I miss the days when my notification box would be filled with votes and comments. Those were the golden days tbh. 

TW: CONTAINS NON CON

"You will stay with me forever, right?" Jimin asked, his voice a fragile whisper, as his wide blue eyes, brimming with unshed tears, sought William's reassurance. He looked so innocent, so pure, the image of a child whose world had not yet fully crumbled. Those blue eyes, shimmering with pain, made William's heart ache.

For the first time, William found the courage to close the distance between them, leaning in to place a soft kiss on Jimin's trembling lips. The kiss was delicate, fleeting—like the touch of a butterfly's wings, gone before either could savor it.

Pulling back, William smiled, though his heart twisted. "Of course, my love. You're my heart, my other half, my Gemini. I told you, didn't I? I'll never leave you."

Jimin's cheeks flushed a rosy hue, embarrassment coloring his features. He lowered his head, his fingers anxiously twisting together as he muttered, "Thank you, William... I... I love you."

His voice cracked on the last words, so fragile in their truth. William, swallowing the lump in his throat, pulled Jimin into a firm embrace. "I love you too," he whispered into Jimin's soft hair, his voice laced with quiet desperation.

---

In another part of the kingdom, the queen's chamber was bathed in the warm glow of candlelight, but the fire in her heart flickered out. She sat on the edge of her bed, her gaze distant. Jack approached her, shutting the door behind them.

"Why do you seem so sad, my love?" Jack asked, his voice smooth, like velvet draped over something sinister.

The queen's fingers trembled as she laced them together in her lap. "I didn't see Jimin at the celebration... He is angry with me," she murmured, her eyes heavy with worry.

"Angry? Why would he be?" Jack asked, his tone curious, yet an unsettling smile tugged at his lips as he climbed onto the bed beside her, wrapping his arms around her waist.

She hesitated before speaking again, her voice barely a whisper. "I told him the truth... about his father. That he's truly gone, and that... I'm marrying you."

Jack hummed, his lips grazing the delicate skin of her neck in a superficial kiss. His breath was warm against her pulse, but there was something chilling about his touch. Suddenly, he pulled away, his smile now stretched into something dark, something cold.

"You are so beautiful," he murmured, his eyes gleaming unnaturally.

The queen blushed faintly. "And you... you're everything to me, Jack."

Her response was met with silence—a silence that screamed.

"But unfortunately," Jack said, his voice dropping, "I don't think this will last long."

Her brow furrowed, confused. Before she could react, a sharp, searing pain bloomed in her abdomen. Her breath caught in her throat. Her trembling hand touched her stomach where the dagger had pierced through her flesh, the warm stickiness of blood staining her fingertips.

The queen's vision blurred as she looked up at Jack, betrayal swimming in her teary eyes. "J-Jack... why?" she gasped, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jack's smile was as cold as ice. "Shh, don't move. Die slowly," he whispered, stroking her hair, as though lulling her into eternal sleep.

Her breaths grew shallow, her heartbeat slowing with every second, the room fading around her. She tried to speak, to scream, but all that came out was a soft wheeze. The pain wasn't just in her body—it was in her heart, splintering with each heartbeat that echoed in her ears.

"Sleep tight," Jack cooed, gently placing his hand over her eyes, forcing them shut. The last flicker of life drained from her, leaving behind an empty shell.

---

Far from the queen's chambers, the kingdom was already beginning to fall. Jimin stood frozen in place, his wide eyes locked on the scene before him—bodies littered the streets, the metallic stench of blood heavy in the air. The castle gates, once a symbol of security, were now crumbling.

"Jimin, we have to go," William urged, pulling him by the arm, but Jimin resisted, his eyes locked on his mother's lifeless form. His lips quivered, silent sobs wracking his small body.

"I can't... I can't leave her," Jimin's voice cracked, each word a stab of agony.

William cupped his cheeks, forcing Jimin to look at him. "If we stay, we'll die too. Please, Jimin... we have to run."

Tears streamed down Jimin's face as he looked back at his mother. Her once vibrant presence had been reduced to a hollow memory, lying motionless on the cold floor.

"Okay," he whispered, his voice so small, so broken.

The sounds of war raged around them, but all Jimin could hear was the quiet sob of his own heart breaking. Every step felt like dragging his soul through mud, thick and suffocating.

Just as they reached the gates, a voice cut through the chaos. "William! Jimin!"

They turned to see William's father, Hamon, on horseback, rushing toward them. "Come, quickly!" he ordered, scooping William into his arms and lifting him onto the horse.

Jimin hesitated for a moment, his eyes lingering on the palace. His mother... everything he knew... was gone. When Hamon reached for him, Jimin took his hand, but before he could be lifted onto the horse, he was yanked back with force.

