Y'all this is a VERY long part (a multi-part for your patience 🙏), so I've inserted 2 snack-breaks in case you get exhausted.
💜
& Please vote/comment since it's an important chpt. THIS BOOK WILL BE 27 PARTS so not long left to go now.. ☹️💔

Everyone freezes for a moment to look at Teddy's empty sleeping bag. Jimin turns over and completely loses it, ruffling one hand through the sheets.

"Teddy?! W-WHERE THE HELL IS TEDDY?"

The loud rev of an engine fills the front lawn, as well as a high-pitched scream and headlights that beam bright saucers against the curtains.

We all immediately run outside, past a small window by the door that has been smashed to reveal men forcing Teddy into a black van.

"Stop!! Let me go you big brutes!!!"

She tries clawing her hands against the open-van door before one of Jaebum's men kick her back down by the chest. He then slams the door shut and they speed off.

"NO!" I scream.

Taehyung runs to their recent position and aims a sniper down the street with one eye pinched shut.

Bangs erupt from the gun's beak as each bullet darts at their rear tire perfectly, though the car doesn't seem to slow down.

He lowers the weapon with clenched teeth.

"Fuck. Bulletproof wheels."

"Jungkook's car!" Hoseok points. We hurry to Jungkook's car in unison but just as I'm about to pull the handle, I notice the tires have been slashed.

Jungkook's fist slams against the roof, "You've got to be kidding me!"

"How could this have happened?!" I turn to Taehyung, "How comes we didn't hear them coming in?!"

"It was deliberate. They broke in and took her without noise, yet were able to smash an exit window. They wanted us to know they have her."

"Well what are you waiting for?! Follow them! Get her back!" Jimin panics.

"I don't know where they went Jimin!" He shouts back.

The older exhales with puffed cheeks and clutches the back of his hair whilst looking up to blink away tears. "They took Teddy... They've got her... They've got my girlfriend... Fuck..."

"No Jimin, breathe." I hold his shoulder, "We're going to get her back."

Taehyung adds, "Yeah, we're not just letting them keep her. I'll track where they went and go after her tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?! She could be DEAD tomorrow!! We need to find her NOW!"

"There's nothing I can do now! I know Jaebum okay? He's taken her to lure me, killing her mindlessly would be a waste of his time. This is just part of his trap."

"But..." Jimin scans each of our faces with heavy breath.

Jungkook slings an arm around him for comfort. "If anyone knows Jaebum's system, it's Taehyung. We'll get her back Chim."

Jimin doesn't remove his eyes from the ground while Jungkook leads him inside with the others following behind.

I spare Taehyung a look of worry as we follow but he reassures me by wrapping my hand in his.

—NEXT DAY—
*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ ☀️

Entering our bedroom the following afternoon, I see Taehyung typing on a laptop with his fingernails between his teeth, deep focus glazing his body like stone.

It's now 3PM, 12 hours since Teddy got abducted, and he's been tracking her down nonstop ever since.

And poor Jimin. He's been the most panicked out of everyone, constantly asking for updates and skipping meals. He didn't sleep last night either.

"Jimin's not with you, right?" Taehyung asks when I shut the door behind me, not drawing his eyes from the screen.

"No, he's downstairs. Did you find her yet?"

"Possibly. Turns out the road where the van took off... There's nothing up there but an old mine site."

"Mining? Are you sure that's it?"

"Yeah, look. The freeway is in the opposite direction, meaning they haven't taken her back to the city."

"Then finding her should be easier?"

"Yep. And what's under a mining site? Mines. Tunnels. I think he took her down there for some reason, though the question is which one. There's dozens of directions to choose from."

*Ringgg ringgg...*

Our voices halt upon the unexpected buzzing of Taehyung's phone. With an arched brow, he checks the ID.

"Unknown number."

I stand in shock as the phone's tune plays on and on. Taehyung's eyes roam around the room in thought for a while before finally answering and when he does, I push my ear up against the phone to eavesdrop, practically suffocating him.

".....Hello?"

"Taehyung. It's Officer Min."

My eyes instantly shoot open. I jump back and pin his arm down, distancing Yoongi from my whispers.

"No. Not a chance. I escaped from those cops twice now, he KNOWS you're with me, and now he's suddenly calling you? He's tracking our call to arrest us! Hang up!"

"If that's Hanson, tell her to be quiet. I'm not calling to arrest you." He announces.

Taehyung forehead creases before he removes my hand and puts the phone on speaker.

