Juliana's POV

After a few days, things started to improve...at least physically.

According to the several nurses that accompanied me, they said I wasn't overly injured or broke anything of importance. It was mostly the large gashes and bruises that made me lose a lot of blood, and almost sent me into the arms of death.

But eventually, I was back on my feet again, yet severely penalized for the stunt I pulled with Taehyung at the gala. Ms. Jung was beyond enraged with both of us — particularly at my actions, but she gave me the benefit of the doubt for almost dying.

However, no one else did.

My body may have been back to normal, with a few scars and a small limp, yet mercy from the Gems was thrown out the window. They gave me the dirtiest looks, and fearful glances, clearly assuming I was either responsible for the attack, or that I was involved with the humans.

I knew it was bullshit, but I couldn't help the invasive thoughts saying I deserved the hatred. The bloodshed from yesterday, seeing so many lives I couldn't save reminded me of that day 12 years ago, the helpless feeling that I was too weak to save Hana.

I was a murderer for watching, and doing nothing.

As a result, I became avoidant of everyone, including Ryujin and Lisa. They tried to comfort me, but I dismissed their kindness with a bitter expression, my eyes not even meeting theirs. They were confused, and were worrying about me, but I didn't care. The gala dug up so much of my past, I felt as if I was a walking zombie. 

As I sauntered down the hallway to my next job, eye-bags on display without care, I passed Taehyung who glanced at me for a mere second, before immediately looking away with a blank look laced in his eyes. Taehyung and I seemed to be doing the same thing as of recently; avoiding everyone.

He likely thought I was guilty, creating a recipe for fear — just as the others. I wasn't surprised, although a small part of me wanted him to not let that idea in, especially with the dim memory of when the paramedics took me out of the ballroom. The look in his eyes was so different, I could've sworn it was almost caring and empathetic. 

Clearly I was wrong, for we both ended up not even looking at each other. We passed by each other like mere strangers in the street — barely brushing shoulders and heading to our next part of the day.

***

As I washed Taehyung's clothing, I looked out the open window as light beamed in through the towels that hung on the thin lines to dry. My thoughts were silent for once when they met the open sky — not one invasive thought. 

All I wanted was freedom, for my whole life. Freedom from the pain that pinned me to my past, and freedom from the prejudice and fight to survive. I wanted to run in a field with no weight on my shoulders, and no guilt that invaded my every choice. 

For once I felt that as I gazed into the puffy clouds that moved across the blue sky.

My body jolted upon hearing a knock from the other side of the room, as my eyes flickered back to the doorway where another Gem stood. His face was round, but his jawline square and strong. His white hair shifted slightly under the blowing wind sweeping through the open window, and his round doe eyes watched me worriedly.

"Ms. Park?" He asked gently, and I nodded when he grabbed my full attention. "I was sent to b-bring you to an Obsidian Meeting."

I frowned with confusion.

"Come," he said, waving his hand for me to follow him.

I followed the boy's steps, as we walked side-by-side in the dark halls I've become so accustomed to now. "I'm Jungkook, by the way," he turned to me nervously. "I'm the youngest of the Order."

I nodded, avoiding his gaze. "Why am I being brought here?"

Jungkook shrugged, "no clue, I was just told to find you."

My jaw tightened and I gulped, expecting the worst once I stepped into that room. The Gems were merciless, as I was told, and didn't tolerate rule breaking behaviour. From all the chaos that happened a couple days ago, ranging from Taehyung and I's dumbass plan because of his laziness to ask for a date; and the suspicion that I had something to do with the attack — it would be mercy if they were going to jail me.

I exhaled deeply, as Jungkook slowly and hesitantly opened the door to the room. His thoughts clearly shared something similar to my own from the way his eyes worriedly scanned my form, before gulping. 

I sighed and stepped in, my eyes wandering around the room. The walls were painted a dull grey colour, while the floor was carpet; black and decorated with light grey diamond-like shapes. A large window stood at the back, stretching over the whole wall as a view to Onavale. The light from the sun shone through, casting a luminous light on the glass table in the centre of the room where my eyes met seven adults stares.

I then noticed seven boys, standing against the wall. We all stared at each other awkwardly, no greetings shared, nor warm smiles...just staring. Once it grew worse, I suddenly felt a gloved hand grab mine, pulling me toward them.

I looked up at them to notice it was Taehyung, his face hard like stone, and his eyes avoiding mine. When I felt his hand rip away from my own rather nervously, I frowned before turning my gaze to meet the group of seven that sat at the large table.

"Now that she's here, we must discuss what occurred last night," one said, his hair white like Jungkook's.

My jaw tightened, expecting the worse.

A green haired woman nodded. "How the humans got in is beyond me. But we do know that we have a human here, who seems to be the culprit."

I gulped, my eyes flaming with anger from the immediate blame.

"It doesn't make sense," a yellow haired Gem replied. "She was attacked by them — left for dead."

My eyes widened with surprise.

All of them nodded, except for one; a red haired Gem which I assumed was Taehyung's father. The  fear and anger was present in his expression although concealed well by the familiar arrogance I noticed with Taehyung. "The human should still be held under watch," he replied his jaw tightening. "I don't trust any of the humans."

"We understand, Blaze, but we can't go pointing fingers without evidence. She's part of the system now since she's working for headquarters." A blue haired Gem explained, his glasses falling down his nose. "There's still a lot we don't know. But it's clear they intend to kill the next-in-line. Meaning headquarters is no longer safe for the boys." The Gem finished.

