The following short story is based on the BTS music video "ON" and the information in behind the scenes for the music video. I'm sorry that some things don't match the video. I had to fill in some holes so I was able to write a relatively coherent story. Anything you do not recognize as being in the video is a part of my imagination and isn't canon to the storyline planned and released by BTS and Bighit. Please support the official music video and tell me what you think of the story. Enjoy!
"Devil!" "Evil!" "Monster!" The towns people shouted as Jungkook was lead through the crowd. The thorn lined restraints cut into the flesh of his wrists. Every jerk, tug, and push forced them to burrowed deeper, bumping veins and scraping muscle. Their shouts rang through his ears. "I'm not a monster," he whimpered, but his voice was lost amidst the crowd. The more they shouted the more a silent rage grew in his chest. "Monster!" "Devil!" "Freak!" Jungkook's breath became labored and enraged. He tried his best to control the fire that slowly grew inside him, but as he spied death's gaze peeking at him through the crowed he began to lose his motivation to fight. The power that blazed behind his eyes grew and grew and then . . . . it was free. This power he held no one could say as dead men tell no tales.
*
Smoke and bodies, a wasteland of decay and destruction, but something called to Jin and this call was one he couldn't ignore. A voice, an energy he had known long ago. It needed him. He walked among the swell of bodies as he was drawn by the energy. Closer, closer, closer, STOP! A white bird, shot down by an arrow. It's fleeting soul cried out with the voice of a long lost friend. The wind cried for it. "Save him, Save him," it said. Save him.
**
V laid on the ground, his head resting on a log. They were so close. The walls of this free land were so close he could nearly feel the cool breeze, taste the fresh water. He looked over at his sister who sat with her knees to her chest, a yellow fabric scrap acted as a blindfold that cover her eyes. He sighed. Hopefully she could remove it soon; when it was safe and not a moment before. He'd keep her blind if it meant she would not witness any horrors on their journey. Soon. Soon.
***
Jungkook ran and ran. The city was gone and nothing of it remained beyond its walls. He ran across vast fields and thicket of forests. The more distance he could put between himself and the city the better. He didn't know how long he had been running when the exhaustion began to set in. The racing of his heart and the pounding of blood through his veins caused the thorn shackles to rip into his wrist with an agonizing rhythm that only agitated his exhaustion. He couldn-- He couldn't go on. His body was losing all it's strength. He collapsed on the forest floor.
*
RM could feel it too. Like a shock wave through the earth or a rope dragging him closer. Seven energies being pulled and pushed in what ever time or place they could be reached. The animals surrounding RM fiddled about. Zebras pawed the ground kicking up dust. Alpacas ate what little grass they could get a hold of. Goats sought refuge from the sun. RM, too, had to move soon. He would follow those energies to the ends of the earth in any time or universe, he'd reach them.
****
Jin held the cage, containing the deceased bird, to his chest. The small building he was in held a warm glow from the fading sun. He would save him. Jin placed the cage on a wooden table in the center of the single room. He would save him. He covered the cage, concealing the bird inside. He would save him. He didn't quite know how to control it, but his determination would see to it that he would not fail. He would save him. He would save him. He would save him. Suddenly the cage rattled.
**
Jimin tossed another drum off the truck and onto the pile with the rest. His companion sat on the hood of the truck holding his own drum between his legs as he watched Jimin lighten the weight of the vehicle. No more stops after this. Whenever they stopped or went in the wrong direction he couldn't shake this feeling of ants under his skin. He had to keep going. Wherever this feeling was taking them he had to know. He had to know what the sudden joy he felt as they began to get close meant. He had to know.
*****
J-Hope had seen this field before. He had followed the raven before. He knew well enough that this wasn't real. That the spires of twisting, deformed trees weren't real. That the grass that flattened under his boots wasn't real. That the breeze that raked through his hair wasn't real. That the body that laid at his feet wasn't real. At least here it wasn't. The body was indeed real, just not in this field. He was seeing what he was meant to see. A body with a familiar energy that he couldn't pinpoint. He knew this person somehow, but as he stared down at them watching the raven pick at the flesh of their ribs, he felt nothing. Perhaps that's because he knew that this was a dream.
******
Suga was determined to find the energy. It was so fickle. Changing direction, hiding, disappearing all together, reappearing again. What was it trying to show him and why wouldn't it make up it's mind already? The people that sat in the pews, that sat in uniform rows on either side of him, prayed and chanted. Make the energy louder, he thought. He could feel the bolts of this energy swirling and tugging in his chest. It had changed since last he felt it. It was stronger, almost younger. The people stood and the energy buzzed in delight as it held tighter onto Suga, filling him with a pull. He knew where to go.
*******
V could see it. Standing proud in the barren landscape. He walked over to his sister and knelt before her, her expression unchanging as he did. It was time. V threw another glance at the wall. It hadn't disappeared like a desert mirage. Energy could be felt washing over the land as the doors opened. With a smile, V turned back to his sister and carefully, finally removed the blindfold. With her hand held tightly in his they stood at the opening of the wall and waited.
***
Jungkook awoke from his exhausted sleep. His body felt heavy, but still he pushed himself to his feet. Much to his relief and surprise he saw a river just within reach. With what strength he had he waded into it's cool water, drawn by the low humming energy. He placed his shackled hands into the water.
*
The pull was weaker as six of the seven stood at the opening of the wall. The army that had once fallen stood behind them. They all looked upon this new place. It had called to them. The voice Jin heard; the safe place V was searching for; the Family RM could feel; the feeling that Jimin couldn't shake; the dream of someone J-Hope had known; the fickle energy that Suga clung to. Jin opened the cage. The once deceased bird flew out of the cage and into the new land beyond the wall. Something was still missing.
*******
The pulsing pain in Jungkook's wrists eased. In his hands was a large conch shell. He pulled it from the water. His cut up wrists only bruised and his shackles were gone. Water spilled from the conch as Jungkook brought it to his lips. The sound of the conch seemed to intertwine with the power he held inside as the clouds twisted and a distant volcano bubbled to life.
*
The land inside the walls sprung to life, as all seven energies were present. Jungkook made his way to the front of the crowed joining his brothers. RM raised his fist signalling for everyone to enter the land. They climbed the tallest mountain. The youngest of the seven running ahead, finding the utmost joy in his freedom. The white bird Jin had restored to life flew over head with his brothers. They were home. They were free.
*******
Jungkook showed them the power of the conch: Its control over the weather and earth. They all worshiped its power. Whether such a thing was good. . .remains to be seen.
*******
I hope you enjoy what I put together here. It was a bit more diffecult than expected, but anyway, as I said before please support the official release as well as listen to 'Map of the Soul: 7' I highly recommend it. It's really good to write to, not gonna lie. This was just for fun so leave your negativity at the door -_- thank you.
