"You're the one who played three times."

Joy felt the rage inside her brewing, unable to breathe steadily. 

With a couple of steps, she stood closer to her target. 

Narrowing her eyes, she extended her finger out, the tip shimmering as the light from within her threatened to release.

"Number 5...Kim Seokjin."

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Episode 3

Beautiful Target

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"Brother," Yuna gripped onto his shirt as she trembled, her eyes pouring out all the tears. Jin cradled her head against his chest as he breathed roughly, absolutely terrified.

"I'm scared," She whispered in between sobs.

They were currently huddled together inside a nearby coffee shop. They had run inside and boarded up the windows; as well as thrown all the tables and chairs in the entrance to prevent anyone from entering. Jin tried desperately to call for help, but he found that as he was trying to explain to someone, he couldn't get his voice out. It was like his mind couldn't command his mouth to utter the words. It was like his throat ran dry. As if it mattered anyway since everyone started evacuating the city as a result of the commotion. 

They hadn't planned on hiding in the coffee shop and did try running with the crowd. However, that only led them to the game's border.  The coffee shop was the nearest thing to safety. Once inside, Jin tried making phone calls but after the operator asked: "1-1-9 what's your emergency?" Jin couldn't find the voice again. He screamed and sobbed trying to say something. 

"It's-" He coughed uncontrollably. 

"Is this a prank?" They hung up on him and he frustratedly threw the phone across the room. He then turned on the TV and checked out the news instead. Yuna stood behind him as she bit her nails.

 "...massive electric explosion. We have marked the area producing some weird charge as a possible landmine. Everyone is to evacuate until it's clear." 

Jin had fallen to his knees, but Yuna had reminded him that they were in this together. That they could survive because they could share the pain. At that moment, he read through her mind and he hated how terrified she was. Because all she could see was herself dying multiple times in different ways. It brought tears to his eyes because he wanted to just protect her from this all. 

"I'll protect you, Yuna. So don't be scared." His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed the lump in his throat, bringing in his sister for a hug where she could let loose all her tears.

Which is why he was mad at himself for not keeping his promise.

The coffee shop was invaded. There was light seeping through the cracks and Yuna had assumed it was a sort of signal, a way out. Before her brother could stop her, she opened the blinds, only to allow the light to slice through her neck. 

Blood filled her mouth, gargling in it as she called for Jin. "Brother."

"Yuna!" He shouted so hard, he thought he could damage his throat. He wanted to run into the light, but he kept to the shadows underneath the bar stool.

Number 19: Kim Yuna. Jin saw in his mind as a strikethrough got put into her name.

A tear fell from his eye as he frowned. 

Got one. Pathetic, truly pathetic. 

The new voice echoed into his mind and when the light diminished, he rushed out of the coffee shop in rage, searching for the murderer. He watched as the Brunette, Joy climbed onto the back of her blonde partner, Seulgi before Seulgi lifted them into the sky. Looking into her mind, he saw that Joy was in it to win. That she had been in the darkness her whole entire life. She was taken into a juvenile center instead of seeing a therapist for her violent behavior. She had to live inside a dark, lonely cell all her life. Yes, Jin saw it all. Her need to win, but he wasn't going to let that get in the way. 

He gave Yuna the proper burial, praying at the top of the hill. He wishes he could talk to her but he could only read minds and not allow his mind to be read (That is if the dead could do that). Standing, he gave his farewell before walking to see as much as he could on top of the rise. He closed his eyes, the wind sweeping across his face as it carried the echos of the minds nearby. 

He caught one which quickly turned to many, causing him to sprint down the hill once he read the familiar voice. He grabbed a candle from one of the tombstones on his rampage down, throwing it in direction of the alley filled with voices. It shattered against the building, alerting them that someone was nearby.

He waited and someone emerged, but not the one he was after. Two pale hands emerged, one on the building to the right of the alley and one on the left. Jin frowned because the distance was too big for someone to be able to hold onto the buildings. Slowly, a body launched itself out, elongated arms and all. 

Jin narrowed his eyes at her, still trying to search her thoughts for a hint of what her power could be. What was it exactly? Stretching? Gummy? 

She looked at him, a playful smirk on her face.

Jin crunched his nose, shouting, "Wow! What power you have!"

