Yoongi
I felt dead tired. My muscles were sore and every bone in my body hurt. Working in construction is definitely not a joke and I had to admit that I respected those workers even more. They had to endure the heat and they used what strength they had to make it work.
These past three days have been… well different. Like we were promised, we were given good food, cold water and sleeping quarters. We worked for long hours but we were paid very well. Yet, the four of us were worried about the younger ones. I hated being separated from them so much – much more than I cared to admit in front of them. If I did, I would never hear the end of it. They would just keep teasing and teasing until they got bored of it which wouldn’t happen in a long while.
‘Ahh I’m so tired I feel like I could sleep for a week,’ Hoseok said with a yawn while we walked and carried some of the bags.
We had managed to buy a decent amount of food, especially fruits and vegetables. We bought milk and bread and some canned food that could last too. At least we can vary a little.
‘You could say that again but it was worth it,’ Jin said with a big smile on his face. I looked at Namjoon who looked a little less tense than before we left.
‘I’m just happy it worked out and we get to see the others,’ Namjoon finally said. ‘What about you Yoongs?’ he asked. I sighed, knowing he was teasing me.
‘I can’t deny that I am excited to see them too. I um, well, missed them,’ I said. Even though we’ve been together for years, I still got shy when I admitted something like that.
‘I just hope they’re okay and didn’t run into trouble,’ Hoseok mumbled. I frowned because for the past three days I had been trying so hard to not think about it, but I failed every time.
‘We have to trust that they will be okay,’ Namjoon commented as we continued walking. Yet, all four of us had increased our pace.
Finally, I could smell the familiar scents of Jimin and Jungkook. I could not help but smile as I hurried even more to our meeting place. As soon as we arrived, they turned around and smiled.
‘You’re finally here!’ Jimin exclaimed as he came for a hug. I could not help but chuckle as Hoseok and I hugged Jimin while Namjoon and Jungkook hugged Jungkook.
‘We’re here,’ Namjoon repeated as we all let go of the hug. I looked at them – they seemed to be glowing. I looked around, looking for Taehyung, expecting him to be just behind them. For a moment, I felt somewhat scared.
‘Where’s Taehyung? Jin asked, voicing my own worries. My heart raced for a moment… but they seemed happy… so it could not be so wrong.
‘He’s okay, don’t worry,’ Jungkook said quickly, wanting to reassure us. ‘We have some really good news for you,’ Jungkook said, biting his bottom lip.
‘Is that so?’ I asked as they both nodded excitedly. They looked like kids who were given candy and I could not help but laugh.
‘So? What are you waiting for? Tell us!’ Hoseok said, just as excitedly. That was always a thing with us – if someone was excited, then we would all be excited and the same with other feelings like sadness or worry or fear. Jimin and Jungkook exchanged a look before they both showed us their forearms.
My eyes went wide as I took a step forward. It felt like my heart skipped a beat… or a couple as I grabbed Jimin’s arm and ran my hand over his tattoo which was now coloured. The last time I looked at it, that part of the tattoo was just black.
‘You… you found our last s—soulmate?’ I stuttered as I looked up at Jimin who was smiling and had happy tears running down his cheeks.
‘Yes Yoongi! She’s so amazing!’ Jimin exclaimed, his face seeming to take on new life. ‘Her name is Alina,’ he said.
‘And she’s a bender like we thought and she’s also a healer,’ Jungkook intercepted. I looked at the others who looked just as happily confused as me. They had found her! We were finally going to be complete.
‘Ho…how? How did you meet and where and when? We were only gone for three days!’ Hoseok exclaimed but there was no denying his happiness. Jimin gulped while his face fell. Jungkook sighed as he took Jimin’s hand in his.
‘What’s wrong Chim? Did something happen while we were gone?’ Jin asked tenderly.
‘We um separated for just some time to go and hunt. Jimin and Taehyung went in one direction and I went into another,’ Jungkook began to explain.
‘We um… we got attacked by hunters. We were surrounded and outnumbered. I… I tried to help. I even… I killed one of them,’ Jimin said, tearing up. He was always sensitive to the idea of killing others. He always hated the very idea of killing, especially if he was the one doing it.
‘That was not your fault Jimin. They’re the ones who attacked you. You were just protecting yourself and Tae,’ I said firmly as he nodded. If they were so proud of hunting us, then they should be prepared to face the consequences We were not going to go down without a fight.
‘What happened next then Chim?’ Namjoon asked, encouraging him to tell us everything. Jimin closed his eyes and took a deep breath before he looked back at us.
‘They were going to shoot me but Taehyung protected me. He got shot instead of me,’ he said, his voice cracking a bit. It was full of emotions and I could feel my own heart breaking at the thought of our precious Taehyungie getting hurt.
‘Hey, you heard what he said. You know he did because he loved you. He doesn’t want you feeling guilty for that,’ Jungkook said and I nodded, knowing Taehyung would do it over and over again with any one of us. It was just in his nature – to be protective.