"...Then why are you calling?"

"I can't believe I'm even doing this.." He grumbles under his breath.

"The other day, when we regained Hanson's custody, I overheard two suspicious men outside the station talking about your rival, JB. They... said that they were going to take "the girl" to a tunnel on Westside in order to lure you. I don't know what the hell that means, but sounds like he's coming for your girl."

I facepalm, "More like Teddy. At least now we know which direction to take."

"How do we know you're not under Jaebum's payroll?" Taehyung asks sternly. "'You're trying to trap us so you can turn us in."

"I'm not a sheep, Kim. I don't need payrolls."

"Then why are you helping us?" I ask.

"Because I... looked into your case deeper than I should have. I know why you killed your father Taehyung, and I get it. So I'm giving you time to save your friend... Though this doesn't mean you're off the hook. Sooner or later, I'll have to turn you both in. I still have a job to do. Good luck."  He hangs up.

"Okay," I exhale, "Yoongi is a tough nut but at least he's buying us time. We should—"

Taehyung's phone rings again, a different unknown number.

This time he knows it's trouble, so he answers holding the same tense scowl. There's nothing but rustling until—

"JB says to bring you and the girl only. Anyone else, and the stripper dies. No guns."

And right there, it ends.

Taehyung lowers the phone, kissing his teeth in annoyance.

"Great. The others will be pissed to know they can't come, especially Jimin."

"Quick, let's tell them what we know before anything happens to Teddy." I pull him downstairs.

We reach the living room to find the gang all spaced out in stressful silence. As soon as Jimin catches sight of us, he jumps to his feet with wide eyes and the others copy.

"Have you found her?! You've found her right?!"

Taehyung blinks twice and smiles faintly.
"We've found her."

The look of ecstasy on Jimin's face is indefinable. His shoulders weigh down while he scoffs through a beaming smile. Winter looks at Jungkook with a smile of relief and wraps her arms around his shoulders, his arms securing her waist as he laughs into her shoulder. And Hoseok's smile is as bright as the sun.

"Thank God! Where is she?!"

"They took her to an old mine site 100km from here. Finding the right path will take a while so Lilo and I better leave now."

"I'm coming." Jimin says.

"You can't."

"What?"

"None of you can. You'll be watching the house."

"So Lilo gets to go but I can't? Her own boyfriend?" Jimin's fingers press his chest.

"Jimin—"

"I got torn away from Teddy last time because you placed her in a strip club without telling me, which you weren't even going to bring me to see, and now I have to be a sitting duck again? Do you know how helpless that makes me feel? She's been taken hostage and I'm not even allowed to help you get her! How is this fair??"

"Look, it's not up to me alright? One of Jaebum's goons called and threatened us saying they'll kill her if we bring anyone else. If it were up to me I'd have it different. I want nothing more than for you to be with Teddy, Jimin.

"Then let me come with you..." He rasps. "I won't get in your way. I'll stay hidden. I just want to see her."

"Jimin I..." Taehyung's exhales, tongue flashing his lips.

"I'm sorry. But it's too risky."

His plump lips part almost unnoticeably as he stares at Taehyung with numb orbs. His gaze falls to the floor while the others frown also.

"Besides," Hoseok speaks up, "You're not in the best condition to go along. You have to think about your health too Jimin."

Jimin's Adam's apple rolls. "Then... Will you at least call us when you get there? And when you find her? I want to know that you're all safe."

"Of course. We'll get her back." The two share an embrace, which gradually leads to hugs spreading between us all.

"Here, take this." Jungkook hands me his bat.

"You're giving me your bat?"

"Anything for Teddy. Just don't let her get too beaten up. I can't afford for her to get injured."

"Don't worry, we'll bring Teddy back without a scratch."

"I meant the bat."

"Oh..."

"Come on." Taehyung rolls his eyes, pulling me outside. Once we enter the car, a sigh leaves both of us. I look at him while he stares out of the front window blankly and stroke his hand.

"Stop blaming yourself. This isn't your fault."

"You heard Jimin. He's been separated from Teddy before because of me. And if I had been more alert, she wouldn't be missing."

"Well I know for a fact that Teddy isn't blaming you right now, so you shouldn't either. Like you said, we'll get her back. Now let's go already."

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ 🌙
—THREE HOURS LATER—

SNACKBREAK! 🍿

Each footstep my boot leaves brings along the sludgy sound of compressing mud. These mining tunnels look like a maze of dungeons, not to mention it smells like diesel exhaust and wet earth down here.

