"Fifteen minutes!"
It wasn't long until the dance show would begin and with the opening act being one of the larger groups, there were many people darting around backstage in the mass-rush of everyone getting ready. Flashes of blue silk and freshly used makeup brushes covered Jimin's eyes as he practised the opening moves whilst Hoseok styled his hair.
"Will you stay still?" He said, Jimin's head moving around too much for him to focus.
"I don't want to forget anything," he responded.
"You're not going to forget, Jimin." He continued to twiddle with pieces of Jimin's hair, trying to get them to stay in place as the younger continued to move in his seat. "Jimin."
"What?" He turned sharply to face Hoseok.
"Just... Relax. Okay? You'll do better if you just relax and feel the music."
"You're right. I'm sorry."
"You're just on edge. I get it, it's fine." He rested his hands on Jimin's shoulders and massaged him to try and ease the boy before stopping and looking at his hair once more. "I need more hairspray, God dammit." He turned around to walk off but came to an abrupt stop at the sight of Yoongi standing there with flowers. "Hyung! What are you doing here?"
"I uh... I came to wish you guys luck." He laughed awkwardly, running a hand through his hair as he looked at Jimin. "I remember you said that lilies calm you down because they remind you of your Mom, so... I got you some, if that's okay." He handed the flowers to Jimin whose mouth opened slightly at the gesture.
"I... Thank you, they're..."
"Surprisingly expensive," Yoongi laughed. "But you're worth every penny." He nodded softly to himself as Hoseok furrowed his brows.
"Yoongi, what are you doing?" Hoseok asked.
"Hoseok, don't-" Jimin tried to stop him.
"I'm just being nice, Hobi. Something I know you've not been recently," Yoongi responded.
"Okay, we are not doing this right now." Jimin stood up, ready to leave when a loud crash was heard outside. It sounded like glass shattering and caught the attention of most of the dancers, but was disregarded as it didn't seem to affect any of them directly. "I'm going to go find some water to put these in. Thanks Yoongi." He smiled before a loud gunshot was heard echoing throughout the halls outside. Everyone turned and some gasps and murmurs were heard before another shot fired and everyone began either ducking or screaming and running away.
"What the fuck was that!"
"Was that a gun?!"
Everything became chaotic in an instant. Teacher's running around, trying to keep everyone calm. The fire alarm being pulled as it was the only type of alarm the school had. And Jimin seeing all his dreams crumble in front of him.
I'm not going to get to perform... Am I?
Seokjin ran up to the three boys and asked them what the hell was going on, them responding with uncertain answers and fear lacing their every word.
"What the fuck do we do?!" Yoongi exclaimed.
"Hide? I guess?!" Hoseok answered.
"Okay, but where?!"
"The closet..." Jimin responded. "The cleaning closet. The door handle is dodgy so everyone always thinks it's locked when they try to open it, but it's not. It the perfect hiding place." They all looked at each other as the chaos around them continued.
"Okay, let's go then," Seokjin stated.

Namjoon shut his book as he looked around the library. Only a few students remained as everyone else had either gone home or to the study hall, and while it was nice that they didn't have to worry as much about making too much noise, it also felt somewhat isolating.
"It's not my place to tell, Tae," Namjoon sighed. "This is Jungkook's thing to tell, not mine."
"He's been an absolute mess these past couple of days. I just want to know what's up."
"I'm sure he'll tell you when he's ready." Namjoon sighed again. "Where the fuck is he?" A pair of hands slammed on the table in front of him and attached to those hands was no one other than Jeon Jungkook, holding what appeared to be rope.
"I need your help."

