22nd August, 2023

I was never there - the weeknd, gesaffelstien

The dreaded night is upon you, Angelica's birthday party. A room filled with all of your favourite people here to celebrate a woman unworthy. The grand hall stands as a beacon of elegance in the heart of the bustling city. Tall columns adorned with golden accents greet guests as they make their way inside.

The floor is polished to perfection, reflecting the soft glow of the chandeliers that hang from the high ceiling. The room itself is a masterpiece of design, with plush velvet curtains draping the walls and intricate carvings decorating the dark wood panelling. Soft music plays in the background, creating a soothing ambience that envelops the room.

You wander the hall in a long, black, glittery dress with a daring leg slit. The fabric shimmers under the low light, casting a mysterious glow around you. You move with an air of confident grace, your every step commanding attention.

"Now tell me why you've been here nearly a month and this is the first we're seeing of you." You turn and are greeted by Jungkook and his parents.

"Lucio." You fondly jump into Jungkook's father's embrace.

"Moo Moo, you forgetting about me?" Jungkook mother greets you with a warm smile.

You wrap your arms around Jungkook's mother."Never, Andrea."

"We've missed you." Andrea tenderly embraces you back, playing with your hair.

"Jellybean is it just my daughter who gets all the attention?" Lewis joins you all, greeting his best friend.

Andrea throws herself at him, excitedly accepting his hug. "Lewis!"

The glee quickly disappears as Andrea looks up towards him. "You left with no word, Lewis."

"You probably have a lot to talk about." Jungkook leads you away.

You nudge Jungkook. "You know your dad is a dilf right?" 

Jungkook nudging you back, rolls his eyes. "I've been told."

"We should talk, Angel?" Jungkook catches your swaying arm, stopping you in your tracks.

You hesitate, trying to avoid the obvious. "About?" 

Releasing your arm, Jungkook faces you towards him. "The kiss."

Avoiding his eye contact, you fix your gaze on his feet. "It was just a dare."  

Jungkook lifts your chin, a pleading look in his eyes. "We both know it was more than that."

"I need a drink."  You whirl around beelining for the bar.

You reach the bar. Leaving Jungkook far behind, wounded by your dismissal. "I'll have double of the strongest thing you stock."

You feel a tap on your shoulder, you turn to face him. "One of them nights, princess."

Kim Taehyung, standing tall and commanding attention with his slim yet muscular physique, possesses an intriguing charm that draws both admiration and curiosity from those who cross his path. His short, messy brown hair gives him a wild and dangerous aura. Taehyung's piercing dark eyes, like bottomless voids, seem to observe the world with a sense of detachment. Each hidden story within him is mirrored by the heavily tattooed tapestries that adorn his skin, detailing a rich tapestry of experiences.

He has a sharp wit and a fearless spirit, always willing to take risks and live life to the fullest. He is fiercely independent and values his freedom above all else. However, he also has a strong sense of loyalty towards those he considers his friends and family. He is adventurous, with a thirst for excitement and new experiences.

Unsure whether to punch him in the face or jump into his arms, you opt for shouting. "Where the fuck have you been?"

Guilt spreads his face. "I had to get away." 

"She adored you and you couldn't even show up to her funeral." You pound his chest, years of emotion erupting.

Taehyung stands still accepting your onslaught. "I know."

You continue your assault, your voice cracking. "She needed you. We needed you. I needed you."

"I'm here now, Princess."  Taehyung wraps you in his arms, stroking your back delicately, trying to soothe your soul.

TW: VIOLENCE & DEATH

Burning pile - mother mother

Your heartfelt reunion quickly turns into terror as an armed group storms into the room wearing blood-red masks. The masks they wear are intricate and haunting, each depicting grotesque expressions that seem to mock their prey.

Your instincts kick in, and you hurry to your terrified father and Angelica, ushering them behind you. The masked intruders, armed with menacing weapons and hearts filled with malice, began to encroach step by step, their heavy boots creating an eerie rhythm on the wooden floor.

