KOOKIE POV:

My body froze, it was like ice was spreading throughout my veins, slowly paralysing each nerve cell with a numbness that my body was complying with even whilst I was screaming inside to break free from it. I felt helpless and powerless, utterly subject to the whims of the owner of that voice. The voice that slithered itself through my brain and planted its poisonous seed inside, venom carving a fiery trail that somehow rid me of any control I had once had over myself.

It was terrifying, but what hurt more, more than the frost I had been drenched into was that I couldn't move to help her, help (Y/N). And it was causing both anger and grief to well up inside me like an unquenchable flame which grew and grew, the heat doing little to thaw the numbness.

My eyes slid to (Y/N), her own face was impassive, hardened, the delicate features of her face now looked like they'd been etched into a marble statue. And for some reason that shocks me and scares me more, it's like she's retreated into herself, put herself behind an impenetrable wall.

I quickly realise with a sinking sense of despair, having been an avid fan of 'Cursed Fate', that (Y/N) has been victim to countless attacks on her mind, has suffered mental manipulation over and over again, and to be put back into such a situation- I hope it doesn't place her back into that state again. I need to help her because I'll be damned if I let someone throw our relationship but more importantly her wellbeing off-kilter for the sake of their twisted, sadistic desires.

I was pleading for anyone who could hear my inner torment to free me, to allow me to protect but I couldn't break free of the straitjacket someone had trapped my mind and self-control in.

(Y/N) POV:

I smoothed my face out into the cold mask that was a second skin to me. I had to protect Kookie, there was no way that he was getting caught up in whatever nightmarish hell my life was plaguing me with just because we were soulmates.

I would do anything to get him out of here scot-free.

After the initial flood of fear had levelled down, I slowly began stripping away at the mental manipulation, slowly rebuilt the strong mental wards I had up since that incident, carefully added layer onto layer of protection and mentally reached out for the link that tethered my soul to Kookie's. I could see it in my mind's eye as a glimmering gold thread, and I reached out for it, pushing a similar level of protection out for Kookie, hoping that what I was intending happened. That the same defence I had building up in my mind transferred across the bond so Kookie's mind would become shielded too.

I felt a cascade of relief wash through me when I noticed Kookie's body suddenly twitch, he was slowly regaining control. He shot me a look but I conveyed through my eyes and the slightest shake of my head to act unaffected. We had to work on this together if we wanted to make it out unscathed.

But it seemed like hope lived a short life.

"Well, well, if it isn't darling (Y/N) and who do we have here, oh my dear Kookie baby." The sickeningly familiar voice of Yuna rang through the narrow road we stand in. Its bare and void of life save for us. I resist the urge to throw a punch at her face and mar the fake, to colour her skin multitudinous array of blues and purples for bringing Kookie into this. For subjecting him to something that still plagued me to this date.

And just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, another figure stepped out of the shadows, out of the alley that stemmed from this road.

And it was a face I knew, I recognised. Choi.

His hair was still raked back, slick and revealing a face that was lined with malicious intent and glittering black eyes. Eyes that lasciviously raked themselves over my still form, I tried to repress the shudder that rippled through me, tried to keep myself at bay.

Kookie was a different matter. His face was twisted in disgust and I could see the flames of rage begin to consume his eyes.

Choi stepped forward coming to stop right next to Yuna. He draped an arm over her exposed shoulders and I fought desperately against the revulsion. Surely not...?

"(Y/N), Choi here is so eager to become further acquainted with you." she coos, and the bile that rises in my throat at the thought and suggestion makes my stomach spasm and heave.

Choi stepped forward, large hands coming forward to languidly run themselves across my arms, coming to graze the side of my face, linger on my collarbones, rest possessively on the column of my neck.

My body was recoiling against the unwelcomed touch, mark screaming in pain with the ill-intended hands that so carelessly touched me. The hands on either side of my neck gave a squeeze, tight enough to hurt and to feel the pressure after it stopped. Tight enough to induce a whimper which I bit back before it bubbled out of my mouth, unwilling to give him the satisfaction.

"Oh don't hold those beautiful sounds back, I want to hear them all." His voice rasped in my ear, flecks of spittle hitting the shell of my ear.

