#ptrw | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

binary5tar1117 · 6 years ago

Text

Paint the Roses White - Ch. 3

Written by: @i-live-so-i-love and @kimlinebiased

AO3 Link Here!

Relationships: main VMin, side NamJinGi, side HopeKook 

Genres: fantasy, angst, smut

Tags: Alice in Wonderland AU, smut, fluff, angst, alternate universe, bottom!Taehyung, top!Jimin, violence, abusive parents, shapeshifter!Taehyung, barebacking, alcohol use, side HopeKook, sideNamJinGi, implied drug use, more tags added as necessary

Summary: Jimin’s life sucks. He’s miserable, beat down, and tired. That is, until a mysterious boy with purple hair and a dangerous smile slides into his life and turns it upside down. The White Queen is ruling and drinks are on the house in the Hat Trick Lounge. Caterpillar is missing and the Prince of Hearts is ready for a war, if only he could figure out where his damn rabbit ran off to again…

Word Count: ~10.1k+ (updated biweekly)

A/N: If you’d like to be tagged in chapters, please send either @kimlinebiased or myself a message or DM off anon - we will add you to a tag list so you never miss an update! Alternately, you can subscribe on AO3 for an email when a chapter is posted!

A/N2: We are anticipating a biweekly upload schedule! This may vary on the day week to week due to just general real life things, and if anything big changes we’ll try to let you know.

Jimin woke up face first in the dirt. He groaned. There was a sharp sting in his upper arm and his muscles ached like he’d run a marathon. Memories of the last few hours flooded his mind. He shot up, looking around. He was on a dirt road through a forest, it stretched on in either direction as far as he could see. Off in the distance he could just make out a blonde figure disappearing over the horizon.

“Hey!” Jimin called after him.

Panic clutched at Jimin’s throat. He had no idea where he was or how he got here because what just happened couldn’t possibly have happened. He had no idea how to get back home. There wasn’t even anyone around to ask for help. Tears burned behind his eyes. Worst of all, he had let Taehyung down. He’d lost the drive.

He wiped his eyes with the palm of his hand. He didn’t have time to cry over it right now.

He poked at the hole in his dress shirt. The red stain spreading looked worse than it was. The bullet had only grazed him and not even that deeply. Since it was ripped and stained anyway he tore the sleeve off and tied it around the wound. It was the best he could do for now.

He took a deep breath and stared down the road to his left where Rabbit had disappeared. He could see a smoky haze in the sky; the other way was nothing. He shrugged. Something was better than nothing.

As he walked along the path he took in the trees around him. They were different than he was used to. He couldn’t exactly pinpoint why. The leaves were a little too green and the branches never quite angled the way he expected. Still, they were pretty and it let Jimin relax a little.

An odd crunch under Jimin’s foot made him pause and look down. He lifted his foot and underneath were shards of the dark pearl Rabbit used to bring them here. Jimin’s stomach dropped. Would he be able to get home without it? He crouched to pick up the pieces. Maybe it could be fixed.

As he stood up a woman’s voice behind him made him turn.

“Oh Oyster! Come and walk with us!” She stood in the middle of the road, closer than he would have expected. She was dressed head to toe in black, her black and purple hair pulled into a high tight ponytail. Her wide set eyes glittered, a cruel smile curving her red lips.

Before Jimin could respond another voice spoke from the direction he had been facing a moment ago.

“A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk.” She was dressed the same at the other woman in all black, the same smile across her face.

“We’ll talk of many things,” the first woman said. She had gotten closer, nearly in arms reach away now. Jimin could see a collection of knives along her waist.

“Of shoes and ships and sealing wax.”

“Of cabbages and kings.”

They circled him threateningly. Jimin crouched, prepared to defend himself but not liking his odds against their knives.

“Of why the sea--” The second woman dropped her stance and put her hands on her hips. “Hyuna, can we just kill him and be done now? I’m bored of this already,” she whined.

“You’re bored of everything, Jiwoo. There’s a reason you’re called a walrus.” The one named Hyuna clapped her hands and made a barking noise.

