Puppet Master I wish you would have gotten this one correct.😥 Don't you remember at all? 😰 The sneakers from Spring Day??
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Poor Bun Bun. 😔 There's only two riddles left. And two strings left to cut. I really expected better from you.😒 I'll be in touch.😑
* * *
"It's been so long since I've walked by the river."
"We thought it would be good to get you out of the dorm for a while." Jimin threw his arm across Jungkook's shoulders, careful to avoid his injured ear.
"Yeah, you can't stay cooped up for too long." Taehyung walked on his other side, sipping a can of cola.
"Thanks." Jungkook breathed in deeply, listening to the water lap onto the banks. "It's relaxing. The sun is so warm." He smiled as he exhaled. He had sequestered himself inside the dorm since the incident with his ear. There was still a large bandage covering the stitches and he was horribly self-conscious about it. A few more days and the stitches would be removed. His hand instinctively moved to his ear and and he felt the bandage. A shudder ran down his spine as he remembered the earring being ripped through it. He wasn't sure he would ever put anything back in that spot on his ear.
"Are you nervous being out here? You look nervous." Taehyung smiled and nudged his friend's shoulder.
"No. I know it was just an accident." Jungkook was trying to be completely relaxed and happy.
"Good. I would hate for you to become paranoid." Jimin smiled and continued walking towards the bridge.
"Race you guys!" Jimin took off, while Jungkook and Taehyung quickly followed.
The three men raced like children to the bridge and ran up the walkway. People were milling about enjoying the late afternoon sunshine.
Jimin's phone rang and he pulled it out, looking at the caller ID. "Hm. I had better take this. You guys wait here." He quickly put his phone to his ear and walked further across the bridge.
Taehyung watched him and then stood next to Jungkook, who was staring down at the water below. "I think death by drowning would be one of the worst ways to go," he mumbled.
Jungkook laughed and stared in disbelief at Taehyung. "You're so morbid!"
Taehyung giggled. "Yeah, well, you know how my mind works."
Jungkook laughed and looked back down at the dark water. He leaned his arms against the railing and then rested his chin on top of them. Death wasn't even something on his radar right now. His life was practically just beginning. Death was certainly not a thought he enjoyed entertaining.
"So, do you think your song will make the cut for the new album?" Taehyung took a long drink of his cola, quickly stifling the deep belch that came with drinking carbonated soda.
Jungkook sighed and looked off towards the slowly setting sun. "I hope so. I'm a bit anxious about it."
"Hmm," nodded Taehyung. He looked towards where Jimin had gone and a small sigh came from him. "Stay here, Kookie. Jimin's been gone a little too long. I'm going to go drag his butt back." Taehyung winked at Jungkook and trotted off.
Jungkook just giggled softly. Taehyung and Jimin were his close friends and they kept him on the light side of life more often than not. He watched the water swirl below him, mimicking his thoughts, and it almost mesmerized him.
It took a moment for him to realize the water was actually getting closer. As a quick pinch and a harsh shove sent him flying, his body snapped into survival mode and his hands quickly grabbed the railing, one losing its grip and leaving him dangling precariously over the water below. He gasped and began screaming for Taehyung and Jimin who quickly came dashing up to the railing, their faces laced with fear and shock.
"Jungkook!" Taehyung screamed, quickly trying to grab Jungkook's hand that was struggling to keep a grip on the metal railing. Jungkook's other arm was flailing around trying to gain momentum to grab ahold of the railing once more.
Jimin was scrambling with his phone to call for emergency help. People began to gather and several strangers jumped into action, all trying to grab ahold of Jungkook in any way possible. Taehyung was just able to touch Jungkook's fingers but unable to reach any further.
Tears were filling his eyes as he cried for Jungkook to grab ahold of him if he could. Jimin was trying to decide if he could be lowered down further while someone held his feet but everyone around said that two deaths would be worse than one.
Jungkook felt his arm go numb, his fingers slowly losing their grip. He was frustrated that with all of his strength he still felt like a limp doll, unable to hoist himself up high enough to get a footing on something solid. His vision became a bit hazy as he watched Taehyung's face transform into a horrified expression and then get smaller and smaller.
He realized he was falling and there was no way to stop it.
* * *
"Beloved idol falls from bridge, rescued from the river by emergency personnel."
You stare at the headline on the late news in disbelief. You knew you had answered incorrectly and you were worried that the Puppet Master was going to do something awful, but going to this extent? You would never have dreamed. Your hands tremble as you lay the remote down next to you on the couch.
Jungkook could have died!
The realization hits you like a ton of bricks. It was at that moment, you decide it's time to call the police. Jungkook's life was in danger and you were the only one who could stop it.
That is, if you can find anyone who will listen.
"Ma'am, you mean to tell me you've been gambling with someone's life? And how do you know it's this 'Puppet Master' that's been doing all this stuff to Jungkook-ssi?"
"It's too coincidental! If I answer his question wrong, something bad always happens to Jungkook! Detective, you have to believe me."
The detective sighs heavily and agrees to look into the matter when he has the time. You're sputtering in frustration as he hangs up on you. Throwing your phone onto the couch angrily, tears begin to fall from your eyes. You were wrong to have played this game. You know it now. You just need to answer the both of the last two riddles correctly and this nightmare can be over for both you and Jungkook.
