Collide⚔

Chapter 36

There is no sound. Nobody is breathing, nobody is talking, nobody is moving. All I hear is my own heartbeat in my ears. I bow my head to the floor, my hair falling on my face. I hear Jaemin try out the whip on the floor behind me. The sound made me flinch. I'm going to be alright, I'm doing this for Taehyung. I repeat the words to myself as a mantra. As soon as the whip hits my back I throw my head up to the ceiling screaming in pain. Behind me I hear Taehyung grunt, the bond unmistakenly having him in pain too. I feel blood dripping down my back. I have never been able to burn myself because of my magic, but if I could this would be what if feels like. Before I can get used to the burning pain on my back the whip hits me again. Tears stream down my face as I let out a scream that i seem to be unable to hold in.

Everything hurts. The pain shoots from my back to my legs as I nearly fall over. My breath comes out in hitches, my teeth now pressed together tightly. At the third hit my scream is silent. The chains rattle as my arms automatically try to move away from the danger. The little I can see through my eyes is blinded by black spots as I feel my body trying to pull itself from consciousness. I brace myself for the next strike.

"STOP! My name is Jiwon Kim and I'm responsible for the attack on this back." I move to turn my head, but the slight movement seems to crack open my wounds even more. My fire burns on my arms, heating the chains so highly that with some pulling they broke.

There's screams filling my ears from people in the room. An arm helps me up at my waist, tingles send over my body making the pain much more bearable. I smile weakly at Taehyung, his tear stained face looking back to me.

"Take him." The King's voice echoes through the room, silencing most of the pack members. Sounds of struggle now taking place of the screams. With my shaking legs Taehyung helps me as I try to turn around. Some of the pack warriors are circling my father, but somehow they can't seem to get through.

"Don't hurt him." My voice is dry and harsh. My father's eyes meet mine. His face, a mixture of concern and anger as they slide over my body. I must be looking terrible.

"What have they done to you?" His voice is a whisper but I hear the words loud and clear. I shake my head, my throat too sore from screaming to respond. I look at Taehyung with pleading eyes.

"She has taken my place for the punishment I have gotten for taking the on a trip when you kidnapped her. This is your fault!" My dad's eyes grow big. I lean some more into Taehyung, squeezing his arm in objection. I keep shaking my head. I might be in a shock. Do people in shock realise they are in a shock? I close my eyes focusing on my heart beat and my magic. I whisper the words of a healing spell and the wounds on my back slowly start to hurt less. My legs become more sure, so I lean away from Taehyung to stand up straight.

"Father, what are you doing here?" Before he can answer me Jaemin throws himself at him, just to be thrown back by an unknown force. I watch him fly into a bench, breaking it with his big body. The King has slowly backed away from his chair, putting space in between my father and him.

"I got a call that you were in danger. That you'd be marked as a traitor if you would not turn me in. I didn't want you to make a decision. Imagine my surprise when i found out you were already being hurt." With his last sentence his eyes shift to the King. I take a step closer to my father but Taehyung kept his grip around my wrist.

"I chose this. It wasn't their fault. I took the punishment from Taehyung because I can stand wolfsbane. It's one of the first things my mom.... my aunt thought me." I smile weakly at my father, "I'm alright, I'm okay. You didn't have to come here. They'll kill you if you turn yourself in." My father starts walking towards me. The invisible shield around him pushing the warriors away.