“That’s a seal, you fool. I still want to kill him.” She drew a long ivory dagger from behind her, raising it threateningly.

“Whoa! Kill me?” Jimin squeaked, raising his hands in a weak defense. “For what?”

“Don’t play dumb. We know what you are.”

“I’m Jimin! Park Jimin. Please! I just want to go home.”

Jiwoo hesitated. She glanced at Hyuna.

“You can’t be. It’s impossible.”

“Please!” Jimin tried again. “I didn’t mean to come! I just wanted the drive. See?” He held out the broken pearl. Hyuna swore, yanking the shards from his palm.

“You fool!” She hissed, her eyes glinting dangerously. It reminded Jimin of Taehyung. “Why would you break this! It was the last we had!”

“You know why he broke it,” Jiwoo said, wiggling the dagger. “He’s an Oyster.”

“I’m not! I’m just a guy!” Jimin cried.

“His hair,” Hyuna said softly, her dark eyes searching Jimin up and down. Her nose twitched, catlike. “And he doesn’t smell like the Oysters.”

“Could be a disguise. They know about us.”

Hyuna stepped closer to Jimin. She tilted her head, her eyes widening a little as she searched his face. Jimin couldn’t hide the gasp that slipped from his mouth when her eyes shifted in front of him, tiny, catlike slits taking the place of her previously round pupils. She blinked, her eyes returning to normal. “I can’t figure out what he is.”

“I’m just a guy. Park Jimin. I was born in Busan, I-- I live alone with my dad, I work in a call center for Christ’s sake. I just want to go home. I didn’t mean to get tangled up in all this! Taehyung gave me--”

“Taehyung!” Jiwoo cried. “What of Taehyung?”

“I-- We--” Jimin’s cheeks burned hot. “I met him,” he mumbled, not wanting to risk outing Taehyung by accident to these two women.

“We shouldn’t kill him,” Hyuna said. Jimin sighed in relief. “Yet,” she added, smirking at him. Jiwoo pouted, a strikingly innocent expression on her beautifully deadly face. “Why?”

“There’s something wrong here. I can smell it. We should take him to the Hat Trick.”

“Then can we kill him?”

“As soon as the Prince gets a good look at him, yeah, we’ll open him up and take out the pretty pearls.”

Jimin’s stomach twisted painfully at the delightful noise Jiwoo made at Hyuna’s promise. Much to his relief, she sheathed the dagger, but withdrew a set of handcuffs. Jimin stepped back, wondering if he had a shot in hell of escaping.

“It’s gonna be best if you just come with us, Oyster,” Hyuna warned. Jimin felt the prick of a knife along his side. He tensed. “We’re not the untrained kittens you’re used to dealing with.”

Jimin swallowed audibly. “Just put the knife away. I’ll come,” he whispered.

“Knife?” Hyuna chuckled. She raised her hand, revealing sharp claws in place of her previously blood red manicured nails. “The knives are just for show… My paws work so much better.”

Jimin cried out in surprise, stumbling away from Hyuna, and directly into Jiwoo’s arms. “Gotcha!” She teased, laughing as she slapped the cuffs on his wrists. She grabbed the center metal links and began to walk, all but dragging Jimin along behind her.

Hyuna followed along behind them, her steps so silent that Jimin could scarcely hear them. As they walked toward the hazy end of the road that Rabbit had disappeared from, Jimin couldn’t help but wonder if he was being led to his salvation�� Or his doom.

Jimin wasn't sure how long or far they walked. The road seemed to never change. At first he had tried asking questions but Jiwoo snapped at him. He may need his tongue to answer questions, but he didn't need all his fingers. He didn't think it was worth risking whether she was bluffing since they weren’t answering them anyway. So he remained silent.

Jiwoo and Hyuna occasionally chatted as they walked. Jimin guessed they were close, sisters maybe from the undertone of bickering.

At no sign Jimin could see, Jiwoo turned and hauled him into the bushes. Jimin dug in his heels, suddenly terrified they were dragging him into the woods to kill him. “Wait- I thought you were taking me to someone? To answer questions.”

