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𝐎𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧. 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞, 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡.

𝐇𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡, 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩-𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫𝐬. 𝐈𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞, 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚 𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐜𝐞. 𝐓𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐭.

𝐀𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐦 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐞𝐬, 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞, 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐘𝐞𝐭, 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬, 𝐚 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐨𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬' 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐤. 𝐈𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧, 𝐚 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐲 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐳𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲.

𝐘𝐞𝐭, 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐲, 𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐛 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧, 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭, 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞. 𝐄𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝, 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐞.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐲'𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐡𝐢𝐦.

𝐇𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲, 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐦, 𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐠𝐫𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬.

𝐀𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬, 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦, 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐲𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫.

𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐲 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫. 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐲𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝, 𝐲𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐲'𝐬 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞,𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟.

𝐘𝐞𝐭, 𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐲'𝐬 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬. 𝐈𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞, 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬.

𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐝, 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞.

𝐈𝐟 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐲.
____

"Keep your gaze fixed upon the floor at all times, maintain a quiet voice. Show no sign of flinching if he raises his voice." These were the first words that reached Jungkook's ears as he opened his eyes.

He found himself in the middle of a corridor, facing an elegantly dressed maiden.

"Remember, you have been compensated for the entire week, so do not even consider resigning before its completion. You are well aware of the consequences that befell the previous individual who dared to do so," the realization of his role as Namjoon's servant only dawned upon him as he glanced at the tray firmly held in his hands. While Jungkook did not possess knowledge of what truly transpired with the previous servant, he harboured no particular intention to quit anyway.

"I understand," he articulates as he gazes at the tray in his grasp, filled with sustenance. He awaited the departure of the lady before redirecting his attention to the extravagant doorway, with a deep breath Jungkook took in the uninviting yet opulent surroundings and the weight of his new role.

With careful precision, he balanced the tray on one hand, leveraging his other to unlock the door.The room was lavish, filled with luxurious furnishings that seemed to mock the grim look of the rest of the castle. Namjoon sat at the table, leisurely engrossed in a book,his demeanour poised. Yet, upon hearing the arrival of an intruder, his posture stiffened.

Jungkook attempted to avert his gaze but found it hard to keep his head bowed, knowing that Namjoon was mere steps away.

He proceeded cautiously into the room, firmly shutting the door behind him. "Leave it and depart," he finally could not resist, his resolve breaking upon hearing the familiar voice once more. At that moment, he was thankful for his mask as he failed to keep his expression in check,His eyes welled up with moisture, and his breath quivered as he raised his gaze.

Namjoon's eyes widened as he saw someone who had the courage to meet his gaze, defying the unspoken rule of submission. What perplexed him even more was the absence of the usual surge of anger within him. Instead, he experienced an unfamiliar sensation of warmth, emanating from those gentle, doe-like eyes.

Jungkook tried to calm himself and gingerly placed the tray on the table, yet lingered in the room after doing so. He fidgeted nervously with his fingers and pondered, 'How can I think of an excuse to stay longer?' Suddenly, his eyes landed on the dishevelled bed.

As Jungkook strived too straighten the disarrayed sheets, Namjoon observed him, astonished at the boy's boldness to blatantly disregard his order to leave. Astonishingly, he found himself not seething with rage but rather entertained. Casually, he ate, stealing glances at the lad who painstakingly tended to the bedsheets, drawing out the task unnecessarily.

Jungkook stood apprehensively after completing his duty. "Is the meal to your satisfaction?" He mentally berated himself, hating that he drew Namjoon's attention to his presence. He could have lingered longer if he had appeared less conspicuous.

"Yes," surprising both himself and Jungkook, Namjoon refrained from urging him to leave once more, even after he finished his meal and returned to his book. Jungkook cautiously approached the table, lifting the tray, his heart aching as he approached the door.

"Wait," Jungkook's eyes brightened as he turned towards Namjoon, his full attention captured. Namjoon himself was uncertain of why he requested the boy to pause. "Uhm... your name?" His voice was barely audible, causing Jungkook to miss the question.

"Huh?" he muttered, making Namjoon repeat himself in a louder tone. "Oh, it's Jungkook."

'Jungkook... why did I inquire? I have never accompanied any interest in someone's name before.' Namjoon pondered as he observed the boy exit through the door.

--

Jungkook walked into his own room. There were no windows, just like Namjoon's. As a matter of fact, there was nothing in the room that could particularly show reflection. The castle itself had some windows, just not in the rooms, as people walked around the place with masks anyways so the only place where they'd take their masks off was in their rooms that too while only sleeping and eating.

Jungkook sat on his bed. His room wad small, and the only thing in it was a bed and a small bathroom. He thought back to his talk with the rest of the staff who was assigned to namjoon.

He had asked them not to enter Namjoon's room, and their reaction had infuriated him. They had thanked him as if he was doing them a great favour, he was once again glad he had a mask on or else they would have seen his furious expression as he was thinking of the fact that all of them harbored ill intentions towards namjoon. The fact that namjoon had not yet met someone besides him who didn't trigger his curse meant all around him were people who hated namjoon.

'It's ok,he has me now.' He thought as took of his mask to go to sleep.

~~《 "𝙝𝙮𝙪𝙣𝙜, 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙮𝙚𝙩?" 𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙠𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙨𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙥𝙤𝙪𝙩, 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙟𝙤𝙤𝙣 𝙨𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨.

"𝙅𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙖𝙜𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙚." 𝙉𝙖𝙢𝙟𝙤𝙤𝙣 𝙨𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙤𝙮𝙨 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙚𝙧.

𝙃𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨 𝙪𝙥 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙖 𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙖 𝙨𝙝𝙪𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧. 𝙃𝙚'𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙟𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙠𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙞𝙢. 𝙃𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙧 𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜.

𝙉𝙖𝙢𝙟𝙤𝙤𝙣'𝙨 𝙨𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙠𝙤𝙤𝙠'𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙨 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙖 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙢 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙠. 𝙃𝙚 𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣'𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙞𝙩.》

~~

Namjoon woke up with a gasp, the usual comforting quietness unsettled him in a way he couldn’t understand. His breath was shaky as he tried to get rid of the fear in his heart, he thought he had a dream, but he couldn’t remember.

It was only when the door opened that he realised it was already morning and he had slept in, he frantically tried to hide his disheveled self but when his eyes landed on the person standing there he felt his heart calm down.

It had been a couple of days since he has appeared. Namjoon didn't understand why he didn't feel the usual aggressiveness towards him, but he tried not to dwell on it. As he placed the tray on the table, namjoon builded up the courage to say what he has been wanting to since he first saw him. "Stay."

The boy's eyes widened from beneath his mask, but he didn't seem unhappy at the command. Namjoon tried to imagine it was because maybe he also wanted to stay. When he came back after showering and sat on the chair, he felt a bit awkward with asking him to stay just to eat in front of him.

"Would you like to join me?" Namjoon cringed, he had forgotten that asking to eat with each other is very more intimate as it allows you to take your mask off, something very few people do in front of someone who they aren't especially close to, of course he was the exception as he hadn't worn a mask since he was a child but strangely enough jungkook didn’t decline and sat in front of him.

Namjoon thought that he'll just eat with a mask slightly lifted, but he gasped when he took off his mask completely. His eyes widened as he took in the face in front of him.

Namjoon couldn't remember the last time he had seen anyone's face, he didn't even remember his own face, which he hadn't seen since that night.
Namjoon already knew about his doe eyes, but without the mask he could see them more properly.He had a youthful appearance, and when he smiled, he revealed his slightly prominent front teeth resembling a bunny. Even if he hadn’t seen anyone's face since childhood he knew that jungkook would be the prettiest person he has ever seen even if he had seen others.

What surprised him even more was sense of familiarity of the face. Like he had seen this face before, everything about the other boy was an enigma to him.

He still had a gentle smile on his face as Namjoon placed a plate of food in front of him, yet despite his initial eagerness,Jungkook showed no inclination of eating. Namjoon tilted his head questioningly, his previous thought was perhaps Jungkook hastily removing his mask was out of hunger.

Feeling a blush of embarrassment at his prior behaviour, Jungkook sheepishly picked up the spoon and took a tentative bite. His smile faded instantly as an atrocious flavor assaulted his buds.

He should have realised earlier that with the animosity directed towards Namjoon, they wouldn’t provide anything edible. But seeing Namjoon eat with such stoic acceptance, it never crossed his mind. Having consumed such food since childhood, Namjoon remained oblivious to how food should truly taste, casting a puzzled look at Jungkook’s grimace.

“Would you mind waiting for a moment?” Jungkook said softly. Receiving an affirmative nod from Namjoon, he dashed off to the kitchen with the food tray in hand. Ignoring everyone else, he began preparing something both quick and tailored to his Namjoon’s preference.

It didn't take long before he was back in Namjoon's room. “I made this cause I just wanted you to try my cooking,” he said, setting the new dish before him.

“Oh? You did? Thank you. I’ll savour it,” Namjoon replied with a surprised smile that revealed his dimples. Jungkook watched intently as Namjoon took his first bite.

Namjoon's eyes widened,“This is... extraordinary! I've never tasted anything like this before,” he exclaimed while eagerly taking another bite.

A trace of sadness appeared in Jungkook's smile as he responded, “I’m glad you like it.” Although confident in his culinary skills, it pained him that Namjoon's only basis for comparison was such dreadful food.

“This is fabulous! You're far better than the chefs.”

Jungkook teasingly said, "It's because of a special ingredient in it." Namjoon's eyes sparkled with curiosity, "What is it?"

"Love," Jungkook replied with a playful wink. Namjoon's eyes widened, and a rose-tinted blush spreads across his cheeks. He said nothing in return, choosing instead to focus on his meal.

Jungkook gazed at him softly, 'Despite everything, I am grateful you are still the same, hyung.'

~~// 𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙠𝙤𝙤𝙠'𝙨 𝙥𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙚𝙩 𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙢. 𝙃𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙙𝙡𝙮 𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙪𝙥, "𝙃𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙤, 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙠𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜."

"𝙃𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙤, 𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙠𝙤𝙤𝙠. 𝘼𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙆𝙞𝙢 𝙉𝙖𝙢𝙟𝙤𝙤𝙣'𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮? 𝙒𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙆𝙞𝙢 𝙎𝙚𝙤𝙠𝙟𝙞𝙣." 𝙃𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙧𝙪𝙥𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙙, "𝙔𝙚𝙨, 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩'𝙨 𝙢𝙚. 𝙒𝙝𝙮? 𝙃𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙢?" 𝙃𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙤𝙧, 𝙨𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙚𝙨.

"𝙒𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙆𝙞𝙢 𝙉𝙖𝙢𝙟𝙤𝙤𝙣 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙙𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙜𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨."

𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙠𝙤𝙤𝙠'𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙗. "𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙣. 𝙉𝙖𝙢𝙟𝙤𝙤𝙣 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖 𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡; 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙙𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙘𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙡𝙚. 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙞 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙮. 𝙃𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚." 𝙃𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙, 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙗𝙡𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙮𝙚𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙚. "𝙃𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣'𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙙."

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙛𝙪𝙡, "𝙃𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙪𝙜𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙥𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙮 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨. 𝙒𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣 𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚."

𝙃𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙨 𝙜𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙥𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙, "𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙖𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙡." 𝙃𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙥𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙨. '𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙢 𝙞 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙤 𝙣𝙤𝙬' //~~

His body jolted awake, almost painfully. "It was just a dream. I'll save him this time." Such whispers slipped from his lips as he wrapped himself in a reassuring embrace, only to flinch at the chilling pain in his arm.

Jungkook cocked his head in bafflement, certain he hadn't grabbed himself hard enough to bruise.Slowly raising his sleeves, he halted at the sight of a blue mark etched upon his skin. A touch revealed a chilling coldness as if the spot could frost water at mere touch.

Before entering this world, the cat had said that his time here was limited; now, he understood how the creature planned his timely exit.

"Turning into an ice statue is quite a fitting end indeed." He chuckled dryly.

Chapter Text

Since the day Namjoon extended an invitation to Jungkook for a shared meal, a routine blossomed between them. Jungkook would prepare a meal, and together they would eat. Following that, their time was often spent engrossed in books, with Namjoon taking the lead in reciting aloud while Jungkook listened attentively. However, on this particular day, Namjoon noticed Jungkook seemed down.

Namjoon was not good at social interaction's; indeed, Jungkook was the first person with whom he could engage in meaningful conversation without invoking the curse. Mindful of preserving their relationship, Namjoon resorted to his recent habit of delving into the books of human emotions. With a gentle query, he tried to find out what was upsetting him, "Jungkook,Did something happened?"

Startled from where he was spacing out, Jungkook answered hurriedly, "No, everything is fine.Why do you ask?"

Observing Jungkook with a searching gaze, Namjoon asked, "When you find yourself in low spirits, what do you do to cheer yourself?" This direct approach was something Namjoon was not proud of but he also did not wish to force Jungkook to speak about something he didn't want to.

Initially wanting to deny the fact that he was down, Jungkook, upon reflection, changed his response, "Actually being here with you like this always helps,"at Namjoon's pointed look he continued," but drawing helps me calm down too."

These words initiated a flood of images in Namjoon's head, depicting scenes never before witnessed yet achingly familiar—a montage of Jungkook engrossed in his sketchbook against ever-changing sceneries.

Moved by these unfamiliar emotions, Namjoon rose tentatively in pursuit of a pen and parchment, his hand trembled slightly as he drew a deep breath. The haunting visions, lingered since Jungkook's arrival and evoked a longing that reality could never fulfill—a melancholy that whispered of a curse untold.

Jungkook's doe eyes shined with emotion as he took the stuff amid a tender whisper of gratitude, "Thank you."

As the echoes of silence enveloped them, Jungkook's voice echoed softly, "Please, continue. I like your voice,it calms me."And if Namjoon's voice wavered at the the first line because of the fact that this was the first time anyone had said that anything about him was calming then it was a secret between him and Jungkook.

Time slipped away unnoticed as Namjoon read the book and Jungkook made small comments here and there. "I am done," Jungkook declared as Namjoon finished reading the final page of his book.

Hesitant yet curious,Namjoon asked, "Can I see it?" Jungkook's affectionate smile accompanied the passing of the sketch into Namjoon's outstretched hands.

Handling the sketch with a delicate touch, Namjoon's gaze fell upon an unexpected sight—a portrait of him. While Jungkook's stealing glances throughout the evening hinted at it, the realization struck Namjoon with an endearing surprise.

