Test Me

Gaslight.

"You like it?"

"I don't know…I…mm..."

"You like it," I concluded, grinning like an idiot.

But is it really gaslight if it's an unconscious process of forcing your wishes onto someone else?

What I meant to say was: I want you to like it.

"Will you stop drinking already? The exam's tomorrow."

"I thought you said we can't leave."

"No. I told you that if he's not back until tomorrow another guy will replace me."

"Who?"

"I've got no idea."

"When will he arrive?"

"Zero clue. Don't care. Just spread your legs wider."

"Ah! There."

"Did I hit it?"

"I think so…It feels like something's there…"

My fingers kept feeling around it. And then I hit it again and again.

He finally let the wine glass down only to go for his now erect cock, but I slapped it away with the hand that was not in his ass.

"Did I tell you that you can cum?"

"Oh come on. It feels good."

"I thought you were in unbearable pain."

"I was, but that doesn't hurt…that ah…."

"And I just wanted to see…"

"Ah!"

"How you'd react if I kept…"

"Ahhh…"

"Hitting it."

"You must be joahh…"

He turned around, trying to crawl away.

I caught his ankle and pulled him back. Didn't even bother to pin him down before I shoved two fingers back in to hit the same spot again.

"Cruel." He moaned out.

"Me? You're the one who got horny while I was trying to massage the pain away."

"It's the wine."

"Oh, it's not me? It's the wine? Fine then."

I pulled my fingers out and slapped his ass once before pulling the pants up as well.

"Go finish yourself off alone in the bathroom if you only like masturbating. Finish on the dead guy too, while you're at it."

"I didn't say that..." He mumbled, pouting.

"I need to let Mona out. She might be dead for all we know."

"Don't say that!"

He wobbled out of the room, holding himself up by the wall with a hard-on between his legs.

I swallowed dryly.

In less than five minutes, Mona was eating a raw lemon watching Jungkook sipping wine on the couch. I was on the floor, back against the door that I swore I'd never touch again after this was over.

"Do you think drinking alcohol is a smart idea?" She asked him.

"Why?" He asked in an almost childlike tone.

"Aren't you underage?"

"Aren't you having heroin withdrawals?" He bit back way more coherently. And both she and I were too surprised by the unexpected bluntness to react.

But she rapidly concealed it with a cocky smile.

"You're just trying to forget something, aren't you?"

Jungkook shook his head a little too fast since he let it hang down between his knees afterward.

"Leave him alone, Mona," I asked with no bite to my words. But she wouldn't have cared either way.

"Is it him? Did you not enjoy being fucked forever in my brother's bed?"

"Mona…"

"What?! I apologize for not being a ray of sunshine right now, but my brother is not here yet! In case the two of you haven't noticed."

"I know…"

Jungkook got up quietly and walked over to me, looking both drunk and sleepy.

"You said someone will come."

"You didn't have to get up to talk, Jungkook."

He got up a bit too quickly, which had him sitting on the floor, holding onto his head.

I sighed.

"Come here."

He was crawling toward me when Mona passed him by to grab the collar of my shirt.

"Who? Who's coming?! When and why? And how do you know that to be true?"

"I will tell you if you go back into the kitchen." I let her know, dead behind the eyes.

Mona stuck out her tongue. Walked away and plummeted onto the couch, staring at the rest of Jungkook's wine glass before glaring at him, cuddling up to me like a child. A drunk child.

"I don't know who it is, but someone will be sent to replace me because the most important exam of our lives is happening tomorrow."

'Isn't life just a ongoing, sick joke at this point?' I thought bitterly, caressing little hairs away from Jungkook's face.

"And what if no one comes?"

I shrugged.

"Will you finally leave me alone?"

"I'll make that decision when the alternative fails."

"When's he coming?"

"Probably in the morning since the exam's at 9 AM."

She laughed ironically, barking: "You know Fred might be dead, right? No sign, no messengers, no nothing. They've fucking skinned him alive, and I'm stuck sitting here, sweating my happiness away while you're fucking your boyfriend in his bed!"

"I told you I'm sorry! I got carried away..." I caressed the head of the said boyfriend and kissed his forehead. He wrapped his arms around me.

"You know what, Namjoon? I really don't care if you start fucking him right now, but can you please, for the love of Satan, cover his mouth next time? He fucking screamed for hours and my head hurts like hell. I don't know if you've noticed, but I can't listen to music anymore. Let alone watch a movie to distract me from you two lovebirds enjoying your time while I'm dying! The sound of my own voice makes my temples hurt. So, next time, can you…"

"No problem. I'd like to tie all of him up, to be honest," I cut her off with a smirk.