“We are, stupid Oyster. Didn't you see the sign?” Jiwoo gestured impatiently behind him.

Jimin turned and there was now an incongruous neon sign reading “Hatter & Hare’s Hat Trick Lounge”.

Further down Jimin could see other signs: “Mock Turtle’s Fashion Boutique”, “Lobster Quadrille Dance Studio”, “Golden Nile Crocodile Spa”. When he looked back the way they had been going there was still nothing.

“Let’s go.” Hyuna pricked him in the back to get him moving.

Jimin stumbled through the brush until they landed on a path narrower but parallel to the one they’d left. This one wound through the trees in loops and branched. Some paths continued further into the woods and some ended abruptly. His guards led him down the closest path. As they approached a wooden door popped into existence, light brown and inviting. Jimin blinked. He could see around it to the other side but Hyuna knocked, clearly expecting an answer.

“Why is a raven like a writing desk?” a voice called through the keyhole.

“Jae, if you don’t let me in, I swear to god I will cut your fucking balls off.”

The door opened and a heavy drum beat poured out. A tall man with round glasses leaned against the door. Behind him was a dark room with distant flashing lights. Definitely not the woods Jimin was standing in. “What’s the point of a secret entrance if you don’t have a secret code?” Jae said, exasperated.

Jiwoo dragged Jimin through the door and shut it. The woods disappeared and Jimin was now in what was clearly a storage room of some kind. Wine barrels lined one wall there were rows of shelves with boxes of varying sizes.

“Who’s this? New recruit?” Jae nodded at Jimin.

“An Oyster Hyuna wouldn’t let me kill.”

Jae’s eyes widened.

“I’m not an Oyster. I don’t even know what that is. I’m just a guy!” Jimin tried to insist. The others ignored him.

Jae looked him over. “But his hair.”

“And what about yours?” Jiwoo cocked her head, annoyed.

Jae ran a hand through his fading pink hair. He opened his mouth to retort but Hyuna cut him off.

“Enough. Go get Jin so we can sort this out and be done? Grab Taehyung if he’s around too.”

Jae nodded and left with a backwards glance at Jimin.

The beat of the music from the other room was almost hypnotic, a rhythm that Jimin could feel in his bones. He took the opportunity to look around the room, searching for any clue as to where he might be. The wine barrels were stamped with varying numbers that Jimin couldn’t make heads nor tails of. There was a strawberry sweet scent all around them, implying at least some of the alcohol was fruit flavored. The boxes on the shelves were labeled with various words, glasses, bottles, corks, labels, etcetera. What was clearly the name of the place, the Hat Trick Lounge, was emblazoned on the high wall above the barrels.

Jae returned, a bottle of light pink liquid with a label of a jumping rabbit in his grip. “Jin wants you to take him to the lounge. He and the rest are there.”

“Who are the rest?” Hyuna asked.

“Hatter and Rabbit. Taehyung’s off chasing mice or whatever the hell you Cheshires hunt.”

Jiwoo swiped the air in front of Jae’s face with her claws. “Come a little closer and I’ll show you what we hunt.”

Jae rolled his eyes, smiling good naturedly. Jimin wasn’t sure how he wasn’t wetting himself in the presence of these two.

��Hush your hissing, Jiwoo. Doesn’t become you. Go on.” He nodded toward a door Jimin hadn’t seen before. As they passed, Jimin looked at him pleadingly. Jae smiled and shrugged helplessly. He knocked back another sip of his drink and wandered into the darkness on the other side of the room as Jimin was pulled through the door.

Jimin found himself in the middle of a room with no door and no windows, save for a rose colored glass roof that allowed sunshine to filter through. The centerpiece of the room was a rich cherrywood table, littered with the same rabbit labeled bottles that Jae had been holding, as well as a few half full bowls of brightly colored cookies and sweets. There were two leather loveseats and an easy chair surrounding the table, broken in and worn to the point that stuffing was sticking out in some places. On one of the easy chairs was occupied by a tall, slender man. He wore a hot pink baseball cap, bright orange hair sticking out wildly. The sides of the cap pushed his ears down so they folded over, adding to the overall crazy appearance that his flashy, patched and stitched together clothing already implied.

