~~SANGHEE'S POV~~

I'm still startled by what had just taken place only minutes ago, but neither me, Sumi, or Jimin have enough time to react. The crowd is slowly pulling us into a long line; people desperate to hear who they shall wed.

    I can feel my heartbeat quicken in my chest...

    What if I end with someone worse than Jiun?!

    No, I think, No one can be worse than him.

     Sumi grabs my hand, and Jimin guides us towards the end of the line. I glance around in search of August D, but he's way up in the front out of sight.

I then avert my gaze to Jimin. A trail of blood still tickles down his forehead.

    "Jimin, are you okay?" I ask worriedly.
"I'm fine," he smiles warmly, clearly a little shaken up about the coming event.
   Sumi grabs onto her brother's arm, "Don't ever ever fight with him again."

    As the line grows in number, a foul smell begins to seep through the area. The smell of decay, dirt, blood, and death. A thick cloud of smoke hangs in the sky, blocking out all the sunlight. It's so awfully unpleasant here... it's only my third day and it's so unbearable.

"ATTENTION!!" a soldier screams from a platform, pulling out a long paper, "His royal majesty has adjusted the new decree in Changu—yes, the whole kingdom is forced to wed, but as punishment, you are all unable to choose. We have compiled a list, and have taken much time to pair you all up. If you fight back or play any tricks, you will be killed on the spot. His majesty refuses to share why this decree is in place. You will obey."

   Roars of anger and confusion begin to travel throughout the village. I side-glance at Jimin and Sumi, nothing they both look extremely sad.
"Hey," I smile, trying to keep a composure, "It'll be okay."

     The line begins moving fairly quickly. For the most part, everyone remains completely silent. There is a dull and painful aroma in the air. Everyone seems... depressed.

     Suddenly, I feel someone quickly brush past me, clawing her way through the cloud of people. A very beautiful young woman with luscious hair and dark eyes runs through the crowd, thick tears streaming down her face. Her grey tunic is wet from her salty tears, and her tight pants are stained with mud.

    Jimin cocks his head in her direction, a look of sadness filling his eyes. He glances longingly in her direction, but then stares down at the ground, biting his lower lip. His shoulders slouch, and he continues looking at the blood-soaked mud, not daring to look back at the woman.

    Does he like her? I think, feeling sorry for Jimin, or maybe I'm just over reading everything. Maybe he just feels bad because she's crying...

    But there was something about his gaze...

     The woman whips her head in all directions, clearly searching for someone.

"Jungkook?!" she suddenly cries, her voice cracking as more tears stream down her face, "Jungkook, where are you?"

Oh no...

Jungkook.
The guy who beat up Jimin only several minutes ago.

    The woman trips over a younger child, falling to the ground, slowly sinking into the mud.

   Jimin steps towards her, but Sumi holds out an arm, drawing him back.
"Jimin," she says quietly, "Let it go."

His eyes become visibly glossy--he is holding back everything. He looks as though he wants to scoop her up in his arms and heal her broken heart.

     The woman stands from the ground, still hysterically crying. It's almost painful to witness her sorrow.

Jungkook suddenly bursts out of the crowd, clawing his way towards the weeping woman.
"Jangmi!" he shouts, reaching for her with a heartbroken expression.

I slowly turn to Jimin, instantly regretting turning around. His expression... he looks so... hurt. Jimin slowly peels his eyes away from the scene, his lips slightly quivering. Sumi pats his back reassuringly, clearly understanding his feelings.

"Jangmi," Jungkook says breathlessly, his hands trailing to her neck, "Are you hurt? What happened?"

Tears continue to flood down her face as a painful sob escapes her lips,
"It's not you."

Jungkook looks down at the ground, sadness filling his expression. He stands still for a long while, unsure of what to say.

"I—I-we-we knew the odds were against us..." he says shakily, grabbing her hand, "I'm so sorry, Jangmi."

"But I love you. I don't love Hasun. I don't even know him, Jungkook. I just want you. I love you so much."

His eyes become teary as well, and I begin to feel absolutely horrible for the both of them...

They love one another...
but they can't be together.
Why?
Because of the bad things they've done.
Or maybe because of the bad things they're parents did.

Jungkook reaches a hand to her cheek, brushing loose strands of hair behind her ears, "I love you, too."

He pulls her in against his chest, and she buries her face into his shoulder, clutching the sides of his jacket.

"I know it's not fair..." he whispers, just in earshot, "But we can't do anything, Jangmi. Please don't do anything stupid. Please. Just follow the rules and stay alive. I can't live without you."

Jungkook gently cups her face, quickly planting a soft kiss on her lips.

A soldier emerges from the crowd, and steps right in-between them, pulling them away from one another. Jangmi cries for her lover, and is forcefully dragged away from him. Jungkook remains still, tears now trailing down his cheeks, "Jangmi..."

He begins fighting back against the soldier, reaching for Jangmi. Another soldier approaches, grabbing her by the wrist. My stomach lurches in a sickening sensation...

"Don't touch her!!" Jungkook shouts, vigorously fighting back, "Let her go!"

The soldier holding Jangmi pulls a dagger out of his pocket, and quickly holds it up to Jangmi's throat. She falls dead silent, not daring to move an inch.

Jungkook's muscles flex in anger, his body itching to save Jangmi. He quivers in fear at the possible outcome of this situation.

"Leave her—go back to the front of the line. Fight back, and I'll slit her throat."

"Jungkook, go." Jangmi chokes, and the soldier slowly slides the dagger across her throat, causing Jangmi to flinch. People nearby begin to scream.

Feeling completely torn and terrified, he slowly steps back, casting a longing gaze in her direction.
"Don't hurt her."
"We won't, so you move it."

"If you ever touch her--,"

"I'll do it now! Go!"

She sighs with relief as shards forcefully take Jungkook away, him not breaking eye contact. He thrashes and shouts for the woman, desperate to stay.

The gaurd shoves her to the ground, but before any of us can do anything, the line moves forward. Jangmi disappears far behind us.

"MOVE UP!" Guards shout from behind us, pushing the crowd further.

I feel a muscular hand grip my arm; I whip my head around and find myself face to face with a soldier.

"Name," he snaps, scanning a long document.

"K-kim Sanghe-e," I slowly stammer, not denying the fear coursing through my veins.

"You're new husband already got his answer. He's waiting over there with some others—." The soldier pushes me towards a small group of men and women. Sumi shouts for me, but I'm already being shoved towards this new group.

The soldier yanks a piece of paper out of his pocket, staring down the paper with a serious expression.

"Shin Go-hye," he utters to a woman, gesturing for her to walk towards a man next to me. I scan the large circle, not able to clearly see everyone, "And Park So-mi,"

"Min Yoongi," he reads aloud, glancing around the group of people. He then gazes at me, "And Kim Sanghee."

Min Yoongi? Is that his name?

"That's me," a oddly familiar, smooth and calm voice responds, sending a series of shivers down my spine.

The owner of the voice steps out from the shadows...

Min Yoongi slowly steps in front of me, his dark eyes interlocking with mine. My eyes wide with shock, and my lips parted, I find myself completly out of breath.

"August D?"

A/N
thank you for reading this far!!

I was at a friends house yesterday and she has baby chicks— I named this one Chimmy❤️ omo so cute

ITS SO TINY😍

I'm so excited for festa and the new album! I wonder if the songs will be English or Korean? Maybe both??

Have an amazing day/night
Love you all