warning: explicit language

"Everyone has gone through something that has changed them in a way that they could never go back to the person they once were."

-Unknown

***

Eungi's eyes widened, and she stopped looking for a newspaper and instead stared at Namjoon. "I'm sorry...?"

"Jimin." Namjoon's voice sounded rough saying his name. It was a name he'd held to himself, preserving the memory of the precious 4-year-old who had told Namjoon that he was his favorite. "You took Jimin, and I want him back."

"I think you're mistaken..." Eungi said, shaking her head, her brow furrowed. "Mr. Kim, I understand that you've been through a lot, but accusing random people is-"

"I don't care what explanation you have or how you're going to try to say it was okay or that it wasn't you," Namjoon interrupted, his tone pleasant but his mood angry. "I just want my son back, and then I'll leave."

"Mr. Kim, I don't have-"

"JIMIN!" Namjoon yelled, standing up and cupping his hands over his mouth. By shouting Jimin's name, he felt as though he were finally acknowledging Jimin's disappearance, which he had tried to soften the blow, but now he felt close, so close. "JIMINIE!" he yelled, his heart clenching.

"Mr. Kim! I don't know what you're trying to do but-"

"JIMINIE! IT'S ME! DADDY! I'M HERE!" Namjoon yelled, turning and staring at the ceiling.

There was a long moment of silence.

"See, Mr. Kim?" Eungi asked, taking another sip of tea. "Like I told you, he isn't-"

There was a squeak as soft feet padded over a loose board, and a soft voice followed. "Mommy?"

***

Lisa ran into the station. "Namjoon, are you ready-"

The station was empty.

Namjoon was gone.

The kids were gone.

"Shit, shit, shit," Lisa cursed, running back out to her car.

Of course he wouldn't wait for me when his son could be this close.

But what if something goes wrong?

What if Jimin's not there?

Lisa wasn't sure who she was more worried for - Namjoon, or Song Eungi in the case that she was innocent and Namjoon couldn't handle it.

Lisa fumbled with her keys, cursing as she dropped them in the snow and rooting around with them with her bare hand before finally snagging the metal and unlocking the car. She hopped in and jammed the key in the ignition, turning on the heaters all the way and putting on her seat belt.

Let's hope I can make it in time.

She slammed the gear into drive and hit the pedal.

***

"Mommy?"

Namjoon froze and turned to look at the source of the voice. His heart stopped in his chest like it had forgotten how to beat; his lungs stopped from within his ribs like they had forgotten how to breathe; his thoughts in his mind stopped like they had forgotten how to form.

Jimin wasn't standing in front of him.

At least, not the 4-year-old Jimin he knew.

But a boy who looked rather similar to the 9-year-old prediction that Youngjae had drawn, the one Namjoon hadn't looked at much.

He had soft black hair and quiet brown eyes that held a certain vulnerability about them.

Namjoon couldn't look away.

Song Eungi swallowed. "It's nothing, sweetie. Go back up to your room."

"I saw the car out front," the boy said, still looking at Eungi.

Namjoon wanted the boy to look at him.

"It's nobody. Go back to your room," she said, and there was a horrible second in which Namjoon watched as Jimin, who hadn't looked at Namjoon at all, turned to go back up the stairs and leave Namjoon behind.

"Wait," Namjoon said suddenly, swallowing. "Please..."

The boy hesitated on the steps, looking over his shoulder once at Namjoon and then at Eungi before looking back at Namjoon, his eyes stuck, fixated.

"Do you remember me?" Namjoon asked, and it was like his heart, his lungs, his thoughts had all remembered how to function again and were all overcompensating. His heartbeat resounded through his whole body; his breaths felt like spikes being driven into his chest; his thoughts swirled and fell apart and formed again like the snow being whipped up by the winter wind outside. He swallowed, staring at the boy and willing him to remember.

It's been 5 years.

He was only 4 years old.

Maybe he doesn't...

Jimin frowned and opened his mouth, but Song Eungi stood up quickly.

"Chul!" Eungi called out, and Jimin tensed, his eyes tearing away Namjoon's and looking at Eungi. "Go back to your room!" she said to Jimin, who flinched and went up another step.

"Wait! Jimin!" Namjoon yelled, and Jimin stopped again, turning to stare at Namjoon in confusion, looking as though he wanted to ask something, but Eungi was already standing up, blocking Namjoon's view of Jimin.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Kim, but you need to go," she said, trying to push Namjoon toward the door, but Namjoon pushed her away.

"Jimin! It's me! Daddy! Remember when we measured your height in the kitchen, and you were taller than Tae and Jungkook? Or when you wanted to be something scary for Halloween, but I made you go as an angel instead? Or when-" Namjoon's throat clenched. "Or when you fell asleep in my lap after telling me that I'm your favorite?" Namjoon's face was streaked in tears. "Am I still your favorite, Jimin?"

Jimin's answer was cut off by the entrance of another man.

"Chul, thank goodness," Eungi said as her husband came in. "He won't leave."

Chul stopped in front of Namjoon, scowling. "Get out. You're trespassing."

"Trespassing?" Namjoon asked incredulously, and it was as though the magic of seeing Jimin had been broken. He was now pissed and angry. "You psychopaths fucking took my son!"

"I'm afraid you're mistaken," Chul said, clenching his jaw. "It's a shame that our son looks a lot like yours, but he's ours."

"No, that's Jimin!"

"Daddy?" Jimin asked softly, and Namjoon's heart soared, thinking that Jimin had finally called out to him.

"Go to your room," Chul said without even turning. "The adults have something to settle."

Namjoon's heart was broken, hearing Jimin call someone else his father.

He doesn't know.

It's not his fault.

They've made him believe that they're his parents for the past 5 years.

"Leave," Eungi said from behind her husband's shoulder, shaking slightly. "Get out."

"We can't let him just leave," Chul said harshly. "He'll tell the cops."

"But what are-"

"It's fine. I'll handle this," Chul said, pulling out a gun.

Namjoon was still frozen.

It's Jimin.

Jimin, who said that you're his favorite.

Only he doesn't remember you.

"His car," Eungi said suddenly. "It's out front. His kids are inside."

"I'll handle them too," Chul said as he raised the gun and clicked off the safety. "But him first."

***

"I can't see what's going on from back here," Hobi complained, and Tae climbed forward past Hobi and into the driver's seat.

"What are you doing up here?" Jin asked, frowning.

Tae just stared out the window.

He wanted to be the first to see Jimin.

***

Lisa pulled up behind a familiar car and slammed the brakes, sliding slightly on the ice as she put the car in park and opened her door.

She got out and sighed in relief when she saw a silhouette in the front seat of the vehicle, thinking Namjoon hadn't gone in yet.

But then she heard it.

A gunshot.