Crimson Crown

⌠80⌡

"What is going on in there!?" Mark yelled as he was barred from entering the throne room.

"You need to leave." One of the various guards warned.

Mark wasn't leaving though, not until he saw both Jinyoung and Jackson come out safely; all he heard was yelling and scuffling, which sounded nothing like a peaceful conversation to him. 

"No! Where is the Alverian Prince and his companion? I won't go anywhere without them." He demanded. He had to do his job as the royal swordsman; he had to know Jinyoung was safe.

"Leave before you get thrown into the barracks along with them!" Another guard warned.

Mark frowned in confusion. "Barracks? You can't do that-- release them this instant!"

Mark attempted to push himself into the throne room again, only to be shoved back. Two guards grabbed him from behind, and when he attempted to retaliate, three more got ahold of him too. Normally he could fight his way through a number of enemies, but with so many people on him at once and even more coming, it was tough to get his bearings.

Still, he put up his best front, kicking, punching, and elbowing anyone who touched him.

"This one's a fighter." He heard one of the many grunt.

"Someone knock him out." Another ordered.

Mark quickly glanced around for where the attack might come from, though he was too overwhelmed, and just moments after, something hard struck him in the head.

~.~

Jinyoung tumbled into a small cell, landing on his side. He heard the loud clink of metal banging together as he glanced up at the bars that shut him into the dark, dank cell.

The ground was nothing but dirt, and the walls were cold, dirty cement blocks. There was nowhere to sit, lay, or even use the bathroom; just an empty box underneath the palace. They must've brought him to a more isolated area of the barracks though, as there were barely any prisoners, and no sign of Jackson anywhere.

With tears streaking his cheeks, Jinyoung shuffled toward the door on his knees. 

"Wait please just tell me Jackson's okay, please!"

"Quiet!" The guard who brought him there snapped, loudly slamming the lock closed.

He stomped away, leaving the prince alone in his cell.

A frustrated yell bubbled up through Jinyoung's throat. He ripped his cloth from his face, slamming it to the ground. In his fit of anger he tried to push at the door, despite knowing it's locked; he rammed his body against it over and over like a caged wild animal.

When he finally tired himself out, he stumbled backward to the back of the cell, pressing against the wall. He slid down the concrete, flopping to the ground.

Everything he does just to ends in failure.

He had come with the intention of de-escalating things and protecting those he cared for; only to ruin it and put everyone he wanted to protect in danger. Jackson, Mark, Youngjae, his parents, and his kingdom... he'd risked everything, and his efforts weren't at all fruitful.

He had no idea what he could possibly do now. He hoped that Mark had at least gotten out okay, but he himself was stuck there, and Jackson...

They would surely kill Jackson.

The thought of losing him struck a fear so startling into Jinyoung that his entire body jolted. Was he to just sit around and give up, allowing Jackson to suffer? There was no way he could let Jackson to die like that; because of him.