I don't live in darkness,
The darkness lives in me..

⚠️Triggering scenes ahead. Please skip if not comfortable. ⚠️

"I am surrounded by ten men, each wielding naked knives in their hands. My bullets are exhausted, and I am alone." Jk tried to keep his voice as casual as possible, aware that Sri would be worried.

But S, who had raised him with her own hands, sensed the urgency in his tone. He was in serious trouble, and without help, he might not make it out alive. Panic began to swell within her, but she forced herself to remain composed. Acting rashly would only backfire. "Where are you?"

"At the first floo—" A jarring noise erupted on the line, cutting him off. The connection went dead.

"Hello?! Jungkook?! Am I audible?!" There was no response. "Fuck!" She cursed, exhaling sharply. Her meticulously crafted plan was unraveling. They would have already won if it weren't for the Dark Squads. Rage coursed through her veins. The first thing she would do after this mission was obliterate the Dark Squads. They believed they were bold enough to challenge Titans. She would make it clear they were sorely mistaken.

The elevator door opened on the ground floor. They stepped out, and Taehyung suddenly felt the air grow thick with tension. Whatever S had heard from Jungkook's end was bad. He noticed the muscles in her face clench with anger and her breath quicken.

"Arin. Go to Jungkook on the first floor," she ordered, her voice steady but fierce.

"Yes, boss." He was about to turn around when he heard footsteps approaching.

A small group of four men from the enemy gang appeared, advancing toward the trio. "Get them!" one of them yelled.

S swiftly drew her revolver from the thigh holster and began firing. Arin joined in, their shots echoing in the corridor. Taehyung's heart raced as he looked around in fear, paralyzed by the chaos. "Don't worry. Stay behind me," S instructed, positioning herself in front of him, a living shield against the onslaught. Taehyung felt helpless and vulnerable; his pride was bruised. He almost drew the gun from his blazer pocket but hesitated. He couldn't bring himself to shoot. As a doctor, he understood the value of life far too well.

"Arin, go to Jungkook!" S reminded him, urgency ringing in her voice.

"But Sri—" Arin hesitated, glancing between her and the advancing enemies. The last time he had left her, she had nearly died.

"I SAID GO TO JUNGKOOK! I CAN HANDLE THIS! ARE YOU DISOBEYING YOUR BOSS?!" Her tone brooked no argument.

Arin felt helpless against her order. He shot a final look at Taehyung, his eyes pleading, silently requesting that he protect her. Then he sprinted back into the elevator.

Taehyung turned his attention to the woman in front of him. She looked weary, her body still not fully healed from previous surgery. S had already taken down one enemy, and Arin had killed another, but the remaining two kept firing. He grasped her hands tightly. "Let's run. We can't fight them."

S yanked her hands free from his grip, frustration boiling over. "Are you telling me to back down?!"

"Do we have a choice here?" he urged, desperation creeping into his voice.

"Titans never lose." She dispatched the second enemy with a precise headshot, her skill leaving Taehyung in awe.

The last man retaliated, firing a shot that whizzed past them. S yanked Taehyung with her as they narrowly dodged it. She was not only attacking but also defending both of them. However, as she pivoted, she lost her balance due to her unyielding dress and began to fall. Taehyung instinctively caught her from behind, his hands gripping her waist to steady her.

They locked eyes, the world around them fading as another gunshot rang out.

In a swift motion, S spun him around to shield him, her arm pinning him against the wall. His breath hit her lips, their faces inches apart. It was an awkward position for both, especially since it was usually the other way around.

S's heart raced not just from the adrenaline of the fight but from the unexpected closeness. Just as she was about to push off, the air crackled with tension, their surroundings a volatile mix of danger and intimacy.

She knew she had no time to command Taehyung. He was still shaken after witnessing the horrors in Bryon's room, a sight that would undoubtedly haunt him until his last breath. "But can Taehyung be blamed?" her inner voice questioned, heavy with uncertainty.

Sri understood she had to defend him through action. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted an enemy preparing to fire again, this time aiming at Taehyung. He was clever to target the weaker one. Without hesitation, she kicked the doctor's kneecap, sending him crashing to the floor, groaning in pain. Both gangsters pulled their triggers simultaneously, but nothing came out; they had exhausted their ammunition.

In a fluid motion, she retrieved extra bullets from her thigh holster, but she needed precious seconds to load them into the chamber. The enemy was already closing in on her, brandishing a glinting knife, and both her hands were occupied.

Suddenly, Taehyung took the lead, pushing himself ahead of her, instinctively shielding her from the impending attack. His gun was clutched tightly in his hand, determination etched on his face.

S didn't know whether to feel proud or surprised. She had never imagined Taehyung would find the courage to confront a man with the intent to kill. But her confidence quickly waned; despite his bravery, he was not cut out for this life. Killing was a "NO" in his world. He would rather die than take a life, even if it meant sacrificing himself for her.

"Kim Taehyung. Shoot," she encouraged, her voice steady despite the chaos. But Taehyung remained frozen in place, his hand trembling, torn between fear and duty. He realized he would likely face death at the hands of the Titans in the future, so why not now?

S's revolver was already loaded, but the enemy was too close to Taehyung for her to take the shot without risking him. If Taehyung was to die, she wanted it to be at her own hands. No one else would take that away from her.

