Heartless || •OG• ✔️

Chapter 50 - Jimin

Jimin didn't know what to expect when he ran away from Charlotte and the others. All he knew was that he felt alone. The castle was a maze Jimin was leading Ariel through, his heart jumping to his throat to block the passageways that allowed air to his lungs. Sweat covered what skin he had, his eyes darting around to find anything. Or, more specifically, one person. The one person who could help them.

"Where are we going?" Ariel asked.

"To give you a life that isn't this shit." Ariel went quiet at that. He was sure she'd disagree, or at least not advocate for his decision. However, his adrenaline was too high. Whether he'd regret his choice or not didn't click in his brain until he heard shouts and orders from down the hall.

There were guards that stormed past. For some reason, none of them shot at Jimin. They saw him. The halls were empty, there was no way they didn't notice him. Why weren't they shooting?Then, he realized why. He turned the next corner and saw Madam preparing to exit the castle. She had protection around her, bodyguards that had their weapons pointed at Jimin. He pulled Ariel behind her and raised his hand up to show his pistol was tucked away, not ready to fire.

"I was wondering if you'd come," Madam said as they opened the back door, grabbing boxes that seemed full of files. "I presume you've come to either kill me, or give me an offer for the girl's freedom?"

"You're correct. If you let Ariel go and give her a normal life, I'll kill Jericho Novak and bring the others to you. I have something your goons don't: knowledge. I know their thought patterns, especially Charlotte's. If you let Ariel go, I don't care if you kill me or not. Just let Ariel live a normal life-"

"Excuse you," Ariel said, stepping in front of him. "I'd like to offer a different proposal. Let Jimin and I both go and he'll bring the others to you. I've seen him fight, he can take them all on by himself and still win. That's without mentioning that Charlotte wouldn't kill him, neither would Ivan. It's a guaranteed win. Let us leave this life, and in return, you get the most wanted criminals who killed your friends. How does that sound?"

Madam stared at her, and Jimin was half-expecting her to break out laughing. However, she smiled instead. "Very well, but I'll only pardon you after you complete your task. Apprehend them, kill them, torture them - do whatever you please, as long as they end up dead. You have a week. And Mr. Seong?" He nodded. "If I find you on their side, the deal's off. I'll inform my security detail not to shoot unless you're spotted on their side. Don't waste this opportunity. I'm giving you a gift. Don't hesitate to shoot Miss Evermore, got it?"

Jimin set his jaw at the thought of Charlotte's blood on his hands. Were his memories more important than the woman he had in the present? They had to be. Ariel was a part of his present, and if he didn't take Charlotte down, she may never have a chance at normalcy. So, he dipped his head.