"So tell me why you want us to tie you to a chair?"
"Okay, um... I need to tell you something." Jungkook gestured for Taehyung to sit down on the table of the classroom he had dragged both boys to. "Remember when I told you about those dreams I was having? Where I switched places with someone?" Taehyung subtly looked towards Namjoon, remembering the conversation they'd had regarding those dreams.
"Yeah?"
"Well they weren't dreams."
"Holy shit."
"I don't expect you to fully under-"
"You were right." Taehyung had turned to Namjoon, cutting Jungkook off. "Jimin's real..." Taehyung stood up, needing to process the information. "But that doesn't explain why-"
"Jimin dies tonight," Jungkook stated.
"What?"
"Or not tonight. Tonight three years ago. Park Jimin died in the school shooting. Whenever I switch with him he's three years in the past, to the day. Which means he dies today, and I can't have that happen. One of us needs to be unconscious for us to switch and if it's not him then it has to be me. And I need you to tie me up so that when Jimin gets here he can't go anywhere and risk falling asleep or getting knocked out, otherwise we might switch back again."
"So what? You're going back?" Jungkook nodded. "Are you fucking serious right now? You could get killed!"
"Well I'd rather it be me than him," Jungkook said. Taehyung's mouth opened in protest, him turning to Namjoon for help.
"Wha- Namjoon back me up!"
"He won't change his mind. I've seen how he talks about Jimin. He'd take a bullet for that boy any day. It just so happens that today he might actually have to." Namjoon stood with his arms crossed. He didn't want Jungkook to put himself in danger but at the same time he understood there was no stopping him.
"You can't be fucking serious... I already lost my brother in that shooting, I'm not losing you too!" Taehyung directed at Jungkook.
"Well, I'm not losing Jimin! So shut up. And tie. Me. Up." He held out the rope, offering it to Taehyung, seeing a tear fall down his cheek before he wiped it away angrily.
"Fuck it, fine." He grabbed the rope off of Jungkook before grabbing the back of his head and pulling him in for a hug. "Just promise me you'll be fucking careful, okay?"
"I will, hyung."

The cupboard was larger than the boys had expected. Luckily, however, it meant they could all fit inside and hide with ease. They hid by pressing up against the walls, boxes and crates shielding Jimin, Hoseok, and Seokjin, while Yoongi remained on the other side of the room huddled up in the corner.
"You sure we're safe in here?" Seokjin turned to Jimin as he asked.
"I'm sure." Jimin breathed heavily, adrenaline running throughout his entire body but having no means of being exerted in any way.
"I can't believe this is happening on the night of the show. Such bullshit." Hoseok sounded more angry than afraid, an unusual turn of events for the boy. Perhaps it was a coping mechanism, Jimin thought. A loud string of gunshots fired through the air near where the closet was located, all the boys jolting in unison at the sound. Almost like an automatic response, Yoongi curled further in on himself, shaking slightly out of fear.
"You alright?" Jimin whispered across to him.
"You're the one who's Mom got shot. I should be asking you that."
"I think I've just become used to the sound by now..." The two looked at each other, whether with understanding or some form of guilt, neither could tell. Jimin closed his eyes, letting his head lean back against the wall gently, a long exhale of breath escaping his lips.
"Shouldn't we call the cops or something?" Hoseok said. Jimin's eyes remained shut as he answered.
"Our phones in the dressing room still."
"Shit."
"Another reason why I wish they didn't take them off us," Seokjin joined in.
"What's the first reason?" Hoseok asked.
"I was the first one to get ready. It gets boring pretty fast just sitting in a chair and waiting." The room fell silent. Usually maybe a few scoffs of laughter would have eased the tension, but right now, everyone was too afraid to let their guard down for even a second.
"So we have to just wait it out and hope for the best?" Yoongi asked, staring blankly into the air.
"I mean, we could try and retrieve our phones?" Seokjin suggested.
"What, and risk getting shot?" Jimin retorted. "I don't think so."
"We could wait until they've moved to a different section of the building." Hoseok said. "It's not impossible."
"Are you serious right now?" Yoongi asked.
"We could get our phones, call the police, and leave without them even knowing. It's a good plan!"
"In what world is that a good plan?!" Another gunshot is heard. This time a single bullet, much louder, followed by a thud. A muffled voice could be heard from outside the door.
"Shit. That wasn't him." The boys in the room began looking at each other curiously.
"Are they after someone specific?" Hoseok whispered. At that suggestion Jimin's eyes widened. He remembered when he was being suffocated, the images flashing in his mind.
"Holy shit..." His breathing became more rapid and he felt like he'd lost control of his lungs as they desperately craved more air regardless of how much they received in the first place.
"Woah, Jimin. You okay?" Hoseok rested his hand on Jimin's shoulder as a way to ground him to reality. This wasn't the first time he'd dealt with Jimin potentially about to have a panic attack, so he knew the subtle ways to try and help him. "Just try and breathe, okay? Four, seven, eight, remember? In, hold, and out."
"They're after me. They're fucking after me. I'm the reason they're here. I'm-"
"Jimin, it's alright. They're not here because of you-"
"YES THEY ARE!" He yelled as he started feeling light headed and woozy, his shaking getting worse.
"What was that?" A muffled voice, different from the one before, spoke up causing everyone to look at the door in horror. Jimin let out a squeak before covering his mouth at the realisation he might have blown their cover. Tears welled up in his eyes and stung as he continued to shake and feel like he was on the verge of passing out. Footsteps approached the door and the handle began to rattle viciously as one of the men outside attempted to get inside the closet. A tear fell, rolling down Jimin's cheek as Yoongi stared at the handle in horror, knowing he'd be first to go if they got in. "It won't open. You sure it came from here?" Hoseok swallowed his saliva at the man's words.
"It sounded like it," another voice spoke. The footsteps retreated and the boys let out breaths they didn't even know they were holding, Jimin still shaking violently and now crying silent tears as well. They waited about twenty seconds before even daring to speak to each other again.
"Do you think they're gone?" Hoseok whispered.
"I think so," Seokjin replied.
"You still down for getting the phones?"
"It's worth a shot, right?" Seokjin stood up. "Okay. Me and Hoseok will sneak into the dressing room and grab our phones from the box. You guys can stay here. We'll be back in like five minutes." He turned to Hoseok. "Sound good?"
"Fuck it, sure. We have to do something, right?" Hoseok stood up, them both approaching the door.
"No, you don't. Just stay in here and wait it out!" Jimin suggested.
"If we sit and do nothing, there's no guaranteeing they won't try the door again and actually manage to get in. This is the only real option, Jimin." He continued approaching the door before Jimin's hand reached out and grabbed his sleeve.
"Please... Please don't leave me..." Hoseok looked down, hints of guilt creeping in, but persistence over powering.
"We'll be back soon." He pulled his arm away and Jimin clawed the air in an attempt to reach it again, but failing as the pair reached the door, peeked outside and exited. Jimin mirrored Yoongi by curling up and clutching his knees against his chest. A series of gunshots shattered all hope of success as the two boys looked at each other in silence.