The portrait depicted him engrossed in reading, yet the setting behind him was not of the present room but a sunlit room with a window. The brushstrokes were executed delicately and with precision, evoking a sense of warmth throughout the entire sketch. Namjoon almost failed to recognize himself in the painting, save for the outfit and posture. He pondered whether this was truly what he looked like or merely Jungkook's interpretation so he asked him such.

"Hyung, you possess a beauty far surpassing this drawing, but alas, my skills fall short of capturing it," Jungkook responded earnestly, seeming slightly offended at the question.

Before Namjoon could respond, a knock interrupted their exchange. The door swung open just as Jungkook hastily put on his mask. The transformation in Namjoon's demeanor was instant.

He rose stiffly, glaring and growling at the servant who quivered before him. Jungkook promptly put himself between Namjoon and said coldly, "Get out."

As soon as the servant left, Namjoon's hands continued to tremble where he clutched them. He turned away from Jungkook, voice quivering with embarrassment, "Please leave." Jungkook removed his mask and gently cradled the trembling hands while softly reassuring him, "It's ok, hyung. He's gone, you are safe." At these words, tears shimmered in Namjoon's eyes, and Jungkook enfolded him in a comforting embrace.

He repeated the soothing words until his voice grew hoarse, and Namjoon's trembling subsided. "Do you feel better now?" he asked, guiding Namjoon to the couch and kneeling before him. "I am sorry. I explicitly told them not to come in. I don’t know why he was here."

Namjoon shook his head, responding, "It is not your fault. I am not upset about that; I am simply... embarrassed that you witnessed that and also worried you might be scared of me."

"Never," Jungkook reassured, caressing Namjoon's cheek tenderly. "I could never be afraid of you."

Despite Jungkook's assurances, Namjoon remained down for the remainder of the day following the incident. Therefore, Jungkook resolved to lift his spirits by doing something he had long intended to do. "Hyung, Do you want to go outside?"

Startled by the proposal, Namjoon nodded hesitantly, "Of course I do... but I am not allowed to go outside."

Jungkook rose from his seat beside Namjoon, wearing a reassuring smile as he put on back his mask. "Don't worry. I have a way, but I have to go prepare for it. We'll go out tomorrow morning. " Without waiting for Namjoon's response, Jungkook left promptly.

---

As Jungkook came out, his cheerful expression faltered. Though hidden behind a mask, his mere presence sent shivers down the spines of the other servants who instinctively avoided his path, sensing an aura of coldness.

Upon locating the person who had came in Namjoon's room, Jungkook stormed towards him and dragged him to a secluded spot. "I trust my instructions were crystal clear on ny first day," he began, acknowledged by most as Namjoon's personal attendant, a role considered more demanding,his position was higher then that of most workers here.

"I didn't mean to; it's just that you were doing so well and didn't complain a single time.You even spent the majority of your time with him, leading us to believe his curse had been lifted. Others were also intrigued,so they assigned me to check. However,it seems we were wrong as he was still the same.", his voice quivered, and Jungkook's grip on his arm tightened increasingly with each passing moment as he continued to speak.

"If this situation were to repeat itself-" the boy interrupted hurriedly, "Never. Now that we know he's still the same I wouldn't dare."

Jungkook's anger was visibly present, but as he gazed upon the boy's stature and height, his eyes sparked with a newfound brightness, and he proposed, "You can make up to it,if you fulfill one task for me."

__

The following day, Namjoon woke up earlier than usual, pacing restlessly but with a mixture of nerves and excitement in his room. He did not have to wait long, as Jungkook arrived early as well, suggesting he was not the only one filled with anticipation.

As Namjoon welcomed him, his gaze fell upon a bag clutched in Jungkook's hands. Before he could inquire, Jungkook swiftly revealed its contents, pressing them into Namjoon's arms.

Upon inspection, Namjoon discovered a mask and attire identical to that adorned by Jungkook, albeit in a larger size. Finally understanding plan, Namjoon posed a question, "How did you get these clothes?"

Recalling the trembling boy from the day before who had been relieved at the simple task, Jungkook responded with a mischievous smile, "I have my ways"

After changing into the attire and emerging, Jungkook looked at Namjoon intently. "What's wrong?" Namjoon asked

"Nothing, simply marveling at how you still look so handsome even in these clothes." Namjoon, unaccustomed to receiving praise, busied himself with adjusting the mask. Unfortunately, he was bad at giving compliments as well, or he would have said that the man before him resembled an angel even in such attire.

Since his arrival in this world, Jungkook had not left the castle, and only now did he behold the outside world, its surfaces blanketed with a layer of snow, an almost somber beauty. Namjoon's reaction contrasted with Jungkook's as his feet remained planted in the snow, gazing upon the outside world for the first time in decades. Jungkook met his gaze, noting Namjoon's frozen state, until finally, Namjoon overcame his emotions and rushed forward, enveloping Jungkook in a heartfelt embrace. "Thank you."

Jungkook offered no verbal response, hiding his face behind the mask against Namjoon's shoulder, scared he might break down crying as it was the first time Namjoon initiated such an intimate gesture since his arrival.

Their moment of connection was disrupted when Jungkook began shivering. Namjoon stepped back, concern etched on his features. Jungkook had forgotten that their attire was not suitable for the cold weather, so they found themselves in a nearby clothing establishment, seeking warmth.

The quaint shop was owned by a an old gentleman, who graciously offered them tea and discreetly excused himself to allow them to enjoy it in peace. After basking in the warmth of the crackling fireplace and drinking the tea, they looked around at array of clothes. When Jungkook proposed matching the colour of their attire, a faint blush graced Namjoon's cheeks as he eagerly nodded.

They donned their new clothes - Namjoon adorned a regal purple ensemble with a pristine white jacket, while Jungkook sported a white outfit complemented by a purple coat. Both opting for the same scarf, Jungkook noticed Namjoon's hesitant gaze as he was putting it on.

Tilting his head encouragingly, Jungkook coaxed Namjoon to say what he wanted to, "May I...may I help you put on the scarf? It's ok if you don't want me to but-" Before he could finish, Jungkook stood before him and handed him the scraf,his eye's turned into crescent shape as he smiled his bunny smile.

Namjoon gently draped the scarf around his neck, meticulously fastening it. Despite the somewhat clumsy final result, Jungkook beamed with delight, eagerly asking if he could do the same.

Upon preparing to settle their purchases,the shorter male had a scarf messily wrapped around him while the taller one's scarf was neatly tied. The old shop owner offered a knowing smile and even proposed a discount but Jungkook got paid quite alot and graciously declined his offer. Today might be the only time he could spend his money so he planned to not hold back

Namjoon felt bad over his lack of money and the burden he placed on Jungkook's generosity, but before he could voice his concerns, Jungkook silenced him with a gentle shush and pleading eyes. Afterwards he turned back to the shop owner,"Could I perhaps ask where the best place to visit would be?"

"Why, travellers, are ye?" The man responded with understanding. "Fortune favors ye, for today marks the annual Flower festival."

"And what might that be?" Jungkook asked curiously.

"The folk gather this day each year to melt a pocket of snow and imbue the earth with magical flowers. It requires a ton of magic, hence its once-annual occurrence. In celebration, stalls are set up, and diverse festal activities unfold."

Namjoon and Jungkook exchanged excited glances, expressing gratitude to the shop owner before departing.

Jungkook turned to the other, "I am so happy we came here today."

"Me too, "Namjoon said as he reached for Jungkook's hand.Looking at their intertwined fingers, Jungkook felt the happiest he has ever felt since the day he first lost one of them.

Chapter Text

As they strolled hand in hand through the cold embrace of snow, Namjoon suddenly recalled the people they encountered. Ordinarily, his curse made him harbour a simmering anger towards most individuals, with the exception of Jungkook.Even the day before, he had wrestled with those unsettling emotions Today, however, since they departed the room, not once did the flames of his ire flicker.

Jungkook cast a curious glance at Namjoon, who appeared lost in contemplation. "What are you thinking about?" he inquired lightheartedly as he nudged Namjoon.

Upon sharing his thoughts with Jungkook, Namjoon observed a brief pause in his companion before Jungkook eased into reassurance. "Hmm, I cannot say for certain. The curse is an enigma, but it could be because you are wearing a mask?"

Namjoon nodded,"A mask to counteract the curse. It does seem possible, aligning with her highness's initial purpose." Although Jungkook's words were right, they weren’t the full truth. The curse's ineffectiveness lay in the inability of any to harbour ill will towards Namjoon if they did not recognize him to begin with. Yet Jungkook couldn’t find it in himself to tell this.

Lost in their own thoughts, both men walked forth until they arrived at the destination described by the old shopkeeper. The bustling marketplace was adorned with an array of stalls, reminiscent of those in Jungkook's world, save for the absence of food stalls. A few individuals were seen using magic to clear the snow in a beautifully curated section at the far end of the market.

Beside him, Namjoon gasped in wonderment as his gaze wandered across the scene. Jungkook, in response, beamed and inquired, "Where shall we go first?"

Startled by the question, Namjoon hesitated. "I am not sure,every stall looks cool. "

"It's ok, we can go to every stall you want.Today belongs to you," Jungkook reassured as he guided Namjoon towards a stall offering a dart game for prizes.

After swiftly purchasing a turn and offering darts to Namjoon, the latter admitted with a tinge of embarrassment, "I have not tried this before."

"Don't worry.We can try it again," Jungkook encouraged. Unexpectedly he wasn't bad for his first try however Namjoon cast a solemn glance towards Jungkook upon falling short of the prize but declined Jungkook's offer for additional attempt.

With haste, Jungkook asked, "Which one do you want then?"

Embarrassed, Namjoon confessed, "I sought a gift for you, not myself.",Jungkook laughed and urged him to say which cloth toy he was thinking of.

When the toy turned out to be a cute bunny, Jungkook giggled and asked "Because I look like one?",Namjoon nodded.

Upon winning both a bunny and a koala, Jungkook presented the bunny to Namjoon, prompting a bewildered gaze. "You said it looked like me, so I want you to have me. And this koala, resembles you, if you are ok with me having it then-" Before Jungkook could conclude his thought, Namjoon cut him off with a fervent "Yes" in response.

"The two of you are very cute together," remarked the stall owner as they departed. Instead of dismissing the comment, they graciously accepted it and exited, spirits lifted. Subsequently, they acquired a small enchanted pouch capable of accommodating any items despite their size, so they could put away their bag of clothes and the toys.

As the pair made their way through every stall, the sun descended toward the horizon, casting a golden hue over the bustling crowd who gathered to marvel at the floral display. With great enthusiasm, Jungkook eagerly pulled Namjoon to the forefront for a better view. The flowers, though cultivated in a confined space, appeared resplendent against the icy backdrop. Magical butterflies and fireflies fluttered amidst them, adding to the ethereal scene. Even Jungkook, who had seen countless flowers before, stood in awe, pondering how they must strike those around him who scarcely had the opportunity to see them—especially Namjoon.

"It's beautiful," he whispered with reverence, stealing a glance at the other boy. "Indeed, truly breathtaking," Namjoon responded, yet his gaze did not linger on the flowers but rather on Jungkook's eyes that beautifully mirrored the vibrant display.

"What a pity it's temporary," Jungkook lamented softly as his shoulders drooped with the realization. After lingering a while longer, they ventured to a nearby bench just as musicians emerged and people gathered at the centre to dance. Jungkook became absorbed in this lively atmosphere as Namjoon quietly excused himself to visit the restroom.

Observing the people in their joyous abandon, laughter lifting like music on brisk air currents, Jungkook was struck by how selfish he felt wanting so dearly for this moment with Namjoon to stretch infinitely onward. Those around them faced adversity with such undeterred optimism; surely these souls deserved freedom unfettered. As aching cold pain crept from hand to shoulder in unspoken warning,he knew he had to do something soon.So he promised himself after they went back, he will finally make his move.

As he drifted away in his thoughts, a cascade of vibrant flowers suddenly filled his view, momentarily blinding him. Startled, he took a step back, only to realize the person holding the bouquet was Namjoon. "How did you get these? I thought they weren't selling them," he questioned, his voice tinged with disbelief. Namjoon, with a gentle smile, extended the bouquet towards him. These flowers, he knew, were not ordinary; they required immense magic to create, and the following day, the conjurers would reclaim them to absorb some of the magic back. Selling them would mean it could take weeks, if not months, for the magic to replenish.

"Well," Namjoon began, a hint of mischief in his eyes, "I may not have money, but I still reside in a castle. I offered them something of value that I had on me." He lied smoothly, knowing full well the queen despised him too much to grant his room anything of worth.

Yet, Namjoon was renowned among the magical folk. His immunity to magic intrigued them, and they longed to uncover his secret. Proving his immunity was a simple matter of removing his mask and offering a vial of his blood in exchange for the flowers. However, the moment he unmasked, he felt the curse's familiar grip, and even after wearing it back, the sensation lingered. He had barely managed to leave without causing a commotion. As for his identity, those in possession of his blood were unlikely to reveal him, for fear of other magic users attempting to steal the precious blood.

Jungkook, who cleaned Namjoon's room regularly, was well aware there were no such valuables. Yet, he was concealing so much from Namjoon himself that he chose to let the lie stand. Instead, he gently chided, "Whatever you traded for them wasn't worth it. These flowers are beautiful, but without magic, they'll eventually perish. It would be too sad."

Namjoon exhaled in relief, his smile widening. "Do not worry. While making them live forever is impossible, I asked the conjurers to bind their life to yours. As long as you live, they shall not wither."

Jungkook wanted to argue that the flowers should have been tied to Namjoon's life, not his own. However, he couldn't bring himself to confess his impending fate. So, he cradled the bouquet tenderly and whispered, "Thank you. I love them."

They stood together in comfortable silence, enveloped by the lively music, which soon transitioned into a slow, melodic tune. As couples began to gather for a dance, Jungkook grasped Namjoon's hand and led him to the center of the bustling street.

"I can't dance," Namjoon admitted, his voice laced with panic.

"It doesn't matter," Jungkook reassured him, placing Namjoon's hand at his waist. Their dance was far from elegant, with Namjoon apologizing each time he accidentally stepped on Jungkook's feet. Yet, for Jungkook, it was perfect. For those fleeting moments, he could forget the darkness looming over them and simply savor the present.

___

Later, they decided to book an inn for the night. Jungkook intended to reserve separate rooms, uncertain of Namjoon's comfort with sharing, but was taken aback when Namjoon suggested they share a single room.

