✓ 𝑺𝑬𝑹𝑷𝑬𝑵𝑻𝑰𝑵𝑬 | JJK

madness ends

Being shoved head-first into a cell was second nature to Areum.

The putrid smell of rotting minds and visions of nothing but concrete slabs almost felt like home.

It had the ability to drive any normal human being to the brink of insanity.

Not only are you trapped inside a box, but you become trapped within the confinements of your own mind.

Some would call it a domino effect, but Areum wasn't about to take a bite out of that system.

If anything, she was going to play it to her advantage.

Alone?

Maybe not.

But when someone as loyal as Jimin looks you in the eyes and whispers 'I swear I'm going to get you out of there, if it's the last thing I do', anything seems possible.

Areum had made the brave decision to believe Jimin's words, but did she really have a choice?

After all, she had more to lose by deeming him a liar.

Besides, she'd only been in this god forbidden cell for approximately three hours, and if Jimin really was going to get her out of here, it wasn't to be light work.

It was going to take a diplomatic mind and the patience of a saint, and that, Jimin did have.

FLASHBACK

"Where are you taking me?" Weary, ecstatic and mortified, Areum blindly follows Jimin down hallway after hallway.

She couldn't comprehend what was happening, from the protection of his hand on the small of her back to the dead-pan expression on his face.

"You ask too many questions." Jimin presses harder against Areum's back, ushering her along while she nearly trips over her own two feet.

She'd become fragile through her time at Daerim prison, both physically and mentally, feeling as if any trace on her body or the words of those around her become amplified.

"What? I'm just supposed to accept how fucking strange this is?" Areum searches Jimin's face for an answer, lips parted and eyes bulging in anticipation, yet, he gifts her with nothing but a blank expression.

"I'm saving you from this hell-hole, aren't I? Show some fucking appreciation or I'll have you thrown back in there." Areum's taken aback by Jimin's words, but more so, his tone.

This was the first ounce of emotion he'd shown during the time they'd been together, from the narrowing of his eyes to the tightening of his lips.

It wasn't much, but Areum never took anything at face value.

After all, she'd be a fool to do so given her past experiences.

"How do I know you aren't going to take me to another hell-hole?" Despite Jimin's harsh tone, Areum barks back, looking up at him with fire dancing around in her pretty irises.

"Trust me darling, the only two hell hole's around here are this prison and the products of your own fucking mind."

END OF FLASHBACK

Days had passed, maybe even weeks before Areum had received any sign of life from the outside world.

She had felt herself beginning to lose faith in humanity.

That's until the day a letter had been fed through her prison cell's shutter, approximately thirty five minutes ago.

She'd stared at the contents of it, and stared some more, re-reading the inked letters over and over, because, in reality, what else was she supposed to do?

Nevertheless, no matter how many times her eyes had scanned over the empty sentences, it was the signature at the end of the letter which had her in utter shock every time her eyes landed upon it.

Yours truly, Jeon Jungkook.