Clandestine Vow //Taehyung X Reader |

Prologue (Edited)

Somewhere in Daegu,

The room was dark, with just enough light to cast long, eerie shadows on the walls. Outside, the sounds of a grand party floated through the heavy wooden doors—laughter, clinking glasses, and lively music. 

But inside, a young boy, just fourteen years old, stood shaking in the middle of the room. His heart raced like it wanted to run away. He knew what was about to happen, and no amount of preparation could ease the terror he felt.

A cold, harsh voice broke the silence. "You are nothing but a stain on this family. An embarrassment."

Before the boy could react, a hand slapped his cheek hard. The sharp sting spread across his face, burning like fire. A woman and two boys about his age stood watching with satisfaction and smirk on their lips. There was no love here, only a harsh reminder of his low status.

"You'll never be one of us," the woman said angrily. "Know your place."

Tears filled the boy's eyes as he tried to understand why he was being punished so badly. It was all because of a small mistake—earlier, while serving drinks, he had accidentally spilled some wine on the carpet. That was it.

"Clumsy and useless," the woman sneered. "You can't even do this right."

The boy's body shook at her words. This wasn't a home—it was a prison. The grand mansion, full of wealth and power, was nothing more than a cage where he was constantly reminded he didn't belong.

He barely had time to brace himself before one of the boys stepped forward. A fist slammed into the boy's stomach, making him bend over in pain. The force knocked him to the ground, and he instinctively curled into a ball in a futile attempt to shield his body....trying to protect himself, but it didn't help.

"Maybe this will teach you," the other boy said mockingly. He kicked the boy hard in the side, knocking the breath out of him. The two boys didn't stop there. They punched and kicked him again and again, laughing at his cries. 

The woman stood watching with her arms crossed, smiling cruelly. "Pathetic," she muttered. Her words hurt more than the kicks. The laughter above him was cruel and loud. The woman and her sons looked down at him, their eyes filled with cold satisfaction. They didn't care about his pain. They enjoyed it.

"Worthless," one of the boys added, landing another hard kick on his back.

A whip cracked through the air, the sound sending a jolt of fear through his body before the lash bit into his back. He clenched his teeth, stifling a scream as the pain seared across his skin. 

"You'll learn your place," the woman said coldly as she whipped him again and again. Each lash made him gasp in pain, tears streaming down his face. His back was covered in purple marks and welts, but the beating didn't stop.

One of the boys grabbed his hair, pulling his head up. "Look at him," he said mockingly. "Just a filthy little rat." Then he shoved the boy's head back down, hitting it against the floor.

Blood dripped from a cut on the boy's forehead, mixing with his sweat and tears. His body ached all over, and the pain felt never-ending.

Finally, the boy couldn't take it anymore. His body gave up, and his vision went dark.

The pain stopped as he slipped into unconsciousness and everything went black.

Seoul, Korea.

Time: 4:00 am.

Taehyung Pov:

I woke up suddenly, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it would burst out of my chest. My breath came in short gasps as I looked around, expecting to see those dark walls trapping me again.

But slowly, I saw my apartment. The soft light through the curtains, the furniture neatly in place, the faint noise of the city outside. I realized it had all been a nightmare—of my terrifying past. I was safe. I wasn't there anymore. 

Even so, the fear stayed with me. My chest was tight, my skin sticky with sweat. I ran a shaky hand through my hair, trying to calm myself. "It's over," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "You're safe now."

But it didn't feel that way. The memories wouldn't leave. They crashed into me like waves—the sound of cruel laughter, the sting of their hands and fists, the pain that seemed to never stop. It was all so real, like I was still there.

I sat up, wrapping my arms around my knees to stop them from shaking. My apartment felt too quiet, like the silence was pressing down on me. I hated this feeling, the way it made the past feel so close.

I took a deep breath, trying to focus on the present. It was hard. My mind kept flashing back to that place—those cold, unfeeling walls, the sharp words, the pain that never ended. I could almost feel it all over again: the bruises, the whip marks, the way they looked at me like I was nothing.

I let out a long sigh and leaned back against the headboard. I knew I wouldn't sleep again tonight. Nights like this always ended the same, with me wide awake, staring at the ceiling, wishing I could forget.

But at least I was here. At least I had made it out. That thought was the only thing that gave me strength. It didn't take away the pain or erase the memories, but it reminded me that I had survived. I had fought to get away, and I was still standing.

Closing my eyes, I took another deep breath, letting it out slowly. "You're stronger now," I told myself softly. "You're free."

The past still hurt, and I knew it always would. But I wasn't going to let it control me anymore. I had survived, and that was enough to face another day.

End of Pov.

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