"Where does that lead?"

Inside the large 15 stories of Kim Mobile on the 14th floor, late CEO Kim Seokjin Senior's trusted adviser, best friend, and mentee, Liam Kim, paced restlessly in a generously furnished office, his throat dry and hands sweating.

The call from his friend's son had put him on the edge. He knew Kim Seokjin jnr. He knew the boy was careful, calm and collected, and rational, and he knew there had been nothing like a wrong dial. That call had been one of distress but the boy had bailed out even without saying anything.

Liam had heard Jin cry and apologize. He had heard him scream in pain and he knew something was wrong.

The nerdy tech guy zoomed in closer on the map. "Uh, that's Junsun highway, Sir," He answered. "And, Sir, he's driving at an alarming speed."

Liam slammed his hands against the desk. "Get Mark, tell him to round up the young master's security team right now. We're going after him."

The tech guy nodded and raced out of the room just as Liam fetched his phone from his pocket. He tried Jin's number once again but there was no response.

Panic surged through the man's being. He looked upwards and although he wasn't a Christian, he said a short prayer.

———

Outside the office, Hoseok didn't understand why there was a fleet of cars was waiting, engines revving as bulk men in Army uniforms climbed in.

He had come to inquire with Mr. Kim about the money he had received. He had tried Jin but Jin hadn't been picking his call since their break up. As he watched in confusion, Mr. Kim rushed out of the building.

"Mr. Kim!" Hoseok ran to his side. "What's going on?"

"Go home, Hoseok." Mr. Kim tried to brush Hoseok off but Hoseok jumped in front of him.

"Where is Jin!?"

"Hoseok, go home," Mr. Kim said sternly.

"I'm going to ask this nicely one more time. Please, where is Jin? I've been trying his numbed and although he's furious at me, he would have picked it. I know Jin."

Nodding, Mr. Kim sighed. "Something is up, we're about to find out."

"Something like what? Is he okay?" Hoseok asked worriedly.

"I hope."

Hoseok frowned. "What do you mean you hope?"

"Jin called me minutes ago, crying. He didn't say anything but I know something is wrong somewhere."

"Do you know where he might be?"

"We're tracing a tracker. The old factory, off Junsun highway."

Hoseok didn't stay a second longer. He raced to a car, pulled the driver out, got in and drove out ignoring Mr. Kim's calls.

Hoseok's driving skills hadn't been the best before. But at that moment, not even Vin Diesel could compare to his swerving skills or his fastness. He blurred past cars thoughtlessly. All that mattered was getting to Jin before anything happened.

"You will not know the importance of what you have until you lose it." No quote had ever applied to Hoseok more than one did.

Even until his death, Hoseok knew he would never be able to repay all Jin had done for him. He had been a big fool and he would never stop telling that to himself.

And even if he still loved Jin, he was not going to ask him to take him back. He had lost his chance of being with an incredible man. Jin deserved to be happy. While he, he deserved to sit at a corner and regret.

Hoseok's heart had leaped to his throat. His mind spiraled with all the business transactions he had carried out in that very factory.

For a moment, he was afraid. Does it have anything to do with him? Had BBoss gotten to Jin because Hoseok had stopped picking his calls?

———

"Is your brother there, Namjoon? Did you take your brother with you?!"

"I didn't!"

"It's past 8 and Jungkook isn't back from school! He's not picking his calls or responding to my texts! Where is he!?"

"Mum, relax. He's probably somewhere."

"Somewhere where!?"

"I don't know. Somewhere, anywhere. A friend's house?"

"What friend!?" She was hoping it wasn't one of his faggot friends.

"I don't know! Maybe he's... hiding," He said irritably. "I wouldn't strike that possibility out!"

"Hiding? Why?"

"You," Namjoon mumbled. "He's afraid of you. Maybe he's scared you'll yell at him or insult him or just make him feel uncomfortable."

"God! When I get that boy, I'll so—!"

"That's the problem! That was exactly why I left. Because all you think about is hitting us! You never want to understand! You don't care what happens in our lives! You leave all day, then you come home and all you do is throw commands at us or yell at us for not doing something well or just be angry about our existence! Why did you give birth to us if you were going to hate us?!"

Their mother stared aghastly ahead of her. Namjoon had just yelled at her. "Namjoon." Her voice was calm, soft like morning dew. Never before had her sons raised their voices at her. They were usually so respectful and obedient.

But at that moment, she couldn't help but think, maybe it hadn't been respect after all. Maybe it had always been fear.

