{HIATUS} Éternel: Between Two Worlds (#3)

ii. Only A Memory

Warning: This chapter contains imagery of self harm.

✶⊶⊷⊶⊷❍⊶⊷⊶⊷✶

³ "Early this morning, Big Hit Entertainment issued a statement to the public regarding BTS' current state. The now-found idols will be taking a year hiatus from the music industry to recover from their kidnapping. The citizen who found the missing idols has not yet been identified. CEO Bang Si-Hyuk will appear on tonight's broadcast for an exclusive interview to update us on the idols' status and what the future may hold."

With a sigh, I pressed my back into the plush cushions of the couch, letting the air escape my lungs as my brain tried to process the words of the news reporter. I glanced at the edge of the couch toward the ground, where all of the Direwolves were sleeping, Summer and Twilight sleeping on their backs while Storm kicked in her sleep. Ghost was the only one awake, staring up at me with his bright red eyes.

I leaned down, rubbing my hand across his white fur, and he stuck his tongue out, obviously enjoying the pets. My head turned towards the window, and I looked to the outside world, framed perfectly to the point where it looked like a painting. A few dragons whisked by the castle, flying elsewhere on the island.

"Personal statements from each of the members of BTS show their extreme gratitude towards the citizen who found them, and their apologies to their fans for having disappeared for so long. Their fans continue to show overwhelming support on social media for the idols," The female news reporter continued, her words drowning out slowly as I focused on the mountains in the distance, my heart being pulled towards the Jinsei, where everything had gone down. I could never see that place in the same way again.

"ARMY, I am so thankful you never gave up hope," A familiar voice came from the TV. I whipped my head back to see Namjoon's picture on the screen, a recording of his voice playing on the news broadcast.

My eyes immediately began tearing up, hearing his voice again. Only two weeks had passed, but the pain was still there, festering inside me. It grew with every second, taking over my body and darkening my soul and spirit. I feared I would never see the light again.

From my feet came a groan, and Angel wriggled awake, shaking her body to chase the sleep out of her muscles. One by one, each of the wolves woke up, Atlas being naughty enough to wake up Twilight and Phantom, to which the siblings nipped back at their brother for disturbing them.

The wolves were growing at an exceptionally alarming rate. Though, from everything we knew about Direwolves, that was normal. They fully matured at eight months, a lot faster than normal canines. Of course, nothing about this world was normal.

A quiet knock made me raise my head to look toward the doorway, where Fawn was standing, leaning against the frame. She flashed a quick smile and made her way over to me, taking a seat beside me. After looking at the TV for a few moments, she turned to me.

"How are you feeling?" Fawn asked.

"Sad," I admitted. "Confused. Guilty-"

"Regretful?"

"No, I don't regret anything," I said, quick to cut her questioning short. "They're safer without me."

"Did you ever think about yourself? If you need them?"

I sighed, lowering my head to look at my lap, staring at my bare thighs that were on display due to my shorts "It doesn't matter what I need. I can't be selfish."

"It's not selfish-" Fawn tried to say, but I shook my head and cut her off, my voice raising slightly.

"Yes, it is. Why would I keep them here if I had a chance to send them back? How could I keep them here if I knew it wasn't safe?"