WARNING: this chapter contains violence and mentions abuse.

But October's real pretty if you wanted to know and i can see the sunset from this spot on the metro and my love for you is gone and my love for you is gone and my love for you is gone.

J I M I N

"JIMIN," FLOWER breathed.

"Flower," I said right back though her eyes didn't meet mine when I did.

If anything, Flower looked like her flower petals had fallen from her.

She was waiting for me on the porch step of the Meldeer and when I quietly nodded for the boys to go in through a different entrance so I could get a moment with her, I wasn't anticipating this.

I thought she'd be happier, happy as I was just to see her. When I kneeled in between her legs and grasped her cheeks, her face was sullen and her eyes were streaked with red. I was only gone for twelve hours. I wondered what happened while I was away.

"Flower, what happened?" I said softly.

My hands slid from her cheeks down to her shoulders, squeezing lightly. She was shivering; my angel was shaking. I said her name but her eyes didn't light up the way they usually did. Instead, she pressed her hands to her face. "Y/n."

"He took her," Her tears were like crystals as I brushed my thumbs against her cheeks to collect them. Her face crumbled as she took a desperate inhale of air, "My mom, Jimin. He took my mom," Her words were broken, disbelief crimson on her face as she pushed me away and stood. Her fingers ran through her unruly hair, "Jimin, I've been so stupid! I was too blind to see this, to see his set-up!"

"What are you talking about?"

She looked at me squarely.

"Your arrest. That was Dol," She said coldly. Her face straightened, tension pouring like a leaky faucet. Her leather jacket stretched over her body as she threw her hands in the air exasperatedly. "He wanted me distracted. He wanted me off my game, that's why he put you there because he knew I would come running to get you out."

Goddamn.

I wasn't expecting him to be that smart.

It had been a while since someone had actually surprised me and here Dol was doing it.

To be frank with you, the last person to ever do so was Y/n.

My declaration of love was something that I never expected. She was unexpected. Maybe that's why I fell for her. She was different from the people I surrounded myself with my whole life. She was someone who I thought saw pain the way I did, felt grief the way I had. She was someone I believed saw rock bottom and the top.

It was another reason why I loved her...I thought she and I were the same.

"Your mother fell for it," I murmured in understanding.

"I should've seen it coming." She said softly, "This is all my fault. If she dies, that's on me. He'll kill her because of me," She whispered,  the words settling heavily in the air.

The distance between us was nearly excruciating so I couldn't help but swarm her space, crushing her body to mine. She wheezed, my fragile Flower falling to shreds in my grasp. In this moment, all I could see was her.

"Listen to me, this is not your fault," I meant those words as I said them against her hair, brushing my hand down her back. She easily turned pliant in my arms. I kissed her forehead, "We should've seen it coming that your mother would slip, sure, but she made this choice by herself and Dol is smart. He used her feelings against her and she fell for it. That's not on you." I pulled her away and lifted her chin.

"Will you help me find her?" She looked so sad. If I could take away her pain, I would.

I gently pressed my mouth to hers.

"Of course, I will," I loved her so damn much, "Anything for you. Always."

She dropped her head to my chest and wrapped her arms around me tight. I did the same, letting my forearms rest on her shoulders and fisting her hair in my hands. She sighed softly.

I didn't know to explain it but the second I had her in my grasp, everything was okay. I didn't know how somebody could do this to me, tug against my heart strings this viciously. Ever since I met Silas and was trained by him, I thought I was built stone cold and that my heart was impenetrable.

My whole life was like that.

After I killed my father, I felt like that too.

Sure, it was immoral but he was an abusive bastard, one that I despised more than my own life at the time. I hated living because of him. I hated breathing and opening my eyes.

My childhood was an awful one. It entailed horrific, terrible things, events that still keep me up at night. It's the reason I have nightmares and why I hate to sleep.

I remember a time when my father beat me until he gave me two black eyes. I remember the sound of my mother's cries, how she tried to protect me but ended up being body-slammed through a table.

I thought I was blind when woke up and couldn't see. It was only made worse when I heard my father's voice in my ear, begging me for forgiveness, telling me was 'sorry'.

From the moment I could remember anything, I was tortured.

Dear, old dad cut me with knives, wounded me with forks, burned me cigarettes.

I thought knew what pain was because he reminded me every day of it. He taught me that he was in control and that I could live as long as he was okay with it. But when he murdered my mother in front of me, I knew the exact definition of pain then.

