Non magis cerebrum

No more brain

Sunday 15th of September, ?:?? AM Jungkook's room in Evanthe.

Slowly, Jungkook gained consciousness as he woke up. But didn't open his eyes just yet since he was too comfortable for that. The night before, he had barely had enough strength to stand up from the floor and change to go to sleep.

Yesterday had been too long and tough, beautiful in some parts, awful in others. Just like his life usually was, it seemed. But last night another new thing took place when Jimin asked him without words if he would sleep with him. He had simply made Tom -who had brought his own bedclothes with him- move back until his backside hit the wall and then looked up at Jungkook with red puffy eyes while he pushed the covers back from beside him. So, the three of them slept in the same bed.

But it had all been worth it the second he snuggled close to them and Jimin let out a tiny little sigh. Sometimes in the night, Tom would reach over to put his hand on his waist, but Jungkook, as tired as ever of this demeanor, would always take his hand and place it onto Jimin's stomach instead. However, even with this, he slept nicely; they were snuggling in close and it felt all warm.

But now, he was awake.

Jungkook sighed deeply and blinked his eyes open, his nose was in near contact with Jimin's neck and, because of that, he was just able to see the white scars on his pale skin. But he looked away. Since Jimin hadn't permitted him to look at his skin that closely, he gently and slowly tried to shimmy away so he could stand up from the bed.

But his attempts were stopped immediately.

He looked down and there it was, Tom, grabbing his waist again. However, this time it was a much harder grip than just a simple palm over him. Jungkook looked up and met Tom's eyes at the other side of Jimin's neck. Only his eyes were discerned by the blanket hiding the rest of his face, and his eyes were as sharp and demanding as his hand. Jungkook sighed in exasperation and tried to take his hand off of him again, but he only grabbed him tighter, hurting him in the process which made him wince. He bit his lip inside his mouth in pain and remembered how just the day before Tom had grabbed him in a back hug that left red patches along his midriff, so he let go of his hand and hid his face under Jimin's shoulder.

He was trying to make Tom ease his grip by doing nothing. Meaning: he was doing exactly what he wanted him to do. It felt sick to have to do this and some part of him felt like muscle memory by doing something like this, but still, he tried to stay as still as possible. But, once the grip on him had eased, he pushed himself as hard as he could out of the bed until he fell onto the floor along with his own blanket.

He stood up breathlessly as Jimin jumped awake in terror and Jungkook looked at Tom with an accusatory stare while the latter simply sat up slowly, like a lion with his prey.

- What the fuck is your problem, man? - Jungkook's fists curled up at each side of him as he frowned.

Jimin looked rapidly from one to the other and then pushed himself back until he was flattened against the headboard. Now, there was nothing between Tom and Jungkook.

The former looked at him like he had done him the worst unfairness of his life and slowly positioned himself over his knees. Then he sighed.

- I only want a hug. - He shrugged, like it was nothing, like he wasn't looking at him angrily.

Jungkook swallowed, not having any idea what was wrong with this guy.

- You have Jimin, ask him for one. -

- I want one from you. - He answered immediately like a needy kid as his body shifted its position to one better for jumping up at any second.

And Jungkook ran for the bathroom. He couldn't discern if he was being chased or not, he simply managed to grab the clothes he had left over in his chest of drawers and got in, closing the door.

Breathing fast and feeling wide awake in the worst way possible, he looked at his scared reflection as he clutched his clothes over his chest and then turned his head to hear whatever he could. Only muttering since they were so away but apparently, Tom was apologizing.

To the wrong guy, might Jungkook add.

He rolled his eyes and tried not to think about how Jimin and Tom's relationship was kind of toxic. Although understandable, there was nothing good about it. On the one hand, there was Jimin who had been abused somehow and tried to run from people and on the other, there was Tom who was neglected somehow and tries to possess people so they won't leave him. He looked at him and was obsessed from the beginning for some odd reason and day by day this obsession to have him it's just getting worse. It's like he does something like the one just now and he feels so sorry and ashamed that he wouldn't even look him in the eye for a long time, but then he goes and does it again.

And Jimin puts up with that shit because no one has ever wanted or needed him as hard as Tom does.

It was wrong all over. But Jungkook has to stop thinking about that or else he might fill his head with worry he doesn't need.

He took a shower, trying nonstop to direct his mind towards Taehyung and smiling every time he saw him there. Then, he put on some light-blue jeans and a black shirt, (the twin shirt to the white one he had on Tuesday; thin cotton, soft, hugging his figure nicely, with three buttons at the top). For shoes, he had to get out of the bathroom, but he noticed how, yet again, Tom was avoiding him by hugging Jimin tightly against his chest; he tried to do just like him and pay no mind as he chose some black boots to wear.

On another note, he liked how the hickeys on his neck were fading and looked greenish and yellowish, but he would never say that about any other bruises that weren't love-marks. He could still see the yellow tint on his skin where Tom had punched him five days ago.

Jungkook ruffled his damp hair, grabbed his keys, phone, and favorite black coat, and walked out with a goodbye to Jimin after he locked the door from the inside.

Once that was done, he went straight forward towards the main corridor as he put on his coat with the mission of going to see Leo. He checked his phone and saw that it was eight in the morning, and also that his parents had sent him messages. He stopped walking and opened them to see... but it was just a reply to the "thank you" message he had sent them for the drawing table a week ago. Jungkook rolled his eyes at how typical it was for his parents to check their private phones only on weekends and simply kept on walking down the main corridor. It was so quiet, but of course, it was a Sunday morning.

However, another figure opened a door and walked out, all dressed in black and carrying a backpack. Jungkook realized it was Garrett as he locked his dorm room again, and adrenaline flared up in him faster than he could handle. At once, he remembered everything that had happened the night before and concluded that he was on his way to the woods right now.

Maybe to do the ritual he said he would be doing.

- Morning. - Jungkook greeted him in hushed tones once he caught up behind him. Garrett jumped and stopped walking as he looked around. And once he realized who it was, he chuckled and placed a hand on his chest.