Jungkook sat in the chair as Namjoon and Taehyung wrapped the rope around him, securing it in several places to prevent movement. Jungkook tested it out, seeing how well it restrained him and was satisfied with the results.
"Okay, what now?" Namjoon asked, arms folded.
"I need you to knock me out."
"Knock you out?"
"Yeah, like punch me or something. I need to be unconscious for the switch to happen."
"I'll do it," Taehyung said. He rolled up his sleeve. "You really want to save him, right?"
"More than anything..."
"Then fuck it." He pulled back his arm as Jungkook closed his eyes and prepared for impact until Namjoon stepped in front of Taehyung with his arms outstretched.
"Wait, wait, wait! No one is punching anyone, okay?!" He interrupted. "I take sleeping pills for my insomnia, okay? We'll just be careful with the dosage and use that." He looked between the two boys. "Okay?"
"Oh thank God, because I really didn't want to get punched," Jungkook breathed out.
"You literally asked me to-!"
"I'll go get the pills, you just wait here." Namjoon exited the room, presumably to go to his locker and left Taehyung and Jungkook alone.
"So..." Taehyung started. "Bet you didn't expect the first time I tie you up to be quite like this, huh?"

"They're not coming back... Are they?" Yoongi asked. His eyes were fueled with fear as he stared into blank space, the situation washing over him. "Those gunshots... They were for them, weren't they?"
"I'm sorry," Jimin whimpered. He sounded completely broken and worn down. His cheeks were stained with tears and his voice trembled with every word he spoke. "It's because of me that they're here. This is all my fault, I- I'm so sorry, hyung, I-"
"Jimin... This might be the end..." Jimin looked over to Yoongi, his face now pale and emotionless. "I'm sorry we drifted apart... I'm even more sorry that I never got over it."
"Hyung, what are you on about?"
"Jimin, we might die today..." He looked directly into Jimin's eyes. "I think I'm in love with you."
"Shit... That was real bad timing, wasn't it?" The way the boy looked at Yoongi had changed.
"What?"
"We have to go." He ran across and grabbed Yoongi's arm, dragging him up to his feet.
"What the fuck?"
"I don't have time to explain. We have to go-!" Yoongi pulled his arm away in fear, staring at the boy in front of him.
"You're not Jimin, are you?"