The love seat next to him was occupied by a strikingly beautiful redhead. He wore a leather jacket and a pair of jeans ripped in various areas to show his knees and thighs. Jimin’s eyes widened when he realized the man’s hair matched his own in vibrance and shade. He paid Jimin and his captors no attention, his focus on Rabbit, who had his head in the redhead’s lap. He was stroking his fingers through Rabbit’s soft white hair, his plush lips curled up into a quiet smile.

“You!” Jimin cried.

The two men on the couch looked up and Rabbit’s mouth dropped open in surprise.

“You! What are you doing here?” Rabbit asked, sitting up.

Jimin scowled. “What do you mean what am I doing here? I followed you.” He took a step toward the couch but a hand wrapped around his injured arm painfully tight, claws digging into his skin. “Give me back the pen drive and send me home!”

Rabbit looked more confused than ever. “Followed me? How?”

Jimin opened his mouth to retort but the redhead cut him off.

“Namjoon, who is he?” He spoke calmly and quietly but there was an air of command to his voice.

Rabbit, who’s real name must have been Namjoon, turned back to the redhead. “Park Jimin,” he answered with a significant look. “Taehyung’s boyfriend.”

Jimin blushed. “I’m not- we’re not-”

The redhead stood up and stuck out his hand. “A friend of Taehyung’s is a friend of mine...usually.” His full lips curved into a smile. “I’m Kim Seokjin. Most people around here just call me Jin.” Jimin shook his hand awkwardly in the handcuffs, slightly bewildered.

”Oh, we can take those off.” Jin gestured for Hyuna to uncuff him.

Jiwoo pouted. “He’s really Taehyung’s boyfriend? We don’t get to kill him?”

Jimin blushed again at her phrasing. It had only been one night.

“He had the drive with all the information on it and he was trying to protect it with his life.” Namjoon smiled at Jimin. “He’s on our side.”

Jiwoo made an unhappy hissing noise.

“Sorry, you’ll have to find someone else to sharpen your claws on. Rook and Bishop might still be out there,” Jin suggested.

Once Hyuna was done uncuffing Jimin, she grabbed Jiwoo by the shoulders and steered her out a door that appeared as they turned. “Come on. Let’s go find Solbi-unnie and Adora-unnie for a drink before we head out.”

“Sorry about them.” Jin said once the door disappeared again. “They, uh, enjoy their job a little too much. Especially Jiwoo. But they are good at it.” He gestured for Jimin to take a seat.

Jimin hesitated. “How do I know I can trust you? If you’re friends with Taehyung, where is he? Can I talk to him?”

“I’m sorry Jimin. He didn’t realize how close he was being followed when he gave you that thumb drive. He’s still in hiding trying to shake of a couple Oysters.” Jin hurried to add when he saw Jimin expression, “he’s okay. He’s let us know that he’s safe. He just doesn’t want to risk coming back to the hideout and giving us away until he’s sure it’s safe. Sit please.”

Jimin finally did.

“You look like you need a drink.” The orange haired man leaned forward to pour some of the pink liquid into a clean glass and hand it to Jimin. “I’m Jung Hoseok, the uh,” he flicked the brim of his cap and grinned, “hatter of Hatter and Hare’s Hat Trick Lounge.”

Jimin peered into the glass considering whether it was safe to drink. It smelled sweet and refreshing. “So he’s hare then?” Jimin nodded at Namjoon.

All three burst into laughter.

“He wishes,” Hoseok muttered, shoving Namjoon playfully. “No. Hare is-”

“Hoseokie-hyung! Why did you miss my dance?” A tall half clothed young man with pink hair and fake pink bunny ears on his head appeared behind Jimin. There was still no door so Jimin wasn’t sure where he came from.

The man marched across the room and climbed into Hoseok’s lap, straddling him. “You said you’d be there,” he pouted, wrapping his arms around Hoseok’s neck. “You never miss a dance.”

