Aftertaste | J.JK

I Love You

I hurl the metal leg straight at his face.

He bats it away, although his face twist into a pained wince. The sharp corner must've cut a gash into his hand— I can see the blood streaming before it smashes into my side.

Pain rocks my vision as I collapse to the right, eyes blurring with tears from the heavy blow. The wind is knocked out of my chest as I bite down on my tongue, trying not to scream.

His fingers wrap around my neck, and my eyes go wide as I feel my body levitate from the ground. My feet scramble for anything solid as I kick at his chest, air leaving me in panicked puffs of breath.

He reaches for the metal bar that lay abandoned on the ground, grip still suffocating as I claw at his wrist.

I can't breathe.

"Time for me to fuck you up, girl."

Then he drives the sharp side of the bar through my side, and I let loose the most agonizing scream. The lights blur in a wave of pain and terror as he releases my neck, watching me slam onto the floor.

Blood roars in my ears as I curl my pale hand around the steel, breath escaping me in short, stiff gasps. I can feel the blood escape me like water from a broken dam— pouring out heavy and fast.

The pain is too much.

Then a feral roar pierces the air, and I immediately recognize the owner of the voice through the heavy clouds of red and black.

Jungkook.

A terrified scream follows the roar as my vampire puts an end to the man's life, claws flashing and silver sparkling with that tinge of blue I'd always loved.

I don't know if I'll see the color again.

"Elle," He whimpers as urgent hands wrap around my body, pressing me against warmth. A soft wave of relief lasts for a blissful moment before the crimson pain turns everything black and white.

He's crying?

I can see his stunning eyes sparkle with tears, set in a face ashen with worry and frustration. It's clear that he's torn between the blood drenching his hands, of what actions he should take to bring me back.

But there's nothing he can do.

It's too late to stop the waterfall of blood cascading out of my side, every second ticking down to its last. Yoongi is too far to reach— and I'm too weak to teleport. Even if he got me there, Yoongi couldn't do anything without equipment with such a serious wound.

There's nothing, and he knows.

"Everyone...." I say weakly, praying for him to understand. It was too tiring to even shape a single letter on my heavy, thick tongue— like something was blocking the words from coming out.

"They're all okay," He whispers, looking utterly broken as he notices the two switches. "The light turning off gave us a huge advantage— you might've saved Jin hyung tonight, Elle."

A soft smile ghosts on my lips when I hear that, but the expression on Jungkook's pained face grows even darker.

"But you've put yourself in his place."

He can't even get himself to look at my wound, still dripping blood without any signs of stopping. Time was running out— it was undeniable that I would die today.

"You're going to die," He whispers, and I purse my lips. I didn't want to lie to him when I already knew that was going to happen as well.

Something hardens in his eyes.

"You will die today,"

"But you will be alive."

My eyes widen at his words as his meaning dawns in realization. He lets out a bitter laugh as his fangs grow to the largest I'd ever seen, almost reaching his chin.

"Do you think I'll let you go this easily?" He asks, gripping my shoulders. His eyes burn the color of the moon in the darkest night, and I find myself marveling when I should be deathly fearful.

"I will never let you go, when I 've just found you."

His voice speaks volumes more than the words, and I can hear the apology in his tone as he sets me down on the cold floor.

"I'm sorry."

"No," I say quickly, my clammy hand over his. "None of this is your fault, okay? And whatever is going to happen next also isn't. You're saving me, not the other way around."

"Save your breath." He advises, pressing a finger to my lips. He tugs the shoulder of my shirt down, and I shiver slightly at the brief cold.

"I love you."

My lips curve into a smile under his finger, and my whisper is soft.

But he hears me anyway.

"I love you."

And then he sinks his fangs into the exposed shoulder.