Mona averted her eyes. Clearly irritated by our calm demeanor and as if the temptation was too much, she kicked the glass off the table without caring about the carpet underneath. Nor about the shards that she didn't bother to clean up.

"What time is it?" She's asked herself and answered herself after looking at the clock on the wall, "9 PM, great. So only a few hours to find out if my brother is dead because of me. Great. Amazing. Splen-fucking-did."

I watched her getting up and shutting herself in her room without saying another word.

Then took in a wide-eyed Jungkook, unsettled by the sound of her door getting slammed shut.

"Go drink some water," I suggested. Wishing that I could get him to sober up in the hours left before the exam.

"Namjoon?"

"Yeah?"

"What does it mean if Fred's dead?"

"Hm... that I'll need to find another job?" I half-joked, half meant it.

"Will they come after you next?"

"They…don't want me…they want money and drugs. And I don't have much of either."

"What about Mona?"

I sighed, feeling heavier at the thought.

"She might be …in a bit of trouble, but if she hands over some cash, then it might end up well?"

He looked up after my unsure, squeaky voice reached his ears, and I clicked my tongue. "I don't know Jungkook, all I know is that Fred's not dead until someone tells us he is. And I have to believe he is alive or…"

"Or?"

"Or I…have to deal with losing my third insane parent," I mumbled, casually. He frowned at me through cloudy eyes.

'Although this is the best time to lose him if you ask me.'

"You didn't lose me."

The drunken tone had me grinning.

I leaned down and kissed his forehead again.

"Yeah, I didn't lose you…"

'Yet.'

He fell asleep in my arms. But I couldn't risk falling asleep while Mona's bedroom door was still unlocked. Nor did any sleep come to me.

The hours were passing slowly but surely.

And at exactly 4 am, the fear that had been choking Mona for the past few days was starting to put more pressure on my neck as well.

'What if he's really dead? What if I could've saved him if I went with him instead of playing babysitter? No. I shouldn't start thinking in 'what if's' now. This is what he wanted. His wish…not mine. And I didn't have a say in it. Or maybe! Maybe he did it on purpose. Never able to blame me fully for anything since I never get a say in anything, to begin with. Ah, the fucking ingenious bastard.'

I kept kissing Jungkook's sleeping face after every passing hour like a treat after an hour of studying. Holding him tightly, watching the eyes moving under the eyelids like a creep. Mainly to keep myself awake and also because I liked his face.

'I wonder what he's dreaming about. I wonder if I've ruined his future…I wonder how much is my fault and how much is the fault of his addiction. I wonder…what's the point of lamenting about it now? I have to make him take that exam no matter what. Maybe I can help him cheat. Maybe…Maybe he'll remember everything, even with a hangover. Maybe I should've emptied the wine bottle into the sink instead of being understanding when he claimed he could stop after one glass. Maybe I can threaten someone to change his grad…'

A cute sound escaped his lips and then his knee hit me in the stomach lightly.

'Is he having a nightmare? She said...he's trying to forget something... What is he trying to forget? What we've done? What day it is? That he's sober?... Wish I could forget…wish we were both normal…wish we were home, in bed, watching that boring ass sitcom. At least, in both scenarios, I'd want him in the same exact position he is in now.'

Right after the sun rose, I woke him up and he looked around for the cell phone that I'd broken in half, the day he arrived.

"It's 7 AM," I told him, hoping that'd make the clumsy searching end.

"Mhm…"

"Where are you going?"

"Bathroom."

While he was crawling toward the said room, the morning wood was clearly dangling through the large jogging pants.

'I should be worried about my future instead of his more. His family has money and yet all I am thinking about now is whether he's going to masturbate in the bathroom without me since his ass hurts too much from last time.'

I closed my eyes and tried to focus on my breathing when the sink started running.

'I shouldn't move. I should be here to open the door when the guy comes. If he comes at all. I should be thinking about all that I've studied instead of Jungkook's body getting wet by the sink, with his shirt off, nipples hard from the cold, all sleepy, with a puffed-up face... Ehh, fuck it, may as well go down swinging.'

I got up and took exactly two steps away from the door when a clear, loud knock echoed into the empty apartment.

Mona came running out of her room before I even turned around.

"Who is it?!" She yelled.

I grabbed her by the sweaty sweater and pushed her aside to look through the peephole myself.

A black, tall, heavy yet buff man was standing right in front of the door, holding up what seemed to be my cell phone.