"Are you okay with sharing the bed?" Jungkook asked after emerging from the shower and settling onto the bed.

"Yes, if you are comfortable with it," Namjoon replied nervously, rewarded by Jungkook's reassuring smile, "I am."

As they lay side by side, Namjoon spoke softly, "Thank you so much for today."

Jungkook turned to face Namjoon, his eyes shimmering with gratitude. "No, I am the one who should thank you for allowing me this precious memory," he said softly.

Namjoon sensed an underlying melancholy in Jungkook's words, an unspoken sorrow. Before he could inquire further, Jungkook buried his face into Namjoon's shoulder, wrapping him in a tight embrace. Namjoon decided not to press the matter and instead returned the hug, enveloped in the warmth of the moment. It wasn’t long before they both drifted into a peaceful slumber.

___

The following morning, Namjoon was the first to awaken, and he found himself captivated by the sight of Jungkook sleeping beside him. He wished fervently that he could wake to this scene every day. As he wished to etch this image into his memory, his gaze wandered to Jungkook's neck.

A blue mark caught his attention, trailing from Jungkook’s neck and disappearing into his shirt. Namjoon’s breath hitched as he cautiously extended a trembling hand to touch the spot. Before his fingers made contact, Jungkook stirred awake, offering Namjoon a contented smile. "You're awake," Jungkook noted, his voice warm and sleepy.

Namjoon froze, his fingers suspended mid-air, unable to suppress the unease clouding his expression. Sensing the shift, Jungkook's smile faltered. "What's wrong?" he asked, sitting up and scrutinizing Namjoon's troubled gaze.

Namjoon mirrored his movements, though his eyes remained fixed on the mysterious mark. "You... what happened to your neck?" he asked, concern lacing his words.

"My neck? What do you mean?" Jungkook replied, puzzled. He reached up to touch his neck, flinching as a sharp pain radiated from the spot. He hadn't noticed the pain before, but now it seemed to stretch from his neck down his arm. "Ah... maybe it's the cold," he offered, wincing at the feeble excuse, knowing it lacked any real plausibility.

"Does it hurt a lot?" Namjoon asked, a lump forming in his throat. He gently touched the mark, watching Jungkook's reaction closely. Jungkook shook his head, offering a reassuring, albeit strained, smile. "Not that much," he replied.

Namjoon's mind raced back to his childhood, memories of people turning into statues in the blink of an eye. Logically, he knew that such a transformation wouldn't happen gradually, yet the fear gnawed at him—if it were Jungkook, he might defy logic and experience it slowly. "Did you take off your mask outside?" Namjoon asked, his voice barely above a whisper, quivering with fear.

Jungkook's eyes widened as he realized the cause of Namjoon's distress. "No, I didn’t. It's just the cold, don't worry," he assured, though guilt of lying gnawed at him, prompting him to avert his gaze.

Throughout the entire morning as they prepared to head back, Namjoon couldn't help but fuss over Jungkook with unwavering concern. He insisted that Jungkook wear both scarves, and he even contemplated making him put on two jackets. However, Jungkook reassured him with a gentle smile, promising that he would be fine. At least Namjoon was comforted by the belief that the mark was merely a result of the cold.

Despite this reassurance, Namjoon stayed close to Jungkook during the entire journey back, under the guise of keeping him warm. Jungkook decided to let Namjoon fuss over him, even if the scarves were causing his neck to heat up.

When they finally arrived back at Namjoon's room, Jungkook wasted no time in shedding the layers of clothing. This time, he resisted Namjoon’s imploring eyes, determined not to indulge his overprotectiveness.

Afterwards Jungkook carefully arranged the items they had purchased around the room, he paused to place the vibrant bouquet of flowers into a vase. They added a lively splash of color to the otherwise serene space. Observing this, Namjoon inquired with a curious tilt of his head, "Aren't you going to take these to your room?"

Jungkook smiled softly, his eyes lingering on the flowers. "I spend most of my time here anyway," he replied thoughtfully. "I want to keep them here, where I can enjoy them the most."

When Jungkook was done he made his way towards the door."Where are you going?" Namjoon asked, a note of concern in his voice.

"I'll freshen up and get us breakfast," Jungkook replied with a reassuring smile. Before Namjoon could voice any objections, Jungkook slipped out of the room. As he made his way to his quarters, he heard a voice calling out to him.

Turning around, Jungkook saw one of the servants approaching him. "What is it?" he asked, puzzled. He rarely interacted with them, so he was unsure of what this boy might need.

"The queen is calling for you," the servant informed him, delivering the message with a polite bow.

Chapter Text

Jungkook stood rooted to the spot, his mind whirled with a torrent of thoughts. Could it be that the queen had discovered their secret outing? Had the servant he borrowed clothes from betrayed him? He quickly forced his body to relax, his voice calm and steady as he spoke, "I see. I'll be on my way then. Also, do not bring Namjoon's meal to his room; I'll handle it when I return."

He couldn't afford to make assumptions just yet. He needed to face the queen in person,so he hid any sort of weakness. With confident strides, he made his way to the throne room. As he opened the door, he composed himself, projecting an air of calm as he bowed deeply and greeted her. The Queen's gaze was complex and unreadable, her face hidden behind a magical ice mask, eerily human-like in appearance. The mask's mouth moved as she spoke, her voice crisp and sharp, "Jungkook, was it?"

He nodded respectfully, "Yes, Your Highness. May I ask what you require of me?"

"Straight to the point, I like that. Very well, I won't beat around the bush either. You've been serving Namjoon for a few weeks now and spending time in his room, haven't you?"

Jungkook found it challenging to keep his composure at her probing statement but before he could respond, she produced a small box and continued, "I'm not sure how you've managed to avoid triggering his curse, but it benefits me, so I won't question it. I have an order for you,Stab that boy with this dagger." She revealed a beautifully crafted dagger inside the box, but Jungkook's mind fixated on her chilling words.

"What... what do you mean? I'm just an ordinary person; how could I possibly stab him?" His voice wavered, but thankfully, his panic was easily mistaken for fear of taking a life.

"Don't worry," she said with a cold smile, "this is a special dagger. Even the slightest cut will be fatal, and Namjoon is no exception. Given how much time you spend with him, catching him off guard shouldn't be difficult. In return, I'll grant you one wish."

Jungkook clenched his fists, summoning the courage to ask, "Any wish?" He needed her to believe he sought something from her to avoid arousing suspicion. As he anticipated, the queen chuckled and replied, "Yes, as long as it doesn't involve resurrecting the dead, I can fulfill it."

"Then... can you find someone for me?" His voice brimmed with hope,he knew a personal request would seem more convincing.

"Once Namjoon is dead, consider that person found." Expressing his gratitude profusely, Jungkook concealed the dagger in his pocket and turned to leave.

___

Jungkook returned to his room later than Namjoon had expected. Namjoon rushed to him, taking off Jungkook's mask with concern etched on his face. "What's wrong?" he asked, noting that Jungkook hadn't cleaned up and brought food as promised. Jungkook's expression was pale yet determined as he withdrew a small object from his pocket. "The queen wants me to kill you with this," he confessed. Only then did Namjoon see the small dagger, his eyes widened in shock.

"T-then you must do it. If you disobey her, she'll kill you," Namjoon insisted. He didn't want to die, especially not now when he had finally found happiness, but if it meant saving the boy before him, he would do it a hundred times over.

Tears welled in Jungkook's eyes at Namjoon's words. "No, I didn’t take this to follow her orders. She said even the smallest cut can kill someone, so I'll use it to eliminate her." Jungkook had no concrete plan on how to get rid of the queen before, but her own words had planted the seed of an idea. He wondered if luck was on his side or if perhaps the mysterious cat had aided him.

"How will you harm her? She'll kill you the moment you try," Namjoon cautioned.

"I know, but I'll smear some blood on the knife and present it to her, claiming I killed you. When her guard is down in her moment of triumph, I'll strike her with the same dagger. She believes she's of value to me, so she won't see it coming." Jungkook's resolve was unwavering.

Namjoon shook his head, his voice filled with concern, "No, it’s too dangerous. Even if you manage to hurt her, she could retaliate before her death. I don’t want you to take that risk."

Jungkook gently cupped Namjoon's face, his voice was filled with determination. "I won't kill you—not ever. So it's either I attempt to kill her or face death without trying."

Tears brimmed in Namjoon's eyes. "Then I'll do it. I'll go and kill her." Yet even as he uttered these words, he knew it was impossible. He couldn’t venture out as himself nor disguise himself as a servant to reach her. The crux of Jungkook's plan hinged on using Namjoon's supposed death as a diversion.

Jungkook was all too familiar with Namjoon's curse: for its chains to be shattered, the queen must not meet her end by Namjoon's hand. As this grim knowledge loomed over him, Jungkook leaned in close, resting his forehead against Namjoon's. His breath was shallow, and his voice trembled as he spoke, "You know that's not possible." Namjoon grasped Jungkook's hands delicately, intertwining them with his own, the warmth of his skin a stark contrast to the chill of Jungkook's touch.

"I can't lose you," Namjoon's voice was a fragile whisper, barely more than a breath, yet it carried the full weight of his desperation. "You won't," Jungkook replied, though the lie tore at his heart. They stood there in silence, the moments slipping by unnoticed, each second a precious eternity. It was Jungkook who finally found the strength to step back, though every fiber of his being longed to stay.

As Namjoon reluctantly let Jungkook's hand slip from his grasp, Jungkook moved towards the bedside table, his eyes lingering on a small, ornate brooch. The metal glowed ominously in the dim light as he lifted it to pierce his own hand with its sharp edge. But before he could, Namjoon's larger hand enveloped his, halting him. "The blood will be mine," Namjoon declared, his voice steady even as he squeezed the brooch until blood pooled in his palm, dark and foreboding.

Jungkook, startled by the suddenness of the act, instinctively tried to pry the brooch away, but Namjoon simply lifted his hand higher, the blood flowing freely from the deepening wound. Jungkook's eyes shook, the sight triggering a cascade of memories he had long tried to bury—harrowing screams and sobs echoed in his mind, blood staining the floor.

Concerned, Namjoon reached out to calm him, his voice gentle and soothing, "Hey, it's okay. Breathe. It's just a small cut." He caressed Jungkook's cheek, his touch a cure against the chaos within Jungkook's mind. It took time, but eventually, Jungkook regained his composure, though his gaze remained fixed on the wound, his eyes filled with unspoken sorrow. "I hate seeing you hurt," he mumbled.

Namjoon offered a bittersweet smile, one filled with shared pain, "It's not just you. I hate seeing you in pain too." Together, they put the blood on the dagger, and Jungkook also smeared it on his clothes and hands, trying to lighten the mood with a weak jest. "Does it look like I killed someone?" he asked, his voice tinged with forced humour.

Namjoon, smudging the blood on the others hands, responded with gentle caution, "Jungkook, killing someone might take a toll on you mentally. I don’t want you to be consumed with guilt."

Jungkook shook his head resolutely,"I've never killed anyone before, but she doesn't count as a person. I won't feel guilty." He offered Namjoon a final smile, the weight of unspoken words hung between them, then he turned towards the door. Namjoon remained rooted in place, his heart felt heavy as he watched Jungkook leave for the second time that day, his hand lingered in the air where Jungkook's had been moments before.

His heart pounded in his ears, the room felt unbearably quite as he paced back and forth,he fought the urge to chase after Jungkook, knowing it would only put him in greater danger. Anxiety clawed at him, each breath felt like a struggle as the room seemed to spin around him. He sank to his knees, trying to breathe in and out as he had coached Jungkook to do just minutes—or was it hours?—ago. He could no longer tell.

In his panic, a soft crackling noise shattered the silence, making him jump. He looked up, searching for the source, his gaze landed on the flowers that Jungkook had arranged in a vase that morning. Once vibrant with purples and reds, they were now starting to be encased in ice, the frost creeped from the roots and went upwards, consuming them. He sprang to his feet, heart pounding with renewed urgency. This couldn’t be happening.

He could no longer find the care to stay in his room and slammed the door open,the sound of chaos echoed around him. People ran and shouted—not in fear, but in joy. As he dashed past a window, he skidded to a halt, stunned by the sight before him. The ice was melting, and statues cracked open to release the people trapped inside. Jungkook had succeeded. The curse was lifted.

Yet, why were the flowers freezing? Renewed panic propelled him to the throne room. He flung the doors open, his eyes immediately drawn to the throne. The queen layed there, a dagger protruding from her neck and her blood staining the throne.Yet he could not feel relieved as he searched frantically for Jungkook, finding him slumped against the wall, mask discarded beside him.

Ice crept over Jungkook’s face, and Namjoon rushed to his side, kneeling beside him. "Jungkook, what's happening? The curse is gone, so why?" Namjoon's voice cracked in despair, clutching Jungkook, desperate to warm him.

Jungkook's face was already half-encased in ice,it inked his skin without pause."I'm so sorry, hyung," he managed, his voice strained and weak.

Namjoon pulled him onto his lap and hugged him tightly,"No, hyung is sorry. He shouldn’t have let you go alone. Please don’t leave." Summoning the last of his strength, Jungkook leaned in, his cold lips meeting Namjoon's warm ones. "I love you."

"I love you too, so much," Namjoon sobbed, capturing Jungkook in another kiss. He had envisioned their confession countless times,it was meant to be special. But here he was, holding his beloved as his life slipped away, his heart shattering with every breath Jungkook took, his cries escalating into wails.

In a nearby room, the ice continued its relentless spread until it enveloped the flowers completely, and then...they crumbled.

___

Jungkook could still feel the sharp, cold pain coursing through his body as he found himself back in the shop, disoriented but oddly tethered to the familiar surroundings. His hand was still resting on the open book, and when he glanced around, everything appeared exactly as it had before. Despite the weeks he had spent in that strange world, it seemed as though no time had passed at all. The shop was unchanged, frozen in place, as though it had been waiting for him to return.

He slowly withdrew his hand from the page, and in an instant, the book snapped shut on its own, the pages shimmering and turning a translucent shade of blue. Jungkook's eyes shifted to the cat, still sitting motionless in the corner, its piercing gaze fixed on him with an unsettling stillness. He felt a twinge of confusion ripple through him, but the cat didn't move—didn't offer any comfort, only silence.