"You lied to us about dad, mum. You said he left you. You said he was heartless and ran off because he couldn't afford to take care of us. But you didn't tell us you squandered his money and had numerous affairs! You didn't tell Jungkook that dad wanted to speak to him every day! You lied to that poor kid, you told him our father hated him! You turned Jungkook against dad! You hid away all the gifts he sent to us, you gave them away. And your siblings covered up for you, only because they hated dad. Because he isn't from the same culture as you, so they turned you against him!"

"Namjoon!"

"I'm done, mum. I'm no longer a kid. I'm 19, I can choose to live with whoever I want. And, I choose dad. I'm going to make up for lost years and get to know my father, the real him who loves to take photographs of animals and nature as I have found out. The him you didn't tell us about."

She was silent. Dejected. Of course, she couldn't do anything, Namjoon was right. He was old enough to make that decision. She had shamefully hidden the truth from her children. Although she was a naturally strict person, she had been distant from her children because she hadn't wanted them to get too close to ask about their father.

She had forgotten that they would grow up. That those questions they hadn't asked her, one day they would ask someone else and find the answers. And the answers wouldn't favor her, because she had not been good to her husband.

Namjoon exhaled heavily through the phone. "I'll try and call Jungkook. I'll ask him to come home."

"Namjoon—"

And the line went dead.

———

Jungkook shut his eyes tight as he felt Taehyung move in between his legs.

His head spun and his heart larruped and his adrenaline kicked and he knew he couldn't do it.

"Taehyung, no!" Shoving Taehyung away, Jungkook scrambled to his feet and ran to the other side of the room.

Taehyung lay on the bed for the longest second, fists clenched, chest rising up and down heavily. "Why do you always have to be so stubborn, Kook?"

"Because it's wrong. Because you're about to turn into the one person you hate. Because you're not him and I know you're a good person."

Taehyung sat up on the bed, he rolled his shoulders. "What if I'm not?"

"Then you can be. Just let us go, Tae. You can still save yourself the future hurt and regret."

"The only regret I'll have is letting you walk away free today."

"I'm sorry!" Jungkook cried. He rubbed his hands together in front of his face in apology. "I'm very sorry for everything I said to you, Tae. I didn't mean to hurt you! I didn't mean to make fun of you, I swear! I loved you. I really really loved you, and after we broke up, I still hoped that deep down, you felt something for me. I never intended to hurt you. I didn't know my words got to you, you didn't say. You acted like you didn't care!"

"Because that was how I survived!" Taehyung spat. "Hiding my feelings! Acting like I was okay with everything when I wasn't! Taking bullshits from everyone! Letting people tag me as a sexual predator when all I was was a victim! You think it was easy to pretend your words didn't touch me, to act like I was okay seeing you strut the hallway with Yoongi and Jimin! Jimin cheated on you, I didn't, but you became friends with him again! You let them both into your life! But for me? You made me feel like a fool all the time! You made me feel insecure! Your eyes screamed at me every time! Every time I tried to get close to you, you fucking pushed me away and threw out a sexual slur at me! I helped you! You didn't ask but I fucking helped you with your grades! I'm the reason you're not failing your classes!"

"I'm sorry."

"You drove me to this point! Yes, when I first met you all I wanted was to be friends but then I fell in love with you. You were the first person I ever loved. After what my father did, I could never trust anyone ever, but I met you and I was certain you were the one. Then... then I found out you were a virgin. I felt horrible. I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep! I just wanted to go crazy because you never stopped talking about not wanting to have sex. Whenever we kissed, whenever we made out, you would remind me that you were a virgin and that I wasn't, that I was a whore!"

"I didn't call you a whore. I wouldn't."

Taehyung nodded. "You sure as hell made me feel like one."

"Was that why you made the post? So, as to get back at me for making you feel like that?" Jungkook asked, swallowing dryly.

Taehyung hesitated. "No. I made the post because I didn't want to see anyone around you. Because I loved you so much that I began to loathe you. Because you didn't deserve to be happy." He shook his head, and mumbled the last part. "You didn't even reply to my freaking letter!"

"Letter? What letter are you—"

"Forget it."

"Taehyung, please, what letter?"

"The one I gave to you. It was stuffed in your fucking locker!" He screamed at Jungkook, because Jungkook was supposed to know how he felt. Because Jungkook was supposed to have figured it out.

"That was from you? I didn't know that— You said you didn't love me. That you were over me. That... that... if I ran into your arms you wouldn't hold me. Why are you— You even gave Yoongi the same letter."

"I was messing with him! I thought you would know that!"

"Why would you keep assuming that I know everything when you never tell me anything?"

"Because you were supposed to know them!"

