#I will without hesitation pound you into a puddle of red slush

[sohotthateveryonedied]

Living is Harder

Read here on AO3!

Summary:

Tim drops the knife like it’s white-hot. Oh, god. Oh, god.

Tim did this. He was...he didn’t mean it. He didn’t. He would never. But the man was on top of him and Tim couldn’t breathe, and...he didn’t mean it.

Tim is walking home from Steph’s house, his light-up Sketchers the only things illuminating his path through the Gotham night. He stayed out later than he planned, utterly captivated in the Among Us tournament he and Steph were playing against their Titan friends all the way in San Francisco. (And Tim would have gotten away with the murders too, if it weren’t for that meddling Bart Allen who stared Tim down every time he killed a player, watching it happen but never reporting until Tim finally cracked from the shame and called an emergency meeting on himself.)

Tim rode in Steph’s car on the way to her house, but forgot that it would mean he’d be without a ride home. Steph offered to drive him back to the manor, that she doesn’t mind losing a measly hour of sleep, but Tim insisted he didn’t mind walking. Besides, it’s not like it was a lie. Sure, it’s Gotham, which means Tim can see drug deals going down on street corners and the occasional drunkard puking into a trash can, but Tim feels at peace here.

It brings him back to his early days of climbing fire escapes, tailing Batman and Robin under the cloak of night in the hopes to get just one more photo for his collection. It was a simpler time with fewer psychotic clowns—back then it was just the one, and all he did was tell shitty jokes and occasionally tie Robin up over a swimming pool filled with Jokerized sharks. Nowadays it’s all grotesque murders and creepy masks made of human skin. Where’s the showmanship? Where’s the pizzazz? Disgusting. Deplorable. Lazy beyond all reason. Tim is insulted by the lack of artistic ability in these new Jokers, and you may quote him on that. Regardless, Tim takes comfort in knowing that if something did go wrong, Cass is patrolling somewhere a good five blocks ahead. Maybe he can track her down and pick them up some corn dogs. He’s currently in the Red Hood’s territory, but whether Jason is around at the moment is a gamble at best. His schedule is harder to tamp down than a solid answer on Ted Cruz: Zodiac Killer. Jason might not even be in Gotham right now; he could be in space for all anyone knows. Sometimes Tim feels like Jason is more of a feral cat than a brother, which isn’t too far off, really. Tim happens upon an empty beer can on the sidewalk in front of a boarded-up store that he’s fairly certain used to be an adult film shop. Good ol’ Gotham City. He stoops down to pick up the crinkled can like the good samaritan he is and drops it into a trash can at the mouth of a nearby alley. He wipes his hands on his jeans, designer style be damned. That’s when Tim is grabbed from behind, a hand reaching up to cover his mouth and muffle his shout. He’s pulled into the alley and pushed up against a wall, the bricks digging into his back and knocking the breath from his lungs. Shit, shit, shit. How could he have been taken by surprise so easily? It’s hard to make out his attacker in the shadowed alley, the only discernible features being dark eyes and bared yellow teeth—never a good sign. Tim’s hands are pinned together above him in a strong grip, practically wrenching his shoulders from the sockets. He tries to scream, but the man’s disgusting hand presses harder against his mouth. Tim freezes when he feels the poke of a knife at his throat, digging into the skin just below his Adam’s apple. “Make a sound and I’ll gut you,” his attacker says, his voice a low rumble. The stench of cigarettes and alcohol assaults Tim’s sinuses and makes his stomach roll. He’s going to have to be careful about this. Robin could get out of this hold in five different ways with varying degrees of injury to the opponent, but a civilian couldn’t. Even if the only witness is a low-life scumbag, he shouldn’t run the risk. Better to wait until he’s at the point of no return to bust out the Robin moves. Instead, Tim goes for the oldest trick in the book and knees the man in the crotch, hard. It has the desired effect and the grip on Tim’s wrists slackens, the man dropping him with a grunt. Tim ducks out of range and makes a run for it. If he can just get to the street, he should be home free. Even in Gotham City, there are always witnesses to help out a poor, defenseless teenager under attack. Tim almost makes it to the sidewalk when he’s grabbed by the hair, crying out as he’s thrown violently to the ground. Then there’s weight on top of him, pinning his shoulders to the dirty ground under his back. Tim fights, kicking out and delivering purposeful hits under the guise of a panicked struggle. “You little shit,” the man spits. He’s still got a hold on Tim’s hair, which he uses to slam Tim’s head against the pavement so hard that Tim goes blind for a good ten seconds, his head spinning. The back of his scalp feels wet, and he hates to think about what bacteria must be lurking on the ground beneath him. The knife clatters somewhere to Tim’s side and he’s almost relieved until a hand wraps around his throat, cutting off his next breath. Instinct plunges him into panic, choking on the lack of air and scrambling to get a hold on his attacker. Scratching, kicking, desperately trying to loosen the grip crushing his windpipe. “You didn’t have to make this so difficult,” the man tells him. His body presses down on Tim’s smaller form, keeps him trapped against the unforgiving asphalt, and this is it. This is the point of no return he’s been waiting for, but now Tim is here and he can’t do anything about it. Not even Robin could get out of this without a weapon, and Tim has none. He’s powerless. The creep releases Tim’s hair with a whisper of, “Don’t move.” Before he can do anything more with his newly freed hand, though, Tim’s body is thrown into action faster than he can comprehend moving at all. The world goes hazy, time itself turning to molasses. Absently Tim feels muscles flex, sees shapes move in front of his eyes, but someone else might as well be controlling Tim’s body while he’s locked in the backseat, missing the entire ride. One minute Tim is on his back with the creep on top of him, and after a chunk of time that Tim can’t remember participating in, he’s standing against the alley wall with something clutched in his hand. Tim blinks back the fog, but it lingers. He looks down and studies the way his fingers clasp the handle of the knife. That can’t be right. He wasn’t holding a knife before. Tim comes back to his body in increments, a stop-motion reel. First there’s a stinging ache on the back of his head, blood soaking into the back of his shirt and plastering his hair against his neck. His gaze slips from the glinting knife to the blood that covers his hands, warm and sticky. Then he catches a shape on the ground in front of him and Tim’s breath catches in his throat. The man from before is on the ground now, his eyes closed and blood spreading from a stab wound directly over his sternum. Tim drops the knife like it’s white-hot. Oh, god. Oh, god. Tim did this. He was...he didn’t mean it. He didn’t. He would never. But the man was on top of him and Tim couldn’t breathe, and...he didn’t mean it. Tim staggers back until his back hits the cold brick wall, his pulse pounding in his ears so loud the entire city must hear it. He just stabbed a person. He just killed a person. The one rule he’s supposed to follow, the one thing he promised never to do, and he just did it. Without even a second’s hesitation. He took a life. What is Bruce going to say when he finds out? Tim’s legs are made of jello, wobbling in warning until they give out entirely and he slides to the ground, knees pulled in close to his chest. His hands are still covered in blood. A dead man’s blood. He should...he should do something. He should act. First-aid, stop the bleeding, do whatever it takes to help in case there’s a chance. Tim doesn’t move. He doesn’t even try. His limbs have been replaced with rubber, his brain with slush. He just killed a man. In the back of his mind he knows he can’t go home, not like this. Not covered in another man’s blood. Even if he tried, Tim isn’t sure he’d make it two steps without collapsing into a puddle of whatever emotion is making him feel as though he’s rotting from the inside out. His family lives by a code, would sooner die themselves than take a life. Bats don’t kill. Tim doesn’t kill. Tim killed. His fingers shake as they take out his cell phone on autopilot, and the screen is cracked at the corner from when he was slammed into the ground. That’s going to cost money to fix. Tim gets blood on the screen, smudging over his contact list and warping the names. He finds the one he’s looking for and puts the phone to his ear. A ring. Two rings. A click. “This had better be important,” Jason says. Tim swallows. “Um. I—um.” He can’t take his eyes off of the body, lying there still as a corpse. Because it is a corpse. “My...head isn’t working. It’s—something is wrong. With me.” “Are you high or something? Because if you are, I’ll fucking kill you.” That does it. What little resolve Tim held on to cracks in one clean split and a sob bursts through. He covers his mouth with his elbow, choking on gasps. “Jay, I—it was an accident. I swear to god, I didn’t mean to. He was...it wasn’t...I didn’t mean to.” There’s a creak on the other end, maybe Jason sitting up in his chair. Or maybe he just sat down. Maybe he closed a door. Too many things in the world are creaky. “What the hell are you talking about? What happened?” “He’ll kick me out. He’s gonna take Robin away from me.” Something slams—definitely a door. “Kid, tell me where you are.” “I don’t know. It was—” His brain isn’t working. For the first time in his life, logic and reason escape him and Tim’s mind pushes into overdrive, drags him deeper and deeper into oblivion. Bruce is going to find out. He’s going to find out and he’s going to hate Tim for the rest of his life. Bruce doesn't like murderers. “Goddamn it. Tim, listen to me. Can you do that?” It takes a moment, but Tim manages to get out an affirming noise. “I’m going to track your phone and come get you. Don’t move, got it? Stay right where you are. I’ll be there soon.” Jason hangs up, leaving Tim alone again. He drops his phone back on the concrete, uncaring of potential breaks. It’s already been cracked. “He’s going to kick me out,” Tim repeats to the empty alleyway. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tim is cold by the time Jason arrives. Or maybe he’s been cold this entire time. It’s hard to tell. “Fuck,” Jason swears as he takes in the scene before him. The body on the pavement. Tim, huddled against the alley wall, his eyes glazed over as he stares at the body like a horror movie he can’t turn off. Jason isn’t wearing his helmet, just a domino mask. He takes it off when he kneels in front of Tim, makes Tim meet his eyes. “Hey, kid. You with me?” “I killed him.” The words taste acrid on Tim’s tongue, sour. “Don’t worry about that now. Are you hurt anywhere?” Tim doesn’t answer. The back of his head stung before, but the pain is muffled now. Everything is muffled. “I killed him, Jay. I’m a murderer. Bruce is...I’m not supposed to kill. Robins don’t kill. They don’t.” His chest is tight, getting tighter by the minute until it feels like every breath is being sucked in through a tiny straw. “Tim, breathe,” Jason tells him. He puts his hand on Tim’s shoulder, and that helps a little. Gives him something to latch onto. “You’re in shock. Try putting your head between your knees.” Tim does, stares down at the dirty pavement between his sneakers. His eyes linger on an old fast food receipt. It has droplets of blood on it. “I don’t know what happened, I really don’t. He was—it was an accident. He was on top of me and he had a knife and then he was choking me and...I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t breathe, so I just—I just moved. And now he’s dead. I killed him. What am I going to do?” “It was self-defense,” Jason says, as if the answer could really be so simple. “If you hadn’t acted, he would have hurt you. Maybe even killed you. You did the right thing.” “No, it’s—” Tim picks his head up, digs his nails into his knees to keep himself above the fog. “No. I took a life. I’m guilty. I can���t—there’s no coming back from that. There isn’t.” How can he live with himself after this? Does he even deserve to? “What, so you would rather be dead than have to tell Bruce you took a life? Seriously?” “Yes.” There’s no hesitation, not even a pause to let the words soak in. Jason sighs, and Tim is too far gone to decipher what it means. He squeezes Tim’s shoulder once and stands, goes over to the body still lying on the ground. (As if a dead man would go anywhere.) Jason crouches down and takes off one of his gloves, presses two fingers over the man’s neck. After a moment or two, he lets out a breath. “He’s still alive.” Tim’s breath hitches. “Really? Are you sure?” “Pulse is thready, but he’s not dead.” All of the air leaves Tim’s lungs in one huge whoosh, making him lightheaded. “Oh my god. That’s…” That’s good, right? It’s a good thing. It should be a good thing. “Yup. That’s one hell of a relief.” Jason straightens up from his crouch. He reaches into his jacket, pulls out a gun, and fires it into the man’s head. “Jason!” It happens so fast that Tim doesn’t even have the capacity to think about the blood and brain matter splattered over Jason’s clothes, Tim’s shoes, the cracks in the alley’s pavement. “How could you—” “What? It’s not like he was going to walk it off or anything.” “We just—” Tim’s stomach churns. It feels like he’s going to be sick. “We just killed a man.” “No, I killed a man.” Jason holsters his gun, then kicks the body in the side for good measure. “You, however, are off the hook.” “What are you talking about? I stabbed him.” The knife is around here somewhere. That’s evidence. Proof of what happened tonight, what Tim did. What Jason finished. “And I shot him in the head. One of those is worse than the other.” “But I—” “No,” Jason snaps. He lowers himself to look Tim in the eyes. “You didn’t. Kill. Anyone. Got it? I killed him. Your slate is still clean.” “There’s a body. Evidence. I still did this.” Jason grabs the bloody knife and tucks it into his jacket. “No, the Red Hood did this. He cornered the guy in an alley, stabbed him, then shot him in the face. That’s what happened.” Tim shakes his head. “You can’t. You can’t take the fall for me.” “I’m not. I’m the one who killed him, right? I’m just taking responsibility for my own actions, which nobody is going to look twice at because this is the third one this week.” Jason takes Tim by the arm, pulling him upright and keeping him steady when he wobbles. “What about Bruce?” “We’ll tell him the truth. That you got attacked by some creep, I killed his slimy ass like he deserved, and then I let you crash at my place for the night to make sure you were safe. That’s it. Understand?” Tim isn’t sure if he does or not. He’s too numb to attempt puzzling it out, but he does know one thing he can say. “Thanks, Jason.” “Don’t mention it. Just try not to puke on me until we get to my place and I’ll call us even.”