"JUST TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON! WHY THE HELL AM I TIED UP?!" Jimin screamed.
"Just calm down!"
"I know you know it's me!"
"Yeah, I do, now calm down and listen to us!" Namjoon instructed.
"You brought me here on purpose... Didn't you? Why?" Taehyung stepped forward to answer.
"Jungkook wanted us to. He told us to tie you up so that you can't go anywhere and potentially get knocked out or go to sleep or anything. He doesn't want you switching back." Jimin looked in confusion. So, Taehyung knows about me now, huh? That must be uncomfortable for him...
"Did he know I was in danger?" Jimin asked.
"Yeah... He knew..." Namjoon answered.
"But how? How did he-?"
"You die tonight, Jimin..." Taehyung interrupted. At first Jimin couldn't tell if it was a threat or not. Did they mean that they were going to kill him? Had Jungkook decided that he hated Jimin and couldn't bare to share bodies with him anymore? Or maybe he-
"He's doing this to protect you..." Namjoon said.
"What?"
"You and Jungkook are three years apart. Every time you switch, you go three years into the future, and he, three years into the past." He started. "Three years ago today, a boy by the name of Park Jimin, with your face, got shot in a shooting that happened here before a dance show. It took us a while but we realised it was you, and that it was the same dance show you'd been preparing for ever since Jungkook switched with you the first time." Jimin relaxed in the seat as he let all the information process. Three years? That explained why they couldn't meet up. And probably why, despite putting his number into Jungkook's phone, he never called.
"But, why switch? What is he trying to do?"
"He's trying to get your body out of there. So that when you return... You'll be safe." But Hoseok and Jin-hyung are already dead... And Jungkook doesn't even know me in that time... Is it even worth living?

"Who the fuck are you?!" Yoongi held a screwdriver taken from the box behind him, threatening to injure the boy hosting Jimin's body before him. Jungkook held his arms up in a surrender as he tried to explain without wasting too much time.
"I'm someone that's trying to help. That's all you need to know right now. I just... I just want to help."
"Why Jimin? This isn't even the first time. Ever since that dream-"
"I didn't choose this! Okay?! I didn't choose this, but we have. To go." He slowly lowered his arms. "Please."
"You seriously want to try and leave? Do you even realise how dangerous that is?! Hoseok and Seokjin still haven't come back and are most likely dead... I don't want to die..." There was pleading in his eyes which tugged at something within Jungkook.
"I won't let that happen. It didn't happen the first time and I won't let it happen this time." He reached out his hand for Yoongi to grab. "Now we have to go." Yoongi looked into his eyes. He couldn't tell whether it was because it was Jimin's face or for some other reason... But he trusted whoever this person was.
"Fine. Let's go." He put his hand in Jungkook's and let him lead him to the door where Jungkook looked out to check that the coast was clear.
"Okay, come on." He tiptoed out of the room quickly, lightly pulling Yoongi behind him. Yoongi looked behind him and let go of Jungkook's hand as he saw the bodies of his two friends on the floor. Seokjin's eyes were shut, and he looked peaceful, but Hoseok... Hoseok's eyes were wide open with fear. Blood pooled around both his head and his chest, his head must have hit the floor hard as he fell. His hand was limp, resting near his shoulder and blood was on his hands and under his fingernails. Yoongi couldn't move. "Yoongi, we have to go, come on!" Jungkook whisper-shouted. He continued to stare at the bodies.
"It's them... They're really... They're really dead, they-"
BANG!
Yoongi quickly turned around and saw Jimin's body wide eyed and frozen. Jungkook felt a sharp pain in his back and ringing in his head. He fell to his knees in what felt like slow motion as Yoongi looked at him in horror, realising what had happened before running away to save himself. Jungkook could feel himself fading as gravity took over and pulled the rest of his body down.

A centimetre before his face hit the ground, his eyes had readjusted to see Namjoon and Taehyung sat across from him on the tables.
"No... No. NO! NO! TAKE ME BACK! TAKE ME FUCKING BACK! NO!" They looked up at Jungkook thrashing around in his chair and screaming.
"Woah, woah. Jungkook?" Namjoon questioned. They hadn't expected Jungkook to make such a sudden return, much less an extremely loud and intense one. "TAKE ME BACK! TAKE ME INSTEAD OF HIM! TAKE ME INSTEAD! NO!" Namjoon and Taehyung had ran to Jungkook's side, kneeling. Namjoon then holding onto Jungkook's shoulder as Jungkook stopped yelling, instead bursting into tears.
"What happened?" Namjoon asked softly.
"I- I got shot, he fuck- he fucking got shot, I- I- I couldn't- couldn't stop it, I-"
"Hey, hey, it's okay." He put his hand through Jungkook's hair in an attempt to sooth him as Taehyung rested his hand on the younger's thigh.
"Hyung... I caused it... It was because of me that- that he got- that he got shot..." Jungkook couldn't stop the tears and the strain in his throat as he spoke. "It should have been me that died... But instead... Instead I came back here... Which means, which means he's, he's..."
"Hey, why don't you get him some water?" Taehyung suggested to Namjoon. He looked at the two before nodding in agreement and leaving to give them some space. Taehyung immediately stood up, untying Jungkook, then sitting on his lap and hugging him.
"I killed him..."