Jimin looked at the clock getting closer to the start of lesson time. When Jimin had reached Minna’s house this morning her mother had said Minna left earlier on, saying she had something to do before school, but Minna hadn’t told Jimin anything about that. That was suspicious, it means she had a secret she wouldn’t even tell him. He remembered yesterday asking her not to investigate the fire and Taehyung anymore. Perhaps she was secretly doing that. But, suspecting that might be the case he had gone to the burnt storage room upstairs to see if she was there again, yet there was no sign of her. Agitated, he sent yet another message on kakao.

“Yah Minna! Where are you, you’re not keeping secrets from me are you?” he sent.

The minutes ticked by and she still wasn’t even opening the messages. He signed. Almost everyone was in class. One minute before the teacher should arrive in class Taehyung strolled in, casually as usual. Jimin didn’t want to but he couldn’t help but ask.

“Hey Taehyung.” He called out. A few nearby students looked up in shock that someone was talking with Taehyung.

Taehyung looked at Jimin but continued to sit down in his seat. Jimin looked around then decided to move closer.

At Taehyung’s side, he quietly asked “You haven’t seen Minna have you?”

“Why would I?” Taehyung asked, starting to put his earphones on. Jimin pushed them back to Taehyung’s shoulder, earning a glare from Taehyung.

“Look, I heard what was said yesterday outside the cafeteria. You and her met up the other night. I don’t know what kind of thing is going on between you but as her best friend I think I at least ought to know that.”

Taehyung scoffed and shook his head. “Nothing happened, we bumped into each other by chance on the street then she went back home. I really don’t know anything about her.”

Jimin looked unconvinced but then the teacher walked in, and Jimin was forced to return to his seat, next to Minna’s empty one.

Mr Kang looked confused for a moment. “Where is Minna?” He asked, looking to Jimin as the pair were usually inseparable.

“I think she’s just running late sir.” Jimin replied.

“She’s going to ruin her perfect attendance record.” Mr Kang sighed.

The reminder of her record made Jimin feel even more perplexed. Minna hadn’t missed a single class in a very long time. In fact, she was the student with the longest running perfect attendance. Several years ago, she missed one school day because of a bad cold. Apart from that her attendance had always been 100%.

Jimin put his phone into his pocket, and tried to brush it off, but he couldn’t help but worry the entire lesson. He desperately wanted to check his phone in class, but he knew if he was caught his phone would be confiscated and then he would have no way to contact Minna at all.

As if time was passing slower than ever, finally it was time for the first recess. Jimin snatched out his phone with such ferociousness that nearby students looked at him in surprise, even Taehyung looked over.

Taehyung was never one to care much for other students, but even he had a strange gut feeling about Minna. He watched for Jimin’s reaction to seeing the phone.

Jimin scanned his messages but not even one was from Minna. He messaged again, then tried to ring. Nothing happened. He put his head down on the desk and tried not to worry. She might have been called to the office, or maybe she had a doctor’s appointment. Lady problems she didn’t want to talk to him about. Sure! He nodded to himself. There would be a reasonable and unimportant reason for all of this. He didn’t need to be worried.

It was almost the end of the break when his phone suddenly buzzed. He snatched it up read the message several times over. It said it was a message from Minna, but after reading it he felt even more confused than before. It was just a list of numbers.

“what?” He asked out loud to the phone. He desperately tried to think what they meant but he couldn’t find any significance. It wasn’t a date, and it wasn’t a password he knew. “What does that mean?” He growled again. The nearby students glanced at Jimin worriedly.

Finally, Jimin got up and started pacing. He turned to Taehyung and showed the message, maybe he would understand.

“Taehyung. I don’t want to bother you yet again but… do you know what this means?” He asked, showing the list of numbers and letters Minna had sent.

Taehyung only had to look at it for one second before he understood.

“Those are co-ordinates.” He explained. “She just told you her location.”

Jimin frowned. “Why would she do that?”  They both looked at each other with increasing worry. Taehyung took the phone into his hands and put the co-ordinates into a map. His face paled when he saw the location, he knew exactly where that was, and who worked there.