‘I know but still,’ Jimin said with a hiccup. He shook his head, trying to get back his focus. ‘They were going to kill me for killing the woman but that’s when Alina came in. She literally sent them flying against trees and tied them up with vines,’ Jimin explained.
‘They went to her home so she could heal him and I managed to track them there. They’re waiting for us at her house,’ Jungkook informed us.
‘Then let’s go. They’re probably just as excited as we are,’ Hoseok said with a big smile on his face.
‘Come on, we’ll help you carry the bags and get going,’ Jungkook said as he came and grabbed two of the bags. We started walking, following Jimin and Jungkook who were hurrying towards what we assumed was her house.
‘What does she look like?’ Namjoon asked as we walked. They both smiled happily.
‘Absolutely beautiful Joonie. She’s tall and slim and has long black hair and amazing blue eyes and her smile! Her smile is stunning!’ Jimin said excitedly. Even his walk had a certain jump to it.
‘We’re almost there,’ Jungkook said as he pointed towards a mansion. We stopped as we stared at it in disbelief. ‘Yeah, I know, it’s a bit shocking at first but she’s actually a famous author. She just doesn’t go by her full name to remain private and not draw attention to herself,’ he explained.
‘Damn,’ Hoseok commented as we approached the house. It was a modern house with dark brown wooden panels and a lot of glass windows and doors. There seemed to be a lot of rooms and levels but somehow it looked welcoming. Maybe it was the idea that our soulmate was waiting for us in there.
Jungkook and Jimin both stopped suddenly, which almost caused me to bump into Jungkook. I looked at him but I saw his smile disappearing slowly as he seemed to sniff the air. His peaceful, happy look transformed into one of worry.
‘Kooks, is everything okay?’ I asked as I placed the bags down and then put a hand on his shoulder. He set his own bags down as he closed his eyes and sniffed one more time. He gulped as he turned to look at me.
‘Something is wrong Yoongi,’ he said before he broke into a sprint. I heard Namjoon curse as everyone else let go of the bags and took off in a sprint, right after Jungkook. I gulped as I realized the front door was open.
‘Taehyung! Alina!’ Jungkook yelled as we ran into the house. We reached the living room and then went into the kitchen which forced us all to stop.
My eyes went wide as I saw the place. It looked like all hell had broken lose here. Two of the chairs were toppled over. There was broken glass everywhere. A vase was broken into a million small pieces. Even the table was broken.
‘Wh—what hap—happened? We… we left them h—here. They we…were ok—okay,’ Jimin stuttered as new tears found their way into his eyes.
‘No…’ Jin whispered as he looked around frantically, almost as if they could come out of thin air and tell us this was all a prank. I felt my heart break all over again.
‘I think…’ Jungkook said as he turned to face us. His face was white, as if the colour had drained from his face. I could feel his heart racing. ‘I think the hunters must have found them or tracked them to here,’ he said.
‘We… we haven’t even met her yet and she’s already…’ Hoseok began but he stopped himself, probably trying not to say anything hurtful.
‘Guys…’ Namjoon called as we all turned to where he was looking. I heard Jin gasp and I felt my fear turning into rage as I saw some blood on the ground.
‘They’re going to *ing pay for hurting them,’ I said, as I balled my hands into fists.
Just the thought of them being hurt made me see red. I hated the very thought of it. I hated the idea of Taehyung being injured and even though I did not personally know Alina, my soul knew her and I hated the thought that she might be hurt as well.
‘Yoongi I know you’re upset, worried and angry, we all are, but we need you calm. We can’t rush in,’ Jin said.
‘Jin is right. We have to think this through and come up with a plan,’ Hoseok said.
‘But we can’t take too long. They’ll kill them,’ Jungkook said while Jimin whimpered. I looked at Jimin who was sitting on the ground, trying to not just burst out crying.
‘I know Kooks but if we rush in without a plan, that might mean we could put them in danger too and not just us,’ I said to which Namjoon nodded.
‘I’m thinking they might have taken them to the Tribunal,’ he said and I could not help but gulp.
I knew the hunters had an organization of their own. They had a leader and other people who ran “trial” for “supernatural creatures” like us. Most of the time, if not all, they always ended up with our kind being killed because “we are a threat to humanity” and had to be eliminated.
‘That might be dangerous but it is also might be good,’ Jin said. ‘It buys us time and I have an idea where their closest place is,’ Jin said.
‘If they managed to get her,’ Jimin finally said as all eyes turned on him. He had managed to stand up and his eyes had that determined glare into them. ‘They probably managed to put a suppressor collar on her,’ he said.
‘What’s that Chim? Can you elaborate?’ I asked as gently as I could.
‘She said it’s something that can be used to basically stop her from using her powers. They put it around her neck like a literal collar,’ he explained.
‘Jimin is probably right. Without it, she’s pretty strong. If we manage to take it off of her, she can change the whole thing,’ Jungkook said.
‘Okay so we find that place and see how we’re going to bust in. If she’s wearing a damned collar, we’re ripping it off,’ Namjoon said as everyone nodded. Taehyung, Alina, we’re coming!
