SHATTERED INNOCENCE

chapter 11

The late morning sun filtered softly through the curtains, casting a warm, golden glow over the room.

Taehyung slowly blinked awake, his eyes adjusting to the light. He reached out instinctively to the other side of the bed, expecting to find Jungkook's warm presence, but his hand met only cool, empty sheets.

A small frown tugged at his lips as he realized Jungkook was already gone.

Where could he be? Taehyung's thoughts swirled with innocent curiosity.

The mansion, once an intimidating labyrinth, now felt more like a puzzle he was eager to solve.

There was something about Jungkook—something that both frightened and fascinated him.

His initial fear was beginning to ebb away, replaced by a desire to understand the man who had become his protector.

Deciding he couldn't stay in bed all day, Taehyung slipped out from under the covers.

The cool marble floor sent a slight shiver up his spine as his small feet padded across the room. He glanced around, taking in the opulence of the space that now belonged to him as well. But there was no sign of Jungkook.

A sense of adventure sparked within him. Perhaps, if he wandered through the mansion, he might find Jungkook—or at least learn more about him.

His curiosity piqued, Taehyung stepped out of the bedroom, venturing into the vast hallways that seemed to stretch on endlessly.

The mansion was a maze of corridors and rooms, each more elaborate than the last. Taehyung wandered through them, his fingers lightly trailing along the cold, ornate walls.

He found rooms filled with books that looked ancient, weapons displayed like trophies, and artefacts that spoke of a life filled with power and danger.

The more he saw, the more he realized just how vast and complex Jungkook's world was—a world he was now a part of.

His exploration led him to a heavy wooden door, slightly ajar. Curious, Taehyung nudged it open and stepped inside. The room was immediately comforting, yet it held an air of mystery—Jungkook’s study.

The scent of expensive cologne mixed with something darker hung in the air, enveloping him in a strange sense of security.

As he ventured further in, Taehyung’s eyes were drawn to a small, framed photograph on the desk. It was of a younger Jungkook, his expression serious, almost distant.

Taehyung stared at it for a long moment, trying to reconcile the image of the stern man with the one who had held him so gently.

What had shaped him into the person he was today?

Lost in thought, Taehyung’s fingers absentmindedly brushed against the edge of a large painting hanging on the wall. He paused, something about it feeling off.

His curiosity flared again as he applied a bit more pressure, and to his surprise, the painting shifted, revealing a hidden door behind it.

His heart raced. What could be behind this secret door? Jungkook had warned him to stay away from certain parts of the mansion,

but the pull of the unknown was too strong. Despite the fear that gnawed at the edges of his mind, Taehyung slowly opened the door.

A cold draft rushed out, sending a shiver down his spine as he peered into the darkness beyond.

Taking a deep breath, Taehyung stepped inside.

The door quietly clicked shut behind him, sealing him in as he descended the dimly lit staircase.

Meanwhile, Jungkook had returned to the mansion, expecting to find Taehyung still asleep in their bed.

But when he entered the room and saw it empty, a flicker of panic, something unfamiliar to him, gripped his chest.

He immediately checked the security cameras, scanning through each feed with a growing sense of urgency.

Suddenly, the footage showed Taehyung running down one of the mansion's many hallways,

his small figure darting between the shadows. Jungkook’s heart pounded as he tracked Taehyung’s movements on the screen, his mind racing to figure out where the boy was headed.

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Byew