“.” He swore out loud. Jimin glanced at him anxiously.

“What is it?”

Taehyung grabbed his jacket and started to leave the room.  Jimin ran out after him.

“Hey! Where are you going?”

Taehyung spoke quietly to Jimin. “That’s where some thugs have set up base.” He explained. “If Minna is there, she was probably taken there by force.”

“What?!” Jimin said loudly. Taehyung hushed him.

“We need to sneak out, and we can’t be seen by anyone, both leaving school and in that building.”

Minna must have lost consciousness, because when she came to she had no idea how long had passed. It felt like she had been in this building for years already. She felt a small buzz in her pocket and realised she still had her phone with her. Her arms were pinned down but she could move her hand into her pocket. Once there she couldn’t pull the phone out or see the screen. She took a moment to think about what she should do, then she remembered the safety feature in her phone. If she presses the lock button in the rhythm she chose when setting up the phone, it will send her location to the first contact in her speed dial.

She felt for the lock button and pressed it 10 times in iambic pentametre, but couldn’t check the screen to confirm it had sent. She took some deep breathes and listened. She heard no voices and she couldn’t see anyone, so she guessed Seokjin and Yoongi hadn’t returned yet. She turned her focus now onto escaping.

She moved her arms around gingerly, they were sore from rope burns and even slight movement made her ache, but even so she had to do this to escape. With her arms behind her again she felt for the knot in the rope. After feeling about for some time, she realised the rope was tied on the other side of the chair. She tried to turn her body around but couldn’t do so sitting the way she was.

Using her upper body strength, she began to rock the chair back and forth. Once she built up a bigger momentum she tipped the chair and fell onto her side. Now she was lying on the floor, she had some more wriggle room and she managed to turn herself around so she was facing sideways on the chair instead. Eventually, after ages of tugging and fiddling with the rope it got looser and looser until finally, she crawled out. She sat up and stretched her aching limbs then checked the wounds on her arms. They were sore but the injuries weren’t severe. Slowly she tried to get to her feet, but she felt very unstable. She knew if she ran she wouldn’t be able to get far without falling. She would have to make her way out quietly and slowly.

She stepped forward but when she reached the edge of the circle she found herself unable to walk forward any further. It was like her body had a control of its own as soon as she stepped towards the ring of symbols. She would get closer then stop, unable to walk above them.

Sighing in frustration and impatience she sat down and wondered what to do. Suddenly she remembered that she had access to her phone. She checked that she had sent the message to Jimin and found that it sent 30 minutes ago. He wasn’t here yet though… she wondered if he knew how to find her using co-ordinates.

She didn’t want to ring her parents. Those thugs had already followed her from her house and they seemed to use strange almost magical methods to torture people. She didn’t want to put her family in danger. She started to wonder if she really should have contacted Jimin too, he was young, fast and physically fit so he might be able to fight or run, but she shouldn’t drag him into this too. She took the phone and typed out a message.

“I’m not sure if you got the message with co-ordinates but if you did, do not come!” She pressed send.

Pulling her legs towards her and hugging her knees she wondered what she should do next. Her mind flickered to Taehyung. He knew about symbols and may have even drew one himself that day in the storage room.  He might know how to get her out of here. But then again, Taehyung is the one they want, she couldn’t bring him to this location, and she didn’t even know his number.

Before she could think more her phone rang.

“Jimin?” She asked quietly.

“This is Taehyung. I’m with Jimin right now. Are you okay?” Minna was taken aback, she double checked that the number she rang was Jimin’s.

“Why are you using Jimin’s phone, is he really there.”

“He is here, we are following the co-ordinates you sent but we need to know if you’re safe.”

“No don’t come here!” Minna gasped, trying to get the message across without being too loud. “It’s dangerous. These people, they will hurt you if you come so go get the police or something.”

“Sorry, can’t do that.” Taehyung said. “Are there people with you there now?”

Minna sighed, frustrated that he wouldn’t listen to her warnings. “No, two guys left but I think the older man is still in the building somewhere. Taehyung, you shouldn’t come. They were asking about you.”