Flexibility has its perks.  Hyojin raised an eyebrow at him, still analyzing how she would attack him.

Jin waited for her to make his way over to him. She thought she was fast, but as she stretched her arms his way, he opened his mouth and revealed her power. 

She let out a scream as her hands flung back her way. The black orb emerging from her body as it turned red before throwing itself back into her. 

She heaved a little before standing upright, confused. She stared at Jin who kept his hands in his pockets, this annoying grin on his face. She attempted to stretch her arm out one more time, but this time was too flexible and she couldn't hold up her arm. She watched it slump over and as she threw out her other arm, it did the same. 

"NO!" she shouted as she tried other parts of her body. Jin laughed loudly, amused by her attempts at trying to regain composure. 

"Don't do this." She looked up at Jin with fear, complete mush on the ground.

Jin raised an eyebrow, "What?! Weren't you just about to do this to me?"

Jin smirked as he eyed something from the corner of his eye. Walking towards the dumpster, he grabbed a piece of wood before walking back to her, raising it high above his head. 

Her eyes grew nice and round before it came down hard on her head.

 Which explains why Joy was so angry. She was returning back to where they were hiding out when Seulgi and her both got Number 17: Ahn Hyojin, a line striking through it.  She saw how Jin hadn't even moved when he struck her immobile. Yet, she wasn't close enough to kill him. Instead, she had to hunt him down all over again. Which led them to this moment.

Jin's eyes looked from Nara, Jungkook, and Taehyung's to Joy and Seulgi's.

"You killed my best friend! She didn't even fight you! You're cheating!"

Jin tilted his head as he stared at her, already wanting to kill her but all he saw in her mind was the hatred she carried for him.

The feeling is mutual.

"You killed my sister! She wasn't even after you!"

Nara's eyes widened. More people were killed? Two more and she didn't get the mental alert like the first one? What exactly was going on? How did this game even work?

They all stayed quiet. 

They were all in danger here. They didn't know what the other was capable of. Their attacks could be instant or they could be slow. One wrong move and it was the end. 

He's all alone. Can he really fight these many people? Nara thought and to her amazement, Jin had whipped his head at her. 

Joy took that opportunity to allow the light to come out of her hand, lasering at the ground as it tore open.

"Watch out!" Jungkook grabbed the back of Nara's and Taehyung shirt before throwing them back.

The lazer traveled from where they were standing back towards Jin. Just before it reached Jin he dodged to his left, the ray skimming his fringe slightly.

"Seulgi!" Joy screamed for her partner to help as she burst the light from within, both her hands protruding rays of light at Jin.

Though, Jin could read her mind so her moves came at him to no surprise. Knowing exactly where they would hit, put him at an advantage as he dodged the attack a couple of times. Until Seulgi raged and darted towards him.

Joy redirected her anger attention towards Jungkook, Nara, and Taehyung who were crouched near a parked vehicle for protection.

She focused on the car and (to her command) the car started the radio up as it flipped through radio stations. She increased the magnitude of the radio waves, the volume increases to a deafening sound that made the three quick to cover their ears as they gritted their teeth in pain. 

It hurt so much that they couldn't even think to move. Jungkook suddenly spotted golf clubs hanging in the back of the truck. He grabbed it quickly and whipped it over at Joy before grabbing another and stabbed into the car, destroying the radio with multiple attempts.

Joy lasered the golf club in half before emitting more light from her whole body.

"Come out so I can fucking end you all."

Jin crashed into the apartment building across the street, shouting in agony as his body collided with it. Seulgi wraps her hands around his neck, causing him to choke as he tried to speak.

"You can't win if you can't talk." She snickered at him.

Jin felt his eyes become teary, but he wasn't going to die without a fight. He brought up his knee to her stomach as hard as he could and wasted no time in slamming his elbow atop her head. 

"Gravity." He laughed before throwing one more punch her way.

Seulgi was taken aback so much that she ended up receiving it, rolling back on the ground.

How did he guess it?!  She was in fear as she saw the orb exiting her body.

She reached out to it, attempting to grab it. "NO!"

The orb suddenly rearranged itself before falling back down onto her hard.

She gasped but she suddenly felt like she couldn't move.

"W-what's happening!?" The terror began to rip through her.  Why couldn't she move? 

