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❝ Scars may fade
but they last forever.❞

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CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
'Bite the bullet.'

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FINALLY WHEN I OPEN my eyes I'm not panicked to find myself on a bed with an IV attached to my hand, reaching for my neck as I press against the skin, a groan escape my lips as I try sitting up. My body seems tired but I knew where I was, I remembered this place quite well. The last time I here when Namjoon brought me here, it's funny how after almost two years I'm here again in the same bed and same place.

Knowing that someone might be walking any minute soon I force myself to sit up straight, my eyes wandering across the empty couch at the side with few of my clothes. I hiss as pull out the syringe attached to the back of my palm, blood oozing out trailing down my hand like small snakes. I put my feet on the floor, holding back my moan as my head throbs with a stinging pain

Just when I take my first step the door is pushed open, my heart hammers in my chest I curse bitting my lips,"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

I would've answered but the familiarity of the voice surprised me, as I struggled to look away from the face I thought I would never see again, my hand reaching out for him but then I remembered where I was and the question of him being here just didn't feel right.

"You lived," I spoke my teeth gritted as the man gulped hard stepping forward to hold me as I stumble, struggling to stand for too long.

"It's not what you think," he replies, unable to meet my gaze as I flare momentarily in surprise, a tired laugh escapes my lips as I stride forward, with heavy steps.

"What should I think, Mark tell me why you're here? In this place----where he is you think I don't understand, tell me are you working for Taehyung?"

My words seem to raise his anger as he slams his against the door shutting it when a nurse walks in, somehow she senses the tension in and leaves, my heart feels heavy just looking at him. I didn't know what to say or to even believe him.

The last time I ever even saw him was when Taehyung shot him, and now he's standing in front of me.

When he doesn't say anything I add,"He shot you in front of my eyes. I saw you die. And I couldn't do anything to stop him, for months I blamed myself. "

"Yes. Yes, I was shot but I didn't die, Paris I survived," pushing his hair back he stands in front of me, his face inches away from mine as my eyes widened when I notice the scar that have now marked his face, from his head to the bridge of his nose, my breath fails within my chest as I fell back against the bed,"I came for you after four months but you were just happy with the way you were living your life---I couldn't ask you to come back."

Mark spoke softly, as I close my eyes when he holds my face and brushes my hair back from my eyes, "I didn't betray Francis, I've pledged my life to him. Like you've, how can you even think I would give up on him?"

"I do trust you----I just don't trust Taehyung and anything do with him," I murmured realistically, seeing his shoulders drop with a tense and wary look proclaiming his features.

He let goes of my face and sits back pulling a chair in front of me as he very carefully takes my blooded hand in his, pressing his thumb against the blood, he ties a pure white linen handkerchief around my hand to stop the blood from falling as I exhale finding his silence utterly difficult, I move with unease as he remains silent not saying anything.

"You do know I would never harm Francis, I would never even think about betraying him. And I would always want the best
for him," his voice sounded calm, but then his gaze softened as he stares right into my eyes.

"Mark you're starting to scare me, tell me is Francis alright? Have anything happened to him? I spoke breathlessly, fighting to catch my breath.

"Francis is not fine, he has been terminated from the circle. It's been months now he have gone missing we can't find him, I thought it was Taehyung but he's not the threat even his life is in danger."

Every that he spoke seemed to undone me as I tremble feeling the worst sort of fear swallow me whole. I knew war was coming, I understood his every word, that he explained to me, with an undertone of a hidden warning. Mark was alerting me, preparing me for what was to come.

"The circle---I thought they forgot about us," I said flatly as Mark laughed painfully sitting up letting free of my hand as he walks in circles around the bed I was sitting on.

Sighing frustratingly he swallows hardly as he loosen his tie,"You think they've forgotten. They are watching, Paris they know what we did. They let us kill each other to death but they didn't stop but now they want to end this, if we don't do something now it'll be the end of us," a gasp escaped my lips as I hold my face between my hands, wanting to scream to run but I just couldn't believe anything, I wanted to say I was scared I didn't want to be a part of any this but it was too late.

"We should try talking to them, explain it to them---why should we suffer--" my words hang in the air as the door was pushed open once again.

Any sort of emotion that ever bordered my face disappears as with a scowl I look away.

"I see you've woken up, next time you try killing yourself do it when all of this is over," Taehyung spoke with smug look across his face and I so wish to knock him down and wipe that smirk off his face.

"Tell me it wasn't you--" I would've have said further but the wicked grin across his face told me enough, my heart thumps loudly in my chest as I look away too embarrassed to even look at him or any one.

"You don't have to pretend to be shy, we're way past that now," Taehyung spoke putting his hand behind his head as he leans back against the couch, his tight shirt sticking close to his built body and his leather pants, this man was making me question my moral in the middle of such crises, holding back my breath as I drop my gaze.

"Taehyung, good you're here now you can help me convince, Paris and explain it to her," Mark sounded focused and alerted as he locks the door and pulls the chair he was sitting on before between us so that he can face us both at same time.

"The last time I tried talking to her, she had a knife aimed at my neck," Taehyung acussed his accent thickening as I scoff finding his words unbelievable, and extremely ridiculous.

"Well, you can't blame me it's my usual self around you," I didn't even look back at him as he chuckles hearing my words, his laugh sending a chill down my spine as I push my hair back, feeling heat rushing to my cheeks.

"Then I'm glad you are yourself around me," Taehyung's deep voice spoke as I turned to look back at him just in time to see him staring at me. He had the most, impassive look upon his face but his eyes they were leveled with a heated gaze, and steady stare he have seemed to taken a hold of me, with his words and his stare and I couldn't find the strength in me to deny the sudden realization that hits me when I stare back into his eyes, that I was very much still attracted to this man.

"Can you both for once act like proper adults, while I try to have a serious discussion," Mark snapped harshly, as I flinched averting my gaze, Taehyung on the other hand didn't say anything but still glared at Mark.

It looks he doesn't enjoy being yelled at. Where ever he goes, he likes to remind everyone who he was and how much power he held. And that is why we are totally different from each other he thinks making everyone fear him; will make him look stronger and I think teaching others to respect you, for who you are is what would make one stronger, and powerful.

"The city has been in chaos since eight months, since Francis's disappearance and I think everything has to be related to the circle, we can't waste another day waiting for their next move. We don't know what is waiting for us, but we have to end this. Francis might be out there while we are having this discussion, he's being tortured----" holding my gaze, Mark part his lips and add,"There's no time for staying in hiding anymore, Paris it's time you return to where you belong."

TO BE CONTINUED

Author's Note:

Hi, sweets I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter and are finding the story interesting.

Prepare yourselves because so much is coming, and I'm just to excited to write it down. Share me your thoughts.

Do you think Paris should listen to Mark and except the offer?

Stay precious and take care of yourself, stay at home.♥️

Don't forget to vote,
comment and share : )

Love,
shafaq-Shapel ♥