I exhaled, trying to loosen up the tension that had built up in milliseconds.

'He's either here to kill us all or Fred's sent him. Which one…'

"Who is it?!" She screamed louder this time.

"Donavan." The man replied calmly.

She smiled and jumped up and down, holding onto my arm.

"I know him! I think! I know that name. He knows my brother."

A behavior that was characteristic of Mona. As if any sign of her brother brought back parts of her personality that got buried whenever he was gone.

'And Fred thought she was the one holding him together. They're the fucking same.'

"Stand back!" I demanded and stepped back myself.

"Where are you going?" Mona desperately inquired.

But I didn't pay her any mind. Choosing to show her the gun I had instead. Loading it in front of her while she paced back and forth, biting her nails.

Mumbling: "I told you that I've heard that name before…"

"They could be using him since he's told them that you might know him."

"Why are you so pessimistic?!"

That particular shriek must've reached Jungkook because the sink-shower that he had going on was cut short.

The man knocked on the door again, but I rushed to the bathroom to see Jungkook in all his morning glory. I swallowed the lump from my throat and enunciated rapidly: "Hide in the shower or hide behind the door. Anywhere. Just don't say a word, breathe, or leave the bathroom until I tell you to."

He nodded with scared eyes and whispered "But why?" Right before I shut the door.

Despite her previous argument, she too hid behind the wall when I unlocked the front door and let Donavan in.

While I had the gun aimed straight at his heart.

The two big arms that he had up were the only good signs I could find so far.

"On your knees," I demanded. But he didn't comply.

"Hold up. He told me you should call him."

"And why can't I do that while you're on your knees?" I asked through gritted teeth, eyes wide and angry.

"Bad knee." He responded with a sad smirk and then pointed at it with his chin. The bloody knee that had been bandaged with nothing but two different colored shirts had me releasing the safety of the gun.

"Mona, take the phone and call Fred."

Despite the courageous, yet foolish actions she's displayed until now, she was trembling when she got to him. And then fumbled with the phone until she found her brother's number and dialed.

I spared her the quickest annoyed glance when she didn't utter one word.

"It's still ringing…what do you want me to?!… oh, hi. Hi! Fred? Is that you? Yes. ...I was so wor...Oh, yes. Who? Wait, you don't want to talk to ME?! But I thought you were dead, YOU FUCKING…?!"

"What's he saying?"

Her eyes were closed. Exhaling so she could as calmly as possible, reply with: "He wants to talk to you."

Mona wanted to hand me the phone, but I heard a thought that unconsciously talked from somewhere within. The face of my father popped up in my mind's eye, uttering a simple: 'I don't trust no junkie.'

"Put it on speaker."

"Why?"

"I said! Put it on speaker!"

"No!" I heard Fred's voice from the small distance coming from the phone and she probably did as well since she glued the phone to her ear again.

I didn't look away from Donavan once.

"He wants to put you on speaker…I don't know why he…Namjoon, he said that he only wants you to hear him."

I bit the inside of my cheek. Envisioning a half-naked Jungkook, trembling next to a corpse in the bathroom.

"Hold it up to my ear, then!"

"You're so difficult, I swear…" She complained but complied anyway.

"Fred?" I asked and felt half of me relax the second his familiar voice made contact with my eardrum.

"Hi, kid. Sorry for running late. I'm actually on my way."

"How did it go?"

"All the animals of the forest are yapping from the other side now. How are things on your side?"

"Somewhat conflicting."

"How come?"

"How does Donavan look like?" I wanted to know.

"Like the night swallowed him whole and his muscles were chiseled by the Gods."

I chucked and tilted my head, clenching my jaw while I darkly continued: "Agreed. But nothing a bullet can't go through."

"He's a friend of mine, Namjoon…I wouldn't have sent anyone else to you. After all, you're my kid."

"When did you sign the adoption papers?"

"You know it, I know it. No one else has to know it."

"Near-death experiences got you all sappy?"

An audible smile and a "...more or less." Was followed by nothing but silence.

"Don't worry. I'll pretend I didn't hear you. Now. Will you mind hearing Donavan speak for a second?"

"…I taught you well kid."

"Nah. This is all thanks to my biological old man."

"My bad then. I won't take credit when credit ain't due."

"Mona, hold the phone close to his mouth. And you, SPEAK THE FUCK UP!"

"…HI, boss!" He was stuttering, watching me watch him, "I am here just like you wanted! I got here a bit later than scheduled, but…"

"Phone back to me, Mona!"