Jin spits the blood in his mouth before walking over to her. 

"Looks like your strength just became your weakness."

He then kicks the car window next to him, grabbing the glass in his hands before staring into her shaky eyes.

Seulgi gasped, her eyes danced in fear as she watched the shard about to enter down on her eyeballs.

"J-JOYYY!" She shouted for help, but it was too late. Jin had viciously stabbed her eyeballs. Repeatedly, he brought his hand down over and over until he stabbed directly into the center of her forehead. Ignoring the deep cuts into his hands. 

Number 4: Kang Seulgi went through everyone's mind, the line cutting through.

Joy turned to spot Jin viciously murdering Seulgi right in front of her.

She gasped before sending a laser his way.

Jungkook took the chance at the distraction to grab Taehyung and Nara signaling they cut through the yard. It was their only chance to break free.

Jin looked up seeing the wave of light heading his way. It was too late for him to search her mind for her ability. He closed his eyes in disappointment, a tear escaping the corner.

"I'm sorry, Yun-" The light burned him to a crisp, wrapping around him and cutting through his skin causing him to scream to no avail.

-Number 5, Kim SeokJin-

Jungkook and Taehyung and Nara hopped over several fences and kept running forward, desperate to get far.

Jungkook wracked his brain for a map. "She's moving! But she can't fly. So, we might just make it!"

Taehyung struggled to run with them, gasping for air before falling on to the ground.

Nara stopped Jungkook and turned to Taehyung, concerned.

"Taehyung, what's wrong?! We have to go!"

Tahyung shook his head, mid panic attack. He shook as he tried to catch his breath. "I-I can't. I don't like this." He wrapped his hands around his neck. "It feels like I'm dying." 

Jungkook kneeled in front of Taehyung. "Get on my back."

"What?" Taehyung looked up, tears falling from his eye.

"Hurry!" Jungkook urged, seeing the dot on the map of his head coming a bit closer.

Taehyung nodded and got onto Jungkook's back.

Nara turned to look behind them, searching for a good place to hide.

That's when she recognized where they were. She spotted a blue house in the distance with flowers hanging from the garage. She didn't know if it was within the border, but they had to give it a try.

"I know that place! We have to get across the street-"

Before she even finished, Jungkook started running across the yard to where she was looking. Nara quickly followed behind.

"You were saying?!" 

"The blue house right there! It's near the 63 building!"

The 63 building was one of the tallest buildings in the city. If they just cut through the backyard of that house, they would make it to the forest which then would cut through a field leading to it.

They ran and ran for their lives, the forest now insight.

Jungkook tried to contain his strength to keep carrying Taehyung, but his knees started buckling.

They fell a couple of steps into the forest. 

"Shit." Jungkook felt his knee crack slightly, but the worst thing was that Joy was catching up.

All of a sudden, fire erupted from the trees at the frontline, catching even more trees on fire. Nara's jaw dropped as she stared at the rapid rate the trees started igniting. 

"This is it." Jungkook groaned in pain. "Unless one of you guys have something that can put that out."

Nara chewed on her lip. She just had the ability to heal. What good would that be if they would die at a faster rate than she could heal? 

Taehyung quickly stood up, grabbing Jungkook and helping him to his back.

"It's my turn." He stared at Nara from over his shoulder as Jungkook climbed on.

"We're really going to go through the forest?! The fire could spread faster!" Jungkook pointed out.

"It's going west, just run east and pray that a tree doesn't' get on fire!"

They nodded and began running, the fire spreading behind them and inching closer.

Nara didn't look back once, she didn't want to feed into the fear. She just kept the tip of the 63 building at her sight. 

Jungkook pointed to Taehyung's left. "There's the lake over there."

"You want to die? Someone can electrocute us!" Nara shouted as she desperately kept running.

Jungkook stared at Nara, a smile kind of breaking onto his face. He didn't know if it was delirium from almost dying or he was actually really happy that he wasn't going through this all alone. All his life Jungkook was alone. He was an orphan most of his life and was let go at the age of 18. It was rough after that, he had pretty much nothing and was just thrown out to survive. Which led to his decision to steal for survival. That meant that cops were always behind him. Which is why he wanted to keep his ability. He wanted to be able to know where everyone was. The cops, but even more so: his parents. 