- Blimey, Jungkook. What a way to start the morning. -

Jungkook laughed as silently as he could while he stopped beside him. And he knew this was risky and stupid, but still, he asked.

- Where are you going so early? -

He was trying to see if he could catch any patterns whenever he lied. However...

- I'm actually going upstairs to see a friend. I need to tell him something my dad told me last night. -

...he couldn't see anything that could possibly show that he was lying. Nothing at all. Could it be that he was actually telling the truth? Maybe rituals are done at night?

Jungkook cursed himself mentally at how stupid he sounded in his head believing that magic was anywhere real, and nodded.

- K. I'm going up too. I need to check on Leo. - He gave a nod for Garrett to walk with him towards the stairs. And saw him frowning.

- What happened to Leo? -

- No idea. He doesn't want to tell us, but the bruise he showed us looked awful. I was worried all night even if he went straight to the hospital wing. -

Garrett hissed.

- Where's the bruise? Maybe he actually broke something. -

- It was like right here, in the middle between his hip and the first rib. - He pointed where the bruise was, on himself, so he could see it. - And Emily told us that his whole leg was stiff and in pain. Like, somebody had actually punched him so hard that his leg went all numb. Or like someone had electrified him with a metal stick, more like. -

For the briefest second, he saw Garrett's eyes widening. But it had been so brief that he wasn't sure of it.

They started walking up the stairs when Garrett asked.

- What happened to your roommate? Were you able to help him? -

- Yes. I gave him his phone and he called his friend. He's still going through a tough time but... it'll get better. - He was sure of his words, believing that he, Jungkook, would be one that could make things better. Instead of the one Jimin had with him right now which brings nothing but trouble and lies.

- That's good. - Garrett said softly with a gentle smile. - If your roommate wants more friends, tell him my name's Garrett White. - He said with a grin as they got to the next floor.

Jungkook laughed with him, genuinely happy to hear that and also intrigued by his surname. He's heard it before but, after last night, the color white had a completely different meaning to him now.

Jungkook found himself genuinely astonished to feel longing at the thought of Garrett having real magic or something like that. It wasn't only excitement, it was longing, he wanted him to have actual magic. How weird.

They walked forwards toward the first door to the left of the main corridor as Garrett yawned, seeming terribly tired, and then, right when he was about to knock, Jungkook realized.

- Wait, how did you know this was Leo's room? -

Garret's hand stopped and he looked down at him, confused.

- This is Leo's room? This is my friend's room. -

Jungkook did a double-take on something else.

- Talking about friends, I thought you had said Alex was your best friend. -

Garrett averted his eyes for a moment, displeased, before turning sideways towards him.

- Emily told you, didn't she? -

Jungkook clicked his tongue.

- About how you threw her out of her room so you could be with your girlfriend? Yeah. -

- I never threw her out, it was Alex who--... - He stopped himself and took a deep breath before trying again. - Ok, I'm genuinely sorry if she felt mistreated, but I promise that I did my best to ask her gently if she could leave us alone for a while. -

He sounded genuine if only because he looked affronted by Jungkook's wording. So he believed him and nodded with half a grin.

- That's alright, then. What a girl you have there, huh? You said she was different from Barbie, what happened? - He asked with a chuckle. But Garrett didn't laugh, he just averted his eyes to the floor before answering again.

- Yeah, well... She's pretty when she's not angry. - He said with a shrug and finally knocked on the door. - It's Garrett. - He announced.

He actually looked crestfallen talking about his girl. And any kind of intimacy Jungkook had thought had happened in that room, blew out the window. Maybe they just wanted to be alone to fight.

Jungkook grimaced at the idea. Even if he knew so little about him, Garrett was not a bad person, and there's nothing Jungkook would hate more than a kind person being mistreated.

At the sound of unhurried steps nearing the door, Jungkook turned his head. And that's when the door opened to reveal what looked like Leo's roommate, meaning, Garrett's friend, meaning, J, the one with a lot of screens on the side of his room.

He didn't say anything, he didn't even glance at Jungkook, he just saw Garrett and let the door swing open as he walked back to his desk. So Garrett, tentatively, walked in, trailed by Jungkook.

- Hi. - Garrett greeted the pair in the room in a little voice. Because there were indeed two people in the room. But none were Leo. On what appeared to be Leo's bed, rested another guy, one he could only suspect was August, the "angry ghost", judging by his pale pallor, black clothes, and shoes, which he hadn't even taken off to lay down - Where's your roommate? - Garrett asked for him, just as confused.

And J answered from his desk as he frowned down at his screen.

- I believe he's staying with his green-eyed friend since he has no roommate. I checked the administration's rooms list and found that he had actually sent a long letter asking for a private room, but apparently... he doesn't mind anymore. - He muttered the last part as he concentrated on something else.

But Jungkook was fully concentrating on that. Finn had asked for a private room, but now he was lending that place to Leo? He went through all the trouble of trying to get a room for himself and then simply gave that privilege away?

And how did this guy get that information???

He took a step forward to ask about it, however, he didn't get the chance. Only now that Jungkook entered the room fully did they realize Garrett wasn't alone.

- Who's that? - Asked "the ghost" from Leo's bed.

But before Garrett answered, Jungkook felt something weird coming from his right side, making him look instantaneously. But it was J, looking at him from his chair, emotionless, simply looking at him very intently.

So intently, that Jungkook could actually feel his stare as if it was something physical.

- This is my friend. Jungkook. He's looking for--

- Jungkook? - August asked suddenly in a hushed voice as he frowned, and then turned his head on the pillow to look at J. - Jungkook? -

Jungkook frowned at the confusion and at the blaring intensity of J's stare that had suddenly become much more... intrusive? It made him want to cover himself up.

- Jungkook... ? - J asked, very slowly, closing his eyes halfway as if trying to see something.

- Doesn't it sound familiar to you? - August asked J.

- It didn't sound familiar to me. - Garrett chimed in.