I remember her blood on my hands as she gurgled on it, grasping her neck, flailing for oxygen before the light shut off permanently in her eyes.

Nothing my dad had ever done to me would hurt more than that.

He had taken away the one person who truly loved me, the one person who really cared, and the one person who wanted me to be happy. He had slit her throat right in front of me and he was the one crying.

I don't remember how I got on top of him or how I was able to take him down but the next thing I knew, I was stabbing a knife into him.

The blood splattered all over my face and that didn't stop me. Instead, it became fuel. Rage consumed me, years of living in fear, and being beaten. It took over. I stabbed him even after he was dead and I didn't have an ounce of sorry in me afterward.

And then, I ended up on the side of the road.

We lived in the middle of nowhere and it was a one-way road so I walked, drenched in blood.

I trudged until I saw a car.

It stopped in front of me and even as a little child, I didn't mind it hitting me.

I was ready to die.

I wanted to die.

But then, a man came out of the vehicle with his bodyguards around him. He was in a nice suit, looking down at me, a kid in blood. I remember he leaned down and held my chin. He told me he knew my dad and he was on his way to my house to do business with him.

Then, he told me his name.

Silas Bantuera.

I remember I explained to him what had happened and he didn't say a word through it all. If anything, he looked like he wanted to laugh. Afterward, he looked at his men. I thought I saw sympathy in their eyes when stared at me but I couldn't feel anything anymore.

I felt numb.

I had lost everything in the matter of minutes.

There was no one left on earth for me. There was no reason for me to live anymore.

But Silas told me he would help me.

He promised me that my life wasn't over and that I could start afresh and be like him. Be rich. Be strong. Be powerful. He said I didn't have to be weak anymore and that I could have everything I ever wanted. I could assert control and never have to live in fear again.

It sounded so wonderful.

And at the time, he was the only person left now that everybody was gone. So, I listened to him and he took me in.

My teenage years were a blur.

Silas's training camp made sure of that.

Many young men like myself were there, learning and becoming fierce.

I was scared at first until I met Namjoon.

He took me under his wing and then eventually introduced me to everybody else. I loved all of them but Taehyung was my favorite. He was my best friend. We endured abuse together at the camp together and at first, I was scared but Taehyung taught me to welcome it, welcome pain, but the next time I did, I should fight back. First, with my words and then with my fists.

The training camp made me stronger and as I slowly grew up, I turned my focus to the business aspect of things. Silas had taught me what it was like to have money and how it get it legally or illegally. He taught me how to run businesses, how to always have a team with me, and to be smart no matter what.

I learned how to speak eloquently and got an education through torture and malice.

It made me the man I am today.

I was made cold and callous.

I killed people. I murdered them. I tortured them. It was the only way I knew how to get what I want.

Sometimes, people needed to die to make an impact, to make people fear you, and that's what I did.

With Veronica Langford, it was different though and at the time, besides my family, she was the exception, the only person who believed that my heartlessness was just a front, that I did have a soul.

I taught that woman everything I knew. I taught her what it was like to really hurt, to have your bones broken, to bleed, and to be forged in combat.

The way I was made.

I had been like this for a long time.

I was like a machine.

I didn't care about the lives I took. I didn't care about crushing people and their dreams. I didn't care about being arrested because frankly, I had Seoul under my thumb and if I wanted out of jail or prison, I had people who could make it happen. And though sometimes my exterior would slip behind closed doors, it would be back on before the day even ended.

Nothing scared me because I hadn't felt in ages.

Until I met Y/N STONE.

I didn't know what I was, her back-talking me the first time we met, me watching her sleep and being envious that I couldn't, her laugh, her eyes, I don't know.

But she was different and I didn't want to let her go.

For the longest time, I wanted to control her and break her like I've broken everything in my life but then I didn't want to anymore, not when she looked at me like she hated me. I barely regret things or feel sorry about them but when I had her beaten...God, I wish I could take it back.

There was something between us from the start, something so confusing that it threw me for a loop.

I liked her.

I wanted her.

I obsessed with her.

I had fucked countless women over the years, hell, the reason I was late when she and I first met was because I was getting my dick wet, but she was the first person I ever wanted to make love to.

I didn't know why.

I even googled it and I still didn't know why.

I asked Taehyung about it but he just thought she was bad for me from the start. He thought I didn't need attachments; he was always terrified of me getting hurt. But I was willing to take the chance just because of her.

Maybe because I thought we were the same.

Two broken hearts coming together as one.