Nara finally saw the light at the end of the forest and Taehyung did too by the way he sped up. Both of them lept out of the forest, the fire angrily reaching for them, but retracting back to the trees.

Jungkook braced himself for the landing as he tumbled off of Taehyung's back. Nara tripped and grabbed onto Taehyung's shirt, tumbling into him as they fell to the ground. Taehyung had turned in time to wrap his arms around her and cushion the fall.  She nearly fell on top of him, but her arms kept her from falling onto him. Taehyung stared up at her with pure eyes. Nara could feel a strange feeling in her heart and she quickly got off Taehyung because this was a game of life and not love. Nara tried to pick herself up again, but she was far too weak. 

Jungkook and Taehyung spread themselves on their backs as they took the time to catch their breath.

"We're lucky the border wasn't in the forest." Taehyung sat up, chewing on his bottom lip.

Jungkook shook his head. "That would've been crazy, but I don't want to think about that."

"We're almost there to the building." Nara found the strength to stand up, adjusting her pants. "I think we're safe to say the fire scared everyone."

"Or called to everyone's atten-" 

She whacked Jungkook in the head before helping him up. "C'mon." She urged them and the three lazily ran across the field and straight into the building, Jungkook threw the door closed and chucked whatever else was in the building in the way. Giving it one final kick, he threw himself onto the floor.  "Can we take a break? My back frickin hurts."

Taehyung chuckled as he walked around. "Looks like no one else got here." 

Nara nodded her head and walked around with him, making sure this building was secure.

"Or they already made it up to the other floors." Jungkook pretended to hold a sword. "Just like a video game, let's go take on each level to get to the final boss." He waved around his imaginary sword and Taehyung bit back a laugh.

Nara rolled her eyes but smiled along. She liked these two a lot and she wished she could have met them another way.

"Well, we need to strategize. The sun's setting so hopefully everyone's going to sleep now. This is all one big game literally so... what would you categorize yourself as?"

Nara knew what Jungkook meant, but she knew nothing about video games. She turned to look at Taehyung who was staring at Jungkook, spaced out a little as he thought. Taehyung's eyes flickered over to hers.

Nara looked away, a bit flustered. "I'm just a support."

Taehyung cleared his throat. "Mine's completely useless. It's not like I can use it continuously. I'm pretty much all I got."

"So assassin," Jungkook answered for him. "I'd have to categorize myself as a mix of both. I wouldn't really get in the front lines, but I could help you guys. So full support, support/assassin, assassin."

Taehyung winced a little at the word and it didn't go unnoticed by Nara. She placed her hand on top of his, causing Taehyung to raise an eyebrow as he turned to look at her.

"It doesn't mean you have to kill people, it just means you can get close enough to distract or hurt them."

Taehyung nodded before throwing back his head, exhausted.

Nara felt pretty exhausted too and surprisingly not hungry. Who can get hungry at a time like this? But eventually, they would need food and then what? 

Jungkook walked over and read the directory. "There's a kitchen on the 15th floor.  We can see and hope there's food there. I mean this is all going to be over in a week anyway."

"What even caused the fire? Was the light hot enough?" Nara asked, trying to analyze the fire that started in the forest. 

"Possibly." Jungkook thought hard, but then something caught his attention out the window. Slowly walking over to it, he squinted to get a clearer look at what exactly was happening. Jungkook's eyes slowly widened, the scene reflecting in his eye. "Oh shit." 

Nara sat up, her blood pumping. "W-what?"

Jungkook pointed over across the forest and Taehyung and Nara exchanged looks before running towards the window.

Outside stood a stumbling man, catching fire to everything in sight. He was shouting something that they couldn't hear, but just by looking at him you could tell he was yelling.

"Fire," Jungkook said aloud, still staring at the flames out the window.

Immediately, he felt a wince and he looked towards the source of the pain: his wrist.

"Your tattoo!" Nara noticed that this tattoo had erased a 1/3 of the way.

"Fuck, it hurts." Jungkook leaned against the wall. "How?"

"You guessed his power," Taehyung stated. "At the same time, you said it that happened. You guessed wrong."

"You can guess wrong?" Nara said to herself.

Taehyung licked his lips, looking at how worried she was.

