Fuck, he really is going to do it. i gasp when Taehyung's uncle suddenly walks through my body, wobbling towards his nephew as a series of profanities escape his mouth. Taehyung's locked himself inside the car already, and you have no other choice but to join him in the passenger seat, the fear freezing your ghostly form as Taehyung quickly starts the car. I jump when his uncle suddenly punches the window next to you, a yelp escaping your mouth as Taehyung starts to drive away from the house while laughing loudly.
The sound is melodic and raspy, and it would have made you smile in any other occasion. Right now, the only thing you can do is stare, wide eyed, as Taehyung drives recklessly through the narrow streets of his neighborhood, one that wasn't very secure to begin with. Taehyung's stopped laughing, eyes glinting as he watches his darkened surroundings, eerily calm as the night sinks in.
It doesn't take you long to notice that his hands are trembling, fingers holding the steering wheel tightly as he tries to slow down the frantic pace of his breathing.
"Taehyung, please, you have to go back," I beg quietly, touching his knuckles in a soft caress. Even though you can feel his skin faintly, Taehyung barely blinks, oblivious to the spirit beside him that tries to hold his hand desperately.
He keeps driving, and you can only hold your breath as the fear threatens to overcome your senses, because the danger that surrounds him tonight is darker than ever and you know that if you don't do something this might end in a tragedy you don't even want to think about. The lights flicker furiously in your eyes as Taehyung reaches one of the main streets of the city, abruptly parking in front of a store you immediately recognize.
I curse under my breath as Taehyung gets out of the car, walking calmly towards the story with his hands buried inside the pockets of his leather jacket. I bite my lip anxiously, deciding not to follow him because I know exactly what he's about to do, and i know it's impossible to stop him at this point.
You're useless, the thought is painful and sharp and prickles at the corners of your mind, and you can't help but wince, hands turning into fists as they rest on your lap. You're fucking useless.
Taehyung comes back five minutes later, immediately taking out the liquor that was hidden under his jacket. My eyes widen when he opens it instead of letting it fall on the passenger seat, taking a long gulp of the transparent liquid that makes him shut his eyes tightly as it burns down his throat.
Stealing alcohol is something you've seen him do uncountable times, i used to steal too, giving up after too many times of trying to stop him without a chance— but driving and drinking is a first for Taehyung, and it makes cold sweat gather on the palm of my hands as the ghost of a heartbeat thumps painfully against your chest.
"Taehyung," my voice comes out powerful in a way that sounds strange even to your own ears, and my eyes widen at the way his grasp on the bottle falters before he takes another long gulp.
The desperation rises in my throat as he closes the bottle again, letting it fall right on my feet before he starts the car again. I continue to plead, my voice rising in volume as Taehyung starts driving sloppily. His hands aren't shaking anymore, but his gaze is sleepy and unfocused, and even though i don't need to breathe the air feels almost suffocating, my lungs compressing as the restlessness makes your thoughts grow heavier, louder.
I thought i couldn't cry, but there's a warm wetness clouding your vision as Taehyung drives mindlessly, getting further and further away from the center of the city as he drives through lonely, dark highways where only the lights of the car allow you to get a glimpse of what's outside. The poorly illuminated pavement seems to continue endlessly as the monotonous scenery turns into a blur outside of the window, its gloom almost as heavy as the one that seems to cling to Taehyung tightly.
I hold onto the seat when Taehyung suddenly starts to increase the speed, lips pursed in a tight line as his movements turn firm and intent, as if he's deliberately seeking the danger, the rush of adrenaline that pumps through his veins and makes him feel something that's not pain for once in his life. Taehyung suddenly sways slightly and my mind's reeling, senses heightened as the rumble of the motor rings in your ear too loudly, and every cell in your body is screaming at you to move, to scream, to stop Taehyung for once and for all, because it can't end like this, it just can't.
Taehyung's life is in your hands, its delicate strings tangled between your fingers, and to hold such a beautiful, precious existence is almost too much for your weak, vacant being— but i need to do something.
my heart's clenching so painfully it'd probably give me a heart attack if i was alive..., and even though you feel like you're drowning in your own sea of emotions you still grab Taehyung's wrist with a strength id never knew i possessed, its firmness surprising you as you hold onto him for dear life.
"Taehyung— stop the car right now!"
Before you know it the car's halting to a stop, his feet pressing the brakes so abruptly you're both almost thrown away of the car. You can almost hear his heart thumping erratically as a dense silence starts to swell in the cramped space, and then he's looking at you, really looking at you, his clear, startled eyes bugging out as they regain their focus, sobering up almost instantly.
I blink confusedly, trying to grasp the situation as you swallow thickly. Taehyung's still looking at you, and this is definitely not something that's supposed to happen— but you can feel it, and when you look down at your own hands they don't look transparent anymore, but slightly more solid, as if you were actually made of flesh and not dust.
When you look back at Taehyung, he's still staring silently, mouth finally parting to say something.
"Park on the side of the road!" you blurt out, and you're surprised at the way your voice sounds— high and defined, as if you had been speaking underwater this entire time.
