Cherry
I watched as Namjoon helped Yeonjun to stand up straight. ‘No…No… Nam—Namjoon please… please, they’ll kill her,’ I heard Yeonjun say as he stuttered and struggled to even breathe.
There was a certain desperation in his voice that tugged at my heart. No little brother should be worried for their older sister. He sounded worried about me – me! The reason why he was even like this! He could barely stand on his feet and he was bleeding, showing that they injured him, probably severely. I felt my heart race and my anger and rage doubling in intensity. How dare she touch my brother? I was the only one who could tease him or annoy him or even “hurt” him. She had no right to touch him!
‘She’ll be okay kid,’ I heard Namjoon reply as he turned to give me one final look. I nodded at him, wanting to give him the reassurance he needed.
He sighed before he started to help Yeonjun out while Rosa’s men followed Namjoon and Yeonjun, guns ready. I knew Namjoon would already be formulating a plan in his head. He was too smart than to just walk away without a backup. I knew he would keep my brother safe.
I turned back to Rosa, my grip on my sword growing tighter. For now, I had to forget about Haneul or Cherry. For now, I had to be Domina Umbra.
‘You wanted me, you have me,’ I said as I gripped the sword tighter, the image of my brother, bleeding and hurt burned into my brain.
Rosa laughed as she also held her own sword. ‘I wanted you to join me Umbra. You’re the one who chose not to,’ she said.
‘You know me quite well Rosa. You know better than going after my brother,’ I said as we both began to circle one another.
‘I was not sure how you’d react. He’s the reason why you ended up being sold off to the Scarlets and you’ve been pushing him away so everyone would think you hate him but you’re right Umbra, I do know you and I do know you care about him,’ she said as she suddenly charged at me.
Our swords clashed, creating a horrible clinging sound. We both moved quickly as she attacked and I blocked. We moved together, both of us knowing this dance oh-too-well. It was a well-rehearsed one, the moves all too familiar to me and to her.
Suddenly, she went for a low move as she went to elbow me in the nose but I arched backwards, causing her to miss and stumble. As she did so, I used my leg to hit her in her shin which made her stumble further as she stepped away.
‘You always were a good fighter,’ she said as she clicked her tongue and came charging at me again. I quickly realised she knew that I was not a hundred percent so she was trying to tire me out.
I blocked her attack once more but she quickly reached for my shoulder. I winced as she punched at my bandaged area, causing me to lose focus for a slight moment until I took my sword and turned, making a cut across her arm.
She winced, loudly as she stumbled back. ‘I was always better than you,’ I replied as I saw her glaring at me. ‘You knew that we would go to Sergei and you’re the one who told him to demand a fight from me as payment. You thought you could weaken me,’ I said.
She clapped her hands together as she laughed like a maniac. ‘Well done. You were always so smart too, but maybe this time, you weren’t smart enough, or maybe you’re just too self-sacrificing,’ she said as suddenly two women walked out of the shadows, both of them holding swords.
They both removed their masks and I straightened up as I recognized them. ‘Domina Lilium. Domina Ossium,’ I said. Lily and Bones.
‘Glad to see you still recognize your own,’ Lilly said with a small smile. ‘How could you side with Bangtan but not with Rosa?’ she asked as she shook her head in disbelief.
‘You wouldn’t understand Lilium,’ I said. ‘I found my home. Maybe it’s time you find yours,’ I said.
‘Our home is with the Scarlets but that is after we remove Domina Vindicta from the throne she wrongfully claimed,’ Ossium said with a snarl.
‘You should have joined us,’ Rosa said as both Lillium and Ossium came at me, their swords raised. Well *! Dealing with Rosa alone was one thing but with three Scarlets…
I raised my sword as the three of us started to dance as our swords clanged together. Lillium and Ossium were both great fighters. I knew that the reason they left the Scarlets was because they were lovers and Domina Vindicta would have killed them if she found out. They worked too well as a pair – one being fast and the other being strong. I felt one of their swords slice at my arm as I raised my sword to protect myself.
Hoseok
I followed Namjoon and Yeonjun, making sure that I remain hidden. Namjoon stopped suddenly and I knew we were going to move to the second phase. Namjoon put Yeonjun down who groaned loudly. *ers must have hurt him pretty badly.
‘Why did you stop? Keep going if you want to live!’ One of the men shouted arrogantly as he jammed his gun into Namjoon’s back.
I heard Namjoon chuckle slightly and I instantly knew that right now, it’s not the Joonie we know – but Kim *ing Namjoon – leader of Bangtan. Right now, it was the ruthless leader who would do anything to protect his gang. Namjoon turned around slowly as the three had their guns aimed at him.
‘You should remember who you are speaking to,’ Namjoon reminded him.
‘I…wh—what are you doing?’ he stuttered and I could see him shake as he held his gun.
‘I do not like killing anyone without a reason but you came into my home. You hurt one of my members and you threatened the safety of my family,’ Namjoon said as he tilted his head. ‘There can be no mercy for you,’ he said as he nodded.
I took a deep steady breath as I pulled the trigger. One men fell and then I moved to the next and finally to the third. All three of them were on the ground, a pool of blood forming under each of them; none of them knowing what hit them – literally.
I rushed next to Namjoon who was crouching down next to Yeonjun. ‘We’re going to help you kid,’ Namjoon said as he put his hand on Yeonjun’s shoulder.
