Chapter 18: The Shadow of Vengeance

The atmosphere in the house was charged with lingering laughter and camaraderie from the previous night. Jimin had thought the teasing would subside, at least for a day, but he was in for a surprise. As he poured himself a cup of coffee, his thoughts drifted to the playful banter shared with Suga and the rest of the gang. But that morning, an unsettling tension lingered in the air, one that Jimin couldn't quite shake off.

As the day progressed, news broke out that sent shockwaves through the criminal underworld: a notorious criminal who had killed Jimin’s parents had escaped from prison. The announcement felt like a dagger to Jimin's heart. He had spent years harboring the pain of their loss, and now, the thought of the man responsible roaming free filled him with a rage he had never known.

Jimin clenched his fists, fury boiling inside him. The memories flooded back—his parents’ laughter, their warmth, the emptiness that had followed their deaths. He had spent countless nights plotting revenge, and now the opportunity was within reach. He swore to himself that he would find that monster and make him pay, no matter the cost.

Suga noticed the change in Jimin’s demeanor almost immediately. They were training together, and Jimin's focus had shifted from their usual playful sparring to a cold, determined focus that made Suga uneasy. “Jimin, what’s wrong?” he asked, concern etched on his face as he stepped closer.

Jimin shrugged, a noncommittal gesture that Suga didn’t buy for a second. “Nothing,” he replied, his tone sharp and clipped. Suga could see the storm brewing behind Jimin’s eyes, but he knew better than to push too hard. Instead, he decided to investigate quietly.

That night, as the gang gathered for their usual debriefing, Suga pulled aside a couple of his trusted agents. “I need to know about Jimin’s whereabouts,” he said, his voice low and serious. “I have a feeling something’s bothering him, and I need to get to the bottom of it.”

The agents nodded, taking Suga’s request seriously. After some time, they returned with information that chilled Suga to the core. They had found out about the escaped criminal—an infamous figure in the underground world, known for his ruthlessness and brutality. The man had been serving time for the murder of Jimin’s parents, and now he was back on the streets.

Suga felt a wave of anger wash over him, not just at the criminal but at himself for not seeing the signs earlier. He knew how much Jimin had been affected by his parents’ deaths; the realization hit him hard. If Jimin found out the criminal was free, he would be consumed by vengeance, and Suga couldn’t allow that to happen.

As night fell, Jimin was nowhere to be found. Suga’s heart raced as he searched for him, a feeling of dread settling in his stomach. He finally found Jimin in a dimly lit part of the training facility, shadows dancing across the walls as he equipped himself with weapons. His expression was hardened, eyes steely with determination.

“Jimin, what are you doing?” Suga demanded, stepping forward, trying to keep his voice calm. “You can’t go after him. It’s too dangerous.”

“Stay out of this, Suga,” Jimin shot back, his voice icy. “You don’t understand what he did to my family. I have to do this. I can’t let him live another day.”

Suga’s heart raced as he took a step closer, trying to reason with him. “You’re not thinking clearly. Revenge won’t bring your parents back. It will only put you in danger. Please, let me help you.”

But Jimin’s rage was blinding. “Help me? You think I need help? I need to kill him, Suga! You don’t know the pain I’ve been through!”

The tension between them escalated, and Suga felt a sense of helplessness wash over him. He couldn’t let Jimin face this alone, but he also couldn’t let him throw his life away. Jimin was like a ticking time bomb, ready to explode.

“Jimin,” Suga said softly, trying a different approach. “Let’s talk about this. We can figure something out together. Just don’t go rushing into this blind.”

But Jimin shook his head, stubborn as ever. “I don’t need you to protect me. I’m going to do this, whether you’re with me or not.” With that, Jimin stormed out of the facility, leaving Suga staring after him, torn between frustration and fear.

It didn’t take long for Jimin to track down the criminal’s whereabouts. The anger coursing through him was intoxicating, a high that drowned out the lingering doubts in his mind. He had a singular focus—revenge. As he arrived at the location, a rundown warehouse on the outskirts of town, he was ready to confront the man who had destroyed his life.

Suga wasn’t far behind. He had followed Jimin, his instincts screaming at him that this was a bad idea. As he reached the warehouse, he found Jimin standing at the entrance, ready to charge in.

