Eternally Yours

8) Namjoon - Fear

His heart pounded as he ran as fast as he could through the dense forest, twigs snapping under his feet, tree limbs thwacking against his arms and face, feet stumbling on roots, breathing erratic as he tried to get away.

Namjoon had never been this afraid in his entire life. He just wanted to go home, celebrate his 185th birthday with his family. But no, he was running for his life. A few people from the town he lived in, got word that he was a vampire and they were hunting him down. Even though vampires were starting to be accepted into society, some people still didn't accept them and had the old ideas of people from the 1700s still swirling through their minds.

A yelp slipped past his lips when a silver bullet landed in a tree next to his head. Namjoon ducked and darted in a different direction, trying to lose the crowd of men that were chasing him.

Run. Being the only thought in his mind, Namjoon zigged this way, zagged that way as his walls kept building. His faith in humans cracked deeper and harsher into his soul, building a void that could never be fixed.

He was glad that he had a good distance between him and his pursuers, he found a cave and quickly ducked into the darkened depths of the stoney haven. Ducking down behind a stalagmite, he kept his eyes on the mouth of the cave as he waited, trying to catch his breath quietly, for the group to run past the cave. They did soon after and Namjoon released a breath he didn't know he was holding once he heard the thundering footsteps fade away to nothing.

Namjoon couldn't move, he was frozen where he hid with his eyes trained on the mouth of the cave. He didn't want to risk being caught. Once he was sure he wouldn't be at risk anymore, Namjoon relaxed and leaned his back against the stalagmite, breathing heavily once more as he finally had a chance to process what happened.

"I can't go out there right now... I can't..." he thought to himself as he sat there, his fear ebbing away slowly. But not all of it leaving, there was still a little of the feeling still lingering in him.

"I hate humanity..." With that last thought, Namjoon gave into the darkening around his vision as he slumped onto his side, limp with unconsciousness.

☽ ✶ ✶ ✶ ☾

Shooting up from his curled up state with the touch of a hand on his leg, Namjoon yelped and bared his fangs ready to attack, run, or both. His eyes and stance softened with the sight of his best friend and mother in front of him.

"Momma..." He breathed and launched himself towards her, seeking comfort and safety within her arms. He missed the look Hera and Jackson shared behind him as he held his mother tightly in his trembling arms. She quietly shushed him, rubbing her hands down the tight and trembling muscles in his back.

"I've got you, little bear," Hera mumbled, soothing the trembling of her son. "It's ok. I've got you."

Jackson carefully slipped a large coat onto his best friend's shoulders with the help of Hera, making sure to pull the hood over Namjoon's head.

"Come on, we gotta get him out of here," Jackson mumbled. Hera nodded and tried to push Namjoon back to look at him, but he wouldn't budge.

"No," Namjoon shook his head and tightened his arms around Hera.

"Joon, we're gonna go home. Come on, we'll be safe there." Hera gently reassured the trembling man in her arms. It took a few moments, but Namjoon slowly pulled away and finished putting the long coat on, grabbing his mother's hand, wanting to keep her close as she and Jackson led him back home.

Once he stepped foot out of the cave, Namjoon found himself looking over his shoulder constantly, paranoid that he would be chased and almost killed again. Jackson and Hera made sure to keep their arms around Namjoon as they helped the terrified boy home. Reassuring him with every turn of his head over his shoulder that Namjoon was safe, nothing could hurt him at this moment, and that he was safe. Hera could feel the trembling of her son's hand as he held onto hers as tightly as possible.

When they entered Hera and Yang's home, Jackson immediately helped Namjoon up to his bedroom, leaving the couple in the kitchen. The two shared worried looks for their son and his views of the world.

This was the third and final crack for Namjoon.