Jungkook's hand instantly flew to his stinking cheeks and rubbed it. He turned his head slowly back to face her, his smirk gone, replaced by something darker-something dangerous. But Y/N didn't care anymore. Her disgust and anguish overflowed as she glared at him through tear-streaked eyes.

"You've taken everything from me!" she shouted, her voice cracking. "My peace, my freedom, and now... now, even my parents' memories. How could you stoop so low?!"

Jungkook's smirk vanished, replaced by a piercing glare. His hand shot out, gripping her chin so tightly it sent a jolt of pain through her. His fingers dug into her skin, the pressure enough to bruise.

"And you dare call yourself human?" he hissed, his voice low but seething with anger. His blazing, dark eyes bore into hers, sending a chill through her spine. "You killed my parents for what? Money? Greedy, heartless woman."

Tears streamed down her face as she shook her head, her voice trembling. "I told you... I told you I didn't do it. I couldn't do it!" she cried, her voice cracking under the weight of her pain.

But her words only fueled his rage. His grip on her chin tightened even further as if he wanted to crush her jaw. "And how will you explain the proofs, huh?" he spat. "The evidence-all of it points to you. You and only you."

Her eyes filled with anguish, but amidst the pain, a spark of defiance ignited. She clenched her fists, her voice rising despite her trembling. "Proof? You're talking about some worthless pieces of paper!" she shouted, her words laced with anger. "A piece of paper that says, 'Your work is done and delivered'? That's all you have? That's your proof? That doesn't make me the culprit!"

Jungkook's jaw tightened, his grip unwavering, but her fiery gaze met his, unflinching. For the first time, his confidence seemed to waver, even if only slightly. The room felt charged, their emotions colliding like a storm ready to explode.

Y/N's chest heaved as she continued, her voice trembling but firm. "You want to believe I'm the monster? Fine! But deep down, you know the truth. You're just too blinded by your hatred to see it."

Her words hung in the air, raw and unfiltered. Jungkook's dark eyes flickered with a mixture of emotions- anger, doubt, and something deeper, something he couldn't name. Yet, he refused to let her words shake him.

Jungkook's grip on her chin grew even tighter, his nails nearly digging into her skin. His face was mere inches from hers, his breath hot and filled with fury. The intensity in his eyes was almost unbearable, like a fire that consumed everything in its path.

"Don't you dare," he growled, his voice dangerously low, "try to twist the truth. Those papers, the money trail-all of it points to you. You're the reason my parents are dead. You-" his voice cracked slightly, but he quickly masked it with more venom, "-you ruined my life. And now... I'll ruin yours."

Y/N winced, the pain in her jaw growing unbearable. But even through her tears, she forced herself to speak, her voice shaky yet defiant. "I've told you a thousand times, Jungkook. I didn't do it! Someone framed me, but you're too blinded by your grief and anger to even consider that possibility!"

He sneered, his lips curling into a bitter smile. "Framed? That's rich. Convenient excuse, don't you think?"

Her eyes burned with tears, but she refused to look away. "And what about you?" she shot back. "You're so obsessed with revenge that you've turned into someone unrecognizable. Look at yourself, Jungkook! You're not the man you think you are. You've destroyed everything-me, my life, my home-just to satisfy your own hatred. What would your parents think if they saw you now?"

Jungkook's hand dropped from her chin, only to grab a fistful of her hair with brutal force. Y/N cried out in pain, her hands instinctively reaching up to claw at his wrist, but his grip was unyielding. Without a word, he yanked her, dragging her out of the ruined house and toward his car parked nearby.

"You dared to run away from me," he snarled, his voice cold and dripping with venom. "And then you dared to slap me?" His laugh was humourless, laced with cruelty. "It's time you learned your place, kitten."

Y/N stumbled, the jagged edges of broken tiles and rocks scraping her feet, but Jungkook didn't slow down. Her pleas and protests fell on deaf ears as he marched forward with a single-minded determination.

"Jungkook, stop! You're hurting me!" she shouted, her voice cracking with both pain and desperation.