“Jimin, wait!” Suga shouted, rushing to catch up. “We can’t just walk in there. It’s a trap. You need to be careful!”

But Jimin’s resolve was unshakeable. “I don’t care. I’m done playing nice.” With that, he pushed open the door, stepping into the darkened warehouse. Suga felt a surge of panic as he followed, determined to protect Jimin at all costs.

Inside, the atmosphere was thick with tension. The dim light revealed the criminal standing at the far end of the room, flanked by a couple of his goons. Jimin’s eyes locked onto the man, a mix of fury and sadness swirling within him.

“Jimin, don’t!” Suga pleaded, grabbing his arm, but Jimin shook him off, stepping forward with purpose.

“Do you remember me?” Jimin shouted, his voice echoing off the walls. “You thought you could escape justice? You’re going to pay for what you did to my family!”

The criminal turned, a cocky smirk on his face. “Well, well, if it isn’t the little boy whose parents couldn’t protect him. What do you think you can do? You’re just a kid playing in a man’s world.”

In that moment, something snapped within Jimin. The rage that had been simmering all day erupted, and without thinking, he lunged at the criminal. Suga’s heart raced as he saw Jimin go for the attack, adrenaline flooding through him.

“Jimin, no!” Suga shouted, but it was too late. Jimin was already upon the criminal, fists flying. The goons quickly intervened, and chaos ensued. Suga leaped into the fray, fighting beside Jimin, determined to protect him from the very danger they were facing.

The fight was brutal. Jimin fought like a man possessed, fueled by years of anger and grief, while Suga matched his intensity, trying to keep them both alive. As the blows landed, Suga couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread—this wasn’t just a fight for revenge; it was a fight for Jimin’s very soul.

Finally, they cornered the criminal, and Jimin stood before him, chest heaving with rage. “You took everything from me!” Jimin shouted, eyes blazing.

But as Jimin raised his weapon, Suga stepped in front of him, hands raised in surrender. “Jimin, please,” he begged, voice steady despite the chaos. “This isn’t the way. You’re better than him. You can’t let him win by becoming a monster.”

Jimin’s grip faltered for a moment as Suga’s words sunk in. The hesitation was all Suga needed. “We’ll make him pay, but not like this. Not at the cost of your humanity.”

The criminal sneered, using their moment of distraction to push past them, but Jimin was quicker. He grabbed the man’s arm, twisting it behind his back, determination surging once more.

“Jimin, no!” Suga called, panic rising again. “We can’t—”

But it was too late. Jimin’s fury took over, and he shoved the criminal against the wall, the man’s face inches away from Jimin’s. “You’re going to wish you never crossed paths with me.”

Suga’s heart sank. This wasn’t who Jimin was. He was fierce and loyal, but he was also compassionate. The darkness that threatened to consume him was something Suga couldn’t stand by and watch.

In a bold move, Suga grabbed Jimin’s wrist, forcing him to meet his gaze. “Look at me, Jimin. This isn’t what your parents would have wanted. They would have wanted you to be better than this.”

Jimin’s eyes softened, the fire momentarily extinguished. He hesitated, breathing heavily, and in that brief moment, Suga saw a flicker of the man he loved, not the vengeful spirit standing before him.

“Together, we can take him down,” Suga urged gently, holding Jimin’s gaze. “But not like this. Not alone.”

It was in that moment that Jimin made his choice. He released the criminal, letting him fall to the floor. “You’re lucky,” Jimin hissed, his voice low. “I won’t kill you today, but I swear I will find you.”

With that, Jimin turned away, and Suga could see the conflict in his eyes. They walked out of the warehouse together, the weight of their decisions heavy on their shoulders. In the darkness of the night, Suga knew this was only the beginning of a long journey ahead, but he wouldn’t let Jimin face it alone.

As they stepped outside, Jimin’s anger simmered down to a dull roar. “I can’t believe I let him go,” he muttered, frustration evident in his tone.

Suga placed a reassuring hand on Jimin’s shoulder. “We’ll find another way. Together. And when we do, we’ll make sure he pays for everything he’s done.”

Jimin nodded, a mix of gratitude and lingering rage in his eyes. The road to vengeance was still ahead, but now, he didn’t have to walk it alone. As long as they were together, Jimin felt like they could face anything—darkness or light, vengeance or redemption.

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