Hoseok rubbed over the man’s bare thighs and shiny pink shorts. “I’m know baby. I’m sorry.”

“Jungkook.” Jin’s voice cut into their not so private moment. “We have a guest.”

Jungkook turned, cocking his head at Jimin. His eyes narrowed, his nose scrunching. The action lifted his top lip enough to reveal the peek of his front teeth, giving him a very bunny like expression. Jimin couldn’t hide the smile that slid onto his face despite everything. The guy was cute, he had to admit.

“Who’re you?” Jungkook asked.

“I-- Park Jimin.”

“I’m Jeon Jungkook. JK.”

“Or the March Hare,” Namjoon added, jutting his thumb toward the wall. Jimin spotted a calendar hanging. It was open to March’s image, which just so happened to be Jungkook in his bunny ears and nothing else. A basket full of goodies was the only thing hiding his goods from view.

“March. Got it,” Jimin said.

“Is he why you missed my dance?” Jungkook asked, turning his attention back to Hoseok.

“Unfortunately no. I wish it was that simple. Some business to discuss with Jin-hyung.”

The pouting smile disappeared from Jungkook’s face. “Resistance information?”

Hoseok nodded.

“Fill me in?”

“Of course. Entertain our patrons?”

“Always. Jae-hyung is cracking bad jokes for now, it’ll only be so long before the guests start throwing fruit at his head.”

“Ah, well, better go soothe the crowd then. Keep those ears cocked for any Queen news, yes?” Hoseok stroked one of the ears playfully. Jungkook nodded, his strikingly innocent smile returning.

He slid off Hoseok’s lap and leaned over, pressing a kiss to his mouth. He turned and bowed to Jimin. As he darted out of the door that disappeared in the blink of an eye, Jimin couldn’t help but notice the way the young man had stared at his hair. Even in this world, he seemed to stick out. With one exception.

“Is your hair real?” Jimin asked, turning his attention toward Jin.

The air in the room seemed to thicken a little. “Yes,” Jin answered after a moment.

“I’ve never seen another person with hair like mine unless it’s been dyed. Even then…”

“Well,” Jin smiled a little, glancing over at Namjoon. “That’s likely because I’m not a human. Not really.”

Jimin snorted. “Very funny. What is this stuff?” He asked, tilting his glass a little.

“Wine. We make it ourselves. Strawberry flavor.” Hoseok said. Jin reached out, snagging his own glass and taking a sip.

“We’ve no reason to poison you, Jimin. You weren’t meant to get involved, but you aren’t in danger.”

“Well your hitmen out there made it pretty clear that wasn’t the case.”

Jin shrugged. “As I said, they’re just… Excitable. They have a lot of justice to seek. Unfortunately, their revenge tends to come at… Inopportune moments. They won’t harm you, not without my approval.”

“What’s so big shot about you?” Jimin asked.

“Hey.” Namjoon’s tone was sharp and warning. Jin smiled still, setting a hand on Namjoon’s thigh and giving it a gentle squeeze.

“Relax, baby. He doesn’t know. Taehyung told him nothing. For good reason. He likes you - he clearly wanted you protected… He’ll be disappointed that you ended up here.”

“Easy fix,” Jimin said, “send me home.”

“We can arrange that. Not right away though. The Oysters may still be looking for you and I don’t want to risk sending you, or any scout I send with you, falling into their hands. Please. For your own protection. You saw what they were like.”

Jimin touched his injured shoulder. “I did.”

“Then stay with us tonight at least. We’ll send you home tomorrow. My word is everything in this room.”

“That… Might not be so easy,” Namoon said softly.

Jin glanced over at him. “Why not?”

“I… Lost the pearl.” Namjoon’s voice was soft, his head hung.

“Namjoonie,” Jin whined, putting his hand on his forehead. “Please tell me you’re joking.”

“No. I was in such a rush. I thought the Oysters were coming and I just took off, I-- I’m sorry, Jin-hyung.”

