【Ｒ Ｅ Ｐ Ｅ Ｒ Ｃ Ｕ Ｓ Ｓ Ｉ Ｏ Ｎ Ｓ】

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16th October 2019

Hannah

I let out a harsh half-stifled yell as I opened my eyes while tossing on the bed like a wild puppy, the excruciating pain pulling back on my face like a tide going out. I wanted to groan with the punching pain on my face but couldn't part my lips with the spike-like pressure driving alongside my jaw.

What the hell!

I couldn't even express my pain now. Nice

Keep it going like this, Hannah, and one day, you will not even know you are dying and just leave this body like the angelic souls they display in the movies.

Or maybe turn into a ghost with amnesia and roam around the streets to find the murderer

"AHH", I yelped as I tried to lift my body and closed my eyes, feeling so done just with the second attempt. I know I don't belong to the category of slim and sexy but it never happened that I couldn't lever my own weight. I wondered if I hibernated for some two to three years on this soft and fluffy surface. Perhaps, that could be the reason for my weight gain.

"Hey," I opened my eyes and quickly closed them again with the sudden flash of light thrown on my face. Slowly fluttering my lashes, my eyes greeted the sunrays and I blinked twice, trying to recognize the man who was standing in front of the window, who must have probably slid those curtains to kill my eyes with the sudden blaze.

"You should have called someone. It's not easy to handle yourself," the man spoke, taking slow steps towards me. First of all, I didn't know this man who is acting like a known stranger, and second of all, did he think I was staying silent because I could handle things by myself?

Fuck no!

I wish I could yell so bad that all the glass in the room can shatter

Ugh! My face feels so numb and tingling. 

"Oops! Are you not having the strength to speak? I am so sorry. I totally forgot that you had surgery on your cheekbones," he informed an unknown fact and I looked at him with questioning eyes while he smiled like...like a dumpling? 

"Let me help you first," he muttered and I felt his warm hands cradling my shoulders gently, lifting my upper frame to rest on the soft, padded headboard. This felt so nice and comfortable than the wooden one in the room that was assigned to me a few days back or maybe a few months back. I didn't know how long I was asleep. Now that I have been enlightened with the fact that I had gone through surgery, I knew the reason why there were hundred imaginary knives piercing through the sides of my face.

"It will pain if you try expanding and contracting your facial muscles. Don't stress too much on trying to be normal because you are not," he spoke and sat down, pulling a stool beside the bed. I then scanned the surroundings and found many other stools around. 

Wait a second!

How does he know me?

Did I get kidnapped by those bug-eyed and croaky-voiced bastards?

But why would they help with my surgery?  Moreover, the room's interior looked like the ones owned by the people who wipe their sweat off with the dollar bills. Those jerks didn't even have the average quality handguns so it would be impossible for them to be loaded with bucks.

"V said you overthink a lot and I understand now. You just got your consciousness. Don't try too hard to assess everything that's turning your mind into shambles. Give it some rest," he spoke, softly rubbing his thumb on my cheeks and I flinched, his gesture setting me in discomfiture. 

Why the hell is he acting like this? I don't even know he existed until now

But he did mention V, didn't he? 

Ugh! Another guy from Armor that pushed me into the Lake of Death before I found myself breathing Oxygen again.

"Wh- GAH," I let out a grunt with the stinging pain inside my cheeks as if some sharp-toothed vampire had taken a huge bite of my flesh from inside. I clutched my hair tightly and bobbed my head sideways, trying to endure that pain that was getting intensified by each passing second. I looked at the man in front of me, my vision blurred and glitched as tears brimmed my eyes.

Get me a motherfucking painkiller

Please...

This is so painful

"Hobi ah, she is not feeling well. Call the fucking doctor!" I could hear his yell but the pain was too much to take in. I shouldn't have tried to speak in the first place. Ugh! Even the slightest contraction was sending ripples of pain through my face.

Can I cut the face off my body?

"Ugh! Yoongi, Why don't you just bang your head against a brick wall? Didn't I remind you three times that you need to give her the painkiller as soon as she wakes up? Aish! This guy's head got a short fuse," I heard a familiar voice and realized it was Jin. But didn't he call someone by the name Hobby? 

Hobby? Like Dobby?

"Aah," I screeched in pain when I was about to ask who was Hobby, and then it hit me again, that I was more than just dumb. My mouth is a part of my face and that known stranger clearly mentioned that any contraction or expansion would give me a hard time. Well, not just a hard time but more like being the victim of a Torture curse.

