the thirteenth | kim taehyung

chapter 12

TAEHYUNG'S POV

Our eyes locked and although Anabelle's eyes were fogging up with tears, I could vividly see the pain piercing through her body. She had trusted a monster; someone who is too broken to be fixed and healed. There was nothing I wanted more than to erase her memory or turn back time to prevent myself from doing this, but I couldn't. It was far too late for this and there was no turning back now. I had my reasons for what I did, but I knew Anabelle wouldn't understand . . .

Rein had just left and it was about six a.m. in the morning. She had slept over but decided to flee before anyone happened to come into the woods for a hike and see the both of us. Because I was so used to the shack and my surroundings, I didn't worry too much. I continued to eat my bland breakfast until I heard the sound of glass shattering. I looked up from my bowl to see a camera taking a picture of me. The flash blinded me for half a second, but I caught a glimpse of the girl's face who was holding the device. My heart started to race and although my face was burning up with fury, I felt cold, freezing even. A cold sweat ran down my neck as I wondered, "How did she even find me?"

To keep the Lee's from picking fights and causing trouble with us, my parents chose to pretend that I was dead. They wanted to have them feel sympathy for us, and it worked. We no longer got any threats from them, it was like we both decided on a peace treaty. I remember having to quit school and not being able to leave the house unless it was late at night. But of course, every child would've been asleep by then, so I didn't have any friends. My parents depended on Rein to reteach and educate me, which didn't always work out. I was grateful for her help, but I didn't understand anything she discussed with me. Instead, I taught myself by using my sister's old books.

I immediately ran outside, seeing a swaying ponytail make its way out of the woods. I chased after Amber, losing the sight of her red hoodie every now and then. Luckily, she started to slow down when we neared the town. I was sweating and my body ached, but I needed that picture deleted before it got into the hands of the Lee's. I almost had her, when she suddenly turned left and towards a gray building, the LemonWood Mental Institution. I recognized it, since I spent most of my summer there. She took a card from the pocket of her hoodie and swiped it across the door handle, making an entrance for herself. Amber raced into the institute, but had forgotten to lock the door behind her. A smirk appeared on my face as I slowed down. Now that she and I were under the same roof, there was no way of escaping. "Poor choice, Amber Lee." I shouted into the large room. My deep voice echoed, making me sound horrifying. I arched my back and looked under the crack of a door. Fortunately for me, I saw a pair of familiar sneakers; Amber's. I turned the doorknob, surprised that it wasn't locked. Within four feet away from me, was a trembling girl clutching onto a camera, the one with a picture of me on it.

"If you take one more step towards me, I'll send the photo to my family." Her voice cracked, revealing that she was terrified and desperate to stay alive.

"Well unfortunately, you won't live to see your family again anyways." I confidently replied, taking a step forward. I then retreated to lean a patient's dresser against the door, shoving it hard enough to make sure it wouldn't budge. When I faced Amber, there were already streaks of tears running down her powdered face. Her makeup began to wash off, revealing her blemishes and imperfections. I then realized how similar she looked to Rein, with the green eyes and tall nose. I took a step back and rubbed my eyes, hoping the resemblance would go away. But it didn't, and I couldn't help but to wonder if all this time, I was chasing down my own sister.

"Rein?" I asked in a small voice. By now, my vision was spinning and I felt dizzy. I thought all that running was giving me hallucinations, but my mind put together the pieces for me. The dark brown hair that my mother used to braid everyday, her stressed wrinkles, the red jacket she brought back from Canada. It all formed an understanding in my head; betrayal. For the first time in years, my nose began to run, along with liquids from my eye. But I wasn't sad or disappointed. Instead, I was angry and furious. I didn't even wait for her to reply. I broke off a wooden leg from the dresser in one pull and slowly walked towards her, my once loving sister.

"This whole time, I thought you were Amber, out to gain revenge on us. But really, it was you all along. It wasn't our sworn enemy who was stabbing my damn back. It was you, my own fucking sister." I screamed in her face. Splinters from the wooden leg were stabbing my palm, but I didn't even feel it. The pain of the last person I trusted betraying was eating me alive.

"Taehyung, I'm so sorry. But the way you talked about that girl made me feel that you had grown weak. I thought you were going to give up and turn us into the Lee's. I didn't know of your intention, so I joined them." Rein slurred her words but I made out the sounds, although I shouldn't have. Within seconds, her limp body was lying on the cold floor. Her blood seemed to blend in with the red color of her hoodie, making it seem like she was wearing a coat of it. I stared back down at the body and somehow, I didn't feel any emotion.

You were wrong, Rein. There's no turning back when you've hit rock bottom.

+ author's note: HELLO AND IM SO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING IN SO LONG. BUT TESTING IS FINALLY OVER FOR ME THANK JISOOS OK HOPE YA LIKED THIS UPDATE!! I LOVE YALL A LOT AND WE REACHED 1.2K!! AHH OKI BYE GUYSS <3