I believed that Y/n was sent to challenge me, challenge the way I've always lived my life, challenge my emotions, and challenge who I was and though none of my family saw it at first, I did. Suddenly, breaking her wasn't fun anymore, not when she threatened to leave me. For the first time, in a long time, I was scared...scared that I would never see her again.

I knew my mother would've loved her.

Y/n was a fighter just like me and my soul felt like it found its missing piece. We were meant to be together. We were born on the same day in the same hospital.

It was crazy to me that I didn't know she existed all this time.

At first, I considered her a mistake.

That's why I dug around a little bit into her past but it was empty. It was like she popped out of nowhere at my club. Since then, it's been a wild ride though it didn't make me love her any less and I really, really loved her.

And I knew with every fiber in my being that we were the same. We were cut from the same cloth. I knew she didn't see it yet but she would eventually.

"I missed you," Y/n whispered. She shifted her hands away and pressed her forearms against my chest as my arms became a vice around her. There had to be a word stronger than 'miss' because it felt like I was dying without her. "Missed you so much." Her voice broke.

"Missed you too, Sunflower." I kissed her temple, "Let's give Dol what he wants and let's get your mother, yeah?"

She nodded, pushing into me more.

"Yeah."

D O L

"SHE'S A PRETTY face, isn't she?"

Dol was muttering to himself, though his eyes were narrowed and solely trained on the woman gagged and tied up in front of him. Hands bound with rope that left reddish bruises, a bright ball shoved between her lips, and tears streaming down her face, Y/n's mom was a weeping angel, melting into a puddle of tears in the leather seat.

"So pretty." He said again but it didn't feel like a compliment, especially when the gun he was cradling in his fingertips brushed her temple.

She whimpered when he pushed into the flesh wound still pouring blood from her cheek. He moaned quietly at the sound of her pain. She wasn't used to pain, not like this. It made toying with her a bit more fun than usual. She was a damsel in distress, a pathetic one. It provided him content that he knew he could crush her under his shoe at any time he wanted.

He fawned over like a precious pet.

"And you're gonna provide me a pretty penny too, isn't that right?" He murmured and the poor woman wailed.

She tried to flail her legs but they were strapped to the chair, the leather viciously chewing at her skin through her pants. Dol was smiling that sick grin though his broken nose was aching like a bitch. That constant pain you had caused him had served him as a reminder of why he was doing this, why he stole your mother away from you.

He had to admit that he didn't think it would be that easy. He thought you had wormed your way completely into your mother's ear and warded her off from his advances but he forgot how gullible your mom was. She was an idiot and she wasn't the brightest bulb, not like him.

It took one phone call and a fake cry on his part to convince your mother to meet him. It was simple afterward, he just stole her away like a thief in the night.

Currently, they were hiding in an undisclosed location surrounded by security per usual but not that Dol really needed it. It was just Mr. Kang's advice to have it. Regardless, he felt like a winner. That's why he called over one of his henchmen KC to pour him a glass of champagne.

He sat back on the chair across from your mom. When KC handed him the perfect, pristine glass, he took a daring swig, letting the smooth, gold liquid run down his throat. He sighed and looked at your mother, "Do you want some?" She didn't say anything but he took that as a yes.

He leaned forward, his hand shifting toward the back of her head, and swiftly he undid the clasp. Your mother let out a loud gasp as the red ball slick with drool spilled from her lips and rested on her pullover. Sweat beaded her face as she coughed, whining softly when she tried to move but wasn't able to.

Slowly, her eyes lifted toward Dol.

"Come on, I know you're thirsty," He wiggled the glass and chuckled, "Take a sip while I'm still offering," Dol said but he knew she couldn't move to get the drink even if she wanted to. She was perfectly immobilized by the shackles done around her body. He just wanted to play with her, show her who's in control. Your mother looked away, turning her cheek. Dol scoffed, "So, you're choosing the silent route, my not-so-obedient fiancé. Really like mother, like daughter. And here I was being nice."

He startled her when his fingers coiled her hair and balled it into his fist painfully. A sharp cry tore from her mouth as her lips parted. Dol took this as an opportunity to force the alcohol down her throat. She gagged just as he poured it before tossing the glass. It shattered just like your mother's breathing when he suddenly pinched her nose.

She fumbled in the chair, rocking it back and forth as she tried to escape him but Dol's eyes were piercing, his eyebrows reaching up as he pushed his face closer to hers.

"Swallow it. Swallow. It."

Your mother had no choice.

She couldn't breathe.

She tearfully downed the drink, remnants spilling beyond her lips.

