sister ;

"Did they let us go like that?" Hoseok frowns, doubt clearly expressed in his words. "I think so," Jungkook replies, rubbing his temple. Jimin just hummed, stroking your back.

You were in the same black room, except you were now in Jimin's arms. Jimin had crawled over to you once he regained consciousness and started to calm you down. Once you were in his arms, emotions you had no idea existed wrapped around you like a blanket.

You felt secure in his arms.

The room was like a huge square. It was dimly-lighted and spacious. There wasn't any furniture, only candles. The four of you were sitting in a triangle in the middle of the room. You were on Jimin's lap, lying in a way the side of your head was on his chest, while only the top part of your thighs was on Jimin's lap. The rest of your legs were on the floor. One of Jimin's arms were on your thighs, the other one circling your back.

"So do we go and get Jin?" Hoseok questioned. Jungkook's head immediately jerks up, black painting over his brown iris. Before anyone could answer, a question slips out of your mouth before you could register it. "Why do your eye colours change?"

Silence.

That was the only thing lingering in the air. "It's something we don't want to discuss," Hoseok responds. "Of course it is something you don't want to discuss." You scoff. Rolling your eyes, you got off Jimin's lap.

"Hey," Jimin grips your chin, lifting it to lock gazes with you. "What do you m-" Jimin cuts Hoseok off, "We'll tell you when we're ready, okay? Trust me, please."

His eyes flash blue once again. Suspicion pricked the soft organ in your chest, but you pushed it away. "Okay." your voice was barely audible. Jimin smiles, releasing his hold on you. "Y/n." Jungkook spoke, breaking the awkward tension that suffocated the air.

"Let's talk," Jungkook gets up before you could object, walking towards a corner of the room. Jimin pats your back, a supportive smile placed on his lips. "Someone fill me in," Hoseok mutters. "I will," came Jimin's reply. The words exchanged between them became hushed murmurs as you walked towards Jungkook.

"About what I said," he paused, taking a deep breath. "I sincerely apologise." his voice was shaky. "I'm sorry too," the smile on your face didn't quite explain the way you felt.

"I didn't realise that what I said hurt you, I didn't mean to pry into your past, Jungkook. I just thought that I should know who I'm working with. For all I know, you could've been serial killers in your past life," you laughed airily.

Jungkook tensed up at your comment. "Don't tell me..." you trail off. "No!" Jungkook shouts, then clasps a hand over his mouth. You stifle a laugh, looking back at the two males that seemed taken aback by Jungkook's sudden outburst.

"No, no, no. I was just... kinda shocked that you mentioned serial killers, you know? But like Jimin said, our pasts are sensitive topics, to us. I hope you can understand." Jungkook clears his throat, hand scratching his nape. You smiled, "Of course. I'm sorry about it." Jungkook nods then walk back to the other two boys. You trailed after him.

Both of you sat down, you next to Jimin, Jungkook next to Hoseok. "So y/n," Hoseok spoke, a heart-shaped smile played on his lips. "I heard that curiosity has been eating your heart away."

You laughed softly, nodding your head. "My story is the simplest out of all. I was a thief. My sister and I were orphans that lived on the streets. I had to steal food to live," Hoseok explains, smiling weakly at you. Something in his eyes told you that wasn't the whole story.

"What punishments do you have to go through?" you whispered. Looking around, you realised that Jungkook and Jimin had gone completely silent. Jungkook had his arms around Hoseok and Jimin was smiling half-heartedly. They must know the full story.

"It depends. Sometimes they chop off our hands, sometimes they pull out our nails. After all, we used these filthy hands to steal," Hoseok laughed, bitterness hidden in his words. "W-what?" your eyes enlarged. "Sometimes they boil them until our hands turn black," Hoseok continues.

You sat there, disbelief paralysing you. How could they do that? "We're ghosts. After today, whatever's lost would come back. Be it a leg, or a hand, it'll regrow." Hoseok finished. "B-but, why? You stole to live, why are they doing this?" you locked eye contact with him. It wasn't fair.

Hoseok just smiles. "There are a lot of things that you don't know y/n. Let's save that for later, hm?" you nod, frowning at the thought of Hoseok being tortured. Something wasn't right. He was keeping something, the main part, from you. You pursed your lips, deciding to leave it for another time.