As the weight of the moment settled in, a wave of sorrow overwhelmed him, and he couldn't help but recall the final look in Namjoon's eyes—the look of loss, of pain. His heart squeezed painfully in his chest. He mumbled a question, his voice thick with emotion, "Did he come back now?"

The cat remained eerily quite, its gaze never wavering from him. The silence stretched out, heavy and suffocating. Jungkook pressed on, desperation creeping into his voice. "Will he forget, once he's here?"

Still, there was no answer. Just that chilling silence that seemed to echo in the shop, amplifying the emptiness in his heart.

The only words that could offer him any semblance of comfort were the cat’s own from before—that Namjoon wouldn’t remember the tragedy, that the pain would be erased, forgotten. He clung to that small solace, but even that couldn’t completely lift the weight pressing down on his chest.

With a heavy heart, Jungkook turned towards the second book, which layed open on the table. He tried not to glance at the cat's cold, unblinking eyes or at the other book, now closed and still, lying beside the open one. His hand trembled as he layed it on the page.

Chapter Text

The wind howled ominously through the twisted branches of the trees that surrounded the old, eccentric mansion, which resembled something straight out of a fairy tale, crafted from candy. The gnarled limbs of the trees reached out like skeletal fingers toward the darkening sky. Hoseok stood by the window, his gaze fixed on the approaching storm, feeling a shiver that went beyond the chill in the air. This mansion had become his prison, a place where time seemed suspended, trapping him in an endless cycle of solitude.

His first encounter with this strange mansion had occurred during his childhood, a time when his mother had taken him deep into the forest and left him behind. Under the guise of a game, she instructed him to close his eyes, but when he finally opened them, she had vanished without a trace. Wandering aimlessly through the woods for what felt like an eternity, he had been on the brink of starvation when a trail of food led him to this bizarre mansion, much like a piece of cheese luring a hungry mouse into a trap. Although he sensed the oddity of the situation, he felt he had no other option. Upon first seeing the candy-like mansion, he dared to hope that perhaps he had stumbled upon a blessing. However, as the harsh reality of his situation unfolded, he found himself weeping and desperately seeking an escape, only to be met with failure.

Over time, Hoseok had come to terms with his grim reality, yet the gnawing loneliness within him felt like a relentless predator, ever hungry for his spirit.

As the storm outside intensified, a sudden sound pierced through the howling wind—a soft thud, followed by the creaking of the heavy front door. Hoseok’s heart raced in response. It had been years since he had encountered another living being. When he had first arrived, there had been two individuals who had shared the grim truth of this mansion, but they too had succumbed to its insatiable hunger long ago. With caution, he walked down the eerily pristine corridor, each step echoing ominously in the oppressive silence.

Upon reaching the entrance hall, he was taken aback to find a boy standing there, drenched from the rain, trembling and wide-eyed. The boy appeared no older than fourteen, with disheveled black hair and a face that struck Hoseok as strangely familiar. His heart skipped a beat at the sight.

“Why are you here?” Hoseok's voice trembled with a mix of concern and disbelief as he posed the question. The very idea of this boy being trapped in such a place sent a painful knot forming in his throat.

The boy raised his gaze, his eyes imbued with an innocence yet strength that was hard to ignore. “I’m Jungkook. I… I didn’t have anywhere else to go…” he admitted, his voice soft yet carrying an underlying purpose that piqued Hoseok's curiosity. As Hoseok stepped closer, he studied Jungkook’s features, noting that, oddly enough, the boy did not appear frightened. Instead, his eyes shimmered with unshed tears, hinting at a depth of emotion that tugged at Hoseok’s memory, reminiscent of a dream he could barely grasp.

“This mansion is dangerous,” Hoseok cautioned, casting wary glances around as if the very walls were eavesdropping on their conversation. “You shouldn’t have ventured into this place.”

“But I can’t leave,” Jungkook replied, his calmness contrasting sharply with the situation. “The door won’t open anymore.”

Hoseok felt a familiar wave of dread wash over him, recalling his own harrowing experience. He understood all too well how the mansion kept those who dared to enter.

As they ventured further into the mansion, the atmosphere thickened. Hoseok guided Jungkook to a couch positioned near a fireplace, then hurried off to fetch a bowl of soup and a towel.

“What happened here?” Jungkook inquired as Hoseok draped the towel around him and placed the steaming soup in his hands. It was one of the few redeeming qualities of the mansion—it could conjure food at will. Jungkook glanced at the portraits that adorned the walls, their painted eyes appearing to follow their every move.

Hoseok hesitated, memories surging back like a relentless tide. “This place is designed to attract abandoned children. It feeds and shelters them, but once they turn eighteen, it consumes them,” he began, his voice barely rising above a whisper. “These portraits are of those who have perished here. I have only one month left.”

Up until that moment, Jungkook had maintained a stoic demeanor, revealing no emotions. However, when Hoseok spoke of his impending fate, Jungkook's eyes widened in shock, and a palpable sense of fear began to manifest. "A month?" His voice quivered with anxiety.

Hoseok took a moment to gather himself before rolling up his sleeves to reveal his wrist. "Once you enter this place, the countdown to your demise is etched onto your skin. You likely have one as well," he explained. Jungkook instinctively grasped Hoseok’s wrist, his breath hitching in his throat, yet his face remained impassive. Hoseok couldn't help but wonder if Jungkook even realized that he too bore these numbers.

Allowing Jungkook a moment to regain his composure, Hoseok continued, "This place consumes its inhabitants when they are at their strongest. After some of the younger ones attempted to starve themselves, the mansion devised physical challenges that must be completed each week. Failure to do so results in punishment. The next challenge is tomorrow, so it’s crucial that you eat well today and tomorrow."

Despite the gravity of the situation, Jungkook's expression remained unchanged; in fact, the only time he expressed fear was when he learned Hoseok had a month left—a stark contrast to what one might expect from someone his age. He simply nodded and began to eat the soup in front of him.

Hoseok felt an inexplicable urge to protect Jungkook, perhaps stemming from his own prolonged solitude, which had fostered a deep attachment to the first person he encountered. Regardless of the reason, he was determined to shield Jungkook from punishment, even if it meant facing it himself.

"I'm tired," Jungkook murmured softly after finishing his meal. Hoseok sensed that there was more to that statement, but as he glanced at Jungkook, who was now leaning forward in a sleepy haze, he dismissed his concerns as overthinking. Gently, he took the bowl from Jungkook's hands and turned to find that the younger boy had succumbed to sleep.

Hoseok carefully lifted Jungkook, surprised by how light he felt in his arms. The other rooms in the mansion were likely in disarray, and he felt uneasy about placing Jungkook in an unfamiliar space. Instead, he opted for the room he had occupied for many years. Once he laid Jungkook down on the bed, he studied the boy's face, noting the tension that lingered even in slumber.

"What experiences have shaped you into the person you are today?" he murmured softly, adjusting the blanket around him as he settled into the chair next to Jungkook. He felt an overwhelming urge to remain by Jungkook's side, so he rested his head gently on the edge of the bed, allowing his eyes to flutter shut. A profound sadness enveloped him as he grappled with the heartbreaking reality that the young boy before him would face the end of his life, for the first time in years he felt dread towards death.

___

~~//𝙄𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙢, 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙢 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙨, 𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙠𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙯𝙚𝙣, 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙥𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙢 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚.

𝘼 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙮 𝙬𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙤𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩, 𝙖 𝙨𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙢 𝙝𝙞𝙢. 𝘾𝙡𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙨𝙪𝙞𝙩 𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙉𝙖𝙢𝙟𝙤𝙤𝙣’𝙨 𝙛𝙪𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙡, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙘 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙣 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙣. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙞𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙠 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙝 𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙮𝙚𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖 𝙤𝙛 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙨𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙙.

𝙃𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙤𝙠 𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙗𝙚𝙙, 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙥𝙖𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙡, 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙨𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙮 𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙛𝙛 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙥. 𝙔𝙚𝙩 𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙠𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙘𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙝. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙣𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙤: “𝙃𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙬𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜.” 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙥𝙞𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙠𝙤𝙤𝙠’𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙥 𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙬.

𝙃𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙤𝙠 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙙𝙞𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙠𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙧, 𝙜𝙖𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢.

𝙃𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙖 𝙨𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙥 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙙, 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙥 𝙃𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙤𝙠’𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚, 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙬𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙞𝙢. “𝙄’𝙢 𝙨𝙤 𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙮, 𝙃𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙤𝙠,” 𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙪𝙧𝙢𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙙, “𝙄 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙨𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙩. 𝙄’𝙢 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙝𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙.” 𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙚𝙠𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙜𝙜𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚.

𝙈𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝—𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙞𝙙𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙨𝙣𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙨, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙩𝙝 𝙤𝙛 𝙃𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙤𝙠’𝙨 𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙩 𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙠𝙤𝙤𝙠’𝙨 𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙨. 𝘼𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙, 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙.

“𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪,” 𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙠𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙, 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙖𝙬 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙. 𝙃𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙃𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙤𝙠’𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙡𝙮, 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙛𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚. 𝙔𝙚𝙩, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙤𝙧, 𝙖 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙡𝙮 𝙞𝙨.

𝘼𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚, 𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙠𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙥, 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙬𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙗𝙮 𝙖𝙣 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙬. 𝙃𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙖 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡, 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝙃𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙤𝙠, 𝙚𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙮—𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙚𝙨, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨. “𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙃𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙤𝙠,” 𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙙, 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙠 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙩. “𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙨𝙤 𝙙𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙮.” 𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙛, 𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙠𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙢, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙯𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙧.

𝙃𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙪𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙬, 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙮 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙖𝙠. 𝘼𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙛𝙩𝙤𝙥, 𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙥 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝙪𝙥𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙣 𝙪𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙚.

𝙊𝙪𝙩𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙫𝙞𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙩, 𝙖 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢. 𝙐𝙥𝙤𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙛𝙩𝙤𝙥, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙯𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙣, 𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙩𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙥𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣. 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙠𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙜𝙖𝙯𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙬. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙣 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙢 𝙜𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙜𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨, 𝙮𝙚𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝙃𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙨—𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙚. 𝙄𝙩 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢, 𝙨𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙧.

𝙃𝙚 𝙢𝙪𝙧𝙢𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙤𝙛𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙙, 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣. "𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣? 𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙄 𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪?"

𝘼𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙡𝙮, 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙚𝙠𝙨, 𝙪𝙣𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙬. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙟𝙤𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙗𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙛 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙞𝙢, 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙡𝙛 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙮, 𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙛 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙫𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙚𝙖 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨. 𝙔𝙚𝙩, 𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙙𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙬, 𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙠𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣 𝙪𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙮.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙗𝙡𝙪𝙧 𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙖 𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙥 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙛𝙩𝙤𝙥, 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙥𝙧𝙖𝙬𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙡𝙖𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙩𝙖𝙥𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙨. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙞𝙧, 𝙖𝙡𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙛 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙖𝙭𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙥𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙮𝙨𝙨.

𝙃𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙡𝙮, 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣—𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙛. 𝙅𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙥 𝙤𝙛𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚, 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙘𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙪𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨. 𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙤𝙩 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙢𝙡𝙮 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙙 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙.

𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙙, 𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙠𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨, 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙡𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙩. 𝙃𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙛𝙩𝙤𝙥; 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙙, 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙖 𝙨𝙢𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙝, 𝙜𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙮 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚.

𝘼𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨, 𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨, 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙥 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙮𝙚. 𝙄𝙩𝙨 𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣 𝙨𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙙 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙯𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨 "𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘 𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙥" 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙜𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙛 𝙨𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙪𝙨𝙩.//~~

Chapter Text

Jungkook woke with a start, his heart raced as he blinked rapidly.The first thing he noticed was the extravagant ceiling above him,intricately painted with swirling clouds and golden accents that seemed to dance in the light. It was a stark contrast to the darkness that often haunted his dreams. As he turned his head, he felt a warmth enveloping his hand; Hoseok was sleeping on a chair beside him, his fingers interlaced with Jungkook’s. A wave of comfort washed over him at the sight of him.

Jungkook’s breath hitched as he slowly brought his other hand up, trembling slightly as he reached toward Hoseok’s face, wanting nothing more than to caress his cheek. But just before his fingers could make contact, he hesitated, his heart clenching with a mix of longing and fear. He had to remind himself again and again that the Hoseok before him was simply sleeping, not trapped in a coma or lost in the void of his memories.

He layed there for what felt like an eternity, etching every detail of Hoseok’s sleeping features into his mind—the gentle curve of his lips, the way his eyelashes fluttered with each breath, the peaceful expression that belied the turmoil of their situation. Reluctantly, Jungkook withdrew his hand, feeling an ache in his chest as he did so. He carefully swung his legs over the side of the bed, trying to make as little noise as possible, mindful not to disturb the serene moment.

As he stepped onto the cool floor, he took a deep breath, steeling himself for what lay ahead. The door creaked softly as he pushed it open, and he stepped into the eerily white corridor that stretched out before him. The starkness of the hallway felt oppressive, the walls lined with unsettlingly bright lights that cast long shadows, making the space feel both expansive and claustrophobic.

Jungkook forced himself to walk with hesitation, his face contorting into an expression of distress. He needed to appear like a frightened child lost in a strange place, not someone on a mission. The mansion was alive, watching, and he couldn’t afford to raise any suspicions.

As he made his way down the hallway, he cast wary glances at the paintings that adorned the walls,each frame a portal to another world, filled with vibrant colors and haunting imagery. He hoped desperately that the painting he sought was among them, for if he failed to find it, the mansion might see through his ruse.

After what felt like hours of wandering but was likely only minutes, his eyes fell upon a painting that made him stop abruptly. There it was, the image he had been searching for—a mother holding her child.Jungkook felt relief but he forced his eyes to well up with tears, whispering “Mom” over and over again. He had to convince the mansion that the reason he was drawn to this painting was due to a longing for a mother he hadn’t thought about in decades.

As the tears spilled over, he wiped them away hastily, preparing himself to ask the mansion for what he needed. But before he could gather his thoughts, a voice interrupted him from behind.

“Where were you?” Hoseok’s face came into view as Jungkook turned around, his expression a mix of relief and worry.

“I woke up and you weren’t there. I was so worried,” Hoseok panted, as if he had run a marathon searching for him. The concern etched on his features tugged at Jungkook’s heart. “Wait, were you crying?”

Caught off guard, Jungkook looked away, guilt flooding his senses. He hadn’t wanted Hoseok to see him in such a vulnerable state.

Hoseok, ever perceptive, reached up and gently wiped away the remnants of Jungkook’s tears. “What happened?” he asked softly with his voice laced with genuine concern.

“I had a nightmare,” Jungkook mumbled, realizing it was technically not a lie. Hoseok’s eyes widened with worry, but he didn’t press further. Instead he nodded, his expression softening.

“Next time, please wake me up,” Hoseok urged, and Jungkook nodded, even though he knew that he wouldn’t be able to do that. He couldn’t risk waking Hoseok if he was to carry out his plan; it would only lead him to worry.

