Bound by Fate

Chapter 1: The Binding Promise

The night was thick with a foreboding silence that hung heavy in the air, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind. Seokjin had always been sensitive to changes in the atmosphere, and tonight, something felt profoundly wrong. He stood in his family's estate, his fingers brushing absentmindedly against the wooden frame of the window, gazing out into the darkened landscape. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale glow over the land, but it did little to ease the unease that knotted in his stomach.

A sharp knock echoed through the halls, startling him from his thoughts. Before he could turn, the door burst open, and a group of shadowy figures surged into the room, their movements swift and silent. Seokjin barely had time to register what was happening before one of them grabbed him, their hand rough as it clamped over his mouth. His heart hammered in his chest as he struggled, but it was no use. The grip tightened, pulling him back against the figure's chest, muffling his cries for help.

"Don't struggle," a voice hissed in his ear, cold and detached. "It'll be worse if you do."

Panic surged through him as he tried to wrestle free, but the more he fought, the stronger the hands around him seemed to become. His vision blurred with fear as they dragged him through the halls of his home, the familiar surroundings twisting into something menacing in the dim light. He kicked out, but it was futile; his captors moved with purpose, their grip unyielding as they maneuvered through the estate.

Seokjin's thoughts raced. Where was his family? Where were the guards? His father, his mother—they had to be nearby. Someone had to hear the struggle, the sound of his feet scuffling against the floor as they dragged him into the night. But the estate was eerily quiet, as if the world had abandoned him in this moment of terror.

They hauled him outside, where a carriage waited. The door swung open, and before he could scream, they shoved him inside, slamming the door shut behind him. The inside of the carriage was cold, and the dim light from the moon barely illuminated the shadowy figure sitting across from him.

It was an old woman, regal in her appearance yet terrifying in her presence. She sat calmly, her hands folded in her lap, eyes fixed on him with an unsettling intensity. Despite the wrinkles that lined her face, there was a strength to her gaze, an authority that made the air around her seem heavier. Seokjin's heart pounded as he met her gaze, the weight of her power pressing down on him.

"Who—" his voice cracked. "Who are you? What do you want with me?"

The old woman's lips curled into a small, knowing smile, but there was no warmth in it. "Who I am is of no consequence to you, boy. What matters is that you do exactly as I say, or your family will pay the price."

His blood ran cold at her words. "My family—where are they? What have you done to them?"

"They are safe, for now," she replied, her tone measured, almost casual. "But that can change very quickly if you do not cooperate."

Seokjin's mind raced, panic clawing at his insides. "Please... I don't know what you want, but don't hurt them. Please."

The old woman leaned forward slightly, her eyes narrowing as if appraising him. "You will do as I say, or I will have no choice but to make them suffer."

His heart twisted painfully in his chest as he stared at her, helpless and terrified. He had no idea who this woman was or why she had taken him, but the fear of something happening to his family was enough to silence the protests that rose in his throat. His hands trembled in his lap as he swallowed the lump of terror lodged in his throat.

"Good," she said, as though she could sense his submission. She leaned back in her seat, her expression softening just a fraction. "You will learn soon enough what I need from you. For now, all you need to know is that your cooperation is required."