danger

10: Shackled by Fear

♡

Minjun's body trembled with a chill that had nothing to do with the cold air—his skin clammy, his chest tight with panic. Fear wrapped around him, suffocating his every breath. His limbs felt as though they were made of lead, and his mind screamed at him to flee, to break free of this nightmare. But his body refused to obey. Every nerve was on fire, every muscle locked in place, frozen by a paralyzing dread.

"I'm s-sorry..." His voice broke as he stammered, the words slipping out of his mouth like broken shards of glass. Each syllable seemed to amplify the pain and terror within him, tears welling in his eyes as his breath hitched with the building sobs.

Yoongi's voice cut through the room like a blade. "Don't give us that shit, kid. You're only sorry because you got caught. Now, come here."

The command rang out with an authority that Minjun couldn't defy, but the weight of his fear pinned him in place. His heart pounded, its frantic rhythm drowning out all other sounds. He wanted to obey, but his body betrayed him. Every instinct screamed at him to flee, but he couldn't move. It was as though his body no longer belonged to him.

His wide, tear-filled eyes followed Namjoon as the older man passed by, his movements calm, unnerving in their serene cruelty. Without a word, Namjoon approached, his hands grabbing Minjun with a strength that seemed unnatural. The teenager's body flailed in desperation, trying to twist away, but it was futile. The grip was unyielding, his strength nothing against the cold determination of the gang leader.

"If I have to drop you, it's head-first," Namjoon threatened, his voice low and venomous. Minjun went slack, his resistance crumbling as the fight drained from him, the terror too much to withstand.

The room was filled with the sound of Minjun's ragged breaths and the muffled thuds of his body being thrown onto the floor. His limbs splayed out, a broken attempt to make himself smaller, to disappear into the shadows. He could feel the eyes of the men on him, eyes that saw only a thing to be played with, a tool for their twisted whims.

Jungkook, his distaste clear on his face, glanced over at Namjoon. "I hate him. I don't want to touch him."

Namjoon didn't even blink. "You don't have to touch him, just make him regret what he did," he snapped, his words biting, cold. He thrust Minjun down to the floor with a force that left the boy gasping for air. His body curled in on itself as he instinctively sought some semblance of protection.

Jungkook sighed heavily, clearly annoyed, and pulled out a switchblade. The blade was worn, a deep discoloration marred its surface, and a small notch in the middle of the blade only added to its ominous presence. Minjun's breath hitched in his throat as he saw it glint under the dim light. He knew all too well what it meant.

"Get up," Jungkook ordered, voice laced with irritation. "I seriously don't care if you get hurt. If you don't listen, I'll stab you right here."

The threat was enough to send another wave of terror crashing through Minjun. Slowly, trembling, he forced himself to rise, his tear-streaked face casting fearful glances toward the men seated casually around the room, as if they weren't part of the horror unfolding in front of him. But it was Jungkook who stood out, the rest of the gang seemingly too uninterested to care.

Minjun's body jolted as Jungkook's knife pressed against his lower back, a sharp, pointed reminder of the stakes at hand. The blade wasn't deep enough to draw blood yet, but Minjun felt its cold presence seeping into his skin, a cruel, constant threat.

"Walk." Jungkook's tone was cold, impassive. The blade remained an ever-present warning, its edge hovering just above Minjun's skin, a silent promise of pain if he failed to comply.

Minjun's legs felt like jelly as he stumbled forward, his eyes locked on the ground. He could barely see through his tears, the room spinning as if he were caught in a nightmare that refused to end. Each step was a struggle, his body weak and trembling, his heart pounding in his chest. He was close to breaking.

With a harsh shove, Jungkook sent him stumbling into a chair. Minjun's knees buckled beneath him as he fell into it, his body limp and exhausted from the tension and fear. The room was so quiet, save for his labored breathing and the occasional shuffle of feet.

Jungkook's voice sliced through the silence, taunting, playful. "So, mind telling me exactly what you did?" He circled Minjun slowly, the blade of his knife gleaming in the low light. "So we can decide on your punishment together."

Minjun could barely meet his eyes, his gaze locked on the ground in front of him. His voice trembled as he spoke, barely above a whisper. "I-I tried to escape..."

"And?" Jungkook's voice was sickeningly sweet, as if enjoying the game they were playing. Minjun felt his stomach turn, but before he could respond, Jungkook reached down, running his fingers up the boy's thigh with sickening casualness.

Minjun recoiled, instinctively trying to move away, but the restraints held him in place. His breath quickened, his body stiffening in fear as Jungkook's hand neared his pocket. Minjun's heart raced, terror flooding his veins.

Jungkook's fingers brushed the edge of Minjun's pocket, and with a swift motion, he pulled out a stack of bills. The money that Minjun had stolen from their leader's stash. He held it up, examining it with an amused glint in his eyes. "What's this, then?" he taunted.

Minjun felt his chest tighten as he whimpered, the weight of his guilt crashing down on him. "I— I needed it... I... I didn't know what else to do..." His voice cracked, his tears flowing freely now, mixing with the blood on his lips.

Jungkook studied him for a moment, his face unreadable. Then, with a smirk, he placed the money by the door, his attention returning to the trembling boy. "You think you can just take what you want, huh? After what you did to us?"

Minjun could only sob, his body wracked with fear, his mind screaming for escape. But there was nowhere to go. Nothing but the endless darkness that awaited him.