Panicked by the venom from my voice, she did just that. And what came out of Fred's mouth had me lowering the gun towards the healthy leg instead.

"It's him. No worries."

"Donavan, go check the hallway," I ordered. He glanced at Mona with confusion written all over his face. As if he was expecting her to be the one in control. Nonetheless, he obliged.

"You're really harsh to my people, kid. You'll be promoted to a demon before you reach twenty-five if you keep it up."

I ignored him.

"How badly are you hurt?"

There was a brief pause and a sigh.

"Nothing that can't be fixed."

I snatched the phone from Mona's hand. And since this was the only time that I cared to check for emotion, I finally noticed how upset she looked a second before she turned around after she caught me staring.

I raised the gun towards the open door even after Donavan's informed me that the hallway was clear. Even after he remained outside to keep watch. Even after Mona swore that she wasn't going to go out that door.

I couldn't risk it.

Not with the woman that I, sadly, considered to be the only thing close to a sister that I was ever going to get. Nor with the only man that I've ever truly loved hiding in the bathroom.

Not with the man who might or might not be telling the truth while talking to me through the phone that I've bought with his money.

"How about you? Did she give you a hard time?"

"Nothing that can't be erased with a bit of booze."

"Thank you, Namjoon."

"Shut up and come home already."

"I'm coming, but you better not be there to welcome me, after all, you have that big test in about an hour if I am not mistaken."

"Oh, I'm going. Don't worry."

"The other punk?"

'I'm not telling you.'

"Somewhere around. Why did you send him by the way?" I hoped that the question didn't come out as judgmental as it truly was.

"I was sure of my victory so I sent the only person who you'd actually want to see."

"Got it."

"…bad idea?"

"Depends on what it'll happen after we leave."

"Kid…can you…possibly, go to my room? Or somewhere where no one can overhear us?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Just do it."

Mona eyed me suspiciously when I instructed Donavan not to let her leave before I went into Fred's bedroom and shut the door.

Pulling the dirty covers off his bed while I waited for him to move somewhere quieter as well. I assumed that was what he was trying to do, but after a bit, it was far too quiet for me to feel like everything had been resolved without hiccups.

"Listen. One left the forest before the bear trap was set off. And I can't tell the rest or they'll freak after losing…some of their…stuff."

"Why are you telling me then?"

"You have to take him out."

"Why me?" I whined.

"Because you know him."

"Who is it?"

"Whiskers."

"Who the…"

He cut off the upcoming swear word.

"My bad. You know him as Mole."

Something dropped inside my stomach. Something rotten.

"…what was he doing there?"

"No clue, kid. But a yapping bird is a yapping bird, whether he opens his beak or not. He still has a beak and it can't be making any sounds out of fear for the wrong person. Or I am screwed. And if I am screwed then you're screwed."

"Where is he?" I asked, eyes shut.

"You should know. You've been to his house."

"I have?"

"Haven't you?"

"Ah…the party."

"Go there."

"How fast do I have to move?"

"You can spare a few hours. He's busy licking his wounds probably. And I am going to make dogs watch without knowing what they're watching for."

"But he can walk past them and they won't even know."

"Whiskers?" He laughed a bit too loudly. "He'll shit his pants before he steps close to anyone with a hood on."

I audibly smirked, saying: "I forgot he thinks you're the devil."

"Well…he's not entirely wrong, kid." He whispered with a hint of prideful guilt.

"You've gone soft with age," I argued.

"I thought so too…until yesterday…" He cleared his throat as if he was afraid someone might've heard him.

"What did you do?"

"You know how much I like talking to you…in person, that is. We can meet for a drink after you go write for a brighter, less …red future. How about it?"

"The things that I'd do for a drink right about now..."

"Go show that coward why you're my kid, alright? Oh, and let Donavan drive you around today. Let him take you back to your house too. Let him go in first in case someone's inside. At your place and at whisker's place too. He goes first everywhere besides your school, you hear me?"

"Do you think someone's in my house?"

"No. Not at all. But it's better to have him die instead of you."

"I thought he was a friend." I spit through clenched teeth.

"…friends ain't family, kid."

I sighed while covering the cum stained sheets with the clothes that were already crumpled in the hamper.

"Catch you later."

"Wait…what about Mona?"

"What about her?" He asked, very confused.

"If we're all leaving…do I lock her up or what?"

"You can give her the key."

"What?" I felt faint.

And then a low voice that reminded me of his younger self, whispered:

"She doesn't have whom to go to now, does she?"

"…right."

'Since they're all dead…' I told myself, feeling the exhaustion stronger now that the adrenaline was subsiding.

