Challenging The Fate

chapter 21

...

" The greatest fear we face is not that we are inadequate; it is that we are powerful beyond measure."

...

The dream started harmless enough. He was walking through a lush forest, sunlight shinning through the leaves in a breathtaking kaleidoscope of golds and greens. A sense of peace settled over him, a stark contrast to the turmoil of his waking life.

Then, he heard it - the sound of a child's laughter. Light and playful, it echoed through the trees, filled with a joy that warmed his heart. His footsteps quickened, a magnetic pull urging him to follow the sound.

The trees thinned, giving way to a breathtaking cliff overlooking a vast ocean. And there, perched on the very edge, was a small child. A little boy, not older than two, his back turned to Jungkook as he gazed out at the endless blue expanse.

"Hey, Baby boo," Jungkook called out, a smile spreading across his face. "What are you looking at?"

The child didn't turn around, too engrossed in the captivating vista before him. He took a tentative step forward, his arms outstretched like tiny, unsteady wings.

A jolt of fear shot through Jungkook. This wasn't right. The edge was crumbling, the sea a cruel, hungry thing lurking below. Panic rising in his throat, he yelled, "No-no! Baby, don't go any closer!"

The boy seemed oblivious, taking another halting step, teetering dangerously on the cliff. The wind picked up, whipping his hair into his eyes. Suddenly, the ground beneath him gave way, and with a heart-wrenching cry, the child vanished over the edge.

"NO!" Jungkook's scream tore through the dream, echoing against the crashing waves far below. He lunged forward in a futile attempt to grab the boy, fingers grasping at empty air.

Despair washed over him, a crushing, suffocating weight. His body jolted with sobs even as the dream faded, replaced by the stark reality of his darkened room. He thrashed in the sheets, gasping for air, his heart drumming a frantic beat.

"No... baby... no! Don't leave me... I have you...you only..." The desperate words spilled from his lips, his voice choked with tears and terror.

The disorientation of waking from such a vivid nightmare was almost unbearable. His mind raced, his skin prickling with cold sweat, the fading image of the falling child searing itself into his brain.

Then, another sound pierced the fear-soaked silence - the creak of a door opening. Footsteps hurried towards his bed, followed by the worried voice of Taehyung.

"Jungkook-ah! Kook, what's wrong?"

"Hy..hyung" Jungkook choked out, reaching out blindly for his Hyung. Relief flooded him as strong hands clasped his own, the warmth of another human being grounding him in the present.

"Nightmare," he rasped, his voice raw and trembling.

"I'm here, Kook. I'm here," Taehyung murmured, his voice a steady, soothing balm to Jungkook's terror-stricken soul. In the dim light, Jungkook could just make out the outline of his Hyung as he moved to sit on the edge of the bed.

Taehyung pulled him into an embrace, his arms strong and comforting around Jungkook's shaking shoulders. His own words from earlier that day echoed back to him - I'll always be here for you.