Chapter 2 - Afterlife?

Hyung,

Today I watched a movie....

Oh? So now you've got a deep question brewing in your head, huh?

Yes, hyung.

Tell me... what happens after we die? Is it really just the end, or is it something more? Like... Do we go to another world?

What if it's the beginning?

What if death isn't the final stop, but the start of something even bigger? Maybe we're not just meant to end—maybe we're meant to transform, to experience a whole new world, a different kind of life. A beginning we can't even comprehend right now.

What if the afterlife is like... a new journey?

Like a door that opens, and on the other side, there's an entirely different life waiting for us—one that we don't understand yet, but we will, eventually. Maybe we don't go to some predetermined place. Maybe we transcend, grow into something else. The start of something bigger, something more meaningful.

It's not about ending. It's about starting again, in a way we can't even imagine right now.

Hyung...

A new beginning...?

Believe that what's ahead, whatever it is, is part of the bigger picture. Not just an end, but a new chapter. A new life waiting to unfold.

And maybe, just maybe, we'll see everything differently once we're on the other side. Maybe it's not about finding the answers.

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Is this really the end?

Jimin's POV:

I slowly open my eyes, wincing at the sharp pain in my head. My vision is blurry, but I can make out a figure standing over me.

He's staring at me— like I'm some kind of thief, or worse.

There's so much doubt in his eyes.

I just woke up, sitting up with my hands gripping my head, trying to fight the dizziness.

My thoughts are all over the place.

Suddenly, memories start flashing in my mind, fragmented and scattered, like a broken puzzle.

Oh, fuck... am I really dead?

The thought hits me like a wave, and panic rises in my chest.

My breath catches in my throat. Is this what it feels like? The realization is so overwhelming, I can barely keep my thoughts straight.

I glance around, trying to make sense of my surroundings. Everything feels strange, almost surreal, like I'm in some dream I can't wake up from.

But then I notice him standing there, just staring at me, like I'm some kind of alien.

His gaze is intense, almost unwavering.

He's wearing our traditional clothing, but with a twist something white, almost glowing, and it makes him look— literally gorgeous..

Is he... a Grim Reaper or something?

I can't help but wonder if this is a dream, or maybe... something else.

I stare at him for a moment before slowly standing up, every movement a struggle.

I keep my eyes on him, watching every slight motion, trying to make sense of this situation.

For some reason, it feels like he is the one who brought me here whether to hell or heaven, I can't tell.

The thought crosses my mind, and I can't help but ask, "Where are we going? Hell or heaven?"

He doesn't answer.

He just keeps staring at me like I'm invisible, or maybe like he's mute.

But his gaze— it's sharp, intense like he's the king of some kingdom, full of power, like I should bow before him.

I laugh to myself, thinking, King? This is the old era...

Author's pov:

Jimin shifted slightly, stepping closer to the boy who had been watching him without saying a word.

There was something unsettling about the silence, the way the air around them seemed thick with questions that had yet to be asked.

Jimin couldn't help but break it.

"Are you a mute?" he asked, his voice cautious but cutting through the stillness like a blade.

The boy didn't respond right away.

Instead, he shifted slightly, eyes traveling up and down Jimin's form, studying him with an intensity that made Jimin uncomfortable.

When their gazes finally locked, the boy spoke, his voice low but firm.

"Who are you? Where do you come from?"

Jimin froze, the question rattling through his mind.

He opened his mouth to speak, but words failed him. He glanced around, his breath catching.

The garden stretched before them, endless and beautiful, the flowers in full bloom, but everything felt... wrong.

The air was heavy, like it belonged to an era long past. The scent of the flowers, the stillness of the place it all felt like a dream, one he couldn't wake up from.

Jimin lifted his gaze higher, trying to steady his breath.

He wasn't supposed to be here.

He had been dead.

He knew it.

He remembered everything, the cold, lifeless feeling of his body, the way Taemin had cried by his side, tears slipping down his face as he reached out one last time.

He'd been gone.

He'd seen Taemin cry, seen him tremble with grief.

But now, he was here, standing in front of this strange boy, in this strange garden, with no explanation of how he had gotten here.

He could feel his pulse quicken as he tried to make sense of it.

Jimin couldn't help but feel irritated under the boy's gaze.

"Don't look at me like that, you weirdo," he snapped, crossing his arms.

"And what about you? You're not the Grim Reaper, so I'm clearly not dead. So where am I?"

The boy didn't flinch.

His eyes stayed locked onto Jimin's, unblinking, as if the question was irrelevant.

It was as though Jimin were the one who was out of place here, not the other way around.

With a quiet exhale, the boy raised his voice calm, but commanding. "Guards."

Jimin's heart skipped. Guards? He looked around in confusion, expecting to see something out of the ordinary.

