Myung
I paced around my room as I continuously looked outside of my window for any signs of them. To say I was worried was an understatement.
I was seeing what Taeil was doing to her and it made me sick. I wanted to kill him myself if I could for hurting her like that. No one deserved to go through that and to think she was enduring all of that just so she would protect us, made my heart ache even more.
I wanted her to speak. We would have dealt with whatever Domina Rosa would have come up with. I wanted her to find a way to fight back but she wasn’t even trying. She was tied down like an animal and got beaten brutally by that *.
I was honestly glad that Hoseok shot him after everything he did to her. I had watched the way he punched her, hit her and cut at her skin. He had no remorse, no regret. He was just enjoying torturing her. He took pleasure in it.
I sighed when I heard cars approaching. I hurried to the window as I looked on and saw two cars with the boys parking in front of the door. They usually go to the garage but maybe Cherry couldn't walk much. I kept looking on for any hint but I soon got a surprise I did not want. I gasped as I saw Hoseok coming out of the car with an unconscious Cherry in his arms. My hand flew to my mouth and my heart skipped a beat.
‘*,’ I murmured as I realized she was more hurt than I thought or hoped. Maybe I was just being too hopeful. I had this image of her being invincible - of her being like some kind of superhero and so it hurt to see her like that - so lifeless. I left the room, hurrying as much as I could, my hand placed against my belly.
I opened the door to find Yeonjun and Soobin there. ‘Namjoon is here. Can you go and take the car to the garage?’ I asked the two younger ones.
‘Of course ma’am,’ Soobin responded as the two hurried down the stairs. I cursed silently because I could not hurry as much as them. I loved my child but right now I wished I did not have this huge belly slowing me down.
Downstairs, I could hear the commotion as I heard Jin telling them to bring her to his infirmary. I caught a glimpse of Hoseok walking away with her still lying in his arms. She looked unconscious and Hoseok's face was strained with worry and guilt.
Namjoon saw me and I hurried towards him. He placed his hands on my arms as he stopped to look at me; surveying me as if I had some injuries myself. He was rubbing at my arms in order to calm me down, almost as if he could sense how tensed I was.
‘Are you okay yeobo? Did something happen while we were away?’ he asked but I quickly shook my head.
‘No, no I’m fine but what happened? Is she okay?’ I asked, feeling the worry starting to take over. He quickly embraced me in a hug as he rubbed my back. I could feel how tense he felt against me. I knew a part of him was angry at himself for letting her leave on her own, even if it was not his fault. Nobody was going to stop her from going for some air. Nobody expected this to happen.
‘He tortured her really bad. She lost quite a bit of blood and she has so many bruises and cuts. She’s unconscious right now so they’re taking her to the infirmary so Jin-hyung can take a look at her,’ Namjoon explained. He sounded so drained right now.
‘Is he dead?’ I asked as he pulled away from the hug. Namjoon's face hardened as he realized I was talking about Taeil. The connection had stopped the moment they left since Namjoon did not want me watching. I knew why he did that. It was a precaution in case things went wrong, in case he got hurt or they were too late. He did not want me seeing that. I squeezed his hand and he seemed to come back to reality as he nodded and I let out a sigh of relief.
‘Hoseok shot him,’ Namjoon explained. ‘We got in there and split up. We could still see what was going on and the moment we got in, Hoseok shot him without hesitation,’ he said.
‘I know we say that violence and killing is our last resort, but I don’t feel bad for that *,’ I said. He simply nodded as he rubbed my arms. ‘Do you know what her injuries are Joon?’ I asked.
‘I don't much more than what I already told you. There are several cuts across he arms and some are quite deep. There were bruises and possible fractures according to Jin,’ he explained and I sighed as I looked down. ‘I’m confident she’ll be okay. She’s a tough girl,’ he tried to reassure me.
‘I want to go help Joon. I know a thing or two about injuries. I can help,’ I said.
‘Are you sure?’ he asked as he placed his hand on my belly. I nodded and he nodded in response.
'Okay then. I know you have some idea of first aid and Jin could probably use the aid,' he said as he led me to Jin's room which is our infirmary. It was not a big room but it was enough for Jin to work. He had everything he could need to patch any member that got hurt during missions.
