taehyungs bare foot dragged against the cobbles, tired legs having not much strength to stay up as kyungjae dragged him to the doors of the kim mansion.

nothing but dread pooled in the pits of his stomach at the sight of this home that had became a prison for him, nothing but pure hatred and phantom hurtings all over his body from all the abuse he endured for years from the inhabitants there.

his breath hitched when he heard a whimper from his pup who was in a stangers hand, and taehyung wrenched himself away from his father to wobble in his legs and forcefully take his pup to his own arms, securing the baby close to his body.

"pitiful as ever" the kim leader scoffed at his omega son.

taehyung watched through red rimmed eyes as his step mother descended down the spiral stairs; as always adorned in finest of the dresses and jewelry be it day or night and loops herself close to kyungjae.

"why did you bring him alive, yeobo. what use even is he to us?" the woman pouts at her husband as she adjust a strand of blonde hair behind her ear.

"look at him all miserable and ugly-- no one would even want him for another marriage" she faked a pity as her hatred filled eyes gazed at her step-son.

"we need to keep that alpha pup alive-- so cant get rid of him yet." kyungjae sighs.

"You promised me you'll let me go after the contract ends, Then why?" taehyungs voice strains as he protests against the kim men trying to grab him and his pup.

"keep an eye on him, will you?" kyungjae adds to his wife as he watched two of his men drag taehyung away to the omegas room, unbothered by the wailing screams.

"oh i will, darling" mrs.kim purred with a smirk curling on her red stained lips.

when a door was opened infront of him and he was pushed inside, taehyung immediately recognized his room even in the pitch darkness illuminated by the early dawn.

he heard the door being locked from outside and felt his shoulders slumping in defeat, then walking forward with the pup careful in his arms and laid the sleepy baby onto the middle of the bed.

it felt so claustrophobic in there, a musty scent pertaining associated with the unused room; so taehyung troted on tired legs towards the window in muscle memory, and felt up the wall to find the latch of the window.

but then his fingers met something sharp and he reflexively pulled his hand away with a pained hiss.

as more of the early morning light filtered in and taehyungs tired eyes became more alert, he gasped in horror, voice stuck in a shocked cry as he gazed ahead at the window.

there on the window latched firmly were barbed wires, it installed into the walls and traversing back and forth across the windows leaving barely any gap for him to fit even a hand.

he really is trapped here- they really locked him in like some animal, windows covered in sharp metal wires as if this room is some sort of a cage.

taehyung couldn't help but hiccup a cry as he nearly ran back to bed, pulling his baby to his chest, his only little comfort.

the omega felt as if he's being torn inside out, at having one of his pup being separated from him so early. he can hear his omegas wailing cries, his own physical tiredness and uncertainties.

oh how is going to survive this trial?

it was when sun was high in the sky did the door to the room rattled open with a force that had taehyung jerking awake from sleep.

disoriented he blinked his eyes, instinctively shushing the pup sleeping on his chest with a full tummy, and then looked ahead to see his step mother towering over with a hateful frown.

she was now wearing a green satin dress, hair in a pony tail and a heavy necklace on her neck and taehyung subconsciously looked down at his torn up pajama stinking of blood and dirt.

"how pathetic" she had sneered, "get freshened up and come to the kitchen" mrs.kim then ordered.

"but the pup-" taehyung looked down at the sleeping bundle.

mrs. kim laughed "its not like that thing is going to run anywhere".

seeing taehyungs hesitance, she only got more angered- "what? little taehyungie thought he can eat and sleep here for free?"

"we dont do charity, here. come down in ten minutes, omega" she ordered and taehyung flinched when the room slammed shut again.

taehyung knows from experience that if he doesn't obey, they will resort to physical violence and right now he is not in the condition to survive more of those. so after surrounding the sleeping pup with pillows and blankets, he took a shower.

all his old clothes were still in the wardrobe and now with his bump out of the way, they fit him right.

also, taehyung was much relieved to see a few diapers and baby clothes on one shelf; atleast thats one less thing for him to worry about.

just as he descended to the kitchen mrs.kim was waiting there already, impatiently tapping her polished heels.

out of anxiety, he hid his fingers in the sweater paws as the omega shuffled into her line of sight.

