Dancing With The Devil

rachel.

Emrie's POV - 13 years ago

"Hi Sweetie, Hyunjin is on his way to pick you up", the doctor said to me. He helped me to sit up and began a final exam, flashing a light in both my eyes, asking me questions to make sure my brain function wasn't impaired, and inspecting the fresh scar on my hairline where I had been hit. Hyunjin entered the room, shortly after, his navy blue vest peeking from under his suit jacket. "Hey, Em, ready to go?"

I jumped off the bed and ran into his arms. He embraced me in a hug and lifted me up, handing me the stuffed rabbit that I always loved. I wrapped my arms around his neck, as he signed the hospital discharge papers.

He walked us out to the car and placed me in the front seat. "Hyunjin, what happened?" I asked, cradling my rabbit. He looked at me and then back at the road. "Your appa hit you because you didn't shoot that guy. Remember when you ran out?" I shook my head, trying to remember as best I could. "He chased you and hit you with a rock."

"Where's eomma?"

"I don't know, I haven't seen her."

After a short ride home, Hyunjin dropped me off and left for the warehouse to do work. Appa wasn't home, like usual. He was probably at the warehouse too. I went to Taemin's room to see if he wanted to play with me. He wasn't there. Then I walked to Sehun's room and knocked. No answer. No one was home. I walked past Jaehyun's room and looked sadly at his door, knowing that he was gone somewhere in the world all alone.

"Em! You're home!" Miyoung said from behind me, scooping me up in a hug. "Hi, Mimi! Where is Taemin oppa and Sehun oppa?" I didn't really care about Joonho. He was 9 years older than me and we hardly ever spoke. He always acted like the older brother that was too cool for us and barely associated himself with the rest of us. He only ever talked to Jaehyun whenever he needed something.

"Oh, they're at school. Come on, I'll make you some lunch." She said.

"Is Eomma home?"

"Hm, I just got here and haven't seen her. Maybe check your parents' room and then come down to eat, okay?"

"Okay!" I said, running down the hall to my parents' room. Appa would hit at me for going in but he wasn't home so I didn't care. "Eomma? Are you here?" No answer. I went to the master bathroom. Maybe she was putting makeup over a bruise that Father gave her.

I walked into the bathroom, dropping my stuffed rabbit and screaming a bloodcurdling cry.

Bangtan Mansion - Present

I took a long shower, washing away the rest of the blood on my skin. The hot water helped my aching body, but my face stung against the steam. I couldn't stop thinking. I deserved what I got. I should've let him hit me again. He lost his family, I see no fault in being angry. They can't kill me so what if I killed myself. Hyunjin and Miyoung wouldn't be at risk anymore since they can't be used as leverage anymore.

I got out and threw on shorts and a T-shirt. Showering was too dangerous for me, I spent too much time overthinking in there. I looked in the mirror, purple marks ran across my face and abdomen like a disease. It hurt with every breath I took. The bruise that began as a purple stain below my eyebrow had sunk into the socket, I had the appearance of the first stage of a black eye.

I sat down at the desk and started drawing since there's nothing else for me to do. I grimaced. Nothing I drew seemed to be good enough, but drawing was the only thing keeping me sane at the moment.

After a few minutes, a knock at my door caught my attention. Before I can even respond, the door slowly opened and the last person I ever expected to walk in did. Jungkook