Smoke Song

Memories

"Jungkook?"

He was back in the room, struggling, fighting, screaming as they loaded the pages onto the floor, kicking them together and covering them with their dark bootprints. One of them struck a match, throwing it on the paper, and stepped back, gesturing to the men holding him to back away. Then, pulling a small spray bottle off of his belt, he twisted it open and dumped it on the flames.

The pages went up in an instant.

"Jungkook."

He could feel their hands on his arms again, pulling him away, laughing as he struggled to reach them. It was hopeless. The pages were wet, burning quickly, the fire leaping higher and higher as they laughed, dragging him out and shutting the door. The equipment, the songs, the years of effort...

"Jungkook!"

They had Taehyung downstairs. He could hear him screaming and cursing, demanding to know what they were doing. What was going on. He stared at the closed door, eyes wide, as heat radiated outward.

"Get ready to go," their leader said.

"Jungkook!" Hoseok shook him, pulling him out of the doorway. "Hey, look at me. Are you okay?"

Jungkook let out a breath, shuddering. Hoseok frowned, squeezing his shoulder.

"Maybe you should wait downstairs."

Jungkook shook his head.

"But--"

Jungkook turned and walked down the hallway, pushing open the next door. Beyond it, the room looked untouched-- the blankets still rumpled, the empty shelves sitting forlornly by the open window. He walked in and sat on the bed, staring at the opposite wall.

"Jungkook?"

Jungkook shook his head and gestured for Hoseok to leave, swallowing. He heard the door close and looked up, for a moment, but there was no one there. Slowly, he slipped off the bed and used his shoulder to shove the mattress up, taking a deep breath. Looking underneath, he saw the CD book he'd hidden and let out a sigh of relief, tears bubbling up in his eyes. He reached over, knocking it between the bars, and dragged it out from under the bed, using his wrists to bring it on top of the mattress.

He sat down next to it, pulling it into his lap, and stared at them for a long time, tears dripping down his cheeks. Was it some sort of miracle? Had they assumed Taehyung was the cause and ransacked his room instead?

He heard a low thump downstairs and jumped, slapping it down on the bed. Namjoon swore loudly.

Jungkook cautiously reopened the chip bag and placed a chip in his mouth, chewing it. Namjoon continued to swear for a few more minutes and then broke off and came stomping up the stairs, muttering under his breath.

"Find anything?" he called, "It's about time to leave!"

"A few sheets of paper in his pillowcase," Hoseok yelled, "and a CD case behind a bookshelf. Everything else was destroyed."

Jungkook flinched. Ate another chip. Namjoon hammered on the door, making him jump.

"You okay in there?"

Jungkook was silent.

"C'mon," Namjoon pushed the door open and stopped, opening and closing his mouth. "What's wrong?"

Jungkook shook his head, sighing, and pushed the album toward Namjoon.

I don't want to go back, he thought. I don't want to go with them.

"You had a pretty good stash of food. Most of it's still there."

Jungkook didn't respond.

"Jungkook, please don't act like this."

Jungkook remained silent.

"Jungkook..." Namjoon sighed, shaking his head. "I'm sorry. I know we failed, I just--" Once again words seemed to elude him. Jungkook watched as he gestured vaguely, face twisted, and then gave up, shaking his head.

"Please. Come back with us."

Jungkook shook his head.

"Taehyung is worried about you."

Jungkook shrugged.

"You're going to let Yoongi get in the way of you being happy?"

Jungkook pushed the CD book toward him. Namjoon picked it up, flipping it open, and gaped at him. Jungkook gestured for him to go.

"But--"
Jungkook gestured again, lifting his lips in a silent snarl.

Namjoon's shoulders sagged. "Jungkook, I--" he stopped; Jungkook had turned away, lying down on the bed. "I'm sorry," Namjoon said softly.

Jungkook ignored him.

"Please stay safe," Namjoon said, and left, closing the door behind him. 

Please don't kill me, the story isn't over yet (>o<)