The Seven Wives of Jeon Jungkook

Hatred

Her eyes crack open, hazily. She blinks a few times, adjusting to her surroundings. She feels disoriented as she eyes her surroundings, that is until her eyes land upon a figure slumped against the floor. Blood pooling around him.

Jimin.

She recalls the garden, finding Mina and Jungkook dragging her back into the room. She feels an on-slaughter of tears coming but forces herself to stop. This isn't the time Ji Eun! She reminds herself; you need to escape.

She feels stuck as she tries to move her hands, only to find them tied behind her back, she's hap hazardously leaning against the cold, cobblestone walls. The familiar clinking of armor startles her and she finds Jungkook crouching in front of her, an unhinged look in his eyes.

He tilts his head, eying her face, and brings a hand up to it, caressing her cheek lightly.

She suppresses a shudder.

"Why did you run?" his voice comes out softly. For a second he looks innocent, charming as always but she knew better by now.

"Will you kill me as well?" she speaks strained.

His eyes widen as if shocked and he smiles shaking his head "No, I said I loved you. I won't let you go. You shouldn't have seen any of this, to begin with. It was inevitable I suppose but no matter, we can get passed this".

She can't help the disbelief that shows in her face, he was insane.

"But, I'm not Mina, I can never be" she reasons.

"No, but her blood runs through you. My wonderful Mina has returned to me" he smiles.

He was delusional, she bites her tongue to stop herself from saying it.

Jimin was out cold, bleeding heavily from a gash to his side. He was still breathing she sighed relieved. She could help him.

"I just need to rid myself of him and we'll be fine" he smiles and she panics lifting her aching body off of the wall and into him.

"Wait!"

"Why did you kill Mina?"

He frowns as he sets her back against the wall. "I didn't want to" he looks regretful.

"It was an accident; I didn't mean to push her so harshly. When she fell... I was shocked" his eyes are wide lost in thought.

"And instead of helping her you had her buried" she sneered and he turns to her, eyes glaring.

He grabs her face with his hand and pulls it close, menacingly he speaks "I didn't want to do it, I loved her so much".

A tear slips past his eye and he masks it. Standing he walks towards the encased corpses, placing a hand upon the glass. "I didn't want to harm them, I swear. They made me do it. They were vile in their ways" he speaks with a tone of disgust.

"Untie me please, I won't run I promise!".

He scoffs and ignores her.

Panic rises in her stomach as she thrashes against the wall attempting to move. Her knee jabs something sharp and she winces, only to find a piece of shattered glass by her. She kicks it behind her, struggling to grasp it in her fingers, as she does, she begins cutting away at the rope quickly, ignoring the glass scratching her hands once in a while.

"Mina was a beautiful rose, untainted, innocent. None of them could compare to her" he continues. She rolls her eyes as she feels the rope loosening. He turns around so suddenly she freezes, fearful of being caught.

"You have to believe me when I say, I didn't want to hurt her". There's so much pain in his eyes that she looks away.

"It was his fault" he sneers as he nudges Jimin's limp form. The other groans weakly. "She was always around him, smiling at him, indulging in his company. I warned her multiple times to stay away from him but she ignored me. I was hurt, I thought she loved me".

"She did love you" she voices carefully as she eyes him placing a hand precariously upon his sword that rests within the scabbard. "She loved you so much" she tries to pull his attention from the other, the rope breaks apart and she stands, rubbing her sore wrists.

Jungkook turns eyeing her suspiciously, "how did you break from the rope?"

"I won't run away" she reassures him, "I promise".

He's skeptical as she approaches him slowly. "I understand why you did it" she reasons.

"What?" it's his turn to be shocked.

"Why you killed the others. They were nothing like Mina, no one could ever be Mina. Even as a child growing up, I loved her so dearly. She took care of me; we played often together and would lie under the stars telling stories for hours" she smiles fondly.

He softens his gaze as his hand lowers from the blade. Her heart hammers in her chest as she stands before him. "I could never be Mina, no one can but, I could still love you as I always did" she stares into his eyes trying her best to look as sincere as possible.

He looks shocked before it's replaced with a look of fondness and desperation. She holds her arms open to him and he falls into her embrace.

She feels his heart thrumming softly in his chest.

Mina's kind smile flashed through her mind.

He smells of gardenias and honey.

Mina's golden bangle glimmered as it hung upon her pale limp wrists covered in dirt.

A tear slips from her eye as it lands upon his tunic, staining it with a single droplet.

She feels the tug of metal on her fingertips and takes a deep breath.

"Goodbye, Jeon Jungkook" she whispers as she plunges his blade into his abdomen. He cries out in shock. Shoving her away he falls to the floor. The sword is embedded in him as blood blooms across his once white tunic.

She cries as she backs away, kneeling beside Jimin she throws his arm around her neck attempting to hoist him up. He groans weakly as he attempts to help her lift his weight.

"W-why?" Jungkook gasps weakly from the floor. Blood seeps from the corner of those pink, soft lips.

Hazy, ebony eyes follow her every move.

She finds herself sobbing as she regards him, hauling Jimin along. She gives him one last withering look, tears streaking his face.

"You truly are a monster, and now, you will remain, alone".

Turning, she drags along Jimin who has woken from his daze and limps with her.

"MINA!!" Jungkook screams, it sends a shiver down her spine as she quickens her place towards the door.

"Don't leave me!!" he calls but she's already made it into the garden, outside the rain has eased up. Fog and mist cloud around them. The smell of sweet grass and roses fill her sense. Grief and relief fill her as she drags Jimin towards the stables. The beautiful black stallion sits silently as her eyes follow them. Grabbing its reign Ji Eun is able to easily hoist Jimin atop the horse, along with herself. The stallion is surprisingly calm as it allows her to climb on. Tugging the reign, she stands and they leave, rushing through the gardens, she takes one last wistful look towards the rose patches.

I love you, Mina. Goodbye.

They ride east, not once looking back, as dawn approaches. Hues of purple and pink color the sky. Jimin leans against her back, exhausted but alive. She feels a sense of renewal. Painful renewal and resolve.

She would never return to that kingdom and never would another woman go missing.