[yandere-society]

The Dulcie Inn | M

Synopsis: The artist runs with the whispers of the wind. In this case, your wind was your fiance; Kim Taehyung. A getaway weekend with him, off to the countryside where life is mellow. What you weren’t expecting was the dangerous storm lurking in the shadows and a quiet inn in the middle of nowhere, run by a man with doe eyes and his own storm running through his mind.

Pairing: Jungkook x Fem!Reader; Fem!Reader x Taehyung

Genre: Inspired by Psycho (1960)

Word Count: 12K

Admin: @moonpeachhy and @nomnomsik​

A/N: [UNEDITED] Please bear with us! We will edit it completely tomorrow as we had to meet the deadline today. Nevertheless, we hope you enjoy. 

Trigger warnings: Yandere, descriptions of physical violence, smut, unprotected sex, horror, mentally disturbed character, and unstable relationships. Please read with caution. 

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

There was a storm brewing.

Uphill near the mountains, unusually muscular-looking clouds huddled into a dark grey inflation. It was sort of alluring, resembling a renaissance painting you’ve long forgotten the name of. Yet as it approached near, it set an unease in your bones. The type that crawls deep within your gut until you could barely make out its presence. You knew it was there though, from the shaky breath you let out as if it was tightly gripping your lungs. An exhale that fogged up your side of the car window.

“You alright there?”

"Hmm?” You turn towards the concerned tone of your fiance, his mellow eyes fixed on the unrestricted road as he steadied the steering wheel.

“Tired?” He asks, facing you for a few seconds to give you a faint smile.

“A bit.” You reply nonchalantly, balancing the back of your head on the window. Which let you to feel all the slight bumps the tires traveled over on the gravel beneath you, your body now vaguely vibrating at a similar speed. “We should stop soon.”

“I can beat the storm.” The man chuckles, his baritone warming you from the inside out. More than your knitted sweater which made you break out a tired grin, enjoying the way his laughter was so softly carried over to your ears. “We’ll be in Goldleaf soon, just rest your eyes for a bit.”

Chestnut hair fell just above his brows, the strands still messily sticking out from your fingers gliding through them this morning. A golden hue traveled across his irises, making them seem lighter than they originally were. There was a freckle on the tip of his nose that you loved to kiss, sitting proudly on the top layer of his skin. His breaths were firm, pink lips marginally stretched on each side. For a moment you just adored his divinity, your heartbeat in rhythm with his. Did he know of the beauty he embellished? 

“So you’re a magician? I just close my eyes and when I open them, we’ll magically be in the kingdom that’s 80 miles away?”

“I’m whatever you want me to be baby.” He winked at you before cheesily grinning at the way your face scrunched up in disgust.

“Dork,” You muttered, hiding your amusement by pursing your lips.

“Your dork,” He corrected as a matter of fact, “Your dork who knows a shortcut.”

This new information made you raise your brows in acknowledgment, “You’re rather handy. See, this is why I’m marrying you.”

 He scoffs, “Yes, of course, your majesty, I’m honored. Now please get some sleep.” 

You knew he would pout if you told him you couldn’t possibly fall asleep in this cramped moving vehicle, so you just nodded watching him take a turn to this ‘shortcut’ he spoke of. The silver band on his ring finger shimmered in the diluted sunlight. It felt like it was just yesterday that he asked you out for coffee in his muscle shirt and ripped jeans. Even though he stood like a tough guy, you were smitten by the rosy splotches on his defined cheekbones. After a few awkward first dates and shyly stolen kisses, you two became your campus’ favorite couple.

Fast forward a few years, and here you sat. Engaged to the tough guy in the driver’s seat. You both had been engaged for 4 months, waiting for the right time to tie that knot. At the time of the engagement, through happiness and tears; you found yourself saying yes to his sudden proposal. But since then, there had been some differences...some...misunderstandings. He had been quite eager to settle down, have kids and a 9 to 5 job, while you were a bit more hesitant towards that whole ordeal.

It’s not that you didn’t want to marry him or you didn’t want a family. However, the desire for freedom - of old school independence swimming in your heart has held you back. Blame the young artist’s soul within you, there was just so much you wanted to see. Some would say you were looking for diamonds in an empty bin, trying to be the Thomas Chatterton of your time. Maybe. Maybe you just didn’t want to end up like Zelda Fitzgerald, a passively remarkable woman confined to her husband’s identity for a millennium.