Once they returned to the room, Hoseok guided Jungkook to the bed, but just as he was about to settle into the chair beside it, Jungkook reached out and grabbed his wrist. “Could you sleep with me?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Hoseok looked at him, surprise flickering across his features, but he nodded, unable to deny Jungkook’s request.Jungkook felt a rush of warmth at Hoseok's agreement and a sense of comfort washed over him. He knew he probably shouldn’t have asked that, as it would complicate his plans to slip away unnoticed later, but in that moment, he craved the closeness, the safety that came from having Hoseok by his side.

As they settled into the bed, Jungkook positioned himself so that he could gaze at Hoseok without being too obvious. He wanted to savor this moment, to imprint it in his memory. The way Hoseok’s hair fell across his forehead, the gentle rise and fall of his chest as he breathed, the peaceful expression that seemed to radiate warmth—Jungkook wanted to hold onto it all.

He layed there, watching Hoseok, feeling a mix of emotions swirling within him. There was a sense of guilt , but also a deep-seated affection that made his heart ache.
___

“How did you end up alone?” Hoseok’s question hung in the air, and he instantly felt a pang of regret for asking it. He had been worried last night when he woke up alone,he had been fearfull that perhaps the mansion had taken him away. He had wondered what kind of nightmare he has seen and why he was crying.

But Jungkook didn’t get upset at the question instead he looked into Hoseok’s eyes and said softly,“I lost my family.”,his gaze dropped to the half-eaten plate of food in front of him. The weight of his words settled heavily between them, and Hoseok felt heartached even if he had figured that to be the case beforehand.

“My mom abandoned me in the forest,”Hoseok said,wanting to share the vulnerability. He glanced up to see Jungkook’s eyes glistening with empathy, a silent understanding passing between them. Without a word, Jungkook reached across the table and took Hoseok’s hand in his.

“Do you want to talk about them?” Hoseok asked after a moment of silence.They had just finished their meal, but the remnants of their conversation lingered.

Jungkook looked apprehensive before nodding,“What do you want to know?”

“Anything,” Hoseok replied, his eyes brightening with anticipation.

“There were seven of us,” Jungkook began, his voice steady as he spoke about the boys who he loved with all of his soul. “Namjoon wasn’t the oldest, but he was like the glue that held us all together. He was so smart and always knew what to say. He kept us grounded, you know? Whenever things got tough, he was there to guide us.”

Hoseok listened intently, picturing Namjoon’s strong presence, the way he must carry himself with an air of responsibility.

“Then there’s Jin,” Jungkook continued, a fondness creeping into his voice. “He was the oldest and always took care of us. Always cooking for us and making sure we were eating right. He had this way of making the worst days feel a little brighter with his laughter. It was like he could see the good in everything.”

Hoseok smiled at the thought of Jin, imagining him bustling around the kitchen with a warm smile on his face as he prepared meals for others.

“Yoongi was... well, he was a bit of a mystery,” Jungkook said as he smiled sadly,“He could be grumpy sometimes, but he was also incredibly talented. He wrote music that spoke to the soul. He had this intensity about him that drew you in and when he opened up, it was like seeing a whole different side of him.”

Hoseok nodded, captivated by the way Jungkook spoke of them.

“Then there was Jimin,” Jungkook continued, his eyes sparkling with warmth. “He was the heart of our group. So full of energy and love. He always knew how to lift our spirits, even when we were down. His smile was contagious, and he had this ability to make you feel like you were the most important person in the world.”

Hoseok felt a swell of affection for the boy Jungkook described, imagining his bright smile and infectious laughter.

"And Taehyung," Jungkook added, a hint of mischief dancing in his eyes. "He was the wild card. So creative and free-spirited. Sometimes it was like he lived in his own world, but that’s what made him special. He saw beauty in everything, and he encouraged us to do the same."

As Jungkook spoke, Hoseok felt a strange sense of familiarity wash over him. The names resonated within him, as if they were echoes of memories he couldn’t quite grasp.

But then Jungkook paused, a shadow crossing his face as he hesitated. "The last one’s name is Ho—" he started, but before he could finish, a loud alarm rang through the house, cutting through the moment like a knife.

Both boys jumped, the sudden noise jolting them back to reality. Jungkook’s expression shifted from nostalgia to concern, and Hoseok felt the weight of the conversation hang in the air, unfinished and unresolved.

Hoseok took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. “The alarm… it means it's time for the weekly challenge,” he admitted, his heart racing at the thought of what was to come. As he spoke, a heavy door appeared in front of them, seemingly materializing out of thin air.

The wood looked like it was made of chocolate, adorned with intricate carvings that seemed to pulse with a life of their own. Hoseok felt a shiver run down his spine as he pushed the door open, revealing a dimly lit corridor that led to a room with walls adorned with colourful patterns.

Jungkook followed closely behind, his expression hard and focused as he took in the daunting sight before them. “Climbing?” he echoed, his voice tinged with uncertainty as he surveyed the massive wall that loomed in front of them. The surface was slick and shiny, reflecting the dim lights of the room like a dark mirror. The handholds were carved into the wall, glistening with an almost otherworldly sheen, and the sheer height of it made Hoseok’s stomach twist with anxiety.

Before Hoseok could respond, the atmosphere in the room shifted dramatically. A low rumble echoed through the space, and the walls began to morph and shift, as if the very structure of the mansion was alive. Suddenly, a colossal wall surged up between them, rising with an imposing grandeur that seemed to swallow the light. The barrier was smooth and forbidding, cutting off any chance of communication between them. Hoseok’s heart raced as he realized the extent of their separation.

During breakfast, Hoseok had made sure to encourage Jungkook, urging him to do his best. But what he hadn’t shared was the unspoken rule that loomed over them: when there were two participants in the game, the one who finished last would bear the brunt of the punishment. Hoseok had only known Jungkook for a short time, but he could already tell that the younger boy had a kind heart and a fierce spirit. He wouldn’t let Jungkook face punishment if he could help it, so he kept that crucial detail to himself, knowing that the weight of such knowledge would likely crush Jungkook’s resolve to do well.

With determination coursing through him, Hoseok turned to face the wall. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the climb ahead. As he grasped the first handhold, he felt the coolness of the rock against his palm, a stark contrast to the warmth of his racing heart. He began to ascend, moving deliberately and slowly, as if trying to stretch out every second.

Minutes ticked by agonizingly slowly. Hoseok focused on each movement, pulling himself up as slowly as possible with painstaking care. Every time he glanced down, he could see the wall towering beneath him, a reminder of how far he had come and how much further he still had to go.Yet despite that the wall didn't go down,he had only ever done the challenge with someone when he first came here.

He had lost back then but he remembered that only one of the party has to finish the course for the competition to end. So he didn’t understand why it wasn’t ending yet,"Maybe I remember wrong." He murmured to himself."Or maybe they changed the rules so now both of us have to finish." He tried to reassure his beating heart.

After what felt like an eternity, Hoseok finally hoisted himself onto the platform at the top of the wall. He stood there for a moment, panting and exhilarated, the adrenaline coursing through him.He felt relief when the wall started to disappear in the floor but as he looked around, his heart sank. The platform beside him was empty, and a wave of panic washed over him.

“Jungkook!” he shouted, his voice echoing against the cold walls. The silence that followed was deafening, and dread began to claw at his insides. He peered over the edge of the platform, searching for any sign of him.

Then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a small figure at the base of the climbing wall.There Jungkook was,still standing at the starting point and he felt his heart drop.

Chapter Text

The world around him was a blur, a haze of fear and urgency that clouded his mind. He couldn’t quite recall how he had managed to climb down.

He could hear his heart beating loudly in his ears as he leaped down, propelled by a surge of impatience, he felt the ground tremble beneath him. The floor beneath Jungkook had already begun to sink, a gaping maw of darkness threatening to swallow him whole.

“Please, don’t! Take me instead!” Hoseok’s voice cracked, desperation lacing every syllable as he sprinted towards the young boy. The mansion loomed around him, indifferent to his pleas, its walls echoing with the laughter of cruel fate. But it was futile; the floor had already claimed Jungkook, and Hoseok’s heart cried at the sight.

Years ago, Hoseok had faced the mansion’s punishments alone, enduring tasks that left him broken and weeping. He had suffered in silence, the weight of his pain a heavy shroud that he had borne without complaint. But Jungkook—he could never bear to see Jungkook endure such torment. The thought of his friend experiencing that kind of suffering twisted like a knife in his gut.

Kneeling on the cold, unforgiving ground, Hoseok’s voice trembled as he pleaded, “Please, give me his punishment.” His knees ached against the hard floor, but he continued to beg with the foolish hope that the mansion might show mercy. Yet, the silence that followed was deafening, a cruel reminder of the mansion’s indifference.

Time stretched on, each second feeling like an eternity as he waited, his heart heavy with dread. Then, at last, the floor vanished, revealing a platform that slowly rose, carrying Jungkook’s unconscious form. Hoseok’s heart plummeted at the sight of him—small, battered, and bloodied. Anxiety coursed through his veins like ice water as he crawled toward Jungkook, each movement fueled by a desperate need to reach him.

“Jungkook, open your eyes. Please,” he sobbed, pulling Jungkook into his embrace, his hands trembling as he frantically searched for a pulse. Logically, he knew the mansion wouldn’t kill Jungkook, but doubt gnawed at him, a relentless beast that whispered of worst-case scenarios.

Beside Jungkook lay a med kit, a cruel reminder of the situation they found themselves in. Anger and anguish swirled within Hoseok, but he fought to suppress his sobs, focusing instead on the task at hand—caring for Jungkook.

His hands shook as he reached for the med kit, fumbling with the latch in his desperation. The sight of Jungkook’s battered body was seared into his mind, a haunting image that would forever linger. Blood matted Jungkook’s hair and stained his clothes, and a wave of nausea washed over Hoseok, threatening to pull him under.

Hoseok didn't quite understand why he so strongly felt this pull towards Jungkook,even seeing the two boys who were here first dying didn’t make him feel as much pain as seeing Jungkook hurt.

“Please, please be okay,” he whispered, his voice barely audible, a prayer to the universe. He opened the med kit, pulling out antiseptic wipes, gauze, and bandages, his hands trembling with urgency. Carefully, he turned Jungkook onto his back, cringing at the bruises blooming across his skin. Each injury was a reminder of the torment the mansion inflicted, a testament to the darkness that surrounded them.

Starting with the worst wounds, he cleaned the cuts on Jungkook’s arms and legs with gentle hands, his heart breaking with each wince that escaped his friend’s lips. “I’m so sorry, Jungkook. I should have been there instead of you,” he murmured, tears streaming down his face as he worked. The antiseptic stung, and he winced at the thought of how much pain Jungkook must have endured. “I won’t let this happen again. I promise.”

As he wrapped gauze around Jungkook’s arm, he caught a glimpse of the boy’s face—so pale, so fragile. Hoseok pressed his forehead against Jungkook’s, feeling the warmth of his skin against his own. The weight of despair pressed down on him, but he pushed it away, focusing on the task at hand, on the life that still flickered within Jungkook.

After what felt like an eternity, Hoseok finally finished dressing Jungkook’s injuries. He sat back on his heels, panting, and looked down at the boy. “You’re going to be okay,” he whispered, though he wasn’t sure if he meant it for Jungkook or himself. He brushed a hand through Jungkook’s hair, trying to soothe him even in his unconscious state, wishing he could take away the pain that marred the boy’s beautiful face.

As he sat there, cradling Jungkook’s hand in his own, a silent vow formed in Hoseok’s heart. No matter what it took, he would protect Jungkook. He would shield him from the horrors of this cursed mansion for as long as he was alive.

___

Jungkook awoke to a dull ache coursing through his entire body, a reminder of the torment he had endured. He winced slightly as he raised his arms and noticed the bandages wrapped around them.

Hoseok was slumped in a chair nearby, fast asleep, his face etched with worry, the lines of concern deepening with every passing moment.

Jungkook couldn’t quite remember what had happened after the floor sank beneath him; all he recalled was a suffocating darkness followed by excruciating pain before everything faded away. The image of Hoseok witnessing his battered state filled him with guilt, a heavy weight pressing down on his chest but he would do it all over again if it meant protecting Hoseok from suffering. It felt selfish, knowing he had likely caused Hoseok so much emotional pain, but he felt he had no choice.

Hoseok stirred awake at the sound of movement, and when he saw Jungkook looking at him, he rushed over, concern flooding his features like a tidal wave. “Jungkook, are you okay? Do you feel pain anywhere?” His voice was laced with urgency, a reflection of the fear that had gripped him since Jungkook had fallen.

Jungkook shook his head slowly, trying to reassure him. “I’m fine,” he said softly, but Hoseok’s worried expression didn’t ease. The intensity of Hoseok’s gaze made Jungkook feel small, as if he were a fragile thing that could shatter at any moment.

Once Hoseok calmed down, he sighed, looking at Jungkook with a mix of exasperation and relief. “Why would you do that, Jungkook? Didn’t you remember what I told you?” His voice was firm, but the underlying worry was palpable.

Jungkook’s gaze dropped, unable to meet Hoseok’s disappointed eyes. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled quietly.

At that, Hoseok’s stern demeanor softened, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I just can’t see you like this. Please don’t do this again.” His voice trembled, and Jungkook felt a heavy weight settle in his chest, a mix of guilt and sorrow.

He closed his eyes and sighed, nodding in agreement. He knew that by this time next week, he might be gone, so promising to avoid such actions felt futile. The thought of leaving Hoseok alone was unbearable so he put it at the back of his mind.

Hoseok spent the entire day fussing over Jungkook, bringing him food and asking if he needed anything. It reminded Jungkook of how Hoseok had cared for him back in their world when he was sick. Jungkook felt the weight of Hoseok’s concern, gnawing at him in ways he didn’t want to admit.

By the next day, Hoseok was still pacing the small room, checking on Jungkook every few minutes, adjusting the bandages, and ensuring he was comfortable. It was clear that Hoseok’s worry hadn’t settled, and Jungkook could see the toll it was taking on him.

“Hyung, I’m fine. Really,” Jungkook said, his voice barely above a whisper, but Hoseok wasn’t convinced. He paused, looking at Jungkook with a tired yet soft gaze, the lines of worry etched deep into his features.

