Fatal Redemption | J.J.K.

LXIII

JUNGKOOK;
I woke up earlier this morning than usual. It was the day of the parade that everyone attends and the weekend of the fair for the town.

I remember Paige and Lucas telling me to get there early because of the long traffic and the limited space that's left.

It was a bit colder than usual today so I wore a black Balenciaga hoodie and torn jeans with a pair of sneakers.

I drove past the fairgrounds seeing the Ferris wheel. It was a bit dark for the human eye to see but I could see all the other rides along with booths for games and food stands.

I smiled, I couldn't wait to take Paige there and win something for her. I couldn't wait to go on the big rides with her and hear her scream in happiness. I also couldn't wait to be bloated from eating all kinds of deep fried foods and being sick once I get home.

I was beyond excited.

I got to the spot Lucas told me where they usually camp out at for the parade and parked my car next to his before getting out.

I saw the Ryder boys sitting on lawn chairs beside the road, all bundled up but Paige was missing.

"Hey Jungkook" Cole smiled wearing an oversized hoodie, an Ironman beanie and a blanket covering his legs.

"Hey Cole" I smiled and tried looking for Paige, I couldn't smell her anywhere.

"If you're looking for Paige, you won't find her here. She decided she wanted to stay home this morning" Eric spoke up as I frowned.

"Oh" Was all I said, suddenly sad that she wasn't here.

"If you want, you can go see her, I'm sure she could use some company since she wouldn't let anyone in her room last night or this morning" He added as I smiled a bit.

He was giving me permission.

"Thank you Eric" I said as he nodded and smiled.

"What are you waiting for? Go get her" He gave me an encouraging smile as I nodded and ran back to my car.

—

I rang the house doorbell and waited. I figured she wasn't going to get up so I put matters into my own hands and entered.

I twisted the door handle and it opened. I peaked my head in to find the house empty so I walked in closing the door behind me.

I treaded up the stairs quietly and got to her door. I could hear her faint heartbeat from the other side.

I inhaled and her scent hit me, but this time it smelled... sad.

That's why she decided to stay, something was wrong.

I sighed and softly opened her door.

My heart skipped a beat when I saw her curled up on bed, underneath all her blankets with her dog, Rocket curled at the edge.

Paige lifted her head at my entrance, and the desolate look in her big brown eyes shred my heart to pieces.

"Paige," I said softly.

My gaze fell to her neck, it's red, purple and irritated. It looked like something was torn away from her.

I pictured the twins that Lucas told me about, and I grit my teeth while I closed the door behind me. They don't exist to me right now.

Only Paige does.

I'm on her bed before she can blink, drawing her into my arms and cocooning her in them.

She buries her face against my chest and I can feel her trembling. I feel my own heart break just by feeling her emotions... all of her emotions.

She starts sniffling and a strangled sob tears out of her mouth. I attempt to look at her but her arms tighten more around me so I stop.

She needs comfort, she needs me.

One of my hands tangle in her hair to bring her head closer. She buries her face in my neck and trembles wildly as tears slide down her cheeks in salty waves.

"Hey, come on, don't cry" I beg. "It breaks my fucking heart to hear you cry"

It's the truth, whenever I see her cry it makes me feel even more sad. I feel like I can't comfort her, I almost feel useless.

Paige doesn't stop. She gulps for air and shudders in my arms. I stroke her hair and make smooth noises which only makes her cry harder.

"They took gramps away from me" Her voice is muffled against my neck.

I was confused until I looked down to see her neck clearly. There were red lines that were slowly going away and a few bruises.

The arrowhead necklace.

I remembered her telling me about it at Sweetz. It was like a good luck charm to her, it helped her through a lot of her hardships and now she really needed it.

"They took the only thing I had left of him. They both knew how much he meant to me... and they just took it" she gritted and released another sob as I hugged her tighter.

"I know babe I know" I said softly as she started to shake in my arms.

Why would they do such a thing?

"I'm broken without him"

Her voice was still muffled but I heard her loud and clear.

"You're bot broken baby, I promise" I whisper in her ear as she loosens her arms from me.

I look down and get a good look at her face, she looks tired and worn out from the previous day but she wasn't broken.

She wasn't anywhere near it.

"Then help me prove it," she whispers on the verge of crying again. "Please"

I gently pulled her head up and meet her gaze. I found nothing but raw emotion and shining sincerity.

"Okay" I whisper back, "I will"