Mine

Chapter 21

A/N: Valentine's Special Update

Song Recommendation: Taste by Jake daniels

She walked through the dimly lit streets, her breath curling in the cold night air. The city was alive with distant noises—cars humming on far-off roads, the occasional bark of a stray dog, a burst of laughter from a bar down the alley. But in her world, there was only silence.

And him.

Or at least, the ghost of him.

She pulled her coat tighter around herself, her steps quickening against the concrete. It was stupid. It was so, so stupid. She shouldn't be out here alone, shouldn't be chasing shadows in the dark. But she couldn't help it! No matter how much she despised her own actions, but cherry never stopped coming out night after night just to run into the raven head and feel her soul departing the vessel of her body. That was how he made her feel. Weak in the knees, wet in the panties, and chaos in her head! Every time she turned a corner, she expected him to be there.

Every tall, lean figure in the distance had her heart lurching, every stranger with wavy raven hair made her stomach twist in anticipation—only to be slapped by disappointment.

Her fingers clenched into fists. Get it together, Cherry.

But then—

𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘴.

Soft. Measured. A perfect echo to her own.

She froze mid-step, her breath catching in her throat. Slowly, she turned—

Nothing.

Just the empty street stretching behind her, a flickering streetlamp casting long, eerie shadows.

Her pulse pounded against her ribs. You're imagining things. That's what she told herself. That's what she wanted to believe. But then why was the hair on the back of her neck standing? Why did the air feel charged, electric, like someone was just behind her, just out of reach?

Breathe. Walk. Don't look back. And don't ever come out wandering again, this insanity has to stop!

She forced herself forward, but the uneasy feeling slithered down her spine. Then—

A scent.

𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵.

That expensive cologne—dark spice, a hint of something warm, intoxicating—lingered in the cold air. Her lips parted, her breath unsteady.

It was him.

She knew it was.

But where?

She whipped her head around, eyes scanning every shadow, every darkened alley. The city stretched before her, empty. Quiet.

No one.

No one at all.

"I'm going crazy" she whispered.

From the darkness, unseen, a pair of sharp eyes watched. Amused. Patient.

A cigarette burned between Taehyung's fingers, its ember the only flicker of warmth against the cold night. He leaned against the alley wall, one foot propped against the bricks, his lips curling in dark satisfaction as he exhaled a slow, lazy stream of smoke.

He watched her hesitate, shifting on her feet, her head snapping side to side like a lost little lamb.

𝘗𝘰𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨.

She was looking for him. Already.

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺.

The thrill of the game sent a shiver of pleasure down his spine. He could step out now, let her see him, let her breathe that sharp, relieved sigh at his presence. But where would the fun be in that?