What are they talking about? This is a Korean name, obviously, they wouldn't have heard it before here, but why are they reacting this way?

- Mhhh... - J muttered before standing up and rounding his desk to lean against it as he kept on looking at Jungkook with that awful, intrusive stare. - Jungkook... could you tell me the date, please? -

Jungkook frowned, grimaced, and shook his head, entirely bemused. But Garrett had become rigid, with his back still to him as he looked at his friends.

- What...? - Jungkook asked, just above a whisper of terrible confusion.

- The date. Could you tell me today's date? Or what time it is? - J tried to explain to him, but truthfully, if this is supposed to be a lawyer in the making, Jungkook had never been less persuaded to tell him any bit of information even if it was just the time.

- Why...? - Jungkook asked. He had never been more weirded out in his life, and he's had a long one.

He took a step back towards the open door. And saw how August sat up and put his feet on the floor, ready to leap up, making Jungkook ready himself for when he did.

- We want to make sure of something, could you do that for us? You only have to tell us what time it is and that's it. - His voice... sounded nice. It turned different somehow, very nice to the ear.

Ok then, he had to give it to him, J could be a persuading person if he wanted to. But even so, Jungkook was not swayed. Staying with his mouth shut and without looking away from J, he took another step back.

At that exact moment when he took that step, August jumped to his feet with his eyes wide open, startling Jungkook who opened his hands at each side of him instinctively.

- ...he's not doing what you told him to. - August said in a cautious voice, low and soft as he squinted at Jungkook. As if it was unheard of for someone to disobey J or something.

- I'm well aware of that. - J answered, his persuading tones gone.

Garrett shuddered and turned around to look at Jungkook with a pained expression before turning back to his friends. His body tensed all over.

- I don't think you have to do this right now. - He tried to stop them, but August just took a step closer, his eyes never leaving Jungkook.

- Do I look like I care, Garrett? Tell us the time, boy. - August demanded of Jungkook.

This is turning out actually scary. He took another step back when J spoke again.

- I can't read anything. - J said to his friends, without looking away from Jungkook. And though what he said didn't mean anything to him, the other two seemed to freeze. - Haven't you realized that your friend has a mirror around him, Garrett? -

He knew that had nothing to do with having a literal mirror around him but with something else Jungkook had no idea about.

...could he be talking about auras?

His head snapped at Garrett the moment he turned around to look at him with a frown. He looked at him up and down as if he couldn't believe his eyes, as if he had never noticed something before.

Jungkook was just perplexed as he stayed standing in that place. Maybe if they talked a bit more within themselves he will be able to understand a bit more, or maybe he simply should be running right now. But either way, his need to get information and understand what he couldn't wasn't letting him move.

Garrett shook his head and looked back at J, completely baffled.

- His name doesn't ring any bells, I swear. Just... let this drop, alright? - And he looked back at Jungkook. - Look, Leo's clearly not here, you can go. -

- No, he can't. - August cut in and walked forward, harshly slapping Garrett's upper back as he passed to be both two steps away from Jungkook and closed the door with him inside. Jungkook's senses went into sharper focus. And the moment he saw Garrett holding in a shout of pain as if his friend had just punched a terrible injury, he saw red. But August's tone went glacier as he stared intently at him and said... - Tell us today's date, or I'll make you scream it. -

A terrible chill ran down Jungkook's spine and he suddenly felt like his knees weren't secure anymore. This skinny, pale, and quiet-looking guy... had the voice of a murderer.

- Stop that. - Garrett grabbed his shoulder and pushed him back a step. - He's my friend. -

- And just because of that you don't want him involved? I don't give a shit--

- Jungkook, - J approached him. - How old are you? -

- He's... - Garrett was just about to answer J dismissively, but then seemed to have remembered, just like Jungkook, that his age and the time he had spent in this university matched what "the spirit" told him last night.

They locked eyes for the briefest of seconds. The briefest of seconds. And in just that second, every single muscle in Jungkook's body knew what to do from countless past experiences. In just that second, he knew what to do in second number two, and judging by the way Garrett's eyes widened the tiniest fraction, he knew as well.

But he did it anyway. Because he was the only one in the room closest to the door.

As if lightning had struck his veins, Jungkook jumped back, grabbed the handle, saw a glimpse of the three of them snapping their eyes at their prey, and immediately closed the door in their faces with a bang. He ran like hell towards the stairs as he heard a little commotion happening on the other side of the door. It sounded like Garrett was actually telling them something really fastly. And it was when Jungkook's head had disappeared down the stairs to his own floor that he heard the door banging open again.

If he had said he had been the spirit, they would keep him there because Garrett had told him he was looking for someone, and if he had said nothing, they would still keep him there because they believed -for some reason other than Garrett's "information"- that Jungkook was who they were looking for. So yes, he had to run.

Just like his life depended on it, Jungkook legged it, but not towards his own room. He knew they knew where he was going but it didn't matter, he simply needed someplace to breathe and think for a second. So he sprinted down the corridor straight to the end of the building and then darted right. The windows flashed beside him as he went to the last door of the corridor. Where Leo was.

He knocked with his knuckles as fast as his heartbeat while slamming his other hand over the door as well, just as rapidly. All the while he swallowed down a scream as his eyes couldn't look away from the start of the corridor. If that angry ghost appears, he will be trapped with only the windows and a high fall as his way out.

But the door opened.

Frightened beyond belief, he pushed the door open, pushing the person with it, and got himself inside to then close the door as silently yet as fastly as he could.

His heart was going a mile an hour, he couldn't control his breathing, and the moment he turned around and saw Finn sitting at the end of his bed with a hand over his stomach as if he had actually punched him aside, he let out a hysterical little laugh and slapped a hand over his mouth.

- I am so sorry. - He whispered as he let go of his mouth and laughed again. The fright turned to adrenaline and confused everyone into thinking it was excitement when in reality he was afraid for his life.

