Chapter 5:-SMELL

...They had arrived in the living room and the table was set. Yoongi was pouring the wine into the cups. As soon as he saw Taehyung, he arched one eyebrow and shifted his look to Jimin. ...

..."Yoongi darling, it has been so long since I had dinner with the both of you. It would be a wasted trip if I did not have dinner with our pretty Taehyung," Jimin said as he smiled at Taehyung. ...

...Yoongi mumbled something and Taehyung bowed to his boss. Jimin and Yoongi seemed like a married couple and this made Jungkook feel weird. They all sat down at the table and, conveniently, Taehyung sat in front of Jungkook. He was extremely bothered by the sight he would have to endure throughout the night. The man could be as handsome as a god, but he was an unbearable prick....

...Sitting near Taehyung would mean he would have to endure that sweet and pungent smell that he had. Bloody lilly. It was such a different smell that Jungkook could not even begin to understand where it came from. That could not be a perfume, no one would be crazy enough to make something that smelled like that. It truly just smelled like death to him. The obnoxious scent of lilies paired with the metallic smell of blood. ...

...The staff set the plates and Kook was surprised by the news that they would be having steak that night. Jungkook would never complain about food, he loved eating. But he did not want to see Taehyung wielding a knife again. The thought made him shiver and it seemed that Taehyung caught up on that. He was smiling again. ...

...Jungkook had not said a word since they had sat down to eat and Jimin could see he was disturbed. ...

..."Yoongi darling, how long have you and Taehyung been working together?"...

..."You want to know how long he has been shooting, stabbing, gutting and butchering on my behalf? About 10 years," Yoongi said with a smile. "He enjoys it so much that I would feel bad if I ever made him stop." He laughed out loud. ...

..."You two make quite the pair. Just like Namjoon and Jackson," Jimin smiled at them....

...The mention of Jackson's name made Taehyung twitch and Jungkook saw that. He thought that he could use that in his favour. He could make Taehyung feel what he had felt earlier that day, so he just went for it. The consequences did not matter. ...

..."Jackson Wang? He is a very interesting man. Him and Namjoon were at our house yesterday."...

..."Yes, he is very interesting. Very sadistic too, charming man," Taehyung said as he put his hands together, cupping his chin while staring at Jungkook with a fake smile. ...

...Jungkook had not inflicted any damage. Taehyung probably understood what the young man was trying to do and decided to counter it. Jungkook did not stand a chance....

..."He has a special technique, you know? First, he slices the skin of your back open with 2 parallel cuts on each shoulder." He demonstrated cutting into his steak with his sharp knife. "He then proceeds to lift the skin and uses it as handles while you dangle from the ceiling." Taehyung was dangling his steak with his fingers, blood dripping on the plate. ...

...Jungkook shivered and Taehyung could see the young man cower in his chair. Pathetic . Yoongi and Jimin laughed at Taehyung's explanation while Jungkook just stared at the butchered steak that was now lying sadly on his plate. How could he say such a thing with a smile on his face?...

..."You either die from the splitting pain or from the blood loss, whichever comes first. Very few people live to tell the story and if they do, it's only because he wants them to." ...

..."He is very famous for that, I've heard." Jimin sipped on his wine. ...

..."Indeed he is. What he likes the most is the screaming. Oh he relinquishes on them. If you don't scream, he will find ways to make you."...

..."You seem very fond of him, Taehyung-ssi."...

..."Me?" He laughed. "No, no. I hate the fucker. But I respect his way of doing things. He is a master. A true artist."...

..."I thought you yourself were the famous artist, Taehyung." ...

..."Me? Certainly not. I just have my way of getting things done. I am not bothered by blood nor death, I just like the smell of it." His eyes fixated on Jungkook. "People on the verge of dying release this sort of smell, like death was letting you know that she is there to collect its prize. It's inebriating, almost like a drug," he said as he sipped on the wine. ...

..."Interesting. The smell of death. I've never smelled it, but I will try to next time I have the chance." Jimin had a malicious smile on his plump lips. ...

..."Do try, it is addictive. Once you actually smell it, you will never be the same." He focused his eyes on Jungkook. "Trust me."...

...Taehyung twirled the glass of wine with his fingers and stared back at Jungkook. He then proceeded to look back at his plate. A bloody mess. His smile grew wider as he stared at the small pool of blood that had formed in the center, staining the white porcelain. Taehyung lifted his index and ran it through the blood pool, coating his finger with the animal blood and, as he stared at Jungkook, sucked on the index. It was almost sexual. No, it WAS sexual. Taehyung was openly flirting with Jungkook in his own twisted and fucked up way. What the **** is going on?...