‘Na—Namjoon, my—my sister. He—help my s—sister,’ Yeonjun said as he started coughing. My eyes got wide as I realized he was coughing up blood, meaning that probably one of his lungs could be damaged.
‘We will,’ I said as I crouched down just as I heard running footsteps. I looked up to see Soobin, Taehyun and Beomgyu there.
‘You’re here. Good. Take him to Jin to the safe house. He needs immediate medical attention,’ Namjoon said as he stood up.
‘What about you boss?’ Soobin asked as Beomgyu and Taehyun helped Yeonjun up.
‘We’re going back for Cherry,’ he said as I handed him an extra gun. They nodded as the two of us run back towards the direction we came into.
Suddenly, we could hear the crackled coming back on. ‘Mother*ers jammed us. Namjoon, Hoseok you two okay?’ Yoongi said over the earpiece. I sighed in relief knowing he’s okay.
‘We’re fine. Cherry?’ he asked as we both fastened our pace.
‘Not so good. Still in the main hall but that * brought who I’m guessing are two other Scarlets. She’s outnumbered and outpowered,’ he explained.
‘*,’ I growled as we exchanged a look and then hurried even more. My heart was racing, wanting to get to her before she got even more hurt. We both reached the entrance and I was ready to barge in when Namjoon stopped me, his hand pressed against my chest.
‘What are you doing? She’s in there and she could be killed!’ I half yelled while he quickly shut me up.
‘We barge in and we might be the reason she dies,’ he said as he slowly peered open the door. ‘Yoongi,’ Namjoon called.
‘On it,’ he replied as suddenly the lights when off. I could hear the clanging of the sword come to a halt and movement going on.
‘What’s go—Lilium!’ one of them yelled as we both went in just as the lights came back on. Cherry had moved, leaving those two in the middle as Namjoon and I both pulled the trigger and they fell death.
I hurried to Cherry whose arm was bleeding but apart from that, there seemed to be no other major or new injuries. ‘You okay?’ I asked and she nodded.
We heard clapping and we all turned to look at Rosa who was in the middle of the room, still holding her sword. I was quick to raise my gun but Cherry put her hand on my arm, stopping me.
‘No. Rosa is mine,’ she growled as she walked forward. ‘You made a horrible, horrible mistake going after my brother,’ she said.
‘Ohh sweet Umbra. Your brother was barely scratched, but, I can’t say the same for your parents,’ Rosa said as she laughed.
‘Wh—what are you talking about?’ Cherry stuttered for the first time. Suddenly, there seemed to be a very bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. I knew I was not going to like this.
‘Your dear old parents who lived in that small little cute house. I made sure they suffered before I slit their throats and left them to bleed out like the roaches they were,’ Rosa said.
I saw Cherry’s face harden as she screamed and charged at Rosa. Rosa raised her sword as they started to move so fast that I could barely keep up. There was a certain fury in Cherry right now.
‘Do…do you think she was telling the truth or bluffing?’ I asked Namjoon who was next to me, his gun raised as well just in case. He shrugged as he looked torn.
‘I don’t know. She’s crazy enough to do it,’ he said. ‘Should we stop them?’ he asked and I sighed as I recalled what Yoongi had told me before she went to fight Wild Cat.
‘I don’t know but I think this is her fight. We should only get involved if Cherry is at risk,’ I said but the fight was over as Cherry threw Rosa to the ground.
Cherry jumped on her, her sword ready to pierce her heart. Rosa was laughing maniacally, almost as if she was urging her on.
‘I thought you didn’t like killing for revenge,’ she said. I could see Cherry shaking as she struggled not to just kill her – another reminder of the fact that she was not just someone who killed for fun. ‘WEAK!!’ Rosa yelled.
‘I won’t become a monster like you,’ Cherry said as she stood up and took her sword from her. Rosa stood up slowly as Cherry moved towards us, looking tired and worn out.
‘THEN YOU’LL DIE LIKE ONE!’ Rosa yelled suddenly as she pulled a knife from her boots and rushed at her. Cherry turned but I was quicker as I pulled the trigger, shooting Rosa in the head. Her body fell with a thump as Cherry turned to look at me. Namjoon and I both ran at her. She looked completely exhausted.
‘Are you okay?’ Namjoon asked and she nodded. ‘Are you sure? You look like you can barely stand,’ he said, clearly worried.
‘I’m not that injured but I swear I could sleep for a week after these past few hours,’ she admitted. ‘My brother?’ she asked.
‘He’s been taken to Seokjin. Come on, we’ll take you there,’ he said and she nodded. Namjoon turned around, ready to walk away while I remained next to her.
She did not move but turned to look at me. ‘Thanks Hobi,’ she said and I smiled.
‘Hobi?’ I asked and she shrugged and winced at the same time. ‘Anytime princess,’ I said with a wink but only smiled briefly. God knew the thoughts that were running through her head right now. ‘Come on, let’s get you to Jin,’ I said as I put my arm around her waist and helped her to walk.
‘I … I need to check on my parents,’ she said and I sighed. That was not a sight she should see if it was true.
‘Namjoon probably already is sending someone. You shouldn’t be the one to see it, believe me,’ I said.
‘They’re my parents and they’re dead because of me,’ she said but I quickly shook my head.
‘No! No, don’t do that to yourself Haneul. It won’t lead you to good places. Trust me, I’d know,’ I said as I squeezed her waist. She just nodded but I knew she was not convinced. I sighed as I began to help her walk out of this damned room.