Infirmitas

Chapter 19: Tried and True

Jimin's POV

In the midst of the noise and the chaos, I noticed Taehyung's heavy breathing.

"Are you okay?" I asked him.

He turned to me. His eyes were unfocused and shaking. What is happening to him? I peeled my eyes away when I heard the man screamed. Two dogs have already got him.

"Hyung! Help me!" He shouted.

Taehyung wandered his eyes around. It followed the man who walked out. He let out loud, unstable breaths. What is happening? I haven't seen him like this. He seemed terrified. He hunched and bowed. He's hyperventilating while holding his abdomen.

"Taehyung, are you okay?"

The woman shrieked. Taehyung's head snapped up. He looked ahead and tears started spilling out of his eyes.

"Taehyung, what is happening?"

He looked around. Then, at me.

"What's going on? What's happening to you?"

He seemed like he was in a trance. He didn't respond to me. As if he can't hear me. He slowly stood and wobbly walked out. I saw that Serpent Tongue noticed him. I quickly followed. He was walking unsteadily until he fell. He didn't stand up immediately. He stayed there, crouching on the floor. I slowly paced to him and halted when I heard him sobbing.

Tears incessantly poured out his eyes forming a small pool on the ground.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He bawled.

He was clutching on his chest and rocking his body. Strings of dribbles hung from his mouth. His nose was running.

"I thought I...can t-take...it." His words came out slurred. "I t-thought I..." He gasped. "...can...let you d-die just to...the G-grim Reaper... s-suffer." He sobbed. "I'm so s-sorry."

I recognized it. He got tangled with the Grim Reaper's brother. Just like what happened to me and Yoongi. I remembered that I looked the same the night I stuck a knife through his chest. I bawled, wallowed and wished for him to live. Taehyung found me that night too. He pulled me up, slapped me hard and told me to do what I needed to do. He told me to run. Run as far away as I can.

I marched to him to do the same.

"Get up." I slapped his back hard. He was still hunkered. "Get up!" I hissed. "Stand up. They will see you. Serpent Tongue will see you."

"I made a mistake." He sobbed. "I sold him out."

I wiped my cheek. "Stop crying." And slapped his arm. "Wipe your face."

"I told him about Kookie. They're going to hurt Kookie."

I forcefully pulled him up. "Dry your eyes before someone sees you."

"What am I going to do?"

I tugged him back to the room where they held me. I peered to check if someone saw us and shut the door when I was certain that nobody followed.

"You will run."

He foolishly stared.

"Take him away and run. To the farthest you can."

"Even to the ends of the world." He stated mindlessly. "What about the Grim Reaper?"

"You have to hide his brother from him too. He's safer with you anyway."

"What about you?"

I'm tired of running. "Don't worry about me. I can handle myself."

"What about the trade that you want?"

I smiled. "We can't use the Grim Reaper's weakness anymore, can we? He's your weakness too."

"I can't stop myself." A drop escaped his eye.

"I know. I understand." I can't stop myself either.

"I have to go."

The door creaked. Serpent Tongue warily came in.

"What are you doing?"

"Just...catching up." I casually answered.

His eyes scrutinized Taehyung's face.

"What happened back there?"

"I felt sick." Taehyung squared his shoulders. "They smell bad."

"What?"

"You know I have a sensitive nose. They're a smelly crowd."

His stare lingered but eventually, he nodded.

"We'll be setting the plan tomorrow."

"What plan?"

"We'll attack the Bangs."

"Are the Sons enough for that?" I asked.

"We have help. The cooperation is pushing through."

"But the numbers have dwindled. Many of the groups were already crushed. We won't succeed."

"It doesn't have to succeed."

What?

"For us, it's a diversion."

"While they're keeping the Grim Reaper and his men busy, we're going to snatch his brother."

Taehyung subtly glanced at me.

"Of course, we won't let the others know. This is just among the Parks. I don't trust any of these lowlifes. They will never amount to what we are."

What we were.

"One of you will come with me and the other will take Jeon Jungkook."

Taehyung and I exchanged looks. Let it be him. Let it be him.

Serpent Tongue smirked. "Rattlesnake, you'll be with me. Tiger Flower, join Firebird and Guinea Fowl. Make sure to bring the weakness alive. Meet us at the old den."

Taehyung nodded.

"You have to leave tonight. While the others are coming in."

The door swung open. Annoying Jihoon peered in.

"What are you doing? Meet the other bastards. What are we? Your slaves?"

"We're coming." Serpent Tongue responded. "Let's go."

He exited the room. I followed.

"Jimin." Taehyung quietly called.

I looked back.

"Thank you." He pursed his lips.

"Take care." I smiled at him. "Good luck."