Prologue
𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞, 𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡---𝐇𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝, 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐡𝐢𝐬. ｡ﾟ❁ུ۪ °
Rain lashed down in sheets, stinging like needles. Port appeared a battleground between sea and sky. Once busy, harbour now stood deserted, swallowed by storm's fury. Shipping containers groaned as water streams attacked their rough surface.
Gust of wind growled , bending the flagpoles and leaving ringing calop of empty cranes. Violent waves of sea anchoring over the edges hatching a muddy platform. Streetlights flickered uncertainty, reflecting broken reflection across the port roads. At the end of the dock, there waited the last ship . Tall, grim like a sentinel. Sea waves were slamming against its sides. The flags were torn from the poles. No crew member could be seen. Only rain poured over the deck, soaking every plank, blurring the outlines of lifeboats.
Through the flooded port, Ina's small petite form sprinted, slamming her boots as she moved, crossing heavy gust of wind. Her eyes were squinted, flickering fear and anxiety. Breath comes in short , ragged gasps as she forces her body towards the ship. The thin glowing light that was far from her reach was the only hope of her.
Her dress , pink shirt, and blue skinny jeans were wholly soaked in rain, hugging her body tight. Hairs loose were slightly bouncing with each jerk of her body. Stubborn hair strands were now sticking to her ear and cheeks . Fingers clutched a passport, which wasn't her but useful at this emergency. Each time thunder grumbled up high, Ina's body flinched . Steps are missing over the slippery muddy platforms but never stopping her. Cause Ina knows the moment she'll stop ,she'll have to experience the blood and death again... which she can't take any longer.
Beside her there was a guide, her only saviour in this situation. She heard his voice,
"Hurry ! Or you'll miss the last ship !"
The slightest string of panic emerging inside her body grew further. Ina's eyes flickered worry and dismay as she tried to run faster. But no ! Her body is too exhausted to bear such a struggle. Though, raising her fear , the ship's horn growled. A deep , sorrowful wail that instantly devoured all the roar of wind and wave . Ina's face contoured with disquiet and terror. She paced her movements. Legs were aching ,each muscle paining, and breath about to fall short. But Ina can't stop. Not now...
However doubling her dismay into the next level, she heard the familiar footsteps behind her. Feets frozen on the spot instantly. Stomach twisted as fear spread through her veins like cold blood. In a flash, she paused like a statue.
"What happened? Run ! Ina !"
Guide hurried. But Ina's face has dropped colours, and the heart now thumped ominously. The fear she was carrying till now has risen to its peak. Breath hitched. And then she heard the steps again. Slow , unhurried. Boots against puddled concrete. Each step rumbled, slicing the calop of water , syncing with the grumbling of thunder.
Shadows emerged through the downpour. Under the broken reflection of streetlights, tall figures were visible. One leading and behind him others with heavy rifle and machine guns, shimmering by the lightening . Their movements were unhasty, deliberate, and purposeful. The leader's hand was twisting something, not a weapon . His face carries a fancy vintage mask. Lips thin and curled up into a smug. Inhumane and sinister. Eyes through the mask appeared unexpressed and dead. But steps ? Too measured, too calculative.
Ina exhaled. Dared not to look back. She knows him. Very well. But she can't fail after coming this far. She looked forward to the ship before her. Measured the distance that she has yet to swallow. Then, taking a deep breath, she began to run once again. Her moves were desperate. Eyes flickering anxiety and terror. Fists tight. Guide hurried as well.
The footsteps behind her didn't fasten at all. It's slow and deliberate exactly how it was. Even if she's running, Ina's mind continuously diverted back to hear him. His next move. Although she knows. She knows what's next. And no ! She's not prepared. Tears glistered into her eyes sockets. Heart burning as all the suffering flashed before her mind. Trembling lips murmured,
"No- no , please... not again -"
However, her words stuck inside her throat as she heard clicking calop behind and almost immediately silencing the storm's roar, a gunshot rumbled. Ina's feet halted once more. Body stiffened. Eyes closed, escaping tears. And then the agonizing groan.
"Ughhhh-"
Beside her, she heard a loud thud . The body of the guide's collapsed on the floor, blood spattered. His hands splayed near Ina's boots.
Ina opened her eyes. Under the dark pouring night, a dead body lying just beside her. The smell of gunpowder lingered still. And blood flow down with the water streams. A low gasp escaped her lips as she turned her face to the other side. Body exasperated. Eyes dropped tears.
"𝑂𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝒉𝑒 𝒉𝑒𝑙𝑝𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑒 ?"
Words escaped like a whisper as Ina sniffled. The footsteps behind her didn't waver. Moving towards her at a slow pace, terrifying her a little more. His unhurried moves scare her most. It's almost like she's a rat in his claws , he's playing with her. Enjoying her fear. Feeding on her fear.
Ina stepped away. Jaw tight. Eyes still glistering. She has to run. Or else-
the ship's roared once more. Ina's gaze flickered worry. Slapping the boots against the concrete, she gathered pace. But luck betrayed her as usual. Ina reached the edge of the dock as the gateway began to lift .
