In Shades of Forever

CHAPTER SEVEN

"So you're saying that you've been on the run from this guy for years, and he's not managed to catch you once?" Yoongi asks me. It is clear by the tone in his voice that he finds my story incredulous. "How do you even know he's still after you?"

I huff in annoyance. As if I'd still be running for my life and living in fear if I didn't have to. Nonetheless, it is a fair question. One that I likely would have asked myself if the situations were reversed.

"My manager from the diner, he's working for Jacob. When he found out I was leaving he showed up on my doorstep to stop me. It's why I was so panicked when you returned," I say as I turn to look at Tae. "But what I don't understand is how he knew..."

And it's true. Now that I sit back and think of it, how would he have known? Tae begins to fiddle with his hands nervously, dragging my attention back to him.

"What did you do?" I ask him, voice raw with undeniable terror.

And as my hands begin to shake Tae's guilt seems to visibly increase. I wish that it didn't make me even more nervous, but that would be a lie.

"You're manager stopped me on my way back. He was looking for you and seemed really worried..." Tae trails off.

It isn't difficult to put two and two together. If the look on Taehyung's face says anything, it's that he didn't mean any harm. His entire face has gone pale, and all warmth has left his eyes. But dammit, my life was on the line.

"Tae, if he tells anyone that he saw you all of us are in danger!" I yell.

"Don't yell at my brother!" Yoongi shouts in return, wrapping his arms around a now shaking Tae. "Hyung, his meds!"

I watch as Jin scrambles from the room in a rush. Yoongi helps Tae to his feet, escorting him from the room even as Tae reaches out for me.

"I'm so sorry Chloe," he tells me. "I didn't mean to! I swear!"

Silence washes over the room as Tae and Yoongi exit. None of the other boys make any move to leave, nor do they say anything. The quiet is unnerving, and yet I have no idea what to say. Sure, I know that Tae probably didn't mean any harm. And he couldn't have known, especially since I didn't trust him enough to tell him everything. But I'm so scared right now. Who wouldn't be in my situation? And let's not forget that he has been blackmailing me. I wouldn't even be here right now if it wasn't for that.

"I promise that hyung didn't mean any harm. He wouldn't have told your manager if he'd known." Hoseok speaks up, irreversibly shattering the silence and igniting my rage.

"It doesn't matter," I tell him. "Even if he didn't mean to, he's endangered not only my life, but his too. Maybe even yours. And yours. Oh, and yours too. Not to mention the lives of the rest of your brothers."

Jungkook, who had previously come across as terribly shy, suddenly speaks up. Voice booming and dangerously low in defense of his hyung, he tells me "Don't get snarky with my brother."

"Then tell Taehyung to give me back my wallet and I can be on my way! I wouldn't be in this mess if he hadn't been blackmailing me in the first place!" I scream.

My face is rash red, a byproduct of all the stress and anxiety that is now coursing through my psyche. I can feel the way my heartbeat quickens, causing my breath to become heavier by the minute. It won't be terribly long before I begin to hyper ventilate, and I need to get out of here before that happens.

Hoseok, Jimin, and Jungkook each look at each other with worry clearly etched into their expressions. "About that," Hoseok begins.

But I'm not paying attention. I'm already on my feet, making way to the door on unsteady legs. Hoseok is the first to attempt an offer of assistance as they notice the way that I hold onto the wall for support. I push him away carelessly, not interested in any assistance he might provide.

It's clear that they knew about what Taehyung had been doing all along. How can I trust that he won't attempt to stop me? Manhandle me back to the bed, even? No. I can't.

But I also know that if they refuse to allow me to leave there isn't much I can do about it. And I half expect them to try and stop me. Yet, as I stumble through the hall, no one makes any move to restrain me, and the entire house is eerily silent. It puts me on edge, increasing my anxiety until my heart can no longer take it. I double over, nearly falling to the ground in an undignified heap as I begin to hyperventilate.

To my surprise, a pair of hands appear from seemingly thin air, halting my descent. My head is throbbing, blurring my vision and keeping me from clearly seeing the face attached to said hands.

"And just where do you think you're going?" My savior asks. I recognize the voice clearly. Strange that he would help me, since he seemed the least likely to have any real shred of decency. Or humanity.

"Yoongi, right?" I nearly pant. "Why try to stop me? Why help me? Just let me go, I'll crawl out of here if I have to."

I am wheezing. Barely holding myself up as I await his response. It feels as if I am staring down a dangerous beast, waiting for him to strike. He stands before me, barring my path. And it is only now that I notice the three youngest have been following me quietly the entire time.

But I can see the front door, and its only a couple of steps behind the surly cop with the surly countenance. He's simply staring at me, face resting in such a nonchalant manner. It's the look one might wear when watching an ant, or a beetle crawl feebly by. It annoys me so much that I almost want to slug him in the face.

Too bad I can't. "Move," I command, though I know damn well there's no way he's going to take me seriously when I lack even the most basic of human capabilities at the moment.

"You know," he begins "I really just don't feel like it."

I slump over, dropping to the floor like a sack of so many potatoes. Shit. I am no longer capable of standing. My voice trembles, unwilling to do my bidding as I demand once more for him to clear my path.

"Move," I whine, though it was meant to sound intimidating. No matter how much this man actually intimidates me I will not allow him to know it. I briefly wonder if he can smell my fear, much like an actual beast.

"And what're you gonna do if I don't," he says mockingly. "Punch me?"

I force my head to rise so that I can look him in the eyes. "I'll bite your fucking ankle I swear to all that is holy," I half growl, and half groan.

He chuckles at me, watching as my head slumps to the ground. But, mercy is granted to me nonetheless as he steps out of my way, hands held sarcastically forward. "After you," he says, all while wearing a shit eating grin.

I grit my teeth and try to ignore his constant chuckling as I literally drag myself through what I fervently consider to be my portal to safety.

"Go and get Jin," he tells the trio of boys, who I assume must still be behind me.

I hear the shuffling of their feet as they retreat, and then I am left with Yoongi and his infuriating chuckles. "So, how far do you think you'll make it before Jin arrives?" He asks me, clearly amused by the situation at hand. "Cuz I've seen snails crawl faster than you."

I really wish I could punch him in the face right now. "Could you be any more of an ass?" I croak.

"Oh yeah," he says enthusiastically in response."How's this? It's been fun watching you actively die, but now I'm bored." He says as he scoops me up effortlessly.

I wail, and pound my fists feebly against his chest, but his hold does not budge. Though it took me forever just to reach the doorstep, it takes him only a matter of moments to deposit me onto the living room's single couch. I yelp, as my body makes contact with the cushions.

Tae is all over me before I even have time to register what's happening. "I'm so sorry Chloe! I really didn't mean any harm by it!" He exclaims, burying his face into my shoulder. With his arms wrapped around me the way they are I can feel every twitch that his body makes as a result of the hiccups that now wrack his frame.

"Now," Yoongi says, voice oozing authority. "You're not leaving until you tell me everything. One way or the other, I'm going to get to the bottom of this."