"In each loss, there is a gain, as in every gain, there is a loss, and with each ending comes a beginning."

             -Buddhist proverb

Your blue eyes were wide as you took in the sight before you, chest heaving beneath the your silk robes as you took a hesitant step backwards, heart pounding uncontrollably in your chest.

Hoseok stood across the courtyard, his eyes staring straight at you from underneath the awning, a small group of twitching, rotting spirits standing behind him, each one of them seeming to wait for some kind of order.

You didn't know what was happening.

But you knew it wasn't good.

Yoongi had come stumbling into your make shift safe zone, his eyes filled with tears as his body shook violently, hands reaching for you desperately.

You remembered the fear that shone on his expression. You should have known by the way he looked at you...You should have known that he was in trouble...that he needed something-he needed you.

Grace.

He told you that they had taken Grace...and they had capture the others. Some kind of undead skeleton spirits had come and swept them up when they had come to warn Yoongi of the on coming danger...but that was nothing compared to what he told you next...

Hoseok was leading them.

He had told Yoongi to find you and bring you to him...or else he would kill Grace...and come for you himself...

You didn't even hesitate to leave.

Grace was in danger...The others were in danger and saving them was your top priority.

You know that moment in the movies when you know that a big battle is coming up? The battle that you've been waiting for since you first started watching? The battle where the hero would finally defeat their enemy and grab the victory?

You wait with anxiety and excitement as they take their last steps towards the one they've hated since the beginning...the one who has betrayed and hurt them countless times...you wait and you silently hope that our hero will pull through....

You felt like this was that moment...

However, it didn't feel like a moment of victory...

It felt like a piece of yourself was breaking away as you stared at Hoseok, his blue eyes filled with an unknown emotion.

You knew that it wasn't really him...you knew by the bright blue color of his eyes....It was Daesung's doing.

He was doing this to get underneath your skin and make you hesitate...he wanted to hurt you by forcing you to harm someone you care about...he was trying to make you lose your humanity and chose between a child and one of your closest friends...a man you had come to care for deeply.

Your guys drifted over to the three men that stood behind him, breath catching in your throat as Seokjin's eyes met yours, his body jerking against the hold of the soldier holding him.

"Y/n."

You pushed back your emotion's as Jimin's hand came to rest on your shoulder, his blue eyes studying your features.

The way he said your name told you all you needed to know...

He didn't want you to do this...He didn't want you to fight..he wanted you to run..he wanted you to be safe....But you couldn't run anymore...you couldn't hide...not when there was so much to lose.

You slowly turned to face him, blue eyes meeting his.

"I have to save them," You started softly. "I can't just stand by and let them die."

His expression fell at your words, his hand twitching as he moved his gaze to the ground.

"I want to help." Yoongi mumbled from beside you, ignoring the curiosity that shot up in him as you spoke to the air. "She's my little girl."

You nodded your head, placing your hand on his cheek as you smiled softly at him.

"I know." You stated. "That's why you need to be safe when I get her back. She needs someone to look after her."

His hands began to tremble as he clenched his jaw. He knew that you were right...if he fought and died...Grace would have no one...

But letting you give yourself up made him feel nauseous..he was supposed to be a soldier. He was trained to protect and serve...letting you walk across that courtyard to those monsters....it went against everything he stood for...

He didn't fully understand what was going on...but he knew thing...if you walked over there...he wouldn't see you again...not alive.

You turned your attention back to the men across the courtyard, eyes watching as Hoseok stepped out from under the awning, the heavy rain pouring over him and soaking him in seconds as he slowly outstretched his hand towards you.

You took a deep breath, giving Jimin one last glance before taking a step towards him.

The rain was cold as it hit your skin, pouring down your cheeks and hair as you slowly approached him, watching as his blue eyes studied you.

"You don't have to do this." You breathed out as your hand came to rest in his. "You're stronger than this, Hoseok. You can overcome thi-"

His strong grip silenced your protests, hand holding yours solidly.