- Kook? - Leo groaned from the other bed as he stood up, his eyes still half closed with sleepiness as he stiffly opened the curtains and let the cold, white light shine in. - What the fuck, man? It's the crack of dawn. - He complained as he ruffled his already ruffled black hair.

- Actually... I might never say the time again. To anyone. - He chuckled hysterically again. And Finn stood up, frowning concernedly.

- Was someone chasing after you? - He asked.

But Jungkook had one better for Leo.

- Are you sleeping here 'cause your roommate was the one who hit you yesterday? - He asked rapidly and Leo's eyes snapped open as he darted forwards. But the rush didn't end there and Jungkook turned his head to look at Finn. - Why are you letting him sleep here if you requested a room for yourself? -

Leo gaped and looked at Finn who, in turn, opened his eyes wide at Jungkook.

- How did you know? -

- Is that true? - Leo asked, but neither paid attention to him.

- Apparently, J is a hacker. He found the letter you sent here asking to be left alone. But that's not why I'm here. - He backpedaled as he straightened away from the door and walked a bit closer to Leo and the window. - The two of them... or three... were chasing me just now. I need to think, wait a second. - He saw Leo just about to open his mouth, but his adrenaline made him talk again. -I didn't come here to ask you to fight, I only came here to think. I need quiet before they come here. Cause they will. Cause they know you're here. - He sighed and walked straight towards the window to open it a bit and let the cold air hit him in the face as he leaned to the side against the wall.

But he couldn't think of anything else than their soft voices at the other side of the room.

- ...why did you ask for a room alone? -

He had never heard this kind of softness coming from Leo. But Jungkook acted like he couldn't hear as he looked at the scenery of the cold morning.

- I'll tell you later. - Finn ended the conversation in a whisper, maybe knowing Jungkook could hear or because he had a reason why he didn't want anybody to know.

Maybe he should've calmed down faster so his mouth would stay shut, but oh well, perhaps this would get them closer.

- Why did he punch you, Leo? - Jungkook asked, much calmer now, but no one replied. He turned his head to look, but Leo's lips were tightly shut as he shook his head in exasperation. Alright then... let's try another question. - Did you hear something you shouldn't have? - Neither answered, but Leo nodded his head rapidly at the floor. So, the injury was to keep them quiet about something they heard. - Alright. -

He couldn't outright tell them that they suspected him of being "The Rose" they were looking for, but he was able to see just when Finn's jaw loosened and he sighed. Relieved? Exasperated? No idea. Leo closed his eyes harshly and put his fists up to clench his entire body with an enraged grunt. And Jungkook was still trying to figure out what to do now.

He had classes tomorrow with Garrett, and closer than that, he had a date with Taehyung today. He couldn't stay hidden and he also couldn't stay in silence at all times in fear of them getting a hold of whatever they had been looking for. Maybe that's why Jungkook felt like he had wanted to cover himself; because J was trying to see his aura when he couldn't.

Could that actually happen? He knows absolutely nothing about auras, but... for someone to say that he "couldn't read him", sounded off to him.

He sighed greatly and placed his hand on his hips as he looked to the side out the window.

...what if he was The Rose?

The two of them had heard his name and immediately started acting all weird about it like it had rung a bell or something; J was looking at him as if he was actually trying to find his soul; and if they were people who could truly sense other people's energy and J had said that he couldn't "read anything", then that could also mean why they hadn't realized he was with Garrett until they saw him there. They only needed to hear his name to start asking him for the date. However, the way they were asking him to talk had been too desperate, too sloppy, as if they had never had someone with that many boxes checked; the name, the aura...

There were too many coincidences for Jungkook to believe he wasn't the one they were looking for (judging by Garrett's questions in the woods the night before). But then again, why would he be the one who's supposed to be guarded by the spirit of the white pavilion? Why would he be called "The Rose''? Why would so many people search for him so intently? It didn't seem right, it doesn't click for him, there's no logic.

And why would they appear in his life only now if they were so desperate to find him?

This entire thing simply baffles him more and more. It's just ridiculous to think that these people could see and read auras and were looking for somebody--... It was ridiculous, it really was, it was just... impossible to believe...

The evidence pointed that Taehyung was the magical one, not him, he had nothing, Taehyung had had much more deja vus before he was eighteen than Jungkook has had in his entire life; and yes, he had indeed said that sometimes it feels like he had lived with Taehyung before, but that doesn't mean it's true.

...right?

Jungkook groaned and put his hands over his face to rub his eyes. Again, too much for one morning.

- You know what? - He asked the pair of them as he lowered his hands and saw them stopping mid-conversation. - Do you guys want to go to the gym? I need to burn this off. - He said with a grimace.

- Yep. - Leo answered at once, turning away from Finn and going to organize his bed. - I've been wanting to go since day one. -

- Umm, excuse me, mister. - Finn said sarcastically as he walked over to his nightstand and took a bottle of ointment. - Yeah... you can't go. - He turned around to Leo and passed him the bottle.

What struck Jungkook the most was that this bottle, supposedly for Leo, had been on Finn's nightstand. Also, the way Finn looked resolutely at Leo and the way the latter immediately started sulking... was endearing. It really was. In a very strange and unlikely way.

- But... I can do it mildly. - He sulked.

- Considering how you are literally ripped and haven't gone to the gym for a whole week, I can promise you that you will not do it mildly and you will only injure yourself further. - Finn said simply and took a step forwards to press the tip of the bottle to his chest. Leo finally took it with a groan. - We should actually go and take an x-ray as soon as possible because the doctor said she couldn't tell if something was broken or not. - He thought out loud as he turned around and started to organize his bed.

- Are you... - Leo sighed and groaned again as he rolled his eyes once more. - Nothing's broken, I'd know it if it was. You and Emily get worked up for nothing. -

But Jungkook was worried too. Because his friend seemed to be purposely arching his back inwards so his abdomen wasn't that stretched.

- I think you should--.. -

- Knock, knock, bitches! Open the door! -

The three of them froze at the shout coming from outside.

It was the angry ghost.