Jungkook watches you across the room as you subtly adjust the slit of your dress, your hand veering slightly, revealing a sleek, gleaming handgun concealed within your garter. Leaving Jungkook both bemused and turned on. "Angel, why the fuck do you have a strap?"

Raising the gun you give Jungkook a quick look."Did you want me to explain right now or?" 

Before Jungkook gets to answer the sound of a bullet rings through the air. Your blood runs cold as you turn to find Isabella screaming on her knees next to a river of blood belonging to your father.

"He doesn't have a pulse." Isabella whimpers.

You're paralysed by grief, numbness taking over your body. All you can hear is ringing as you watch your father's blood run towards you. A deep crimson stream stains your soul. The scent of pancakes overpowering your senses.

As your mother and you walk into your favourite café, the warm smell of freshly brewed coffee and buttery pancakes fills your noses. It is a typical Sunday morning for you, a routine you have come to cherish over the years. Your mother Scarlet and you are like best friends and you make it a point to spend quality time together every weekend. You settle into your usual booth, chatting and laughing as you wait for your breakfast order.

Suddenly, the calm and peaceful atmosphere is shattered by the sound of a gunshot. Everyone in the café freezes in fear, not knowing what is happening. But before anyone can react, another bullet is fired and this time it is aimed at you. Without a second thought, Scarlet instinctively shields you with her own body, taking the bullet intended for you. Chaos ensues as people scream and duck for cover.

As Scarlet lies on the ground, her body wracks with pain. She'd never been afraid of dying, it's inevitable. She promised herself at a young age she'd never fall in love. She wouldn't let anyone love her, her life is too dangerous. She broke that promise when she met Lewis.

She made him promise to never fall in love with her. He broke that promise. Dying is inevitable. Breaking his heart is inevitable. The dying doesn't scare her, it's leaving him alone. Leaving her girls, never watching them break their own promises of falling in love.

Bang.

A second bullet barrels through the sky. Piercing your hip. Falling down next to your mother, your blood entangles. Scarlet prays for you to survive whereas you pray for death. What first started with a sharp pain is now an unbearable burning.

The intense heat radiates through your entire body, causing every inch of skin to feel like it's on fire. With each passing second, the pain intensifies and it becomes harder to breathe. Your heart is pounding, struggling to keep you alive. Every beat sends waves of pain through your body.

Jungkook screams your name. "Snap out of it."

You feel the cold metal against your temple as Angelica holds her gun to you. "I've wanted to do that for a long time. Now let's do what I'm here for." Angelica clicks the safety off.

"Careful." Taehyung growls, pointing his gun towards her.

"Now, now Taehyung. If we both pull the trigger whose bullet do you think would reach first?" Angelica condescendingly, tuts at Taehyung.

"Why?" You hiss.

"Taking the role of a gold digger was the perfect cover to lure your lonely father. All I needed to do was flutter my eyelashes. You don't need to know the why, just know it's ending now. Oh, and sweetie Johnathan sends his regards."

You sweep Angelica's legs from under her, now towering over her, gun aimed straight at her. "You can tell Johnathan to get fucked."

The armed group react quickly, surrounding you. Bullets fly through the air, and you can feel the rush of wind as they whiz past you. Suddenly, a bullet skims your leg, causing a sharp pain to shoot through your body.

Adrenaline coursing through your veins, you don't falter. You pull the trigger, and your bullet finds its mark, hitting Angelica's shoulder with a sickening thud. She screams in pain, a blood-curdling sound that echoes through the room.

Jungkook, Jimin, Taehyung, Yoongi, Namjoon, Hoseok, Jin and Lucio stand poise and ready, weapons loaded and fingers twitching. Sirens blare in the distance as the masked group begins fleeing out of the room. Dragging Angelica with them. The sound of gunfire fills the air as bullets rain down on the masked group.