But before he could take another breath, figures began to materialize from the shadows, as if summoned by the boy's words alone.

Tall, clad in dark armor, their presence filled the air with an unnerving stillness.

They stood at perfect attention, as if waiting for a command.

Jimin's pulse quickened, a sense of unease settling in his stomach.

Something about this whole situation felt—wrong.

And yet, the boy seemed completely at ease, standing there like he was in full control.

One of the guards, a tall figure with a calm yet unyielding demeanor, stepped forward and bowed, his voice unwavering. "Your Majesty."

Jimin's eyes widened at the title. "Your Majesty?" He looked between the boy and the guards, his confusion only deepening.

He opened his mouth to protest, but before he could, the boy spoke again.

"What is he doing in my garden?" The boy's tone was measured, but there was an edge to it, a quiet authority that cut through the air like a blade. "Who is he?"

The guard didn't flinch under the boy's gaze. "We don't know, Your Majesty. We checked before we left. There was no one here."

The boy's expression softened for a moment, but there was still a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. "Then he must have come from the sky." He chuckled.

Jimin stared at him, dumbfounded. "What? The sky?" he repeated and saw the sky, his voice a mix of disbelief and frustration.

"What do you mean, from the sky? Huh! Are you seriously suggesting I fell out of the sky?" and He pointed towards the sky and looked around a bit.

The boy didn't react to Jimin's outburst.

Instead, his gaze shifted, almost as if he were lost in thought, contemplating something beyond the garden's borders.

The air around them seemed to grow thicker, the silence pressing down on Jimin's chest.

He couldn't take it anymore.

"Hey, can you just tell me where I am? Why are you talking like you're some kind of king of a kingdom? What is this, some kind of drama or something?" He chuckled.

Suddenly, Jimin's heart stopped as he heard the sound of metal scraping against metal.

He spun around, wide-eyed, only to find the guards, those same silent figures who had appeared out of nowhere drawing their swords in unison, pointing them directly at him.

The gleaming steel glinted in the soft sunlight, reflecting an intimidating sharpness that made Jimin's blood run cold.

His breath caught in his throat, his mind racing to process what was happening.

He had never seen swords before, never been in a situation like this in his life.

Fear surged through him like a tidal wave, and without thinking, his legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the grass, his hands instinctively reaching out to steady himself.

He felt trapped.

What is going on?

What do they want from me?

For a moment, time seemed to slow.

The sharp points of the swords were all aimed at him at his chest, at his neck.

His heart thudded erratically in his chest, and though he had no intention of fighting, the threat of the weapons sent a cold shiver down his spine.

He couldn't breathe.

But then, in the stillness, the boy spoke again.

His voice was low, commanding. "Enough."

The guards didn't hesitate.

They instantly lowered their swords, their movements synchronized and almost mechanical.

Jimin watched.

Still trembling on the ground, his mind struggling to make sense of the scene unfolding before him.

The boy looked at the guards with a sharp but silent command, and in a blink, they returned to their positions, as though the brief standoff had never happened.

The boy turned his gaze back to Jimin, his expression unreadable.

There was a subtle, almost unpredictable shift in his demeanor as he approached, stepping toward Jimin with an air of calm authority.

"This is my kingdom," the boy said, his voice smooth and steady, though there was no warmth in it.

"And now, you are welcome here."

His words lingered in the air, carrying a weight that made it clear they were not a simple greeting.

"I am the true king of this palace."

Jimin's mind was still reeling, too stunned to even fully process the boy's declaration.

He barely registered the words, let alone the implications.

His pulse was still racing from the sight of the swords, the fear still clinging to him like a heavy fog.

Before Jimin could respond or even gather his thoughts the boy turned slightly, as if he had just remembered something important.

"I have to leave for a while," the boy continued, his tone softening just a little. "But I will speak to you when I return."

He gestured toward the guards, who stood stiffly at attention.

"Take him to the maid's room. Perhaps he needs a bath. Make sure he doesn't try to escape."

Jimin didn't move.

His body felt like it had been frozen in place, his shock keeping him rooted to the spot.

He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

What could he even say?

Everything about this place, this situation, was completely unreal.

He was terrified and disoriented, and all he could do was watch as the boy turned and started to walk away, his back straight and regal, vanishing into the distance like he was simply part of the landscape.

Jimin remained kneeling on the grass, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts he couldn't quite catch.

His heart was still pounding in his chest, his breathing uneven.

He barely noticed the guards approaching him, silently closing in, but the gentle pressure of their hands on his shoulders was enough to snap him from his daze.

He didn't protest as they guided him away.

He was still too shaken, still too overwhelmed by everything that had just happened.

The boy—no—the king had left, and Jimin was left alone with nothing but his confusion and fear.

What was this place?

What was going on?

He didn't speak as the guards led him down the path.

