Chapter 3

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a pale, golden glow over the sprawling garden of the asylum. Its once-vibrant flowers now seemed faded and sickly, reflecting the undercurrent of the place. The atmosphere was quiet-too quiet-but the air still felt heavy, as if every corner of the asylum held secrets too dark to be spoken aloud.

Y/N stood beside Jungkook, who had been under her care for the past few days. Despite his pale face and the eerie calm that clung to him, there was something captivating about him. His piercing eyes, like storm clouds ready to burst, gave off a dangerous allure. The way he moved, the stillness in his posture-it all suggested a mind that was anything but ordinary.

They walked down the cobbled path, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the silent space. His hands were tucked behind his back, his fingers laced tightly together. The sun reflected off his perfectly styled hair, but it did little to mask the twisted nature of the man she walked with.

"So, how are you feeling today, Jungkook?" Y/N asked, keeping her tone soft but professional. It was a question she had asked countless times, but today there was an edge of curiosity in her voice. The truth was, there was something about Jungkook that made her nervous. The way he stared at people, like he could see right through them, or worse, how he could make them feel like they were walking on eggshells.

Jungkook glanced over at her, his lips curling into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "You know," he began, his voice low and unsettling, "I'm not really as insane as they say. People... they misunderstand me."

Y/N hesitated, caught off guard by the sudden shift in his tone. She knew better than to press him, but something in his eyes-a flicker of vulnerability-made her wonder.

He stopped walking, turning to face her. His gaze was intense, almost burning, as though he were sizing her up. "You want to know why I'm here? What truly happened?" His words hung in the air, thick with meaning.

Y/N nodded slowly. "If you're ready to talk about it."

Jungkook chuckled softly, but there was no warmth in it. "Ready? I've been ready for years."

The garden around them seemed to grow quieter, as if even the flowers themselves were waiting for him to speak. He took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing as memories began to surface.

"I had a family once," he began, the words slow and deliberate. "A real family. Strong, untouchable. We ran the city-my family, the mafia. We didn't have to fear anyone. Not the police, not rivals. We had it all. But... that's where it all started to go wrong."

Y/N's heart skipped a beat. She had heard rumors about his past, whispered stories of a dark family that controlled everything, but hearing it from him felt different. The way his words were tinged with both pride and disgust made her shiver.

"My father," Jungkook continued, his voice colder now, "he was a man who wanted power above all else. He didn't care for loyalty. Not really. He cared for strength, for what could be used to build his empire. And me?" He shook his head, his eyes clouding with bitter emotion. "I was just another tool in his hands. He didn't care about me. He cared about what I could do for him."

Y/N could feel the weight of his words, but she kept silent, letting him speak.

"But my family-they were the ones who betrayed me," Jungkook muttered, his gaze darkening. "My own blood. They turned on me when I was at my peak. My uncle, my father, even my mother... they all wanted me gone. The power I had threatened their greed. So they decided to sell me out."

Y/N's breath caught in her throat. "They sent you here... to the asylum?"

Jungkook's eyes flickered with an eerie glint. "They thought they could break me. They thought they could control me, make me into something weak. But they were wrong. They underestimated me. So, I fought back. I fought hard. But that wasn't enough. They had the law on their side... and when you're as dangerous as I am, even the law can be manipulated."

His hand clenched into a fist at his side. "I never stood a chance. They framed me for things I didn't do. The things they did. And now... here I am. A prisoner of my own making, and their doing."

The silence that followed his words felt suffocating. Y/N wanted to say something, but she couldn't find the right words. She knew how dangerous Jungkook was, but there was something in the way he spoke-something raw, something human-that made her question everything she thought she knew about him.

He looked at her, his eyes narrowing slightly as if he could read her thoughts. "You don't have to pity me, Y/N. I'm not some broken man. I'm stronger than ever. I just need the right... opportunity." His lips twisted into a cold, knowing smile. "And when that time comes, they will all pay for what they did."

Y/N shivered as the weight of his words settled over her. She had always known Jungkook was dangerous, but now, she could feel it. The threat of something far darker than she had ever imagined loomed behind his calm exterior.

For a moment, they both stood in silence, surrounded by the dying flowers and the still air. The garden, once a place of peace, now felt like a cage. And as Jungkook turned away and started walking again, Y/N couldn't help but feel that, in this asylum, the line between sanity and madness was razor-thin-and Jungkook had crossed it long ago.

"Come on," he said, his voice soft again, though there was an unsettling undertone. "Let's finish our walk. I need to clear my mind... and maybe, just maybe, I'll tell you more."

As they continued down the path, Y/N couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something much darker-and that she was only beginning to understand the depth of the monster she was dealing with.

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