"Shit...Guess that's why we have to be all careful about this. I wish there were rules somewhere. How are we supposed to figure this all out."

Nara shook her head, feeling scared all over again. 

"He's going to find us." She whispered as she stared at the man walking into the forest, completely lit but unharmed by the fire.

Taehyung reached for her hand, causing Nara to look over at him. He kept looking out the window, but still kept his hands with hers. She liked it, a lot. It brought her comfort.

"He's gone... for now," Taehyung said.

- - - - - 

Not long after, they decided to travel up a couple of floors in search of a place to sleep. They found an office space and Jungkook made sure that it was empty before they barricaded themselves in for some sleep, all claiming a couch.

"How are we supposed to sleep?" Nara asked them after a couple of minutes, her eyes never changing from being wide open.

Jungkook's snoring filled the room and Taehyung chuckled. "Guess it's not that hard for some of us."

Nara smiled slightly as she looked at Jungkook. Perhaps he never had a nice bed all his life, maybe never even shelter. She didn't know, but she was right on target. Jungkook often gave up his bed often for the others at the orphanage. He never felt secure. Just this was enough to cause a little comfort for him. And he was tired, exhausted, and slightly hungry, but he slept anyway. Just knowing that he had two others to count on allowed him to do so.

Nara sat up on the couch and stared at Taehyung who was hugging the couch pillow. She tilted her head as she studied the nervous boy. His long hair covered his eyes and he still wore the bloody hoodie. She wanted to know his story, but she knew there would be a moment where they could have a heart to heart.

Taehyung looked up at her, eyes slightly widening and that's when she noticed they weren't symmetrical. It was almost hypnotizing. So much that she wanted to look at more of him. In fact, she wanted him to take off his mask.

That's how she found herself walking over to sit right next to him, his eyes never leaving hers but instead blinking in surprise that she was this close to him.

She kneeled on the couch and slowly brought her hands up. "May I?"

It took Taehyung a minute to realize that she wanted to take off his mask. He even completely forgot he even had it on. Nodding, he gave her permission to slowly pull it down to see all of his face.

He kept his eyes trained on her the whole time, looking up and studying her expression, studying her. He took the time to notice her cheekbones and the fullness of her lips, the softness of her eyes and the smoothness of her skin. From far, she wasn't captivating, but up close was a different story...or was it perhaps the way she was that helped? She helped him the way no one else would.

She sat back on her heels, feeling shy all of a sudden. "Why don't you sleep first and I'll keep watch?"

Taehyung tilted his head. "You're not going to wake me, are you?"

She looked at him, cheeks still rosy. "That obvious?"

Taehyung nodded, sitting up and momentarily leaning over her before he sat back.

Nara looked out the window. "I can't with him out there."

She was honestly terrified of burning to death.

Taehyung licked his bottom lip before telling her. "You sleep first, I'll wake you up in 3 hours. Don't worry, I'm not tired, but you look tired."

He softly tucked her hair behind her ear.

The sleeve of his hoodie was so long, but his fingers slightly peeked out as they lightly grazed her cheek before tucking it behind her ear.

Nara was so used to taking care of Taehyung that it felt weird that he was taking care of her now. She really liked it.

"Alright, I'll get some sleep now."

She shyly got off the couch and made her way over to make sleep. The whole time Taehyung looked at her and smiled softly when she started snoring.

Time passed by and the three of them layed on the couch, asleep. Taehyung's eyes were even shut, just not for long.

Taehyung's eyes snap open. He turns his head slowly to look at Nara. Getting up, he leans in close to place a kiss on her forehead. All the while, he stared up at the window, fire burning in his eyes.

Making his way down by the elevator, he heads to the basement. The doors open and he looks around it before stepping out.

He walks slowly over to the corner where he takes out a long, thick chain, yawning as he wraps it around a mini ax, spinning it around as he tests its sturdiness.

He smirks as he exits the elevator on the main floor.

Just before he exits the building, he turns to look back at the elevator.

"I promise I'll protect you." his low voice calls out.

Turning his attention back to the hellstorm outside, he brings up the edge of the ax to his tongue, licking the edge, loving the way it threatens to cut him.

He closes his eyes as he whispers,

"No matter what."

TO BE CONTINUED