His eyes lingered on the spot where the boy had disappeared, as if staring at the place would somehow bring him answers.

But there was nothing.

No explanation.

Just a deep, unsettling silence that pressed in from all sides.

Jimin's mind was a blur as he followed the guards, but one thing was certain: he had no idea what awaited him in this strange kingdom, but he was trapped here now.

Trapped in a world where nothing made sense.

Yoongi's Pov:

I step out of the garden, the scent of jasmine still lingering on my skin, the cool air of the palace wrapping around me like a cloak.

The throne room doors stand before me, imposing yet familiar, as I prepare to face my family and the members of my court.

As I cross the threshold, I spot my mother and my little brother sitting at the center of the room, a sight that always warms my heart.

My younger brother, though... I can't help but notice his absence.

He's been spending more and more time away from the mansion these days.

I don't know why.

I wonder what's going on in his mind.

I glance around.

All the familiar faces are here, my loyal men, the ones who fought beside me.

This is where we discuss matters of the kingdom, where decisions that could shape our future are made.

I start to walk slowly toward the throne.

The weight of my crown feels heavier every day, a constant reminder of my responsibilities.

As I move, I feel every eye on me there's reverence in their gazes, respect, and something else I can't quite place.

It feels— distant.

Maybe it's just my mind wandering, the pressure catching up to me.

As I approach the throne, my family and all my loyal mens stands and bows in unison.

The sound of fabric brushing against the floor echoes softly in the room.

Their respect for me is unquestionable, but it's strange.

I'm not the same person I was before.

The crown has changed me.

I step in front of my throne and blink slowly, giving them all the silent permission to rise and take their seats.

A subtle gesture, yet it carries power.

As I lower myself onto the king's chair, the weight of it presses down on me, both a comfort and a burden.

The room falls into a stillness, a calm before the storm of conversation.

I look at one of my trusted members, silently signaling him to begin.

He steps forward, his footsteps sharp and purposeful, and then pauses.

His eyes meet mine, and I can see the question burning in them.

He knows what's coming.

He knows what we've just achieved, but he's also waiting, waiting for the next step.

"My king," he begins, his voice steady but edged with anticipation, "As we know, only days ago, we emerged victorious in the war against the Joseon Dynasty. The victory was ours, but now, what is our next step? You were the one who led us into battle. We followed your command and we won. But what now?"

The question lingers in the air, heavy with expectation. I lean back in my chair, the sound of the velvet cushions shifting beneath me.

The weight of the throne presses deeper into my back, but it's nothing compared to the weight of his words.

The kingdom needs more from me.

I pause, my gaze drifting towards the cold stone walls of the throne room, letting the silence stretch between us.

The weight of the question lingers, and I feel the eyes of my court on me, their breaths held in anticipation.

After a long beat, I speak, my voice cutting through the stillness.

"I've received word. The king of Joseon, we never killed him, did we? He's still locked away in our basement, correct?"

As I finish, the room falls even quieter, the tension thick in the air.

The expression on my member's face falters for a split second as confusion flashes in his eyes, as if unsure of what I'm implying.

But then, understanding slowly sets in.

Without another word, he bows deeply to me and turns, issuing orders to the guards with a calm, but sharp, command.

The air in the room seems to freeze, thickening with the weight of my words.

The king of Joseon, the most ruthless, heartless ruler across all the kingdoms was a man known for his cruelty, his vile acts that even whispered rumors couldn't hide.

He trafficked bodies like they were nothing, especially women, using them as currency in his sick trade.

All the kingdoms knew the truth, but none had the courage to speak against him.

Not one dared to challenge his power, his influence, because his supporters were vast.

He was untouchable.

Until now.

I can feel my blood begin to simmer at the thought.

His men had crossed a line, dared to think they could sell innocent young girls in my kingdom.

"In MY kingdom".

That was a mistake.

A dangerous, unforgivable mistake.

He thought he could do it without my knowledge.

Without facing my wrath.

Impossible.

My fist clenches around the armrest of the throne, the wood groaning under my grip.

I can feel my father's teachings, his voice echoing in my mind, reminding me of the duty that had been passed down to me.

It was my responsibility to protect this kingdom, to ensure its people never fell victim to corruption, to evil like this.

My father had given me this crown, this kingdom, and I had sworn to uphold it no matter the cost.

My eyes narrow, my voice colder than before.

"He made a grave mistake. Selling young girls in my kingdom? In my father's name, I'll make sure he understands exactly what happens when you make an enemy of our dynasty."

I feel my muscles tense, ready for the confrontation to come.

I've waited too long to let this slide.

And now, the king of Joseon would pay the price.

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Hello, my little "Babies"🎀🎀🎀

I hope you like this chapter...

Tell me how was it...

Am not boring you right...??

And here's my little baby mochi 💞

Love you all 🎀🎀

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