"JIMIN!" William screamed, his voice breaking as he saw Jimin pulled away by Jack's brother.

Everything happened in a blur—the gates slammed shut behind them, sealing Jimin's fate inside the kingdom. The last thing Jimin saw was William's outstretched hand, reaching for him, and the sound of his name echoing through the chaos.

It was over.

---

Jimin's breath was ragged as he struggled in the tight grip of the soldier, his tiny hands clawing at the man's armor, but it was futile. "William!" Jimin screamed, his voice breaking with fear and desperation. His tears blurred his vision, making it impossible to see beyond the looming figure that held him captive. Panic welled inside him, consuming him as the reality of his situation settled in.

"Shut up, damn it!" The soldier snarled, shaking Jimin roughly. The words were harsh, striking Jimin like blows, and he flinched, his tear-filled eyes wide with terror. He was only six years old, too young to understand why this was happening, too fragile to face the cruelty of the world. His heart pounded painfully in his chest, and his small body trembled uncontrollably.

"Jimin!" William's voice cut through the chaos like a lifeline, his face pale, eyes wide with the same helpless fear. He tried to throw himself off the horse, his hands reaching desperately for Jimin, but his father grabbed him by the waist, holding him back.

"Don't, William... you can't." Hamon's voice was strained, as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. He knew the truth, the bitter truth that they couldn't save Jimin—not now, not like this.

"No, nooo... I won't leave him!" William's screams were raw, filled with a child's blind hope, a hope that if he just tried hard enough, if he fought hard enough, he could save his friend. His tears streamed down his cheeks, blurring his vision, as he thrashed against his father's hold.

"William, listen to me!" Hamon's voice wavered as he hugged William tightly to his chest, his own heart breaking at his son's suffering. "Calm down... we can't... do anything."

But how could William calm down? His whole world was being ripped apart. He buried his face in his father's tunic, clutching it with small fists, shaking with sobs. "No... no... please." His voice was barely a whisper now, choked with grief, his words desperate prayers to a world that had already abandoned them.

William couldn't imagine a life without Jimin, couldn't fathom the idea that his friend would be taken away, possibly killed. It was unthinkable. But as much as he wanted to fight, wanted to break free and run to Jimin, his father was right. They couldn't do anything. The kingdom was lost, and with it, so was Jimin.

As the gates of the kingdom slammed shut behind them, sealing off any hope of rescue, William's sobs grew quieter, becoming silent tremors that wracked his small body. He clung to his father, his heart heavy with guilt, with the unbearable knowledge that he had left his best friend behind.

---

Inside the kingdom, Jimin's fate was sealed differently. Jack, the dark magician who orchestrated the kingdom's fall, had decided not to kill the young prince outright. No, there was something far more satisfying about keeping him alive, trapped in the depths of the castle, broken and powerless at his mercy.

The cell was cold and dark, the air thick with dampness. Jimin, curled up in the corner, hugged his knees to his chest, his small body shaking from the chill that crept into his bones. His once vibrant eyes, now dull with fear, stared into the endless darkness around him. He felt so small, so fragile, like a butterfly with its wings torn off.

The echoes of the war still lingered in his mind—the sound of metal clashing, of people screaming, of his mother's last breath. It all replayed in his head, over and over, until it was unbearable. He couldn't escape it, couldn't run from the nightmares that now haunted his every waking moment.

"I want my mother," Jimin whispered into the silence, his voice breaking. "I want William." But his words were swallowed by the shadows, lost in the emptiness of the cell. He squeezed his eyes shut, burying his face against his knees, trying to hide from the reality that he was alone.

How could a child bear this? How could someone so young, who had known only love and safety, be thrown into this darkness, into this cruelty? The world had shifted beneath him, a beautiful life replaced by a nightmare.

He shivered, tears streaming down his cheeks, and he tightened his arms around himself, as if trying to hold the pieces of his heart together. But nothing could stop the ache inside him. It was too much, too heavy for a six-year-old to carry.

---

Jack stood outside the cell, his dark eyes watching the young prince with amusement. His soldiers, glass-like creations of his magic, stood motionless beside him, their empty eyes reflecting nothing but Jack's malice.

"Keep him here," Jack ordered, his voice dripping with malice. "Let him rot in this darkness. I'll decide later what to do with him." He smirked, turning on his heel and leaving the child to his fate. There was no rush. After all, he had all the time in the world to break the boy.

---

Meanwhile, William sat in the saddle behind his father, silent tears still slipping down his cheeks as the horse carried them away from the kingdom, away from the burning ruins of their home. His heart was heavy, a deep ache settling in his chest.

He couldn't save Jimin. No matter how much he had screamed, no matter how much he had fought, he couldn't save him.

And that truth would haunt him forever.

