Pumped Up Kicks

5

'Didn't you hear what happened to that kid?'

'Yeah, he's fucking dead.'

'I heard he was raped.'

'That's disgusting. I cant imagine what his friend is going through.'

Jungkook's breathing began to quicken, his breath turned into labored pants as he dug through his pocket for his apartment keys. He soon found the silver key and rushed to open the door. He ran into the apartment, locking the door securely as he began to shake. He fished through his kitchen, grabbing a water bottle, downing it within seconds.

He gripped his arms tightly as he felt himself start to hyperventilate. Where the hell did that guy go? He was being followed, was he not? He ripped open the curtains and peered out the window, looking for the man with the sweater. After a while of staring, he didn't see anyone suspicious. He pulled his phone out of his pocket, a few notifications from his email about homework assignments.

He put his phone into a charger and began to take out his wallet. His mind flickered back to the moment in the cafe. "I'm such a fucking idiot," he muttered and threw the wallet onto the table. "I'm a fucking psychopath."

He tried to calm his breathing as he sat down on the couch. But his mind kept wavering back and forth. Feeling angry, scared, embarrassed even.

His apartment was generally clean, a few papers and binders laying about. Pens and pencils strewn across the coffee table. He looked at his unfinished school work, already knowing he might get dropped from the course. His nightly activities interrupting his time.

'Was there even a motive?'

'I dont even know. They probably just wanted his body.'

Jungkook gripped his hair, pulling hard as the voices kept repeating. They never stopped. They never stopped until he lost himself. But he already knew he was lost..

A sudden knock erupted on his door, his eyes flying open. His heart stopped for that one moment. His shaking returning.

"Jeon Jungkook-"

"Go away!" He shouted, "please dont kill me!" His eyes began to water as he ran to the corner of the living space. He curled up on himself, panting heavily, "Please!"

"Jungkook, this is the police!"

"Liar!" He panted, "You're just going to kill me when I open the door!"

'Open up bitch!'

'Dont!'

The tears began to flood down his face and he sobbed violently, "Go away!"

The door handle began to jingle violently as they tried to get through the door, "Please stop!"

"Jungkook!" The voice shouted. The jingling never ceasing.

"Stop it!" He sobbed, "Leave me alone!"

'Open the fucking door!'

"Stop!" He could feel his airways closing, making it impossible to get a single breath into his lungs. He started to cough violently, feeling his saliva start to build up.

Finally, the door swung open. Three police officers ran in to see Jungkook cry hysterically in the corner of his apartment, curled into a ball, gripping his ears. Tears, snot, and saliva dripping down his face. They quickly rushed over and tried to pry him from the walls.

"Get off of me!" He screamed, curling up tighter. They quickly backed off, one started talking into an earpiece, but his mind was so jumbled, he couldn't make out a single word. All he could hear was screaming, it never stopped. "Stop it! Please!"

They stared at him questioningly, not knowing if it was safe to approach him. He could feel everything get hazy, he could barely breath, all he heard was the screaming. He could feel himself start to pass out. He let himself succumb to unconsciousness, falling onto his side.

The officers were quick to rush back over to the unconscious college student. One officer pulled the boy up, pulling him across the couch.

"What the fuck just happened?" One finally spoke up.

Another one frowned, "how the hell am I supposed to know? He just started screaming."

"Did he think we were going to kill him?"

"Maybe?"

The last one put his finger into the earpiece, "Mr. Kim, did you hear any of that?"

"Yeah, bring him in." Namjoon's voice responded across their pieces. "I've never heard somebody scream like that."

"He passed out not long after we entered the apartment." Another went to search around the apartment. "So far, I'm not seeing anything suspicious. He just looks like a normal college student." He said, searching through the kitchen cabinets for anything stained in blood. "He doesnt own the knife from the photo, but then again, that's just the kitchen."

Another one ventured into his bedroom, knocking through his closet. "I dont see the sweater either. Nothing that really stands out." He said, ripping through shoe boxes. "I mean.. he has stuff a normal college student owns.."

"No mask?" Namjoon asked.

"None that we can see."

Namjoon sighed, "Alright, but just bring him in. The screaming was a bit.. unorthodox."

"Scared the shit out of all of us," the officer still standing by the boy replied. He looped his arms underneath the boy's knees and armpits and pulled him up. "Lighter than I expected."

"Just get him into the station."