The sirens wail, their shrill cry drawing closer.
Bloody bodies lie on the floor as the rest of the mask group succeeds in their escape. Lucio yells. "Jungkook get everyone out of here, I'll handle it."

"I'm not leaving him." Isabella howls still kneeling in your father's blood.

Jimin lifts Isabella while she screams and cries over his shoulder, reluctant to leave her father. "I'm so sorry, Kitten."

Taehyung pulls your arm over his shoulder, taking your weight off your injured leg. Numbness begins to consume your body, and he leads you out of the room. "Come on, Princess. You did good, Scarlet would be proud of you but you don't need to see this."

listen before I go - billie eillish

Jungkook walks out onto the patio, the cool breeze whispers through the air. As he gazes out at the scene before him, his eyes catch sight of you standing in the corner, your shoulders hunched and your body trembling.

At that moment, Jungkook can sense the overwhelming grief that consumes your every fibre. Your eyes, normally bright and full of life, now seem dull and empty, as if all the light has been drained from your soul. You are numb. Not in the physical sense, but in a way that cuts deep into your soul. It is as if all your emotions have been drained from you, leaving behind an empty shell of a person.

He approaches you, placing a cigarette into your shaking hands. He says nothing as nothing can be said. You watched your mother die in cold blood, the same as you watched your father tonight. You watched your sister's spirit get destroyed.

Allowing him to light your cigarette, you look up to him, the sparkle gone in your eyes. "Where's Issy?"

Jungkook lights his own cigarette. "She's in Jimin's bed, he got her to calm down a little."

"She'll never be the same, she shouldn't have been there." You take a drag of your cigarette, your voice void of any emotion.

Jungkook hesitates placing his hand on your shoulder, too scared to touch you too hard for you might break. "Angel, he is... was your father too. You shouldn't have been there too."

"Exactly, I've watched both my parents bleed out. I know she'll never be the same, never have the same sparkle, never be Issy."  Tears creep down your face.

"Oh, Princess." Taehyung appears from the patio doors, Yoongi close behind.

"Not now, Taehyung." Jungkook barks.

"I've got her," Yoongi reassures Jungkook. "Now, my beautiful how about we get you cleaned up?"

You gently nod, trying to sniffle your tears away, allowing Yoongi to guide you inside. Leaving Jungkook and Taehyung in a stare-off.

TW: VIOLENCE & DRUG USE

can you feel my heart - bring me the horizon

As soon as Jungkook hears the door shut, he launches himself at Taehyung. Landing a punch to his jaw, the impact reverberates through the air as Taehyung stumbles backwards. The anger in Jungkook's eyes is unmistakable, a fiery intensity that burns like a blazing inferno.

Taehyung spits out blood. "Okay, I deserved that."

Jungkook swings another punch. "Okay, maybe that one, I didn't deserve as much."

Their once solid friendship had crumbled under the weight of betrayal and lies, leaving nothing but a shattered husk in its wake. Jungkook and Taehyung were like brothers. Jungkook's parents took Taehyung in when he was young, treating him as one of their own.  Jungkook had grown up alongside Taehyung and the two boys formed a bond that ran deep.

They shared their dreams and fears, supporting each other through life's ups and downs. Jungkook had always looked up to Taehyung, admiring his confidence and charisma. He had never doubted their friendship, believing that nothing could come between them.

Taehyung's mother had always struggled with addiction. Her drug habit had consumed her life, leaving little room for anything else, including her own son. Scarlet found her lying slumped against the cold concrete wall, a needle still sticking out of her arm. Her chest rose and fell in shallow breaths, her skin ashen and clammy.

Beside his mother, he sat quietly, his eyes wide with fear and confusion. He clutched a worn teddy bear to his chest, his small frame shivering in the cold night air. Scarlet's heart ached at the sight of the innocent child caught up in such a tragic situation.

He was four.