He grasped her chin and knocked her mouth open to see that it was all gone. He purposely pressed into her skin knowing it would leave bruises, bruises that would rile you up when you saw it. Your mother groaned as he threw her head backward and sat back down.

"See, why did you make me do that, sweetheart, hm?" Dol rubbed his temple exasperatingly, "You know I don't like it when people say no to me. I've told you this!"

Dol was livid, sighing in disgust as his eyes settled on his ex-fiancé's trembling form.

Now that he thought about it, he didn't know what he saw in her. She was weak, pathetic, and nothing like her daughter. It made him want to hurt her more. There was a glimmer in his eyes as a knowing smirk began to spread across his lips.

"Who are you?" She said quietly.

Her disbelief made him chuckle.

"I'm the man you love," He said easily, laughably that it scared her. He murmured, "And I'm the man your daughter hates. You know she did this to me, right?" He pointed to his broken nose, the white bandages chewing at his flesh, "You didn't tell me that she could fight."

"Why are you doing this?" She whimpered.

"You're asking all the wrong questions. I bet you don't even see the problem here. God, to think you were an educated woman," He scoffed lowly, "You're a pawn. Well, no. At first, you were just an object. Something I didn't need but rather wanted. I thought you'd look good on my arm. As I said, you have a pretty face. But your daughter caught on to me. Do you remember that look she gave me when we went for coffee?"

Your mother's eyes glazed over.

"She knew that I didn't love you. She saw right through me. How? That's my question. For a mother so dim-witted, your daughter is one smart girl which is why," He leaned against his chair, sighing heartlessly, "She has to die."

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Your mother stilled. She was shivering, absolutely petrified and confused. It was like the world she knew was spinning on the tips of its toes. "Dol, please you're not making any sense. Why would you ever want to hurt my daughter? What is wrong with you?"

"Nothing," He said calmly, rationally, "I'm a businessman. When I see a problem, I solve it. Your daughter and I have been playing this metaphorical game of chess. You see, she moves, I move. And at first, it was fun until she began to get a little too greedy."

"She told me you were bad." Your mom cried.

"You should've listened," Dol remarked coyly. He was being a dick and he knew he was. He enjoyed it. "Y/n was right. I mean, I'm coming to realize she always is. And that makes me angry. She makes me angry, and trust me, I've tried to kill her before but she's just so...!" He paused, tilting his head, "You know what I mean! She's like a stupid dog with a bone!"

Your mom was stunned to silence.

She couldn't believe her ears or how casual Dol spoke about you, threatened you.

It was like he was living another life that was far from the one she had thought they built together.

Everything you said had been true despite your mother's instinct of thinking you were always wrong.

The man she loved continuously raged on and on about how you were a menace, how you were a degenerate cunt, and how he was going destroy you once and for all.

It felt like there was no air in the room especially when Dol had suddenly grasped her chin and pulled her towards him. The chair squeaked against the floor as it moved to him, his eyes blazing.

"You stopped listening!" He barked. Your mother reared her head back, "You need to be listening, sweetheart, because I have a plan and need your help."

"I'm not fucking helping you, you bastard! She's my kid!" Your mother screamed in his face, "How stupid are you?"

Dol smiled at first and then he laughed.

But before your mother knew it, he shoved a gun in her mouth.

Her shouts were muffled as she felt it press against her throat, felt the weapon lay heavy on her tongue.

Tears cascaded down her face as Dol rose his eyebrow, an angry expression masking his jovial one. He pulled at her hair so hard, some strands fell out. She begged helplessly but he didn't care enough. If he wanted to, he could pull the trigger and wouldn't give two shits about it.

"Don't you ever speak to me like that again, are we clear?" He growled. Your mother nodded, "Now, you're going to do what I say whenever I say it because you have no choice...or well, unless you wanna die," He cocked the gun and your mother's cries grew. "I'll take that as a no then."

He gently petted her hair.

"Alright, love?" Your mom had no words as Dol chuckled, "Okay then. Let's get to work."

Y O U

"HIYA, JIMIN! HOW was your twelve-hour prison stint?" Dol asked jovially. Humor was warm in his voice.

Jimin glanced at me and then at the phone that lay in the middle of the wooden table. We were in one of his many studies in the middle of a conversation before Dol had rung me up. It was terrible waiting to hear what he wanted. He had all the cards. He knew that.

"I'm doing just fine. Heard you've been busy," Jimin responded. His poker face was impeccable. He was matching Dol's energy, being humorous just like him. His gaze flickered to me when he saw me fidgeting again, unable to keep still.

