FOOLS

Chapter 23

His hands were too numb to drive and he knew that, but he still couldn't help but believe that if he was driving, he would have been there already. Even so, he trusted his brother to drive. In the dead of night, it was only the two of them and the car that were alive. Jungkook had never been scared of speeding because he always outran the police. But something about having the lead investigator in his car gave him unlimited power.

Right now, he couldn't quite enjoy it. He was more focused on getting to the mansion on time, or else there will be casualties, and it won't be just Namjoon's mother. "Hyung, we're almost there." Jungkook reassured. The man in the passenger seat simply nodded, he stared at the window blankly as his knuckles became ghost white. Something about his brother's volatile state transferred onto Jungkook. He knew what it was like to lose a mother, and now especially at the hands of their father. Even though he had never met Namjoon's mother, something tells him that she is a good person and deserves to live.

The car rolled to a stop at the gate. Instead of the usual empty golden gates, they were met with a group of suited men. They stood still, like Roman statues. Namjoon exchanged glances with his brother, who tilted his neck arrogantly and poke his tongue at his cheek. "Looks like it won't be an easy rescue." Namjoon joked in an attempt to help his brother relax, but honestly it was for himself.

"I didn't think it would be." Jungkook replied. "This is more fun. Go to your mother, I'll take care of them."

"Jungkook, there are ten men out here. You can't take them all on."

"I know. But you only have one mother, and she needs you more right now." For the first time, Namjoon felt like crying. He was proud of Jungkook and was thankful that he said that. He would give him a hug, but that's for later. With that, Namjoon bolted out of the door and ran straight for the front door. The men rushed towards him, but Jungkook intercepted them and cleared the path for his brother.

Behind him, Namjoon could hear men grunting and bodies falling to the ground. He didn't hear Jungkook struggling, which made him feel relief. He continued running, unfortunately it wasn't a clear path. It seemed that his father was well prepared, planting another group of men at the front door. Namjoon's rage grew as he knocked them down like bowling pins. They flew like feathers. He dashed up the stairs, in this moment wishing he had the power to teleport.

The room to his mother's door was wide open, an open invitation. Namjoon's hand expertly wrap around his gun. His heart dropped to the ground when he saw his mother, gagged and tied up to a chair. Her tired eyes widened as she saw him entering the room. Her scream muffled by the gag but he knew she was telling him to run away. Only a small bed lamp illuminated her face.

"Finally, you're here." a voice suddenly filled the room. Namjoon's eyes tried their best to focus. His father leaned against the wall where the light couldn't quite reach, completely merging in with the shadows.

"I'm here." Namjoon declared. "Now let her go."

The CEO clicked his tongue. "I don't think it will be that easy."

"You realize that you're fighting a losing battle right now, right?" Namjoon asked.

"I'm not stupid, son. I know I won't walk out of this room alive." He pushed himself back and walked towards his wife. Namjoon flinched a little but stopped himself when he saw the gun in his father's hand. A little too close to his mother for comfort. Next to the soft yellow glow, Namjoon saw how disheveled his clothing were, as if he had just gotten into some altercations. Bloodstains decorated the hem of his pants, lots of it. The saliva in his mouth ran dry. "Your friends are probably already on their way. And that's alright. I might as well have some fun of my own."

"You're out of your mind right now. Drop your weapon and I'll let you live." Namjoon demanded, but he felt so helpless right now. A laugh came out of his father's mouth, empty emotions echoing the room. Every second made Namjoon more nervous and angry. He needed to get his mother out of there and unharmed. He made a step forward, eyes glued to his father who was staring at something in the corner slightly behind him.

"I am out of my mind. It's all because of you. I lived a good life and if it wasn't for you, I would have continued that life. I never did anything wrong. My only fault was that I had a son like you."

"You murdered someone, how could you saw you did nothing wrong?"

"She deserved it. She was getting on my nerves."

"She only wanted her son back." Namjoon argued. "Your son."

His mother screamed through the cloth and Namjoon understood why. Blood poured out of his stomach yet he hadn't felt the pain, maybe because his life had already began fading away. Too sudden he thought. He hit the wall and his body dragged down.

"And after I kill you, I'll kill that bastard as well." The trigger was pulled, but Namjoon didn't feel the impact. Instead, he saw Jungkook's hair flying, the black jacket he was wearing tonight, and blood bursting through his body. His body landed with a thud in front of Namjoon's feet. He stared at his brother's body, silent and so still. "That was easier than I thought." his father scoffed. But Namjoon didn't hear it. He didn't hear his mother's scream as his father raised his hand once again, this time, directly at Namjoon's head. "Good bye, son."