The Afterlife

17) Pictures from the Past

(a/n: NAMES
PAY ATTENTION TO NAMES)

Sihyeon's number was at the reception desk.

It did not need to be there; every last person working at Paradise Grove knew Sihyeon too well, yet she did not think twice about note it down on the palest piece of paper, making sure the ink was loud and clear over the white of it.

She would have never left, except she had to go back to work if she ever wanted to know why her parents were there, why they were taken in the first place, or how to get Kim Namjoon. She thus left her soul with the piece of paper at the desk as she told them there to call if anything were to ever happen, and she put a hand on her, then, weak heart as she walked past the main gate.

She had heard Taehyung over the phone with the rest of his team members, assigning each with a task that he wanted prepared by the time they arrive, or at least until he arrives; he told her and Yeonjun that he had somewhere to go first, and that he believes they would find it useful.

It did not go past Taehyung's mind - the things Jungkook had told him, and as much as he hated that he wanted to take his lover to that dark place again, he also knew he would never do it if Jungkook refuses to, or if he looks anything but okay with it.

Taehyung also knew that he needed to see the picture Jungkook had told him about, the one of his father with Kim Jongyul at the nature preserve back from Taehyung's home. For some reason, he had a feeling they all connected, even though he also knew Sihyeon knew nothing of Jungkook before he was hospitalised at Paradise Grove.

"Are you sure you can do this?" He asked, over and over; perhaps they even spent hours before the large gate to Jungkook's old home, because Taehyung felt it too rash and wrong to take his beloved back in there, when it had been years since he managed to unleash himself from the nightmare.

"It is not so hard, Taehyung," Jungkook smiled warmly at him, making sure said smile carried enough assurance in it for them to move forward. The streets were quiet, even when they were not dark, but the serenity the luxurious neighbourhood came with made it eerie as is, "I am only afraid of a few things," the smile turned into a cheeky one as he spoke, and he turned his head, whether it was in shyness or boldness, Taehyung did not know, "most of which is not getting to hold your hand."

Taehyung's eyes slowly drew realisation on his own orbs, and his calm breath turned into a swift scoff as he stared at the side of his lover's face, only momentarily, before he took a step closer, enough to have him take Jungkook's hand in his, fingers embracing a close friend each, "why would that ever scare you?"

"Because you have been so worried about my father and my past that you forgot," the smile never faded, and Jungkook never intended for his words to cut further through any wounds, so they never did; Taehyung knew Jungkook understood regardless, and he also knew how playful he can get with words, so he let his hand be held as well, and he let Jungkook raise both of theirs to his mouth, living in a kiss with his eyes shimmering at Taehyung, "you are the one who saved me from them."

Taehyung did, and everytime he remembered, it gave his heart a hard time. It hurt him when he remembered how bruised Jungkook was when they first met, and it hurt him when he remembered how the boy never stopped shaking, wishing to die in a corner he never chose for himself.

Taehyung also remembered that very house so well. He had been there only once when he was investigating the murder, yet he knew every corner like the back of his hand, and he easily recognised Jungkook's room back then.

Dark - it was - like the worst of his fears, and it lacked life because it never fancied it. It was plane, with a wooden desk and a small bed, and both of them sat very far from the window shall winter pay any respects.