“Well, I’m sure it’s still on the path. It’s relatively unused except by our troupe. We’ll just go find it. Send Hyuna - she’s got a bloodhound’s nose.”

“The pearl?” Jimin squeaked. “Small… Shiny… Black?”

“Yes.” Jin said hesitantly.

“It’s… Those girls already have it. I had it when they found me.”

“Excellent.”

“Not so much,” Jimin said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I sorta… Stepped on it. It’s shattered.”

“No.”

Jimin winced. “Can it be fixed?”

Jin slumped down, burying his face in his hands. He made a small noise of frustration. Namjoon’s shoulders slumped, his entire body seeming to sink in on itself. “We’re fucked,” he mumbled.

Jimin glanced around, panic rising in his throat. “What’s going on? What’s so important about the pearl? Someone, please--”

Hoseok sighed softly. He rose and paced to the other side of the room. He took off his pink cap and donned a black fedora with various colored feathers.

“The pearl is the key to your world, Jimin-ssi. Without it, we can’t get there.”

“Well, can we get another one?”

Hoseok turned back to Jimin. “No. They are in limited supply… And the royals that we are at war with have them. The Rook and the Bishop, the Oysters you met… They’re assassins of the Royal Army. We are their enemies.”

“The Royal Army? The-- Where am I?” Jimin asked softly, almost dreading the answer.

Hoseok smiled, broad and bright as sunshine.

“Oh, rude of us, accept my apologies. Welcome to Wonderland.”

#kwritersworldnet #bangtanarmynet #vmin #ptrw

6 notes · View notes

binary5tar1117 · 6 years ago

Text

Paint the Roses White Ch. 2

Written by: @i-live-so-i-love and @kimlinebiased

AO3 Link Here!

Relationships: main VMin, side NamJinGi, side HopeKook 

Genres: fantasy, angst, smut

Word Count: ~6.4k+ (updated biweekly)

A/N2: We are anticipating a biweekly upload schedule! This may vary on the day week to week due to just general real life things, and if anything big changes we’ll try to let you know.

A week passed and Jimin continued his life as usual, except now whenever he closed his eyes he was haunted by a boxy smile and lavender hair. After Taehyung left, Jimin examined the jump drive he had been given closely. It was thin black plastic, oddly smooth and reflective, with a copper colored metal plug. He wondered what was on it but even if he had wanted to peak, he couldn’t have. The plug wasn’t shaped like anything Jimin had ever seen before.

He carried it around with him wherever he went. He wasn’t really sure why. Maybe in case Taehyung appeared out of nowhere like he had before, Jimin would be able to show he had taken care of it. Or maybe it was just to remind himself that Taehyung was real. The idea that Taehyung had been fucking with him occasionally crossed his mind but then Jimin remembered the intense look on Taehyung’s face when he’d offered him the object. It had been real. As real as anything involving Taehyung was. The more time passed, the more it all felt like a dream.

A little over a week later, however, Jimin was assured it was not a dream. A man and a woman in matching immaculate grey suits and unnerving blonde hair showed up at the call center where he worked. Jimin noticed them come in and thought it was odd but was in the middle of a call. It startled him when his boss tapped him on the shoulder.

“I’m sorry, ma’am could you hold one moment please?” Jimin looked up.

“Some people from the government said they need to talk to you.” His boss nodded over his shoulder toward the people in grey. They were standing by the door of the training room now.

Jimin’s heart rate accelerated. “I’m in the middle of a call.”

“I’ll take over.” He held out his hand for the headset. “Go.”

Jimin stood up, straightening his tie and smoothing his shirt nervously. He started toward the door.

“And Park,” Jimin stopped. His boss had sat down in Jimin’s chair and pulled the head set on. “I don’t know what you’ve gotten yourself into but we don’t need that here. If you cause any trouble, you’ll have to go.”

Jimin balled his hands into fists and swallowed down his anger at the unfairness. He nodded and headed toward the training room.

The two government officials entered the room once they saw Jimin approaching. When he entered, the man shut the door and the woman placed herself in front of it.

“Give us the map.”