"I always am. Frankly, it was fun watching the news today and seeing you were already out. You've gotta teach me how you do it so quickly."

"Someday. But first, you gotta give me the woman," Jimin murmured swiftly. He was a smooth-talker, just another thing I loved about him.

I sat at the table, feeling like I was going to piss myself. I was listening around for other movements on the line but I couldn't hear anything. I couldn't hear my mom. Dol started to chuckle, his gravelly sound filling the void as he sighed.

"Come on, Jimin! You know I can't do that," Dol taunted, "But you know what I can do? I can tell you what to do. I mean that's the point of all of this, right? To control you, both of you. Y/n, you there?" My eyes moved to the phone as I leaned in. I was quiet, nervous, and shaky. "Aw, you don't wanna speak? I could always wake up mommy dearest and get her to make you talk."

"I'm here," I muttered.

"Thought you were holding out on me, Stone. Glad to know you're waiting for my beck and call, isn't that right?" His voice irritated me to the point of pain. I just wanted this all to end but Dol seemed to like the game, seemed like he wanted more.

Jimin could tell I was losing it. His outstretched hand simmered the flames growing in my chest as it brushed against mine on the table.

"What do you want, Dol?"

"Well, since you so kindly asked...for starters, I want five million wired into my account right now." He said calmly, coolly. Silence filled the room as my eyes settled on Jimin. He was already pulling out his phone.

"The account number?" Jimin asked shortly.

"Eight, six, two, five." Dol provided so sweetly. He began to hum a tune, amused. I wanted to rip his throat out. I wanted to kill him but the sound of a ding on his line had drawn my attention away from my thoughts and back to him. He sounded happy as he spoke. "Why, thank you. I appreciate it but we are still a long way from atonement, aren't we?"

"You got your money, what else do you want?" I spat bitterly. I was over the games. I just wanted my mom back, safe. Regardless if what she did was stupid or not, she was still my mom. I needed her. She was all I had left in this world.

"Y/n, come on, you shouldn't feel this down. I'm gonna give you your mother back soon. I just, I just wanna savor this moment. The very moment where I know have you beat," He sighed deeply, "It's amazing."

"Cut the shit," Jimin huffed, "What else is there?"

"Alright. Alright. There are two more things. One number one, I want that apology, Stone, in person and I want it to be sincere. Number two...," He was quiet, "I want your life for your mother's. I want you dead."

Jimin's eyes met mine simultaneously.

"Would you be willing to bargain? I think that's a fair trade."

Jimin's eyes were locked on mine.

He knew the words that were about to come from my mouth but he didn't want me to say them. He didn't want me to be selfless but that's who I was especially when it involved somebody I loved. But I didn't plan to die tonight and neither did my mother. I'd be smart about this.

"Time and place?" I asked him.

"Bridge Pier. Nine-thirty."

"I can do that."

"Then, it's a deal." And with that, Dol hung up the phone. I sighed, running my hands through my hair as I stood to my feet, snatching my phone from the table.

"What's the play?" Jimin asked me. He moved across the table to reach for me.

"He's probably gonna bring back-up so we'll bring the boys if they're on board. I know with some of their histories with me, they'll be reluctant but—

"Don't worry about that." He cut me off, his way of silently stating he was going to take care of it.

I nodded.

"Okay. The plan is nobody on our side is dying tonight. No matter what and if we have a shot on Dol, we take it. You with me?"

"I'm with you." His mouth covered mine.

He stole my breath away and made me feel dizzy. I gripped his sleeve to keep myself grounded just as his hand rubbed my cheek absentmindedly. He really was my calm, my peace.

I pulled away reluctantly because I knew I had to get out of here and handle something first.

"I'll be back," He rose an eyebrow at me as I continued, "I gotta figure some shit out first before we go to the pier but I'll be here. Just get ready."

He nodded, not questioning me.

I pushed my lips into his once more and he sighed into the kiss, trying to keep me there for longer but I moved away and went out the door before we could take this any further.

I drove to Van-Buren.

I had no choice.

I met her about forty-five later minutes under a bridge. I wasn't followed and neither was she but she looked pissed to see me when she got out of her car and especially when she slammed the door. She stomped over me, running a hand over her face and then over her ponytail. I watched her as she stood beside me. I could feel the anger radiating off of her.

"I thought I said not to call if you didn't have anything to me." She said. Her eyes were mean when they looked into mine, an angry sigh escaping her.