Jungkook placed a hand over his forehead as his mind started to race since he hadn't decided anything yet, Finn looked from the door to the window, seeming to think whether it was worth it, and Leo was just cracking his knuckles and tightening his yaw. What a trio.

There was simply nothing else to it.

- You can either open the door or jump out the window, either way, it's good for me. -

He's goddamn right.

Jungkook sighed, defeated, and walked forwards to open the door. Whatever this guy wanted to do, he couldn't kill them in here. But there were still worse things than death and that's what scares Jungkook the most. His hand felt clammy as he reached to open the door, but he opened it with a high chin.

The whole trio was there, first the ghost, then J, and finally, Garrett, looking like he was so sorry for having to do any of this, so genuinely sorry. Jungkook pursed his lips, averting his eyes at Garrett, still without knowing what to do exactly with this whole situation and fearing what this simple and easy new friendship could potentially stop.

- Right. - August spoke with a fake, kind voice while his arms rested folded over his chest. - I hope you know you're making it harder than it should be. Come with us. -

Jungkook scoffed at the sudden demand.

- Fuck off, I won't. -

- Did I ask if you wanted to come? - He asked rhetorically.

Garrett grimaced, glanced up at Jungkook, and back down at the floor.

- There are a lot of first-year students, let's just go. - He tried once again to make them back down.

And still, that little part in Jungkook was telling him that it all pointed that it was either him or Taehyung, but if it was indeed a student whom they were looking for, it was simply him. Even so, this was too sudden and too aggressive for his taste, and to make that clear for everyone, he decided on the spot and turned around towards Leo and Finn to say.

- You should go take an x-ray, you're not moving right. I'm going to the gym while you're at it. - He said this as nonchalantly as possible, simply informing of what he planned to do. Leo snapped his eyes open, looking from him to the people behind him until August clicked his tongue.

- He has nothing broken. - He said with exasperation.

- Oh yeah? - Jungkook turned around as he folded his arms over his chest. - Then how do you explain the massive bruise he has, huh? -

August simply rolled his eyes.

- Garrett, tell them. -

The latter sighed and walked forwards, inside the room and straight towards Leo who was looking at him defiantly and not moving from his place, not even when Garrett placed a hand on his shoulder.

- You should exercise and stretch thoroughly so there's an increase of oxygen in your blood and the healing could maximize itself. Then take a cold shower until your entire body has cooled down, which will help the popped vessels stop bleeding internally, and finally, put that cream on. The one on your bed. This way of doing things is painful but effective if you do it right. You could put ice on it and it'll take about two weeks to be gone while this method will do it in three days. Your choice. And don't worry, there's nothing broken. - He finished in a monotone but soft voice.

Jungkook frowned at Leo as Garrett took his hand off him and walked back outside. Leo then frowned at Finn, who then frowned at the trio behind Jungkook before looking back at Leo and shrugging.

- If they know how to do it, they must know how to undo it. Your choice. -

- I only told you to tell them, didn't I? - At the sound of August's angry voice, Jungkook turned his head to him and noticed how the both of them were looking disappointedly at Garrett as he positioned himself behind them again. But right when August was about to speak once more, Jungkook lifted a hand and stopped him.

- I'm not doing this. - He said with finality, trying desperately to stop the weirdness of it all and the confusion of not having enough information to understand. So, with a frown, he turned back towards Leo and Finn to say, - I'll go get my bag, come back here for you two, we have breakfast, then go to the gym, ok? -

- Fine. - Leo answered, still frowning in mistrust at the others behind him as he held the bruised side of his abdomen. Looking just as stunned by this whole ordeal as Jungkook was inside.

Jungkook gave Finn a nod of farewell then walked out, closing the door behind him. And without another glance at these people, he started walking back to his room.

He was ignoring and denying this whole thing was even happening. He did not feel anything when J had looked at him too intently, he did not feel like his heart was about to jump out of his chest when he had to run away from Leo's room, he did not have to run away from Leo's room, he simply walked straight to Finn's room, found then there, woke them up to ask if they wanted it got to the gym, Leo wasn't in so much pain anymore so he said he would go, and now Jungkook was walking to his room to get his stuff. That's it. That's all that happened. Nothing else.

- So... - Garrett sped up to be right beside him and muttered for him to hear. - Jungkook, umm... I'm really sorry about everything that's going on. I know it might look strange or something but--

- Not strange. - Jungkook cut in, his mind detached from this conversation and simply answering out of habit as he looked forward. - Weird, Garrett. -

He saw him nodding by the side of his eye.

- Yes, yes, I know, I'm sorry. But could you maybe... tell me what time it is? It's just to make sure of something. -

Jungkook let out a deep breath and turned left. They must be really sure that it was him to show themselves as desperate as this. To not even care that he had just been called weird was proof that this was way too serious to care about what others might think; it showed that they would get what they need by any means necessary.

Then he took a very deep breath as he turned left again.

As crazy and far-fetched and unbelievable as it may sound... he'll put all the cards into consideration for a second just to see how it'll plan out: If he's the "chosen one" or "miracle child" or whatever, then the moment he gives them... the date? or the time? they will... What, take him away? Whatever it is that they need him for, if he really is the one or Taehyung is the one, and this is as serious as it looks, then shit will go down somehow for them and it can't today because they have a date this afternoon...

Just how utterly insane all of this sounds? People able to see auras and read them? People able to talk to spirits? People who have weird tattoos that scare Taehyung for some reason? If all of that is true then: The HMD was actually a ploy and it's not real, and the people rioting in the streets right now know; that all of the money donated to this "cause" is stolen by the rich, all of the "infected" are falsely accused only to get more money, and all of the fear is part of the plan so people feel forced to marry, buy houses, and have children who then would become workers for the rich to get richer and--... and...

...why... does all of that sound... logical?

Jungkook's walking slowly stopped beside his door as his eyes locked on the window ahead at the end of the corridor.

