The Mafia's Obsession

Chapter 22

~Y/N's (Your) POV~

I observed Taehyung's silhouette fade away along a slender path behind his mansion. I inhaled deeply, steadying myself before proceeding to plunge into the darkness. Visibility was extremely limited, and the prospect of slipping or breaking a tree branch was not an option. Getting caught was out of the question.

As I ventured further into the heart of the forest, the piercing thorns scraped across my hands and ankles, while the drooping branches of the low-hanging trees brushed against my cheeks. At one point, I could've sworn that I felt a snake coil around my legs. Apart from the footsteps of Taehyung and me, a profound silence enveloped us, broken only by the rhythmic chirping of crickets and occasional animal calls that sent shivers down my spine. How much longer? Taehyung maintained a steady pace throughout, never slowing down or hastening his steps.

The night air swept through my sweatshirt, causing a chill to settle over me as I shivered in the cold. We reached the end of the forest, standing at the brink of the cornfield where there was no sign of anyone or anything. Why would Taehyung come here?

He finally came to a halt.

He looked around, forcing me to hide behind a tree. Glancing down, I observed my chest rising and falling, a rhythmic repetition of up and down. Suddenly, an itchy sensation crept up my nose, causing it to twitch slightly. Oh no. I felt a sneeze building up, threatening to ruin everything. I was on the verge of exposing myself. I was about to—

"Jackson! I know you're here. Don't be a fucking pussy and reveal yourself," Taehyung snarled.

Silence.

A heavy pause enveloped the scene.

At this point, I was desperately suppressing my sneeze, and the absence of sound was so profound that I couldn't even hear my own heartbeat—it seemed to have come to a complete stop. Jackson? The person who had assaulted me? What was Taehyung doing with him?

Another second ticked by.

Then another five seconds.

I lost track of time, but it felt like an eternity before a sudden, loud grunt erupted seemingly out of nowhere, followed by a series of smacks and a prolonged dragging sound, as if a body were being slowly pulled across the dirt. My eyes were tightly shut, and my legs trembled uncontrollably, as if I were an elementary student facing their first test. My heart urged me to ensure Taehyung's safety, while my mind screamed at me to run—far, far away. Yet, I found myself unable to do either, standing there stupidly with my feet seemingly glued to the ground.

I must have stood there for another ten seconds—which was more than enough time for Taehyung to be killed—before finally mustering the courage to step out from behind the tree. There was absolutely nothing or no one. Indeed, had I not witnessed anything, I might have easily assumed it was just an ordinary night. Except it wasn't—I needed to find Taehyung.

I inched my way toward the entrance of the cornfield. My initial instinct was to scrutinize the ground for any signs of blood trails. While not reassuring, they could potentially be helpful. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. At least Taehyung wouldn't die of blood loss, right? I found myself questioning my sanity at this point. Maybe this was all a nightmarish dream, and I would wake up any moment now. To confirm, I pinched myself hard on the wrist—this was not a dream. With a heavy sigh, filled with dread, I entered the cornfield.