Scarlet brought them both back to Lucio's house. Taehyung's mother, in her drug-induced state, chose the drugs over her own son. She didn't have the capacity to care for him.

"Why the fuck are you here?" Jungkook demands.

"Funny, not the first time I've been greeted that way tonight." Taehyung chuckles. 

Jungkook snaps. "Cut the shit, Taehyung. Why are you here?"

"Kai wants to make a deal with Lucio. He sent the twins to meet with Princess." Taehyung reveals.

"Absolutely fucking not." Jungkook growls

"That's not up to you." Taehyung sighs, massaging his temple. "Jungkook, don't be stupid. They've got information and you know how valuable that is. Don't let your hatred towards me blur that."

"Hatred. You were like a brother to me, my parents raised you. You left and joined fucking Fury. You betrayed us." Jungkook scoffs. "You're dead to me."

TW: THIS COULD BE TRIGGERING TO SOME READERS

5th September, 2023

matilda - harry styles

Two weeks have passed since the tragic night of your dad's death. The funeral had come and gone, a bittersweet mix of devastation and beauty. Unable to face your home you and Isabella have been staying at the pack house.

The walls are painted a deep shade of midnight blue, with patches of graffiti, and sombre quotes adding to the rebellious atmosphere of the room. The dresser is covered in knick-knacks and trinkets, each one a memento from a concert or show. A double bed, draped in black silk sheets, dominates the centre of the room. A collection of plushies in varying shades of grey and black lay scattered haphazardly across the mattress.

A record player sits in the corner. The record player itself is a relic from another time, its wooden frame worn and weathered from years of use. A guitar leans against the wall, its strings missing or broken, a testament to the countless hours spent playing and practising.

"Knock, knock." Sage enters the room. "It was my turn for the clothes run, I've already given Issy hers."

You accept the clothes from Sage. "Thank you."

Sage offers you a sympathetic smile. "How are you holding up?"

"Truthfully, I've been better." You offer a half smile back.

Sage walks over to the wall, stroking the graffiti. "I see you've added your own art to the wall."

You join her side. "Who's room is this?"

"Mine," Sage answers.

"So where are you staying now?" You questions.

"Jungkook's room," Sage responds.

"Oh... so are you like?" You splutter.

"Together, no. Not in the way you think. We met when we were both in a dark place. Your mother was gone, and you and Isabella left. He was broken." Sage sits on the bed. "I didn't grow up like you or Jungkook. I was bounced around the foster system. I was seventeen when Namjoon caught me trying to steal Lucio's car. Namjoon comes from a similar background to me, he saved me."

Sage has always been a survivor. From a young age, she had bounced around the foster care system, never staying in one place for too long. Tossed around from family to family, never feeling like she truly belonged. From a young age, she had learned to adapt and survive in the unpredictable world of the foster care system.
She had learned to fend for herself and sometimes that meant resorting to desperate measures.

One day, Sage found herself in a rundown neighbourhood, feeling the familiar pangs of hunger and loneliness. Spotting a flashy sports car parked on the street, she saw an opportunity. She approached the car, checking to see if the doors were unlocked. Just as she reached for the handle, a voice called out to her.

It was Namjoon, he saved her. Here was someone who didn't judge her for being a foster kid, someone who saw her as more than just a lost cause. He listened to her story, offering to take her back to Lucio's, she's been with them ever since.

Sage wears a saddened look on her face. "I won't ever be you. He'll always choose you."

murder in my mind - kordhell

As you step into the room, the overwhelming sight of dozens of computer screens greets you. Each screen displays a different image, ranging from live surveillance footage to lines of code and intricate diagrams, showing the complex web of systems. The hum of the machines fills the air, and secrets whisper in their static. Jungkook, Isabella and Yoongi all huddle around the screens as Jimin works diligently, his fingers flying over the keyboards as he breaches one firewall after another.

Jungkook takes his attention away from the screens, focusing it on you. "We don't need to do this right now."