"I do," I said. I felt my body tense as I squeezed the hard-drive in my palm. She uncrossed her arms and stared at me squarely but I couldn't care less about her right now. I was worried about my mom and Jimin. That's why I needed more time to figure this out. I laid my palm out and showed her the drive, "This is his. In here are documents, incriminating ones."

"Okay...Stone—

"But I'm not gonna give it to you. Not yet." She reared her head back and looked at me as if I was crazy.

"What do you mean 'you're not gonna give it to me'?"

"I mean it. Not right now," I sighed and turned to her, "Dol has my mom, Van-Buren," I whispered.

"What?"

"He kidnapped her and I need to get her back and I need Jimin for it. I need him for a lot of things which is why I can't give you this drive right now, not when this is going on," I closed my palm, "You have to understand."

She nodded.

I knew she would.

"I do." She said softly.

"Look, I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry for not being honest with you from the start and fucking this whole thing up but please just bare with me, alright? I'm gonna figure this out. I just... I just need time so please don't turn your back on me."

She was quiet before she said, "I won't, Stone. I'm sorry too."

"Thank you," I said and unexpectedly, I pulled her into my arms and hugged her.

I knew this drive would belong to her eventually but for right now, it had to stay with me until I got everything sorted out. Van-Buren would figure out everything with Cap for me and tell her the reason why I was busy now...that I was trying to save my mother.

She pulled away, "Be careful, Stone."

It seemed like I'd been hearing that for the past of couple weeks now.

I was back to Jimin in record time and we spent the entire day prepping for battle.

Everybody was in black, leather, and quiet.

I don't know what Jimin had said to all of the boys but it seemed that the notion was understood by all of us including Jin.

I loaded my gun hastily.

I didn't want to waste time.

I wanted to end this all.

Before we left, I looked at myself in the mirror. I looked so tired. The woman in the mirror had bags under her eyes, her hair was unruly as it has ever been even when pulled into a ponytail, and she just looked sad.

I wondered when this pain would end.

It made me angry at myself because I was the one who caused it all.

I didn't want to admit it out loud either but I hated myself.

My self-loathing had gotten worse.

I was lying to everybody I ever cared about, lying to Cap, to Van-Buren, to Jimin. I was ashamed because this was nothing like who I used to be all those months ago. It only worsened the agony in my chest. It terrified me to think I would never be the same girl I was before. I didn't know who I was anymore. Perhaps that was the scariest part of it all.

I punched my hand through the glass recklessly.

Sharps spilled into the sink just as I gripped the counter, trying my best to will my shit together for just this one time.

Then, we were on our way.

The car ride was quiet but I could feel Jimin's concern when his eyes moved to my form. It felt suffocating. I hated that he could see that I was breaking mentally and physically. I even wondered when I would snap or what would truly push me over the ledge.

The stars had blanketed the night sky when we arrived at the pier.

Dol was there with his men already waiting.

He wanted to get right down to business and so did I.

Both of our teams were a good distance away from each other but he tsked when he saw the boy's inching beside me.

I wasn't paying attention to him though.

My eyes were on my mother's.

I wanted to grab her and run but he had a gun to her head. She was crying, sobbing, all bloody and bruised. My eyes watered.

"Ah, ah, ah," Dol growled as he pressed the weapon into my mother's face, "Just you, Stone. I don't need the whole pack." He called loudly.

I briefly glanced at Jimin who nodded. His gun was already raised. Everybody's was. This wasn't a joke. War could easily be upon us with one fatal step.

I moved.

"A bit closer, Y/n, I don't want anybody getting any ideas." Dol howled. His men laughed in unison as I walked the lonely plank.

"Is this good?"

He nodded, "Good enough. I'm ready for that apology of yours. I've been dying all day to hear it."

"Okay."

"Floor's yours," Dol said, waving the gun as his bicep curled around my mother's neck. She winced, fingernails digging into his suit jacket. I was close enough to him where there was distance between Jimin, the boys, and I. I could see Dol's men staring at me. All of them were smiling; they liked it. I lowered my gun. I had no choice.

My mother's settled on me, sad and scared. I felt my own water in grief when I noticed all the bruises on her body. Her cheek was cut open, blood oozed from her temple, her hands were scarred, and her wrists were raw. I felt a waver of emotion on my face as they flickered to Dol's, words shaking softly. "Blowing up the port was a mistake and so was breaking your nose and crashing your party. I've been a bitch. You're right about that. I apologize. I'm sorry about it all, about ruining your fun."

