Cell No. 9 | TaeKook

5 | Ambush.

The prisoners were in the yard like every morning, their routines a dull hum against the backdrop of the rising sun. Taehyung sat alone on a bench, lost in thought, his eyes absently tracing patterns on the ground. Nearby, Ma Dongseok and his mates huddled together, their voices low and filled with malice.

Ma Dongseok, looked intently at his two companions, Jinho and Taesung. He spoke first, his voice a low growl. "We've got to take care of Jungkook. He's becoming a problem."

Jinho, a tall man with shifty eyes, nodded eagerly. "Yeah, he's been sticking his nose where it doesn't belong."

Taesung, a muscular inmate with a scar running down his cheek, added, "We can't let him get too comfortable. We need to send a message."

Ma Dongseok clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking ominously. "Exactly. Tonight, in the workshop, when the guards are distracted, we'll make our move."

Jinho looked around nervously. "But who's going to do it? We need someone who can get close enough without raising suspicion."

Ma Dongseok's eyes narrowed. "I'll do it. I've got the best chance of getting close. You two just make sure the coast is clear and keep the guards busy."

Taesung smirked, revealing a row of crooked teeth. "You got it, boss. We'll create a diversion. No one will see a thing."

Ma Dongseok nodded, his face set in determination. "Remember, this needs to be quick and silent. We can't afford any mistakes."

The three prisoners dispersed, blending back into the throng of inmates. But they didn't know that Taehyung had heard everything. His heart pounded in his chest as he processed the gravity of what he had overheard.

Jungkook was not someone he felt particularly close to, but the thought of a violent ambush left him uneasy. Taehyung's mind raced with possibilities. Should he warn Jungkook? Inform a guard? The options weighed heavily on him as he considered the potential consequences of each choice.

Fear gripped him. What if Ma Dongseok and his men hurt him again like last time if he got involved in this? The memory of their last encounter, the pain and the helplessness, flashed in his mind. He had barely managed to get through that ordeal; another confrontation could be worse. The thought of facing their wrath made him feel sick with dread.

Taehyung stood up with a determined face, his resolve hardening with each step he took toward Jungkook. Jungkook was leaning his back against the wall, while Daejung and Chulsoo stood nearby, engaged in conversation. Taehyung's heart pounded in his chest as he approached them, his hands gripping the edge of his shirt tightly.

Daejung and Chulsoo noticed Taehyung first, turning to face him with curious expressions. Jungkook, sensing the shift in their attention, looked up, his eyes cold and unreadable. Taehyung could barely bring himself to meet Jungkook's gaze; his eyes fixed on the ground instead.

Jungkook's voice broke the tense silence. "What? What do you want?"

Taehyung stuttered, his fear evident in his trembling voice. "J-just... be... careful, Ma..."

Before he could finish, Jungkook's fist lashed out with startling speed. The punch connected with Taehyung's jaw, sending him sprawling to the ground. Pain exploded in Taehyung's head, and he tasted blood in his mouth.