You resisted the urge to struggle against him, swallowing hard as he began to pull you into an unknown direction.

Your brows furrowed as he turned on his heel, pulling you towards the familiar lily pond that sat in the middle of the courtyard.

You had assumed that he would have brought you into the castle...why was he bringing you here? What was the significance of this small structure?

"Y/n!"

Your head snapped up as Seokjin's voice rang through the air, eyes wide with terror as Hoseok walked into the water.

"It's part of the ritual!" He yelled. "Don't get in the wa-"

You didn't even notice Hoseok motion for one of the undead men to shut him up, eyes widening as they slapped Jin across the face, pulling his hair back and aiming a rusted blade at his throat.

"H-Hey!" You yelled in protest, trying to move towards him.

Hoseok's grip on you tightened, hands pulling you with him into the ankle-deep water of the small pond.

You struggled against him, mind racing with sudden realization.

"Stop!" You yelled. "H-Hoseok stop!"

"I don't take orders from you." He snapped, grabbing your hair and pulling you forward. "Get into the water and obey your new king."

Your eyes widened as Daesung came into your view, the scent of his rotting flesh hitting your nose as he exited the palace, a large grin on his features as he stepped forward, hands untying the knot of his robes.

You watched as his robe fell onto the ground, leaving his bare chest on display as he walked under the rain, water dripping down his pale, rancid skin.

You tried to back up, body beginning to go into panic mode, but Hoseok's grip was unrelenting and you were held into your place firmly.

You should have known that Daesung wouldn't waste time...he would act immediately. 

You swallowed hard as Daesung entered the water, moving to stand in front of you, his hand caressing your cheek.

"You've done well, Hoseok." He complimented, looking towards the raven-haired man.

Hoseok bowed slightly, face remaining stoic.

"Thank you."

Daesung smiled, lowering himself down to be face to face with you

"Do you still think you can win?" He whispered to you. "Do you still think you'll be able to beat me?"

You remained silent as you glared at him.

"I have everything. I have your friends...I have an army...I have the advantage..." He stated. "And what do you have?" He asked. "A scared little spirit and a clueless soldier who has no idea what he's up against."

You gritted your teeth, jerking your head away from him.

"I'm here." You said. "I held up my end of the bargain...Now let the others go."

Daesung raised an eyebrow, glancing over to the three men who stood staring at you, watching as the scene played out, body's stiff as they tried to avoid being impaled by the many weapons that surrounded them.

He let out a deep hum.

"I never made a deal with you." He stated with a smile.

Your eyes widened.

"You said-"

"I didn't." He deadpanned. "Hoseok did....but the thing is...he doesn't have the authority to release prisoners, do you general?"

The raven-haired man glanced at you.

"No."

You jerked against's Hoseok's hold.

"You're a liar!" You yelled.

Daesung chuckled in amusement at your actions, watching as you struggled.

"I may be a liar," He said. "But, you're the one who trusted me in the first place."

You fell speechless at his words, listening as the men behind you began to yell in protest, their voices being drowned out by the rain that fell around you.

"I hate you." You breathed.

He smiled.

"Good." He hummed, glancing at Hoseok. "That will make this easier."

You blinked in surprise as a sharp pain shot through your stomach, eyes slowly trailing down as your body began to tremble uncontrollably, the taste of iron and blood dancing across your tongue.

A loud scream filled your ears from behind, causing your brows to furrow in confusion as you stared at the long dagger that protruded from your lower abdomen.

Blood poured from your wound, as Daesung released the weapon, laughing as your hands hovered over the handle of the blade, shaking uncontrollably as your mind began to process what exactly had happened.

He stabbed you.

Daesung stabbed you.

"Y/N!"

Jin's voice rang throughout the courtyard, his body jerking towards you as he fought against the undead guards holding him.

You fell to your knees in the water, blood beginning to pour from the corner of your mouth as you stared at your reflection, your blood turning the clear water red.