Stealing wasn't the worst crime. Jimin once said that the lower the level you're in, the worse the crime you've committed. Jungkook was one level higher. What was his crime?

"You remind me of my sister," Hoseok grins, breaking the silence. Jimin stiffens up at that comment.

"Who's up for a story?" Hoseok asked, raising his eyebrows. You raise your hand. Jungkook followed and lastly, Jimin did the same. Hoseok closes his eyes.

"Hye Ji!" Hoseok runs towards the girl, laughing softly. She rubbed her eyes, groaning softly. Her raven black hair was disheveled and full of dirt. Hoseok didn't care. In the boy's hands held a loaf of bread. "Is that bread?" the younger girl squeals, running up to her older brother. "Yes! It just came out of the oven." Hoseok answers, love sparked in his eyes.

"When will we see mummy and daddy? I don't want to live here anymore..." Hye Ji pouts, stuffing a hand full of bread into her mouth. Rubbing the dirt off her face, Hoseok answered. "Why don't we move to the park? We could ride the swings at night."

Hye Ji nods enthusiastically, grabbing another piece of bread. "Are you very hungry?" Hoseok asked the six-year-old. Her head bobs up and down, crumbs falling down her face. He grins, heart warming up at the sight. "Eat up then. Finish it all okay?" Hoseok forced the words out of his mouth, barely sparing the bread a glance. "What about you?" Hye Ji frowns, mouth stuffed with white bread. "I ate on the way," Hoseok explains, patting her head.

"Okay!" the little girl tiptoed, pecking Hoseok's cheek. Then, she grabbed the loaf of bread and walked back to her cardboard bed. As she walked away, Hoseok's stomach grumbled. The ten-year-old groans, mouth-watering at the sight of bread. He had restrained himself, pushing away the urge to swallow the whole loaf of white bread on the way here.

He hasn't eaten in three days. Hoseok eyed the girl, gulping thickly. He deserved it. If he hadn't stopped them from leaving with her, she would've been living a life of luxury. Not a life like this. Watching her eyes glimmer under the sunlight, his heart tore into two. A smile formed on her lips as she ate another piece of bread.

• • •

Hoseok held the little girl's hand, dragging the piece of cardboard along with them. "Hobi, I'm scared," Hye Ji clung onto him. "Don't worry, I'm here. There's nothing there, princess. It's just darkness. Let's ride the swings okay? You have me, and I have you. I'll protect you." Hoseok consoles her. His voice was so reassuring that he almost believed it.

But he knew better.

"You won't leave me, right?" Hye Ji looks up. "Of course not. You're the only one I have in my life, love. I promise I will stay by your side, no matter what." Hoseok replied. The girl giggles, swinging his arms. "Here," Hoseok lifts the girl, placing her on the swing.

"Hobi?"

"Hm?"

"Can you sing for me?"

"Sure."

The girl kicks her legs as she swung forward and backward. Hoseok's voice fills the air. Soft, sweet lullabies ran in and out of the girl's ear. She hummed to the tune, grinning ecstatically. Hoseok grinned as he watched her swing, singing her favourite lullaby. "Your voice is so alluring," An unfamiliar voice whispered.

Hoseok turns around, heart pumping in his chest. Darkness engulfed them, making it hard for him to see. But his eyes met another. One that was glowing in the dark. Fear thumped at his heart. Not now, he thought, tears pricking his eyes. Hye Ji, he needed to get her to safety. The eyes held its gaze, staring deep into Hoseok's eyes.

A shrill, blood-curling scream replaced the once warm, lovely air. His blood ran cold as he turned around.

Hye Ji was gone.

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not so sure how i like this chapter lmao. i didn't update yesterday and i felt bad. tbh, the weekend ended and school started again. i haven't had the motivation to write. i'm sorry about this. a short spoiler : there will be more flashbacks about the other members. aren't you curious about what are the crimes they've committed?

but hey, i guess a tiny bit of Hoseok's past has now been revealed. How are you liking it? by the way, there's a reason why i didn't use Hoseok's sister's actual name. lemme remind you, this is a work of fiction. it isn't real.

i hope you enjoyed it! thank you for reading! i appreciate every one of you