stay with me!!

Hours passed under the cold, starless night.

Jungkook's legs burned from exhaustion, but he refused to slow down. Taehyung, half-conscious in his arms, shivered violently, murmuring incoherent words under his breath — nightmares he couldn't wake from.

"Stay with me," Jungkook begged silently. "Please, stay with me."

Finally, through the thickening mist, Jungkook saw it — the broken stone pillar that marked the edge of Busan’s territory.

Just beyond it was the kingdom of busan — his kingdom.

But as he staggered closer, he heard it:

The low whistle of an arrow cutting through the air.

He ducked instinctively — and the arrow embedded itself into a tree just inches from his head.

"Found them!" a voice barked.

Jungkook spun around, heart hammering.

Three men in black armor stepped out of the darkness — assassins. Fast, silent, deadly. They weren't here to capture. They were here to kill.

"If they kill Taehyung, no one will ever know the truth," Jungkook realized with icy dread.

"They want to erase him forever."

Jungkook backed away slowly, keeping his body between the assassins and Taehyung.

"I won't let you touch him," he growled.

The lead assassin smirked coldly. "Hand over the boy, little prince. And maybe we'll make your death quick."

Jungkook's fingers brushed the dagger strapped to his waist.

It was a small blade — hardly enough against three trained killers — but he drew it anyway.

Taehyung stirred weakly in his arms, voice hoarse.

"Run... just run... leave me..."

"Never," Jungkook hissed.

The assassins moved fast — blades flashing in the moonlight.

Jungkook ducked the first swing, pivoting awkwardly with Taehyung still in his arms. He slashed out with his dagger, grazing one man's arm, drawing blood.

Pain bloomed as another blade sliced across Jungkook’s shoulder — shallow but burning.

"I can't win a fight carrying him," Jungkook thought desperately. "I have to buy time."

Summoning every ounce of strength, Jungkook dashed for the trees, weaving between them to make himself a harder target. Behind him, the assassins cursed and gave chase.

Branches whipped at his face. His shoulder throbbed. His lungs burned.

But he kept running.

Taehyung clung weakly to him, whispering apologies, tears leaking from his closed eyes.

"Don’t apologize," Jungkook thought fiercely. "You didn’t deserve any of this."

Up ahead, lights glimmered faintly — torches — and the glint of armor.

Guards.

Busan 's patrols.

Jungkook let out a broken laugh of relief.

"Help!" he shouted, voice raw. "Help us!"

The assassins, seeing the soldiers, slowed — then melted back into the shadows, disappearing like smoke.

Jungkook stumbled into the patrol’s midst, collapsing to his knees.

"Please," he gasped. "He's Prince Taehyung of Daegu... he's been kidnapped... we need help!"