"Good luck with your test." He exclaimed, happily.

"Don't need no luck, but thanks."

"Take care."

Before walking out, I felt like I had to put on someone else's shoes before I headed toward the school. The place where normal people went. The place where anxious students had normal worries and not the ones that I had when I barged into my boss's bathroom, kissed my hangover boyfriend, and let him know that it was time to go.

'The dead guy smells worse now…'

"We're changing clothes and then we're going."

"I'll be here," Donavan informed me.

I resisted the urge to ask about the knee and went inside Fred's bedroom instead. And stared at Jungkook changing into Fred's clothes that somewhat fit him before I bothered to change my blouse too. I apologized for the bruises I left on his body and even traced some while he fixated on the floor shyly.

If he was nervous about the exam, he didn't say it.

But I could bet that he wanted this day to be over much more than I wanted.

His reason was probably weed-related, mine was something else entirely.

'Nothing that can't be fixed, he said…'

I half-hugged Mona and reassured her before handing her the key. To my surprise, when I was heading for the door, she hugged me from behind and thanked me for what I assumed was me keeping her trapped against her will. Despite her calling me names and hitting me in the head at the peak of her withdrawals, I let her do her thing.

That was until she let go. I quickly walked away because I couldn't find it in me to turn around and reciprocate those feelings. I couldn't trust she'd remain sober for long. I couldn't trust someone promising to change only after their dealers were all dead. I hesitantly let Donavan hide my gun in the car.

I couldn't trust any junkie and yet, I did hold Jungkook's hand on the way to Donavan's car. Holding on tightly to the retractable knife from the pocket at the same time.

We were silent during the car ride and despite the cold air, none bothered to zip up on the way to the school.

Our hands parted when the first student came into view. And I felt lonely as soon as I had to pretend that we were nothing to each other. Something that V didn't have to do when he walked by Jungkook and waved. I lightly hit my head against the wall behind me. Once, twice, thrice, and again, and again as I was staring at Taehyung's head getting smaller and smaller while we waited to be called into the classroom.

'I have to be patient. V first…Mole second…and third is…'

"Good morning everyone! We will be taking attendance when all of you are seated. And the pap…"

I turned it off. Their words. The mental picture of Taehyung's shadow at the end of the corridor. Jungkook's tired, yet pale, anxious expression. The faces of our colleagues. I had to forget about them. About Fred. About Mole. And about Donavan risking an infection outside the school in the tall car.

I had to imagine my grandma watching me sit down on the floor, flipping page after page. Had to remember everything I'd learned while I listened to her breathing. And everything I've learned after she stopped breathing.

I had to or else I had no chance of ever doing anything else besides selling drugs and getting rid of loose ends for my boss.

I had nothing else. So, I wrote neatly and tried to push aside any thoughts regarding Jungkook, who was clearly reading the questions over and over again, without writing for the first twenty minutes.

'He can take it again. I can help him. I can give him my money. It'll be fine. There'll be some way. I'll find a way. And if I can't, I'll carve a way into the teacher's face. Just focus on your paper…Just focus…'

I wrote until my hand hurt. I kept writing stuff that I could've sworn I'd forgotten. Almost as if I had been studying all night instead of waiting for a drug dealer to knock on another drug dealer's door.

As if the knife that I have hidden in a plant pot outside the classroom wasn't waiting for me to pick it back up on the way out. As if I was just a studious, intelligent student. Just like my grandma wanted me to be. Just like my mother never cared for me to be. And just like my biological father had somehow been despite all of his struggles.

Eight hours. Eight hours of writing. Eight hours in which I wasn't sure if Fred hadn't lied to me. Eight hours in which I had to resist looking at Jungkook who had been seated way too far away for me to even consider helping him without risking my own future. After the first five, I wished I had slept for at least one hour last night, but when the seventh came, I wasn't feeling tired at all but taken in with what I was writing.

There wasn't one question that I didn't know and only two answers that I wasn't entirely confident about. But twenty minutes before the eight hours were gone, while I was checking every single answer for the second time, I started hearing again. The pens moving and the chairs being shoved around. The sound of the sneakers squeaking against dirty floors and the wind howling outside.

I handed the papers to the teacher behind the desk and winked at the one who's been walking around like a hawk. Exited the classroom feeling light on my steps.

Played with the retracting knife all the way to Donavan's car and got confused by his relief when he saw me coming.

Jungkook didn't look lighter. Instead, he seemed to be dragging himself back to the car.