"As you wish, Madam."

~~~

It was hard to search a hotel without going around knocking on every door. Regardless, Jimin found nothing. It was the same hotel they stayed in before. Only a 2-star, a chain of some type. Jimin didn't bother memorizing the name. All that mattered was that he was staying there in a room with two beds and a clunky bathroom.

The hotel itself was tall, Jimin on the second floor to prevent himself from pissing his pants. After camping out in watchtowers back at the military base, Jimin vowed never to go up too high again. There was a nice view with trees that had little to no leaves, grass that was covered with snow.

Ariel came out of the bathroom and halted next to him, peering out the window. It wasn't snowing at that moment, but the aftermath of it was gorgeous. They took a moment to stare, Jimin resting his hand on the wooden frame the window had before he shut the curtains.

The room was cramped. Jimin was grateful he didn't have claustrophobia. The two beds were queen-sized, silver sheets and covers with matching pillows. Jimin kept the light on, opting for the artificial rather than the natural. There was a round case that covered the glimmering bulb, the wallpaper milky like the ceiling. The floors were carpeted and dark to contrast the rest of the room. Hell, even the bathroom was identical to the main room.

"I'm surprised you're not arguing," Jimin said as he sat on his bed. Ariel chose to stay by the shut window.

"I don't like the idea, if I'm being honest. Not just because it means hurting the people I thought were becoming my friends. I don't want Ivan or Charlotte to go. Jericho can go fuck himself for what he did to you, but the other two... I don't know, I feel like I understand why they didn't tell you."

"You understand?"

"They wanted Jericho to own up to his mistake. Do you really think Jericho telling you himself wouldn't have made a difference?"

"A small one, I'll admit, but yeah. I still would've wanted to kill him."

"Why didn't you?" she asked.

"You've seen enough. I didn't want you to see that side of me. It's scary enough that you've seen me fight, let alone kill someone you know and have bonded with? I can't bear that thought, kid. You deserve better, that's why I'm fighting to give you better."

There was a backpack by Jimin's side, a dark shade that stood out in the room. It was full of files and blueprints from Madam. She gave it to him in the hopes that it'd aid his search for his old friends. In a way, Jimin felt like June. That stung. June wasn't Jimin's favorite person, but they were becoming closer. Maybe even friends.

Assassinations were never Jimin's thing. He stuck to leading strike teams. Anything combat-related was his field. Fuck guns, but hand combat was perfect. Now, it felt like he switched professions. Tracking down a target, executing them. Where did his right hand title go?

"You were all for taking Holden's deal," Jimin said.

"You're right, I was willing to hear him out. Jimin, this is different. Handing three people over meant saving the rest of us. If we hand them over now, that means you could directly kill Charlotte and Ivan."

"It doesn't change what they did."

"I can't understand how you're feeling, I hope I never do, but that doesn't mean I can't see their perspective too. Charlotte, Ivan, and Kayden want nothing but the best for you. Deep down, I think Jericho's the same way. If anything, and I mean anything, goes wrong, we have the High Council and our friends attacking us. Do you really want Charlotte's face to be the last thing you see before you die?" she asked.

Jimin stayed silent. She got the message and backed off, dropping the topic. Conflicted was an understatement. Jimin didn't know where his mind was. On one hand, he was so pissed at Charlotte for hiding the truth. On the other, Ariel raised a valid point. They wanted to make Jericho own up to his mistakes. Somehow, Jimin knew Jericho would have told him down the line. The problem was that Jericho didn't say it soon enough.

"Hey, um," she said, playing with her fingers as she came over. "I don't know how to say this without freaking you out."

"You realize saying that is only making me feel worse?"

"Right, sorry. Don't freak out?" He agreed. "I'm... bleeding."

Just like that, he was kneeling in front of her and inspecting her face. "What? Where? Where did you get hurt and how?" There were no bruises on her face, not even a cut on her lip. She looked like she hadn't showered in a while, but that was the worst of it. Her visible arms were covered in goosebumps, not injuries.

"Jimin," she said, and he froze.

He let go of her shoulders. "Oh, you mean...?" She nodded. "Oh." He stood and scratched the back of his neck. "Oh. Uh, when did this happen?"

"Today, I guess. It's my first. I just went to the bathroom and noticed it."

Dammit. "Oh. Well, let's check the bathroom for supplies." She agreed, him going inside to search the wooden drawers. There were no complimentary toiletries inside. There were two tiny bottles of shampoo and conditioner, and a miniature bar of soap. That was it. "Shit. Nothing's here. Let's go to the front desk and ask."

They did. They went down the elevator and through the hall that had ugly carpets with multi-colored patterns. It was a cool palette, not a warm one. It contrasted the walls that were off-white.

Jimin straightened his suit. The same one he was in when they went to the party. It was covered in dirt, and he had an inkling that no laundry service in the world could get all the stains out. Regardless, he clung to it. It was a reminder of why he was alone instead of with Charlotte and the others. Jericho.

