Chapter -3 (The World Crumbles)

They arrived at the department store, the bright lights and cheerful music a stark contrast to the growing weight in Taehyung’s chest. He picked up a few packets of chips and handed them to Ggukkie. The little boy, with a determined frown, clutched the four packets against his small body, struggling adorably with the bulk. Taehyung chuckled, a rare moment of lightness as he shook his head at his son’s efforts.

"Okay, baby, I’m going to pay for these. You stay right here, okay? Do not go outside," Taehyung instructed, kneeling to meet Ggukkie’s level.

Ggukkie nodded earnestly, his grip firm on his precious snacks. "Otay, Appa!"

Taehyung ruffled the boy’s hair and headed toward the cash counter. Despite the smile on his face, a knot of worry began to tighten in his stomach—a familiar companion that never truly left him.

"Hey there, sweet boy. Could you spare a chip for a hungry uncle?" a smooth, melodious voice asked.

Ggukkie looked up.

Standing before him was a man with a smile that seemed to warm the air. He was impossibly handsome, with eyes that twinkled with a deceptive kindness. It was Jin, though the little boy didn't know the danger hiding behind that "Pretty Uncle" face.

"Wow... you are so pretty and handsome, Uncle!" Ggukkie exclaimed, truly impressed.

The man chuckled, a deep, pleasant sound. "Thank you, dear. But I’m really hungry. Look, my tummy is rumbling!" He dramatically clutched his stomach, his eyes wide and innocent.

"Oh no! Ye-yes! Here, take it!" Ggukkie’s bunny smile appeared as he carefully offered one of his four packets.

The man’s eyes flickered, pausing for a split second on Ggukkie’s radiant, innocent face. A ghost of hesitation passed through him, but he quickly pushed it aside, his expression shifting back to a practiced mask. "Oh my, I totally forgot something important!"

"What happened, pretty Uncle?" Ggukkie asked, his brow furrowed with concern.

"Baby, your Appa told me to tell you he’s waiting outside!" the man whispered urgently. "His grocery bag ripped, and all the vegetables fell onto the road! He needs your help right away!"

Panic flared in Ggukkie’s eyes. He dropped the chips onto the floor and bolted toward the exit. The moment he burst through the automatic doors, a heavy hand clamped over his mouth, dragging him backward. A burly man snatched him up and shoved him into the side door of a waiting black van.

Ggukkie let out a muffled scream, kicking and thrashing with the fury of a trapped animal. In his terror, Ggukkie bit down hard on the man’s neck. A surprised hiss escaped the guard's lips as blood welled up. He swore under his breath, shoving the boy roughly onto the padded seat. Before Ggukkie could scream again, hands clamped over his mouth and bound his wrists. In seconds, the black van peeled away from the curb, disappearing into the city.

After paying, a sudden chill swept over Taehyung. He walked back to where he had left his son, but his heart plummeted when he saw the scattered chip packets lying abandoned on the linoleum floor.

"Ggukkie?" he called out, his voice thin. "Ggukkie?! Baby, where are you?"

He searched every aisle, his panic mounting until he could barely breathe. A full-blown panic attack clawed at his throat as he burst out of the store, running wildly into the street. He scanned the faces of strangers, screaming his son’s name, but there was no sign of the boy.

For over an hour, Taehyung ran until his legs gave out. He collapsed onto the unforgiving pavement in the middle of the road, tears streaming down his face as desperate sobs wracked his body.

"Ggukkie... my Ggukkie..." He grabbed at the arms of passersby, begging for help, but he was met only with pitying glances.

Broken and breathless, he dragged himself to the nearest police station to file a report. The officers’ promises were hollow echoes in his shattered mind. He stumbled back out into the night, the world a blur of agony.

It was past 1 AM. Taehyung walked like a ghost through the silent streets, his eyes raw and swollen. His lips moved soundlessly, chanting his son’s name like a broken prayer.

Suddenly, the screech of tires pierced the silence. A large black van swerved to a halt beside him. Before he could react, a powerfully built man in a dark uniform lunged out. Strong hands seized Taehyung, throwing him into the back of the van. He landed hard, the impact knocking the air from his lungs.

The guard was over him in an instant, pressing a chemically-scented cloth over his nose and mouth. Taehyung thrashed, his legs kicking wildly, but his strength faded as the drug took hold. In mere seconds, the darkness swallowed him whole.

💔🥀\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*🥀💔

"And just like that, the world crumbles. 🏚️💔 Taehyung thought he was safe, but in the shadows of the city, the King is always watching. This is the moment where the story takes a dark turn, and there’s no going back. Get ready for the next chapter—the reunion you’ve all been waiting for is coming, but it’s not going to be pretty. Stay tuned! 🍷🖤"

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