Why did that sound logical? He had merely been thinking nonsense because of every other nonsense that has been thrown his way this morning, so why does it look like these weird people coming into his life have actually made everything make sense?

But then again, if this nonsense made sense, then the other nonsense did as well.

He frowned and placed a hand over his forehead. He was baffled. And the fact that Garrett hadn't said a word only increased his stress.

- Garrett--

- Yes? -

Jungkook blinked and looked sideways at him.

Does Garrett know what he had been thinking this whole time? 'Cause, if he does, and he looks excited as if he was waiting for Jungkook to finally cooperate, it'll only mean that his nonsense had been nothing but the truth.

And that only made his head hurt.

- I'll talk to you tomorrow. - He told him with a slow nod as he let his hand fall from his forehead and onto the doorknob. Garrett seemed highly disappointed at that, and the sound of someone else clicking his tongue told Jungkook that the other two were still behind them. But, before Garrett could say anything else, he cut him off. - Tomorrow, Garrett. I'll talk to you tomorrow. - He put his foot down.

Garrett pursed his lips with a frown and took a step back.

- Alright. See you tomorrow, then. -

Jungkook merely nodded before taking his keys out and opening the door to his room to get in and finally lose these guys for the day. However, right before he could close the door, a very pale hand stopped him.

He groaned loudly.

- I said tomorrow. -

- Your roommate is a first-year student too. - The ghost answered him as calmly as ever and started to open the door wider.

Jungkook will not let him get to Jimin.

- ¡Fuck off! -

They fought over the opening and closing of the door, but this pale guy was stronger than him, and eventually ended up opening the door, pushing Jungkook aside so he could simply walk in.

Jungkook looked around in alarm but... there was no one else in the room. Judging by the water running in the shower, he guessed Jimin was in there so he placed himself in the way. However, August looked at that door, squinted his eyes, and looked back at Jimin's bed.

Then he tilted his head as he looked at it. It was still undone, but what else was he seeing? J made his way inside the room as well, but slower, his eyes squinted as well, looking confusedly around the room. He even placed a hand over his chest. Jungkook looked quietly at their strange reactions and then looked at Garrett who was looking at his friends with sorry-filled eyes as if he knew what they were feeling and why.

He was about to ask about it when J asked him in hushed tones.

- Are you hiding a toddler in here? -

Jungkook frowned and blinked. A toddler? Like an actual child? He slowly shook his head and saw how J's eyebrows pulled up before he talked to August.

- Is that... coming from his roommate? -

Is what coming from Jimin?

August, with his eyes glued to Jimin's bed, nodded slowly. J said nothing, he simply looked mournful. And then, slowly, August knelt, placed his hands on the floor, and flattened himself against it until his cheek was touching the cold surface as he looked under the bed.

Of course, Jungkook had yelled and fought with another guy as he tried to close the door; Jimin must've gotten scared out of his mind when he couldn't recognize the voice coming from the other side.

But August was... uncharacteristically gentle, it seemed. He said nothing as he lay on the floor, he simply looked beneath the bed, as if he was making eye contact with the frightened Jimin. Jungkook could only picture him, right against the wall and far from the edge of the bed while he clutched a sleeve-covered hand to his mouth and stared wide-eyed at the stranger looking back at him. Jungkook thought it would only be better to get them all out of the room, but right when he was about to take a step forward, Garrett took a step inside. He was frowning down at August as if this was the very first time he had ever seen him doing something like this, but J turned to look at him and shook his head, telling him to be quiet.

Then, tentatively slowly, August opened one of his hands for Jimin to see in the light before, just as slowly, sliding that hand beneath the bed. And then again, he stopped moving. But this time, he took a deep breath and said...

- Good morning. I'm sorry for being so loud just now. Did I wake you? -

...!?

Jungkook needed aspirin. He simply turned around, took his bag, and started organizing it for the day. He will take breakfast, have some aspirin, exercise like there's no tomorrow, and then he'll be too tired to think of anything else that wasn't Taehyung. A perfect example of a good day.

- No? That's good. - August kept on talking.

And Jungkook didn't know what was worse, that this guy had looked like a murderer when they had been upstairs earlier or that he sounded genuinely sweet right now.

Were they shapeshifters as well or something? Jungkook rolled his eyes as he noticed the shower had been turned off for a while now.

- Could you give me a second? It'll be quick. - He whispered to Jimin and then stood up and turned to them. - I am ninety-nine percent sure it's him. - He said with a nod in Jungkook's direction.

Jungkook blinked but simply put his bag over his shoulder.

- But--

- Garrett, look at that, he paints. What other coincidence do you need, huh? -

Nothing, nothing, Jungkook's hearing nothing, lalalalalalalal.....

- Just... Let's see how things will play out today, if it goes fine enough, you'll talk to him tomorrow, alright? - J told Garrett and the latter nodded at last. Still displeased yet willing.

- Alright, then. - August said and gave a glance back at the bed. - I'll stay here for a while, you two can go. -

Jungkook wasn't even going to attempt telling him that it was in fact his room and that he was not welcomed. Nope, he just stayed silent, waiting for them to leave so he could leave too. At least he'll know the angry ghost could be gentle.

But his morning got even better.

The bathroom door opened and, looking dressed and fresh, out came Tom, who froze entirely at the sight of J.

J looked back at him... and frowned deeply as he turned around to him.

- Byebye. - August sang, wide-eyed, before rapidly disappearing beneath the bed with Jimin.

And Jungkook.exe has officially shut down. Not a single thought could enter his already filled mind. He was simply there in body, nothing else.

Just to see what other bullshit the universe would throw at him this morning, he leaned back against his chest of drawers and watched.

- Tyr? -

Oh, that'll be good. He's never heard that name before. If only he had some popcorn.

- No... Tom. -

But would you look at that, Garrett widened his eyes at J. *Gasp* What will happen now??

- He's Tyr? The son of--?

- Yes. - J said, his eyes never leaving Tom's. - We never heard from you again. If it's not too much to ask, may you tell us if you've been well taken care of? -

It appears that the protagonist in this fictional movie was Tom, who took some time to answer as he looked still frozen.

