Chapter 30: The Reckoning

The cabin door clicked shut, the sound swallowed by the night. Jungkook's grim face emerged, leaving Taehyung lost in a slumber. His gaze fell upon the man sprawled on the ground, a failed attempt at escape etched in his contorted posture. The man lay still, unconscious, his breath shallow. Jungkook, his hands concealed by black gloves, approached cautiously. He wasn't gentle. With practiced efficiency, he lifted the limp body, the man's weight surprisingly light against his strength.

The rhythmic thump of Jungkook's footsteps echoed as he carried the unconscious form towards a waiting truck, its dark silhouette barely visible under the cloak of night. He hoisted the man into the truck bed, the dull thud grim punctuation to the scene. Sliding into the driver's seat, he started the engine, the vehicle rumbling to life, a mechanical beast ready to carry its burden.

The journey was long, the road twisting through a desolate landscape. Finally, the truck pulled up to a dilapidated hut, its weathered wood and broken windows whispering tales of neglect and decay. Jungkook emerged, the moonlight casting long, distorted shadows that danced around him. He dragged the unconscious man from the truck, the body scraping against the rough ground, a sound almost lost in the night's hush.

Inside the hut, the air hung heavy with the scent of damp earth and decay. Jungkook secured the man to a rickety chair, the rough rope biting into his flesh. He then produced a pack of cigarettes, the familiar snap of the lighter punctuating the silence. He inhaled deeply, the smoke swirling around his face, obscuring his features in a veil of gray.

A low groan broke the silence. The man's eyes fluttered open, pain lancing through his body. His vision swam, clearing slowly to reveal Jungkook, a cigarette dangling from his lips, his eyes cold and devoid of emotion. The smell of smoke filled the man's nostrils, irritating his lungs and triggering a violent coughing fit.

"You took a long rest," Jungkook said, his voice a low murmur, devoid of warmth.

Terror seized the man. He stared at Jungkook, recognizing the chilling transformation in his demeanor. This wasn't the Jungkook he knew. This was something far more dangerous.

"What...what are you going to do with me? Kill me?" The man's voice was a shaky whisper, a pathetic attempt to mask his fear. A twisted grin stretched across his face. "You're proving my allegations, aren't you?"

Jungkook sneered, a cruel twist of his lips. "Do you really think I care about that?"

"I told you, if anything happened to me, you'd be blamed!" The man insisted, trying to project an air of defiance.

Jungkook smirked, a chilling expression. "It doesn't matter to me. Money can shut people's mouths." His voice dropped, laced with menace. "Unfortunately for you, it won't be just your mouth that's shut."

The man snarled, his defiance flickering. "Say whatever you want. The truth will come out. I may not have succeeded today, but someone will expose your wrongdoings."

Jungkook stood, the chair creaking under the man's weight. He pulled on his black gloves, the sound a stark contrast to the man's desperate pleas. "Talk all you want," Jungkook said, his voice calm but deadly. "It'll be your last chance."

He picked up an axe, its polished surface gleaming under the dim light. The weight of the axe felt heavy in his hands, a symbol of the impending doom. He raised it slowly, his gaze fixed on the man's terrified eyes. The man's teeth were gritted, a silent scream trapped behind his lips. The rest was left to the shadows, a brutal end to a desperate game.

Dawn painted the sky in soft hues of pink and orange, but the cabin felt strangely cold. Taehyung awoke to an empty bed, the warmth of Jungkook's presence absent. He reached for his phone, the familiar weight comforting in its silence, but his attempts to contact Jungkook were met with only the sterile ring of an unanswered call. A sigh escaped his lips—a quiet acknowledgment of the unusual quiet. He decided to prepare a simple breakfast—toast and a cup of coffee—a light meal, as he'd already texted Jungkook to pick up something more substantial for them later. The lack of a reply was mildly concerning, but Taehyung dismissed it, assuming Jungkook was simply busy.

He settled onto the plush couch, the soft cushions yielding to his weight, and turned on the television, the flickering screen a stark contrast to the peaceful morning outside. The news anchor's voice, sharp and clear, cut through the quiet.

"A shocking allegation is making headlines across all social media platforms. Renowned Alpha Jeon Jungkook is allegedly implicated in the disappearance of investigative journalist Hoon Seungoh from the Clear Scope agency. The agency's president claims Seungoh confided in him, stating that if anything were to happen to him, Jeon Jungkook would be responsible. This follows the earlier disappearance of Seungoh's colleague and friend, Minato, who was also investigating Jeon Jungkook."

Taehyung was halfway through his breakfast when that news came out. Confusion was written on his face while watching it.

What happened?

Everything was fine last night; how did this news come out and blame Jungkook out of nowhere?

Even if Jungkook were nowhere to be seen, he believed that Jungkook must be somewhere out there because he was a busy man.

But seriously, where is Jungkook right now?

Did something happen last night?

He stood up to get his phone and to contact Jungkook once again, but once he turned his back, the door opened, and Jungkook came in.

"Jungkook....” he uttered as he turned to look at him.

"Yes? What's the matter? You look frightened." Jungkook responded while looking at Taehyung's expression.

Taehyung ran to him. "What's happening? I've watched the news and it stated that you were involved in a serious crime." He told Jungkook with a worried face.

Jungkook's calm expression shifted to something Taehyung couldn't tell but it was something.

"Don't mind it, pup, it was nothing," Jungkook gave him an assuring smile.

"But─"

"I'll fix it,"

Jungkook cut him off and ruffled his hair as if that would fix everything.