...Jungkook almost choked on his own saliva, but he did his best to not humiliate himself like that in front of those two anymore. The moment Taehyung talked about the smell of death, the only thing he could imagine was his smell. That disgusting sweet and metallic odor he had, Taehyung's natural perfume. This man was clearly insane. Jungkook had finished his dinner with extreme difficulty having to hear Taehyung's graphic depictions of his butchering and now all he wanted was to smoke a cigarette and leave. He put his pack of smokes on the table and Yoongi stared at him. ...

..."Unfortunately, I will have to ask you to smoke on the balcony Jungkook-ssi. You don't mind, do you?"...

..."Of course not, sir. I will be back shortly," he said with a faint smile on his lips. ...

...As soon as Jungkook closed the balcony door, he let out a deep sigh. He could breathe again, away from those crazy fuckers that had made him hear about how much they loved to kill people. Psychopaths. He lit his cigarette, inhaling as much as his lungs could take and then let out a small cloud in front of his face. The door suddenly slammed shut. ...

..."Mind if I join you?"...

..."Do I have a choice?"...

..."No." Taehyung leaned on the balcony railing....

...Jungkook was extremely annoyed by the other man's presence, but he knew he was no match for Taehyung. He was simply insane and Jungkook was not in the mood to hear any more of his fucked up stories. He politely offered the other man one of his cigarettes but Taehyung denied his offer. ...

..."I just gave them some privacy to talk. I do not smoke."...

..."Suit yourself." He puffed on his cigarette again....

...Jungkook tried his best to look unamused by the other man's attitude. Taehyung seemed to be acting like he was too cool and Jungkook found it quite annoying. Smoking was a big no no, but butchering someone to death was ok. He was a seriously messed up person. ...

..."How is your brother? We could not attend the funeral."...

..."He is fine." Jungkook opened a grim smile on his face as he looked over to Taehyung "Don't beat yourself up." He turned to face the city again. ...

...Jungkook finished his cigarette and looked back at the living room. Jimin and Yoongi were still talking and his brother was smiling happily. Too happily. It was a weird sight. He walked towards the door and began to open it. He was stopped mid action by a pale slim hand that covered most of Jungkook's own hand and forced him to close the door again. ...

..."Don't interrupt. Sit down. I'll tell you when we can go back in."...

..."Interrupt what? They are just talking business."...

..."If you try again, I will not hesitate to throw you over the railing."...

..."Are you threatening me?"...

..."I do not threaten people, I inform them. If you open the door, I will kill you." Taehyung said bluntly in his deep voice. ...

...Jungkook growled and sat on one of the chairs that were scattered throughout the balcony. He picked up his phone and could see that he had a missed call from Seokjin. He pressed the call button putting the phone in his ear as he got up and walked away from Taehyung....

... ...

..."You did not send me a report. I am disappointed."...

..."We are having dinner at Yoongi hyung’s place."...

..."Did the meeting go well?"...

..."They came to an agreement."...

..."Are there people near you?"...

..."Yes, sir."...

..."Min Yoongi?"...

..."No, sir."...

..."Kim Taehyung?"...

..."Yes, sir."...

..."Are you alone with him?"...

..."Yes, sir."...

..."Find Jimin. Now."...

..."Yes, sir." ...

... ...

...The call was disconnected. ...

... ...

...He looked at Taehyung and then back at the room where Jimin and Yoongi were talking. He approached the door and looked back at Taehyung for a second, he was already up and ready to stop Jungkook, probably by throwing him over the railing. ...

..."My brother and I have business to tend to. It is time for us to leave."...

..."Fine, you may go," Taehyung said as he removed his hand from Jungkook’s. ...

...Kook entered the room and Jimin glanced over at him. He instantly knew something was off and stood up to talk to him. He strode like a fairy, as always, and stopped in front of Jungkook before he approached the table. ...

..."Seokjin called," he whispered with a smile on his face. ...

..."Yoongi darling, it is time for us to leave. You know Seokjin has given us quite a busy schedule. What a pity, tell the boys I will have a beer with them sometime soon. We will see ourselves out." He waved at Taehyung meaning he was saying goodbye. ...