Defeated, Taehyung dropped his gun, closing his eyes as he saw the enemy's knife poised to strike at his chest. He braced for the pain, but it never came. When he reopened his eyes, he saw S standing before him, her hand stopping the enemy in the mid-air.

"Don't you think you're too brave to go against the Titans?" S's voice was dangerously low, each word dripping with menace. The man's bravado faltered under her intimidating presence. "How dare you touch my people in front of me?" She emphasized the word "my."

With a swift motion, she twisted the man's wrist until he relinquished the knife with a pained groan. In one fluid movement, she drew a dagger from her bun, slicing through his face, including his left eye. Her speed was blinding, faster than the blade could hit the floor with a metallic clink. The man recoiled, crying out in agony, blood pouring from the wounds like a crimson waterfall.

S maintained her grip on his hand, ensuring he remained upright as she cut through his flesh again. Blood sprayed across her, splattering on Taehyung's face, who stood just behind her, eyes wide in horror.

With every slice, the man let out ear-piercing screams, his face transforming into a grotesque mask of suffering. Blood gushed from his mouth and pooled on the floor beneath him, a horrific testament to his agony. Some of it flowed down S's arm to her elbow, but she felt nothing but cold indifference.

Taehyung could only watch in shock as S mercilessly continued her assault, finally plunging the dagger into his throat. She relinquished her hold, and he crumpled to the floor, thrashing like a fish out of water in a desperate bid for survival. Blood continued to spurt from his wound, one of his eyeballs hung half-peeled, a gruesome sight that filled Taehyung with nausea. He felt as if he might vomit; he had never witnessed such brutality, not even in the darkest films.

S said nothing as she picked up her revolver and walked over the half-dead body, her heels piercing through the remnants of his flesh. He was beyond the point of screaming, reduced to a pitiful figure in a state of utter despair. Taehyung was sure the man would remember his death, even in his next life.

The sudden attack by the Dark Squads, Jungkook's dire situation, and the brutal fight with the three men triggered something primal in S. The lioness within her awakened, engulfed in an insatiable hunger for dominance. Her eyes turned to ice, void of any emotion. All she craved was to unleash her fury, to revel in the pride of power, to reclaim her authority. She moved with the grace of Lucifer, shooting every person who crossed her path without a second thought.

"Wait up! Stop it!" Taehyung shouted, desperation lacing his voice. What he witnessed before him was inhumane. S had morphed into a bloodthirsty monster, indifferent to the innocence of bystanders or the guilt of her enemies. Each shot echoed like a death knell in his mind. He realized he lacked the strength to halt her rampage. She wouldn't cease until every living soul was wiped from the motel. It was clear why everyone feared the Titans.

His heart dropped when he saw a child standing before them, wide-eyed and trembling. S aimed her gun at the little one, her heart turned to stone. Without thinking, Taehyung rushed forward, wrapping his arms protectively around the child. His large frame shielded the tiny body, his heart racing wildly. How could she?!

After what felt like an eternity, he heard the fading clicks of her heels echoing in the distance. He looked back and saw that S had moved on, mercifully allowing the boy to live. Taehyung released a breath he didn't know he was holding, locking eyes with the terrified child. His heart ached at the innocence reflected in those wide, fearful orbs. The boy was far too young to witness such a massacre.

"You're safe now. Stay hidden here until the hand touches 9," Taehyung instructed, pointing to the watch strapped to the young one's wrist. There was exactly one hour left. He hoped that the place would be cleared by then.

"Ajusshi... I'm scared," the boy sobbed, his voice trembling. Taehyung's heart softened at the sight. He forced a smile and ruffled the child's hair gently.

"Ajusshi needs to fight those bad guys. I have to protect you, okay?" The boy nodded, his trust evident in his eyes. "Now, listen carefully. Once the hand touches 9, the police will probably be here. If they don't come, you need to run away from this building. Arasseo? (Okay?)"

The boy nodded again, but Taehyung felt a pang of sorrow at the thought of leaving him alone. He couldn't take the child with him; S might not grant him a second chance.

Just the thought of S reignited his fury. The shock and fear that had gripped him moments ago were replaced by a burning rage. Every inch of his body felt aflame as he stood, resolve hardening in his chest. "You're a strong guy. You can do this. Live a long life, child," he said, his voice steady. The boy continued to stare at him, innocent eyes filled with a mixture of fear and hope, until Taehyung disappeared through the exit door.

I got sometime to upload!! Phew.  2096 words.
Previous 2 exams went well. I expect above 95 in all. Tomorrow is my Physics exam. Wish me luck. 🥲💜

Next update after 4 days.

Bts snaps.

Yeontan: Kiddo, lets race to the other end of the playground.

Bahm: okay hyung!

Yeontan: You will start 10 seconds after me.

Bahm: But this is cheating. Appa told races should be honest.

Yeontan: Since you are Sooooo big, it is fair.

Bahm: *pouts* okay...

*After 10s yeontan covered the half field, Bahm began.

Jungkook stands in the finishing line.

Yeontan sees a light pass him.

Bahm is on Kookie's lap. *

Yeontan: I had never signed up for this. 🥲 Apppaaaaa take me home!!! I want cuddles.😭😭