I can't help but latch onto Taehyung with the hem of my shirt over my nose as I cautiously follow his lead. Of course, he's not scared in the slightest, shining the torch in front of us to lead the way.

"You okay?" He whispers.

"No! This place is creepy, we've been searching down here for three hours, I'm running out of air, there's bugs everywhere and it smells like— Shit!"

My body clings to his tighter when I yelp from the rat that runs past, breaking our long streak of whispers.

"Shh! There could be people down here."

"Ugh, these tunnels all look the same. What if we're going in circles?"

The large round light our torch casts amongst the walls starts to flicker again, causing Taehyung to groan and slap it against his palm.

"I wouldn't know. But we've got to keep looking, these batteries are running out."

The torch flickers again, this time not responding to Taehyung's slaps.

"Well I can't see a thing! Will you get that thing working already?"

"You don't see me trying? Keep your voice down before—"

"LOOK OUT!"

The second the flashlight comes back on, a goon flashes in front of Taehyung with aimed fists before he quickly dodges it and elbows him in the face, knocking him down. I turn around to see about four more charging towards us.

"Shit shit shit!"

"Come on!" Taehyung yanks my hand.

It's like the entire mine becomes a frenzy, with Taehyung and I mindlessly sprinting our way through the maze of tunnels hand-in-hand as a herd of men chase us from different angles. Blots of mud splash against my pants the more we run in utter darkness...

That is until we meet a dead end. Not another dim tunnel, but instead, a small dungeon-like room.

And before us, stands Jaebum with his arm around Teddy's neck and a gun to her head.

"Bossman! Lilo!"

We immediately come to a halt at the law of Teddy's tearing eyes, giving Jaebum's men a chance to grab us from behind. I grunt as I lose grip of the bat and try to break free from their grasp.

"Took you long enough. I didn't realize this stripper was so important to you, Kim." Jaebum grins. Taehyung just scowls at him.

Then he commands, "Get on your knees."

"Not until you release her."

"I said get on your goddamn knees RIGHT now before I shoot!" His arm buckles around Teddy's neck tighter until her teeth are clenched and she whimpers—

"Alright!" I give Taehyung an anxious look when he obeys.

You'd think the sight would put another arrogant smirk on Jaebum's face, but instead he frowns massively, glaring at Taehyung.

"You know why we're here, Kim? Hm? Did you really think I was gonna let you get away killing my father without returning the favor...? It hurts to see another person you care about in my hands, doesn't it?"

"Oh get over yourself."

My eyes widen, along with Jaebum and Teddy's.

"You've killed one of my best friends, Bogum, and I didn't go on a rampage did I? You act like you're innocent when you and your dad have murdered thousands. You've killed innocents, Jaebum. I haven't. We're not the same."

"Shut up!" He presses the nozzle into Teddy's temple. "Once you've shed the blood of a Lim, you're worse than me. And you!" He motions to me.

"You've been a pain in my ass for far too long. That's why I wanted you both here. To put an end to you myself in the name of my father."

"You're so fucked up..." I tremble. "Just admit you're obsessed with Taehyung and leave us alone already! I mean Seulgi? Your dad? Everyone you've lost is because of you yet you blame it on Taehyung!"

"Quiet! We're done talking." His eyes return to Taehyung, who's expression and tone is rigid.

"Jaebum... I don't care what you do to me, but let the girls go. Settle this like a fucking man."

"Hmm... No, I don't think I will..." He caresses Teddy's bruised cheek with the pistol.

"I think I'll do this my way. And my way... Is to end you, Kim."

Jaebum points his gun at Taehyung's head, and from here, time seems to move in slow motion.

"NO!" I yell out.

Just as his finger tightens, Teddy takes a chomp out of Jaebum's hand and pushes him. "You leave my family alone!!"

The fired bullet shoots the guard holding me instead before Jaebum drops the pistol completely. My body jolts and mouth hangs loose at how close the impact was, blood splotches all over my face.

While Teddy jumps on his back and punches his head repeatedly, Taehyung takes the opportunity to knock out the guard holding him while I pick up Jungkook's bat.

"Get off me you little brat!"

"Tae! Lilo! Run!" Her fingers press back his shut lids. Despite the number of times he tries swinging her off or slamming her against the rocky wall, she doesn't budge.