He didn't even glance back, his grip tightening further, making her scalp burn with agony. "Good," he said darkly, his tone void of any remorse. "Maybe then you'll finally understand that you belong to me. No running, no hiding."

Reaching the car, he slammed the door open with his free hand and roughly shoved her inside. She fell against the seat, wincing as her head hit the window. Before she could steady herself, he leaned down, his face inches from hers.

"You wanted to act like you're free?" he whispered, his voice dangerously calm. "Now, I'll show you just how wrong you are."

Y/N's chest heaved, her fear palpable as her mind raced for a way out. But the door behind her clicked shut, and the car seemed to close in around her like a trap. Jungkook straightened, slammed the driver's side door shut, and started the engine without another word.

As the car sped down the dark, empty road, Y/N couldn't help but feel like she was being driven deeper into a nightmare again where she couldn't wake up.

As soon as they entered the house, Jungkook resumed dragging Y/N, his grip on her arm bruising and unrelenting. She stumbled over the floor, her legs barely able to keep up with his furious strides.

The commotion quickly drew the attention of Ajumma, the elderly maid who had been with the family for years. She hurried out of the kitchen, her face pale with worry. Ajumma was more than just a housekeeper-she was the maternal figure Jungkook had leaned on since childhood, and though she cared for him deeply, she also had a soft spot for Y/N. Despite Jungkook's disdain for Y/N, Ajumma treated her like one of her own, always shielding her from his wrath whenever possible.

"Jungkook!" she cried out, rushing to intercept them. "What's going on? Why are you dragging this poor girl like that?"

She grabbed his arm, trying to loosen his punishing grip on Y/N, but Jungkook's glare made her freeze. His dark, fiery gaze bore into her, silencing her protests.

"Ajumma," he ground out, his voice low and venomous, "not today. Today, no one- not even you-is going to save her from me."

Ajumma stepped back, her hands trembling. "But Jungkook-"

"Enough!" he barked, his tone cutting through the air like a whip. Without another glance at the older woman, he turned and continued dragging Y/N through the house, heading toward the basement.

The door to the storeroom slammed open with a deafening thud, the sound echoing in the silent hallway. With one swift, brutal motion, Jungkook shoved Y/N inside. She stumbled and fell to the cold, dusty floor, her hands scraping against the rough concrete.

"Jungkook, please!" she sobbed, scrambling to her knees. Her voice cracked as she looked up at him, desperation etched across her tear-streaked face. "Not here, please... Not here!"

The dim basement was cloaked in shadows, the only light coming from the flickering dim bulb. The oppressive darkness wrapped around her like a suffocating blanket, amplifying her terror.

"You know I'm scared of the dark," she whimpered, crawling toward him on her knees. Her hands clutched at his pants as she begged, her tears falling like rain. "Please, Jungkook... I'll do anything. Just don't leave me here. Please!"

But her pleas fell on deaf ears. Jungkook's face was unreadable, his expression carved in stone. He stared down at her, the fury in his eyes unrelenting.

"You should've thought of that before running," he said coldly, his voice devoid of any trace of the man he once was. He stepped back, tearing himself from her.

Jungkook's footsteps echoed ominously as he strode to a shelf on the far wall. His fingers brushed over the dusty contents before stopping. A smirk stretched across his face as he picked up a coarse rope, the fibres rough against his hand. He turned back toward Y/N, his dark eyes glinting with cruel amusement.

She froze, her breath hitching as his predatory gaze locked onto her. He began walking toward her slowly, the smirk on his face widening with each step. Instinctively, she tried to back away, her body trembling with fear.

"No... Jungkook... please..." she stammered, her voice barely audible between sobs. Her back hit the cold, unyielding wall, trapping her as her wide, tear-filled eyes looked up at him.

"Why so scared, kitten?" he taunted, his voice low and dripping with malice. "Don't you want to run? Run, kitten, run."

His laugh was cold and menacing, reverberating through the room like a chilling echo.