"Get your filthy paws off her!" I heard Kookie snarl before he was barrelling forward, throwing himself between the two of us, the two of them fighting, fists and legs that flew out before his body was crashing into mine as he shielded me from the predatory eyes and touches of Choi.

I couldn't help the shudders, the sickening feeling which crawled across my skin. Kookie had given away we were out of the mind manipulation. We had no leverage now.

Yuna's face faltered, face twisting in disgust.

I desperately threw out a shield to encompass the two of us, threw out a bubble of protection over Kookie and me so that the other two couldn't harm us, couldn't hurt us. It was something that came out instinctively when I realised the danger, we could be in.

Choi was unfazed. Something that unnerved me. He shouldn't be unfazed, he should be shocked, on edge.

It made my heart skip a beat. It made me panic. I desperately threw out mental shields and tried to strengthen the physical bubble I was cocooning the two of us in.

I could feel the mental attacks on the bubble, they tried to batter it but were deflected. I knew if they went on long enough, it would wear away at the shield, I just knew we had to get out of there before it did.

My heart and soul were screaming with the agony of holding up the barrier, mark screeching with a fiery sear that spread out across my right side.

"Kookie." I whimpered, the name conveying all the distress and fear that was mounting inside me, that I was struggling to hold at bay. But the moment I let myself prey to my emotions, the moment it would be over for the two of us.

He turns to me, eyes quickly scanning me for any visible injuries, eyes still darkened with anger but his gaze is soft as he examines me.

His fingers fumble for his phone, watch as he calls and the first few aren't answered. The way his face falls when they go to voicemail. And then a glimmer of light comes in form of the third person he calls, the way hope enters his eyes.

"Hyung...we need you. Near the company, please hurry." His voice gets out, breaking off with the panic he is struggling to keep at bay.

I can hear a voice on the other end, urgent and quick. But I can't make out the words. Not clearly.

Kookie's body is shielding mine even though the bubble around us holds firm and I just pray for help to come sooner. There's not a way out of this that doesn't place Kookie into the line of attack. And I can see the intent burning in Choi's and Yuna's eyes, their burning need to hurt hasn't vanished or dissipated, it's grown stronger.

YOONGI POV:

My heart is in my mouth as I stare back at my phone, the phone call is still connected. Kookie hasn't disconnected, neither of us had wanted to. The sheer panic and fear rolling off each syllable of his voice, the wavering quality, and the way his breath had hitched, as though his words had been cut off, unable to be pushed out of his throat easily. They were in danger, they. (Y/N) and Jungkook.

The last thing I imagined was a phone call with our two youngest soulmates pleading for help. I had heard the shuddering gasps from the phone call, had pinpointed it as (Y/N)'s. Never had I heard him like that, not even when he was struggling with the whole obsession issue with Yuna. Which meant it was worse.

Even whilst these thoughts rushed through my head, my feet were already moving, hands snatching up at the keys that hung on the wall. Who knew when the others would get here, I did know one thing for sure. I wasn't going to waste a single second. Just as I was leaving Hobi entered, face flushed from dance practice. I stormed past him, throwing open the car door with a vengeance and getting in. I dimly registered Hobi's rushing feet and body slamming into the passenger seat next to me.

"Hyung what is it?" he voices, words fearful.

My lips pressed tightly together, hand twisting the key and foot pressing down on the pedals. There wasn't a moment to lose. Two of ours were in danger. Two of ours needed us.

And when I got my hands on whoever it was. I was going to rip them from limb to limb. And take my time, enjoy myself as I did it.

HOBI POV:

The drive was tense. The dark energy rolling off Yoongi hyung was suffocating almost but when he bit out the words, he had just heard over the phone by Kookie, I felt my own energy start to rage. The phone was still connected, I could see the minutes pile up and all I could hear were pained gasps and a venomous voice which would interject every now and then.

But now? A new male voice spoke up, words carrying through the speaker on hyung's phone, broadcasting all of his thoughts.

"(Y/N) if you let us in, I'll let your boyfriend go."

"Why don't you give up? It'll be so much easier..."

"Come on, don't be like that. I just want to play with you, make you my obedient little doll."

