Trepidation

Rematch tomorrow?

It was getting harder to breath. The air just didn't seem to want to cooperate with your desperate demands. The coarse hand squeezing cruelly around your neck, tightened, impossibly so, causing a peculiar rasping sound to tear from your abused throat.

You could almost feel your face swelling with trapped blood, almost like a balloon being filled past its limit, seconds away from popping with a bang. The corners of your vision begin to desaturate, and blur, you find yourself fighting unconsciousness, denying your mind the easy escape from the current terror and pain that is coursing through your body, becoming it's new life-blood.
Your legs jerked feebly, failing to make any contact with the unknown man that stood, with killing intent before you. Your hands stopped trying to pry his own from around your neck, and drop to your sides, knuckles grazing against the graffitied brick wall, you where currently pinned to. Your vision faded to black.

*Jungkook's pov*

"Tae, rematch, tomorrow, same time. I will not be beaten again, this was a one off".

I can't believe Tae beat me at pool, and by luck of all things, I just had to slip on that spilt drink, didn't I? I was doomed to loose from the start. My cue had slipped and accidently hit another ball, like what the actual hell!

It was dark as the two of us exited the local pub, warm yellow light from the doorway spilled onto the pavement, beckoning passers by in with the unspoken promise of a cold one and footie playing on the old TV half hanging off the wall.

I shoved my hands in the pockets of my inconspicuous non-branded jeans. Both me and Tae had decided to spend a day without our fans screaming our names, so we did the last thing our Army would expect; we went to primark, and did some shopping. I think we were recognised by some, but the fact that we were shopping in Primark-of all places, kinda added to our disguise.

I felt a tug on the back of my hoodie "Kookie, cover your ears, in this weather, they will freeze" Tae pulled my red fluffy hoodie over my head, a bit to far, and put his arm around my neck. Then, with astonishing strength, he playfully tosseled my hair, his knuckles grazing my head.

Shoving his scrawny figure away from me, I proceeded to grabbing him and yanking the chords dangling by his throat, hiding his face as his hoodie tried to fold in on itself. He tripped and grabbed my arm for support, and with a yank, I helped him upright.

Our playful laughter (or girlish giggle in Tae's case) was pierced suddenly, and a very frightened scream tore through the nights blanket of silence.

We froze. Me, with both arms around Tae's waist to stop him from falling, and him, with one arm out for balance, the other wrapped around my neck.

Nothing happened.

Nothing made a sound.

Nothin moved.

Not even the wind, which not thirty seconds ago had seemed hell bent on separating limb from limb, made a whisper.

Silence.

Then it shattered.

The pub door creaked shut and time began once again.

Looking back, Jungkook would describe it as a scene from a war movie, when a grenade lands in a peaceful bunker, and all its occupants freeze, waiting for what they know is going to happen. Forgetting to breath as their faces drain of colour and their eyes widen. Then the bomb would explode, and many things would happen simultaneously. Yes. That's an accurate depiction.

*Tae's Pov*

Like the starting shot in a race had been fired, Jungkook launched foward, practically catapulting himself towards the direction of the terrified sound, almost falling flat on his face in his hurry to find he source. He was barely a foot ahead of me, but I knew that from this point on, I would be chasing him tirelessly; both literally and figuratively for the remainder of the night.

We raced at breakneck speed round a corner and into the entrance of a rather shady looking alleyway. My speed decreased cautiously, however Jungkook stormed on, no doubt his mind only focused on aiding the owner of the piercing shriek that changed this nights mood so drastically.

About five foot ahead, Jungkook sped up, impossibly so. Then, without warning, he drew his right fist back behind his head, and with the power, speed and deathly grace of a snake, snapped his fist forward and struck something. Something that let out an animalistic shriek and crumpled.

I frantically tried to decrease my speed to avoid crashing into Jungkook's back, but ended up having to brace my hands on his shoulder blades to completely stop. The darkness combined with the sheltered shadows of the alleyway, concealed the object of Jungkook's obvious fury.

A small movement-a twitch-captured my eyes and I could make out another, smaller, shivering body, pressed up against the wall. I crouched down hesitantly and held out a hand, moving slowly, so as not to cause unnecessary fear. Like a threatened animal, the body whimpered and curled in on itself, and as my eyes adjusted I saw the most pitiful sight; a young girl, no older than 18 but no younger than 16 peered up at me, her face half hidden by a curtain of hair. It hit me. The terrified scream. Jungkook's fury. Jungkook's rare outburst of violence. But most of all, the reasons behind his reaction.

The breath I didn't even know I had been holding hissed out through my teeth.

*Jungkook's pov*

When I saw the two silhouettes; one dominating and imposing, the other struggling and kicking, I knew what was happening. Without pausing to assess the potential danger of the situation I was quite literally running head first into, my legs sprinted forward of their own accord. I could hear Tae grunting behind me, and I knew I could count on his backup if things got heated.

More details unveiled themselves as my legs carried my body closer. The closer I became, the more repulsed and furious I could feel myself becoming. Adrenaline took over-a much welcomed drug. I raised a fist and next thing I knew, I struck something both hard, and soft. The 'thing' crumpled ungracefully in a crooked heap.

Tae barreled into by back, shocking me out my stupor and gasped. I followed his gaze and stepped back, in all my life had I never seen such a terrified expression on another human being before, and nor did I ever wish to again.

I continued to back up so as to give her space to get her head around the past 10 seconds sudden events. She looked like she needed it, and after my violent display, perhaps me approaching her would do more harm than good.

Beside me, Tae crouched and held out a hesitant, shaking hand. The figure whimpered. I glanced down at the crumpled 'thing' on the floor and kicked it away in disgust. Filthy, vile, trash like 'that' deserved to rot in a prison cell. I turned my attention back to his 'would have been victim' and noticed Tae's hesitation to approach.

The sky rumbled suggestively and I was fearful of a possible storm. This poor girl looked like one drop of rain might cause her shatter into a million pieces.

With a sigh, I shruged out of my cheap, fake leather jacket, I held it out, awkwardly. After staring at the offensive piece of fabric like it was some unknown Foreign object for a couple of seconds, she lowered her gaze to the pavement, now splattered with the first few drops of rain. I sighed and leant over and carefully wrapped it around her bare shoulders, to my suprise, she leant into my touch and buried her head in the crook of my arm,trying to bury herself away from reality. Nodding to Tae, I shifted my weight to my legs and prepared to hoist the now sobbing figure into my arms. As if knowing my intentions, she wound her hands around the back of my neck. I shivered involuntary at her cool touch and hoisted her into my arms.

I couldn't help but notice how little she weighed, I could carry her with ease and doubted I would tire anytime soon. Tae looked at me, expectantly, and I realised I had no idea what to do now. I couldn't take her back to the dorm... Could I?

"Tae-?" As if having read my mind (rather than my obvious intentions), Tae inched his head forward, and held out his arm in the direction of the main Street.
"She can't be left here, we have no choice. Take her back to the dorm". Meanwhile, his piercing gaze never left my own. "He on the other hand, can freeze". It took me a moment to realise who 'He' was referring to, but upon recognition, my face twisted up into an involuntary scowl.
"Agreed".