You weren’t sure of what you wanted, yourself. Did you want to fly with the winds or did you want a Gatsby type of man to drown you in flower petals? Your father said it was because you were a free spirit. An early dove, not yet done with demonstrating her charm to the rest of the world. The remainder of your family members had been more upfront with their disapproval of what they easily named your ‘fickleness.’ 

Taehyung said he would wait for you though, and for you, that was all that mattered. Never, would you find the heart to tell him you agreed to marry him on impulse, yet you dread that he already knew of your hidden words. He knew you better than anyone else after all.

So when he suggested going on a trip to clear your head, you jumped at the chance. Eager to cross the country with the man you were supposed to spend eternity with. Summer had just ended, your eyes saunter over all the barely bleeding leaves on the deciduous trees as your car enters a woody area. There was a part of your soul that told you this journey would be special. You would learn a lot from this vacation - about Taehyung, about yourself, and about the spread out land.

The mystery of what’s to come inspires the artist.

As your gaze once again wanders off into the skies, the semblance of the chaotic swirls and whiffs of cotton above resonate with you.

“The Tempest.” You whisper out loud

“Hmm? What was that?” Taehyung eyes your fatigued figure

“I just remembered the painting those clouds reminded me of.”

Taehyung breaks out into a small laugh at that, “Will you ever stop thinking about art?” He jokes, which in return causes you to giggle as well.

“No.” He says suddenly, more to himself as his laughter dies down too abruptly. “No, I don’t think you will.”

Your smile drops as you glance at him. The hidden meaning underneath his words was flatly laid out for both of you. He continues to drive in the same posture - the same breath - but his face has now hardened a tad. It takes everything within you to not question him, his statement painting you mildly red. Instead, you blink your gaze back out the window, into the slowly dimming sunlit horizon.

Hoping the storm never arrives.

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

So he didn’t beat the storm. 

He didn’t beat the storm as the sky grew dark, clouds gray and winds picking up speed. The calm breeze that had refreshingly blew past moments ago was now replaced with a ferocity that was prepared to bulldoze through its path. You looked worriedly out the car window, Taehyung's eyes too, flickering at the sky multiple times. Droplets of rain descended down from the sky, pounding down on the windshield and obscuring your vision which quickly prompted Taehyung to flick on the wipers. It was a wet hellfire, your heart sank as your car continued almost blindly down the road.

Then came the rumbling of thunder, booming down from above, causing you to flinch while goosebumps picked up on your skin. While you shuddered in your seat belt, the raindrops continued their descent, landing on the dashboard with a sharp intensity that echoed throughout the inside of your car. It felt like someone was pelting the roof of your car with bullets.

Even with the highest setting of the windshield wipers, the rain slowly began to completely engulf the visibility of the road. 

“Shit,” Taehyung muttered, driving sightlessly with the darkness of the sky plunging upon you both. It was when you were looking out your side of the window for the smallest ounce of clarity that a large object came into view despite the restrictions in your line of sight. A brown, wooden exterior glowing through all the gloom of the storm outside. You spotted it from the corner of your eye, immediately extending a finger at the building. 

“Taehyung, there!” 

His head snapped over, and without missing a beat he spun the wheel making a sharp right-hand turn as you held onto your seatbelt. The slush of puddles echoed from outside as the car’s wheels pierced through the wet road and approached the building. Once you slowed the vehicle, you both silently stared at the structure. A burst of lightning cut through the dim air, and that’s when you were able to recognize the board standing in front of the property though the shadows of the storm were surrounding it.

‘The Dulcie Inn’

There was an inn in such a place? The road appeared to have been completely abandoned for years, trees were way too tall and the shrubberies were dramatically overgrown. In return, the inn seemed rather decent. Spacious and well-groomed. Though it was strange that there would be a place to stay on a practically dead road.

“I don’t…” Taehyung started, parking the car on the side of the road as the roaring rain crashed onto the windows. “I’ve never heard of this place before.” 

“We should head inside.” You state turning to look at Taehyung

“I don’t know...” He replies cautiously 

“Would you rather stay out here?” You proposed dryly, crossing your arms. “Seems rather pleasant.” 

“I just don’t trust this place, ___. Why don’t we just stay here for tonig-” Before Taehyung could finish his sentence, a bright flash of lightning split the sky - only to be followed by a loud boom of thunder that made him jump. On the other hand, with a push of the car door, you quickly stepped into the pouring rain, breaking out into a sprint as you ran for cover under the protection of the inn. 

“Goddamn it… ___!” Taehyung called, unbuckling his seat belt and chasing after you. The rain immediately pounded on him and his eardrums, temporarily disabling his sense of direction. His clothes stuck to his skin as he finally made it under the inn’s canopy, hair dripping with small droplets of rain and shoes bringing mud into the welcome mat.

You stood underneath the canopy next to him, dusting off the raindrops as he did the same, observing him in slight scrutiny. After all, it was his fault you both were stuck here. As you both fixed yourselves, you lightly touch the door handle of the inn’s entrance before looking back up at Tae.

“Ready, Mr. Magician?”

He smiles at you shyly, a bit embarrassed by the whole situation causing you to smile in return as you push the decrepit wooden door open. It creeks as it slides, an immediate warmth blows past you both, the inn being rather inviting compared to the frigid mess outside. An unreadable exchange passes between you and your fiance. Taehyung’s smile vanishes once you turn around to enter the building, and he turns his face back to examine the thunderstorm behind him.

There was a sunken feeling in his chest at this whole situation. 

As you take your first nervous step inside, you’re gaze shifts to the tall ceiling and dim sunset lights. The loud dilemma outsides hushes into a quieter lull of winds and splatters of rain as the warm, dry inn takes you refuge. A gasp escapes your lips as you marvel at the structure, frozen 3 steps from the door. It was like you’ve wandered into one of Hitchcock’s flicks, truly dazzled at the sight before you. 

The entrance was larger than you expected, the wood of the walls were dressed in a light brown. Red carpet embellished the foyer, while a large chandelier swung above - the pieces of glass hanging on like shapley teardrops - simply bedazzling. There was a staircase with similar dark-wood properties, towering in front of you and leading into what you guessed were the inner rooms.

There was a room to the left of the staircase, which you could only peek at from your spot. It looked to be a seating room, filled with maroon sofa chairs. Like a lounge. Art decorated the inn, nouveau portraits hung from the wall like a place of worship. And right beside you stood the reception, an olive-colored timber separating you and the empty area behind the reception.

“Can I help you?”

Startled, you flinch as you suddenly hear a masculine voice, looking up to see a young man standing in the middle of the stairs. When did he get there?

He was tall, skinny but sturdy-looking with pitch-black hair covering his forehead. His skin was pale compared to his dark button-up shirt and trousers. As you gaze up at him, your worry for your surroundings seems to disappear until all you were focused on were his youthful, boyish features. The stranger was quite handsome, you weren’t expecting it. You felt yourself blushing as he studied you closely. For a while, you just stood there, getting lost in his intense black orbs until his eyes shift towards something behind you. Why did he look away? Confusion fills you as you tilt your head, still staring at him until Taehyung’s figure passes you by and you smell his Armani cologne waking you out of your trance. You forgot about Taehyung.

“Umm, hi. We sort of got caught in the rain and...we were wondering if we could stay here until the storm passes.”

“...You want to book a room?”

“Well, n-”

“Yes.” You interrupt Taehyung, who looks back at you in question

But you ignore him as the young man’s eyes flicker back to you, making you hold your breath. There was something profound in his gaze. A deep abyss of mystery and wonder, just like in the works of Sandro Botticelli. He slowly walks down the stairs, and you carefully follow his physique until he’s situated behind the reception. Working quietly, he reaches underneath into a compartment and takes out an old registry book.

While he’s busy flipping through the pages, Taehyung comes up close to you. Blocking your line of sight.

“Why do you want to stay?” He whispers, “The storm will pass quickly and Goldleaf’s like 20 miles away. We can ju-”

“Taehyung, the storm’s not gonna stop anytime soon. We should stay the night. Besides, we’re stuck here because of your decisions.”

As you finish your sentence, he drops his eyes. Regret fills you as you see the guilt plastered on his face, and he slumps his shoulders. You’re about to apologize, bringing your hand up to touch his arm when-

“You should stay for the weekend. I’ve read up on this storm, it’s going to last for a while.”

Surprised at the man’s interruption, you and Taehyung look at him, then back at each other. 

“A-alright then,” you say cautiously, watching Taehyung’s reaction, “we’ll stay for the weekend.” 

It would delay your trip for a bit, but it was better than dying out in the chaos outside. The stranger extends an antique pen towards you, and you walk up to the reception, taking it from his warm fingers. His slight tremor at your touch goes unnoticed by you as you stare at the page of the registry. It seemed quite ancient along with everything else in this place. As quickly as you could, you filled out your and your fiance’s info. You could feel the man’s eyes piercing you as your hand hovered over the signature line.

