The Lion's Den - Stray Kids X Reader (Vampire/au)

Mouse Trap

It was instantaneous that a panic attack hit you. You tried to breathe, but it felt like your chest was collapsing in on itself.

Jisung rushed forward, and everyone stepped back.

You retracted from him, so he took a step away, trying to ease the tension. He had compassion in his dark, red eyes, which felt like an unusual contrast.

"I'm not gonna hurt you, I just need you to take your hand, and place it on your collar bone, just like this-" he mimicked what you were supposed to do so you followed his lead. "Just like that, yup. And just tap there, and take some deep breaths. In through your nose, and out, and keep your eyes on me."

A sense of calm washed over your body, and his eyes almost felt comforting, less like they were hungry and piercing into your soul, in comparison to the first time you saw him.

"Okay, find something with a bright colour." You pointed to a beautiful painting on the wall, still tapping on your collarbone and breathing. "And something you can hear."

"Your voice. Seungmin tapping his foot." Seungmin couldn't help the strange excitement that rushed over him the moment you mentioned his name.

"Good, how do you feel?"

You took a deep breath and stopped what you were doing. Surprisingly, you were stable.

"I'm okay now. Thank you."

"Of course." Jisung smiled, so you returned it. Jisung seemed enamored over your smile. He stared for a little too long before clueing into what he was doing.

"May I know why I can't leave? I can't promise I'll be completely calm, but I'll try my best."

Seungmin held Jeongin back. He'd have a chance to explain things later, but sometimes he wasn't the best at it. So Seungmin took his place, grabbed a chair, and sat in front of you.

"What have the stories said about the mansion in the woods?"

You gulped. He wasn't trying to be menacing, but his question made you shudder. The story coming to life was starting to feel more and more like your reality.

"They have told us for many years of an abandoned mansion in the woods. Despite us being warned to never go near to it, many get drawn in by a voice or a feeling, and never return. There's only been a few who have avoided the temptation, and they're the ones that give us warning. But the mansion doesn't appear to everyone. It's almost like it isn't even real, and not something you can find on a map or in a photo. Almost like it appears when it wants to draw someone in."

Seungmin's expression darkened. It made your skin crawl. "Well, I suppose they'd never know what's inside if no one ever makes it out." His eyes were glowing that ominous red, and the peace you felt earlier washed away as the warning bells of danger returned. Felix rolled his eyes, stepping in and pushing Seungmin lightly, playfully.

"Get out of here. You're freakin' her out." Seungmin smirked as he got up and stood by the wall, crossing his arms as he leaned, still staring at you with hunger.

"What fairytales do you know, darling?"

You blinked at Felix trying to recall. "Uhh, like the frog Prince? Mermaids?"

He hummed, taking the seat Seungmin had just been in. "I'm thinking a little darker than that."

You tried to breathe again, but it was difficult when you realized you were no longer just in the presence of handsome men, but perhaps in the lion's den, served up on a silver platter.

"Witches... wizards, werewolves... vampires."

Felix grinned and snapped his fingers. "Ah, there it is. The last one."