“You sure?” Hoseok asked, frustration lacing his voice—not at Jungkook, but at the helplessness he felt.

Jungkook shrugged, trying to mask his restlessness,he fiddled with his bandaged fingers.

“I’m bored,” Jungkook blurted out suddenly, breaking the silence. “I feel like I’ve been stuck in here forever.” He looked at Hoseok, attempting to lighten the mood, desperate to escape the heaviness that hung in the air.He didn't wanted to spend his last days with Hoseok doing nothing.

Hoseok gave him a quizzical look, his eyebrows furrowing as if trying to read between the lines. “Bored? You’ve been recovering all day, Kook. You’re not supposed to be out there doing anything yet.”

“I know, I know," Jungkook said with a small laugh, trying to inject some levity into the situation. "But I swear, if I stare at these same four walls any longer, I’ll lose my mind.”

Hoseok couldn’t help but chuckle softly, the tension in his shoulders easing just a little. “Alright, alright. I’ll bring you a game or something. But no jumping around. You still need rest.”

Jungkook smiled, grateful for Hoseok’s ability to lighten the mood even amidst everything. “Thanks, hyung. You’re a lifesaver.”

“I know,” Hoseok replied with a wink, his playful demeanor a welcome distraction from the weight of their reality. “But don’t get too comfortable. You’re still on bed rest. No funny business.”

Jungkook chuckled, his heart a little lighter now, as Hoseok disappeared to grab something to help pass the time. The sound of Hoseok’s footsteps echoed in the small room, a reminder that he wasn’t alone in this dark place.

When Hoseok returned, he carried a deck of cards and a small puzzle, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Thought we could kill some time with these," he said, offering them to Jungkook with a teasing grin. Jungkook chuckled, grateful for the effort. The simple act of playing a game or solving a puzzle felt like a relief, a distraction from everything that had happened and from the constant ache in his body.

They started with the cards, playing a few rounds of Go Fish, something lighthearted. The laughter came easier than before, and for a moment, Jungkook was able to forget the weight of his injuries and the inevitable parting. Hoseok kept his usual banter up, poking fun at Jungkook’s every attempt to outwit him. The competitiveness between them, even in a simple card game, reminded him of old times, and it helped ease the tension.

When the cards got pushed aside, they turned their attention to the puzzle. It was a small one, but it kept them both occupied for a while. Jungkook’s fingers, though sore, worked carefully to slot the pieces together as Hoseok handed him the next one. There was something calming about it, the way they worked in sync, despite the awkwardness of their circumstances. They didn’t need words to communicate; their actions already spoke for them.

As the evening wore on, the atmosphere between them remained easy and comfortable. They joked and laughed, but there were still moments when their eyes met, and the unspoken weight of their situation lingered in the room. Jungkook could feel Hoseok’s concern beneath the laughter, his eyes always watching him like he was afraid he might break at any moment.

Time passed, the clock ticking silently as the night grew darker. Jungkook’s eyelids grew heavier with each passing minute. The warmth of the room, the soft glow from the lamp, and the steady presence of Hoseok beside him made it difficult to keep his focus. Despite the quiet ache in his body, he felt strangely at peace. He hadn’t realized just how exhausted he was, how much his body longed for rest until he came to this world.

Finally, as they worked on the last few pieces of the puzzle, Jungkook could no longer keep his eyes open. He felt his head dip slightly, and within moments, his breath deepened, his body finally succumbing to the exhaustion that had been building up throughout the day.

Hoseok, noticing the shift, glanced over to find Jungkook leaning against the pillows, eyes closed, a peaceful expression on his face. He smiled softly, his heart swelling with a mix of affection and relief.

He quietly set the puzzle down and shifted closer, pulling the blanket up around Jungkook’s shoulders. He knew the other boy had been through so much—physically and emotionally—and this was the moment he could finally rest, safe and warm.

Hoseok sat beside him for a moment, just watching him sleep. There was something about seeing Jungkook like this, relaxed and at ease, that made everything feel okay again even if it was just for the moment.

“I’ve got you, Kook,” Hoseok whispered softly, brushing a few strands of hair from Jungkook’s forehead. “Rest now. Everything will be okay.”

With one last lingering glance, Hoseok turned off the light, leaving only the soft glow from the hallway to illuminate the room. The comforting sound of Jungkook’s steady breathing filled the space, and Hoseok settled into spot on the bed beside him, knowing that for now, Jungkook was finally at peace.

The next morning, Jungkook awoke to the soft morning light filtering through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. The events of the previous day had brought a sense of calm he hadn’t expected, and the warmth of Hoseok’s care made him feel, for the first time in what seemed like forever, somewhat normal again.

As he shifted in bed, he noticed that Hoseok was already awake, standing by the door with a wheelchair in hand. His eyes lit up when he saw Jungkook stir, a mixture of relief and joy washing over his features.

“Good morning, Kook,” Hoseok said, his voice filled with warmth and a hint of excitement. “How are you feeling today?”

Jungkook stretched his arms, wincing slightly at the tightness in his muscles, but he smiled at Hoseok, feeling a flicker of hope. “Better than yesterday. The pain’s not as bad now.”

Hoseok nodded in approval, though a shadow of concern lingered in his eyes. “That’s good. I’m going to help you into this wheelchair. We can’t have you walking around yet, but I figured we could go somewhere different today.” He gave a playful grin, pushing the wheelchair closer to the bed, his movements filled with purpose.

Jungkook raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Somewhere different?”

“Yep,” Hoseok said as he gently helped Jungkook into the chair, supporting him carefully. “I thought you might want a change of scenery. It’s a little... unconventional, but I think you’ll like it.”

Jungkook couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement, though he still felt a little hesitant. “What do you mean by unconventional?”

Hoseok’s eyes sparkled mischievously as he started pushing the wheelchair down the hall. “I’m taking you to the simulation room. We’re going to have a picnic.”

Jungkook blinked in surprise, his heart racing at the thought. “The simulation room? You mean the one where you can make it look like the outside world?”Hoseok had told him about it before but he had yet to see it.

“That’s the one,” Hoseok confirmed with a smile, his enthusiasm infectious. “We’ve been stuck inside this room so I thought it might be nice to experience the outdoors, even if it’s just a simulation. The picnic can be our escape, even if it’s just for a little while.”

Jungkook’s heart warmed at the thought. The idea of being outside, surrounded by the beauty of nature, even if it wasn’t real, felt like a breath of fresh air. “That sounds perfect,” he said, his voice filled with a hint of excitement. “But we’ll need some food, right?”

Hoseok laughed, his eyes shining with mischief. “Already on it. I’ve got sandwiches, snacks, and a few drinks packed. I even brought a blanket. We’re going all out, Kook.”

Jungkook grinned, grateful for Hoseok’s thoughtfulness. Despite everything that had happened, this moment felt like a glimpse of normalcy. The two of them, sitting outside in a peaceful, serene setting, sharing a meal like they used to.

As they reached the simulation room, Hoseok wrote a few commands into the whiteboard outside, and the room’s walls began to shift. The sterile, cold atmosphere melted away as a bright, sunlit field appeared before them. Tall trees swayed gently in the breeze, a small river trickled through the grass, and birds could be heard singing in the distance.

“Wow,” Jungkook whispered, his eyes wide with awe. “This is amazing.”

“I thought you’d like it,” Hoseok said, a proud smile on his face. “Now, let’s get comfortable. I’ll set up the blanket.”

As Hoseok spread out the blanket on the soft, simulated grass, Jungkook couldn’t stop smiling. For the first time in what felt like forever, he wasn’t worried about anything. It was just him and Hoseok, sharing a moment of peace in a world that felt far away from their current reality.

Jungkook looked at Hoseok, his heart swelling with gratitude. “Thank you, hyung. This... this means a lot to me.”

Hoseok glanced up from arranging the food and grinned. “Anything for you, Jungkook-ah. Now, let’s enjoy this moment. We deserve it.”

As they settled onto the blanket, the soft grass simulated beneath them, Jungkook couldn’t help but feel a sense of peace wash over him. They ate in comfortable silence for a while, the sounds of birds chirping and a distant rustling of trees blending with the gentle breeze. The food wasn’t anything extraordinary, but it felt like the most perfect meal in that moment, surrounded by a scene that felt almost too real to be a simulation.

Once they finished, Hoseok leaned back on his elbows, staring up at the sky that was now painted with the deep colors of dusk. The stars, though artificial, twinkled softly overhead. There was something almost comforting about their stillness, as though they were watching over them.

“This is nice,” Jungkook said after a long pause, his voice quiet but filled with appreciation. “I never thought I’d get to experience this again.” The 'with you' was left unsaid.

Hoseok turned his head to look at him, his face softened with a gentle smile. “You deserve it. You’ve been through so much, Jungkook-ah. We both have. But... sometimes, it’s nice to stop and just breathe, you know?”

Jungkook nodded, his gaze drifting to the horizon, where the stars stretched out endlessly, far beyond the confines of the mansion’s walls. The sight of the night sky, vast and limitless, made him feel small yet connected to something larger than himself. It was a reminder that even in their cursed existence, there was beauty to be found, even if it was in the most unexpected of places.

“I used to look up at the stars all the time, back home,” Jungkook said softly, his voice carrying a hint of nostalgia. “I’d lie on my roof and just watch them with the others. It always made me feel like no matter how lost I was, the world was still turning.Though the last time i did it was when all the others were alive.”

Hoseok stayed silent, listening carefully. He understood the weight of those words. He, too, had spent many nights staring up at the sky, wondering about the future, the endless unknown that stretched out in front of them. It was easy to feel overwhelmed in a place like the mansion, but there was something grounding about the simple beauty of the stars.

“I get that,” Hoseok murmured. “Sometimes I forget how much we took for granted. Just... the little things. The sky, the breeze, the simple feeling of being outside. It’s easy to forget when we’re stuck here.” He glanced at Jungkook, his eyes soft. “But even here, we’ve got each other. And maybe that’s enough for now.”

Jungkook smiled, the warmth of Hoseok’s words settling in his chest. “Yeah, you’re right. I’m glad I’ve got you, hyung.”

Jungkook let out a slow breath, closing his eyes for a moment as the calmness washed over him. "I guess, even if this is just a simulation... it's still real to me," he whispered. "This moment, right here."

Hoseok didn’t answer right away, but when he did, his voice was just as soft. “Yeah... me too.”

For that moment, they simply layed there together in silence, the gentle breeze rustling the leaves above them. And in that stillness, under the glowing stars of the simulation, the memories of what they had lost, and the unspoken bond between them, were all forgotten —in that one moment.

Chapter Text

"Hyung, what do you think about dancing?" Jungkook asked, his voice light and playful as he fiddled with the delicate flowers in his hands, their vibrant colors contrasting with the dim light of the room.

Hoseok looked up, his face breaking into a warm smile that lit up his features. "I’ve told you before, I love dancing," he replied, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

Jungkook's heart raced with excitement as he leaned closer, his expression shifting to one of earnestness. "No, I meant do you want to show me? In the simulation room." The idea hung in the air, filled with a sense of wonder and anticipation. Hoseok's eyes widened with intrigue, and he nodded eagerly, a soft blush creeping onto his cheeks.

"Of course, if you want. I know you love dancing too. It’s a shame you’re hurt, or we could do it together," Hoseok said, his voice tinged with a hint of regret.

In truth, Jungkook’s injuries were nearly healed, the mansion’s cruel whims having a strange way of mending wounds just in time for the next competition. Tomorrow marked that day, and Jungkook had spent the last few days in the simulation room with Hoseok, soaking in every moment. Today, however, was special; it was his last chance to witness Hoseok dance, to see the passion and grace that flowed through him like a river of light.

"Actually, I’m all better now," Jungkook declared, a spark of determination igniting in his chest. He rose from the chair, where he had been arranging the flowers, and reached for Hoseok’s hand, tugging him gently but insistently toward the room.

Hoseok chuckled softly, shaking his head fondly at the younger boy’s exuberance. "Okay, but don’t overexert yourself," he cautioned, a mix of concern and affection in his tone.

As they wrote practice room on the board outside and entered, Jungkook was struck by its otherworldly beauty. It was unlike any space he had ever encountered, the air thick with an enchanting energy. Instead of modern speakers, there were instruments that seemed to play on their own, creating a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that was both mesmerizing and eerie.

Hoseok pressed his hand against the wall, and suddenly, a familiar melody filled the air, wrapping around them like a warm embrace. Jungkook’s eyes widened in surprise, and he gasped softly, his heart fluttering. "This song..." he murmured, the notes resonating deep within him.

Hoseok turned to him, a gentle smile gracing his lips. "Pretty, isn’t it? For some reason, I keep hearing this song in my dreams. Someone is sitting in a living room playing it on a piano and I’m surrounded by people I’ve never seen before. When I wake up, I forget their faces but this melody remains in my head." His voice was laced with a bittersweet nostalgia, as if the song held secrets he longed to uncover.

"It’s very pretty," Jungkook replied, though his mind was racing with thoughts. He knew the others found him familiar; he could see it in the way they looked at him. But the idea that they might share dreams was something he hadn’t considered. This song was one Yoongi had composed for everyone, a melody that resonated with their shared experiences, a thread connecting them all.He loved playing it for others on the piano.

Hoseok reached out a hand, inviting Jungkook into the centre of the room. The warmth of his touch sent a shiver of anticipation through Jungkook, and he stepped forward, feeling the weight of the moment. As they began to move together, the music enveloped them, and for a fleeting moment, the world outside faded away, leaving only the rhythm of their hearts and the magic of the dance.

As they continued to dance, the world around them faded further into the background. The music swelled, and they lost themselves in the rhythm, their laughter and joy intertwining with the melody. In that moment, nothing else mattered—just the two of them, dancing freely in the magic room, their hearts beating in time with the song that seemed to echo their very souls.

___

That night, Jungkook waited for Hoseok to fall asleep, the soft rhythm of his hyung's breathing a comforting backdrop to his racing thoughts. The moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting a silvery glow across the room, illuminating the determination etched on Jungkook's face. He took a deep breath, steeling himself, and rose from the bed with firm steps and made his way to the painting. This was it.

For the past few days, he had pretended to be plagued by restless nights and waking up in the dark,It wasn't that hard to do so since he truly couldn't sleep well due to dreams. Each time, he had asked the mansion for a sleeping pill, acting out a desperate plea for relief from the turmoil that churned within him. After today, he had collected seven pills in total, each one a step closer to his goal.