...Jungkook bowed down to Yoongi and then to Taehyung, quickly turning and accompanying Jimin back to the elevator. They were completely silent until they reached the ground floor. As soon as Jungkook got out of the elevator, Jimin pinned him down against the wall using his forearm to cut his brother's air flow....

..."What did you tell him, Kookie darling?"...

..."N-nothing."...

..."Are you sure?" Jimin pushed even harder against his throat and Jungkook was practically out of air. ...

..."Y-y-yes, hyung ." Jungkook had raised his hand and was tugging into Jimin's jacket. ...

...His brother let him go and Jungkook fell to his knees trying to catch his breath. Jimin was staring down at him, stroking his chin with his small fingers. He extended his hand down to help his baby brother up and Jungkook hesitated for a second before taking his hand. He stood up again, staring at Jimin. ...

..."Why would Seokjin tell you to leave? Did Tae-Tae do something to you?"...

..."No, he asked me if I was alone with Taehyung and I said yes. Then he told me to find you, immediately."...

..."Oh please, he was just scared that Taehyung would do something bad to you."...

..."Aren't you?"...

..."No." Jimin smiled as he strode down the lobby and went outside. ...

...Jungkook was paralized. He could not understand what had just happened. Seokjin was clearly scared that Taehyung would do something to him, so much that he made him leave Min Yoongi's house. But Jimin was not scared at all. He didn't even seem to care if Taehyung did something to him. Jungkook never thought Jimin was not a fox in sheep's clothing. He was sly and cunning. He did as he pleased and how he pleased, just because he could. He did not think he would act like that towards his own brother, but then again he was the one that said that betrayal ran in the Kim blood. ...

...Jungkook was back in his hotel room and he was feeling dizzy again. So much had happened and he had endured a long day of craziness. He picked up his phone and decided that it was time to talk to his older brother. The night had been strange and Jimin had surprised him. He needed to know what he was dealing with. ...

...JK: We need to talk...

... ...

...Seokjinie: Talk...

... ...

...JK: Jimin did something…...

... ...

...Seokjinie: What?...

... ...

...JK: He got angry when I said you told me to find him. ...

... ...

...JK: He suspected I had told you something ...

... ...

...Seokjinie: Of course he did...

... ...

...Seokjinie: Is he with you?...

... ...

...JK: No, I'm alone in my room...

... ...

...Seokjinie: Go to bed. I will call you tomorrow. Answer when I do. ...

... ...

...JK: Ok, hyung. ...

... ...

...Jungkook put his phone on the nightstand and lied back in bed. What did Seokjin mean by "of course he did"? He was certainly being left out of something big and he was afraid. Afraid of who was right in the end. Was Seokjinie acting in his best interest? Was Jimin protecting him? Who was the brother he could trust, if there was even one? He could just be a sheep in the middle of two foxes who were both trying to kill him. The thought sent shivers down his spine and Jungkook felt breathless. ...

...Could he trust anyone?...

...His mind went back to the psychopath and he remembered his smell. The sweet and metallic odor of death. It made him want to puke. Literally puke. Jungkook got up and ran to the bathroom. He kneeled in front of the toilet and threw up everything he had eaten that day. It was a long time before he stopped feeling sick and he finally breathed again. He looked down at the toilet and all he could see was a red mess. There was blood everywhere, the white porcelain stained with his blood. ...

...WHAT THE ACTUAL ****?...

...Jungkook hated the sight of blood. It wasn't unbearable but he did not like to see bloody things. It reminded him too much of his childhood and that made him angry. He raised his hand and pushed the flush to get rid of all that blood. The red vomit twirled in the toilet and went down the water pipe, disappearing from his sight. He breathed in relief but he could still taste the metal in his mouth. Disgusting....

...He got up and went back to his bed, covering himself with the blanket. It was not fluffy but it would do the trick. It didn't take him long to fall asleep....

...That night, Jungkook dreamt about his father. ...

... ...

...--...

...Jungkook woke up the next day feeling like shit , throwing up had taken its toll on him and now he was feeling sick all over. He picked up his phone and called Jung-hwan hyung. He asked him to buy him some Pocari and a couple of pills for his stomach. A while later he heard a knock on his door and got up to see who it was. He was surprised to see Jimin holding the bag with his medicine and did not answer his brother right away. ...

..."I met Jung-hwan in the hallway and he told me you asked him for medicine. Are you okay, baby boy?"...

..."I threw up last night and today I woke up feeling a bit sick. That's all."...

