✔ || Save Me [[SEQUEL to DISTRACT ME]]

Chapter 1

{A/N: I'm back with very little warning let's do this}

The boy was cute, but that was all she could say about him. It wasn't his fault - he was only human, after all, and she was used to the unblemished beauty of her kind. She pushed her essence closer, gazing quizzically at the being that had brought her brother happiness in his unimaginable despair. Even she could appreciate that if one knew they'd never see another angel again, this boy would be a suitable choice. She pulled away, not wanting to wake him up before his body was prepared. She almost giggled at how fragile the human form was. After a moment, the boy stirred, and she froze, holding her breath.

A wave of pain pierced through Jeongguk's skull like a javelin. He blinked, purple spots dancing across his vision, and groaned, squeezing his eyes shut again. His bed was significantly harder than he remembered, and he patted it experimentally and frowned. Did one of the hyungs really think it'd be funny to put him on a slab of rock as he slept? He bet it was Jimin. He'd kill him.

Jimin.

Taehyung.

Shit.

Jeongguk flew up, his joints complaining, and looked around wildly. When his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he mused that heaven was a real letdown. He stood, using the cold, damp wall for support. Its slick stone dug into his palm. There were no windows, at least none that he could see. He shuffled forward, keeping his hand pressed to the wall and reaching his free one out in front of him, until he came into contact with the corner. He hesitantly followed it until he found hinges. When squinting, he could make out the shape of a wooden door. There was no handle on the inside, only bolts that proved the other side had one. He banged his fist on the steadfast door once, wincing at the echo. Turning, he gazed around himself. The room was small, but he breathed a sigh of relief at the outline of a toilet he spotted in the corner. And then pursed his lips, anxiety rising in his chest, because why would there need to be a toilet? How long would he be stuck in here?

She smiled to herself. Heaven hadn't had a trial for a Fallen since the first archangel - Lucifer - fell, and they had never had one with a human as a witness. She had pointed out to them - the guards - that if the boy didn't have someplace to go when he woke up, it was only a matter of time before their lives got ugly.

"Taehyung?" Jeongguk called, not really expecting an answer.

She frowned. There was inconsolable sadness in that single word, as if the boy worried he was too late to save her brother from hell. She wanted to reach out to him, impressed by the love he exuded just in uttering Taehyung's name, but stopped herself. Not yet.

Jeongguk's voice was too loud in the small quarters and his words bounced off the thick walls, coming back to ring in his ears. He wetted his lips nervously, "Hyung? Taehyung?"

Nothing. Jeongguk shuddered and pressed his back against the wall, sliding down to sit against it. Though the room had a bitter chill, sweat made his t-shirt cling to his back. He hugged his knees, trying to remember how to breathe. Panicking would not help his situation.

She watched as the boy began to quake, his shoulders shaking violently. Was this what humans called crying? She'd never seen it this close before. It was heartbreaking, and it gave her another reason to be happy that she wasn't privy to outbursts of human emotion on a daily basis. Not like the guardians are. Not like Taehyung once was. She longed to make her presence known, but she knew it wasn't a good time yet. Besides, she wasn't even one hundred percent sure that this was the right human. Though, what other human was alive here? Still, she had to trust that the right moment would arise for her to ask. Until then, she'd watch over him quietly (though his guardian should be the one doing that, but after Taehyung had reached out to her through their bond, she knew she had to do it herself).

The walls loomed over Jeongguk like vultures, threatening to crush him. He shrunk in on himself, trying to become as small as possible so that the room would have a harder time swallowing him whole. He craned his neck, eyes searching manically. Loud enough to strain his vocal cords and make his ears hurt, he screamed, "Taehyung?"

Ow. Sad humans are loud.

All the moisture in Jeongguk's throat siphoned out with that one word, and with it his willpower. He slumped back, trying not to hyperventilate.

"Aish," a soft voice suddenly said. Jeongguk jumped to his feet, squinting into the inky darkness. "Quiet down, why don't you?"

Try as he might, Jeongguk couldn't find the origin of the voice. Fear crawled up his spine and he pressed his back against the wall, eyes flicking wherever they could. He was starting to grow used to the dark, and he could make out some more outlines. A wooden chair. A cot, the one that had left his skull throbbing. A sink, which appeared to have a bar of soap sitting on it.

There was no one else in the room.

"Who are you?" Jeongguk demanded. Then, confused, "Where are you?"

Rude.

"Shut up and listen," the voice snapped, and Jeongguk realized it belonged to a girl. "I don't have much time. Are you Jeon Jeongguk?"

"Who's asking?" the maknae pressed.

"Good lord, I'm going to assume that's a yes," the voice sighed. "My name is Eden. I was...friends with Taehyung back before - well, you know."

At the sound of his boyfriend's name, Jeongguk started forward. "Where is he? Where am I?"

"Hush," Eden snapped. "I can't stay long, so I need you to just listen."

"Where are you?" Jeongguk insisted. "Are you here?"

"Not exactly," Eden said, choosing her words carefully. "Listen, you're in Purgatory until the archangels figure out what to do with you." She giggled, "You certainly ruffled Raphael's feathers when you demanded to come. It was funny to watch him stomp around when he got back."

At the archangel's name, a wave of anger washed over the maknae. "Can you get to the point?"

Her focus lapsed and she became aware of someone approaching her. She needed to get back to her body fast.

"Ah, shit," Eden's voice cut out for a moment before returning. "Look, Jeongguk, I'm on your side. I saw what Raphael did to Taehyung." Her voice hardened, "If you're really as brave as you look and it's not just stupidity, and if you really love Taehyung as much as you seem to, then I'm here to help you. Just hang tight, I have to leave. You and Taehyung really screwed up stuff for us lower ranks. All the archangels are pissed. As funny as it is, it means I don't get to slack off. Anyway, being in Purgatory, you probably won't be able to speak to Taehyung in your dreams like you used to."

"What?!" Jeongguk snapped, true panic grappling at his throat.

"Relax, kid, good lord," Eden said, aware of her body being talked to. Great, now she had to explain what she was doing. "I'll be back later, and we'll try to get that sorted out so that you will be able to again, I promise. Right now, though, I really need to go. Try the bread, it's great if you like to eat chalk."

Jeongguk's eyebrows furrowed. He wasn't sure how he knew it, but he knew that the voice was gone.

What was happening? What had he and Taehyung done?