Hoseok's eyes were wide as he watched you begin to lose your strength, a loud cough leaving your lips as you shook beneath the rain.

"Wh-Why did you do that?"

Daesung raised an eyebrow at the man, smiling.

"She can't be at her full potential in her human form." He explained. "In order to control an Oracle, you must be willing to sacrifice her...She will be more powerful when her spirit is free from her body."

"Y-You're killing her." Hoseok stuttered, his mind clouding over as he watched you begin to weaken.

"It's all part of the ritual." Daesung assured. "This pond will hold her spirit....when she dies...her soul will be trapped here..., I can take her under my control. The most powerful part of an Oracle is her spirit."

The raven-haired general frowned at his words.

"H-How will she bear children?" He asked. "You-You said you wanted her to bear chil-"

"I lied." He deadpanned. "I will not need heirs when I have the power of an immortal Oracle...She will be my prisoner...she will help me control both realms living and dead...and when she is dead, I will finally be able to fulfill my destiny and bring about the true Jeon Dynasty."

Hoseok clenched his jaw as you began to try and crawl away, hand clutching your stomach as tears streamed down your cheeks, eyes focused on one person.

Jin.

The former spirit kicked and shoved against the grip of the undead soldiers.

"Let me go!" He screamed. "I will kill you, myself, Daesung!" Jin screamed, tears rolling down his cheeks as he watched his brother drag you back into the lily pond.

"I don't think you'll have the chance." Daesung cooed. "Hoseok, go and take care of my brother and make sure he's really dead this time."

The black-haired soldier stood, unmoving, eyes fixated on your body.

"Hoseok." Daesung called. "Kill my brother."

Hoseok blinked, hand raising to meet his head as smoke began to clear from his mind, heart wrenching in his chest as realization began to dawn on him..

Daesung hurt you.

Daesung stabbed you.

Daesung wanted to kill you.

The blue color of his eyes slowly began to fade away as he stared at the undead man before him.

"Kill Seokjin-"

"No."

Daesung's eyes widened slightly at Hoseok's refusal, his eyebrows furrowing.

"No?" He repeated. "Did you just tell me n-"

A loud groan of pain left Daesung's lips as Hoseok shoved his blade through the chest, not wasting a moment before reaching for you and pulling your body into his arms.

Hoseok's eyes scanned over you with worry, watching as your face paled, eyes beginning to drift shut.

He ran you over to where Yoongi stood, eyes searching around desperately as he slowly placed you onto the stone ground, grabbing his other sword, the sound of the undead army snarling sounding from behind him...making him prepare himself for a fight.

"Jimin," He said, eyes searching the empty air. "I know you're here. Watch over her. Do not let her sleep. D-Don't let her die."

Jimin instantly lowered himself to sit beside you, blue eyes staring up at Hoseok, watching as he gave you one last look before turning on his heels, looking at Yoongi.

"Are you prepared for a fight?"

Yoongi nodded his head slowly, daring his own sword, the screams of the undead filling his ears as they began to charge at them.

Seokjin saw this as an opportunity, shooting forward and grabbing one of the many guards' swords, slicing at their bodies and joining into the fight with Hoseok and Yoongi, his mind racing as he searched for the quickest way to get to you.

He needed to see you.

He need you to be okay... 

God, he didn't know what he would do if you left him.

The others followed his example. Taehyung and Jungkook, each taking initiative and finding some sort of weapon to defend themselves with.

Jin's eyes widened as his gaze landed on Daesung, watching as he pulled Hoseok's sword from his chest, his dark eyes fixated on your dying body.

He needed you to be in the lily pond for his plan to work.

He needed you to die in the lily pond or your soul would be able to move on from death...and Daesung couldn't have that.

Jin moved forward, preparing himself to defend you before anything else...

He knew that this was a fight they would lose.