"took you long enough" she turned a disappointed eye before walking inside the kitchen and taehyung followed barefoot behind the clack of her heels.

"head maid han!" at the call of his name, the said beta, a middle aged man let go of the pot he is picking and bowed for mrs. kim.

"give him his chores and make sure he isn't slacking" she ordered.

taehyung however was longingly looking at the pots sizzling with food on the stoves; he barely had any food in the last 24 hours, then surviving through labor and all the exhaustion. he himself knows work isn't good for his body, but taehyung really hasn't any choice.

however, taehyungs stomach did embarrassingly grumble and mrs.kim didn't fail to notice that,

"han, only give him food after he finishes his duty" she added before exiting the kitchen with a satisfied smirk.

han didn't go easy on taehyung. afterall if mrs.kim finds out any mistakes, even han will get punished.

so taehyung had to take over his duties as he used to do in his teenage years.

he washed large pots and pans, sweeped and cleaned the floors and helped with laundry.

while carrying heavy bags of groceries to the pantry taehyung had to take it one by one because his stomach was cramping so bad and he felt too weak.

nevertheless he two or three times found time to sneak out and run to his room to make sure the pup was alright and fed him.

taehyung only managed to scent and soothe the baby so much until he has to run back again before someone finds him.

and by evening he almost completed his duties.

han took pity on the omega and made sure to store a bit of everything from the leftovers.

taehyungs eyes filled with unshed tears as he took each bites of rice, stuffing his mouth even before he had swallowed.

growing up he did always experienced the value of food, even in jeon mansion he had fought jungkook for the same.

so he swallowed each grain and each bits of the side dishes without wasting any of it and tiredly washed the last of the dishes before he walked towards his room.

he hurriedly had took a bath to get rid of the sweat and grime as not to disturb the baby, then crawled into the bed and hugged the pup close to his chest and wept.

he was hurting so bad, emotionally and physically. before taehyung only had to worry about himself, but its not the case now.

he prayed to everything up there that jungkook and his omega pup is safe and healthy somewhere,

and also for a miracle to happen for them to escape this nightmare.

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jungkook lost track of time and senses as his exhausted body tried to move or even try to find atleast the strength to open his eyes. he doesn't even know where all he is bleeding because everything aches from head to toe.

having not felt the familiar warm weight on his chest, jungkook tiredly moved his hand to feel the pup, but it only felt his own skin.

panic rose instantly in jungkook and he flailed even in his unconsious state.

through the barely open eyes, he saw someones shadow above him and that person was saying something to him.

jungkook clutched at his head when he felt a splitting headache and sat up from where he was laying on the cold floor, head cushioned under something as he shook his head to clear his vision.

"pup-- where's my pup" his voice came out uncharacteristically worried, and then the form standing moved and crouched down with a soothing hand on the alphas shoulder.

"dont worry- your pup is safe" the old man said and jungkooks head cleared enough to see a guilty insu standing by the door.

"we heard the baby crying from the ground floor and came here to see you unconsious" the old man said adjusting his glasses, "--this old man is not strong enough to carry you, so we made you comfortable here until you wake up" insu's grandpa chuckled pointing at the pillow and blanket on the ground.

jungkook looked at it, then mumbled "--pup?" again. he was really too incoherent right now to understand any big sentences.

now with jungkook holding up his strength, insu's grandpa guided jungkook down the steps towards their apartment as the alpha squinted at the early morning light.

just as they entered the apartment that smelled so homely, jungkook found an old omega rocking his pup who is swaddled in pink blankets.

the alpha staggered forward and ran a gentle finger across the sleeping pups rosy cheeks.

"he was very hungry. we managed to get some baby formula from the nearby store-- he is alright now" she said and jungkook hummed, albiet much relaxed now.

"you should sit" the woman then insist with a motherly nature and jungkook plops onto a brown couch with a pained groan.

"what happened to you young man? you look worse than last time i saw you--" the old man asked as he took a seat opposite, a first aid kit now propped on his lap.

last time?

jungkooks eyes narrowed at the old man trying to remember that face and then it had hit him.

this was the same person he saw last night- to whom he had sold his watch to at the pawn shop for money.

jungkook didn't have the energy to answer or to recall all the hell they went through. so he leaned back to the couch and closed his eyes.

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