We arrived there and found most of the others outside of the room. Yoongi was pacing around, something I rarely saw. Jungkook, Jimin and Taehyung were all sitting down on the ground, next to each other and there was no sign of Hoseok.
'Anything?' Namjoon asked but Yoongi shook his head.
'Not much. All I know is he dozed her up on pain meds and that he started stitching her up,' Yoongi said. 'I wish Hoseok did not kill him so I could make that * go through what he put Cherry through,' he added angrily.
'Mentioning Hoseok, where is he?' I asked.
'In there,' Jungkook began as he pointed to inside. 'He's worried about her but trying not to show,' he added.
'Not to mention he feels guilty about the whole thing,' Jimin said with a sigh.
'I'm going in, see if they need any help,' I stated as Namjoon nodded. I opened the door and walked, forcing the two men to look at me.
'Myung what are you dong here?' Jin asked me and I sighed.
'I'm here to hel--oh God,' I said, stopping my previous sentence as my eyes fell on Cherry's battered body. I gulped unable to help myself. Namjoon barely touched the surface when he talked about her wounds and injuries.
'Are you sure Myung?' Jin asked and I nodded. 'Okay go wash your hands and come next to me. I'll need you to do the stitches with this one,' he said and I nodded as I tried to hurry towards the sink. I washed my hands quickly and thoroughly before I made my way towards the "operating" table. I looked at Hoseok who was not even looking at me but staring at Cherry as he tried to help. 'Prepare me a thread and needle Myung,' Jin instructed and I nod.
I grabbed the things we needed and worked on creating a secure line. 'Will she be okay Jin?' I asked. He stopped for a moment and smile a small smile.
'I think so. She seems like a fighter. Don't you agree?' he asked.
'She is more than a fighter,' Hoseok whispered quietly as I saw him squeeze her hand, perhaps subconsciously.
Hoseok
She had seven cuts across her arms, two fractured ribs, a busted lip, a swollen cheek and burns across her skin – all of them, each mark and each ounce of pain being a result of my misjudgment – a reminder of my fault in it. I may not have been the one who physically tortured her, but I might as well have.
I sat on the chair next to the bed as soon as Jin and the others finished treating her. I volunteered to stay so the others could rest but I was not fooling anyone. They all knew I felt guilty. They all knew I was not moving from that chair until she woke up.
I looked at her as she slept almost peacefully even if I knew it was the result of what Jin injected in her to help her sleep without pain. Good God what might she have felt! I felt sick just watching it and I didn’t know what I would have done. I liked to think of myself as a strong person and as someone who did not break but seeing her…it made me question my own resolve. What would I have done?
My mind went back to the whole conversation we all heard her have with Rosa. Damn, I never imagine all that. To think the reason she is a runaway is because she saved innocent people by going against her organization is mind-blowing. I had been so quick to call her a traitor! Yes, she was a traitor to the Scarlets and a lifesaver for so many others as well and that, that made her special.
I had called her a monster and a cold-blooded killer but hearing them talk made me realize how she was shaped into one. For some reason, it hurt knowing she thought of herself as a monster as well. I didn’t even know why.
I let out a ragged breath as I inched closer. My hand shook as I attempted to touch her hand. I gulped, almost as if afraid to hold her hand but somehow, I did take her hand. It felt soft and for some reason, that made me smile. Did I think her hand would feel rough?
‘I’m sorry Cherry,’ I whispered as I squeezed her hand gently. ‘I’m really sorry for not giving you a chance. I was so scared and I let fear rule me. If it weren’t for me, you would not have gone out and you would not have gotten caught. It’s all my fault that you had to endure all that pain and torture and I’ll never be able to forgive myself for that,’ I said with a sigh.
‘I wish I knew how to tell you all of this face to face but I don’t know if I’ll have the balls to do that. I really am sorry Cherry. I never meant for this to happen,’ I said as I lowered my head and sighed loudly.
‘I … I know,’ she said, making my head spring up. I saw her with her eyes half open. She looked somewhat weak but I could feel her holding my hand.