And from there, the room is chaos. Taehyung's fists grow bloody as he fights off Jaebum's remaining crew and I corner myself, swinging my bat in the head of anyone who comes near.

"Teddy hang in there!" Taehyung yells, landing a punch that dims more skin on his knuckles.

Teddy let's out a scream when Jaebum finally tosses her off. With a hand on the wall, she catches her balance but widens her eyes when he approaches her.....

And stabs her with a knife from his pocket.

Teddy's body is suddenly so still, pupils shrunken as her eyes slowly lower to discover the spreading ring of blood on her abdomen. I let out possibly the loudest shriek that has ever been aired.

"TEDDYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"NO!!!" Taehyung flips a guard and steps on his face for good measure. Before he can make his way to them, sirens and treading footsteps can be heard in the far distance, making Jaebum curse before fleeing the scene completely. It looks like Yoongi found us.

With a hand on her side and tears in her eyes, Teddy collapses. Taehyung and I waste no time sprinting to her.

"Teddy?!! Oh my God Ted!" My knees fall at her side.

"Li quick, help me bring her to the cops!"

Our hands instantly lap under Teddy's back but one inch from the ground and she's screaming with blood spewing from her wound.

"Oh God! Sorry!" We put her back down. I fold my hands over the hole to stop the blood while Taehyung calls for help.

"In here! We're in here!"

"T-Teddy can you hear me?! Please say something!!"

She coughs while whimpering and sniffling, her eyes motioning to me as she sobs.

"Lilo...... Am I going to die now?"

"No... no you're not..." My tears paint the walls when I shake my head.

"You're not dying, you hear me Ted? Y-you're not gonna die! We won't let you!"

As her eyelids get heavy, Teddy delivers us yet another one of her beautiful smiles.

"Lilo..... P-p-promise me we're still gonna go bungee jumping soon...?" She giggles, despite it causing her pain. "You promised...."

I cough out a laugh in between cries, holding her hand with two of mine and squeezing.

"Yes Teddy... W-were gonna go bungee jumping like the manga you read. You're gonna see Jimin and your brothers again, and they're gonna tell you how much they love you... Okay?"

"Oh, okay....." She smiles, her voice drifting.

"Hey Lilo I'm...... really t-tired... I think I'll take a nap now......" Her eyes begin to roll—

"No no! No naps Teddy NO NAPS!"

"Thanks for talking to me..... I....... love you guys........."

"NO STAY WITH ME TED! You have to stay awake C'MON PLEASE!! DON'T GO TO SLEEP!!!"

But her smile falls until she's staring at the ceiling with soullessly, her hand gradually flopping in my grip.

"T-Teddy...?" I shake her shoulder.

No response...

I begin to rattle every part of her body aggressively, "Teddy?! N-NO NO NO NO NO Teddy please don't do this... N-not Teddy PLEASE you've gotta wake up please please please please...." I repeat the word over and over, burying my face in her chest as I choke on my own sobs.

I feel Taehyung's hand pulling my shoulder gently. "Li...."

"Come on Teddy wake up... Wake up!"

"Stop..." Taehyung locks his arms around my stomach and pulls me back, which only encourages me to scream at the top of my lungs and desperately try escaping his hold.

"NO!!!!!!!!!!! LET ME GO!!! LET ME GO!!!!! Oh my god, oh my fucking God....."

"Hey hey look at me—"

"She's dead Tae......"

"Li—"

"Teddy's dead....."

"—Lilo LOOK AT ME!"

"WHAT WHAT WHAT!?!?!!" I burst into more tears by the time he holds me still. My face crumbles to the sound of cars above us and more sirens, my throat gurgling loudly behind clenched teeth.

Taehyung looks back and sighs before licking his lips painfully. "...We have to go."

"We can't just leave her here..... We can't....."

"I know." Another tear slips from his eye. "But we have no choice. We'll get caught."

"I don't care.... I DON'T CARE! TEDDY'S DEAD AND IT'S BECAUSE OF US! She had nothing to do with this AND NOW SHE'S DEAD!!!!!"

"Li I... I know but, the police will collect her body and put it somewhere far better than we can right now. We have to leave..."

"But Teddy....."

...I don't even have the voice to argue back or scream anymore.

So I let Taehyung wipe his tears and pull me away, my eyes glued to Teddy's figure that lays on the floor behind us.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ 💔

SNACKBREAK...

Before Taehyung and I exit the car, he frames my face with both hands and smears my tears with his thumbs before kissing my lips. He said it would be best not to cry before entering the house, though that doesn't erase my redness from crying the whole journey back.

