A World of His Own

Chapter 20

[Traces of You]

Hope is certainly something that Taehyung needs the most at the moment. He is busy stuffing his face with food that has been prepared for him on his plate. Desperately hoping the old man will not notice anything.

The number of footsteps needed to reach the dining room from the small table where the telephone is, are 17 steps. Taehyung knows the old man is getting closer and closer to him, only 5 steps left before he opens the door to the dining room.

Taehyung quickly pushes down the food in his mouth with water and tries to even out his breathing.

Calm down, Taehyung-ah. Calm down.

The door slowly creaked open and the old man walks in. Taehyung refuses to look at him and focuses on his half empty bowl. He doesn't even remember what he has shoved down his throat.

Maybe because of the adrenaline; Taehyung did not hear it clearly just now when he was counting the footsteps but he can hear it very clearly now.

The sound of water dripping. The footsteps are getting closer and closer and Taehyung holds his breath. The old man stops directly next to Taehyung's seat. Taehyung who has his head hung down can clearly see the outfit of this old man which are drenched with water.

But it's not raining outside. Why is he so wet?

"Hey kid, where's Taeyang?" The old man asks. His voice sounds raspy and full of phlegm.

"I don't know sir," answers Taehyung. He has this thought if he just does whatever this man demands him to do, he will be safe.

Taehyung's body jolted forward, pushing the dining table in front of him. Instantly he feels a sting of pain at the back of his head. The glass of water fell to the ground and broken into many pieces, some even slice through his right knee.

He has been slapped harshly at the back of his head.

"I'm asking you again, and this time I want you to be honest with me. Where is Kwon Taeyang?"

Taehyung slowly turns around to look at him. His body starts trembling in fear. Taehyung braved himself to look at this man in the eyes, trying to tell him that he does not have any idea where Kwon Taeyang is.

"He's buying some groceries. That's what he told me," says Taehyung.

Taehyung thinks things would be different this time. But it doesn't.

His left cheek stinks and a loud sound rings in his ear.

"I'm in such a bad mood now. That Kwon Taeyang freaking betrayed me! Leaving me with you!! Such a burden! How dare he did that to me!"

Taehyung starts sobbing when he hears this man's voice getting louder and louder as he speaks. It reminds him of his uncle.

Taehyung is scared of looking anywhere but his feet. Praying that he will just be left alone, that this old man will just leave the room.

Out of no-where, the man yanks Taehyung's hair and forces Taehyung to look at him.

"I should sacrifice you as soon as possible, but I cannot do it without him. He's your uncle's only disciple, he's the one who knows how to do it correctly."

The old man does not seem to want Taehyung to hear that. But he is too deep into his thinking that he starts mumbling to himself. Hearing that, Taehyung realises that his life is coming to an end, very soon if he doesn't do anything about it. He is about to be a sacrifice, whatever it means, he knows it will end up in a lot of pain or worse death.