"Here," Jin spoke as he shoved some bitter capsule into my mouth and I quickly gulped it down. He then put some straw-like thing in my mouth and I wiped my eyes slowly to get a clear vision of his handsome face which didn't delight me even for the tiniest bit. 

He assured me that I would be safe

He made a false promise

They left me alone with those assholes who kicked my face as if I was some ragged doll, perhaps much worse than that

Ugh! Why am I feeling so affected by this? Why do I feel like being vulnerable at the moment?

Must be the repercussions hitting me so hard

"Drink this, you will feel better," Jin poked my shoulder with his finger and I slurped the water from the bottle with the agonizing memories parading in my head, the monstrous laughs and the moments of helplessness throwing a sarcastic mock on my resilience.

"Here, use this Tablet till you find it easy to speak. It has a speech assistant installed as well. But it's better you just type it down or draw whatever you want to speak as I am not really a fan of the robotic voice," he muttered, ending with a small chuckle and I moved back, making sure I don't move my face in the slightest bit. The painkiller couldn't curtail my pain in a matter of seconds and I didn't want that excruciating sting to take a toll on my sanity again.

I didn't know if I should grateful for his kind gesture or be mad at him for leaving me in a spiral of the fight against my fears and disorder. I looked so fragile and powerless in front of those men. Though it was not rational for me to stand firm against all the men by myself, it still made me cast apprehensions on my ability to defend myself. 

It might be trivial to someone else that I was walking on pins and needles about the thoughts marching in my head but they carried a lot more weight in my life than anything else. The only thing I had after their demise was my strength to live on like they had trained me to. If I couldn't make it through this life, she wouldn't have begged me to run away that day. She wouldn't have left clues in her office and the bag for me to unravel the clues.

She would have just left me to burn along with her if I didn't know how to survive without them. Which parent would want to leave their child in a witch's boiling cauldron all by herself? But she believed I could swim through and find an escape, both from the despair and fiery ordeal. Perhaps, she believed in me too much or I was just a deplorable failure of a daughter.

A shudder worked its way up to my arms as I remembered her touch filled with desperate effort to push me away from being succumbed to shots of guns and become another piece of a victim, swimming in the blood and gore.  I remembered her eyes that always shone like the glitters in the witching hours, faded away and swallowed into the shadows of grim darkness. I remembered her voice, croaked and disintegrated, as if her throat was wretched by a metal collar too tight, too long, finding it onerous to even let out a gasp.

Yet, she spoke with the last bit of strength in her because she wanted me to hear her thoughts or just so she could have her last words with her beloved daughter. All her actions in total only reasoned one perception. I drew the inference in a period of few minutes, the dire inference of pushing myself into a black hole of life to fight alone and live in the agony of losing my dearest ones, all in a day and unlooked for. That's when I made up my mind to run away in absolute haste, leaving them to be the scapegoats of the horrendous stew of death.

I whimpered and opened my mouth to let out cries of despair and it pained a lot. It pained like a crazy centipede prickling my flesh with its fangs. But the train of miserable thoughts was haunting my head even greater than the physical pain tormenting my face bones. 

I wiggled as my emotions turned jagged and my insides tightened. Voices echoed in my ears, mixed with the noise of panging bullets, escalating the anger on myself. I felt someone touching me but I pushed them away. I was feeling worse, like a cornered soldier mindlessly throwing out grenades, desperate, lonely, and scared if the only shield would clatter to the ground.

Jin tried to hold me but I didn't want anyone to hold me, comfort me and try to console me that it was alright when nothing, absolutely nothing seemed alright. Even the warmest of embraces didn't hold the capability to console me and hold me from tripping in guilt. I felt so raw, like having pain without the skin and even the softest breeze making it bleed anguish.

I started flapping my arms, swinging them forcefully in random directions, unmindful of what is ahead or around. My body convulsed as I felt my muscles contracting and shrinking every passing minute, contorting my limbs like being coiled by a snake, ready to swallow my head. 

I am finding it hard to breathe

Someone help me

Please...

I heard them calling for someone but only their voice reached my ears, not the words. I wasn't having control over my senses. I didn't feel dizzy but my vision turned blur. I didn't know what I was doing except for pushing my arms in the air, wiggling my legs, running out of breath, and the racking pain coursing through the muscles of my face.

Can I die, please?

