Song: "Y Si Fuera Ella" by Jonghyun

"HALT RIGHT THERE!!!"

Jimin was frozen on the spot. That voice gave some kind on unknown chill through his spine forcing him to pin on the spot.

There was no way could not recognise this voice. It manages to bring shiver on his skin even after these many years. Even though having a very deep familiarity with that person, he had no will to face him. No matter what condition he is in. He was very close to giving up.

Who wouldn't after having their heart broken in pieces very brutally a few... No a hundreds years back?

So he did what his body reacted like.

Fastening his pace to get away from those men's eyesight. Obviously that was not a good choice registering how that action actually managed to peek those two men's interest in the small retreating boy and they hopped down from their respective horses to follow the later through crowd.

Jimin was now certain that he'll have to face them, much worse engage with them in some kind of way. And feared to end up in bad way again. He feared to go down in that cave, on that throne of black marble again. He feared of turning into breathless statue of stone again.

No. He won't end up like that. Not this time. This time his life was actually good. He was good not involving in any kind of love affair. He had his Yugyeom hyung who was like a strict teacher but caring nonetheless. And his Kai hyung... Who loved him to death. He has to escape them. No matter what.

He swiftly switched the ally as per skill taught by Yugyeom hyung. He didn't know much as Kai would never let him do such works as them. He lacked in skills. But right now he needed them the most.

Thinking, he will surely ask Yugyeom hyung to teach him later on, he practically started running.

He doesn't know how is he gonna escape from them. He just knows, he doesn't want to come across them. So he kept running and the footsteps following him became even louder. The men started following him even more closely.

"Stop there, I said!!"

Jimin didn't want to. With his poor skills in running through the crowd he kept running. But it didn't seem that difficult task for them. They ran after him like they were skilled, which they were judging from their Inspector's uniform.

And not long after Jimin came to abrupt halt towards the downside of the market, on the path which led to their shelter. Bothe the inspectors caught him with clever mind, trapping him from both the sides. Jimin's eyes widen in horror looking at both of them. And unknowingly a tears starting to pool in his precious eyes with an unspoken familiarity with those two men standing in front of them...

'Jungkook, Taehyung... Why?'

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"Why were you trying to run away?"

Taehyung's eyes bore holes in Jimin's skull while asking but the other just kept looking down silently crying because have been caught.

More like he was crying over his bad fate...

"Why don't you answer?", Taehyung grabbed his chin harshly and forced him to look at him.

"I... I tol-told you. I d-didn't do anything.", Jimin finally spoke with difficulty. "I was just t-trying to leave the t-town. I-I thought you were gonna st-stop me that's w-why I started running..."

Jimin explained his best. But Taehyung's eyes narrowed more in suspicion.

"I doesn't sound convincing enough. Tell me the truth.", Taehyung almost growled on his face making Jimin cower more.

"I am t-telling the tru—", he tried to speak but Taehyung raised his hand before Jimin could complete his sentence. Jimin just closed his eyes tightly in fear and waited for  the harsh hit to come, but it never did.

A silence suddenly spread making Jimin open his eyes slowly and look up. Jungkook stood there holding Taehyung's hand in raised position from his behind making Taehyung frown.

"Don't Tae. Let me handle this.", He spoke in softer tone. Taehyung frowned even more. But the soft tone in Jungkook's voice made Jimin have a ray of hope unintentionally. He hoped that at least Jungkook will listen to him and let him go.

Taehyung stood up from his crouching position and retreated back. Jungkook settled on a chair in front of Jimin and wordlessly handed him a glass of water so he could calm down. Jimin gulped down the water hastily before looking at Jungkook with innocent but tear stained face.

"You look young. How many winters in you are?", He asked in as soft tone as possible.

"F-fourteen.", Jimin spoke up.

"Hmm. You look younger. What were you doing there? Why did you tried to run after seeing us? Tell me honestly.", Jungkook asked leaning a little towards Jimin. Jimin looked at Taehyung who was still standing behind and glaring at him.

"I a-am telling the t-truth. I-I was trying to get out of the town an-and I thought you would stop me. T-thats why...", Jimin tried to coerce the older.