Quietly sighing, you turn your face to Taehyung, who was standing a few steps behind you just shifting on his feet. You meet his orbs and raise your brows. Even though you knew this was the safest thing to do as you could hear the roar of thunder outside, you still didn’t want to do anything that would make Taehyung uncomfortable. He stares at you for a few seconds, before grinning and shrugging his shoulders. It makes you break out into a smile, as you turn around and immediately sign the papers.

You raise your head back to the stranger, who’s still staring at you. 

“Here.” You say, holding out his pen to return to him. He slowly moves his face to the pen, taking it back from you and spinning the registry in his direction. Once he’s looked over everything, he closes the journal, moving to grab one of the 10 keys off the hooks on the wooden wall in the background.

There was a faint hesitation in his step before he picked up the key for the first cabin. Turning back around, he smiled shyly before handing you the key.

You return his smile, taking the key and spinning on your heel towards your fiance.

“Our luggage is stuck in the car.” Taehyung reminds you

“Right, I forgot about that.”

“There are…” The man begins and making you turn to him again before he clears his throat, “There are some robes in the room. You both are welcomed to settle into those until the rain slows.”

“Oh, that works.” You state cheerily, facing Taehyung and giggling. There was a suffocating atmosphere between the two men and you were trying to lighten the mood.

Taehyung huffs in amusement, before ruffling your damp hair. “Alright, love. Let’s go settle in.”

You laugh before taking his arm and leading him by and up the stairs. Before you’re able to make it up all the way, something stops you in your tracks.

“Enjoy your stay.” 

It was him, smiling up at you from his position by the registry.

“Thank you. We will.” You reply before traveling up the rest of the way.

You miss the scowl on Taehyung’s face at the interactions between you and the stranger.

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

“That kid’s weird.”

“Hmm?” You say as you set down your purse down onto one of the spare tables, sighing and stretching your arms above your head with Taehyung trailing you while taking off his coat. 

“That kid downstairs, the one with the really dark eyes. He’s weird.”

“Oh, you noticed his eyes as well?”

“What do you mean ‘as well?’ What have you been noticing?” Taehyung pouts as you laugh, and step up to him to wrap your arms around his shoulders

“I’m an artist dear, I can’t help but notice the beauty in people.” You respond as your fiance holds you securely by the waist, “But trust me, you’re the most beautiful of them all.”

Taehyung snorts at your cheesy line and you peck him on the lips. “And he’s not weird, he’s just...different.”

“Psh, different...” Tae rolls his eyes, “He wouldn’t stop staring at you and blushing. It was so annoying.”

“Aww, you’re so cute when you’re jealous.” You giggle as he sputters to deny his obvious envy

“Whatever,” Taehyung grumbles when you continue giggling, walking away from you to take off his wristwatch and placing it in your purse. “Just be careful of him.”

You ignore his words as you sit on the edge of the bed, taking in the sights of your spacious cabin. The walls were softly tanned, a pastel tawny color reflecting the marigold light fixtures on the ceiling. On the far right wall, was the vintage dresser in a straw color which you’re guessing contained the robes the young man below had mentioned, with small white flowers painted among the doors. There were two same-colored nightstands, one on each side of the queen-sized bed and the comforter was eggshell white. 

Dumping his keys onto the table as well, Taehyung walks past you who’s silently contemplating the harmony of the colors in your room like an artist usually does, only to march into the bathroom. 

“I’m going to head for a quick rinse,” Taehyung called from the bathroom, his voice echoing off the walls. Suddenly, a mischievous thought crossed his mind. His head poked out from the bathroom, a bright smile plastered on his face as his shirt already seemed to be discarded and on the floor, most of the skin of his chest hidden behind the solid wall. “Want to join me, darling?” 

“Maybe next time, Taehyung. I’ll just shower after you.” You smiled, always finding his advances humorous and very him. He pouted cutely, only to slip back in and shut the door softly. As you sat there, you listened for a bit until you heard the water turn on, hitting the tub, as well as the rustle of the shower curtains. 

You chuckle, glad that he busied himself with something rather than being the worrywart he usually was. Now that you were alone, you wanted to take a better look around the inn. It was surreal, vintage and antique while standing with the modern times like a time capsule. Whoever decorated the place had such a marvelous eye for art. The mystery of the inn only added to your excitement. What stories lie here? You wonder. What stories could satisfy the curious young artist’s heart?

While Taehyung was occupied, you slipped out of your room, preferring to take a stroll through the inn, perhaps find inspiration for your next piece. While you walked down the lit hallways, you couldn’t help but notice the paintings that hung on the walls, appreciating each stroke on the canvas. Your feet were carpeted by the rugs that were sewed together with delicate patterns and unique colors that further captivated you, prompting you to continue your exploration down another hall. 

The inn was beautifully decorated, the wood accents bringing together the homeliness of the entire structure if it wasn’t for the silence. You could hear every creak of the steps, your feet padding the wood and your own breath. Yet as you continued, you noticed how clean and polished the inn was, from the spotless walls and decorations that lacked the usual buildup of dust from neglect. 

Perhaps you were too enthralled with your surroundings, that you didn’t notice the figure that was steadily approaching you. When you finally directed your attention back in front of you, there was a small collision of your chest to another body. Your head zipped up, only to find yourself in an entirely different room, with much more space and filled with soft couches and sitting chairs. The one you peeked at before.

“Oh- I’m sorry.” You blabbered, your hands extending out in front of you as the figure steadied your balance. 

It was the stranger, who was softly smiling down at you.

“I’m the one who should be sorry, I shouldn’t have snuck up on you like that.” He says, holding onto the small of your back

A moment passes by as you stare at him, his pupils hypnotic and glassy. You both were almost pressed together in each other’s arms until the rumble of thunder broke you out of your reverie.

“Oops.” You say, pushing away from him and facing the floor in embarrassment. That’s when you remember something, “Um- I’m sorry, because of the whole mess earlier I didn’t manage to get your name.”

“Oh, It’s all right.” He lets out a small laugh, “My name is Jungkook.”

Jungkook, you sound out in your head.

“Nice to meet you Jungkook, my name is ___, and my fiance upstairs is Taehyung.” You extend your hand with a polite grin. In return, Jungkook stares at your hand for a bit, making you stand there with outstretched fingers awkwardly, before taking it in his.

You proceed to shake his hand and take note of how warm he was. It sent a shiver down your spine. He just observes your hand, even when you loosen your grip. For a second his own grip tightens until he lets you go and his arm falls back to his side. Strange, you think as he gazes back up at you with a small smile. Maybe Taehyung was right.

“Nice to meet you too. Please sit, I was just putting out some tea.” He points to a place behind you, to one of the longer sofas. Once you take a seat, you notice how soft and cushy the cushions of the sofa are, almost like you could melt in them. Jungkook clatters around on the table in front of your seat with a porcelain tea set. He holds up the teapot, pouring the tea into one of the small cotton white teacups. Then he handed the cup to you on a small plate.

“It’s Jasmine.” He smiles gently

“Thank you.” You say, taking the plate into your hands. After blowing on the steaming liquid, you take a small sip. “Oh, this is wonderful!” 

Jungkook blushes, sitting down on the sofa chair next to your long sofa. “It’s an easy recipe.”

“No, don’t be like that it’s great. I’m not the best cook myself so I would definitely ruin this in some type of way.” You compliment him to which he just fidgets in his seat, holding his shoulders up

“By the way, this set is gorgeous,” You say, eyeing the cup up close, “You have an eye for antique, Jungkook.”

“N-no that’s more, my mother. She decorated the place, not me.”

“Your mother? Wow, she must be an expert in art!”

“She is...my mother is...very talented.” There’s a distant gaze in his eyes in which you find yourself feeling pity.

“I’m sure she was a lovely woman.”

He takes a second before he looks directly at you, with a dark gaze that has you sitting up straight, “Was? My mother’s not dead.”

“Oh no, I am s-so sorry, I thought...it was my mista-”

You stop rambling once he begins to laugh, his eyes crinkle and nose scrunches and you feel like you're looking at a rabbit. Such a young, small rabbit.

“It’s alright, but no, my mother is alive. Though she’s...unwell. But-” He shifts to the right, reaching over to the small table on the side of your sofa. It seems like he grabbed something - a frame he pulls back up to him and stares at with a soft smile. “She used to be an actress!”

Jungkook extends the frame out to you and you put down your saucer to take it from his fingers. It was a black and white photo, one of a beautiful young woman who’s big starry eyes resembled Jungkook’s. She had pinned up black hair and a bright wide-lipped smile gracing her face. Standing in front of the curtains, she posed with one hand in the air. On her body was one of those strapless, bodycon dresses actresses wore in the 60s.

“She...She’s beautiful…” You say, stunned

Jungkook’s eyes seem to sparkle at your compliment, “She was really big in her time. I mean, she acted in so many movies...even Hitchcock wanted a film with her! Her face used to be plastered all over billboards and newspapers. They called her America’s doll!”

“That’s wonderful! Does she still act?”