With a trembling hand, he pulled out the small container from his pocket, the cool metal feeling foreign against his skin. He held the pills in front of the painting that loomed ominously on the wall, its colors swirling with a life of their own. The mansion sensed something was amiss, a shiver running through its very foundation, but it was too late. The painting came alive, its canvas rippling as it swallowed its sacrifice, the air thick with an ancient energy that crackled around Jungkook.

The painting depicted a woman and a child, her eyes filled with sorrow, the original owner of the mansion who had succumbed to her death with overdose after losing her child. She needed a sacrifice to rid the cursed mansion of its dark legacy, and Jungkook had unwittingly become the vessel for her desperate plea.

__

Hoseok woke up with a start, the bed shaking violently beneath him, the sensation jarring him from his dreams. "Earthquake?" he mumbled, confusion clouding his mind as he turned to wake Jungkook, only to find the bedside empty. Panic surged through him, a cold grip tightening around his heart.

He quickly threw off the covers and bolted out of the room, his feet pounded against the floor as he called out, "Jungkook-ah! Where are you?" His voice echoed through the darkened halls, but the only response was the unsettling creaking of the house, as if it were alive and shifting around him.

As he ran, he stumbled and barely caught himself against the wall, his breath came in quick gasps. It was then that he noticed the transformation taking place—the once bright, candy-colored walls were darkening, the cheerful hues replaced by deep, foreboding shades of wood. "Jungkook-ah, please! Where are you?" he shouted, desperation clawing at his throat.

He didn’t stop to think about the change, his mind racing with worry as he dashed through the hallways, calling out for Jungkook until his voice grew hoarse. The silence that enveloped him was suffocating, each empty room a reminder of his growing dread.

Just like his mother, Jungkook had vanished without a trace.

___

Jungkook awoke with a start, the familiar scent of aged paper and ink filling his lungs as he found himself back in the shop. The dim light flickered overhead, casting long shadows that danced across the walls, but the warmth of the place felt hollow. He sat up, his heart heavy with the weight of what he had done.He hadn't expected to die like that,leaving hoseok with no sign of his existence.

Guilt washed over him like a cold wave that crashed against the shore of his conscience. He had saved Hoseok from the mansion, but in doing so, he had left him behind, just as his mother had left him. The thought twisted in his gut, a painful reminder of the cycle that seemed to bind them both.He desperately wished that hoseok was transported back to this world before he could wake from his sleep,before he could notice Jungkook missing.

As he stood, the floor creaked beneath him, and he took a hesitant step forward. His eyes were drawn to the table where the open book had once lay, its pages now closed and transformed into a transparent red hue, stark contrast to the blue hued book beside it.

Before he could ponder on it, another book next to it began to open, its pages fluttering as if caught in an unseen breeze. He braced himself, knowing that he could not waste more time.

With a deep breath, he placed his hand on the open book, the cool surface sending a jolt of energy through him. The words began to swirl and shift, forming images that danced before his eyes—visions of the story of the book. Each flicker of the pages whispered secrets, urging him to confront the past and the choices that had shaped their fates.

With resolve, he closed his eyes, ready to embrace whatever awaited him in the next world, determined to find a way to make things right.

Chapter Text

Taehyung's memories began on the day he awoke as a ghost on a lake frozen in time—a spirit adrift in a world that had moved on without him. He drifted through the unfamiliar streets of a small town, a silent observer of life painted in vivid colors, yet forever trapped in his monochrome reality. The laughter of children, the warmth of shared moments, and the tender embrace of love—all slipped through his grasp, leaving only a single name reverberating in the empty memory of his mind: Taehyung.

Strangely, he possessed the power to conjure and command snow, bending it to his will as if it were an extension of himself.

This winter day dawned like every other of the past few years, the air was crisp with cold, each breath a frosty wisp that danced in the sunlight. The land layed swathed in a thick blanket of snow, shimmering like countless diamonds under the pale sun. Taehyung, with his silver hair glistening like moonlit frost, felt an inexplicable bond with the snow. It was as if winter’s very essence coursed through his being, gifting him the power to manipulate its delicate flakes.

Children frolicked in the park, their laughter a symphony of joy as they engaged in a spirited snowball fight. Taehyung watched from afar with a wistful smile ghosting across his transparent features, his heart swelling with bittersweet longing. He joined their play invisibly, launching snowballs from thin air, each one a gentle whisper of his presence, a flicker of magic that would go unnoticed.

Drawn in by the infectious energy of the children, Taehyung felt a peculiar warmth bloom within him. They were bundled in vibrant jackets, cheeks rosy from the cold, eyes sparkling with the thrill of the game. He basked in their joy, watching them dodge and hurl snowballs, their triumphant cries echoed in the frosty air like a melody that tugged at his heartstrings.

Yet amidst the laughter, Taehyung sensed an unusual gaze fixed upon him. When he turned, he saw a boy standing apart from the group. He was older than the others, perhaps a few years younger than Taehyung himself, with dark hair falling into doe eyes that were deep and doll-like, and a smile that illuminated his face like the first gentle rays of dawn. Taehyung’s breath caught in his chest at the sight of him—the most beautiful person he had ever laid eyes on. In that moment, his heart skipped a beat, a flutter of something profound stirring within him.

There was an inexplicable pull towards this boy, a sense of familiarity that sent a shiver down Taehyung’s spine. It felt as though the boy held the key to a long-forgotten door, a connection that transcended the boundaries of life and death. Taehyung found himself entranced, tilting his head as he observed the boy, his heart aching with a longing he couldn’t quite understand.

As if sensing Taehyung’s gaze, the boy turned his head slightly. Their eyes met for a fleeting heartbeat, and in that brief moment, Taehyung dared to hope that maybe, just maybe, this boy could see him. But just as quickly, the boy looked away, turning his attention back to the children, and the moment shattered like fragile glass. A wave of disappointment washed over Taehyung, heavy and suffocating.

“Maybe I was mistaken,” he whispered to himself, the words lost in the wind. Yet, he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more to this boy, something that tied him to Taehyung’s forgotten past—a thread woven into the fabric of his very being.

Unable to resist the urge to follow, Taehyung drifted after the boy as he left the park. The boy walked with a lightness in his step, laughter spilling from his lips like a melody that danced through the air. Taehyung floated just behind, careful to keep his distance, afraid to intrude on a life he could no longer touch.

He followed the boy, observing how his steps were both light and delicate. The boy's nose was tinged red from the cold, as he nuzzled into his scarf, his hands buried deep in his pockets as he made his way to a modest apartment building.

Taehyung hesitated at the entrance, uncertainty gnawing at him. He watched as the boy entered, the door closing behind him with a soft click that echoed in the silence. A pang of longing pierced Taehyung’s heart, a desire to know who this boy was and why he felt so achingly familiar. He yearned to learn his name, to understand why the boy’s smile seemed to mask a deeper sorrow,eyes that shined as if he'd shed tears any moment.

With a deep breath and an apology for intruding, Taehyung phased through the door, the chill of the outside world melted away as he stepped into the warmth of the building. He floated up the stairs, following the sound of the boy’s footsteps until he reached the second floor. There, he paused outside an apartment door, his heart racing with a mix of hope and trepidation.

Yet, he still hesitated to enter the apartment. Instead, he pressed closer to the door, straining to hear the sounds from within, desperate to catch a glimpse of the boy who had stirred something deep within him.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and the boy stepped out, his wide eyes filled with warmth as they locked onto Taehyung’s. For a moment, time seemed to freeze, the world around them fading into a blur. Taehyung’s heart lurched in his chest.

“Aren’t you coming in?” the boy asked softly, his voice a gentle caress that sent shivers down Taehyung’s spine.

Taehyung almost stumbled backwards, caught off guard by the invitation. He quickly glanced behind himself, half-expecting to find someone else standing there, someone more tangible and real. But the hallway was empty, save for the two of them, and the boy’s gaze remained fixed on him, unwavering and curious.

“Me?” Taehyung whispered, his voice barely above a breath, as if speaking too loudly might shatter the fragile moment.

“Yes, you,” the boy replied, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “I can see you, you know. You don’t have to hide.”

The air in the small hallway was thick with an unspoken tension, a mix of disbelief and wonder. Taehyung stood at the threshold, his heart racing as he processed the reality of the situation. He had spent years as a ghost, drifting through life without a sense of belonging, and now here was him—a boy who could see him, a boy who could bring color to his monochrome existence.

“You can see me?!” Taehyung exclaimed, his voice a mixture of excitement and disbelief, as if he were standing on the edge of a cliff, ready to leap into the unknown.

“Yes,” Jungkook replied, his tone steady yet filled with a hint of awe. His dark eyes sparkled with a warmth that made Taehyung’s heart flutter.

“But why did you pretend not to see me before?” Taehyung pressed, his curiosity piqued. He took a step closer, the warmth of Jungkook’s presence drawing him in like a moth to a flame.

“Because nobody else seemed to notice the silver-haired boy who can somehow control snow,” Jungkook explained, a sheepish smile creeping onto his face. “I didn’t want to sound crazy talking to myself.”

Taehyung’s heart swelled at the thought. "I still can’t believe that after all these years, I’m finally talking to someone.” The weight of loneliness that had clung to him for so long began to lift, replaced by a flicker of hope.

“Come in first,” Jungkook said, gesturing for Taehyung to enter. Taehyung followed him inside, the warmth of the apartment wrapping around him like a comforting embrace.

“I’m Jungkook, by the way.”

“Taehyung,” he replied, the name rolling off his tongue like a long-lost melody.

As they settled into the cozy space, Taehyung felt a sense of ease wash over him. “You don’t seem freaked out over the fact you can see a ghost. Have you seen ghosts before?” he asked, his curiosity bubbling to the surface.

“No, I haven’t,” Jungkook admitted, his expression thoughtful. “I guess I am quite odd for not freaking out.”

“Yes, you are,” Taehyung teased, a playful smile breaking through his initial nervousness.

“Hey!” Jungkook protested, but the laughter in his eyes betrayed his amusement.

“Sorry,” Taehyung said, his heart lightening. The banter felt natural, as if they had known each other for years rather than mere moments.

“Anyways, you are a ghost then? Can you see other ghosts?” Jungkook asked, his curiosity evident.

“No. I have never met someone like myself before. This is the first time since my memory starts that I am talking to someone,” Taehyung replied, a hint of sadness creeping into his voice. The weight of his isolation pressed down on him, a reminder of the years spent wandering alone.

“So you don’t remember your life from before?” Jungkook asked, his tone gentle.

“No. That’s probably why I’m still here, I guess,” Taehyung said, his voice barely above a whisper. The admission felt heavy, like a stone lodged in his throat.

“Don’t be sad,” Jungkook said, his eyes softening with empathy. “I’ll do my best to help you find out about your life.”

“Really? How?” Taehyung asked, a flicker of hope igniting within him.

“Well, with the internet, I could search your name, look for any articles. If that doesn’t help, then we can go to the place you first woke as a ghost and look for people who might have known you,” Jungkook suggested, his enthusiasm infectious.

“Thank you. It means a lot to me that you are willing to do this for me. Even if it doesn’t work, I appreciate it,” Taehyung said, his heart swelling with gratitude.

“Hey! Why won’t it work? It will,” Jungkook insisted, his confidence shining through as he opened his laptop.

“Yes, yes, it will,” Taehyung replied, a smile breaking through the clouds of uncertainty. “But we can start tomorrow. It’s getting late.” He glanced at the clock, realizing how much time had passed since they began talking.

“But—” Jungkook started, his eyes wide with determination.

“No buts,You need rest.I'll see you tomorrow then,” Taehyung said and walked towards the apartment door,yet he felt a strange reluctance to leave.

Jungkook hesitated and asked, "Do you have to leave?”

Taehyung paused,"I... I don't have to if you don't want me to," he murmured, his voice tender and vulnerable. The thought of leaving Jungkook felt like retreating into the barren coldness he had long endured, a solitude he feared he could no longer survive.

Jungkook's eyes, a swirling tempest of uncertainty, met his with a flicker of hope. He took a hesitant step closer, his voice a soft caress. "I don't want you to go. I've just found you..." His words trailed off, unfinished but full of meaning, hanging in the air like an unspoken promise.

Warmth blossomed in Taehyung's chest at Jungkook's confession, spreading like a gentle flame. "I feel the same way," he admitted, the admission quickening his pulse. "I've never had anyone to share my thoughts with, someone who truly sees me."

"Then stay here," Jungkook urged, his gaze earnest and imploring. "We can talk more. I want to know everything about you."

Taehyung hesitated, casting a glance at the door, the threshold to his former emptiness, before letting his eyes return to Jungkook. "Okay," he said finally, a smile breaking through the clouds of doubt. "I’ll stay."

Jungkook's face lit up with a radiant joy, and he gestured for Taehyung to join him on the couch. "Tell me more about yourself. What do you remember?"

Settling onto the couch, Taehyung felt the familiar warmth of the fabric beneath him, a tangible comfort he'd nearly forgotten. "I don’t remember much," he began, sadness tinting his voice. "Just flashes of moments—faces, places, laughter. But it’s all jumbled, like a puzzle with missing pieces."

Jungkook listened with unwavering attention, his eyes locked onto Taehyung's face as if trying to unravel the mystery within. "What about your family? Do you remember them?"

Taehyung shook his head, the hollow ache in his heart deepening. "No. I wish I could. It feels like a part of me is missing, a void I can't seem to fill."

Jungkook's expression softened as he reached out, placing his hand gently over Taehyung's. The touch surprised him as he hadn't touched someone in ages people usually shivered when he did but Jungkook seemed to be able to touch him without any problem and Taehyung felt comfort rush through him, "You're not alone anymore. I'm here, and I'll help you find those pieces. We'll figure this out together."

The warmth of Jungkook's hand against his own was a balm to Taehyung's soul, a promise of companionship that chased away the shadows. "Thank you," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "It means more to me than you know."

As they sat in a comfortable silence,Taehyung felt the connection between them, a bond forged in shared vulnerability and mutual understanding. It was a feeling he had longed for, now unfolding like a delicate flower in bloom.

"Do you ever wish you could remember?" Jungkook asked softly, his voice a gentle murmur.

"Every day," Taehyung admitted, his heart aching. "But I also wonder if there's a reason I'm here now. Maybe I'm supposed to find something or someone important."