"I just want to run my hands over your body and make you scream."

Each sentence crooned out, voice husky and filled with lust. It made me bunch up my fists and I saw hyung's whiten as he clutched tighter at the steering wheel. Whoever was the owner of the voice was going to suffer, the lust-driven man uttering lewd and filthy suggestions.

I didn't know what state they were in, didn't know how they were faring, how our soulmates were.

"Give up (Y/N). I'll let your toy run away free." The same voice continued.

There was a sharp inhale of breath.

"He is MY soulmate. And you are NOT getting your hands anywhere near him or me. Got it, you worthless bastard?" (Y/N) spat back, voice loud and filled with hate. She was fighting, she was strong.

But I feared for what those words would cost her. The louder gasp of breath that followed made my heart clench.

My soulmark was stinging slightly, a phantom pain of one of our soulmates'. The bond was screaming with fear, with agony, with rage. It was saturated with distress; I knew it would've broadcasted to the rest of our soulmates too.

Despite the speed Yoongi hyung was driving with, the fact that the car had barely slowed yet, despite all our efforts I hoped we wouldn't be too late.

"Hold on." I whispered into the phone I was clutching. But I didn't know how long they could.

(Y/N) POV:

The mental attacks pushing against both the barrier in our minds and the one I was holding around us was causing my head to throb and pound, as though someone had taken a hammer and was bashing it into my brain.

I knew my defences were slipping. I knew that their combined effect of their abilities were wearing away at the shields. Even though Kookie stood in front of me, I could sense the fear rolling off him in large waves even as he stood tall and firm.

I knew it was a matter of time.

But I wasn't ready to let go. I wasn't willing to let my soulmate get hurt.

The sound of two loud voices penetrated my ears, two voices I recognised. I saw Hobi oppa and Yoongi oppa dart out of the car, feet slamming against the pavement as they rushed forward.

Saw the revenge burning in Yoongi oppa's eyes, felt the dark energy crackle off Hobi oppa like streaks of lightning.

Then I felt it. The ground shudder from the sheer force of soundwaves Yoongi oppa was transmitting, fuelled further by the energy Hobi oppa was pushing into it, adding to its strength. The way Yuna and Choi's faces recoiled, bodies shivered from the onslaught of assault on their ears. Their hands going to clasp them but to no avail, Yoongi oppa's face was hardened into stone. There was no forgiveness. No going back. Each stride brought him closer to us and made the hate on his face clearer. His eyes were dark, face pale and I saw the vicious tug of his lips.

Their screams mingled and filled the air, a cacophony of pain. It stabbed at me, roused up memories of sounds I had once let out.

Hobi oppa's hand came to rest on Yoongi oppa's arm, saw how the waves slowed down. Heard over the silence that echoed in my hears, the approaching sounds of sirens.

I saw Yuna and Choi's eyes lose focus, saw them lose consciousness. And it was only then did I let myself crumble against the wall, let my body finally feel all the pain I had been ignoring.

And I allowed myself to float away to the darkness even whilst all my ears were filled with were the panicked tones of my soulmates.

Safe. I was safe.

(WELP! READ IT, LET ME KNOW IF YOU LIKED IT. HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED THAT THE POLICE IN DRAMAS OR BOOKS NEVER ARRIVE IN TIME, THEY'RE ALWAYS LATE. WHY IS THAT? WELL ANYWAYS...HERE WE HAVE (Y/N) WHO WILL NOT ALLOW HER SOULMATE TO GET PULLED INTO IT AND THEN WE HAVE KOOKIE WHO WILL LAY HIMSELF ON THE LINE IF HE HAS TO, NO EXCEPTIONS. HOW WAS IT? TOO QUICK? TOO RUSHED? WAS THE SUSPENSE BUILT UP FOR NOTHING? DID YOU WANT ME TO CARRY IT ON FURTHER? BUT I FIGURED YOU GUYS WOULDN'T WANT THEM SUFFERING FOR LONGER SO THIS IS HOW IT WAS WRITTEN. CAN'T WAIT FOR YOUR FEEDBACK, SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE LOVELIES!)

When life deals you a bad set of cards, don't let it bring you down. Rise up and conquer the game. You control your destiny.

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3