"How was it?" Donavan asked when were both seated in the back seat. I assumed it out of politeness.

"Fine." I spit, and then questioned a sickly Jungkook: "Did you write anything?" I sent an angry glance at Donavan when I caught him staring at Jungkook's face through the rear-view mirror at a red light.

"I did."

"Enough to pass?"

"I don't know…"

"You can always try again."

I knew he wanted to say that he won't, but he remained quiet. Probably because he didn't want to talk about it anymore. Instead, he focused on the view outside the car's tinted window.

I used my breath to instruct Donavan on how to get to my house. And out of habit, told him to stop the car two streets from my actual house.

"Sorry, I forgot that you were supposed to go in too."

"Young Monster, you really don't trust Fred's lackeys, huh?"

"I meant no offense really; you seem like a nice guy Donavan. But I've been burnt one too many times. It's more of a habit, rather than a personal attack."

"Telling someone the wrong address is a habit?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I can't blame you for it. I guess. I don't trust many people either…"

'Many sounds like one too many, Donavan.' I thought.

"Good," I spoke.

Jungkook didn't seem happy with our conversation, but choose to express that through facial expressions alone.

Donavan went in first without complaining. He checked every single room and didn't talk about having to leave until we did as well.

"No one's in the garden."

"Let's go check part of the forest too. You stay here."

I locked Jungkook in the house and went as far as to let the louvers down on the back door before departing.

We walked farther than we should've. And I was pleased to see him looking around thoroughly despite the limp that made him slow.

'Maybe he'll do.'

"Hey, Donavan?"

"Yes?"

"Do you mind dropping me off somewhere before we go to Mole's house?"

"Before whiskers?" I nodded, and he shrugged, "…no, I don't mind. But did Fred tell you to go somewhere else? He didn't tell me anything."

"No. This is personal."

"And it can't wait?"

I smiled, shrugging, and said: "I'm afraid not."

"Well, you are Fred's Monster so you are free to do whatever you want...But, where exactly?"

"The police station."

He stopped dead in his tracks.

"Relax. It has nothing to do with Fred or anyone else that you know. It's someone's parent. He works there and I have to…let that person know about the exam questions."

Silence, filled with a few crows talking, was followed by: "Do you want me to go in with you?"

I laughed out loud and the sound went through the empty trees. It echoed. Almost ominously.

"Really? You're that loyal? I'm starting to take a liking to you, Donavan." I lied.

"Monster, don't get me wrong, but you know as well as I do that if you get a scratch on your cheek, I will get a hole in mine. If you die and I happen to make it out, I'll die hours later after being tortured. So, if you don't mind…can you not lie to me about going to a police station for a friend or whatever other crap…"

"I am not lying. Even though he's not exactly a friend. More of an acquaintance. But you don't have to worry. No policeman is going to hurt me. All you have to do is wait for me in the car. You can park far away if that makes you feel more comfortable with it. Just be in the car when I am ready to go."

"Understood. But if you take more than one hour, I am coming after you."

I smirked, raising a brow: "With a bloody leg? Don't. But don't worry…it won't take one hour. Not even half an hour."

We walked around some more. And after we'd split up and looked around the neighboring houses, briefly, I went in and told Jungkook that I will be gone for a few hours. And that I couldn't tell him where I was going. Neither of the destinations. But I didn't want to lie either.

So, all that came out of my smiling mouth was: "There's some weed hidden under the fake flowers in the white and blue vase from the corner of the bedroom. And go to sleep if you want. I will wake you up when I'm back. And I might want to play too…"

He was keeping me at a distance with weak arms, but I kept stealing kisses on the edges of the swollen lips and the two blushing cheeks.

"You're really not telling me where you're going?" He inquired further when I was changing clothes.

"Ohh, you'll find out."

"When?"

"Sooner or later…"

'But not from me.' I thought.

"Nothing dangerous?"

"Not at all."

'It'll be as easy as a tooth extraction.'

The air was crisp. The knife was cool on the palm of my hand. And the radio music sucked.

The closer we were to the police station, the happier I was feeling.

"Wait here. Don't come after me unless you want me to tattoo your face with a knife."

He swallowed dryly, but still had the guts to ask:

"…are you sure?"

'I can respect that. Somewhat.'

"Back in a jiff."

"You better not be lying to me, Monster. I got two little daughters waiting at home!"

"And they'll both be seeing their father tonight."

He still seemed concerned. But I wasn't.

Which is why I was skipping toward the sliding doors. Half of my face was covered with a black mask, my hair with a black beanie, and a black hood on top of it. That was part of the reason why I got one too many curious glances thrown my way after I stepped in without a care in the world.