‘You’re awake,’ I said and she nodded. ‘We weren’t expecting you to get up so early,’ I said and she gave a little shrug but winced. ‘Easy. You have multiple injuries,’ I reminded her.
‘It definitely feels like it,’ she said as she tried to sit up. I could tell she was in pain but she was succeeding in trying to hide it. How many times has she hidden her pain in her life? How many times was she forced to hide it?
I helped her up and she gave me a small smile. ‘Did you hear everything I said? Were you pretending to be asleep?’ I asked and she laughed a little.
‘I woke up the moment you held my hand,’ she said, reminding of how aware she always was. I can’t blame her.
After all, she has been on the run and that meant, constantly looking over your shoulder. Good God, I could not even imagine living like that. It was true that our life was not easy and it was also true that we always had to be careful, but her life suddenly seemed so much harder… so much lonelier. I looked down to see our hands which were still intertwined. Somehow, I realized that I did not mind.
‘I was trying to get my eyes to open in that moment but yes, I did hear you and just so you know, I don’t blame you,’ she said and this time I was the one who scoffed.
‘Why not? You definitely should,’ I said but she shook her head. ‘I’m serious Cherry. If I had not started that argument, you would not have left the house,’ I said.
‘It’s not like you grabbed me from my hair and kicked me out. Nobody knew what would happen. I should have been more careful and not let emotions cloud my judgement. It was one of the first lessons I was taught,’ she said with a small fake laugh. There was a certain bitterness as she said that and I wondered how her lessons were.
‘No,’ I said and she looked at me confused. Sher arched one eyebrow as she looked at me, almost as if she was inviting me to elaborate. I took a deep breath and inched even closer. ‘About emotions. People, they say that emotions make us weak and I guess in a way, yes, they do make us more vulnerable but not weak. They make us stronger,’ I said.
‘I don’t know about that. I’m pretty sure Lady Scarlet would disagree with you,’ she said.
‘Aren’t emotions the reason you betrayed the Scarlets and ran away?’ I asked. Empathy, compassion, kindness – weren’t they the emotions that drove her? She had saved Myung without even knowing her, so it should not have come as a surprise that she saved others.
‘Wh—what are you talking about?’ she asked, sounding unsure. She seemed surprised that I knew her big secret. For the first time since knowing her, she seemed like a deer caught in headlights. I looked down as I sighed before I looked back up, almost ashamed of my previous assumptions about her.
‘We saw and heard everything Cherry. We heard what Rosa said. We know that you betrayed them by refusing to kill innocent people. Not only that, you helped them escape. You’re like us, in more ways than I could have imagined,’ I said.
‘I never could do t. No, I did do it sometimes, when I felt I had no choice but it always felt so wrong,’ she said and I nodded. I found myself wondering what her first kill was like.
‘Did it give you nightmares?’ I asked and she nodded. ‘I used to get them too. Sometimes, I still do. Sometimes, it’s the faces of the people I killed and sometimes, it’s the people I lost and could lose,’ I said.
‘I know you lost a lot. I know it hurt you to lose your wife and son,’ she said and I sighed.
‘When you came to us,’ I said as I gulped, feeling my throat constrict. ‘All I could see was a Scarlet – an assassin. Namjoon and I, well all the boys and I believe it was Scarlets who murdered them and seeing you triggered all those emotions and memories,’ I said and she nodded.
‘I know and I’m sorry I kept pushing your buttons. I knew why you were acting that way but I just could not help myself. I don’t know if it’s any consolation, but you were right, Scarlets did have some things to do with that,’ she said.
‘I know back then we didn’t know each other, but, God, I have to know Cherry,’ I said and she nodded. She seemed to understand as she sighed.
‘I cannot say much Hoseok,’ she replied as I kept looking at her. ‘I cannot give you details of what happened, all I can tell you is that I did not kill them,’ she said and I sighed in relief. ‘I know that’s hardly what you need to know or want to know but—’ she began but I shook my head.
‘It’s enough for me,’ I said. ‘It’s enough because I’ll be able to look at you without wondering if you’re the one who killed my family,’ I said as I felt tears gathering in my eyes.