Fire burning in your eyes you face the screens."The longer we leave it, the longer these fuckers get away with it."

"Damn right! Jimin work your magic." Yoongi pats his brother on his shoulder.

"JIMIN'S YOUR HACKER?" Isabella exclaims.

A smug look spreads on Jimin's face. "Yeah hot right? Need to hack into the government because I could do that. Want to own part of the moon? I could hack into NASA and make that happen."

Isabella leans closer into Jimin's chair. "What about leaking a cheating ex's bank details?"

"Oh, absolutely. No one treats my Kitten that way." Jimin continues typing. "There. That's it. Eden Lillian Knight aka Angelica, Johnathan's sister."

Jimin falls silent. The only sound that breaks the eerie silence is the gentle hum of the computers.

Yoongi gulps. "Oh, fuck."

TW: ALCOHOL ABUSE & DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

i can't breath - bea miller

Dread courses Jungkook's body as he frantically scans the file on the screen. "This is all my fault."

"Kook." Yoongi consoles.

"I thought I killed her." Jungkook stumbles away from you all.

You watch him begin to shake and turn pale. "Jungkook, what going on?"

"Unlike you, we've always known about Lobos. We've trained from a young age." Jimin confides.

Yoongi and Jimin were always happy with their mother. Their mother was a gentle and nurturing soul. But behind the love of their mother, a dark secret lurked. The family's father, a burly and volatile man, was prone to fits of rage and violence.

He would come home drunk most nights, his eyes glinting with a dangerous fire as he lashed out at his wife and children with sharp words and even sharper blows.

Yoongi, the eldest of the two siblings, bore the brunt of their father's wrath. He was a spirited and headstrong young man. He would often stand up to his father, his fists clenched and his jaw set in defiance, taking the brunt of the abuse to protect his younger brother.

Jimin, on the other hand, was a delicate and ethereal creature, with a heart as fragile as glass. He would cower in the shadows, his tiny frame trembling with fear, as their father's fury rained down upon them.

And then, one fateful night, everything changed. Their mother had contacted their Aunt Andrea and she was getting them out of there. Their father's fury reached its peak, and he turned his wrath upon Yoongi with a ferocity that nearly cost him, his life.

But amid the chaos, a spark of rebellion ignited within Yoongi's heart. With a courage born of desperation and determination, Yoongi seized his brother's hand and together they fled into the night, leaving behind their father's cruelty and their mother's tears.

Their mother never made it. Devastated and heartbroken, Yoongi and Jimin were left numb with grief. Their world shattered in an instant, leaving them with a deep sense of loss. Yoongi and Jimin found solace in the comforting presence of their Aunt Andrea and Uncle Lucio.

"It was a week after I turned eighteen, my dad got attacked. We caught wind, it was the same man who killed your mother." Jungkook continues unable to look you in the face, terrified of what you might see in his eyes. "I tracked down where he was hiding. I burst in without checking who was in there. I shot her. Johnathan's sister. I panicked and just left. She was supposed to be dead, we thought she was dead."

"Then she found us in America." You acknowledge.

"I didn't get a proper look at her, to recognise her. I should have recognised her." Jungkook heaves.

"They set you up, it isn't your fault." You try to touch him, hoping to comfort him, but he backs away, his body tense with guilt.

"I'm so sorry." Jungkook splutters, his voice barely above a whisper as he rushes out of the room.

You try going after him but Yoongi stops you. "You need to be here. I've got him."

"He'll be okay, little flame." Jimin reaches up and squeezes your arm.

"What I don't understand is why wait all that time? Why not kill us as soon as they found us?" Isabella asks.

Taehyung enters the room. His dark eyes glint with an egocentric look, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. He exudes confidence and arrogance, and everyone in the room can feel it. "Information. In our world, nothing is more valuable than information."

"I see you haven't abandoned us this time." You scoff.

