Dancing On Thin Ice // KTH

Chapter 107

"Ready?" Roxana pat Carmela's shoulder from behind.

"Mm."

But why are they all here? I told him to come alone--

Carmela hissed a breath angrily, and cracked a knot in her neck.

The five tall figures neared, their storming steps noisily echoing in the quiet night air.

"Carmela!" Jimin's voice rang out, and a cloud of cold breath appeared in front of one of the invisible heads.

She stood her stance, unwavered.

Finally, the boys stepped close enough so that their faces could be seen.

They came to a stop. Jin, Jimin, Namjoon, Jungkook.

And Taehyung. He was just a few meters away from her.

Carmela felt her knuckles tighten around the leather bundle. The vein in her forehead pulsed hot beneath her skin, her eyes wide and unblinking.

"Carmela!" Jimin had a menacing smile on his face as he shouted while laughing wildly into the empty air. "You got something to say, Carmela? HUH?"

But Carmela kept her eyes on the one in the middle. The target.

"What do you want from Tae Carmela? Just say it!" Namjoon spoke.

"Whatever you say to him, you say to us!" Jin added. Jungkook stood behind him, arms crossed.

But Carmela just smirked, her eyes still frozen on Taehyung's dark hooded ones. He returned her stare with an equally strong stance. The dark waves of his hair had fallen into his eyes, and his jaw was tightly clenched, the muscles twitching. One of his hands was fisted too.

Murderer. Fucking murderer.

You... killed her. In the most painful way possible. You raped her. What you claimed to be against, is what you are. A perverted murderer who couldn't control his dick. You killed her, Taehyung. YOU KILLED HER!

She spat on the ground between them. And within a split second, dropped the leather, and pulled out a loaded black hand gun.

All of the boys flinched back, shocked at the sudden appearance of the weapon. Namjoon immediately ran to Taehyung's side.

"What the--" Jimin let out a startled cry. "Carmela, are you crazy? What're you doing?!"

"Carmela, don't--" Namjoon warned, fear in his voice. His knees were bent and his arms were outstretched, one in front of Taehyung. But Taehyung himself was completely unwavered. He kept his gaze focused on Carmela.

She gritted her teeth, her heart rate increasing by the second. The heavy gun fit easily into her grasp, as she held it straight in front of her with both hands.

"You can do it." Roxana whispered in her ear, her hot breath against Carmela's cold skin. "I know you can, Carmela. It will finally set you free. It will finally set Jules free."

Carmela shut her eyes, shifting her feet. She felt a sudden sting in her nose, and tears threatened to release.

She had loved him. They had been through so much together. He had been there for her. He had been there so many times to protect her.

So then why?

"WHY?!" She suddenly shrieked, a sob escaping her throat. "WHY DID YOU DO THIS?!"

But Taehyung was silent, never breaking eye-contact with Carmela, his face expressionless. He was completly still, as if waiting.

The gun trembled in her hands, as her body dangerously shook with trapped sobs.

Her vision was blurry now, as hatred engulfed her heart and senses. All she could hear were the screams of Jules in pain, all she could smell was the stench of him laying beside her a lifetime ago, all she could feel was Jules fingers caressing her palm with a laugh, all she could see were the frightened tears in Jules' big bright eyes when Carmela wasn't there for her.

All she could taste was blood.

She wanted his blood.

Her finger hovered over the trigger.

He was right there. Right in front of her.

Her finger shook violently, brushing over the metal piece.

"AH!" She screamed, frustrated.

Why can't I do it?

Her hair had fallen over her wet face, sticking to her skin. The gun felt heavier and heavier, as her gut squeezed and squirmed. The boys in front of her held their breaths, wide eyes, scared to even move.

"Carmela..." Roxana sang softly in her ear. "Now's your chance."

"I..." She glared at Taehyung with blurry eyes.

"I..." Her index finger trembled, shaking and hitting against the metal piece.

"I.." She forced her finger to stop thrashing and pressed it against the trigger.

"I..." Her finger pushed, applying force.

"I..." She held her breath.

And closed her eyes.

Everyone waited.

A cold tear trickled down her cheek.

She exhaled.

And lifted her finger from the trigger.

"I can't." Her voice broke, defeated.

The gun was still stuck to her hands, arms still outstretched, pointing at Taehyung who stood expressionless. She tried to channel as much hatred as she could into her expression, but the more she glared at him, the more she felt lost in his stare. She hated herself even more than she hated him.

Because part of her... just a little fucking part of her--

*BAM* *BAM*

Two shots rang out.

Carmela ears instantly deafened.

She gazed ahead of her, confused, horrified, shook.

Taehyung stiffly collapsed to the ground with a bloody chest. The boys fell on their knees beside him, stunned.

Frantic, Carmela dropped her hands to her side, looking at her gun, panicking, heart racing.

"No! I-I didn't..." She felt breathless and dizzy.

"That's right."

She spun around.

"I did."

Roxana's arm was outstretched in front of her, a gun in her grasp.

She smiled, her teeth glinting in the glow of the moon.

TWO YEARS AGO

TAEHYUNG'S PERSPECTIVE