“I’m sorry?” Jimin stuttered.

“The map, human. Hand it over.” The man stepped up to Jimin, towering over him.

“I don’t have any map.” Jimin said. His heart pounded a rapid beat against his ribcage. The air in the room felt thick and tense, making it hard to breathe. “Who are you people? You aren’t from the government.”

“We know you were with the Cheshire. Give us the map. We tracked it here.” The man grabbed for Jimin’s arm, catching it in a bruising grip. He jerked it backwards, wincing.

“Don’t touch me! I don’t have your stupid map!”

The man glanced at the woman and twitched his head. They both closed in on Jimin then. The woman reached her hand into her pocket. Panic rose in Jimin’s throat. He spun quickly, grateful for once for the years of bullying that had prompted his taekwondo lessons. His foot connected squarely with the woman’s wrist just as she pulled a pistol looking device from her pocket. The strike dislodged the weapon, sending it skittering across the floor.

Jimin brought his arms up, blocking the fist thrown from the man. He used the block’s momentum to push forward, drawing his hand up and then down at an angle. The side of his palm connected with the soft meat of the man’s throat, momentarily choking him and bringing tears to his eyes. Jimin kicked out again, shoving the woman back. He took advantage of the moment and lunged at the door, ripping it open. The woman swore loudly, smacking her partner upside the head. The two followed Jimin out of the door and through the office, drawing surprised stares from nearly everyone.

Jimin lunged out of the door and scrambled down the hall. His gaze darted between the elevator and stairs, unsure which would offer him a better chance for escape.

“Get back here!” The man shouted, his voice hoarse from the damage Jimin’s hand had done. Jimin’s heart leapt into his throat. He darted to the right, making his mind up on the spot.

He flung open the door to the stairwell and started down them, trying not to fall head first in his haste. He made it down almost two flights when he heard the door bang open above him.

“Just give us the map and we won’t hurt you!” the woman called over the rail.

Jimin didn’t even pause or look up. The next second there was a ricocheting sound of metal on metal, Jimin startled missing a few steps and landing half slumped in the corner. A scorch mark blackened the rail where his hand had been a moment ago.

Another shot of adrenaline spiked through his system. He dashed down the next flight.

“Damn it, Rook! Now he’s never going to stop,” the woman scolded.

“He wasn’t going to anyway,” the man panted from two flights above. “The Cheshire’s probably already got his claws in him. At least if he’s dead we can search his body.”

Jimin jumped the last half set of stairs and threw his body against the fire door. The alarm was delayed on this door and some of his coworkers used it to sneak quick smokes. He didn’t bother shutting it and a high pitch ringing started when he was half way down the alley. His pursuers burst out the door just as he rounded the building onto the street.

“He went right!”

This time of day the sidewalk wasn’t crowded. It meant Jimin could go faster, putting more distance between him and his pursuers but it also meant no where to blend in and a clear shot if they wanted to take it. Jimin felt the space between his shoulder blades tingle.

A shot grazed his shoulder. The sting barely registered through the fear, but he knew the next one might hit something more important. He darted down a side street and into the nearest building. It was a cafe. The owner looked up. Jimin ignored him, hiding just beyond the door. A few seconds later the white haired couple ran past.

“Where did he go?” the man asked, slowing.

The woman continued past and pointed. “There’s a side street down there.”

Jimin waited till they were past. He bobbed a quick apology to the owner and ducked out, heading back the way he came. He took a different side street and didn’t stop running till he was a few blocks away.

He slumped against the wall of a building, his sides and arm burning now that the adrenaline was wearing off. He stuck a shaky hand in his pocket and pulled out the thumb drive. A map? He closed his fist around it and closed his eyes, leaning his head against the wall. What had he gotten himself into?

“Excuse me. I think you have something that belongs to me.”

Jimin looked up… and up. A tall, handsome man smiled down at him. Jimin would have thought the dimples made the man look friendly, but the white blonde hair made made Jimin’s heart rate spike. He jumped to his feet trying to back away but preparing for a fight.