"Can you hear yourself, Taehyung?" Yoongi sat upright, rubbing his wrists that were now free. "You caused everything. You should have told him how you felt! You didn't have to do all of these to get back at him! It's not his fault you're the way you are, okay?!"

"It seemed right," Taehyung stuttered.

"Dude, you hurt innocent people for your selfish reason. You could have spoken to someone about your emotions! You could have tried to help yourself! You're insane and you're dragging so many people down because of it! You're such a sick bastard. And FYI, I burnt your fucking letter, with your freaking chicken handwriting."

"Shut up, " Taehyung mumbled, blinking rapidly and tugging at the sleeve of his shirt.

"Why would you think sending me a letter would mess with me? You're so dumb. I don't even like letters. Send a fucking text message, asshole. This isn't the freaking 1900s. I don't do letters. Fucktard."

"I mean it, SHUT. UP."

"Oh, and guess what? You've done a pretty good job tuning into your father!"

"Yoongi, shut up!" Jungkook shouted.

Taehyung jumped from the bed and sent a punch to Yoongi's gut causing Yoongi to gag. "I asked you to fucking shut up! I'm not like my father!"

Yoongi writhed in pain, wriggling as Taehyung continued to fire punch after after to his face.

"I'm not my father! I'm not my father! I'm not my father!"

"Taehyung!" Jungkook screamed as Taehyung continued to bash Yoongi's bloody face. He looked around for anything, whatever to save Yoongi with but there was nothing around. So, he ran over, shoving Taehyung away.

"You think you know me!?" Taehyung yelled, tears streaming down his face. "You have no idea what I've been through! You have no fucking idea what goes on in my head! I try, okay!?" He shouted, spitting at Yoongi's exhausted body.

Jungkook shook his head as he stepped close to Taehyung.

"You don't know me! No one does!"

Taehyung took his head in his hand, shaking feverishly.

"Please, Tae. It's going to be fine, I promise, " Jungkook cajoled, daring to place a comforting hand on Taehyung's shoulder.

Dashing out a dagger from his pant, Taehyung shoved it against Jungkook's neck, causing Jungkook to stumble backward, raise his hands up in surrender and shut his eyes as tightly as possible.

"No one is leaving here, especially not you."

Jungkook shook under Taehyung's captivity. Taehyung had lost it.

He pushed Jungkook towards the mattress. "Lie down."

"Okay, " Jungkook stuttered and did as he was told.

"Now take off your pants."

"Taehyung—"

"Take off your fucking pants! Just do it!" He screamed angrily.

"Okay, okay." Jungkook's hands shook as he fidgeted with his pant.

"Ahhhh... Fuck you, Taehyung, " Yoongi groaned.

"Oh, you're about to watch me do that, " Taehyung snorted.

"What kind of a sick bastard are you?" Yoongi's voice was pained, yet daring.

"The kind that would slit your throat in seconds if you don't shove your words into your mouth!"

Getting between Jungkook legs, Jungkook saw Taehyung's hands shake. Their eyes met briefly and fear flickered in Taehyung's eyes. He was afraid. Taehyung quickly looked away, but his lips didn't stop quivering.

Yoongi shuffled to sit upright. "I'm not scared of death, Taehyung." He wiped the trickling blood from his busted lip. "I fell from my mother's arms at 6 weeks. I fell off the balcony from my uncle's 3 stories when I was 7. I was run over by a truck two years ago. I've been electrocuted 5 times, I'm still alive and you think you can kill me."

Taehyung nodded. "Don't push me, dude. I do not like you already."

"Yoongi! Enough!" Jungkook's eyes didn't leave Taehyung's face. He couldn't help but really see Taehyung. He wasn't the same as earlier. What brought him here had clearly left him, and it was just regular Taehyung.

"Consider yourself pushed. Also, who the hell do you take me for?! Dude, fuck you. I couldn't care less who liked me or not. Are you crazy!? Aww..." Yoongi groaned in pain at the end of his sentence, holding his nose in his hand.

Taehyung's jaws clenched.

"You are a psychotic, perverted, sick, sex-slaved, son of a bitch."

"I told you no!"." Swiveling, Taehyung angrily dashed towards Yoongi.

"Now, Jimin!"

Before he could decipher Yoongi's words, Taehyung felt a rough, painful prick through his stomach. Pain dashed from his stomach where a pen was sticking from.

"Fuck you!" Jimin pulled out the pen and drove it into Taehyung's stomach again.

Yoongi scurried to his feet. He snatched the dagger from Taehyung who staggered around, groaning in pain.