..."Do you have a fever?" Jimin pressed the back of his hand on Jungkook's forehead to feel his temperature, but he was not hot. ...

..."I don't think so. I think it was something I ate."...

..."Stay in your bed and take the pills. I will go down and fetch you some soup from the restaurant. Don't get up," Jimin warned him with a smile. ...

...He nodded and his brother saw himself out. Jungkook was really not feeling well. He lied back in his bed and swallowed the pills with the bottle of Pocari that Jung-hwan had bought. At this moment, Jungkook started to consider a crazy idea that did not seem as crazy the more he thought about it. Had he been poisoned? ...

...Jimin came back with a bowl of miyeok-guk , jook and some tea for Jungkook. He sat down on his bed and Jimin sat beside him, making sure he ate the whole meal. Jimin was always maternal when it came to Jungkook. He would take care of him when he was sick and would always make sure he ate his food so he got better faster. Even when the medicine tasted bad, he would mix it with honey to make it less bitter. Kook always appreciated that. It was his way of telling his baby brother that he loved him. ...

..."Kookie, I am sorry for what I did last night. Can you forgive me?"...

..."It's okay, you just got angry."...

..."No, it is not okay. I hurt you. You did not deserve that. I drank a lot and acted like an asshole."...

..."I know. It really is okay."...

..."Seokjin was worried that Taehyung would hurt you, but in the end I was the one who did it." Jimin smiled, but Jungkook could see that he was sad. ...

...He pushed the tray aside and leaned forward to hug his brother, Jimin hugged him back. It was good that they had reconciled like that. Unfortunately Jungkook did not trust his brother the same way he did before. There was something bad about Yoongi and Taehyung, and he was positive that Jimin was involved with them. If not for a good cause, then for a bad one. He would not mention this to Seokjin. He did not know if he could trust him either. ...

...Jimin had left and Jungkook was now lying in bed, staring at the ceiling. He still felt like shit and had no intention of getting up anytime soon. Jimin said he would tend to some business he still had in town and they would drive back to Busan when Kook felt better. He had no reason to worry. Still he did. ...

...His brother seemed like he had ulterior motives, second intentions and Jungkook was starting to catch up with his act. He did not know if this was good or bad but he was now more than sure that Jimin and Yoongi were more than just business partners. He just didn't know exactly what they were. ...

...Jungkook's phone was vibrating and he looked to the screen to see who was calling. Once he saw the name on the screen he immediately picked up. ...

... ...

..."Hyung!"...

..."Are you alone?"...

..."Yes, sir."...

..."Good, listen to me. Now that you have been made part of the family, you are not safe anymore, Jungkook. People will try to harm you. Do not give them the opportunity."...

..."Yes, sir."...

..."Jung-hwan told me you were sick. What happened?"...

..."I felt sick, that's all." Jungkook desperately wanted to say that he had vomited blood, but he decided to omit the information. "It was just something I ate."...

..."Stay alert, Jungkook. I will not be there to protect you anymore. This is a big world and you are alone in it. People will do anything, say anything to take you down. Do not trust anyone, do you understand?"...

..."Yes, sir."...

..."Repeat it."...

..."I do not trust anyone," A small tear fell down to his cheek. "Not even my family." ...

..."Good. Don't."...

... ...

...The call was disconnected. ...

... ...

...Indeed, he was alone. He had never thought that becoming part of the Family would mean that he would lose his own. This was possibly the saddest moment in Jungkook's life. The day he was abandoned for the second time by his own kin. He curled up in his bed and began to sob. Sad as it may seem, it was what, in the end, would change him. ...

...At this moment, Jungkook decided he would turn off whatever feelings he had. He was alone again and nothing mattered. He was now inserted in a world of soulless people and he had to become one of them. Love, happiness, friendship, and all those good feelings were no longer part of his life. He would become like his brothers, like Min Yoongi and Kim Taehyung. Yes, he would become just like them. No feelings and no regrets. No fear. Nothing. An empty shell. ...

...He eventually fell asleep and when Jungkook opened his eyes again, the sun had set and the room was slightly dark. He had slept all day and Jimin was nowhere to be seen. He grew suspicious but eventually ignored the feeling. Jungkook sat on his bed and picked up his phone to check up the time. Jimin had sent him messages. ...

... ...

...Jiminie: Kookie darling, you were sleeping so peacefully that I did not have the courage to wake you up. Rest a bit and call me when you wake up. ...

... ...

...Jiminie: Kookie, I ran into some long time friends and came to drink a few beers with them. Call me when you wake up. ...