"Excuse me," Jimin said as they went up to the front desk. It was an empty lobby, not that there was much space to hang out anyway. The doors were a dozen feet away from the desk, Ariel waiting by them while Jimin embarrassed himself with the woman sitting behind the desk. "Do you have any feminine products? It's her first, so we're a little unprepared."

"Unfortunately we do not, but the grocery store is a block down if you go out and to the left, that'll have what you need."

"Thank you. Come on, kid."

They departed, the streets before them sparsely populated. There were people chatting on their phones, couples holding hands, adults walking by themselves, occasional teen groups laughing with one another. If Jimin wasn't processing betrayal, he would've found the scene comforting.

There were plenty of hotels on their left and right. Seemed as though Bromley was a hot spot. Jimin planned to never come back after this. If Madam honored their deal like he prayed she did, then him and Ariel could go back to America and start a new life. Maybe they could settle down somewhere nice, not New York. He heard Montana was gorgeous. That was an option.

After a few minutes of walking, they found the grocery store. It was one floor, but it was wide enough for them to get lost. The doors opened for them, Jimin not bothering with a cart. Outside, it was peaceful and calm. Inside, it was overflowing with a blabbering crowd. Jimin heard a baby crying, and quite frankly, he smelled it too. The sweat and tears, they both had distinct smells. He was just glad it wasn't his sweat and tears this time.

Wooden floors were covered with footprints, Jimin pulling her past the crowd and going to the aisles that were labeled with signs hanging from the high ceiling. Workers were darting around to help others, carts were bumping into one another, magazines were falling off their stands and onto the ground.

English accents surrounded him until he thought he would sink to the floor. Ariel helped him through, and they found the aisle with feminine products. Thank God it was the closest aisle.The floors kept creaking from the constant activity. Jimin ended up wobbling because of how intense it was. As soon as they stood in front of the supplies that looked more like torture devices, Jimin pointed to them. She tilted her head, Jimin doing the same.

"What are you looking at me for? Grab whatever you think will work and let's go," he said.

"I literally don't know what any of this is." Shit. Jimin went toward the products, Ariel snickering. "You look like a ghost."

"Haha." He grabbed a random green bag and shoved it in Ariel's hands. "This will help with your, uh, problem."

She glared. "I have a problem?"

"No! I mean the bleeding. It'll absorb it." She raised a brow. Fucking hell, what had his life become? It was one thing to discuss it with Charlotte. They dated for a while, he knew her cycle and was comfortable buying the products for her when she ran out. However, with a little girl? That was what made him go pale. "They're called pads, change them often, don't be gross."

She pointed to another pack. "What are those?"

"You ask too many questions," he said. She smirked, and he crossed his arms over his chest. "Are you fucking with me?"

"A little. I know what pads are, thanks for the entertainment though."

Although he wanted to fling her off, he knew they were in public. So, he dragged her away. It took them almost half an hour to check out. The insanity finally ended with them exiting the store, back out into the cold.

Ariel had a plastic bag strapped around her wrist. She slowed, Jimin slowing with her despite how they weren't even a quarter of the way back to their hotel. People passed them, Jimin pulling her off to the side so they wouldn't get in the way. Jimin wished he didn't leave the Dumbo plush at the hotel. It would've been comforting to have it while they walked down the calming streets.

"My parents killed my friends," she said, Jimin snapping his eyes down to her. "They wanted me to stay in their castle and never have any interaction with the outside world. I don't know if it was because that was their twisted version of love, or because they were scared my friends would find out the truth about their business. Do you think my friends are watching us now?"

"As ghosts?" She nodded, and Jimin wrapped an arm around her as they took in the terrain. It was breathtaking. Streetlights on their brightest setting, stone slabs making up the roads while the concrete sidewalk was clean of any litter. No rotten smells were in the air. In fact, it smelled of honey. "I've always believed in ghosts. Maybe because I want to be one with Aria one day. It's peaceful to know I have someone waiting on the other side."

"You want to be a ghost?"

"Hell yeah," he said, chuckling. "I'd haunt you first."

She smiled, and they watched the people pass by. Some were grinning like Ariel while others were keeping to themselves with neutral faces. Jimin admired each person he saw. They had their own stories, their own lives. Maybe one of them was a person who could be his best friend. Maybe a lover.

"Every day, punch after punch keeps coming. Aria, mafia falling apart, June, Theo and Asa, Jericho," Jimin said, keeping his eyes forward. "But you know what? Life doesn't have to be sad. Maybe we can make something good out of it." Ariel gazed at him, Jimin looking down to meet it. Her smile was still there, and it allowed him to forget all the bad thoughts he ever had, even if it was just for a moment.

"Don't worry, old man. We will."

~~~
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