The dead outnumbered them one-thousand to one...if they wanted to win this...they wouldn't be able to do it by fighting alone.

The blond-haired man moved to stand in front of you protectively, his chest heaving as he stared at his brother.

Daesung frowned.

"Get out of my way." He snarled.

Seokjin shook his head, taking a step forward.

"Never." He growled. "I will never allow you to put your hands on her ever again."

"SHE IS MINE!" Daesung yelled. "I have the army! I have the power! I am the king! The true king and I am taking what is mine!"

"I won't let you."

A low growl left Daesung.

"Don't you get it?!" He snapped. "It's over, Jin! No one can stop me! When I have her-and I will have her....I will be more powerful than you could ever imagine... I am invincible. This army is only the beginning of the Empire I will build-the Dynasty I will create!"

"Y-You need the Oracle to do that."

Jin's head snapped up at the sound of your weak voice, his eyes moving to your weak form, eyes widening as he watched your fingers wrap around the dagger in your torso.

Daesung's eyes widened at your actions, head shaking.

If you weren't in the pond when you died....he would have no control...he would have no power....

If you pulled out that dagger...you were done for.

"W-Wait-"

"No." You snapped, beginning to pull the dagger out of your stomach, face scrunching in agony.

He stepped forward.

"Stop!"

"C-Call them off." You snapped, wincing. "Stop your army and I will go into the pond."

Daesung hesitated for a few moments before snapping his fingers, causing his undead men to cease their movements, his eyes narrowing on yours.

"There." He snapped. "Now, it's your turn."

A weak smile crept onto your features as you swiftly pulled the dagger out of your stomach.

Daesung's eyes widened at your actions, head shaking as more blood began to pour from your wound.

"You-You lied to me!"

"I-I may be a liar." You whispered weakly, head falling back. "But, you're the one who trusted me."

With those last words your body fell limp.

Your last breath left your pale lips as you began to grow cold to the touch.

Seconds.

Minutes.

Hours

Time is a funny thing...

It surrounds us, constantly moving, constantly changing everything around us...but we never notice it...not until it's too late.

We complain about having too little or too much of it. We squander it, waste it on unimportant things...whether it be gossiping about childish drama or fighting with one of our dearest friends over a small misunderstand.

However, there are rare occasions where we all stop for a few moments and truly realize the value of the time we are given...sometimes it's when we lay alone at night...wishing we had loved the daylight fonder...other times it's when we stand beside the hospital bed of our loved ones...

Time.

We never seem to have enough of it.

As it passes over us, we only ever realize it changing the things around us...we never stop to realize that we have also changed, physically and mentally.

What we all fail to realize is that time is our friend...Time is working in our favor...

As time passes, we forget the horrible fights with friends...our physical scars heal as well as our emotional ones....As time passes...we get better...we get stronger.

Time.

The silent friend that strokes our hair as we sleep, the small angel that pushes our saddest moments to the back of our mind, the loving hand that wipes our tears.

Time does so much good for us.

So why do we constantly take it for granted?

Silence fell over the courtyard, eyes wide and tear-filled as the extent of your actions began to fully sink into the minds of the men surrounding you.

"Y-Y/n?"

Jungkook was the first to speak, his voice cracking as he slowly took a step forward, hands shaking fervently as his eyes scanned over your lifeless body.

Taehyung's hand on his shoulder stopped his movements, eyes softening as he younger sibling shoved his hand away, rushing over to where you lay.

Hoseok swallowed hard as he watched the young man examine you closely, hands pressing against your open wound in a futile attempt to stop the bleeding, hoping that somehow it would bring you back to him.

"W-Wake up." Jungkook called out, his voice shaking as tears began to roll down his cheeks. "You have to wake up!"

You remained still, unmoving....lifeless.

Yoongi's eyes widened as he stepped out of the palace, his small niece resting in his arms.

During all the fighting, he had managed to sneak away and find Grace, making sure she was safe...he thought he would come back to find victory....