But, at last, the protagonist of this soap opera answered barely above a whisper.

- Yes. -

- That's good. - J said again. But there was a tension in the air that suggested it was not good. And then J said something that made even the hairs of Jungkook's arms stand on end even if he wasn't taking anything seriously. - Your uncle will be glad to know we've found you. -

Tom's chest expanded with a tensed breath. As if he was happy... but also, not.

- I'm happy where I am right now. -

- No, you're not. - J said simply, sure of his words, tilting his head back and putting his hands inside his pockets. - You'll never be happy if you can't be yourself. Sure, whoever took you can love you dearly, but you're not like them, are you? And every time you show your true power, they're scared for you, believing they need to help you get rid of that, instead of teaching you how to nurture it. You're not happy, you're trapped inside a pretty house with kind people, you only believe you're happy because they are the only ones who have shown you kindness even if they're doing you an injustice by locking away your potential. You can love them and still not live with them, Tyr. You can visit them whenever you want to. Come home, Tyr. We can help you be free. -

Wait, wait, wait... Jungkook's brain caught that.

It seems that Garrett, August, J, and... Tom came from the same place J called "home". In that case, it'll make sense that Tom could bite someone in the neck and paralyze them just like Leo had been punched in the side by one of them and his leg went numb. This whole ordeal could also explain why he was so desperate not to be hated yet did everything he could so people would get away from him, and then, once they are too close, he doesn't want to let them go....

That was it. That was all Jungkook's brain was able to do. Now he just went back to thinking: "So, Tom is actually Tyr and he was one of the magical ones... yupi". In other words: Static.

- I'm... - Tom started saying, again with that excitement from before, but then shook his head before speaking again. - Can we do this tomorrow? This is just--

- I know, right? - Jungkook agreed with him, making him flinch as he looked at him, appearing not to have noticed him before. Jungkook simply grabbed his bag straps and leaned away from his drawer as he said. - How dare they do this shit on a Sunday, huh? So rude of them. - He grinned coldly with a frown, and then shrugged with a little smile at him. - See ya. - He farewelled and, looking straight out the door as if there was no one else there, he walked out and straight towards Finn's room.

There was an angry pull inside of him, but he did all he could to avoid it as he sang in his head: This is bullshit, this is bullshit, this is bull-bull-shit.

He was almost fine enough with the shock of finding himself irrevocably in love with a man he met a week ago, and then they threw magic at his face? And expect him to do what? Believe it? Pl-ease, an overwhelmed mind can only take one thing at a time and he was already dealing with: His feelings with Taehyung in a world that would burn him alive for it, what happened yesterday to Edward and Audrey, dealing with the fact that they wanted a future together and it would be next to impossible with the lawsuit tieing Taehyung to his wife, then his own parents being a pain and appearing in his life only when he's doing something he shouldn't alongside their best-fucking-friend, and, in the middle of all of this, starting university where he will have to study and do homework and exams and go to class and... And anyone seriously expects him to be able to take one more thing without his mind breaking at last?

No. His mind couldn't take any more. He simply wouldn't be able to process it. So it shut itself up and left him with elevator music and nothing else as he walked towards his friends, and he'll go to eat, workout, and then have a date that afternoon, and his life will be as normal as it could be.

Haaaaaa sweet sweet denial.

Garrett watched Jungkook rounding the corner at the end of the long corridor ahead and sighed. This morning had taken such a turn of events. Jungkook could be the one they were looking for, and Tom... is Tyr? The child that ran away when his father exploded in a fit of uncontrollable energy? They all believed him dead, but here they found him, all grown up and frowning at them from the bathroom door. Garrett looked back at him and found him looking towards Jimin's bed, most probably because he knew both Jimin and Yoongi were beneath it. And he looked back up at Hoseok only to find him with his usual relentless focus at work, looking down at that bed, up at Tyr, sideways at Jungkook's amazing paintings, and down again.

Garrett shook his head as he let out a deep breath and gently slapped Hoseok twice on the shoulder to indicate to him that he was going now. He heard nothing in return as he left them all behind. He had too many things to think about and not enough energy to do so after giving away some for Leo to heal, yet the first thing that appeared in his mind was Jungkook and not only how he had reacted upstairs but also what he just found out.

He had no idea and never realized that Jungkook's aura was hidden deep inside of him and that what he had believed was his aura had merely been a mirror all this time. So, when he saw Jungkook for the first time and he thought he had seen hesitancy and a little bit of shyness, it had actually been his own aura reflected at him, and then, all those times he had thought Jungkook had felt insecure about their friendship, it was actually, once again, his own feelings being reflected off of that mirror around him. So he had no idea what Jungkook had ever truly felt about him, and when he thought he had a tenner of who Jungkook was as a person, he had merely seen himself.

That's why his energy changed when Barbie came in and changed again when she left. All those times where he had looked angry or sad or anxious or even happy, Garrett had never been able to see why they were about, so he had just thought that Jungkook was an anxious person, or generally happy, or again, generally sad. But it all had been a mirror, a barrier, and his true self was not even behind that barrier but deep inside of him, inside his flesh.

There are no good stories about hidden souls. Tyr's father had been one of those. He wasn't a man born into the clan so he did not know their beliefs and teachings when he came in once he married Tyr's mother, but that hadn't been a problem, all the spouses that were from the outside were taught to be like them so they could finally become one with the clan and therefore be part of the family -for those who chose to bring in their loved ones instead of staying with them forever-. So, the problem wasn't that he didn't know or that he didn't want to learn, but that he had many difficulties with opening up his soul so he could put all that theory to practice. And finally, in one of those times where he tried once more out of desperation, something went terribly wrong and ended up locking away his soul and aura inside his body.

It was like a walking dead. He had no presence, he couldn't feel the earth, the energy around him, other people's energy, he could feel none of that. Garrett remembers hearing this story and thinking of touch deprivation of the soul, and the thought of it still makes him tremble.