I want to go to them

"Han.., it.. me. Ju..ko...," I raised my face to see if I could make out the person in the fazed vision. I tried hard to think of the familiar voice but in a few seconds, there were many other voices, muffled and mixed, aching my head while trying to discern who the person was.

I felt someone or some people holding my arms and legs, trying to tie them up and it scared me more. I thrashed my body rough, trying to pull out of their captivity. Strength drained in me with the continuous twisting and writhing of my figure and I slowly closed my eyes, weak and exhausted, feeling a sharp sting on the region above my elbow.

───※ •❆• ※───

"Thank God! You are finally awake. You made us spell PANIC in the morning," I heard his voice, emphasizing the word 'Panic', and opened my eyes completely. I knew Jungkook was sitting on the bed, by my side, caressing my wrists as I peeked a bit before completely opening my eyes.

"Let me help you now," he muttered, displaying a wide smile and helped me lean my frame on the padded headboard. I smiled and quickly pressed my lips into a thin line, worried if the unbearable pain could lather my will to survive.

"The paramedic gave you a powerful dosage to reduce the pain. Jin hyung and Yoongi hyung told me that you had intense pain while trying to stretch your facial muscles. I guess it will still pain if your try to talk loud or for a long time. Also, I won't allow you to speak much as it would hurt. Though short lines like 'I am fine', 'you are cool' are accepted," he spoke, tapping my nose playfully and I smiled.

It didn't hurt much when my lips curved and I heaved out a breath in relief. I was glad that it didn't pain that bad when I tried to move my face or open my mouth though I still felt tingling sensations. Nevertheless, this is goddamn better than my pathetic condition in the morning.

I wasn't even myself that time

"You had a seizure. Did you think about something bad?" He asked as he sunk himself right beside me carefully, not doing the right thing to my unsettled mind. His unexpected moves that gave rise to little brushing of each other's skin and not-so-comfortable proximity were not healthy for my heart and he must know that.

"My parents," I replied and gasped when I felt his masculine arms encircling my shoulder, radiating warmth and assurance, much need to fight against the conflicting notions I noted about myself. I was breaking my confidence and I knew I need to snap out of that juncture.

"I am so sorry you had to go through that. Your surgery exacerbated your numbness and it might have driven you away to a bad past. Trust me, I know how bad seizures are. It feels like a witch possessing your body and playing with it like her favorite toy," he spoke and chuckled in the ends. I smiled at the worst comparison of the century and he frowned.

"Hey, at least you smiled. Do you how panicked we all were? I had to use a spare medication that was available in my room to treat you. My hands shivered so much that V grabbed the syringe from me and injected the dosage to you," he spoke and I was glad that he cared though I was still apprehensive about V's actions.

I just couldn't forget the happenings on the train

And I don't want to think about them now

Self-doubt is having a heavy impact on me

And I don't want to dig my own pit of trouble again. I had enough in the morning

The swift transition of emotions in the morning had me overwhelmed, flashing all the memories that caused a blight on my emotional stability. I knew I was wrecked and wretched into a mawkishly sentimental being, governed by both the past happenings and imminent events with the people around.

I desperately need a break from all of this

I want to begin a journey again, fresh and confident

I want to do what I came here for 

"Are you overthinking again? Aish! Your strength must have already been drained with the fit in the morning. Stop stressing your poor mind now," he chided playfully while caressing my shoulders with his long, rough fingers. But that didn't affect me more than what he had mentioned in his past few lines?

Why was he speaking as if he had endured it?

Did he have seizures?

Did he go through something bad as well? Bad to what extent?

"I guess these must be the questions loitering in your head. How many days were you asleep? Two. You were partially awake yesterday though. How bad was your surgery? It wasn't that serious but still, can pain a lot that might not be so welcoming to endure. Who saved you? It was Yoongi hyung, Hobi hyung and Jimin hyung. And before your curiosity starts riding a Hayabusa in your head, I promise to introduce them to you. For now, they are members of Armor and I guess you must have already seen Yoongi hyung," he mouthed some answered questions that were once lingering in my mind but not at the moment. But then, I still need to know some basic information that he was briefing me gladly.

"Who changed your clothes and cleansed your body? It was Jin hyung's assistant who was a pretty nice and kind girl. What happened to the people who hurt you? They were sentenced to death. Do you have any other injuries other than your face? Yes, but they aren't that serious and painful. All of them are treated and will heal soon. Will your face deform? For now, a bit but it will gradually regain its natural shape. Do you look pretty now? HELL YES," he yelled the last words and I giggled, heat rushing to my cheeks at his compliment out of context.