"No !"
Her voice cracked. Swallowed by the storm. She stood there , soaked and gasping. Eyes wide with disbelief. Heart writhed, crumbling the last cord of hope. Hands extended, and fingers stretched out as if she could catch the ship, but no ! It's far away. Rain poured, washing the tears off her. Hands fall to sides with despondency. Gaze flickered anguish and menace.
She was so indulged in her own defeat that Ina failed to acknowledge when and how the footsteps have halted close behind her. The group of men with weapons has stopped maintaining a distance. Where the leader figure has reached excessively closer to her. His body was covered in a hooded cape. With a symbol of Eagle. His tall, large frame loomed over her small petite figure. Kim Taehyung. But for Ina, a random stranger named V. Who's haunting her for some uncertain reasons.
His cruel smug deepened, and eyes behind such mask, dark and unexpressed, flickered a sense of victory. He tilted his head , eyes filled with feral intentions ogle her rain drenched appearance.
Ina's reverie muddled once Taehyung's long fingers clasped her shoulders from each side. Her body flinched badly, and her heart pounded ominously. Breath hitched. Muscles tensed.
Taehyung pulled her closer until her back touched his chest. Ina failed to struggle. Her legs numbed. Fear ran through her blood cells. Her throat dried when Taehyung leaned closer to her ear, nibbling the earlobe his rattling deep voice trailed off,
"You missed this opportunity as well, 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒑𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒆... what you'll do now?"
Ina's heart sunk deep. Body stiffened. His venomous voice added as his hands retreated,
"You're returning with me !"
This time, it's more determined. Like an order. Returning? Again, to that suffocating life ? Those deaths and blood ! Never ! Ina's eyes glistered. She didn't turn around. Suddenly, a stupid idea arrived her head. It's actually stupid. Ina knows quite well how foolish it is . Cause she has tried to commit su*cide many times to escape this person. But he would never let her die. She's his entertainment. She can't die.
But right now... the sea appeared more reliable than to go back. Without a second thought, Ina lunged forward and jumped directly on the cold water.
Taehyung witnessed all. Didn't move a bit to save her. But behind him ,his right hand Jungkook in a flash moved past , jumping straight into the sea.
Ina wasn't moving at all. Allowing herself to go deep . Her eyes closed. She could feel water entering inside her lungs. But she was suddenly pulled back. Two strong arms dragged her upwards. Ina tried to fight, but he's strong. Ina knows it's useless to fight, but she's stubborn as well.
However, in a few seconds, Jungkook lifted his head up the water level. Then, dragging Ina's body, he arrived at the dock again. Taehyung was standing still with no change of reaction. Jungkook carried an equal stoic face. His eyes were equally unexpressed, exactly his master.
Dragging Ina all the way, he shoved her towards Taehyung. Ina's body collided on Taehyung's hard chest . And before she could step back. Taehyung's hands slided down, wrapping around her sides. Ina coughed. Face scrunched with pain. Taehyung's eyes dark and dull, observed only her.
"You're giving up ? 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒑𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒆. You know what it means... don't you?"
Ina was having issues in breathing, and she coughed. However, once his words registered in her head, Ina jerked back and obviously failed because of Taehyung's strong grip on her waist.
Her face lifted, eyes met his. Begging him to leave her. But it's useless. Taehyung's fingers splayed over her stomach. Drawing circles and giving her chills.
"You're ready to accept the collar ? Chains? Cage again? Seraphine?... You know what's the penalty for giving up. Don't you ?"
Taehyung's voice hoarse. His deep ocean like voice sent a cold shiver down her spine. In a flash few memories of past vivid before her head rising her fear. She, with full force, pushed Taehyung. His grip loosened. Abruptly? Or intentionally? Ina doesn't know. However, she failed to step away as suddenly a sharp pain in her head blurred her vision.
"Huh !"
With a groan, she caught her head. Body weakened. Legs numbed. Taehyung didn't move at all. She watched her lose consciousness slowly. His arms were crossed before his chest. Eyes dark and dull fixed on Ina.
She tried to maintain her balance. But it's difficult. Her head aching badly. Eyes heavy. Breath slow. Soon, eyelids close fully, and everything black out.
Before she could collapse, Taehyung grasped her hand and effortlessly picked her into an embrace. His fancy mask abruptly slips away, exposing his ethereal beauty. He didn't bother to put the mask back. His gaze trailed down Ina's face. He leaned and planted a kiss on her forhead. His expression, though, appeared not at all affectionate.
"Sleep tight , 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒑𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒆. You have a long way to run tomorrow. "
He muttered underneath. His voice is low and husky, almost like a conspiratorial whisper. Rain drops poured on both. He slowly turned around to his men. The group split into two, and Taehyung walked through them carrying Ina with one hand. The guards and Jungkook followed him, matching his pace. However, no one carried any expression on their faces pursuing Taehyung.
