Shadow Dancing | K.TH

Probably Be

Sparks of pain clear out the hazy cloud in my mind, bringing me back to reality that I didn't know if I wanted to be back in anymore.

"I'm sorry, Noona." I hear Jungkook strain with my eyes half open. He's doing something with my wrist— and every time he touches the skin, it sends shivers flying up my spine.

"What are you doing?" I rasp as I attempt to get up. The moment I move even a single inch, intense streaks of agony makes me fall back gasping for breath.

"Don't move!" He exclaims, pushing my head back down on his crossed legs. "You're going to make the other ones act up as well, and that would be really bad. And don't worry— I'm just fixing up a splint for your wrist."

When I glance up at his stifled tone, I realize that his face is a mess of fury and grief— and I carefully shift my other hand just the tiniest bit to rest on his folded knee.

"Everything's going to be okay."

By this time, there was no doubt that V had found me missing. There was also zero suspicion that he knew for a fact where I'd disappeared off to without telling him.

"You don't know that," Jungkook snaps, his face pale as he looks over at my battered body. "Stop fidgeting, Noona. You'll just make things worse."

When I peer over to get a glimpse at my wrist, I nearly faint at how horrible the wound looks. No wonder why Jungkook had sounded so scared— it looked like it was about to explode into a bleeding mess in a second or two.

Under the layers and layers of cloth that Jungkook had forced over a metal bar, I could see the deepest bruise I'd ever seen in my entire life. The shade of purple was so dark that I'd mistaken it for black when I'd first seen it.

And I couldn't feel my wrist at all— not even the hand attached to it and the fingers after that. It was like all my nerves beyond that wrist were completely destroyed, taking my ability to feel.

"How are you feeling, Noona? I couldn't find any other injuries— just a couple bruises or two. Is there more I'm missing?"

"No, I'm fine." I whisper, tracing the hard curve of the bar underneath the cloth. "Where did you find the metal for the splint?"

"There was a loose bar on the cell window— so I tugged that one out." While he explains, I confirm his claim by checking that the window was, indeed, missing the outermost bar to the right.

"Thanks, Kook." I say, smiling as much as my lips would let me. "I'm sorry for just ditching you like that."

"You passed out, Noona." He murmurs incredulously. "What could you have done?"

The boy looked like he was about to break down any moment— and I didn't blame him. Covered with his own blood and being held captive inside a place like this was bound to drive anyone to tears.

I'd just gotten over that stage a long time ago.

And he was so young.

"We'll get out of here somehow." I muse, tracing impatient circles on the cold ground. "Or they'll come for us first. One or the other."

"Or we die." He adds sullenly, and I whip toward him with my eyes wide with surprise.

"Don't say that!"

"It's true, Noona."

Yes, but....

"Can't have you thinking like that, Kook." I mutter, clasping his cold, limp hands. They're still stained with dried blood, and I run my thumb across the rough surface in an attempt to give him some comfort.

We both have no idea how long we've been here for— the only window in the cell has a sheet of metal attached to the other side of the opening to obscure any signs of the skies outside.

The only sky we see in here is gray, and would remain that color until we either died or broke out.

I was hoping for the second option— the first one was far too dreadful and terrifying to think about.

"It hurts, doesn't it?" My fingers brush across the countless cuts made on his skin, and I can't describe how much I want that beating to be his last with the words I have in my head. "You should go to sleep, Kook. It'll help pass the time."

"But Noona—"

"No excuses." I wag a painful finger at him, already raising myself from his folded legs. It's an agonizing process and Jungkook seems to be able to tell— but it's worth it when I finally shift off and lie on the ground.

Like all he needed was my permission, he slumps against the wall, his body already limp and relaxed. Before he closes his eyes, he tucks my bundled jacket under my head to serve as a makeshift pillow.

"Thank you." I smile, but he never sees it. His eyes are closed, his breathing already even with the signs of sleep. He must've been absolutely exhausted to fall asleep so quickly— now I was regretting that I'd prevented him from getting rest any sooner.

My fingers tingle with the fade as I look directly up at the dark ceiling, crumbly and dotted with holes with age.

I miss V.

It couldn't have been more than a day or two, and I was already missing him so much it hurt.

Everything hurt.

Shutting my eyes tightly, I try to picture being back at the living room instead of his dark cell. All of the lights would be on, and Jin would be yelling at Jimin to stop leaving all of them alight. While he was scolding the younger ones to clean up after themselves, he would be doing all the chores and housework— being the responsible elder brother like he was.

And of course, Yoongi would be passed out on his favorite beanbag chair and hurling savage comments at whoever victim he found next.

On the far side, V would be reading a novel, his eyes trained onto the book and flipping the pages nearly every single second. And the book, undoubtedly, would be titled something like The Arts of Combat.

Even thinking about his slanted eyes slanted even further and his brows furrowed with concentration brought a happy smile to my lips.

And I'd probably be playing a chess game with Namjoon, only because he'd simply insisted me to. Of course, after his first lucky win, I would make sure he would never win again.

The scene gets more real every passing second as I look to the left, glimpsing Jimin bicker with Hoseok about how they liked their breakfast eggs prepared. The topic was absolutely pointless— which just made me laugh even more.

Where was Jungkook?

Gosh.

I'm going in way too deep.

Of course I couldn't see Jungkook— he wasn't there. But if he was, instead of being stuck in this damned cold cell....

He would probably be continuously pestering me to make him another one of his favorite PBJ sandwiches.