"Jin hyung prepared the menu of all the delicious dishes to satisfy your mouth and to seek your apology for the next week but for now, you need to deal with this porridge," he winked and my eyes darted to the dull white mushy dish in a bow, kept on the table beside the bed. I frowned as Jungkook took the bowl in his hands, blowing air over the surface to cool it down.

Eww! There's no way I am going to eat that pulpy substance

And there's no way I am going to forgive Jin

He assured me that I would be fine while putting me in spicy pickle

"Say ahhh. See, you need to eat this while it's warm. The cold one would taste even worse. Come on, Hannah. Open your mouth, Poopy Coopy," he drawled his words and I cackled at his weird nickname. Usually, nicknames annoy the shit out of me but he looked so fucking adorable while trying to console me to eat that gross of a dish. 

"Poopy Coopy?" I asked and he chortled, gesturing me to open my mouth first. Shoving a spoonful of the tasteless porridge into my mouth, he patted my head like a proud caretaker and wiped the excess off the edge of my lips, an electrified feeling making its way effortlessly in my body.

"Poop is cute and Coopy because you are Cooper. I didn't want to have a hard time convincing you to eat so my trick worked. I am gonna act cute and call you Poopy Coopy until you finish the porridge now," he grinned ear to ear, putting his bunny smile on a show, making it inevitable for my heart to not flutter to his joyful aura.

I didn't trouble him much and finished the porridge though I wanted to puke every bit I swallowed with utter difficulty. The very reason was that he looked pale and haggard, those doe-eyes that always sparkle with joy looked as if swallowed into the depths of gloominess. I didn't want to ask him about appearing dismally as I couldn't bother myself to be concerned about others' problems when I didn't even have a hang on mine first.

"Sleep?" I asked as I wanted him to close his eyes and sleep for a while. I wasn't trying to have him close to myself but I knew if he steps outside the room, I wouldn't know what he might involve into. He might be harsh on himself and carry on with the work without a second thought. But I wanted him to have an outlet, perhaps use me as one to convince himself and the Armor.

"Do you want to sleep? Shall I go?" he asked and I bobbed my head in negation.

"You sleep here as well," I spoke and closed my eyes with the sudden pressing pain hitting my cheeks at the end of my sentence. This was the longest sentence I spoke but I wanted him to stop anyhow. I glanced at him and I knew he was contemplating his next action.

"Fine, let's cuddle then. I will make sure to not hurt any of your bone or muscle in the process," he spoke and slid himself underneath the blanket like a rabbit settling itself in its burrow. I smiled and slowly slid into the blanket, my heart pounding like a dinosaur dancing on earth with the intimacy we were sharing. I knew it wasn't intense but it still mattered.

"Sleep now. I will not leave your side now. Don't think about anything else. Also, if I go into a deep slumber and you need something in between, don't hesitate to wake me up, alright?" He muttered, working up a tender smile as his fingers stroke my hair softly.

"Thank you," I mumbled and closed my eyes, my head resting on his buffed shoulder, my soul finding solace in his embrace. I never knew I needed Jungkook the most to calm down my series of trepidations but my agitation was at least pacified with his affable presence. 

I slowly started drifting into sleep after a few minutes with the feeling of enervation and quiescence, forcing my eyelids to shut down. There was a short click and I sensed the light being turned. I didn't have the energy to open my eyes but I felt a presence.

"I will make sure to protect you from now on,......"

"Miss Cooper"

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Repercussions

an unintended consequence of an event or action, especially an unwelcome one

A/N: I am finally done with the exams so, here's the next part. I don't know if it came out boring as I wanted to show how past and painful events affect uud like it was affecting Hannah Cooper. I didn't want it to brush away in fear of eroding the quality of the plot. It really took time to portray those emotions of Hannah and that was the toughest part of the whole chapter. Hope you like it!!

Sidenote:

Also, Grammys proved themselves to be in the circle of racists again when everyone knew who deserved better. Let's just ignore them as our boys don't deserve that kind of treatment. They were used for creating hype and I assume the awards were sleeping on the huge-ass list of achievements and records our boys broke. I felt so frustrated but we can't do anything now. It has always been like this. Our boys deserve much more than that and let's shower them with all our love. They are diamonds and they knew they don't need this award to glow up.