Ignorance was never Bliss (VMIN)

Chapter-6

Dark.

Is there anything beyond this void? Anything beyond this all consuming blackness? Isn't the world made up of something else too, apart from this perpetual darkness? Something called light? Aren't there other components called colors?

Taehyung knows that light is warm on his skin, that's how he recognizes there's light, although all he ever sees is dark. Unfortunately for him, colors do not make his skin tingle so he has no way of knowing if there are colors around him. From his vague childhood memories, back when he was allowed to see, he remembers there were things that were colorful and not just one color, like a whole lot of them. Green, was it? And there was something called blue too? Taehyung is certain he can't tell the two apart.

He hasn't been allowed to use his eyes in a long time, he thinks they might have stopped working by now. Sometimes the tape over his eyes feels itchy and tacky, but since he is also not allowed to use his hands, he has to will himself to think of something else to distract himself. There's only a few memories, not memories per se, feelings that he has stored away securely in the back of his mind that serve as his only distraction when he really needs it. Every time he tries to retrieve these emotions, he can't help but feel sad. He wishes he was lucky enough to have gotten to spend more time with them, but of course he was born without luck. He sincerely hopes and prays, to whatever god is out there, although he's not sure if there are any because they never seem to pay him any heed, that they are happy. Safe. Hopefully in some place with a lot of light that tingles on their skin.

Taehyung's only true regret?

He wishes he could have seen them once to remember their faces. He knows they must be beautiful because they were awfully kind and loving towards him. Isn't that how it works? A beautiful heart must reflect on the face, right? He can distinctly remember their intoxicating yet calming scents. One smelt like the woods after a rain shower, with notes of eucalyptus and the other had a more spicy smell of cinnamon. If Taehyung concentrates, he can almost smell it on the tip of his nose, that faint smell of home.

He hopes that one day, before he dies, he will be able to meet them ones again and thank them for their kindness even though it didn't last too long. Those precious memories are his only life force that's helping him drag through his days. If the gods are kind enough, he believes, he will be able to die peacefully and soon. And before that happens, he could feel their arms wrapped around his torso just like these chains are and their noses nuzzled into the crook of his neck, as they card their hands through his hair. Oh, how much he misses them. His hyungs.

He wants to cry and lighten this burden, that's growing like cancer in his heart, but he is denied this privilege too. How can he cry through the tape over his eyes and the leather blindfold?

As he lies on the mattress of his new master's house, he only hopes that this new human does not hurt him nearly as badly as the last one did or the one before that. He knows that the slurs and curses are about to start. It usually takes a week or two, no later than that. Followed by punches, kicks, beatings and other physical abuse. He knows it's coming and he is preparing himself, but he is almost certain that this time his body will give up on him. Death will be peaceful, he hopes.

*****

Jimin is determined. One day and one single conversation with the leopard and he is certain what needs to be done. It's set in stone. This hybrid is going nowhere. It's his now. He is going to put an end to this brutality that his kind has inflicted on the poor creature.

Vicious beast, my foot.

He needs to figure out the technicalities because it's fate is already sealed, like his father detailed. Caged and kept on display at the prestigious Seoul Zoological Center. Suddenly his mind drifted back to the young fox hybrid he came across the other day when his father introduced him to the snow leopard that now dwells in his guest room. The female looked so young. Had it been a human, it would still be living under its parents protection, going to school and making new friends, while having a long future ahead. But since it shares a minuscule portion of animal DNA, without any fault of its own, suddenly it's future is snatched and now it's entitled to a lifetime of torture.