"What are we gonna tell Jimin...?" I whisper. There was no service at the mines, so we couldn't call him.

Taehyung brushes a strand of hair behind my ear and kisses me again. "I wish I knew..."

Each step towards the front door is like the thump of a drum against my skull. As soon as we enter the now-gloomy house, we hear Jimin's rapid footsteps.

"You're back! Oh my God you have no idea how......... Wait..... Why is it just you two? Where is Teddy?"

Everyone's now gathered in the living-room awaiting our answer.

Taehyung and I look at each other before I face the floor.

"Don't do this to me, bro... W-where is my girlfriend......."

Taehyung blinks and licks his lips painfully.

"Jimin I..... I don't know how to say this....."

Jimin's face shatters completely.

His mouth falls as if the muscles had just died, breath hitched before looking around the ceiling and biting the life out of his lip. His eyes instantly go wet while he sniffs.

Jungkook places a hand at the back of Jimin's head and pushes his face into his shoulder to muffle the cries.

My shoulders bounce as I soon watch my own tears patter against my boots. The more I cry, the tighter my teeth grit.

Hoseok brings his arm to his red nose when failing to conceal his sniffs. Jungkook's eyes and nose go red too.

And Winter... Winter just loses muscle in her face, shutting her eyes and covering it. With both elbows digging into her knees, she falls onto the couch and shakes her head repeatedly.

"What... happened?" Jungkook asks. Taehyung sniffs and swallows thickly, a tear down each eye.

"Teddy saved us, so Jaebum stabbed—"

"Where is this Jaebum dude? I wanna meet him." Winter stands with a serious expression, now revealing her tear ridden face and drawing a gun from under the couch cushion.

"Winter don't act irrationally." Taehyung attempts to take the gun—

"Why?! Until he kills one of us?! We've given this guy too many chances and I...!!"

Her words drift off and voice pitches, struggling to speak without crying. Jungkook slowly takes the gun from her.

"Babe..."

"No... Don't try to calm me down, don't..." She pushes him with one finger.

Nevertheless, he wraps her in his arms, swaying her lightly and rubbing circles on her back. I've never seen them cry before, especially not Winter.

"Hoseok... D-do you still have those lanterns?" Taehyung asks.

"Y-yeah, just one though... I'd say this is the perfect time to use it."

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ 💔

The backyard is deadly silent with the exception of singing crickets, as we all stare at the garden post light that is now surrounded by candles and Teddy's favorite things. A picture frame of her radiant and beautiful smile leans against the front.

Hoseok lights he final candle before mustering, "Lilo, you should go first...."

With my nails digging into the soft material in my hands, I blow a shaky breath.

"Teddy.... You were the most inspirational, talented girl I'd ever met. You raised five little brothers while being a child yourself, street performing instead of going to school just to feed them... You did more at 16 than I could ever d—" My constant weeps block the ability to string together a sentence.

"T-than I could ever do. You were the first person to welcome me at the cafe, and looking back, I hate how much of an entitled brat I was when there were amazing people like you who were happy with the bare minimum. Family... Friends... That's all you needed... All you cared about until the very end..."

The fuzzy object in my arms gets clutched tighter.

"Y-your final words..." I bite my lip to contain whimpers, "Were about your family. You're truly a phenomenon Teddy... And I'm so... so sorry we involved you in this... I love you. Sweet dreams, Ted."

The back of my hand meets my nostrils as I try to limit my cries, but loud sniffs still blare. Taehyung pulls me back by wrapping an arm around me and kissing my forehead. I feel a tear slip from his cheek and onto mine as he whispers things to calm me down.

Hoseok clears his throat and takes a step forward with chained hands.

"I regret that I never got to know you as well or as long as the others, but I know you were a beautiful spirit with a pure heart. I can tell no one here would be who they are today without you in this family. Tonight is a night of loss but... Tomorrow the sun will shine again. Especially now that you'll be a part of it, shining down on us. Alive or not, you are our sun Teddy. That will never change. We're sorry this happened to you." A tear slips out but he's quick to wipe it.

Next, Jungkook steps forward alongside Winter who seems hesitant to even look in the direction of Teddy's picture. She grounds her feet against his efforts and shakes her head.

Jungkook reassures her it will be okay before finally pulling her forward. He then kneels onto one knee to speak to Teddy closer.

