Shadows of Abyss

Chapter 6

With Taehyung's fragile form cradled in his arms, Jeon Jungkook moved quietly through the darkened house, stepping into a room that seemed to hold its breath, heavy with darkness.

He laid Taehyung gently on the bed, the silence thick around them. With a soft click, Jungkook turned on the light, the room now bathed in a soft glow. He sat beside Taehyung, his presence warm, almost protective.

Jungkook's gaze lingered on Taehyung's face, tracing each delicate feature as if trying to memorize every detail.

"If dying was as simple as giving up, Taehyung, you would've been gone long ago, la mia unica" he whispered, his voice barely audible, his finger hovering just above the tiny mole beneath Taehyung's lips.

But then, his eyes caught the shimmer of a locket resting against Taehyung's neck a gift from Hoseok. Jungkook's expression tightened, and he stood up, the warmth in his eyes dimming.

With one last lingering glance at Taehyung's closed eyes, Jungkook turned and quietly left the room.

__________________________________

"Has Taehyung not came down for breakfast yet?" Min Eun-je asked, her voice edged with concern as she look at the empty seats around the table.

Hoseok's expression darkened with worry. "And you haven't gone to check on him, Eomma?" he demanded, his tone laced with urgency.

"I'll go see," Min Eun-je replied, her face set in determination. She shot Hoseok a pointed look before leaving the dining room in haste.

Jimin, who had overheard the exchange, bit his lip anxiously. He too felt the absence of Taehyung acutely but couldn't bring himself to speak.

"Hoseok... Jimin, Taehyung isn't in his room," Min Eun-je announced breathlessly as she reentered the dining room, her voice trembling with alarm.
Jimin's throat constricted, and he choked on his food, unable to hold back a fit of coughing.

"What happened, Jimin?" Despite the gravity of the situation, Yoongi's lips twitched with a fleeting, worried smile as he looked at jimin's worried face.

"Here, drink this," Min Eun-je urged, placing a glass of juice in front of Jimin. He accepted it with shaking hands, his eyes clouded with fear.

"What do you mean he's not here, Eomma? Where could he possibly be?" Hoseok's voice was taut with anxiety as he rose from his seat, casting a worried glance at Jimin.

Min Eun-je's eyes flitted between Hoseok and Jimin, her own fear escalating. "I don't know, dear. He was in his room last night," she said, her words causing tears to spill from Jimin's eyes.

"I'll search the lawn and the servant quarters. You two check the rest of the house," Hoseok commanded sharply before heading out with yoongi.

"You're not coming?" Min Eun-je asked.
"What can I do? There are plenty of people looking out for him," Jimin replied, taking a sip from the glass, his voice barely above a whisper as Min Eun-je left.

Hoseok, meanwhile, licked his lips in frustration and departed, searching the drawing room. "He's nowhere to be found," he muttered to himself, his frustration and fear growing as he found no trace of Taehyung.

_____________________________________

The gentle warmth of the morning sun filtered through the window, touching Taehyung's face. He shifted restlessly, pulling a pillow over his head in a futile attempt to go back to sleep.

Suddenly, his mind jolted awake with a sharp warning, a single word echoing loudly "Jeon Jungkook."

"Ohhh J..Jiminie..." Taehyung muttered in a panicked whisper, the name escaping his lips as his heart tightens with fear.