“I thought they might be, but if they’re not there that’s good. We can sneak you out and leave. We are almost there.”

“I really think this is a bad idea.” Minna hissed, keeping her voice low. “I think they want to steal something from you, and they are really desperate to get it.”

“I know. But they won’t get it so don’t worry. Okay we are almost there, I’m going to hang up now.” Before Minna could react, the line went dead. She stowed her phone away and sat waiting. She wanted to stand but she needed to save the energy in her legs for escaping.

After a minute, the front door swung open and for a second she thought the two thugs were returning, instead she saw Taehyung peer inside. They made eye contact and he came towards her.

“Be careful.” She said quietly, looking towards the back door to make sure no one was coming. “This ring of symbols” She gestured to the symbols around her. “I don’t think you can pass over them.”

Taehyung crouched down on the other side of the symbols and examined them for a moment, then he took out a pen knife and started scratching at one of the symbols. It took him a few minutes but finally he put the knife away.

“Try now.” He urged her towards him. Slowly she started to stand, her legs wobbling and almost giving out beneath her. She took a step forward and passed over the symbols.

“It worked!” She said happily. But when she looked up Taehyung didn’t look happy, he was looking at her in concern.

“I thought you said you were okay.”

“I am.” She replied.

He took a step forward and tugged on her arm. The sudden movement was too much for her and her legs began to give way. He caught her before she could fall and hurt herself more. She thought she heard him growl under his breath.

“What did they do?” He asked, lifting her onto his back to carry her out. She realised it was the second time he had carried her from a life-threatening situation now.

“I’m not sure. I think one of the symbols carved was designed to create pain.” She admitted. “Whenever the old guy touched it, all my muscles felt like they were being pulled at once, pulled with something really hot.

Taehyung’s jaw clenched in anger and she saw him shake his head.

“Those mutts.”

“Where is Jimin?” Minna asked, looking about.

“I told him to stand guard and warn us if someone is coming.”

The two left the building, after rounding a few corners they finally saw Jimin. He turned at the sound of them approaching, and at first looked delighted that Minna was there, but when he noticed she was being carried his smile turned to a frown. He examined her as best as he could on Taehyung’s back. Her face was pale and colourless, she seemed to have a light sheen of sweat across her forehead, and when she lifted her hand to wave at him he saw the blood and cuts on her palm.

“What the actual .” Jimin said, striding forward. “What happened? Are you okay?”

Minna nodded that she was fine, as Taehyung slowly put her down.

“Jimin, can you carry her for now?” I’ll lead the way out of here.

“Why do you need to be carried? Did you hurt your legs?”

“We can explain later” Taehyung interrupted. “Our first priority is escape.”

Jimin lifted Minna onto his back and followed Taehyung as they made their way away from the building.

“Taehyung…” Minna tried to call out to him but he waved her off.

“Talk later.” He said, constantly looking behind and ahead, leading them through the alleyways like it was a maze. Eventually they reached a road and called a taxi. From there they rode to a different part of the city, and then they got out and walked again, taking strange, convoluted routes to lose anyone on their trail.

Eventually they reached an area neither Minna nor Jimin had been to before. It seemed to be a small neighbourhood on the edge of the river.  They approached a house which looked odd from the others in the area. It seemed much older in appearance, yet unlike most old houses in Korea there was a second floor.

“It looks like a shrunken palace.” Minna mused, comparing it to old Asian palaces she had seen in dramas.

“What is it?” Jimin asked panting. He had been carrying Minna for quite a while and despite her small weight and his fitness, it soon became tough work.

“Put me down now.” She said, patting Jimin’s arm. “I can walk from here.” He debated for a moment then nodded.

“Let me know if it’s too difficult.” Jimin said. They stepped forward with Minna holding onto Jimin for support. Jimin looked to Taehyung for some answers on where they were going.

“This is my house.” Taehyung answered, heading towards the strange building. “Oh,” He added, turning back to them. “I would appreciate if you kept this house’s location a secret. If those guys find me here….” He pulled a grim expression before continuing. “Well, it won’t be pleasant for any of us.”