And just like that, all his present excitement vanishes. He looks like he’s back in his introverted state and he shifts his eyes away from you to the teapot in the center of the coffee table.

“No, they don’t...they stopped hiring her a long time ago.”

“Oh no...what happened?”

“She just wasn’t enough anymore...not young enough compared to the other rookies.” He states without emotion

“That’s terrible.”

“But my mother was better than all of them, you know! She was! She had more talent in her fingernails than those wenches did in their entire bodies.”

You shift back at his aggressive tone as he stares at the ground in anger. It felt like he was reading from a script, like someone had been taught him to say these words.

“Yet the ‘experts’ at the studios told her she was crazy! They sabotaged her, forced her out of the industry and created her downfall with false news and gossip. Told people she was an alcoholic and abusive..why my mother couldn’t even hurt a fly...she… wasn’t mad.”

“I’m sure she wasn’t...I’m sorry Jungkook.”

He looks up at you in silence for a bit, as if realizing something. “We all go a little mad sometimes, I guess. I’m sorry for startling you.” And just like that, he was back to the boy he was moments ago. “What brings you out here anyway, miss?”

“Umm...well, me and Taehyung were going on a road trip. Our first stop was GoldLeaf.”

“That sounds exciting...I’ve never been on a trip before...actually I’ve never gone far from the inn?”

“What, never?” You say startled, to which he nods “Surely your mother has taken you on trips when you were a young boy?”

“Mother...says that the outside world is full of liars and thieves and people who want to hurt me. She’s never let me stray too far...it was for my own protection.” 

You squint your eyes at him, “Jungkook, not everything out there is filled with monsters. There’s also beauty and art. If everyone thought that way, we couldn’t get anything done now could we?”

He sits there, stunned at your words. Before looking away and muttering “That’s true.”

Not wanting the boy to feel bad about anything you switch the topic. “Hey, what was your mother’s name by the way?”

“...Dulcie.”

“Wow! So this inn-”

“Yes, it was made for her... by one of her lovers. The one that’s my father I think. But I’m not really bothered by my mother’s…” He trails off, the room going quiet. “Ah, am I holding you up? Sorry, you must be tired.” Jungkook softly whispers, his hand overlapping yours. 

“Thank you, Jungkook.” You smile, standing up and giving him a small wave. He blushes, giving him a sheepish smile and wishing you a good night. 

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

Your eyes listened to the creak of the stairs as you slowly dragged your feet back to your room, once again adoring the decorations hung around the inn. When you made it down the long hallway, you turned the doorknob to your room, walking in and softly shutting the door. You couldn’t hear the sound of water running anymore, so you figured Taehyung to have finished his shower. 

“There you are.” 

Taehyung smiled at you, a towel sloppily hanging over his head with water droplets falling onto the wooden floorboards. He stood by the nightstand, his chest was bare, but he had slipped on pants and was currently drying his hair out. Your face flushed as you slowly turned your head the other as you walked past him and took a seat on the inn bed. 

“Thought you got lost for a second,” he smirked, his hand coming to his hip as he stood in the threshold of the bathroom. “I was starting to contemplate whether I should look for my fiance.” 

“Oh, Taehyung…” You huffed, listening to the timbre of his laugh that echoed in the small room you shared. “I’m not that careless and oblivious.” 

“Are you so sure about that?” He whispered, bending to your height as his hands wrapped around your waist. “So, do you know what I want right now?” 

“You’re so shameless no matter where we go, Taehyung.” You smiled, placing your arms around his shoulders while your fingers began to play with his wet hair on the back of his head. 

“Mm, but you love it.” A smug look slowly graced his face as he peppered small kisses on your cheek and travelled downward to your neck. You shivered, feeling his fingers play with the hem of your cream blouse as you inhaled in the smell of bubbly soap and aftershave that coated his body. As you bent your neck to give him more access, you giggled, his kisses beginning to tickle your skin. Taehyung’s mouth formed into a smile as you felt his lips curl up with each additional kiss that he softly placed. 

You turned toward Taehyung as he took a spot beside you on the mattress, feeling his thumb run over your lips before whispering a gentle “I love you” and softly kissing your lips. His hands intertwined with yours as your mouths moved together before he moved away. 

“I love you so much and…” Taehyung murmured the end as he went in for another kiss, feeling your hands wrap around the back of his neck. He giggled as your foreheads met each other, breaking the kiss off once again. “Let me help you take that off… Nono, don’t get up. You’ll be more comfortable if you let me do it, okay?”

“Can I take this off?” Taehyung whispered, giving more tugs on your blouse as you gave him a curt nod, your own fingers loosening up the green a-line skirt that hiked up to your knees. His delicate fingers unbuttoned your blouse as it slid off your shoulders, falling softly onto the blankets. Taehyung threw it over his head as it landed onto the wooden floors and dove straight for your mouth, passionately kissing you down. As your mouths moved together, your legs kicked your skirt with your panties to the side, falling over as well. 

You slowly grew small underneath Taehyung’s intense stare, knowing your body never seemed to emulate the thousands of paintings of beautiful women with their clear and perfect skin, smooth and delicate. As you slowly began to hide your face in your hands, Taehyung’s hand came up to your wrist, pulling it away. 

“Let me see you…” He breathlessly whispered, watching as you slowly reclined back until you hit the mattress, staring up at him. 

“Then, let me see you too…” You pouted, pointing at the pants that still hung on his hips. Taehyung let out a chuckle as he raised his brow.

“Want me to take it off?” He asked, slipping his thumb under the waistband of his pants. You nodded eagerly not taking your eyes off his abdomen. “Then beg.”

Your eyes widen as you look at the cocky smirk Taehyung displayed. Reaching behind you, you grab a fluffy pillow before throwing it in his direction. He laughs, holding up his arms to protect himself. “Alright, alright.”

Quickly, he unfastens his pants, throwing his clothes that joined yours on the ground. 

“Better?” He asks, crawling up to your figure

“Better.” You respond, kissing him as soon as his face was close enough. 

A moan escaped from your mouth as Taehyung left a trail of kisses down your neck and between your breasts, while your hands went up to caress his brown strands of hair. His hands travelled downward, dipping between your legs as he began to gently rub your clit. Your body shuddered as a few whimpers fell from your lips, while Taehyung just smirked. 

“Feels good? You’re so wet…” He grunted, sinking his fingers and dragging them along your walls. 

“T-tae…” You moaned, feeling several fingers ease their way in. “I-if you keep doing that, I’m going to cum…” You whined, body desperate for more friction. 

“Already, baby?” He chuckled, leaning down to capture your lips. “What about me, love?” He jokingly teased. “I can’t have you passed out from exhaustion already, now can I?” 

You gulped loudly, feeling cold air as Taehyung’s fingers slipped out, dripping down onto the bedsheets as he smiled. Taehyung stared at you while you stared back, feeling your heart lump erratically. He shuffled closer, bringing his soaked fingers up to your lips as he watched you slowly part your mouth open, sucking and cleaning them up. 

“You’re so beautiful…” He whispered as he pulled his fingers out with a plop from your mouth, saliva riding down your chin. There was barely enough time to collect yourself as Taehyung firmly pressed you down on the bed, hands grabbing each one of your parts and spreading them out. Your face flushed as you moaned in embarrassment, squeezing your eyes shut as Taehyung lined his member up to your entrance. 

“Ready?”

“I’m ready…” You nodded. Taehyung smiled as he looked down at you, affection in his eyes as he slowly pushed in. He gauged every expression on your face, feeling himself grow more excited as you looked up at him with half-lidded eyes. Your body was feeling it and it was evident the way you panted and clawed at the blankets beneath you. 

“Fuck…” He cursed, his knuckles turning white as he forced his body to hold back. He licked his lips, imagining the way he could just fuck you straight into the bed and listen to your cries of pleasure. But, his patience was rewarded as you beckoned him further with your hand to come closer. As the two of you kissed, Taehyung began to move, his hips snapping every once in a while, enjoying the way your body shuddered and flinched. 

“Tae… Feels good…” You moaned underneath him, legs in the air as Taehyung held onto them. “I feel…c-cum-”

“Me too, love… Just hold on for a bit longer…” He soothed, bringing a hand down to caress your pink cheeks. As Taehyung dove back into you, your body screamed for release, twitching and spasming as you let out inaudible cries of pleasure. Taehyung groaned, feeling the way you tightened up, body tensing and becoming too much for him as he let his cum spill inside. 

However, as you withered amongst the sheets in Taehyung’s embrace, every sigh that left your mouth and part of skin he fondled, was all seen by that eye. Every bit.

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

…

...

“..Nnn?” You groaned, shuffling around in bed as Taehyung laid next to you, eyes softly closed with his breathing evenly going in and out. His hair fell over his eyes and his bare chest peeked out from underneath the blankets. Within your sleepy state, you smile at his arm hung over your hip as you were snuggled into his chest, feeling warmth and comfort in his hold.

Yet through the comfort, the more you regained conscious, the louder a rattling from inside the room resounded. 