The egocentric look leaves his eyes, anguish replacing it. "I told you I'm here now, Princess."

"We don't need you to be." You bark.

Taehyung leaves the room hopelessly, choosing not to fight a losing battle. Jimin looks up at you, whirling his chair to face you. "You're mad at him for leaving and not contacting you. Hurts right?"

Realising the pain you must have put him through, you apologise. "Oh, Chim I'm sorry."

"It's okay, you needed your time. Sometimes we all need our time. Even egotistical bastards like Taehyung do." Jimin reassures, his boyish grin lighting up his face.

TW: VIOLENCE, IMPRISONMENT, MURDER, MENTAL ABUSE & ALCOHOL ABUSE

ultraviolence - lana del rey

In the dimly lit basement of an old, abandoned house, the air is thick with musty, stale smells and a feeling of dread hangs heavily in the atmosphere. The only source of light is a flickering bulb that casts eerie shadows across the damp, cracked walls. A man sits tied to a chair in the centre of the room. His eyes dart around frantically at Namjoon, Hoseok and Jin.

Namjoon grew up in the foster system with his older brother, Dae. Growing up was never easy for the two brothers. They were placed into the system at a young age after their parents passed away in a car accident. The older brother, Dae took on the responsibility of looking after his younger sibling.

Dae was always seen as the protector in Namjoon's eyes. He made sure they both stayed out of trouble and did their best in school. They relied on each other for support and comfort in the unstable world of foster care.

As they grew older, Dae knew that he had to do whatever it took to get them out of the foster care system. He worked hard at a local restaurant, saving every penny he could for their future. Namjoon admired his brother's determination and knew that together, they could overcome any obstacle.

On Dae's eighteenth birthday, he aged out of the foster care system and adopted Namjoon. However, tragedy struck one fateful night when Dae was gunned down in a senseless act of violence. Namjoon was left alone, mourning the loss of his older brother and father figure. Finding solace in Lobos.

Hoseok grew up in a mentally abusive household, with parents who were consumed by alcoholism. Hoseok learned from a young age to navigate the turbulent waters of his home life with caution and resilience. The air in their small, dingy house was thick with tension and sadness, a palpable fog that clung to every corner and crevice.

As the only child in this toxic environment, he learned to tiptoe around his parents, never knowing what might set off another explosion of anger or tears. He became an expert at blending into the background, at disappearing into his own world of books and daydreams as a means of escape from the relentless chaos that surrounded him.

Despite the darkness of his upbringing, he clung to a flicker of hope deep within his soul, a stubborn belief that there was more to life than the endless cycle of pain and despair that defined his existence.

He found solace in the beauty of the natural world, in the whispering trees and the gentle caress of the wind, in the simple pleasures of a sunrise or a blooming flower. He found hope, he found Yoongi. He became his saviour, removing him from the darkness and bringing him to Lobos.

Jin was born into the gang life. His Aunt is married to the leader of Lobos. The gang members are family to Jin, always looking out for him and teaching him the ways of the streets. They taught him how to defend himself, and how to survive in a world that was often unforgiving.

They showed him loyalty and respect, values that were rare in the outside world but were ingrained in the gang's code. Despite his upbringing, Jin was never forced to join the gang. But the allure of the streets was too strong for Jin to resist. As he got older, he found himself drawn to the excitement and power that came with being a gang member.

Namjoon stamps out his cigarette. "Hit him again."

With a fierce determination in his eyes, Hoseok raises his fist and slams it into the man's face, feeling the satisfying crunch of bone as he lets out a grunt of pain.

"Where's Eden?" Jin demands.

"I am not authorised to answer that." The tied-up man, answers emotionless.

Hoseok delivers a swift blow to the man's stomach. He doubles over in pain, gasping for air as tears stream down his face.

...............................................................................
Author note: Lobos means wolves in Portuguese. In the original story, the gang is Portuguese / English & I think Lobos sounds better than just wolves.