"You know, the moment Tae hired a spunky, crazy little 13 year old street performer to work at the cafe, I knew there was something special about you." He chuckles weakly. "And I was right. You were this constant ball of energy and none of our memories would have been the same without you Ted. You made me feel like a big brother, and although I never presented myself responsibly around you, you never judged me for it. I would say I'm sad to lose you, but you're not gone to me. You'll always be here with us and we'll always be with you. Whenever we want to share a laugh. So, until I see you again..."

...I've never heard such poetic words come from Jungkook. The speech only brings more tears to my eyes, making Taehyung's arm tighten around me.

Everyone now looks at Winter who of course, is reluctant to talk until Jungkook gives her a small nudge.

"Teddy, you... Were my first ever... friend." The clearing of her throat is prominent. "Yeah... M-my first friend. That's what you were. What I wouldn't do to have you braid my hair again, or force me to watch cartoons, or to work another shift together at the cafe... P-point is, even though you were like this annoying little sister... I wouldn't have traded you for the world. And I'm glad you knew that too. Rest in peace."

She gives a small nod before stepping back with Jungkook. Although her message was the shortest, you could feel the raw authenticity that came with every word. I show her a small smile to let her know she did well.

But that moment is short-lived when I hear sobs and turn to notice Winter crying wildly into Jungkook's shoulder. He massages her hair and hugs her tightly.

Taehyung is next. The warm and toasty comfort of his arm slips from my form like a ribbon...

"You were my baby sister Ted. No doubt about it. When I saw you performing in the park, my heart broke for you yet somehow you were so happy. You put on a bright smile when you were living on the streets. You are my little sister and I wasn't there to protect you—" His sentence breaks when he pinches his eyes shut momentarily.

"...And for that, I'm so sorry. I promise to take care of your brothers and let them know what a hero you are. The funny times you would do tricks at the cafe for tips, the moments you shared with us at the beach, and the Christmas spirit you brought along to Winter Wonderland... None of that will be forgotten. I hope you can forgive me Ted..."

I softly wrap my arms under his and around his torso. Red rims the whites of his eyes and a faint smile barely reaches his ears when he runs his thumb along my fingers.

Finally, it's Jimin's turn.

Everyone watches Teddy's picture in silence while waiting for him to speak. But after half a minute of nothing, we all turn to find him staring at the frame blankly.

I'd avoided looking at Jimin all night because I couldn't bear the sight. His eyes are so red and swollen from the series of breakdowns, and I feel guilty that there's nothing I can do to rid the pain.

"...Jimin? D-do you want to say something...?" I ask.

He doesn't look at me, nor perform the slightest twitch.

Then with a clenched jaw, he shakes his head.

His response has us all sharing morose looks. I know if he speaks, he'll break, so we shouldn't force him into anything.

"Then... I guess it's time to light the lantern." Hoseok presents the beautifully large, red and orange traditional-patterned sphere.

After lighting the candle, everyone forms a circle to unite their hands at the paper base, the warm hue of fire illuminating our tear ridden face in the midsts of darkness.

Jimin's adam's apple rolls while more tears coat his eyes.

Hoseok begins the countdown.
"Three... Two..........."

In unison, we each gently boost the lantern into the night. The sight is like I'm watching a warm, lonely star wandering through the endless galaxy...

But it's at that moment that Jimin collapses into a complete squat, covering his face with one hand and loudly breaking down into his knees. A concerning amount of veins protrude from his hand as well as the crinkles between his eyebrows. His face and ears are blood red, and gurgles are heartbreaking to hear.

"Jimin..." I croak.

With a whimper, Jungkook crouches behind him and slips his arm under Jimin's, locking his hands around the older's chest and attempting to pull him from the floor.

"I know bro... it hurts..."

"Let's get him inside." Hoseok says.

Finally, Jimin lightens his weight enough for Jungkook to pull him up and lead him indoors. Winter follows too, not baring the situation anymore, and Hoseok follows after looking back at the wandering lantern.

Taehyung almost heads inside too, but stops to notice me stood still, gazing at the distancing golden light that's whisking it's way through ink skies.

"Li?"

I finally hold out the item that has been clutched in my arms. The stitch plush doll Teddy gave me as a gift. With a painful smile, I crouch on one knee and place it beside her photo.

Once I stand back up, Taehyung gives me a soft smile and wraps his arm around me, leading me inside.

Though my gaze... My gaze doesn't leave the lantern. And my hand shivers uncontrollably in front of my trembling lips for as long as it's in my sight...