Jungkook nodded thoughtfully."Whatever it is that you're meant to find, I'll be right by your side to help."

A wave of gratitude washed over Taehyung, his heart swelling with appreciation. "You're incredible, Jungkook. I don’t know how I got so lucky to meet you."

Jungkook blushed, a shy smile spreading across his face. "I'm just being me. But I'm glad I found you too. It feels like fate."

The night deepened as they talked and a tranquil peace settled over Taehyung. For the first time in years, he felt seen, understood, and cherished. The loneliness that had haunted him began to fade, replaced by the promise of friendship and the hope of uncovering his past.

Eventually, Jungkook yawned, stretching his arms above his head. "I guess we should get some sleep. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow."

Taehyung nodded, "Yeah, I guess you should. I don't really need sleep."

"Oh really?" Jungkook hesitated, reluctant to leave Taehyung alone. "Should we stay awake together?"

"No, go to sleep. I'll be fine. Besides, you need rest for your investigation, right?"

Jungkook stood up slowly but glanced back at Taehyung. "Should I leave a movie on for you? So you don't feel bored." He fiddled nervously with his hands, and Taehyung looked at him with a fond smile.

"Jungkook, I've spent a long time without company. I’m good at entertaining myself."

Despite Taehyung’s words, Jungkook placed the TV remote on the couch. "You can still use this if you get bored." He paused, eyes widening as he looked at the remote. "Can you touch it?"

"Yes, I can."

Jungkook sighed in relief. "Good. Still, if you need anything, wake me, okay?"

Taehyung wondered what he had done in a previous life to deserve this angel's concern and nodded.

With a final smile, Jungkook walked toward the door, but before he left, he turned back one last time. "Goodnight, Taehyung. I'm really glad I met you."

"Goodnight, Jungkook," Taehyung replied, his voice imbued with warmth. "I'm glad too."

As soon as Jungkook was out of sight, Taehyung slumped onto the couch, trying to muffle his giddy squeal with a cushion. He had to control himself; nothing good came from falling in love as a ghost.

Chapter Text

This world was unlike the others in the sense that it was similar to his own especially when it came to the timeline. Another different thing that Jungkook noticed was that when he appeared in a cafe he seemed to be mid conversation. That also happened in the first world but the person he was talking to wasn't familiar with him but with the way The guy behind the counter bid him farewell it seemed like it wasn't his first time doing so.

Though he didn't have any additional memories of this body,he bowed and mumbled a,"See you tomorrow." It seemed somehow he knew that this cafe was where he worked.He hadn't thought about it before since it usually seemed like he was bought in a world without any identity but as he walked towards the door he wondered if he had actually taken over the body of already existing Jungkooks.

All those thoughts vanished though as he stepped out of the cafe and his eyes fell on a couple of kids playing with the snow but they weren't what caught his attention instead he was instantly inamoured by the silver haired boy who was laughing as he played with them though his laughs were not heard by anyone aside from Jungkook.

Jungkook felt a lump form in his throat, and his eyes watered. He almost wanted to sob as he looked at him.

Taehyung along with Jin had been the first to go. They were where the nightmare started. He could so clearly recall that day as if it was yesterday. Taehyung’s dad had came barging in and Jungkook remembered being scared at the way he was shouting.

The him of now wanted to scoff at his past pathetic self, who was still scared of loud voices due to the way his step family had treated him. Seokjin who had been the only other one home beside him and taehyung had softly asked him to go to his room and Jungkook like a coward didn't even need to be told twice before he ran to his room and hid in the closet.

He remembered how he had cupped his ears as the yells grew louder and sobbed,how his arms fell lifeless as the yells came to a halt. He meekly came out of the room, looking at the sight in front him had made him throw up all over the floor. With shaking hands he had called the ambulance and kneeled on the floor scratching at his eyes trying to forget the image in front of him and stop himself from smelling that horrid blood scent.

As he thought of that moment, all he felt was self-loathing. He hadn’t gone up to check on Jin or Taehyung who were bleeding profusely. If it had been any of the others they would have done something. Everything started from there. All the deaths. And they could all have been prevented if Jungkook was better.

Jungkook was the reason for everyone's death.

He had to bite his tongue to snap himself out of it as Taehyung noticed someone staring. Jungkook turned to look at the kids and smiled a fake smile just before Taehyung turned to him. It was funny that all of them used to make fun of him for being the worst liar, and now all he did was lie and put on an act in front of them. He wondered if they'll be disappointed.

"It's cute.That you just can't help looking away when you lie. It makes us love you even more." Was what Jin had once told him during a silly game of mafia,he wondered if They would now feel disgusted with him.

He threw another glance at taehyung before he started walking, and somehow, without knowing where his place was he knew his feet would lead him there. He desperately hoped that Taehyung would follow him, and his fake smile turned real when he heard footsteps echoing behind his.

__

After he left taehyung in the living room, he didn't go to bed. In the previous worlds he had nightmares about the person he had gone to save. Every death was painful but Jin and Taehyung’s wasn't one he thought he could witness in nightmares and go about his day.

So instead of sleeping, he opened his laptop and started searching. He knew he needed to make Taehyung’s memory come back, but he didn’t know how, so he started with trying to find any social media.

He couldn’t say he was surprised when after a ton of searching and a ton of Taehyung’s he was unable to find his. He had tried the username his taehyung had used in his world, but he still couldn't find it.

Unable to help his curiosity, he typed in the usernames of the others too, wondering if somehow they'd appear in this world but nothing came up.

He was looking through death articles of people named Kim Taehyung when the sun peaked through the curtains. He rubbed his eyes and went to the bathroom. Looking at his reflection after showering, he grimaced. Taehyung would know he didn't sleep well just by looking at him.

When he went out to the living room he saw Taehyung watching the TV,"Why didn't you turn on the sound?"Jungkook asked as he grabbed the remote to do just that. Taehyung startled and looked at him with excitement before his face fell."I didn't want to disturb your sleep, but it seems i still did."

Jungkook shook his head and reassured," It's not your fault. I couldn't sleep because of bad dreams. Also next time, please turn the sound on, I am quite a heavy sleeper, so I won't notice." That was a lie, ever since everything went to hell he hadn’t been able to sleep through even the quietest of sounds but he didn’t want taehyung to tip toe around because of him.

Taehyung didn’t seem entirely convinced, but he let the topic drop and followed Jungkook into the kitchen. “So, what are you doing today?”

Jungkook rummaged through the fridge, pulling out various ingredients. “I still have work to do. You can either find something to do on your own or come with me.”

Taehyung’s eyes lit up. “Can I really come along?”

“Sure, but it might be a bit dull since I won’t be able to give you my full attention.”

Taehyung shook his head, a smile spreading across his face. “Just having someone who can see me is already better than anything I’ve experienced in years. I won’t be bored at all. Plus, I want to see you work.”

Jungkook felt a blush creep up his cheeks as he poured pancake batter into the pan. “It’s really not that exciting. I just work at a café.”

Before Taehyung could respond, Jungkook asked, “Oh, right. Can you eat?”

Taehyung pouted. “I wish I could, but no, I can’t.”

“That’s awful,” Jungkook said, placing the pancakes onto a plate. “What about clothes? If I give you some, can you wear them?” He glanced at Taehyung, noting the thin hoodie he wore and his bare feet. Just looking at him made Jungkook feel cold.

“I’m not sure. I’ve never tried wearing them before.” Jungkook raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Well, it might be worth a shot."

As Jungkook flipped the pancakes, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of warmth at the thought of sharing this moment with Taehyung. “Just give me a minute to finish up here, and then we can find something for you to wear.”

__

Taehyung's eyes sparkled with excitement as he ran his hands over the soft fabric of his new puffer jacket. He turned to Jungkook, grinning from ear to ear.

"Feel this, Jungkook!" he exclaimed, grabbing Jungkook's hand and placing it on the jacket. "It's so warm and cosy. I can't believe I get to wear real clothes now."

Jungkook smiled softly, his fingers lingering on the jacket for a moment before pulling away. "I'm glad you like it," he said, his voice barely audible over the bustling crowd around them.He was wearing earbuds so people wouldn't find him talking to thin air strange.

Taehyung couldn't help but beam at Jungkook's words. He felt a warmth spread through his chest that had nothing to do with the jacket. "I more than like it. I love it. Thank you so much, Jungkook."

As they approached the cafe, Jungkook turned to Taehyung, his expression serious. "My shift is a couple of hours, so if you get bored at any point, feel free to go out. Just let me know beforehand."

Taehyung shook his head firmly. "I won't get bored," he insisted, his gaze never leaving Jungkook's face. "I'll be fine right here."

Jungkook led Taehyung to a table in the back corner and set his bag and phone down. "You can play with the phone if you want," he offered, gesturing to the device.

But Taehyung had no interest in the phone. His attention was solely focused on Jungkook as he moved about the cafe, taking orders and preparing drinks.

Taehyung's gaze followed Jungkook's every movement, a soft smile playing on his lips. He watched as Jungkook interacted with the customers, his gentle demeanor and kind smile lighting up the room.

Every so often, Jungkook would glance over at Taehyung, their eyes meeting for a brief moment before Jungkook looked away, a faint blush colouring his cheeks. Taehyung's heart fluttered at the sight, a warmth spreading through his chest.

As the hours passed, Taehyung remained seated at the table, his eyes never straying far from Jungkook. He watched as Jungkook wiped down the counter, his movements graceful and efficient. The way the light caught in Jungkook's hair as he turned his head, the way his lips curved into a smile when he laughed with a customer.

Taehyung drank it all in, committing every detail to memory.

Jungkook quickly made his way over to where Taehyung was sitting, his fingers already slipping the earbuds into his ears. "Sorry about that," he said, his voice filled with a sheepish tone. "That must’ve been pretty boring for you."

Taehyung gave a soft shake of his head, a quiet smile tugging at his lips. "Not at all," he replied, his voice light but reassuring.

Jungkook opened his mouth as if to argue, but then his expression softened, a gentle smile curving his lips. "Let’s go," he said, the suggestion warm in his voice.

They stepped out into the cold, the crisp air biting at their faces. The snow had fallen thick, blanketing the world around them in a smooth, shimmering white. Only Jungkook's each step sent up tiny clouds of powdery snow as he walked, giving the illussion of one person walking.

The dark blue sky stretched endlessly overhead, stars embroidered into it like a painting.

Jungkook broke the silence. "You remember where you first woke up as a ghost, right?"

Taehyung nodded, the memory clear in his mind.

Jungkook’s pace quickened slightly, his breath visible in the air as he spoke again. "Let’s go there. I took a leave so we can ask around if anyone knew anything about you."

Taehyung stopped, his eyes widening in disbelief. The snowflakes around him swirled, caught in the unexpected stillness of the moment. Before Taehyung could protest or feel bad about it.

Jungkook’s face lit up with a playful grin as he glanced at Taehyung, still standing a few steps behind. "Don't worry. It's not just for you. I wanted to take a break anyway.” His voice was soft but teasing, as he brushed the snow off his coat, his eyes sparkling due to the street light shining on top of him.

Taehyung’s lips curled into a soft smile, the warmth of his gaze softening the icy air between them.

They continued their walk in the quite snow filled street. Jungkook turned towards the silver haired boy."No one's here."

Taehyung looked at him curiously as Jungkook took a step closer,"You know what that means." He didn't need to breathe but as Jungkook came closer,his boots crunching on the snow,Taehyung held his breath anyways as he stared at the boy who's face was close enough that he could feel his breath.

However with a mischievous smile, Jungkook kicked up a handful of snow and tossed it toward Taehyung,"Snow ball fight."The snowflakes danced in the air as they collided, scattering on Taehyung’s form.

But Taehyung who was hit with the snow only gave a smile that made Jungkook’s heart skip a beat.

"Is that how it’s going to be?" Taehyung asked, his voice rich with playfulness.

Without waiting for an answer, Taehyung raised his hands toward the sky, and the air seemed to shift around them. The snow thickened, swirling as if it were drawn to him. He could feel the cool power humming beneath his fingertips, the world bending to his will. With a fluid motion, a giant snowball formed, suspended in the air like an ethereal creation. Jungkook’s eyes widened in, and before he could say anything, Taehyung sent it soaring toward him, the snowball hurtling through the air with a graceful precision.

Jungkook dodged at the last second, the snowball grazing his shoulder before exploding in a shower of white around them. He couldn’t help but laugh, breathless and carefree. The chill of the snow on his skin only seemed to heighten the warmth he felt inside.

“You’re not playing fair,” Jungkook laughed, brushing the snow from his hair.

Taehyung’s laughter joined his, a sound that echoed through the quiet woods, making the snowflakes seem to fall even more gently. “You should’ve known what you were getting into,” Taehyung teased.

The game began in earnest then, a playful battle of snowballs and magic, their laughter filling the space between them. Taehyung conjured snowstorms with a flick of his wrist, sending blasts of icy wind that Jungkook barely managed to dodge, while Jungkook retaliated with his speed, throwing snowballs with impeccable aim.

At one point, Taehyung lifted his hand, and the snow beneath Jungkook’s feet turned to ice, sending him tumbling into a soft drift on the thick snow. He emerged from the snow, his cheeks flushed, his hair dusted with sparkling white, looking more radiant than ever. Jungkook chuckled, shaking the snow off his coat. “You’re trying to make me fall for you, aren’t you?”

Taehyung smiled, his gaze steady and soft, his eyes reflecting the snowflakes like twin stars. “Maybe,” he said, his voice low, but the warmth in it was undeniable.

The air around them shifted then, as if the world was holding its breath. With a quiet flick of his fingers, Taehyung summoned a snow into a form of a bunny, it hopped around Jungkook before bursting into a spectacle of star shaped snow flakes.

Jungkook’s laughter rang out again, a joyous sound, as he stared at the display in awe.Taehyung smiled fondly at him as he sat next to him

Jungkook looked at him as he fell back on the snow with an exasperated sigh and gestured for Taehyung to join him. Their faces turned toward the night sky.The world felt peaceful, as if everything had fallen into place.

Taehyung’s voice broke the quiet, a whisper against the cold. “I missed this. Being able to laugh with someone.”

Jungkook shifted to face him, his eyes shining with a quiet affection yet there was hidden sadness in them.

They lay there in the silence, wrapped in the softness of the snow and the warmth they’d found in each other’s company. But only one of them knew this wouldn't last.