Dol laughed.

"Well, wasn't that a splendid apology?" She tilted his chin at my mother and reared his head close so he could look at her squarely. She was crying. He was humiliating me and her, putting on a show for everybody. This was him making me regret ever crossing him and trying to bend my will. As a villain, he didn't have any. This was all a game to him, everybody's life here, especially mine, and he was winning. "I'm proud of you, Stone, it was really gutsy of you doing that in front of a crowd. But I have a question."

My fingers tightened on the gun.

"When I eventually kill you, do you think you'll see your father in heaven or in hell?"

My mother gasped in horror just as Dol and his men laughed. It was all joke to them. All of it. They didn't care. None of them did. I was the least a bit affected when he said that just because my eyes were zeroed in on my mother's. I just wanted her.

"I did what you asked. It's your turn to pay up. Now give me her."

"At least say 'please', Stone."

"Bite me." I retorted back.

"Fine," His arms unraveled from my mother's arms and he shoved her, "Go, sweetheart."

I moved quickly towards her, raising both my guns in defense. I heard Jimin and the boys move behind me as my line as I walked the path to her, eyes calculating the surroundings around me. My heart hammered in my chest and it felt like it was ready to jump out of my throat. Luckily, she was in my arms before anything bad could happen, her body crashing against mine.

"I'm sorry," She said quietly.

"I know," I told her, eyes never leaving the opposing side, "Get behind me."

She did without question just as Dol's team pointed their guns at us. It was a tense stand-off, the other side waiting to see who would do something first, waiting for who would react but it seemed nobody wanted to pull the trigger first. Dol sighed and stretched. I felt Jimin's shoulder brush against mine as we stood side-by-side, the boys eventually taking their place near us. Dol had a shit-eating grin on his face.

"I think we should just call it a night here. I've got what I wanted for right now and you got your mom. We're all happy campers, yeah?" There was something in his voice that continued to bristle the uneasiness in my stomach. "I think we can all put our weapons down, right? Chon? Max? Lower your weapons." His men listened like obedient puppies, "See? Let's call this one a draw."

"What about killing me?!" I shouted.

He smiled.

"It can wait."

But Dol was a terrible liar because the next thing I knew, chaos was erupting.

I don't know who fired the first shot but it soared through the air and whipped past my face. Then everybody started firing.

Dol quickly shoved one of his men in front of him to which they got shot in the shoulder by me.

I was so hell-bent on killing this man that I was flying like a tornado through all of these guys.

Jimin and his family effortlessly dodged bullets, spearing people with their own as well.

A man came running at me to which I knocked my knee into his groin and threw him to the concrete. I briefly watched Taehyung wrestle another to the ground just as another came hurdling toward Yoongi.

They were coming at us from all sides to the point that I couldn't focus on Dol.

He had used his men as human shields to protect himself as selfish as he was.

I saw him briefly grabbing one, whispering something, before he was running toward his car just as I took down another measly punk, punching him square in the face. Blood bloomed on my knuckles as threw him into one of the others who were trying to charge at Jimin.

My mother was scrambling behind me, her fingers clawing at my jacket. I quickly turned to her, making sure she was okay. Jimin covered me, his back pressing to mine as he continued to fire off.

"Y/n, I'm so sorry." She whined, nails biting into my jacket.

"Don't worry about that right now," I rushed, "You need to hide somewhere until this is all over. Somewhere where it's—

It was like time stopped.

It happened in a split second, the moment my eyes flickered upwards and there was one of Dol's henchmen, his long hair mostly concealing his face. He rose his gun and before I could even get a breath out and move, he fired.

I should've seen it coming.

Dol planned a surprise sneak attack to kill me.

It hadn't dawned on me that my mother had seen it too and her immediate response was to put herself in front of me.

It was so quick that I couldn't even formulate a thought before she cried out in agony.

Suddenly, there was a hole in her chest, a massive one, and it was staring at me.

I rose my gun and tried to fire but the guy ended up taking off before any of my bullets could hit him. Jimin moved away from me, same as his family, not evening realizing what had happened as they continued to walk toward their opponents and seize the slaughter.

It was everything froze just before a scream ripped through my throat.

My mom crumbled into me and my boots scrapped the concrete white as I tried to accommodate her weight. Her eyes fluttered, gravity sweeping us closer to the ground. I caught her right before she could hit rock bottom. Tears kissed my cheeks when I crashed to the ground, the asphalt splitting my knees open. I gasped, grasping her, shaking her.