‘I’m really sorry Hoseok. I know you might not believe me, but I really am sorry. I am sorry for what happened with them and for your loss,’ she said, sounding genuine.
‘We’re both sorry for a lot of things,’ I said with a sigh. ‘Like I am sorry that you had to go through that torture because of me,’ I said.
‘Hoseok, I already told you not to blame yourself. I don’t blame you and you shouldn’t either. I should have known Rosa was behind it. She was always smart,’ she said. ‘What happened back there?’ she asked and I sighed.
‘We were in Yoongi’s room, when his laptop started, I don’t know how to describe it but it was freaking out. Then suddenly Rosa appeared and she started talking crap before she showed us you. To cut a long story short, Yoongi managed to track you after some time so we came for you but we saw the whole thing,’ I explained.
‘I see. So, you heard about her wanting to recruit me in her crusade for revenge,’ she said and I nodded.
‘We did. We heard her tell you to join her so she could take over the gangs and go against the Scarlets,’ I said. ‘The Scarlets, they hurt you so much, but you still won’t go against them?’ I asked and she sighed.
‘Revenge is not my thing Hoseok,’ she said. ‘If I wanted revenge, I would have gone to my father and slit his throat for giving me up to the Scarlets but I never did that,’ she explained.
‘Do you still love your father?’ I asked. She scoffed and then nodded.
‘I guess I do. I know why he did it so I guess that’s enough. Rosa… she’s a different story. She was forced to watch her lover tortured and killed. I understand her and I can’t blame her,’ I said with a shrug.
‘But you still would not go with her?’ I asked and she nodded. ‘Why not? I know you said revenge is not your thing but if you defeat the Scarlets, you’d no longer be hunted like an animal,’ I said.
‘That’s true but I won’t go against them unless I have to. I don’t want to go looking for someone to kill,’ she said and I nodded. ‘Did you find Rosa?’ she asked, wanting to change the subject.
I shook my head as I sighed. ‘No. When we got there we divided into groups and my group came to you. I shot Taeil and got you out but the others did not find a trace of Rosa,’ I said.
‘Not surprising. She knows the shadows as well as I do,’ she said. ‘It worries me Hoseok. She won’t stop and I am afraid she will come after Bangtan again,’ she said. I smiled a little, seeing her worry for us even if she did not want to admit it quite yet.
‘Then will you stay with us? Will you help us protect Myung and the baby? Will you become part of Bangtan?’ I asked eagerly.
‘Hoseok, I may have not betrayed Bangtan but we both know I don’t belong here with any of you. I’m a monster, remember? Rosa knows it and you said so yourself. I’m not like you,’ she said and I shook my head as I squeezed her hand.
‘I was wrong. *, I was so wrong Cherry,’ I said as I shook my head. ‘You do belong in Bangtan Cherry, maybe more than some others. We need you here and not just need you, we want you here and I want you to stay as well,’ I said but she did not say anything as she continued to stare at me. ‘I know you said not to blame myself but I have a lot of making up to do. Give me that chance, please. Give me a chance to make it right,’ I said.
She smiled sorrowfully as she seemed to think of it. ‘I’m scared of what I might bring down on Bangtan by staying,’ she admitted and I nodded.
‘I know. You’re scared the Scarlets might target us but Bangtan is strong and we look out for our own and you’re part of Bangtan. We’ll look after you and protect you. We’ll do a better job at it,’ I promised.
‘Fine. I guess, it beats being alone all the time,’ she said with a smile.
‘You’ll have a family here Cherry,’ I said and she smiled, genuinely this time. ‘We got you,’ I said.
There was more that I wanted to put into their conversation but it would not have flowed well so I'll leave some more secrets for later on hehe. We still have quite a bit to learn about Cherry like her real name, who her brother might be, has she talked to him lately, who was her first kill and something special which I have planned hehe but this conversation is really important because it is quite a game changer for their relationship. They won't be getting lovey dovey any time soon but we definitely see Hoseok respecting her from now on. I look forward to your comments as always! - Tae's Misfit
"I never thought love was worth fighting for but then I looked into your eyes and I was ready for war."