Save Me | BTS

1.

Go left.

Jungkook's heart raced as he sprinted down the alley. He could feel it thumping, almost painfully, against his rib cage. Rain and sweat dripped down his face in a combined effort to blind him. The blood rushing in his ears tried in vain to cover up the shouted threats of the men chasing him. This wasn't the first time he had found himself in this situation, and it certainly wouldn't be the last.

Keep going.

Another corner, and another alley. He pumped his arms faster, urging his slim legs to a greater speed. His breaths were coming out in ragged gasps, leaving white trails through the cold morning air. Water erupted underneath his worn shoes as he landed in puddle after puddle, quickly soaking the bottom of his ripped jeans.

Please let this be the end...

And it was. He rounded another corner and faltered. Before him stood the end of the alley, a large brick wall that stood between him and safety. A sinking feeling settled in his stomach as the outcome of the situation became evident. He wanted to scream but knew that would do nothing to ward off the men that were after him. As a hand clamped onto his shoulder the only thing he could think was, Maybe I should have gone right. Then he was yanked back and hit with enough force to make him stumble.

Immediately Jungkook saw black, and probably would have fallen to the ground if it weren't for the strong hands that gripped the front of his torn t-shirt. "Oh no, you're not getting out of this that easily," a deep voice hissed in his ear, spittle landing on his scraped cheek. Mild disgust arose in him but was quickly drowned out by the pain he was experiencing. The man threw him against the wall and slammed him headfirst into his knee. Jungkook could feel his face swelling as blood dribbled down his cheek, clearing a short path through the dirt and grime. His legs gave out, but this time the men let him fall to the ground, his skull connecting with the pavement with a sickening crack. The assault didn't end there but continued with an onslaught of kicking, making him curl into a ball in a vain attempt to protect himself. A particularly powerful kick to his stomach caused the boy to cough blood, an experience he was all too familiar with.

Why me? he thought pitifully. Why won't they leave me alone? The agony that laced through his tired body seemed to be ever present, like an old companion that you can never lose or a parasite that can't be killed, but lingers while it sucks the life out of you until you're just an empty shell. Jungkook was so lost in his self-pity that he didn't even notice when his beating ended.

"Alright, boys, I think he's learned his lesson," a new voice said. Thank God, he thought. But Jungkook's gratitude was abruptly cut off as the man grabbed his hair and yanked him up, causing him to hiss in pain. "If I ever see you anywhere near my part of town again," he growled, "I'll do much worse than give you a few punches. Got it?" It was a little more than that, he thought derisively, but Jungkook was trying hard not to pass out, so he chose to stay quiet. He immediately regretted that decision when the man jerked his head to the side, definitely ripping out a few hairs. "Answer me!"

"Y-yes, sir," he managed to gasp out. The man was satisfied with this and let Jungkook's head fall back to the ground. A low groan left his chapped and bloody lips, to which the men laughed.

"Good." Then the man motioned to the others and left.

Jungkook attempted to push himself up but only succeeded in scraping his palms against the rough asphalt. Tears leaked down his face, and he hated himself for crying. Crying never got him anything but pain, a fact that had been proven to him over and over again. After a few more tries, he gave up. Jungkook laid there, letting the cold soak into him and numb his aching body. Darkness invaded the edges of his vision, for which he was grateful. The pain was always easier when he was unconscious.