Before she could say another word, his hand shot out, gripping both her wrists with bruising force. She gasped, trying to twist away, but his hold was unyielding. The smirk never left his face as he began binding her wrists together with the rope, the rough material biting into her delicate skin.

"Jungkook, stop! Please!" she cried, thrashing in his grip, but he ignored her, his movements methodical and precise.

Once her wrists were securely tied, he moved to her ankles, wrapping the rope tightly around them until she couldn't move. He knelt before her, the same cold smirk plastered on his face as his sharp, unfeeling gaze bore into hers.

"Please, Jungkook," she whimpered, her voice breaking. "Don't do this. I'll die in this darkness. Please..."

He chuckled darkly, his laugh sending a shiver down her spine. "Then die, kitten," he said coldly, leaning closer so she could feel the weight of his words.

Her sobs filled the silence, but he only laughed again, his tone cruel and devoid of remorse. "Oh, but don't worry," he continued, his voice low and dripping with malice. "I don't want you to die. Not yet. No, I want to watch you suffer, to push you so close to the edge that you'll beg for death. And then? I won't let you have it."

He stood, towering over her as his chilling words settled over her like a suffocating blanket. "You'll stay right here, burning in agony, every second of every day. That's what you deserve."

Her pleas and tears did nothing to sway him. He turned on his heel, striding toward the door with the same eerie calm. Y/N watched in horror as he pulled the door shut, leaving it slightly ajar, allowing just the faintest sliver of light to seep into the room.

"Enjoy the darkness," he said with a cruel smirk, his voice carrying over his shoulder before the door slammed shut completely.

The sound of the lock clicking into place sent a jolt of terror through her. The darkness closed in around her, thick and oppressive. She could hear her own ragged breathing and feel the cold of the floor seeping into her skin.

On the other side of the door, Jungkook lingered for a moment, his hand resting on the wood. A part of him felt something-a faint flicker of hesitation-but he quickly shoved it aside. He turned and walked away, his footsteps fading into the silence.

"Aajumma," Jungkook ordered coldly, not sparing her a glance as he headed toward his office. "No food for her until I say so."

Ajumma's heart sank at his words, but she dared not object. She could only watch helplessly as Jungkook disappeared down the hallway, his anger like a storm that left destruction in its wake.

Meanwhile, in the dark, suffocating basement storeroom, Y/N sat huddled on the cold, unforgiving concrete floor. The air was thick, oppressive, and unrelenting. The darkness seemed alive, its shadowy tendrils wrapping around her, pressing closer and closer as if the walls themselves were closing in.

Her sobs filled the empty space, the sound raw and desperate. She hugged her knees to her chest, trembling violently. Tears streamed down her face as she choked on her own fear, the panic rising in her chest like a tidal wave.

"Please... please, someone save me," she whimpered, her voice cracking as she spoke into the void. "It's so dark here... Jungkook... please. I promise I won't run again. Just don't leave me here... please..."

But her pleas were met with silence, the cold and cruel kind that offered no hope of rescue. The oppressive stillness only made her panic worse.

Her vision blurred, tears clouding her eyes until the room became an indistinct haze. The darkness, once a background, now felt like it was swallowing her whole. Her breathing quickened, shallow and erratic, her chest tightening painfully.

"It's closing in," she whispered to herself, her words barely audible. "The walls... they're closing in..."

She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the room, the fear, the unbearable reality. But it didn't help. The crushing weight of the darkness was still there, choking her, robbing her of air.

Her breaths came in short, panicked gasps as her body began to shake uncontrollably. Anxiety clawed at her chest, spiralling into something uncontrollable. She was losing herself to it, her thoughts scattering like ashes in the wind.

"Help me," she whispered one last time, her voice so faint it was swallowed by the oppressive silence.

Her body convulsed as the hyperventilation overtook her, her breathing ragged and uneven. The darkness spun around her, her vision narrowing to a pinpoint before fading entirely.

With one last trembling sob, her body went limp. She collapsed onto the cold, hard floor, her bound wrists and ankles lying still as- unconsciousness claimed her.

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