... ...

...Jiminie: KOOOOOOOOOOOOKIE! Jiminie hyung is a bit drunk...ooops. ...

... ...

...Jiminie: We will head back to Busan tomorrow morning! *pinky promise* Call hyungie when you wake up, baby!!! ...

... ...

...Jungkook didn't know if he laughed or cried at those texts. Jimin was drunk and they would have to stay in this damned city longer than he had expected. He stared at the screen for a while longer and then he pressed the call button. It rang twice before Jimin finally picked up....

... ...

..."Kookie, you are up!"...

..."Oh, yes, hyung. Are you okay?"...

..."Of course I am, just a bit drunk. Shh don't tell Seokjinie!"...

..."Do you want me to come to your room?"...

..."No, no. I'm not at the hotel. I'm....somewhere else. Do not worry. Grab something to eat and rest up a bit. Tomorrow morning, Jung-hwan hyung we'll drive us back to Busan. No worries." ...

..."Oh, okay. I will set an alarm then. Good night, hyung."...

..."Good night, Kookie darling."...

... ...

...Jungkook took the phone away from his ear and ended the call. He had a small smile on his face, it was funny to see Jimin this carefree and happy. He was probably happy to see his friends again after all those years and drank a bit too much. Understandable. Jungkook wondered if Jimin had told Seokjin that they would stay another night in Daegu. He decided to text his brother just to make sure he knew....

... ...

...JK: Hyung, we will stay another night in Daegu. ...

... ...

...Seokjinie: I am aware, Jung-hwan informed me. ...

... ...

...JK: Are you ok?...

... ...

...Seokjinie: Is there a reason for me not to be? ...

... ...

...JK: No, I was just wondering…...

... ...

...Seokjinie: About?...

... ...

...JK: When will I see you again…...

... ...

...Seokjinie: We will see each other at the end-of-year Family reunion in Seoul. Do not worry about that now. ...

... ...

...JK: Ok, hyung. Have a safe trip. ...

... ...

...Jungkook knew that his brother would not answer his text, but still he felt as if he had to send it. It would be the last time he would say affectionate words to him. He felt the emptiness inside of him grow. This was maybe the saddest goodbye he had given one of his brothers. Even when Jimin left, he had not felt like that. This was truly painful and Kook's body began to ache all over. It was like he was forcefully pushing out every ounce of love and affection he had inside of him. It was an excruciating pain and he could almost feel his skin splitting open. ...

...He curled up in his bed and closed his eyes, trying to ignore the pain. A long time passed before he opened his eyes again. He had not slept but still he did not open his eyes for a very long time. The pain had subsided and he felt numb. Was this how Jimin and Seokjin felt? Was Taehyung like this? He shook his head as the young man's face appeared in front of him. He hated that pretentious **** and he would not spare him a thought. ...

...Kook looked around the room and it was completely dark, not a single trace of light. He climbed out of his bed and turned on the lights, making everything visible again. He was tired but he was also hungry. The young man decided to take a shower and then head down to the restaurant to eat something; maybe ask Jung-hwan to go to a restaurant with him. ...

...The water was running and Jungkook stepped inside the shower, closing the glass door behind him. He rested his forehead against the cold tile and let the hot water fall on his neck and back, relaxing his hard muscles. Many thoughts passed through his mind, but none of them stuck for a long time. So much had happened in his life in the past days and he was still trying to understand it all. ...

...He would not forget his past, all those moments that had made him the man he was now. Still, he had to focus on the future, focus on being strong and able to handle the life he was now going to have. Being in the middle of drug lords, gun smugglers, and criminals was not an easy task. It was not even morally acceptable. Yet they were part of this new chapter. ...

...Jungkook stayed a long time under the hot water, his skin becoming red. Eventually, he turned off the tap and walked out of the shower, drying his fit body. His fingers moving up and down his toned up abs. Jungkook was a person that could lose a lot of weight and become ripped with just a bit of exercise. It was something most people would envy. He just thought it was normal. ...

...He wrapped the towel around his waist and left the bathroom, heading for his backpack. As soon as he set his foot out of the smoky bathroom, Jungkook realised the room was darker than when he entered the bathroom. Had he turned off the lights? Kook did not remember doing so. Anyway, he walked towards the switch and the room was lit up again. ...

...To his surprise, Jungkook could now see a young woman sitting on the chair on the opposite side of the room, her gun pointed at Jungkook....

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