K-pop fans and the world at large are thrown into turmoil when the rising global sensation Bangtan Sonyeondan, better known as BTS, are kidnapped in the dead of night. As the world reels in confusion, the young men of BTS find themselves living a ni...
It is the late afternoon and the city seems unusually quiet and still. In front of the headquarters of Big Hit Entertainment, a large number of fans of Bangtan Sonyeondan hold vigil. The size of the group there has never wavered, has in fact grown as international fans arrived in Seoul to join their fellow ARMY.
Signs, flowers, drawings, stuffed animals andpresents of all kinds formed an almost impassable barrier in front of thebuilding. Staff members came out every hour to gather up as much as they couldto take back inside with them.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
In front of the mounds of tributes stood a blonde reporter from America reporting for ABC news.
"It has been just a little over two weeks since international K-pop sensation, Bangtan Sonyeondan, better known as BTS, was abducted just outside a studio where they were working on their latest album. There has been no word from the kidnappers since the initial ransom demand was sent. The official word from sources within law enforcement is that the search is still ongoing throughout the country and they have asked the public for any information that might help."
The reporter moved and gestured to the crowd as she spoke again.
"As you can see, David, the outpouring of loveand support has been growing by the day. There are similar vigils like this onebeing held all over the world and fans, Korean and international alike, have begunplanning prayer vigils as well as fundraisers to offer rewards for the safereturn of BTS and the capture of their abductors. Reporting from Seoul, SouthKorea, this is Karen Sanders."
~oooOooo~
Hitman stood alone at his office window looking down at the crowds. His countenance was pale and worn, new lines spreading out from his eyes and mouth. All his thoughts were on seven young men and the fear they must be living through right now. But he had to pray that they still lived because night after night he was awoken from his fitful sleep by nightmares of watching each of them die in front of him as he stood powerless to help.
Hitman watched reporters from Seoul and around the world move through the crowds talking to as many people as they could. He knew most of the coverage was for sound bites and ratings, but he also prayed that the loving energy these devoted fans gave to his boys would carry through the universe to wherever they were, wrapping them in a protective embrace.
He was startled from his thoughts by the phone on his desk. The last of the money was supposed to be made available soon and he was waiting for the confirmation call. As he listened to the voice on the other end, Hitman felt his knees give way as he fell to the floor in anguish.
"No, this can't be happening..."
Top officials in the government had declared the kidnappers terrorists. South Korea had an anti-terrorism policy that prevented them from allowing the ransom to be paid.
There was nothing he could do.
Hitman could not stop the tears from flowing ashis nightmare now became a real possibility.
~oooOooo~
Reporters from all overthe world were combing the masses, sticking microphones into tear-stainedfaces, trying their best to understand this phenomenon known as ARMY. Fans hadcome from thousands of miles away, to a country where they didn't speak the language,to form prayer circles and sit in rigid formal bows, heads nearly touching theground in supplication. They madeofferings to gods they had never heard of before, joining each other in prayerfor the safe return of seven men they had never even met to any deity who mightlisten. Fansites were handing outnecessities like food and water, blankets and pillows. En masse, the dedicated fans that were BTS'ARMY sang the group's songs in broken Korean, waving ARMY Bombs with a slow,melancholy precision.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"What does it mean to be ARMY?" one fan repeated as they looked at the pretty blonde reporter in front of them. "As ARMY, we are family. All of us are underneath the same sky. We see the same stars and pray to the same sad moon. And right now ARMY's greatest fear is that our galaxy is losing its seven brightest, most precious stars, all at the same time. All of us are lost and all we can do is beg Bangtan Sonyeondan to hold on. We must pray that whoever took them sees the error in their actions and returns them to us, their family, unharmed. Kim Namjoon. Kim Seokjin. Jung Hoseok. Min Yoongi. Park Jimin. Kim Taehyung. Jeon Jungkook. These seven amazing and selfless beings who have done nothing to deserve this nightmare. My heart breaks for them. ARMY will pray for them. Until whenever. Or...forever..."
"What do I want to tell BTS?" anotherfan asked, preparing to answer a smartly dressed reporter from India. "Iwant to tell them that they owe us one more funny face, one more brilliantsmile, and one more terrible dance that only they can make awesome. I want themto remember all the promises they made to us. I want them to keep believing intheir galaxy. I want them to know that the world is praying for them. Not justARMY. They have united us as human beings. I want them to know that...that ARMYis waiting for them. Praying for them. Crying. Fighting. I want them to knowthat the world loves them and that we need them to stay strong, and in return,we will be strong and keep fighting for their return. Saranghae!"