But that was far from what he found.

"Fool."

Daesung's voice caused everyone's ears to perk up, their eyes narrowing as they watched him run a hand through his hair.

"She has no idea what she's done!" He snapped. "She-She's taken my power! I-I can't control-"

The sound of deep groans caused Daesung to freeze in his spot, his eyes slowly moving over to the army of undead men he had once controlled, each of them staring straight back at him with empty sockets and dead expressions.

His eyes widened as they began to step forward, each of them shuffling towards the former king in a dangerous manner.

"Wh-What are you doing?!" Daesung snapped, taking a step backwards. "Stay back!"

"I don't think they liked being controlled." Jin snapped. "You disturbed their rest."

Daesung frowned, continuing to walk back as the army advanced on him, their bony fingers grabbing at his body, their inhumane sounds growing louder as he tried to shove them all away.

"I am your king!" He yelled. "You will listen to me!"

A gasp left Daesung's lips as his foot was gripped from behind, a large, rotting hand emerging from the lily pond behind him and clasping onto his ankle.

Daesung lost his balance, his body falling into the water with a loud splash.

Jin watched in astonishment as his brother flailed around, the usually ankle-deep water now having become far deeper.

The former spirit was surrounded from all sides now, each one of his undead soldiers falling into the deep water and gripping onto him.

Daesung let out one last scream before his body was pulled completely beneath the water of the lily pond, all of his soldiers following him down into the unknown depths.

The seven men were completely in shock over what they had witnessed, a thick blanket of quiet falling over them...

The rain had stopped pouring, a small bit of sunlight shining through down into the courtyard.

"I-Is he gone?" Taehyung asked. "F-For good?"

Jin nodded his head slowly.

"Yes." He stated. "His soul will never be at rest....he will never be able to come back to this world...or go to the spirit world...He will spend eternity like that...trapped beneath the lotus blossoms."

"So we won?"

Seokjin tore his eyes away from the lily pond, his gaze moving back to your body, his heart clenching in his chest as he stared at you.

You had given up your life for them...

You had given up everything for them...

And he would never get the chance to say thank you..

"Yeah," He breathed out sadly, ignoring the tears that sung his eyes. "We won."

You know that moment in the movies when you know that a big battle is coming up? The battle that you've been waiting for since you first started watching? The battle where the hero would finally defeat their enemy and grab the victory?

You wait with anxiety and excitement as they take their last steps towards the one they've hated since the beginning...the one who has betrayed and hurt them countless times...you wait and you silently hope that our hero will pull through....

Well, sometimes...our hero doesn't pull through...sometimes...their story goes unfinished. No matter how badly we hope or how much we pray...the hero doesn't have a hero's ending.

Our hero was powerful....not because she wasn't scared, but because she acted strongly despite the fear.

She, in the dark, found the light. She, within herself, found loveliness, and now the world receives from her dower the message of the strength of inner power.

Our hero...is dead.

And death is irreversible and permanent.

"Wait."

Right?

All eyes shot up as Seokjin moved closer towards you, his eyes scanning over your face as he crawled closer to you, hands shaking as he softly placed his hands on your face.

He swallowed hard, mind racing...

He knew what he needed to do...

After so may years of wanting what everyone else had, after so many years of watching other people take things he wanted....after so many years of living in envy...

He was ready to be generous....he was ready to give up something he had, at one time, valued above anything else.

He swallowed hard, resting his forehead against yours, caressing your face with his hands.

"Y/n..." He started with a breathy voice..

"I release you."

A/N,

YOU ALL KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS!

One chapter left until this book is completely finished.

I had so much fun writing this and I am so excited for Mist. I will really miss this book though....and it will always be a big part of me and who I have become today...I always get emotional at the end of the books...

I am honestly feeling a little bit sad right now.

I need a hug.

Someone loves you.

Someone adores you.

Someone purples you.

Someone's out.

It's me. I'm someone.

-Max