It took only a couple of steps until an adult blocked the way.

"How can I help you?"

"Kim. Mr. Kim. Is he here?"

"Chief of police? Why do you wish to speak with him?"

"I'm a friend of his son."

"Is there something wrong with his son?"

"I think that's something Mr. Kim wishes I'd divulge only to him. Face to face, of course."

"Aren't you hot? With your face covered like that?"

"I apologize, but I had an allergic reaction to a face cream so I'd rather not…reveal it to everyone here. It'll make me really embarrassed and the women, very uncomfortable."

He didn't seem to buy it, but he couldn't exactly force me to do it regardless. And since no one would go to the chief of police and shoot him down with so many gunned policemen around, he shrugged and blurted a casual: "Sit down, have some water. I will see what I can do."

Whispers bounced from ear to ear before a woman walked up to me and pretty much escorted me in front of the man's office within seconds.

'This guy's no joke, huh.'

"You can go in, aa…"

'You're making Donavan's daughters wait five extra minutes for you to have a name to gossip over cheap coffee? What an ugly gall.'

And then the name that I let out without much thought had me grinning from ear to ear in the safety of the thick mask: "Min. Min Yoongi."

"Yes, Min. Please go in. He's waiting."

"Thank you for your trouble."

Taehyung's father did not waste time pretending to be happy about my presence. Whether it was because he had to take a break from working or because any news about his son couldn't be good news.

Either way, he was frowning from the moment I went in and after I sat down in the chair before his desk.

"Good evening, Mr. Kim."

"Evening. Would you like some coffee? Tea?"

But he was polite nonetheless.

"No, thank you."

"Excuse my lack of patience, but I was told that you had something to tell me about my son, Taehyung. Did something happen to him?"

I grinned, but I tried not to let it travel up to my eyes. The warmth that was blossoming in my chest was making it really hard to hide though.

"It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Min Yoongi and I am very close with your son."

"Really?" He mumbled.

"Yes. But that's exactly why I wish he will never find out I was here."

"…find out…ahem, and why is that?" His hand went over his mouth as he straightened his back.

"I have found out these…disturbing facts about him that I didn't want to hand over to someone else. In case it might hurt your reputation as a distinguished, remarkable chief of police."

I heard him repeat under his breath again: "…you…" As if that informal word, being spoken by someone so young, even if compliments followed it, was making his skin itch. But it was the compliments that had him leaning back in the black chair and listening without a hitch.

I dug into the jacket's pocket and grabbed the USB that I got from home. The USB that was next to the knife. I held it up to the old, exhausted eyes of V's father to observe.

"This device contains information that no one should know. But you…of course. A loving father who, naturally, should protect his son from such sinful temptations…"

"What did he do?" He closed his eyes for a moment.

"Oh, a better question would be: what didn't he do? I have pictures of him buying drugs, taking and selling them. On top of that, him being promiscuous with young-looking men in public and…"

He smiled a forced smile that was probably meant to hide the rage that was now growing to the point that it was hard to conceal.

"Excuse me, but why would a friend take such pictures of him?"

"Excuse me, but when did I claim that I was the one who took them?" I shook my head and feigned a sigh. "I've found this USB in the hands of someone who, I'm afraid is not his friend, not in the least."

"…I thank you then." He clumsily said that. Not meaning it.

I let my eyes indicate that I was smiling before I handed him the USB. He seized the small black square the moment it touched the desk.

"This is the only one?"

"Probably not." I grinned a bit too widely. "But I can make sure others won't come out."

He let out some sort of an amused, constricted sound. It reminded me of a choking bird.

"Min…was it?"

I nodded. Forgetting to blink or to stop grinning.

"Pardon me, but this sounds more like a threat than a…an act of kindness."

"Really? But I wouldn't dare," I tried not to sound as sarcastic as I truly was.

I didn't know much about his dad besides the fact that his ego could fuel a building for a full month. That and that the big cross hanging on the wall behind him was not there for decoration. So, I decided to play it safe, play it respectfully, and yet, he couldn't miss the bullets I was loading, one by one.

Which is why, he abandoned the useless USB on the desk, the one that he was previously gripping so viciously, and inquired, fingers forming a triangle, with a changed voice: "What are your conditions?"

"Me? A friend? Having conditions for what? I wouldn't dre…"

"Drop the…"

I cut him off.

