Flash Fiction #1 Mindreading

Valen / Valenwriting

Title (if necessary): You Will Break

Author: valenwriting

Word count: 1,000 on the dot!

Jeon Jungkook wasn't crazy.

Yeah, okay, he knew how that sounded. Crazy people were typically the first to exaggerate their sanity, to assure all was right in their heads. But Jungkook wasn't like that. Really. He just . . . He just had the unfortunate ability to hear what others could not.

That didn't make him crazy.

Right?

Ever since he could remember, a blend of voices — high-pitched and low, melodic and jarring — comprised the endless soundtrack playing in Jungkook's mind. There were heated fantasies and dark delusions; there were seductive promises and chilling threats.

And Jungkook heard it all.

He also heard how others feared his self-diagnosed ability to peer into minds . . . how they feared him. So he'd try to mute that kaleidoscope of noise, to shove it all aside in an attempt to appear normal. But denying his true nature made everything worse. Things would build and build until the voices were so loud he couldn't sleep, couldn't look someone in the eye without hearing how much they hated him, couldn't do anything unless he buried it all down, down, down.

That approach hadn't been healthy, so Jungkook had stopped rejecting his so-called gift and learned to embrace himself. And because of that acceptance, the constant flood of thoughts from those around him had become quieter. The world had become more manageable.

But something was different today. Something was wrong.

And it had nothing to do with the guilty wails of a widow echoing in his mind. It had nothing to do with the flashes of an explicit daydream that some dude was most likely jerking off to. It had nothing to do with the sea of voices that Jungkook had come to know and — in some cases — love.

No. This weird sensation . . . this nagging awareness in the back of Jungkook's head . . . had everything to do with a new and unintroduced presence.

Someone was here with him.

Now, Jungkook wasn't completely stupid; he knew he shouldn't do anything reckless. He knew he should call Jimin — someone who acted more like Jungkook's shrink than anything — before giving a stranger access to his mind. But that awareness told him not to wait. That presence demanded that he say something now.

So, silently speaking into his own personal hell, Jungkook thought, Is anyone there?

For a moment, all was quiet in his head. There was no sound save for the metal clanging of his heavy and chained bracelets. But as soon as that blessed reprieve started, it ended, and the cage that was Jungkook's mind erupted into a choir of disjointed voices.

I'm sorry, my love. I didn't mean to do it.

Yeah, baby. Love the way you take it.

Can you hear them, too?

When that last question reverberated in his mind, Jungkook nearly choked. He quickly disregarded the other inner monologues competing for attention and thought, Yeah. Can you hear me?

Obviously, Jungkook.

You . . . You know my name?

Of course. I'm in your head.

Ignoring the prickling sensation at the base of his spine — the telltale sign that something wasn't right — Jungkook responded, Oh. Tell me yours then. Your name.

A gorgeous laugh was the first answer, followed by, It's whatever you want it to be, pretty boy.

Heat pooled in Jungkook's stomach, the connotation of those words not lost on him. But there was something else, too. That deep and sultry voice . . . It was familiar.

Kim Taehyung, Jungkook thought to himself, forgetting that his mind was no longer his own.

The voice that sounded just like Kim Taehyung laughed again. That famous model from Daegu? The one on all the billboards?

Yeah. Are you?

No. Though I can be Kim Taehyung if you want me to be.

Jungkook shook his head. But—

I'll show you who I am, the voice interrupted, a demanding tone instantly silencing Jungkook. Go to the window.

Something told Jungkook to listen, so he approached the distorted glass of his room's sole window. But to his dismay, there was no one outside.

He was alone.

Turn to your left, that deep voice rumbled into Jungkook's mind.

My left? There was nothing to Jungkook's left besides an old Iron Man poster and a mirror deadbolted to the wall. Yet he turned anyway, ignoring the ugly feeling twisting at his insides.

There I am, the voice purred. Dark eyes, mole under my lip, tattoos on my—

No, Jungkook snarled, staring at his reflection while resting his chained hands against the mirror. That's me.

Yes, Jungkook. My eyes. . . They're your eyes, too.

"No," Jungkook breathed, the blood draining from his face. "No!"

"Jungkook?" A series of electronic beeps sounded seconds before Jimin strode into the room. "Time for your session with the doctor. Come on. I'll remove your cuffs."

"No, no, no. I don't wanna go. There was . . . Kim Taehyung was here . . ."

Jimin smoothed his hands over his pristine uniform, professional as ever. "Take some deep breaths for me."

"Jimin, he was here," Jungkook urged, pointing to his head before looking back at the mirror. "He talked to me."

"It's just an illusion," Jimin gently explained. "The voices . . . They're not real."

Am I an illusion, Jungkook?

Jungkook balled his hands into fists, slamming them against the mirror over and over and over. He wanted — needed — it to shatter. "He's real."

"Calm down, or I'll sedate you," Jimin warned. Promised. After all, he had sedated Jungkook several times before.

Maybe I'm only real to you. But don't worry, we'll be great friends.

Jungkook's mind was on fire, entranced by the song of Kim Taehyung's voice. So he kept hitting the mirror, whispering, "It won't break. It won't break."

You will break.

"Please."

Something sharp pierced Jungkook's skin, causing a stinging warmth to travel through his veins. He stumbled back a step, his vision blurring and his head quieting. And as that sweet stillness started to drown out the noise — those screaming voices — Jungkook heard one last thing:

Good boy.

Note: Yeah, so, Jungkook might be crazy hah! Anyway, this was such a fun prompt that I tried to put my own spin on. I realized I have SUCH a tough time being concise — editing this down to 1,000 words was so difficult. But I absolutely loved the challenge and can't wait to see what everyone else came up with! First flash fiction, complete!