"Okay. I will believe you. I will let you go...", Jungkook said thinking a little. Jimin's eyes twinkled at that. A small smile unconsciously tugging his lips, reminding him why in the past he had fallen for the older back then.

"But... You have to do something for me first."

"W-what?"

"There has been a murder in the town. The victim was quite wealthy. We have caught the suspect, but we don't have any proof to prove them guilty in front of the King. Be my informant. And I will let you go...", Jungkook said with cold face. Jimin stared at him in disbelief.

"Isn't it wrong? I haven't seen anything. I don't know anything about that murder. Then why would I give confirmation about it in front of the King. The man could be innocent whom you have caught.", Jimin retorted. Now his face filling up with anger.

"Oh, don't you worry about that doll face. That man isn't innocent or anything. It's just that we don't have any proof against him about this murder.", Jungkook said placing his hand under Jimin's chin. Jimin harshly pulled his face away making Jungkook chuckle lowly.

"Then you should work to find proofs rather than fabricating stories. Isn't it your work?", Jimin bit back.

"You don't need to remind me my work. Okay, I will let go of that man and put you in the suspect list. What do you say? Hmm? Sounds interesting?", Jungkook mocked.

"But you look too innocent doll. No one would believe the story, that's why I'm asking you to be informant. And if you're not interested then you might as well live here for your whole life.", Jungkook pulled his last straw, making the horror spread on his face. Taehyung just smirked from behind.

"But—"

"I might put you in the suspect list. They say, 'Pretty faces are the most dangerous.' We don't know what will happen to you once we put you to the suspect list. But what I can tell for sure is that, the King won't let you go that easily.", Jungkook's tone was dangerously low. And with the provocative dirty meaning behind his words made it even more disgusting.

Jimin was numb. He didn't know what to do at this point, other than agreeing to them. He just wished in his mind for his Kai hyung to find him sooner and save him from this hell he has got caught himself into.

Once again.

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"You don't have to worry about anything. You just have to confirm that you saw this man leaving the mansion of the victim at dusk five nights ago.", Taehyung repeated to which Jimin nodded numbly. Not looking up at them.

"Oh, are you nervous? You don't have to. I promise, we will let you after hearing of this case and won't let anyone bother you.", Jungkook said in his poisonous sweet tone that made shivers run up on Jimin's skin while caressing his rosy chubby cheek. Jimin felt disgusted.

Yeah, he had felt broken, angered, saddened but he never had felt disgusted. And now he he was. Going with them to the King's court for the hearing to give fake statement for something he doesn't even know of.

He kept walking until he felt the tug at his shoulder. He looked up at saw Taehyung signing him to follow them faster.

For last two days, they have kept him like hostage. Not letting him leave. They didn't do anything inappropriate with him yet. But Jimin was not sure of the future if he had ever denied them for anything.

Soon he was presented infront of the whole court where many civilians were present. It confirmed that the victim was quite famous. He was one of the courtiers.

The court was massive and glamorous showing off King's power. People standing on the both sides gave him anxiety. Because why not? He had spent whole 300 years alone in a dark cave. And after escaping that cave this time, Kai always protected him. Not letting him interact with many people.

So after seeing these many people it brought a wave nausea in his stomach. The court had already started. But he couldn't hear anything because of the ringing sound he was hearing in his head.

Many statements were made and Jimin just stood there. He didn't even glance up ever since he was brought in. Not even to those two bastards who called themselves as Royal Inspectors.

He didn't look up from the ground until the clanking of the metal chains was heard and with that Jimin's anxiety grew. The person whom he was going to give statement against was here. He could be innocent. And this thought of guilt was eating him alive. But what could he do.

He didn't want to risk his future. As he could quite see the lecherous look King was giving him ever since he had arrived here. He needed to agree with those two in terms to able to leave here and go back to his hyungs. He was sure that if he denied the help, these two bastards will hand him in as suspect. And then, king will be free to do anything to him. Which was clear, that he won't be serving death penalty, which seemed very much better of an option now.

He need to do this.

He looked up at the suspect with guilty to silently apologize. But his breath got stuck in his throat. A harsh gasp left his choked throat.

"Kai hyung!!"

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Ayyo Beautiful Saramis!!

A long chapter as an apology for the late...
Hehe. Thank you for patiently waiting!!

Borahae💜