"BUT it wouldn't hurt if you felt like giving him a nice old spank on that bottom of his." I chuckled. "Or if you lost the keys to his room while he's sleeping. Maybe, he can really learn how to be a better person by going to a facility that can help him…find the right path toward the light. I know of some highly respected religious place, not far from here, called The Lucas that can help reform…such nasty demons that sometimes get stuck in the innocent bodies of young men."

'By raping and beating it out of him. Among other things.'

"Is that all?"

"Oh, but anything that would help keep those eyes from searching around for ways to sin would do him good. Don't you think? I would hate to see others teach him exactly what happens when they engage in sin. Or when they try to make others sin as well. Others whose hair strands would prove anything that others would doubt after watching the pictures or the videos. Or that his father has forgotten to tell him about the calls that his mo…"

He was the one to cut me off, suddenly glancing at the door, covered in newly produced sweat:

"Rest assured. I will meet all those requirements. And more!"

"What requirements? What could I, an innocent youth, demand from someone as honorable as Mr. Kim? I was only naming possible solutions to your son's very disturbing demons."

He audibly smirked.

'I hope he skins you alive, Kim Taehyung. But I've got you to thank. After all, it was you who threatened me about what your father can do if I were to hurt you. Oh well, but you don't seem to be aware of how easily one can make junkies do pretty much anything if their dealer promises to cut them off unless they do their dealer a favor that will end with ample rewards if executed flawlessly.'

I shoot up, headed for the door when he spoke a bit too desperate, somewhat animated:

"If he ever sins again! You don't have to…do anything. Just come here."

I turned around and bore straight into his eyes, with a stare that Fred usually did right before he stabbed someone. Void of emotion, void of a soul, a demon staring back at you. One that's never failed to cause a flinch, regardless of status, regardless of age, or religion.

Mr. Kim, chief of the only police department for miles and miles, father of Kim Taehyung, stopped blinking or breathing under that very glare.

"Here? But I was never here."

He nodded one too many times.

And I was gone like a blackbird that landed on one's shoulder, took a bite out of one's ear, and flew off.

Walking straight to the exit without looking back.

I skipped back to Donavan's car.

Whistling by the time I hopped on.

"You seem happy…" He observed. "But where did that mask come from?"

"Ah, this? My face was cold."

"Aha…."

"Come on! Let's go. Let's go. Your daughters are probably wondering why you're missing dinner right about now," I clapped, searching for a good song on the radio while singing another under my breath.

"How did it go?" He asked after I took everything off, a few streets later.

"Could've been better. But can't complain."

"What did you do…exactly?"

"Donavan, does Fred tell you everything that he does?"

"No…"

"Did you think that I will if you asked nicely?"

"Not really…"

"You have good people skills, Donavan."

"This one! Turn it up."

"This song?"

I stopped pressing the button in shock.

"You don't like Highway to hell?"

"I don't hate it, but I've heard it so many times that it's hard to get into it anymore."

"Can't relate." He stated, way too serious.

I smiled.

And kept smiling, disturbing Donavan all the way to Mole's house. His hazel eyes seemed to follow my every move. If I didn't know any better, I'd think that he was terrified of me after hearing one too many stories. And my answer to the question: "What are we doing to Mole?" Was not making him any less wary of me.

"You, Donavan, won't be doing anything to him. He's all mine. Just look around for anyone else. And his phone. Steal his phone."

"Won't he want it back after?... What if it's tracked? Is that smart?"

Rested one hand on his shoulder, slowly letting him know: "He won't need no phone where he's going."

I got out of the car, and heard him nervously asking:

"Where's he going?! Hey. Monster?"

"Hmm?"

"I don't think we sho…look! Look. Is that him?"

He was pointing at Mole. Sure enough, by a window on the second floor. Pulling the curtain as soon as he realized that we've noticed him.

I covered my face with the mask again but threw the beanie in the nearest trash.

"Yeah. That's the Mole."

Donavan stormed towards the house first. Taking his role as a shield seriously. But since I wasn't moving, it probably seemed as if he was leaving me behind.

'Why did Fred waste time telling me to make him go first if he's told Donavan to do the same damn thing?'

"Don't we need no guns?" I asked.

And the big guy made a 130-degree turn.

I was laughing. Unapologetic laughter. The laughter that I was sure Mole could probably hear. But either way. It didn't matter if it was me or someone else on his doorstep. That was the irrelevant part.

Although I was already planning to teach him a lesson after what he told Jungkook the last time we saw each other, this was a bit different, yet just as pleasurable.

That was truly the only difference between I, or someone else killing him.

This was more of a gift from the Devil himself, more so than part of the job.