Chapter 1
The afternoon sun filtered through the tall windows of the small library, casting a bright golden glow on the rows of bookshelves. Jimin moved gracefully between the aisles, his small fingers delicately brushing the spines of all the books that adorned the long shelves. The library was his sanctuary, a mindless escape and refuge from the chaos and dangers of the outside world. If Jimin could choose to do anything for the rest of his life, it would be this, which is why he opened his own library at the young age of 25.
It wasn't huge but it wasn't small, walls and columns made from wood, adorned with plants of all colors and types. He loved this place more than anything, finding comfort in every waking moment he spent in it. And although his mother had left him a fortune when she passed, he found that the luxurious lifestyle was something he'd rather stray away from. He'd often be lost in the worlds hidden between the pages, always attempting to escape the memories that often tried to invade his headspace.
As he walked around the aisles, he reached for a particularly old and rare book, something unusual catching his eye—a small bulge between the pages. Intrigued, he carefully pulled the book from the shelf and opened it, revealing a sleek, black flash drive nestled within its pages. His brows furrowed in confusion. Who would hide something like this in a library book?
Jimin took a look around, but the library was nearly empty. He dropped the flash drive into the pocket of his blue jeans and put the book neatly back in its place. He continued walking around, admiring his favorite place, the mysterious flash drive lingering in the back of his mind.
Hours passed and seeing as it was now dark outside, he walked over to his coffee bar, took a cup off the high stack, placing it under the mouth of the coffee maker, then pressing the big round 'start' button at its top. It was now the "perfect" time as Jimin liked to describe it. He took a seat at one of the two high tables next to the wood windows, enjoying the sound of the raging thunderstorm outside. He opened his laptop and reached for the black flash drive in his pocket.
His fingers brushed the fabric, but the flash drive was no longer there. Panic set in as he checked his other pockets, his shoulder bag and even the floor around him. He nervously jolted up, tracing back his steps, searching every nook and cranny but it was nowhere to be found. He didn't understand how it had vanished so quickly.
He remembered the dark book he found it in and he eagerly walked back towards the aisle, scanning the row for it. It was not hard at all, as it stood out to him among the rest. He reached for it, scanning its leather cover. He quickly realized that he had never seen this one before, and he questioned why it never stood out to him until now. As he was about to open it to examine its contents, the bell at the door rang loud, signaling that it had been opened.
The sound echoed throughout the library, scaring the boy, causing the heavy book to slip from his hands, landing with a loud bang. His heart thumped in his chest, breath getting caught in his throat. He'd forgotten to lock the door, he usually didn't get customers this late.
Suddenly, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the empty library. Jimin looked up to see a man entering the aisle he was in. His presence imposing, cold and so suffocating that it made it hard for Jimin to breathe. Dressed in a tailored black suit, with dark, piercing eyes that seemed to see right through him, the man exuded an air of danger and authority.
The man's gaze swept the room before settling on Jimin. "Are you the only one here?" he asked, his voice smooth but carrying an undertone of menace.
Jimin nodded, feeling a knot of fear tightening in his stomach. "Yes, we're closed for the day. Can I help you?"
"Yes, indeed you can." He said, letting out a low chuckle and stepping closer to Jimin, all the while never breaking eye contact.
Jimin took a step back and dropped his head to the floor, feeling uneasy under the man's cold gaze. "W-what do you want?" He said, feeling unable to deny service to the tall man.
Jimin was so small compared to the man in front of him, and he knew he didn't stand a chance if it came to having to defend himself. Instead he looked the man over, trying to get as much information from him as he could just by looking. He took note of the man's many tattoos, adorning his arm and even his neck.
The man took a few more steps forward, now directly in front of Jimin, book in between them. He reached down and grabbed it, inspecting its white stained pages. He begins to speak, words heavy and laced with threat. "Hm, I'm looking for something very important, have you seen it?"
Jimin's heart raced as he realized the gravity of the situation. "I... I found it earlier, but now I can't seem to locate it," he stammered, trying to remain calm.
The man looked down into the smaller man's eyes, burning holes into his head. If looks could kill, Jimin would be dead. "..What the fuck do you mean you can't seem to locate it?" He spit, grabbing his shirt and pulling him up to eye level by his collar. Fear took over the boy and tears threatened to fall as he struggled to breathe. The man's lips curved into a small terrifying smile, sending chills rapidly down his back.
"I-I didn't mean to, I'm sorr-" before Jimin could react, the man's arm shot out, book in hand, swinging it directly at his head. He didn't know what hit him, it was all too fast, too sudden, but it wasn't long until he felt the throbbing pain emerging from the back of his head. He found himself struggling to stay conscious as hands took hold of his hips and threw him over a set of shoulders.
The coffee maker emitted a staccato series of beeps, each one more urgent than the last, filling the room with a sense of impending danger as the cup overfilled and formed a puddle of boiling black coffee on the floor.
The man stepped over it as he swung the door open, boy draped over his shoulders, blood dripping from his soft blonde hair, which was now matted red where he had hit him. This was another typical day for him, simply a part of his never ending work. He had no empathy whatsoever for anyone, and it was something he was rather proud of, a quality that made him excellent in his line of work.
Jimins lashes fluttered as he slowly lost consciousness. He couldn't help but feel like his life was about to change forever as he blacked out completely in the chilling man's embrace. Little did he know this was just the beginning. He was stepping into the shadowed heart of the criminal underworld, where love and danger would collide in ways he never could have imagined, and he had no idea.