In an instant, you were awake, all previous trance vanishing the next second. As you concentrated on hearing the sound, it continued scarily insistent, as if someone suddenly became more urgent. All you could do was stare at Taehyung, with confused and wide eyes. You could hear it, the sound came from beyond the door, almost as if someone was shaking the doorknob. A shudder crept down your spine and down your legs as you cuddled further into your fiance underneath the blankets, body adjusting to his chest. He subconsciously reciprocated. 

Someone was trying to break in.

And you had no idea of what to do.

“Taehyung…” You whispered, hoping the person behind the door wouldn’t hear you. This was an unfamiliar, dark and abandoned place, with a stranger who held an extra set of keys right down the stairs. Your fear grew with each second and you insistently started tapping Taehyung on the chest and shoulder, hoping he would wake up quicker. “Taehyung…!” You harshly hissed, only for the man to groan, tilting his head further back into his pillow. 

“...L...ater…” He muttered, going right back into his dreamland and turning away from you. With a silent groan of irritation, you give up. Not having the courage to continue bothering him with the harsh scuffling of your entrance just a couple of feet away from you. It felt like the door would break down any second now. Your heart was plummeting rapidly in your chest as you huffed at your useless fiance, throwing the blanket away from your body as the soles of your feet met the cold wood flooring.

Darkness loomed throughout the entire room as you slowly stood up, hearing the swish of the trees outside and rain pouring against the windows. Harsh gusts of wind crashed against the glass as your eyes desperately tried to adjust to the little lighting in the dim room, hands coming down and catching yourself from bumping into your night table. You could see it from where you stood...the shaking of your door. 

With each slow step towards the entrance, your skin crawled, fingers shaking as you reached for the doorknob. Your breathing was unsteady, body shuddering again as you shut your eyes, taking a deep breath when you stood right by the door. For a few seconds, you meditated, calming you high nerves with each breath. Until you grabbed the doorknob with determination. Time to find out who was lying behind the door. 

When the door was fully open, you were greeted with silence. 

...

 In a daze you stand quietly, staring at nothing but the opposite wall of the hallway with your tight grip on the doorknob loosening. Hesitantly, you took a step away from the threshold and into the hallway of the inn. 

You looked in the dark hallway, once right and then left. 

Nothing. No one.

There was only pitch black on both sides. Like what you just experienced was a hallucination. As soon as you confirmed your suspicions were false, you quickly went back inside, shutting the door closed and locking it. Scratching your head, you rubbed your eyes, questioning whether you hallucinated. Maybe the things your fiance had said were getting to you.

With a sigh of relieved nerves, you slipped back into bed with Taehyung who was softly snoring, lips curling up as you hugged him from behind.

While you thought about the sudden events for a while, the road trip still had you extremely exhausted and it didn’t take long for you to drifting off as well. 

What you failed to realize in the darkness of the stormy night, however, was a shadow intently watching your door. A shadow that slowly slipped away further into the hallway. 

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

“Love.”

“My love.”

“Get up.”

“Tae…?” You groaned, rubbing your eyes. A ball of uneven bed-head popped into view as your fiance mischievously grinned at you. 

“How long are you going to sleep for today, love?” 

“I’m up, I’m up…” You muttered, kicking the blankets off your body as your fiance gave you a tight hug, arms resting on your shoulders and circling around your neck. A yawn echoed in the room as you stretched your arms up to the ceiling, eyes still closed and head tilted to the side. Fatigue plagued your mind as you stood up, stumbling your way to the bathroom as Taehyung watched from the bed. 

“Ready to go down?” Taehyung chirped as you came out of the bathroom, refreshed despite the evident drowsiness that lingered in your body. You nodded again, slipping on your shoes and unlocking the door, stepping in the hallway that was now filled with the bright light of the sun. The two of you descended down the staircase, walking into the dining room as you caught Jungkook’s figure peeking out as you turned the corner. 

“Good morning.” You call, grabbing his attention as he turns around, the sun reflecting off the windows and gleaming on the side of his face. Taehyung comes up to your side, taking a seat at one of the tables as you slowly seat yourself beside him. 

“Good morning.” Jungkook smiles, watching toward the pair with the curtains now pulled open. “Didn’t sleep well?” 

“No, no, I’m alright.” You smile, brushing a loose strand of hair behind your ear as Taehyung rolls his eyes. “The stormy night just kept me up.”

“Yes, it was pretty bad last night. I’m glad you both chose to stay, couldn’t imagine if you were on the road.” Jungkook replies worriedly 

“What’s it matter to you…?” Taehyung grumbled underneath his breath, turning his head as your eyebrows furrowed. 

“Taehyung, don’t be so rude.” You quietly scold, trying to get him to look at you in the eyes. Taehyung just looks off to the side, chin propped up on the palm of his hand as he grumbles. 

“So, I heard about your mom Jungkook...famous actress and all...where is she? Is she going to join us for breakfast? Are we even going to meet her?” Taehyung bluntly asks, eyes shifting to stare at the doe-eyed boy who only tilted his head to the side with an innocent smile on his face. 

“No, my mother is going to eat in her bedroom. She’s still not feeling well and the least she said she could do is not get her guests sick.” Jungkook smiled, taking a seat in front of the pair with a light breakfast laid out in front of everyone. As the three of you silently ate, Taehyung gave the younger annoyed looks from time to time, only stopping when you silently scolded him underneath the table.

“So Jungkook,” You began trying to lighten the mood. “What do you like to do here? For fun, I mean.”

He looked surprised at you for a few seconds before he puts his toast down, “Mm..well...I mostly spend time with mother...sometimes we dance...ummm…”

“That sounds lovely.” You say to Jungkook, kicking Taehyung under the table when he scoffs.

“Ow!” He whines before glaring at Jungkook “She meant what’s there to do around here? Anything fun? Or is the whole place dead.”

You growl at Taehyung who cowers in his seat. Poor Jungkook looks hurt by his words, slumping in his chair.

“Jungkook.” You say slowly, “Don’t mind him. He’s had a terrible day yesterday with the whole storm interference an-”

“Oh!” Jungkook exclaims making you and Taehyung jumped. “How about we go out and view the forest? 

“The weather outside is so beautiful, it’d be a shame if you didn’t get to see it!” 

“Taehyung, doesn’t that sound like a pleasant idea?” You smiled, your foot clamping down on his leg. Taehyung bit his tongue, looking away and just giving a reluctant nod. “Then that settles that! After breakfast, do you want to show us around, Jungkook?” 

The boy nodded excitedly, almost jumping out of his seat as you laughed at the enjoyment in his face, only for Taehyung to roll his eyes once again. 

Brat.

As you pulled Taehyung by the hand back to your cabin room, he groaned like a child. You had bought your bags upstairs, shifting through the outfits you brought along for the trip. The door to your room shut closed as Taehyung threw a jacket over his clothes, watching as you slowly fixed your appearance in the mirror that sat by the vanity. He walked behind you, locking his arms around your hips with his face buried into the crook of your neck. 

“Do we really have to…?” Taehyung whined, tilting his head up to check your reflection from the mirror. “I can think of plenty of other interesting things that can take up our time, love…” 

“Taehyung, you are going to be a good boy and join us outside, okay?” You sternly warned, turning around to face the pouty man. “C’mon, it’s not going to be that bad.” 

Taehyung just tightly hugged you again, hesitantly nodding. 

I just hate that boy.

As you slipped out of the cabin room, you went downstairs into the main lobby, only to find the spacious area deserted. 

“Jungkook?” You called out, hearing your voice echo off the walls. As you look left and right, you sighed, scratching your head and deciding to pay a visit to his room. When you finally ascended the staircase, you took gentle steps towards his room, only to hear loud voices muted by the barrier of the hallway and room. 

“She’s not a good woman! Do not get close to her, do you understand? I will not have my son getting close to that bad woman!” A hoarse voice spoke from behind the door as you stopped in your tracks. Was that his mother? And was she talking about you? 

“Mother, please! Mother, she’s really just a stranger and it was pouring outside!” You heard Jungkook’s desperate voice argue back, trying to rationalize his mother’s words. “I just want to show her around, what’s the harm of that?”

“You will listen to what your mother says! Do you understand, boy? Do not take that bad woman anywhere!”

“Shut up!” Jungkook screamed, his footsteps echoing against the wooden floors. 

The door to his room opened as he runs into you, his eyes wide as your body flinches. Your eyes shift towards the contents inside his room, taking a brief glance as Jungkook hastily slams the door shut. You could see his mother sitting in her rocking chair, facing away from the door. 

“Hi,” Jungkook breathes out. It was awkward for a while since you both knew what the mother was saying about you, but honestly, you didn’t want Jungkook to feel bad because of a crazy old woman. 

So you smile at him, “Ready, soldier? Let’s get going.”

Watching fondly as he immediately returns to that shy beam you were secretly growing to love.

“Let’s go.”  

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

That’s how you found yourself outside with a gleaming and excited Jungkook in front of you and a miserable Taehyung to your side, his hands shoved into his pockets. The sun was brightly shining and birds happily chirp as Jungkook gave you a small tour around the forest. You gazed in awe at the enormous hardwoods and the nice breeze that blew your hair back. 

