Chapter Text
Mu Qing had spent the entire day with Xin-gege, and he was happy. He even learned archery, even though he was more interested in the sabre. But that was okay, as long as he didn't have to spend his day alone, he was happy doing whatever.
Although the day was fun, it left him feeling drained. So when it was time for bed, he fell asleep on Xin-gege's bed. Before completely falling into the world of sleep, he hoped for happy dreams.
He should've known better than to hope.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mu Qing found himself in a dark place. He couldn't see anything, no matter how hard he tried. "Hello...?" He called out, trying to remain calm and brave. But he felt as if something, or someone, was watching him, and fear grew and grew until it almost took over his entire body. He hesitated before taking a few steps forward, still trying to see through the darkness.
He decided to call out people's names, mainly his mother's name, or Feng Xin's name. Still, there was nothing. Just an empty, black, void. "Is anyone there?!" He called out, stopping when he finally, FINALLY, heard mumbling. He looked to his left, and saw a man, sitting alone in the darkness, legs against his chest, head down, buried in his knees as he shook.
Mu Qing hesitated before deciding to walk over to him. He didn't know why he was doing this, but he felt like he HAD to do this. "U-um...Are you okay...?" He asked once he got closer. The man flinched and lifted his head to look at him, eyes wide with tears running down his face. This man looked so much like Mu Qing. But that didn't make any sense, he was eight, and this man looked older!
"No...No no no no NO! GO AWAY, LEAVE ME ALONE!" The man shouted, eyes shut tight and hands covering his ears, tears still running down his face. Mu Qing froze, not knowing what to do. "Why would I leave, when I can spend some time with you~" Someone said from behind. Mu Qing turned around, and saw an ugly looking man standing a few feet away.
The man had pale skin, his long, black hair, tied into a ponytail, and his eyes were pitch black. The man also has scars all over his face, with a burn scar on the right side of his face. He looked like a ghost, so he decided to refer to him as such. Mu Qing noticed that he seemed to look right through him, right at the man sitting behind him.
"I'M NOT GOING TO FALL FOR YOUR TRICKS!" The man behind him shouted. The ghost started walking towards them, and Mu Qing gasped before moving out of the way. He saw that chains were around the man's wrists and ankles. How did he not see that before? "Tricks? How hurtful. I'm merely telling you the truth~" The ghost told him, smirking as he crouched down in front of the man.
"YOU'RE LYING!" The man shouted, making Mu Qing flinch and cover his ears, staring at the scene with wide eyes. "I'm not. You really think that people care about you? His highness just felt sorry for you, that's all. As for everyone else, they have no choice but to accept your existence . Face it, you're still alone, just like you were when you were a child." The ghost spat, glaring at the man in front of him.
Mu Qing started shaking, his breaths coming out quick and labored. His chest felt tight, tighter than he felt before, and the man was shaking just as much as he was. "SHUT UP! SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!" The man shouted, moving to tackle the ghost, but unable to get far with the chains imprisoning him. The ghost had moved back, smirking victoriously. "Still don't believe me?" The ghost asked.
After saying that, the ghost leaned in closer to the man, whispering in his ear, but Mu Qing heard it as if the ghost whispered in his own ear. "You will eventually." He whispered, moving away. Suddenly, Mu Qing was in the man's place, chains on him instead of the man who looked like him. The man who looked like him was nowhere to be found now.
Mu Qing struggled against the chains, screaming as tears poured from his eyes nonstop. He wanted to be free, he wanted to get help. "X-XIN-GEGE, HELP!" He shouted, his breathing was still labored, and he feared he'd soon hyperventilate. "XIN-GEGE, WHERE ARE YOU?! CAN YOU HEAR ME?! SOMEONE, ANYONE, HELP ME!" He shouted, crying out for help.
Something fell in front of him, making him jump backwards. He started at the thing that fell in front of him, and he froze, his blood ran cold, and his eyes were wide with shock and horror. In front of him, a dead body was on the ground, a pool of blood growing below the body.
It was Feng Xin.
Feng Xin was dead in front of Mu Qing. Cuts and bruises were all over his body, along with multiple stab wounds. Mu Qing shook, as he slowly made his way over to him. He could get to him despite the chains, and Mu Qing stared down at the body with wide, teary eyes. "Xin-gege...?" He said, his voice sounding so small and broken, he barely recognized it.
Feng Xin didn't move. He didn't open his eyes, or make a sound, or even breathe. He was gone, dead, and Mu Qing couldn't do anything. He fell to his knees, now beginning to hyperventilate at the sight of so much blood on the ground. "X-Xin-gege, w-wake up...!" He shouted, just barely managing to reach out to shake him. "XIN-GEGE, WAKE UP! OPEN YOUR EYES! PLEASE!" He shouted, tears falling faster than before.
Feng Xin still didn't move.
"FENG XIN, GOD DAMN IT, WAKE UP!" Mu Qing shouted. His voice sounded different. He sounded older, he sounded just like that man who was originally chained up. He froze when a laugh echoed into the surrounding darkness.
"General Nan Yang is gone. The fun has only just begun~" The ghost's voice echoed, laughing loudly into the darkness. Mu Qing shook his head. "No! You bastard, bring him back!" He shouted, shaking Feng Xin still. "BRING HIM BACK! BRING HIM BACK! SOMEONE, PLEASE, BRING HIM BACK!" He shouted, crying as his head came to rest on Feng Xin's chest. His heart shattering into a million pieces. He was eight years old again.
Suddenly, laughter was coming from all around him, echoing in the darkness. Mu Qing covered his ears, trying to block out the noise, but to no avail. He cried, screaming and shouting, telling the voices and laughter to stop, but they didn't listen.
Mu Qing was trapped, trapped in his own head, trapped in this hellish nightmare, trapped in this darkness, unable to escape. Voices of cruelty shouted at him from all around him, and Mu Qing shook even more than before. His heart was pounding painfully in his chest, he felt like he couldn't breathe!
He wanted it to stop. He wanted to breathe, please let him breathe, someone help him, he's so alone, he's sick of being alone, why is he always alone?! The pain was too strong, and eventually, Mu Qing passed out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mu Qing woke up, screaming and crying as he jolted up right in bed, breathing heavily as tears fell rapidly from his eyes. He was still in Feng Xin's room, still eight years old, and after turning to look, Feng Xin was still there. His eyes were closed, but he was still breathing. He was still alive. He was here.
Mu Qing whimpered and crawled closer to him, shaking him. "X-Xin-gege...?" He asked, his voice sounded quiet, small and fearful. Feng Xin slowly opened his eyes, yawning while looking at Mu Qing. He noticed that Feng Xin's eyes were still clouded with sleep, but at least he was awake enough. Mu Qing gripped his robes tightly, afraid he'd disappear if he let go.
Feng Xin's eyes became less cloudy, as he registered Mu Qing's state. He looked worried, and Mu Qing couldn't help but move closer to him. "Mu Qing? What's wrong?" Feng Xin asked, carefully wiping away his tears.
At the gentle touch, Mu Qing broke down, latching onto him and hugging him. He knows he's not five anymore, but he wanted, NEEDED, a hug. Feng Xin returned the hug, stroking his hair gently.
"X-Xin-gege, you're alive..."