Stigma Love's Algorithm [ A BTS x Reader Poly ]

Chapter 44: Every Mark, Etched in Skin ⚠️

His lips part, and his voice-when it comes-
Is wrecked.
"Tae."

One word.
Ruined.

Like the world is falling apart in front of him.

Like he would tear the universe apart to rewrite history if he could.

Like he can't stand it.
Like he can't bear it.

Like he doesn't know what to do with all this fury.

But Taehyung-
Taehyung doesn't stop.

Because he isn't here.
He's still there.

Still trapped.
Still chained in that basement.
Still hearing the laughter.

And Yoongi-
Yoongi looks like he's ready to burn the entire world down.

"I don't know how long passed."
His voice is so small. So fragile. It barely exists.

"But one night... I woke up to cold water."

My blood runs cold.

Beside me, Yoongi locks up, his entire body tensing so violently it feels like the air itself has been wound tight.

"My uncle was there."
A beat.

Then, quieter-
"With two other men."

Yoongi curses under his breath.
A thick, choked sound.

But it's not just a curse.
It's a threat.
A promise of blood.

"They beat me."
Taehyung's voice is steady.

But I hear it.
The way it fractures at the edges.
The way it hurts to say it out loud.

A pause.
A shuddering breath.

"Every night."

Yoongi sucks in a breath.
Sharp.
Pained.

Like something inside him has been torn open.
His hands tremble.
His chest rises and falls too fast, breaths coming too uneven.

"I-"
Tae's voice catches.
He can't even speak.

"I didn't cry."
Taehyung's voice cuts through the air-sharp.

"I refused to cry."

I sob.
My entire body shakes.

"I screamed at them," he says, his fingers digging into the teddy bear, his grip so tight I think it might tear apart.

"I called them cowards."

Yoongi's fists clench so tightly his nails bite into his palms.

He has to be drawing blood.
His entire body is shaking.
Barely restrained rage.
Barely human.

"I told them they ruined me."
A single tear slips down Taehyung's cheek.

"But my uncle just laughed."

A sound rips from Yoongi's throat.

Low.
Guttural.
Something animalistic.

I shake.
Yoongi shakes.

Taehyung gasps, his breath stuttering, his fingers twitching.

"They weren't going to stop."
His chest rises and falls too quickly.

"They were going to kill me."

Something in Yoongi snaps.
"I'LL FUCKING KILL THEM!"

His voice roars through the room.
Raw.
Broken.

It vibrates with such intensity it feels like the walls themselves might crumble.

He lunges to his feet, breath heaving, his entire body seething with rage.