She was far already away; I could see it in her eyes. A sob tore through me as I pressed my hands hopelessly to the gaping wound on her chest. There was so much blood; it colored me ruby and spilled over my fingertips. It surrounded us like a red pool. I was saddened with grief as I pulled her close, whimpering her name. "Mom," I said, pleading, "Mom, please. Just stay-stay with me, okay?" She looked at me, her eyes bleary and discombobulated.

Gunfire flew over our heads.

Her warm hand pressed to my cheek, her body thrumming against mine when she coughed my name. Blood spilled like a faucet, a downpour of red gushing from her tongue and all over me. I pushed my fingertips to her lips, begging for God to make it stop.

"No, no, NO!" I sobbed.

Her head lolled and her eyes became droopy. But even through that, she smiled lazily. It wasn't a normal one. It was bittersweet as she drooled blood.

"It's okay," She slurred slowly, "It's...okay..."

I shook my head, my mouth crumbling. "No, it's not okay. It's-It's not. Mom, please. I need you. Please don't leave me. Mom, stay, stay with me. Stay, please." I begged, "I can't do this by myself. Mom." I whispered, crying into her.

But very slowly, her smile began to slip and her hand fell from my face. Her eyes went cold as they unfocused and I could see it even if I didn't want to believe that she was gone. She was like a porcelain doll, perfectly still.

A tear fell from her eye but it was her last.

I gasped quietly and gently cradled her bruised face in my bloody palms. She stared at me but there was nothing vital there, nothing.

I whispered her name, chanted it as if it was a prayer, my thumb stroking her cheek. But there was just emptiness. There was no blink, there was no breath, and there was no movement. She had left me. It was like she wasn't even here to begin with. I lost the ability to speak as I held her head to my chest and wrapped my arm around her limp body tightly. I kissed her hair softly.

It hadn't even hit me that all commotion had stopped. It hadn't hit me that everybody on the opposing side was dead except the one that had actually shot my mom. He was in the wind.

I was murmuring to her but I didn't even know what I was saying. I couldn't really hear myself. It felt like I was underwater. It was like everything inside me had just shut off. I felt so cold. I felt like I was a shell of myself.

I didn't feel the eyes of the boys, each of their stares sorrowful, worried, and remorseful though their faces didn't show it. I didn't realize they were also banged up, that some of them had gotten into hand-to-hand combat with some of the men from Dol's side. I didn't care though. I couldn't feel anything. It was like somebody shot me up with a ton of drugs and I was completely numb.

It took me forever to notice Jimin, to even spare him a glance.

I didn't feel it when he desperately grabbed my shoulders or turned my face toward him. Worry pooled in his eyes when mine finally settled on his. He quickly tossed the gun he was holding and grasped my cheeks. He was screaming my name, tapping on my temple to get my attention. He shook me lightly. 'Flower' was on his lips and so softly he said it but I felt wilted.

I felt like a thorn.

"You need to leave," I said quietly but there was no emotion in my voice. His eyes flew wide when he heard my tone. He took my chin in his hand. I glanced at the boys who were mumbling gently, staring at me, and then I looked at him again, "All of you need to leave."

"Baby, I'm not leaving you. Not like this," He looked down at my mother and then at me. He felt the disconnect in me, felt it in my softly-spoken words, and in my eyes. I was freaking him out but I just didn't care anymore.

"I don't want you to stay," I told him coldly and pulled myself from his grip. His eyebrows furrowed. "Go before you get arrested again. I need to call the police and take care of this, of all of this." I turned my attention back to my mother. I felt his stare but I was over it.

He didn't want to leave me. He was troubled by my lack of words and puzzled at my bitterness. But he would come to understand it. After all, he did lose both of his parents as did I, in this moment. They were taken away from me, both of their lives stolen.

I pressed my cheek to her head.

"Go."

Jimin's hand smoothened over my hair and his lips touched my temple. He said my name, his way of showing his gratefulness that I was gonna clean this up, and protect him and his family. He told me loved me and then he ran back towards his family, gathering them in hurry. They left and then it was just me and my mom, illuminated by the bright lights of the street lamps, surrounded by silence and dead bodies.

I reached for my phone in my back pocket and dialed.

"Seoul police department, what's your emergency?" An operator said.

"My mother has just been shot," I said.  "Please send help."

-
end of chap.

god, i'm putting this girl through hell.

and i feel bad :((

but i love it.

we are currently heading in a different direction now and a different y/n so hold on tightly because.... shit.

love you guys!!

have an amazing week!!