“It’s so pretty!” You marvelled, earning a chuckle from Jungkook who smiled from off on the side of the trail. “Isn’t this one pretty, Taehyung?” You called, the glum man gazing over and giving a reluctant nod. 

“Ohh! This one too! I wish I could paint this little guy here…” You pouted, bending your knees as you gazed at the beautiful flowers growing in front of you. Taehyung just huffed, crossing his arms as he stood behind you on the trail. 

“Is that all you ever think about? Art? Painting? Really?” He spat dryly, only for heat to rise up to your face as you turned around. You have had about enough of his negativity. It was ruining the trip and slowly tore down your patience. 

“What’s your problem, Taehyung? Can’t you just control yourself for once? Can’t you keep your negative comments and insults to yourself?” You groan in frustration, eyes narrowed as Taehyung shoots you back the same look. 

“How about you try and think about me for once!” Taehyung shouted, his voice echoing in the forest as birds flew away from the intensity of his voice. “Y’know, I maybe thought our original trip would be able to convince you to finally accept me as your fiance, but now that I’m here instead, I’m honestly sick of this!” 

“I’m your fiance! Me! And you’re just letting this man who you KNOW likes you more than a friend, and you’re doing nothing about it! You’re letting him flirt with you with the way you’re acting! I’m so sick! OF ALL OF THIS! So how about you try and think about how I feel! Don’t you think I was patient enough when I gave you time to sort out your feelings, even though I was hurt you still accepted my proposal when you never truly felt the same way? But you…! You!” Taehyung pointed his finger, only to whip his hand away as he grunted in frustration. 

With his voice now softer, Taehyung just glared at you. 

“And you won’t even believe me about my concerns with this inn. What even am I to you, huh? Is this the respect I get? IS IT?!”

“Taehyung… just-”

“You are unbelievable!” Taehyung screams, earning the attention of an oblivious Jungkook who turns around, nervously gazing at the couple who just glared at each other. “And you still don’t believe me! You…! I-I…”

The air got silent as Taehyung just stared at his feet, his head lowered as he turned away. “It’s over. Let’s just end it. If you can’t trust me, if you don’t want to marry me, if you can’t tell another man to stop flirting with you, if you don’t even know what you want from this relationship, then… just stop… let’s just stop.” 

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

As soon as Tae pushes the doors of the inn, he doesn’t wait for you. Instead, rushing up the stairs and slamming the door of his room.

You roll your eyes, walking slowly after him and watching him throw a tantrum. Jungkook trails you just as slow, his big eyes filled with concern and a frown on his boyish features.

“Are you sure he’s alright? He seems so mad.”

You sigh deeply, a headache forming behind your eyes. “He’s fine Jungkook...just don’t worry okay. He gets like this sometimes.”

With that, you turn and look at Jungkook who’s staring at you intensely. “He..shouldn’t do that…”

“Hmm?”

“He shouldn’t treat you like that...” He says with a low voice, “I would never treat you like that.”

“It’s...It’s fine I’ll just…” You step away from Jungkook’s intense gaze, turning around and rushing up the stairs. 

As you took a step on each stair, your hand gliding on the handle, you could feel Jungkook stare at your back, looking up and admiring you from the lobby. You turn the corner, softly walking toward your cabin room, hearing the shuffle of bags and feet.

You step inside your room, to find Taehyung rummaging around and packing his suitcase.

“What are you doing?” You ask him apprehensively, tired of his draining attitude since you first spotted the inn from your car window.

“I’m leaving. Are you coming or not?” Taehyung put his hand on his hip, his bag firmly zipped closed. 

Sighing you cross your arms, “Stop acting like a child for God’s sake! Why can’t you just enjoy yourself?”

“Can’t you see things are clearly wrong?” Taehyung argues back, gesturing his arms out as if to engulf the entire inn. 

“What Taehyung? What is wrong with this small, quaint inn? What could possibly be so terrible OF A BOOKING A SMALL CABIN ROOM FOR TWO DAYS TO SURVIVE A NASTY STORM?”

“While you were having fun like the spoiled princess you are with your new prince charming, I was actually checking the place out! The registry listed all the people that checked in, but never, not even once have any checked out. On all the records!”

“T-that's,” You struggle to find the words, “It’s an old registry, it’s not reliable!”

“So then why are all the phone lines dead?” He deadpans. 

“What?”

“In the dining room, near the kitchen. A phone was sitting there and I picked it up, and all I heard was static. It was dead!” 

“Okay, but what would be the use of a phone when I can’t even get service here, Taehyung?” You reply back bitterly.

“And just where is his mother? Huh? How come no has one seen her?”

“She’s sick!”

“Oh, isn’t that just convenient?” Taehyung spits dryly. 

“You’re crazy! She’s an old woman, I heard her myself!”

“But you still have never seen her, have you?!”

“ENOUGH! I don’t want to talk about this anymore, not when you’re being so unreasonable!”

“Are you going to come or not?” 

When you remain silent, he just shakes his head. 

“Fine... I’m leaving then.” 

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

It’s been two hours since Taehying’s departure.

Two hours since he burned your whole engagement to hell. Two hours after he broke your heart into pieces. And you sat there in the lounge, feeling helpless. In the corner of your mind, you think this was always meant to happen, that you and Taehyung were two completely different people and that it was a mistake to ever meet him. To fall so hopelessly in love with him. Maybe it’s a good thing that this happened now, rather than later. Maybe it’s good that you’ve found your answer to his question.

Jungkook approaches your sad body on the sofa cautiously, his black hair softly falling over his eyes.

“___… Are you alright?”

You were too deep in thought as he approached your side, so you were startled and let out a gasp. “What? Oh, yea...I’m alright.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?” You can hear the burning guilt in his voice and you smile.

“It's alright Jungkook, I just...want to be alone for now.” You get up, walking close to him “I’ll stay here tonight and find my way home tomorrow. If that’s okay?”

“Of course!” He responds back, a little too eager which makes you laugh

“Thank you Jungkook,” You say placing a palm underneath his cheek and feeling him heat up, “You’ve been so kind.”

With that, you reach up and give him a small kiss on the cheek. When you move back, his eyes are as big as a fish and he looks frozen, stunned at the small intimacy. 

“M-..M..I-”

You stand there as he stutters. In an instant, he turns around, awkwardly walking out the lounge in fast-paced steps. Humored, you can’t help the giggle that makes its way past your lips and you sigh. Then frown. 

Just what were you doing?

This is exactly why Taehyung left you. You let out a guttural groan, rubbing around your face with your hands. What was wrong with you? 

As you were moping about all your bad decisions, a spark from under the sofa caught your eye. Hmm? Tilting your head to get a better angle, you bend down trying to study the object. It was a key, the one Jungkook wore around his neck. 

Jungkook’s room key!

Immediately, you reach out and pluck the key from the floor. Did he lose this? Or did he just drop it after your little moment together? Well, it’s no use to ponder on the subject, you need to give it back to him.

“Jungkook?” You call out

No response. That’s weird he just left like a minute ago. Confused, you begin walking to the reception hoping that he just didn’t hear you. Once you’re in the reception room, you realize Jungkook’s not there. You step up to the front desk. Where could he have gone? Outside?

With a shrug of your shoulders, you think to just put the key down on his desk so he can find it when he comes in. But you stop just as you were about to put them down. Something Taehyung said starts appearing in your mind.

“And just where is his mother? Huh? How come no has one seen her?”

You stand there, in the middle of the bright reception recalling the words your ex-fiance spoke. Slowly you turn, looking up the stairs where all the rooms were located. Perhaps this was the chance to prove Taehyung wrong once and for all.

Wait, no! You shouldn’t do this, it’s not right to snoop around. Yet, the longer you stand there, the more everything Taehyung said starts to make you apprehensive. Besides, Jungkook’s not around. Maybe you can tell him you just wanted to return the key. You’re just checking anyway...it couldn’t hurt.

With that, you make your way to the staircase. Carefully, you place your foot on the first step. Then the other on another. You make your way up the steps, hating each creek that resounded around the Inn. Something in your gut felt strange, like this was a terrible, terrible mistake.

As you get to the top of the step you sigh, looking down into the hallway where Jungkook’s room was. You make your way down the hall, passing your room and trying to concentrate on doing this quickly but your body prolonged you. Alarms were raised in your head and you felt nausea crawl up your throat.

Taehyung had always said you were a bad liar.

You sauntered down the hallway until you finally got to Jungkook’s room. Its silence taunting you. You gulp a few times, trying to moisten your dry mouth. What if Jungkook catches you and throws you out of the inn? Where would you go then?

With trembling fingers, you place the key inside the lock, pursing your lips when you hear it unlock. Slowly you grab the knob, turning it and pushing the door open with the lightest force. The creek in its hinges makes you cringe and clench your free fist.

