HORRORIA

Chapter 8

Taehyung struggled to breathe as the oxygen left his lungs in hot, sharp, breaths. Tears filled his eyes and a distressed redness spread across his face. He tried not to think of his past actions but the bluntness of Jin's words had brought the harsh reality down on him. He slowly slid to the ground. Sobs beginning to escape his mouth.

"Why am I such a failure. I can't even apologize correctly!" He shouted at the cobblestone stairs before completely breaking down on the ground. The sobs racked his body for more guilt, shame and sorrow. Feeding itself, becoming stronger. Taehyung quickly found it harder to breathe. The sobs turned into gasps for air. He tried to focus on anything around him but his eyes could only focus on the tears that were blurring the world around him, causing motion sickness. He curled up into a ball hoping to hide from the horrendous sensation that his body was experiencing.

"Taehyung?"

Taehyung couldn't even reply to his name being called, he felt as if he was being crushed into the ground by a large boulder. So much pain for no stimulus. It scared him that his mind was capable of causing this much pain on its own.

Whoever had called his name had now sat beside him and pulled him into a hug. Rocking him gently as if he was an infant. Despite the actions clearly being made for a child they still helped a fully grown adult calm down. His lungs slowly began to unlock and fresh air made its way into his lungs again. The pain surrounding his body ceased. Taehyung thankfully snuggled into the person, earning a chuckle from them. Taehyung would know that chuckle anywhere. It was Namjoon.

"Thanks Joon." He mumbled.

"I'm guessing the apology didn't go so well?" Joon sighed heavily, burdened by his guilty deeds towards Jin as well as Taehyung's. Taehyung felt too innocent to really know what he was doing back then. Taehyung felt too pure to really try and destroy Jin. In Namjoon's eyes, Taehyung had lashed out in a moment of fear of unrealistic abandonment.

"N-no. He says he'll fo-forever ha-ate me. I-I feel so stupid. It k-keeps me up at night Joon. I feel-el so guilty!" Taehyung struggled to talk normally as residing sobs and gasps for air slipped in-between letters.

"I know, I know. It's okay. It'll just take him time to forgive you. I know he will." Namjoon gave a reassuring smile to Taehyung who peaked his head out.

"I know he'll forgive you my ass" An unimpressed voice mumbled before walking though the automatic doors back into the police station.

***
"Do you have a place to stay?" A soft voice asked the tired girl in front of him.

"Yeah" Eunjin smiled but Jungkook saw right through that smile. The smiled that screamed I'm scared, I don't want to go outside again. I don't want to be alone again. What if he comes after me. I'm scared. I'm scared for my safety. Please don't make me go back.

Jungkook took a deep breath, "Do you want to head back to my place. You can clean up, I can give you some clothes and then I can walk you back to your place?"

Hoseok glanced up from his phone in mild surprise but mainly pride. The young boy who had always been timid, shy and scared of social interaction with strangers was now asking a girl back to his place. He never let anyone in there that he didn't trust. Now he was inviting a girl he had met a couple of hours ago back. A big step.

Eunjin's eyes lit up like stars and the strained smile morphed into one of relief. "Yes please. Thank you so much."

"Jimin you might want to check on your boyfriend. He's having a panic attack." Jin's serious voice interrupted the light atmosphere.

"Taehyung's having a panic attack!?" Jackson jumped to his feet in mild panic himself, his obvious care for Taehyung shining through. He quickly cleared his throat in an attempt to seem more professional. Jimin had just ran to the run door without further comment, going to calm his lover.

Hoseok slipped his phone into his back pocket and straightened himself up, glancing at Jin's conflicted face. "Jin you good?"

Jin looked up at Hoseok before nodding. "Yeah, I just need to go to the toilet plus I need to report my father's missing passport anyway so you guys go home. Message me when you get home safe." He pulled a smile at the end.

Jungkook nodded smiling, "I'll let Namjoon know"

Eunjin just smiled, drifting towards Jungkook. Right now, Jungkook was her light. A beacon of hope. He was her warmth away from the coldness of this world.

Hoseok squinted his eyes. He had an inkling of a feeling that Jin wasn't going to the bathroom to piss. He was going to cry. Hoseok shook of the feeling, knowing that Jin would come to him if he was hurt. "Sure thing Jin, see you."

As soon as they all left for the exit, Jin headed straight to the bathroom, locking himself in a dirty stall he sat on the toilet seat lid, in a ball. Gently rocking back and forth with his forehead resting on his knees. "Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry"

But it was too late. The tears already began to run down his cheeks. Although the tears were uncontrollable, his breaths were. He purposefully kept them long and relaxed, he hated not being in control of body at times and the fear of going into a full mental breakdown in a bathroom stall was all too familiar thanks to highschool and Taehyung. He felt anger in stomach at how Namjoon had comforted Taehyung, how Namjoon had gone to Taehyung instead of seeing how he felt. Cause right now, Jin felt betrayed by Namjoon's actions. All his relationship with Namjoon had been was ups and downs. He hated it. The only solid friendship in his life was with Jungkook, he didn't want Jungkook to leave him too. Though deep down a fear began to grow. He had told Jungkook the truth about him and Namjoon. Something both of them had sworn to keep quiet about to their friends. Jin couldn't hold it in any longer. Why should he feel guilty for telling Jungkook? HE was the victim in all of this. Just like Jungkook was. He silently prayed to himself. He prayed that Jungkook would choose him over Namjoon. Cause if he didn't. Jin wouldn't have anyone else he could truly trust.

The men's bathroom door swung open.

Jin quickly straightened up, wiping his nose and eyes. He unlocked the stall, wanting to get out of there as soon as possible. He wanted to be alone. Opening the door, he glanced at the person who had come in.

It was Namjoon.

"Jin, have you been crying?" His voice was too soothing for Jin. Jin didn't trust it.

"The fuck do you want?" He hissed.

He didn't want to come off that mean but he still couldn't let himself be vaunerable around a person who had bullied him for years. No matter how much he wanted to.

"Woah, I just want to help." Namjoon took a step closer.

Jin instinctively flinched at his movements. He watched Namjoon's eyes will with a saddened guilt.

"Go help Taehyung" Jin spun on his heals and briskly walked out the bathroom.