The man raised his hands in surrender immediately, showing bare palms. “Hey, it’s okay. You’re Park Jimin. The hair, I couldn’t miss you.”

“Get the fuck away from me!” Jimin spat. “I just lost your two buddies.”

The man blinked, confusion darkening his features. “Buddies?” His face shifted then, his eyes darting to the street behind Jimin. “Give me the map, kid.” He held out his hand.

“Fuck you.”

“This is bigger than you. You were never meant to have it. Give it.” The man stepped forward again, seeming to grow taller. Jimin stumbled backwards, shaking his head.

“Don’t make me hurt you.” Jimin knew his voice sounded as weak as he felt. The man smiled again, but it was flat, not reaching his eyes.

“You wouldn’t be able to. I’m much faster than you think. Hand it over, Park Jimin. And this will all be over.”

Jimin backed up again. He glanced behind him and then behind the man. Going back meant running the risk of the two with weapons. But forward was this man, just as deadly looking. Jimin dove forward and to the right, startling the man. He tried to catch Jimin, but at the last second Jimin went left, ducking through the space between the man and the dumpster.

“Jimin-ssi!” The man screamed. There was a clatter from behind Jimin, but he didn’t dare stop to check what it was. He kept running, his lungs and legs beginning to burn from the strain. He heard the man shouting for him again, gaining speed despite his head start.

“Go away!” Jimin screamed helplessly, drawing the attention of an elderly man across the street. Tears burned Jimin’s nose and the back of his throat. He turned, darting across the street and narrowly missing the front end of a car. He grimaced at the furious honk, wanting to apologize, but grateful for the even small distance it afforded him. He ducked into an alley, hoping to make it through and hide once more.

Panic squeezed his heart painfully tight when he realized the alley was blocked by a large truck. He ducked his hand into his pocket, feeling for the drive. Taehyung’s determined face floated to his mind; he was going to let him down.

“Just hand it over! Quit running!” The man shouted. He reached the alley, blocking Jimin’s only visible exit. “Please! This is life or death.” He held his hand out.

“No!”

Brick shattered near the man’s head. He ducked, and they both spotted the two white haired people from before nearing, their weapons raised. The tall white haired man dove forward, shoving Jimin to the ground in an effort to stop him from getting shot - or as an easy way to catch him. Jimin fought back as well as he could, scratching at the man’s face.

“Give us the human, Rabbit!” The man called Rook shouted.

“Fall off a cliff, Oyster!” Rabbit grabbed Jimin’s wrist, clearly noticing his hand was still in his pocket. He yanked until he got ahold of his hand, a small noise of success coming from his mouth when he spotted the drive grasped in Jimin’s fist.

The two began to wrestle on the ground for the drive, and Rabbit shouted in success when he was able to pry to free from Jimin’s tight grip.

“Give it back!” Jimin screamed.

“No can do, I’m sorry. Taehyung sends his best wishes.” Rabbit withdrew what looked like a black marble from his pocket, squeezing it. Next to Jimin’s head, the ground opened up in what looked like a sudden sinkhole. Rabbit scrambled over him, diving into the hole and narrowly missing a bullet from Rook’s gun.

At the last second, Jimin grabbed Rabbit’s ankle, the gravity dragging him into the hole seconds before it closed behind him.

The sensation of falling forever was one Jimin had never experienced, nor hoped to experience again. All around him were sparkling lights, shining gems and metals he didn’t know the name of. His entire body felt weightless, free falling through a space he wasn’t sure would ever end. Down further, he could just barely make out Rabbit’s white hair. He didn’t know how to speed his descent, or even if he wanted to, but was sure that he could reach the thief once they both landed.

Provided he survived the landing. Panic rose in Jimin’s throat when the cold reality hit him. He was falling very fast from what was clearly a great height. The man that had dragged him in was clearly not human. What was happening? Could Jimin even survive where they were heading?

Before he could even consider trying to grab a wall or do something to slow down, the hole widened and Jimin’s vision went white as he lost consciousness.

#bangtanarmynet #kwritersworldnet #vmin #ptrw

4 notes · View notes