Blaze intervened. "Where else can they go, Skye?"

A lavender haired Gem replied, "well 'Project Safe Haven' is still in use, could that work?"

"Safe Haven was abandoned years ago-"

"In case this ever happened." The pearl Gem said with a smirk. "It's perfect for this."

"Except it's in human territory. We can't ensure the boys' protection." Blaze said with a raised brow.

"It's far enough in the forest, and outside of the town that the humans won't suspect anything. Yet the boys do still need to be protected. But it can't be us," The white haired man said, as his gaze fell on me. "It has to be someone who knows the area well."

Eventually, six of the members were gazing at me. Making me clear my throat and purse my lips awkwardly.

"Ms. Park can't do it! She could put the boys at risk!" Blaze replied, fear laced in his eyes. 

Skye rolled his eyes at the man's dramatic behaviour. "I understand you're scared Blaze, but we have to be smart about this. We don't have a choice." 

Blaze grumbled, leaning back in his chair. "I demand we send two Gems with her."

"Fine — we'll send Shin Ryujin and Lee Lisa with her." Skye replied. 

"This is our only shot to keep the boys safe," the Emerald Gem said. "I don't like it, but it has to be this way."

They all nodded in agreement.

"To be clear; Ms. Park will accompany the boys to 'Safe Haven', but she will be held under watch by the two girls, and by us...for any malicious activities." The seven turned to me with intense looks I couldn't decipher.

"For the Order?" Skye said rather hesitantly.

"For the Order." They all said at once, ending the meeting.

I glared with a frown at the red haired man who sat at the end of the glass table. His eyes met mine and he returned my gaze angrily, before standing up and walking out of the room. It was freaky how much he reminded me of Taehyung, down to his walk and intense eyes. However, from the way the boy tensed at his father prowling past him, I knew Taehyung wouldn't appreciate that comment.

***

Once I returned to the dorm, I collapsed on my bed, letting my face collide with the soft pillow. I groaned with frustration and gave my mattress one solid punch.

"What's wrong?" Lisa asked, climbing up to sit with me on the top bunk.

I sighed heavily, feeling the bed sink behind me. "I'm moving again, instead I have to be with seven boys for God knows how long." I mumbled. "In a fucking forest!"

"What?!" She exclaimed, "why would they do that?"

I sat up to face her and rolled my eyes. "To protect the Order."

Lisa scoffed. "To me, that doesn't sound like protecting the Order. Unless there's a catch of some sort." My anger softened slightly from the gentle way Lisa rubbed my back to calm me.

"The catch being you and Ryujin have to go with me. They only want me there so that they don't die — because the boys have no idea what it's like in the town." I explained impatiently.

"But why send us?" Lisa looked away in thought.

"Because the Order is a fucking bitch," I replied with an irritated scoff, "they don't trust me, even though I didn't do anything. They want to keep me fucking monitored through you two."

Lisa's jaw tightened. "The Order is scared. What the newspapers are releasing now, is making people turn to fear and chaos...which is not what the Order wants. They want control, meaning rebellion from their own people is an issue." She said softly, searching my eyes for understanding. "It may seem like torture, but maybe good will come out of this. It might prevent a war, unlike last time."

"Last time?" My mind grew hazy and my mouth dried. I never knew there was a war already between the sides, although there were fights in small cases, for the extreme hatred was proof of that. But I didn't think of it as a grand scale war. My family would've passed down that event — for war is major and costly. But I could sense this was unlike anything else...because this was so quiet...unless someone did a good job of covering it.

Lisa's eyes widened with surprise at my expression. "You don't know of the Black War?"

I shook my head, my throat tightening. I didn't know if I wanted to hear this.

"The Black War was the first war between the Gems and humans about 500 years ago." She explained calmly, clearing trying to soothe my uncomfortable expression. "It was the bloodiest one in all South Korean history — thousands died on both sides. Yet, it was the quietest war too,"

I bit my lip nervously.

"The media released nothing about it, so people were oblivious to it all. It only was only spoken about after it ended, where Gems learned about it in school as a sense of pride, because apparently we won it — to prove that the humans were no match for us." Her bottom lip trembled and her eyes glanced everywhere but me. "The result of that war changed the course of history, Juliana. Gems became richer, and the humans poorer."

My jaw tightened, and my eyes hardened. I never knew about my own people dying to protect us, just so that the Gems could brag about themselves more. It was disgusting to me, creating a rising a feeling of sickness in my stomach.

"But, no one knew that neither side won," Lisa finished in a tiny whisper. "According to my mother. In her lineage, there were soldiers who fought in the Black War, and the true story was passed down by them."

I frowned listening more to her. "Why didn't anyone win?"

"No one knows," Lisa shrugged, with a scoff. "Nor was anyone happy about it, but at least it was the truth." She shrugged, before her expression became more serious. 

I nodded, thinking about how my family could've been involved; killing themselves for freedom and justice, yet all for nothing. Only to be used by the Gems as a pawn to flaunt power they didn't earn.

Lisa sighed before speaking again. "The point is, is that a war should never happen again, so this may be our best option." Lisa said finally, trying to comfort me by rubbing my back again.

I nodded in agreement. I didn't want to witness more innocent people die and be ignored for their efforts. History needed changing, and I was willing to do that. "I suppose."

[A/N]

Finally! Ur gurl pulled through and posted after two weeks BWAHAHAHA

Thank you all for being so patient! I blurple you <3

Lmao I feel so smart that I created this what is wrong with me-💀