had already set the trap.

And Riki had stepped right into it.

Sunoo exhaled softly, letting his shoulders slump, letting himself look tired, look defeated, look like someone who had finally given in. He let Riki touch him. Let Riki believe the warmth in his skin meant something other than calculation.

Let Riki believe he wanted this.

"You finally stopped running," Riki murmured. His fingers curled slightly, pressing against the inside of Sunoo’s wrist, right where his pulse pounded. "That’s cute."

Sunoo swallowed, letting his breath hitch—just enough.

"Maybe I just got tired." His voice was quiet, carefully measured. "Maybe I realized I didn’t have a choice."

Riki hummed. "Now that’s interesting."

He moved closer, his knee pressing into the mattress, his body shifting into Sunoo’s space with that same lazy confidence, that same sharp amusement flickering behind his eyes.

Sunoo didn’t pull away.

Didn’t let himself pull away.

Instead, he tilted his head slightly, exposing the line of his throat, feeling the way Riki’s gaze dropped to it like a predator scenting weakness.

"You don’t have a choice, huh?" Riki mused. His fingers trailed higher, up Sunoo’s arm, barely brushing against the fabric of his sleeve.

Sunoo fought not to shudder.

Fought not to react when Riki’s lips ghosted just over his jaw.

Instead, he let himself do something else.

He let himself lean in.

It was small, almost imperceptible—the tiniest shift, the slightest movement. But it was enough.

Riki froze.

And then he laughed.

Low. Dark. Pleased.

"You really are something, doctor."

Sunoo let himself smile, just a little. "I thought you already knew that."

Riki smirked. "Oh, I do. But you keep surprising me."

Good.

That was exactly what Sunoo wanted.

He had spent the last twenty-four hours mapping this out, replaying every move in his head, every word he had to say, every reaction he had to fake if he wanted this to work.

Riki was too smart. Too quick. If Sunoo had done this any other way, Riki would have seen through it.

But Riki had a weakness.

He wanted to be wanted.

And Sunoo had given him just enough of it—just enough warmth, just enough submission—to lure him in.

Now all he had to do was finish it.

Sunoo exhaled softly.

"You’re right," he murmured. "I stopped running."

Riki’s smirk widened. "Took you long enough."

Sunoo tilted his chin slightly, letting his breath fan against Riki’s skin. "Do you trust me?"

Riki blinked.

For a second, his expression flickered.

Then he laughed again, his grip tightening.

"You’re cute," he said. "You know I don’t trust anyone."

Sunoo smiled. "Not even me?"

Riki stilled.

For the first time, he hesitated.

And that was when Sunoo knew.

That was when he knew he had already won.

Because Riki didn’t answer.

Because Riki didn’t know the answer.

Because Sunoo had already burrowed deep enough into his mind to make him question it.

Sunoo reached up, letting his fingers brush against Riki’s jaw, watching the way Riki’s breath hitched, the way his pupils darkened just slightly.

"Come with me," he whispered.

Riki tilted his head. "Where?"

Sunoo inhaled.

And then he told him exactly what Riki wanted to hear.

"Somewhere safe."

It took three days.

Three days of playing his part.

Three days of letting Riki pull him closer, letting Riki believe he had him, letting Riki believe that Sunoo had chosen him over everything else.

Sunoo played his role perfectly.

He let Riki drag him into the darkness, let him touch, let him press, let him believe.

And when the moment came—when Sunoo whispered in his ear that he knew a place, a place where they could be alone, a place where no one would find them—

Riki believed him.

And that was all it took.

That was all it ever took.

The asylum was quiet when they arrived.

Too quiet.

Sunoo had planned for that.

Had planned for the abandoned wing, for the doors left unlocked, for the way the shadows stretched just right, swallowing them whole as they slipped inside.

Riki followed him without hesitation.

"Didn’t know you were into creepy places," Riki mused.

Sunoo smiled faintly. "I thought you might like it."

Riki laughed, his fingers brushing against Sunoo’s wrist.

"You really are full of surprises."

Sunoo swallowed. "I try."

Then—

He stopped.

Right in front of the door.

The one that would seal this fate.

The one that would end this once and for all.

Sunoo turned, looking up at him.

Riki arched a brow. "What’s wrong?"

Sunoo hesitated.

Just for a second.

Then he whispered, "Do you trust me now?"

Riki blinked.

For the first time, he actually considered it.

And that was his mistake.

That was his final mistake.

Because the second he nodded—

The second his lips parted to answer—

Sunoo moved.

Fast.

Precise.

The syringe was already in his hand.

And before Riki could react—before Riki could see what was happening—

Sunoo drove it into his neck.

Riki inhaled sharply, his eyes going wide, his fingers clawing at Sunoo’s wrist—

And then his body locked up.

Then his breath stuttered.

Then his knees buckled.

Sunoo caught him.

Barely.

His chest heaved, his heart pounding as he lowered Riki to the ground, as he watched the realization flicker across his face—

Betrayal.

Shock.

Amusement.

And something worse.

Something darker.

Something that made Sunoo’s stomach churn.

Riki’s lips curved.

"You really got me," he rasped, his voice barely above a whisper.

Sunoo swallowed. His hands were still shaking.

He needed to move.

He needed to finish this.

But Riki was still looking at him.

Still grinning.

Still laughing.

Even as the sedative dragged him under.

Even as his body slumped.

Even as Sunoo’s plan worked.

Sunoo exhaled sharply, forcing his hands to stop trembling.

It was done.

It was finally done.

But as he stared down at Riki’s unconscious form—

As he listened to the distant echo of footsteps in the hallway—

As he felt the cold reality of what he had just done settle deep in his bones—

Sunoo realized something.

Something awful.

Something he should have known from the very beginning.

This wasn’t over.

This would never be over.

Because even as Riki lay there, unconscious and trapped—

Sunoo could still hear his voice.

Could still feel him.

Could still see that grin, burned into the back of his mind.

And worst of all—

Sunoo wasn’t sure if he had won at all.