𝙱𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚈𝚘𝚞

ꜱʜᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅ ʙᴏɴᴅꜱ

The phone call came at the worst possible moment. Seungcheol, Mingyu, and Vernon were at the café when the screen of Seungcheol's phone lit up with an unfamiliar number. He answered without thinking, his heart already hammering in his chest.

"Seungcheol," Jinseol's voice crackled through the line, cold and sharp. "I have your friends. Seungkwan, Wonwoo, and Jeonghan. You need to come get them. And don't even think about involving the police. I'm serious."

Seungcheol's grip tightened on the phone, his face growing pale as his stomach dropped. "What did you do to them, Jinseol?"

"Nothing yet," she said, her voice laced with bitterness. "But if you want to see them alive, you'll have to make a choice. You know what I want. Marry me. Be part of the family, and I'll let them go. Don't, and... well, let's just say I'm not exactly attached to their well-being."

Vernon and Mingyu exchanged worried looks, both of them already sensing where this conversation was going. Seungcheol's voice was low, dangerous, but calm. "I'm not marrying you, Jinseol. You can forget it."

"Then you better hurry, because things are going to get worse for them." Jinseol hung up with an icy finality that sent Seungcheol's heart racing.

"Where are they?" Mingyu asked, voice tight.

Seungcheol didn't hesitate. "We're going to get them."

He turned to Vernon and Mingyu, his eyes burning with determination. "I'm not going to let her hurt Jeonghan. Or any of them. I'll do whatever it takes to get them back."

Vernon's jaw clenched. "We're not letting them do this, Seungcheol. We'll follow you to the ends of the earth if it means keeping them safe."

Mingyu nodded firmly, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced with grim resolve. "They're our family. We won't lose them."

With the help of a GPS tracker on the couple bracelet Seungkwan and Vernon had shared for months, they managed to locate the building. The tension was thick as they arrived, hearts pounding in their chests, knowing they were running out of time.

The moment they entered the building, they could hear voices—the kidnappers, taunting and joking among themselves. The heavy door swung open, and the sight that greeted them made their blood run cold.

Hoshi, Jun, The8, and Dino were standing in front of the group of kidnapped friends, who were still tied to their chairs. Jinseol was there, too, holding a knife dangerously close to Wonwoo's throat.

"No!" Mingyu shouted, his voice cracking with urgency. "Let him go!"

Jinseol's smile was wicked, her eyes gleaming with jealousy. "I'll let him go... if you agree to my terms, Seungcheol."

"Let them go, or I swear I'll—"

"Or what?" Hoshi mocked, stepping forward, ready for a fight. "You think you can take us on? We have the upper hand."

But Mingyu wasn't backing down. He stepped forward, his body tense, ready to protect Wonwoo at any cost. "Get away from him," Mingyu growled, his eyes locked on Jinseol, who still had the knife pressed to Wonwoo's neck.

Vernon moved toward Seungkwan, who was shaking visibly, his face pale. "Don't worry, Seungkwan. We've got you." His voice was soft, comforting, as he moved to untie the ropes that bound Seungkwan's hands.

"Stay away from him, Vernon!" Jinseol yelled, her grip tightening on the knife. She swung it toward Wonwoo, but Mingyu lunged forward, shoving her arm away and pulling Wonwoo into his arms protectively.

The room erupted into chaos.

Jun rushed at Mingyu, trying to tackle him, but Vernon blocked him with a solid punch to the stomach. Hoshi and The8 went after Seungkwan and Vernon, who had just gotten free of his bindings, but Vernon fought back fiercely, using every ounce of his strength to protect Seungkwan.

Dino attempted to get between them, but Mingyu grabbed him by the collar, shoving him away with a snarl. "Don't you dare come any closer."

It didn't take long before the sound of sirens echoed in the distance, and the police arrived, taking control of the situation. Jinseol's eyes flared with frustration, but she was quickly handcuffed, along with her accomplices.

As the officers began to arrest the kidnappers, Hoshi shot Mingyu a glance. "Don't worry, my boyfriend will bail me out. Woozi always does." His grin was only half-hearted, as if the adrenaline of the moment had yet to wear off.

Seungkwan, his legs trembling, finally managed to stand on his own, though his body felt weak from the panic and fear. It was then that he saw Jinseol, who was glaring at him with a look of pure hatred, as if it was his fault everything had fallen apart.

Seungkwan's heart pounded, and suddenly, the world around him started to spin. His chest tightened, the panic rising, as his breaths came in quick, shallow gasps. He fell to his knees, eyes wide in terror.

"Seungkwan!" Vernon rushed to his side, kneeling down to catch him. "Seungkwan, hey, it's okay. Breathe with me. You're okay, just breathe."

Vernon's voice was soft but firm, and he began rubbing Seungkwan's back in slow, comforting circles. The warmth of Vernon's touch was grounding, even if Seungkwan's mind was racing. He clutched at his chest, trying to steady his breaths, feeling his world tilt on its axis.

"Just breathe, Seungkwan. You're not alone. I've got you. You're safe now."

Jeonghan, who had been watching the scene unfold in a mixture of shock and helplessness, finally found his voice. "Cheollie..." he whispered, but Seungcheol was already there, standing beside him.

"I'm here, Jeonghan. I'm not going anywhere," Mingyu said, pulling him into a tight embrace. "We're all going to be okay. Just stay with me."

As the police rounded up the last of the kidnappers, Mingyu rushed to Wonwoo's side, his arms opening wide. "Wonwoo," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I've been so worried about you."

Wonwoo, his own body still trembling from the ordeal, collapsed into Mingyu's embrace. "I'm so sorry, Mingyu. I never should have gotten you involved in this."

Mingyu held him tight, whispering, "I'm not letting you go, Wonwoo. Not now, not ever."

Later, after the police had cleared the scene and the kidnappers were taken away in custody, the group finally started to feel the weight of the situation lift—though the scars it left were still fresh.

Jeonghan and Seungcheol made their way to Seungcheol's condo, needing to put some space between themselves and the nightmare they'd just lived through. Wonwoo and Mingyu, still clinging to each other, left for their shared house, needing the comfort of their own space to heal. And Seungkwan, still reeling from the panic attack, found himself walking back to his house with Vernon by his side. Vernon wouldn't let him go alone—not after everything that had happened.

As they entered the quiet of Seungkwan's home, Vernon pulled him into a tight hug, murmuring softly, "I'm here, Seungkwan. You don't have to face this alone."

Seungkwan's body trembled, but the warmth of Vernon's embrace felt like home.

Only time and love would heal the traumas left behind by this dark chapter in their lives. But together, they would rebuild. Together, they would move forward.

 ~ 🍒💘😇 ~ ~ 🐶💘😺~ ~🐢💘🍊~