---

*14 years later...*

The cold stone walls of the dark chamber echoed with Jimin's ragged breaths, his body trembling from exhaustion and defiance. His wrists were raw, bound tightly to the chair he was forced to sit in, but even now, he refused to let the pain show on his face. The room was suffocating, filled with an air of malice that clung to his skin like grime. In front of him stood Jack, the usurper of the throne, the king who had turned his life into a nightmare. Jack's cold smile glinted under the faint light of the torches, casting shadows across his sharp features.

"Don't hold your voice," Jack hissed, leaning closer, his breath hot against Jimin's ear. "Let me hear you scream."

Jimin's lips trembled, but he pressed them tightly together, his heart pounding with anger and hatred. "Never... Damn you." His voice was hoarse but steady, fueled by the years of torment he had endured in silence. His words dripped with venom, a defiance that had not yet been broken by years of captivity.

Jack's eyes darkened, a flash of amusement flickering behind them as he stepped back, straightening his posture. "If I see... we'll find out just how long you can stay stubborn, won't we, Jimin?"

Jimin's gaze hardened. "Shut up, you disgusting rapist. I hope you rot in the seventh hell."

The insult hung in the air like a blade, sharp and unforgiving. Jack's eyes narrowed, the smirk on his lips faltering for the briefest moment before it returned, cold and predatory. He chuckled softly, stepping closer again, the sound of his boots against the stone floor echoing ominously.

"Hmmm..." Jack tilted his head, his fingers grazing Jimin's cheek in a mockingly gentle touch. "Maybe I should cut off your tongue. It'd be easier to silence you that way, wouldn't it? You should remember, I can do whatever I want. I am king, after all."

Jimin's skin crawled under Jack's touch, but he didn't flinch. His heart thundered in his chest, but outwardly, he refused to show fear. His jaw clenched, muscles tense as if each fiber of his being was resisting the urge to lash out. "Shut up," he spat, his voice barely above a whisper, but each word carried the weight of his hatred.

Jack's eyes glinted, dark amusement flickering in them once again. "Heh... I'm the king, dear." His voice dripped with arrogance, each word like poison in the air.

Jimin's breath hitched, and for a moment, a flicker of pain passed through his eyes. He despised that word—dear.  It was mockery, a cruel twist of the affection he once knew, a reminder of everything Jack had stolen from him.

But Jack didn't stop. He never stopped. He thrived on Jimin's resistance, savoring every drop of pain, every shred of dignity Jimin clung to. Jack's fingers slid down Jimin's throat, his nails digging into the soft skin just enough to leave a trail of discomfort. "You think your stubbornness will save you?" he mused, his voice low and dangerous. "You think your hatred can free you from me?"

Jimin's chest tightened, his breathing shallow as he struggled against the restraints, every fiber of his being burning with the desire to fight back. He couldn't allow Jack the satisfaction of seeing him broken. He wouldn't. Not after all these years.

"Even if you cut out my tongue," Jimin whispered, his voice shaking but unyielding, "I'll still defy you. With every breath I have left."

For a moment, silence filled the room, thick and suffocating. Jack's smile faltered once more, and this time it twisted into something darker, more sinister. He leaned in close, his lips inches from Jimin's ear, his voice a chilling whisper. "We'll see about that."

Jimin's heart raced, a cold sweat breaking out on his skin as Jack's presence pressed down on him like a heavy weight. His mind screamed at him to stay strong, to not let the fear swallow him whole, but it was becoming harder with each passing second.

Jack pulled back, the amusement in his eyes replaced with cold calculation. "You'll break eventually, Jimin. They all do." He turned, his cape swishing behind him as he moved toward the door, his footsteps echoing off the stone. "And when you do... I'll be right here to watch."

The door slammed shut behind him, the sound reverberating through the chamber like a final nail in a coffin. Jimin was left alone in the dim light, the flickering flames casting long shadows on the walls, their flicker dancing eerily as if mocking his despair.

His body sagged against the chair, every muscle aching, every breath a struggle. Tears stung the corners of his eyes, but he blinked them back, refusing to let them fall. Not here. Not now. He wouldn't give Jack that satisfaction.

But deep inside, in the darkest corners of his mind, a voice whispered:  How much longer can I hold on?

Jimin closed his eyes, letting out a shaky breath. The years of imprisonment, of being reduced to nothing but a pawn in Jack's twisted game, weighed heavily on him. His spirit, once bright and hopeful, was now frayed at the edges, and the chains of despair tightened their grip around his heart.

I can't break, he told himself, his hands curling into fists, nails digging into his palms. I can't... I won't let him win.

But even as he made that silent vow, a tear slipped down his cheek, unnoticed in the quiet of the dark chamber.

---

The third chapter will be updated soon.

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Date- 14 Sep 2024

words count- 2735