The End of Us! [JK x Reader]

Chapter Twenty Five (1/2)

As I returned to Earth, the familiar weight of reality settled onto my shoulders. The moment my feet touched the cold marble floor of the penthouse, a strange stillness filled the air

Nothing had changed

Everything was exactly how I had left it. The curtains were drawn, the faint scent of lavender still lingered, and then... there it was

My body

It sat slumped against the floor, frozen in the same position I had abandoned it in a week ago

Seeing it like this, lifeless and untouched, sent a chill down my spine. I swallowed hard, stepping closer, my fingers hovering over my own shoulder

The moment I made contact, a violent pull yanked me forward, like being dragged underwater by an unseen force. My vision blurred, and then, with a sharp gasp tore from my lips as I snapped back into my body

Pain flared through my stiff limbs, a dull ache spreading from my back to my legs. I groaned, shifting slightly, wincing at the discomfort

"Ugh!" My voice was hoarse, my throat dry from disuse "I shouldn't have left my body like this!"

The realization settled in, I had been gone for an entire week. My body hadn't moved, hadn't eaten, hadn't even breathed properly in all that time. It was a miracle I was still alive

With a sharp exhale, I pressed my hands against the floor, trying to steady myself. But before I could even think about standing, something caught my eye

My phone

The screen was dark, but I could feel it, an eerie weight, as if it held something urgent. With shaky fingers, I reached for it, pressing the power button

The screen lit up instantly and a dozens of missed calls and messages popped in, mostly from Ji-Yeon

Ji-Yeon: 5 Days Ago
"Princess, Hyung was attacked. The King and Prince Rowan came for him"
"I barely managed to save him. If it weren't for the power you gave me before leaving... he wouldn't have survived"

I froze. My breath hitched, my pulse pounding in my ears

They had already come for him

I scrolled further, dread curling in my stomach as I saw another message

Ji-Yeon: Yesterday
"They attacked again. It was worse this time"
"I held them off, but the damage was done. Hyung... he's sick. The Devil King's power did something to him. I don't know what, but he's not healing. His body is burning "

My grip tightened on the phone

A slow, burning fury ignited in my chest

They weren't just trying to kill him. They were breaking him, piece by piece, until he had nothing left

I clenched my jaw, my fingers trembling as I immediately called Ji-Yeon

He picked up on the first ring

"Princess" his voice came through the speaker, composed but laced with tension

"Tell me everything" I said, my tone sharp. "Now!"

A brief silence followed before he exhaled

"The first attack happened two days after you left" he began "Prince Rowan led it, but the King was there too, watching from the shadows. Hyung fought, but he was outmatched. The power you left me... it helped, but I could only do so much"

I gritted my teeth "And the second attack?"

Ji-Yeon hesitated

"...It was worse" he admitted "The King is getting desperate. He's done waiting. Hyung barely survived this time, and the wounds... they're different. They're not healing the way they should... his body temperature is not falling, it's only increasing"