It was completely dark in his room, and only the hallway’s light illuminated inside. There was nothing special in Jungkook’s room, just a bed, and nightstand like in your room. And of course, his mother. Who was still sitting in that rocking chair facing away from you? Her head was still in that chair and it looked like she hadn’t moved an inch since this morning. What was she doing in a pitch-black room?

“Miss Dulcie?”

She doesn’t respond. Just sits perfectly still in that long brown wooden chair. That was strange since she sounded so full of life this morning.

You step inside the room, your heart beating a million times per minute. “Miss Dulcie umm, I’m sorry for barging in...I was just looking for Jungkook?”

Still, no response so you go closer, trying to see if she was asleep. 

“Miss Dulcie, your son Jungkook, I wanted to return this key to him.” You were right behind her now, so close that you could smell her. She smelled like...rotten apples? Scrunching your face at the odor, you call out to her one last time

“Miss Dulcie?”

You walk around until you are in front of her and as soon as you do, a terrified scream leaves you.

There, in that chair sat an old, gray rotting skeleton.

Taehyung was right, there was no mother. There was something horribly wrong with this place, but you don’t have time to regret anything when you hear a sudden high-pitched voice and a shadow appears in the doorway.

“I knew you were a bad girl!”

You shriek louder, crashing into the wall of the room as you witness who you were speaking with. Who the woman talking this morning was. Jungkook, stood in the doorway with a dress and a wig, just like the one on the skeleton and smiled, breathing heavily. Tears already run down your cheeks, as you cover your mouth with your palm. He held a giant knife in his right hand.

“I told him.” He says with that grotesque tone, “I told him you were bad. That you were a liar. But he doesn’t listen, he never listens to me.”

“W-wha-”

“He went on and on about your discussions, how much he related to you, about how pretty your hair was and how kind you were. He said he didn’t need me anymore, he did.”

You were shivering so hard you were about to pass out. Instead, you think about ways you can escape with him blocking the entrance the way he did.

“But he was wrong you see!  I told him you were bad, I told him you were just like the rest! You snooped into his room, you lied to him!”

“No, I-I just wanted to return the k-”

“Liar!” He says before he charges at you. With a scream you ran from your spot in the corner, bumping into the chair along the way just before he stabbed the knife into the wooden wall. It got stuck in the small gap, and while he focused on prying out the knife, you ran out of the room.

As fast as your legs could take you, you run down the hall and up to the end of the staircase. Without missing a beat. Fear fueling your energy. Once you at the reception, you sprint up to the entrance of the inn. You try and pull it open but it was the door only rattled back, stuck and locked in its hinges.

“No, no, no!” You say each time you pry. It doesn’t budge, locked shut from the outside. “No, NO NOOOO!”

You scream as you began to cry, pounding on the door fruitlessly. You can’t. You can’t go like this. There was so much you had yet to do, you can’t. You can’t!

“If only he’d listen to me!” The horrific voice yells and you turn around to find Jungkook standing above the staircase with a wild look in his eyes. His knife gleaming in the light of the chandelier. Again, you scream and run when he starts charging down the stairs.

You run into the lounge, heaving as you heard Jungkook stomping down the stairs. Quickly you ran behind one of the furthest sofas, crouching down and hiding behind it. In a second, Jungkook steps into the room, you could hear him pacing around the lounge in easy, calculated steps. 

“Bad girl, where are you?” He sing-songs and you cover your mouth to stop from whines from escaping. 

You watch in horror as he steps up right in front of your sofa and stops, turns his feet in your direction. For a while, he just stands there and you aren't sure of what to do. Then he starts moving again to your relief.

You move the slightest from your spot, just a bit to check his location. Suddenly, you’re being pulled in the opposite direction by your leg as you scream.

“There you are!” Jungkook shouts at you on the floor as he steadies his knife to plunge into you.

Your ears are ringing and you feel wet tears rolling down your cheek. 

This is it. This is the end. 

“___!” 

A voice shouts as glass shatters and you can hear Jungkook screech, his body lumping onto the floor. Your feet jump up as your eyes desperately look around your surroundings. Jungkook collapsed onto the floor, shards of glass scattered around the floor as you get up and gasp to your surprise. Taehyung was out of breath, but he was standing right in front of you, dust and dirt on his cheeks. He quickly extends his hand, which you immediately grab and the two of you run. 

“T-taehyung!” You gasp, squeezing his hand so hard you know it had to hurt. “W-why…? H-how?” You cry out, whether, from relief or happiness, you aren’t exactly sure. 

“The front door was chained shut, I knew something was wrong! I had to break in through the basement! We have to go through there! C’mon!” He shouts as the two of you descend down another set of stairs. The basement is filled with bookshelves and portraits of Jungkook’s mother, items scattered around the floor and objects that lost its shine. The basement was dark, with only a burning oil lamp hooked near the entrance. Taehyung guided you through the scattered items as he lifts the broken basement door open as you quickly slip through.

Before Taehyung can take a step out, the laugh returns and Jungkook rushes towards Taehyung, colliding into the man’s body. The oil lamp crashes down onto the floor as the two men struggle against each other. Taehyung grunts, grabbing Jungkook and suppressing the arm that held the knife from ever going down. 

“You fucking lunatic!!” Taehyung screams, slowly losing in strength as the knife slowly comes down bit by bit. Jungkook just laughs, overpowering the man and stabbing him in his upper chest. 

However, his victory is cut short as a steel club collides into his skull, causing him to screech out. Jungkook topples down to the floor as you stand there, trembling with your hands tightly gripping onto a golf club with red drops of blood on the tip. You bend down, leaning Taehyung on one of your shoulders as you make it outside. 

As you take one back look inside the darkness of the basement, you watch as a growing fire begins to eat away at the bookshelves. You look up as your feet touch the delicate grass underneath you, feeling the rain pour over you and down your face. Looking back at Taehyung, you slowly lug him toward the car and lay him down.

Your fiance had left the keys into your gratitude, letting you quickly start the engine and begin backing away from this cursed place. The tires screech as you make it onto the road, pushing on the accelerator to get you going as fast as possible.

As you were leaving, you look in the rearview mirror, taking one last glimpse at the inn, watching smoke and fire engulfing it all.

⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰

Even the air smelled sweet. 

Your eyes fluttered open as you found your head tilted downward, arms crossed in your lap as your butt still remained in the chair that you had initially sat in when you arrived. 

How long was I asleep?

As you drowsily blinked several times, you were greeted by the bright white painted walls of the room and the ruffle of the window curtains. A breeze blew past into the cold hospital room, your figure watching over your fiance for who knows how long. Every day, every week, every month, you seemed to find yourself back in this hospital chair in his room, staring at his non-moving body, his closed eyes, and quiet breathing thanks to the machine he was hooked onto. His skin had gotten pale with his body losing muscle and weight. 

There were times when you entered his hospital room, only to stare or talk to him for hours until you finally broke down. Tears would roll out from your eyes and down your cheeks as you stared at his body. Could you even consider him alive with the way he always lay flat and motionless? All you wanted to do was to feel his warm body against yours, to see that smile you always called cheesy. Even his stupid habits that you hated… You wanted to see those too. 

“I’ll be going, Taehyung…”’ You whispered, nails digging into your pants. “I’ll see you tomorrow…” 

As you stood up, you took small steps toward his bed, your arm reaching out for his hand as you gave it a small squeeze. It was so frigidly cold. 

You told the cops everything you could, but they just looked at you like you were crazy. I mean, the whole story with the guy who thinks he’s his mom who used to be a famous actress and now she’s dead and her son’s probably killed others. It was far-fetched. But you insisted, shouted at them for being so incompetent like a madwoman until they relented. The police went back to the scene of the crime, although hesitant with everything you told them. They came back told you the place was burned to a crisp, no signs of anyone there but with a fire like that, no one to survive either.

In the end, they launched an on-going investigation after finding out some other people that disappeared in that area. None of it was helpful to you, not as long as they didn’t find Jungkook’s body and Taehyung continued to lay there with wires stuck into him.

You turned away, dragging your feet over to the door as you pulled it open, stepping out into the hallway. While you walked through the hospital, all you dwelled on was the mistakes you made. Because of you, Taehyung was lying in that bed. And because he cared about you, he came back, worried and protecting, no, saving you from death. Your fingers came up to your head, pulling at your hair as you gasped for air, feeling tears trickle down your cheeks once again. 

Who were you to deserve such kindness? Why could you never listen? How could you ever make it up to him?

As you stepped into the elevator, feeling it carry you back to the lobby of the hospital, you sign out, shuffling down the sidewalk and back to your small car. The car beeps twice as you press your car key, opening the door and sliding in. When you start the car and buckle your seatbelt, your hand comes up to the rearview mirror, but your eyes go wide as you scream. 

He was smiling, his brown hair sticking out as he gazed at you through the mirror. You spun around, looking behind you in the backseat, only to find the row empty. Your heart was thumping in your chest as a bead of sweat rolls down your face. You were sure! You swore you saw him again. But when you looked straight ahead and changed the gears, you couldn’t help but wonder. 

Was he truly still out there?