FALLEN PIECES | BTS

i.iv

❝I couldn't have been a normal twenty-something woman, could I?❞ — Arty's journal

⇠ ┈ ┈ ┈ ♛ ┈ ┈ ┈ ⇢

'If you wish to see her again, alive, then you will listen to my instructions very carefully,' Namjoon drawled, the English words rolling off his tongue like silk. Although slightly muffled by the full-faced mask, the leader made sure his voice carried through to the camera.

With squared shoulders and head held high, Namjoon knew he looked every bit the intimidating gang leader he was. Although, if he were being honest, the two holes the girl was burning in the side of his head was starting to get a little distracting. He gave her shoulder another squeeze as a warning, but she refused to look away. With a small sigh, Namjoon continued.

Setting out the price he and the others had previously agreed on, Namjoon continued with his instructions on how to get the money to them. Cash only, of course.

'You have until 11:59pm Korean Standard Time seven days from now. If we do not receive the payment by then, you will get your daughter back. But in boxes.'

With a nod from Namjoon, Jungkook stopped recording. Yoongi stepped forward and removed the gag from the girl's mouth, not being overly gentle as he untangled the knot from her hair. The dark brown curls held a wild look to them now, which, coupled with her blazing blue eyes, gave the feeling of a raging wolf trapped in an invisible cage.

'What the hell was that? Don't you dare gag me like that again,' she hissed, glaring up at Namjoon. 'You will regret this, I promise you that.'

He noted her clenched fists, forearms straining against the ties that held them in place. Her bare feet were flexed against the concrete floor, her pretty lips pulled in a snarl. Namjoon smirked. Far from the composed rich girl reigning supreme in her kingdom earlier that day.

'You aren't in a position to be making demands, my dear. In case you haven't noticed, you're the one tied to a chair.'

Her snarl didn't change. 'Kinky.'

'If that's the game you want to play, Princess, I am more than willing.'

She rolled her eyes and slumped back in her chair. 'Princess. Very original.'

Namjoon chuckled lightly. He had to admit that he was impressed by her apparent lack of fear throughout the whole situation, polar opposite to the other girl. He took a step closer to her, looming over the young woman and forcing her to crane her neck in order to continue glaring at him.

'But that is what you are, aren't you, Artemisia Williams? A princess.' He paused. 'Or is the proper honorific "your Highness"?'

Namjoon reached out a hand, long fingers grazing the side of her cheek. She jerked her head away, red high on her cheekbones. He smirked a little behind the mask.

'Born and raised in luxury. People there to attend to every need, every want. It's all you've ever known, Highness.'

'And what would you know? You're just a criminal,' she spat.

Namjoon lowered himself, coming within a hairsbreadth of her face. 'I know everything, Mouse.'

Her sharp breath told him he had struck a nerve. Grinning now, he rose. 'I know everything from the name of your first pet to the meal you had at that pretty little French cafe last weekend.'

Her jaw clenched as he leant in by her ear.

'A croissant, I believe, with butter and strawberry jam.'

Namjoon chuckled as she jerked her head away from him. She finally turned her gaze from his, instead staring at the wall straight in front of her, jaw clenched. After a moment of silence, Namjoon nodded to the rest of his crew.

'JM, JK, take the Princess to her chambers.'

The two men walked forward and began to untie the woman. She didn't react, although Namjoon noticed her eyes still burned. She may be a handful in the future, he thought to himself.

His mind went upstairs to the pile of papers waiting on his desk. Although it was now creeping into the small hours of the morning, his night wasn't over, even as the tiredness began to lag at his shoulders. Leaving Jimin and Jungkook to take Artemisia to her room and Taehyung to pack up the camera, he started to make his way out with the rest of the gang.

'You won't get the money.'

Namjoon froze at the doorway, glancing back at Artemisia. She was now free of her restraints, standing up with Jungkook and Jimin gripping her around each arm. She didn't struggle, didn't fight. Instead, the fire in her eyes was now a determined glint, harsh and cold.

'What do you mean, Highness?'

'You won't get paid. My parents won't be able to.'

'Your parents have more money in their bank account than some countries. They'll pay.' He raised an eyebrow, not that she could see it. 'Unless they don't love you enough?'

Smirking, her eyes darkening with malicious humour as the two gang members by her side began escorting her out. 'Send some makeup wipes to my room will you? And don't forget food.'

Namjoon was left in slight bewilderment, almost wanting to laugh at just how blasé the young woman was. There was a glimmer of admiration in his eyes as he removed his mask.

'She is quite something.'

Taehyung glanced up from the camera bag, where he had almost finished packing it away, memory chip safely tucked into his pocket. A hint of amusement ghosted his lips.

'She'll only get worse. She hates being out of control.'

'And hungry, apparently.' Namjoon sighed, running a hand through his hair. He pondered a moment, thoughts not leaving the parting remarks she had made.

You won't get paid.

'No report to authorities has been made yet about her?'

'Nope. No witnesses were left, and Jin-hyung and Hobi-hyung took care of the media.'

The leader nodded absentmindedly. 'Good, good.'

He paused, putting his hands in his pockets and gazing at the open door. 'You know, it'll be weird having women here for more than one night at a time.'

Taehyung chuckled, zipping up the bag and hoisting it onto his shoulder. Making his way out of the room, the young man clapped his leader on the shoulder. 'Don't worry hyung, by the end of this week we will have the money we need.'

Namjoon hummed in reply as Taehyung left, leaving him in the white room alone.

'Something tells me that might not be exactly right.'

⇠ ┈ ┈ ┈ ♛ ┈ ┈ ┈ ⇢

Another short one! Hope you are enjoying xx

I.J.