"You're making a huge mistake, " Taehyung groaned, bending over in pain.

"No, man, you're the one who made the mistake," Jimin smirked, twirling the pen in his hand. "You brought this on yourself."

"Guys, let's just call the police."

"Lock the door, Yoongi, " Jimin directed.

"Jimin, let's just call the police, okay?" Jungkook tried to reason with him.

"You should be the one to want this more than us, Jungkook."

"W-want what?"

"To kill Taehyung, " Yoongi said. He turned the lock on the door.

Jungkook's mouth fell open. He saw Taehyung's eyes twitch and his lips quiver but Taehyung was quick to mask his fear. He was that nervous. Jungkook shook his head.

"No! No one is killing anyone!" Jungkook cried out.

"But we are. After all, he drugged us, kidnapped us and brought us in here, then tried to hurt us. It's self-defense, " Yoongi taunted.

Taehyung shakily turned, his eyes tentatively following Yoongi and Jimin simultaneously as they both rounded him. Jimin with a pen and Yoongi with a dagger.

"Don't come close, " Taehyung stuttered.

Jimin smirked. He walked close.

Jungkook jumped in the way, shielding Taehyung. No matter what Taehyung had done, he didn't want anyone to get hurt. He didn't want anyone to die.

"Yoongi, please. Jimin, I beg you. Taehyung fucked up but he doesn't deserve to die."

"Yes, he does," Yoongi scoffed.

"No, please! He just needs help. Please, guys, let's not do this. I'm begging you!"

"He has goons out there! They're probably going to kill us if we let him go! He'll kill us!" Jimin spat. He pointed at his face. "See what he did to me?"

"Me too."

"But he didn't kill anyone. He wasn't going to kill anyone or he would have done that while Yoongi was running his mouth! Please! Let's just call the police and—"

"Long talk, Jungkook. Get out of the way."

Jungkook threw his arms wide protectively. He shook his head. "You'll both go to jail for this, you know it."

"It's self-defense."

"It's not!"

Jimin looked at Taehyung then Yoongi, his battered face, then back to Taehyung. His eyes narrowed intensely. "We'll live."

Jungkook was yanked away and before he could regain himself and get to his feet, Yoongi and Jimin were driving their weapons into Taehyung's body.

Taehyung's distraught shrills and cries pierced through Jungkook's ears, stabbed into his heart and he let out the loudest scream he could muster.

"Fuck you!" Jimin screamed evilly, stabbing the pen all over Taehyung's torso.

The boy fell to the floor, convulsing, blood splattering from his mouth and sipping from his body.

"Taehyung!!" Jungkook cried and rushed to Taehyung's side. He took Taehyung in his arms and cried on his chest. "Taehyung, I'm sorry!"

Taehyung's tired eyes lingered in Jungkook's. They were apologetic and one last time, Jungkook could see love flicker. Then they went shut and his body went limp. "No, Yoongi! No, you shouldn't have! You shouldn't have! You shouldn't have! You killed him!"

"He deserved it, okay!?" Yoongi scolded. "He was sick!"

"He needed help!"

"No, what he needed was to be put out of his misery! No amount of help can save that asswipe!" He retorted.

"So, you killed him!? He was not a horrible guy! He was not going to hurt anyone! He was afraid!"

"And you know all these how!? He came at me with a fucking dagger!"

"He was shaking! When he was on top of me, he was shaking! He couldn't do it! He wouldn't have done anything! I looked at him. He just needed to be talked out of it! He would have surrendered, Jimin. He would have let us go, Yoongi, " Jungkook sobbed bitterly.

"And if he had done otherwise? If he had killed one of us?" Jimin asked.

Jungkook shook his head. He wanted to rip both Yoongi and Jimin apart. "To hell with the both of you! You're both murderers!"

The door jiggled from outside, a loud bang followed.

Yoongi and Jimin turned to share a look. "The police?" Jimin asked.

"It's his goons, " Yoongi said.

"What do we do?" Jimin asked.

Yoongi took in a shaky breath, then pointed at the door. "Open the door and get out of the way."

Jimin nodded. "Okay." He took a step towards the door. With his fingers, he counted.

He stuck up a finger, one...

He added a second finger, two...

Then a third, before unlocking the door and pulling it open.

Yoongi who already aimed at the door shot the dagger against whoever was at the door.

For a second, Jungkook's movement stopped and so did his breathing. The person standing at the door hadn't been Taehyung's goons. It was Jin. And he had a knife, stuck to his now bloodstained chest and he was groaning just like Taehyung had done seconds ago.

-

Only a few more chapters to go, guys.