People tried helping him, and everyone tried, but once they had deemed him unable to be cured, his wife tried. However, she didn't have enough power in her to do it, so it took all her energy, till her body didn't even have enough to make her heart keep beating, and once she managed to finally liberate his soul, she died.

A newly liberated soul was something the clan has little experience with and the both of them had been alone in their house when it all happened, so they had no idea there was a possibility that she would die, and they also had no idea that the energy locked away in the soul could maximize until that body became a living bomb if presented with a situation that would arouse his feelings. So, she died... and he exploded in pure agony. And the little one, Tyr, who, because of his father's predicament, had been born without any markings, was never found in the ruins of the house.

It is simply a pity that they had to find him now in such chaotic times. Garrett never dreamed of finding him but then again finding him and not celebrating the fact that he was alive was simply... sad. They had all mourned him with his mother and father even if everyone believed he had somehow run somewhere else, so, to find him, and not show him the relief they all most certainly feel could come off as if no one had actually cared for his disappearance which was not the case in the slightest.

Garrett stopped walking right when he arrived at the end of the stairs, looking at the glass doors to the outside.

He was in half a mind to turn around and hug him. The fact that he had seen him before in his Literature classes and hadn't recognized him as Hoseok had... Well, he does have to forgive himself there, there was no way he could've recognized him when he had been two years old and very much away from home when the incident happened whilst Hoseok had been around seven years old at the time. But even so, no hugs? no tears of joy? nothing? Well, he did ask for this to be left for tomorrow like Jungkook so maybe... maybe he doesn't want any of it. Maybe he really doesn't, considering how it appears that he found himself a new family. But then again... what if he had been born just like his father and he could barely feel other people because of it?

Maybe that could explain why he was friends with Jimin. Since that one carries such strong emotions in him, Tyr could feel him, and so, he could make a connection with him. But that would require Jimin to be always suffering, and that's not a healthy relationship.

Garrett kept walking towards the cafeteria as he thought with a little grimace.

When Garrett heard Jungkook needed help for his roommate he thought it would be common depression or a mild panic attack or anxiety, which were still terribly bad at worst but could be cured by a pat on the shoulder from him at best, so he went. But the feeling he got when he arrived at the door of that room wouldn't let him pass. He couldn't take another step inside. And the sight of that bathroom door, of the energy pouring out of it... It was black mist, cold as ice... It wasn't a wish to die, Garrett would've felt the "vacant" feeling, the "hole" if the person wanted to die; this wasn't that. The feeling he got when he entered that room and looked at that door was as if there was a tortured little kid, terrified, hiding away, and bleeding out from every injury his heart has ever received. It wasn't a wish to die, it was a hidden child sobbing a quiet plea for the pain to be over so he could be fine at last.

Not even a hug from him could cure that. Even if he gave him eighty percent of his energy and he would feel great for a while, he would still have the weight pulling down on him, he would still have the nightmares, the traumas. He could only cure that with time and very specific sessions only so he could open his soul completely, and then he would need a whole group of Healer Cores to help him clean it all up.

It's almost like an open heart operation where Jimin would have to be asleep while they clean the darkness away. But he won't only be sleeping. He would have to fight against every single one of those nightmares and win so the Healers could take hold of that darkness and throw it away before it takes hold of his soul again. That's what the previous sessions would have to be for, to make sure he would be ready to face those inner demons and fight until he won. However, considering how brittle Jimin's heart seems to be at the moment, it would take a while for him to even be ready for the previous sessions before the operation. Because, if he wasn't ready for it, he could succumb to the pain and the fear and die a terrible death.

Only three times has Garrett seen it be done. The first time was so he could learn about it, then the second and third one were because he had been needed in the group to take out darkness from a soul. And it was in the last one where he witnessed how the person lost the battle. It was a girl named Aurora, she hadn't been born in the clan but she was the friend of one of the boys there, and she wanted to be helped get rid of it all. They both had been twelve years old when Garrett witnessed her soul sinking into the earth because of the massive weight of darkness it carried, and disappearing right before his eyes. He cried for three whole days because of it.

If it hadn't been for Luz, he might've refused his own Core and never continued being a Healer after that.

As Garrett thought of Luz for a while and about how he might've woken up today, he took his breakfast to a desolated part of the cafeteria next to a window. And it was right when he thought of Luz and those two people whom he grew up hearing about constantly, that his thoughts were pulled once again towards Jungkook.

The whole ordeal was a mess. The fact that he hadn't realized Jungkook had a mirror around himself like a shield or that he hadn't told Hoseok and Yoongi what the spirit had told him the night before because he had no idea of the specifics of the plan, made him have a headache. There were simply several things he had been doing wrong and they all started yesterday. No, scratch that. His messing up started with the week because of the lack of hugs he gave Alex. Maybe if he had given her more of his energy every day, she wouldn't have reacted that way yesterday, and that way he wouldn't be in excruciating pain this morning.

"Can't you just worry about yourself for one goddam minute? Why does everybody else matter more than you?"

Garrett took a deep breath and swallowed that last bite before muttering to the heavens.

- I am because of everybody else. If they perish, so do I. Can't that be considered me taking care of myself, Luz? - And then he stayed silent for a while as he looked up at the gray sky.

Once he realized he had been waiting for a response, he stood up and left his tray so he could go meditate. He was starting to think weirdly now that he was tired. He'll meditate until his battery is one hundred percent full once more, then he'll heal himself, and meditate again to regain the energy he would use for that. Then he'll maybe go see Alex before lunch and check if she needs any of it, and then at night time, he would come down again to do the ritual. It would be perfect if he found the spirit again, maybe he could ask more questions this time.

This was such a crucial time in the history of humanity, if The Rose dies before they could get to him, they will never be able to find him again, and their chances to lift the curse that's got humankind so cold and hateful will be null once more. They have to find him before the wrong people do. 

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🌼Thank you for reading Chapter 49 <3<3<3

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