Part 45

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Here we go

Mark

Jb charged at me, blade in hand and I quickly side stepped out of the way, giving myself time to fall into a defense stance,"Are you insane?" My hand clenched around the daggers handle, "The hell! Why are you attacking me?" Dodging another lunge Jb used his blade as a distraction, other hand forming a fist that connected with my jaw. The uppercut left me slightly dazed. By the time I had shaken off his hit Jb was pushing on my chest, my back hitting the ground,"I've given up too much, sacrificed everything I had, to get here. I'm not going to let a wanna-be hero stand in my way."

  Jb knocked my dagger out of my hand, him now straddling my waist to keep me in place,"Taehyung make sure the King doesn't leave!" He snapped, and I wondered if Taehyung would actually listen, after all that had happened. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Taehyung separate from the crowd and I internally sighed. Feeling a sort of loss. But who could blame someone who had just lost everything, to believe anything? None of this was anyone's fault, what they believed, how they acted,"What are you going to do without your dagger Mark? Give up? Junior not teach you how to use your hands?"

  I knew what he was doing, he was trying to anger me. To the point I lash out so he can easily pin me, and finish me off. Anger made you act on instinct, and instinct wasn't always best. Even knowing what he was trying to achieve, I couldn't help but get angry. What he was saying wasn't just about Jinyoung and I being together, it was more about us both being guys, something I hadn't been okay with for a long time. I wasn't going to let Jb of all people insult who I am, and who Jinyoung is.

  Having my entire chest area free I leaned up so Jb and I were face to face,"At least I didn't get dumped for being terrible in bed." A smirk on my face made Jb snarl, facing turning red with fury. It didn't help that a few bandits on the side laughed at my insult,"You're such a child Tuan." There was a grunt to his voice. Jb's hand wrapped around my neck unannounced, fingernails digging into my skin. Not expecting him to act so fast, and go for my neck, I was at a loss on what to do. What the hell did Jinyoung teach me about choking? I couldn't remember anything as the oxygen got cut off and my world slowly started going black.

  I tried to wiggly out of his grip by instinct, which only makes the oxygen run out faster. This I knew. But it was a lot harder to stop instincts then people made it out to be. Is this the end? I wanted to laugh the thought away. It couldn't be the end of everything, could it? No. After all I had done to survive, I can't have my life end like this. So similar to my mother and sister, so similar to so many bandits. Dying at the same hands. The same murder.

  In the moment that you are facing death, blackness surrounding your vision, time running out, everything you've done matters. Every time you did something kind for a neighbor, or never said goodbye to someone before they left forever. The amount of times you pushed someone away, and how rude you were to people even when they deserved it. Because hurting someone is never rewarding. You would know, after all the times you had been hurt.

As my vision got worse, and the world went to a blur, I reached out to grasp onto something, anything, trying to stay for as long as possible. Letting myself die without a fight was me just giving up. Not just on myself but on every friend I had made and all the bandits that had died because of the fire and Yugyeom.....and BamBam who only had so many people left. And Jinyoung. But what was there to do? Jb had me pinned to the ground, cutting off my air with his hands. I could only see spots of light by now and soon I would leave this world. Moving on to God knows where, leaving everyone behind.

And as I finally gave in, accepting the pain I would cause and how I was giving up on everything, a final thought popped into my head. The face of my mother as she held my sister and I in her arms. Her lips curved upward in a large open mouthed smile, chuckling at something stupid my sister had said. And she whispered that she loved us both so much. Brushing her hand through our hair and giving us kisses on our cheeks. I couldn't tell if a tear had fallen down my face or not, but either way I felt the pain of my mother and sisters memories overcome me.

  I really miss my family

  And the world went black.


   "Get off of him!" A scream echoed through my mind, and suddenly a huge weight was lifted off my chest. The pain going down to a dull ache. Shuffling and grunts sounded from around me and I couldn't help but feel that something was off. Was the pain leaving because I had died? It's not like I was familiar with how the afterlife worked. A numb feeling fell onto my shoulders, a buzz almost,"Mark! Mark! Wake up!" Wake up? Why would I want to do that? There is no pain here. And I'm not even sure I can wake up. How do I wake up? I tried to open my eyes, only feeling the weight of sleep, or something else, stopping me,"Mark you have to wake up! Come on." A weight was added onto my body, all at once. I put the pieces together. Someone fell onto my body. Why did they fall onto my body? Why do they want me to wake up? Why do I have to wake up? It must be important.

  "Wake the hell up Tuan!" The weight temporarily left, only to slam back into me with a buzz at my stomach. Not a dull ache but a small throb. And then another slam, a pinch. And another, and another, until it felt that a knife was hitting my gut, stabbing my rib cage. I found myself opening my eyes and sitting up in seconds, holding my stomach protectively as I backed away from the person. My eyes squinted to adjust to the bright lights coming from all directions. When I could finally focus my head was pounding and I couldn't think straight. The person in front of me had black hair and a small smile on his face,"You're awake thank God!" Studying the persons face I gasped,"Youngjae?" Oh my God I am dead.

Youngjae gave a small shrug, mouth opening to explain but was cut off by a loud grunt. Turning my head to the side Jb stood with a blade held high, his back to me and eyes fixed on his opponent. Who was not just one person but two. I noticed colored hair, BamBam for sure, lunging forward, blade clashing with Jb's which was quickly pushed down. BamBam's body hit the ground with a hard kick to his stomach and the other figured dashed to take his place. It was Jinyoung. I gasped,"How- you- village!" I rushed, my words coming out in stutters.

Youngjae shook his head and looked behind him,"There is no time to explain. The whole castle went under alert when you fainted and almost all the bandits here are on Jb's side." Youngjae grabbed ahold of my shoulders,"Listen okay? I'm going to go search for Jackson. You have to stay here and help Bam and Junior." I tensed,"Help them do what?" Youngjae visibly gulped, searching for an answer,"Contain him. Just contain him."

Before I could open my mouth to say something else, Youngjae got off the castle floor and ran out of the throne room. I found myself watching him go, not wanting to face the chaos behind me, but knowing I would have to eventually. Turning towards the fight I was just in time to see Jb throw a punch to Jinyoung's stomach. I winced with him, not happy about what just happened. Jb is not allowed to hit him. Getting to my feet I felt some of the dizziness fall away as adrenaline rushes through me. My neck was still burning and I could feel Jb's hands pushing the breath out of me when he was so far away.

  I was on my feet when Jinyoung's eyes met mine. It was as if we had switched positions. He was now on the floor, holding his stomach in his hands with bruises everywhere, and I realized I have no idea how long he's been fighting. I began walking towards him, and then I was speeding walking, jogging, running. But before I could reach him a ruff hand pushed me back. I was now facing Taehyung, his nostrils flaring, hands bloody. Taehyung was keeping me from Jinyoung, and now I didn't know what to do.

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WOOOOOO Next chapter is going to be hectic. Btw yesterday I performed for homecoming in my marching band! And on Wednesday we have a marching festival, wish me luck on that one.

  How ya'll doing? It feels like forever since I've talked to you guys

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