The three of them walked through the gate into the front yard. There was a path leading from the gate to the house, either side of the path grey pebbles littered the entire front yard.  Minna noticed that some of the pebbles had carvings on too.

Taehyung went inside and then invited them to follow him in. Leaving their shoes at the door they walked through the old house to a room with a couch. The interior was a strange mix of modern design, with old Korean features, and then there were features Minna couldn’t place in any society. Strange pots with symbols lined shelves, herbs hung drying from the ceiling, and all around there were things that looked as if from another world.

“what the?” Jimin asked, gazing about. Taehyung looked at them awkwardly sitting in his house, gazing around in confusion. He sighed.

“Just give me a moment.” He said, looking at the items on the shelves. “I guess I have to explain everything, seeing as how you both keep getting involved.”

Jimin didn’t even try to think of a comeback or sarcastic remark like he usually would have. He stopped looking about and looked at Minna. “Can you at least explain what happened back there?” he asked Minna.

She swallowed and took a deep breath. “They followed me, all the way from my house. They somehow knew where I lived.”

“wait, wait, who even are these people?” Jimin asked.

Minna looked at Taehyung. “I’m not sure but all they did was ask about Taehyung.” She said. “They were the same two people who I saw attacking Taehyung in the street the other night.” She admitted.

Jimin looked at Taehyung, observing the faded bruises on his face. “So that’s how you ended up like that?” Jimin asked.

Taehyung nodded and continued to take items from the shelves.

“They asked me how I know Taehyung, where he lives, how to find him. I didn’t tell them anything, or at least I tried not to…” She trailed off and Taehyung finally returned to sit by the two of them. He sat in front of Minna and pulled her arms gently towards him.

Minna and Jimin watched as he started to apply a purple paste above her wounds.

“Taehyung…” Minna started again. “I honestly tried not to tell them anything, I don’t even know how long they tried to activate that symbol I told you about earlier… but I didn’t utter a word.” Taehyung’s eyebrows shot up and he looked Minna up and down, seeming to understand why she was in such a bad condition.

“Minna… Are you telling me you went through all of that, and you didn’t say a word?”

Minna looked at him with a confused expression, wondering why this was a shock, and why he seemed angry that she didn’t give him up.

“Why? What was I supposed to do?” She asked. “I couldn’t give those thugs the means to find you again.”

Taehyung let out an unamused, unbelieving laugh. “Baek Minna, what are you….” He trailed off and laughed humourlessly again. “You should have just told them what you know and spared yourself the pain.”

Minna shook her head. “I’m not like that.”

Jimin finally spoke up. “I don’t understand. I don’t understand any of it.”

Minna didn’t want to admit what happened, she didn’t want people to worry about her. Instead Taehyung answered.

“She let herself be tortured.” Taehyung answered. “She let them torture her instead of telling them how to find me.”

“Minna!” Jimin looked at Minna with a pained expression, wondering how and why they hurt her like that. He turned back to Taehyung. “Why do they even want to find out about you? What is all this?” Jimin asked, anger rising. He couldn’t believe Minna was in this situation, being tortured?! This was crazy.

“they’re trying to recruit me into their group. They want my…. Power.” Taehyung confessed. “I guess I should just tell you all straight now. I don’t know if you can believe me after all of this though.”

“Believe what?” Jimin snapped.

Taehyung finished applying medicine to Minna’s wounds then sat back, looking at the two people before him.

“I have abilities that most people don’t have…” Taehyung started. He let out a chuckle, knowing what he was about to say sounded crazy. “Those symbols, these lotions. They are all things I am able to make that normal humans cannot, they can do more than any human weapon, and heal you faster than any human medicine.” He paused, checking that they were still listening to him, and after a breath, he finally confessed. “I’m immortal.”

Wow! Im sorry it got so angsty there, let me know what you think below.

Also can I just say, BTS's Love Yourself album is amaazing. I dont know how they can make music greater and greater each time :')