Bangtan One-Shots

We've all learned the rumours of the Beast that prowls through our forest. His one-inch fangs that bore through your flesh, his severed lips that slurp up your blood, his slippery tongue that slithers between your organs, and his hypnotic eyes that rob you or your sight. No one's ever caught a glimpse of him and lived to tell the tale. He shifts back to his human form during the day but under the influence of the night sky and the daunting blood moon, he's a beautiful Beast. Or so that's what we've heard... It isn't often that he targets men as women seem to be his favoured desire. How we know it's male is plainly because of the evidence we've been left by accident in the middle of a scene, like the cuffs of men's shirts, buttons that match only those on men's trousers, and handprints larger than any of the women in town. So us women worry whether to trust anyone but ourselves-except for me. We don't know for sure that it's a man nor do we know if it's anyone in town, it could be anyone or anything. "We cannot run about like headless chickens in fear of something we can't prove!" I proclaim before the council. The bloodbaths have stricken the people of the town into a terror, but not like a regular terror. It's impacting the lifestyle of everyone, even those who aren't afraid. So the council have called a conference to hear their grievances so that they can take action in an effort to make everyone feel safer, it's a bunch of balls if you ask me. "Ms Winters, please. If you're not here to make a suggestion then make your way out, we are trying to relieve the panic not turn it into a riot." The council leader replies with a fatherly tone. The room of people erupts in faffs of gossips and shifts in their seats. The council leader gives me a careful look, the uproar is obviously my fault. I shrug innocently, "All I'm saying is, anything is possible. For all we know, it's not even human." "Of course it isn't human!" a civilian exclamations, "It's a Beast that preys on women!" I hold up my hand, "We're all well aware of that, I'm relating to theories." I clarify. "Oh, not this again..." The citizens begin complaining, they all think I'm crazy to believe that nothing is as it seems. Maybe a little but there are two sides to this story; What we speculate and the truth. "What will you say this time?" A woman asks, "That he comes in peace?" The room pauses and spins to her, "It's true that we're unaware of what is really going on but should that stop us from preparing for the worst?" That's right, it's better safe than sorry in any circumstance. I shift to face the council, "Just don't hurt him." One of the council members scoffs, "Ms Winters if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were trying to protect the Beast." Typically, he looks delighted by his remark. I sigh, "For the sake of understanding what we're bargaining with, I'll protect what can be studied." The council ends and the flocks disperse, going back to their usual routines. I am in a fairly aggravated mood after that whole charade, people honestly need to start thinking over the impossible. Who's to say anything is or isn't possible anyway? My name is called out making me stand still in order for him to catch up, the only somebody who stands by me in this time comes scrambling my way. "Well, that was really something, wasn't it?" He sarcastically asks though I'm sure he already knew how I'd answer. I roll my eyes thinking back on the meeting, "I can't believe these simple folk, Taehyung, they have no imagination." I make it to my home door and fling it open, storming inside. Taehyung pursues after me shutting the door behind him, "Not everyone has as wide a mind as you do, though I'm close behind, I can only dream of having a thought pattern as great as yours." He enthuses sweetly, only being the most validating friend ever. I smile slightly, "Oh, Taehyung, we're both brilliant in our own ways." I stammer, lighting the lamp that illuminates my wall of drawings and memos, all to do with the raging Beast. "My strength lies within the knicks of a crime scene." Taehyung stands beside me gazing up at the wall, doesn't matter how many times he sees it, he's always astounded. "And I'm the moral support." He sneers wickedly, he sells himself short on purpose. Though it's a tactic to gain attention and I know it, I still give it to him. By that, I mean a whack to the arm. "Otherwise I'm worthless, you can't deny it." I roll my eyes once again and lock onto his misbehaving eyes, always looking for a game to play. "You make a mean cup of tea, how about it?" Maybe I'm using him for his brewing talents, but Taehyung makes the best tea I've ever sipped. His plump lips spread into a thin line as he gleams cheekily, "Of course, detective." He walks off to the gas stove and begins mixing up his concoction that's I've learnt to make myself, but no matter how hard I try, I can never make it as he does. The hours go by so fast that the night sky joins us, it felt like minutes but could've only been hours. Six to be precise, staring at this wall discussing further concepts, at least nine cups of tea's been gulped, and not an ounce of fatigue comes over the two of us. Since I can remember, Taehyung has been my only friend but that's okay with me because even Taehyung alone can become a bit much. And besides, I savour my time alone more than anything. But I can't visualize how alone he must be feeling right now... "Taehyung," My heart breaks as he finds my eyes. "I realize I hadn't offered my condolences to you... I'm so sorry about Gabrielle, she was a promising friend of yours. It's a tragedy that the Beast had to take her away, I'm truly sorry." I reach out to take Taehyungs hand, caressing it lovingly. Taehyung lowers his head with a weakened smile, "Thank you, Vanah." I guess there was nothing else he could say before the grief brushed over him. Taehyung has probably undergone the worst during the rise of the Beast. He's lost so many close friends and family, in fact, he no longer has blood left alive... All of his friends are gone too, in fact, all except me. I truly hope that all this will pass and the Beast is brought down to his knees, so Taehyung no longer has to suffer. I don't have anything to live for either, but I will make sure I stay alive for him. Time passes and so does the gloom, somehow we were smiling again. It always seems like that around him, no matter how miserable either of us are, we always find happiness in each other's presence. I turn my focus back to my blank piece of paper as Taehyung babbles on, I'm trying to brainstorm further about these rumours. Maybe someone had survived an attack from the Beast before, otherwise, how did the rumours spread in the first place? The Beast probably would've gotten rid of them after all that they had said... Interesting. "You're thinking so hard, why don't we loosen up a little longer?" Taehyung infers, getting up from his seat to make more tea. Though we've been relaxing for an hour already, I need to get back to thinking. I massage my forehead, "It's just so fascinating." I look up to meet his eyes, "How such a creature exists among us, aren't you the least bit curious?" I ask glancing back down at my page. Taehyung laughs as he pours our cups, "Well, I have mixed feelings. It's good to know your enemy and all but what sort of danger lies in the truth?" He finishes up, bringing the tea around and setting it beside my page, taking a seat across from me. That's right, there really is a greater danger out there that we're unaware of. "Maybe that's why so many lives have been taken... Tae," I catch his interest while he's in the middle of sipping. "Remember about a month ago when all the inhabitants at the Hammington Estate were all murdered on the same night? Tell me that's no coincidence, they were the few in this town like me who were inquisitive. Maybe, just maybe they figured it out." I take my pencil and begin scribbling, "But the Beast couldn't risk letting anyone else find out what he was." I drop my pen, reading over my notes brushing my chin, "Everyone who finds out is under greater risk than when they were clueless..." Taehyung lifts his eyebrows in amazement, "Curious..." He murmurs. Certainly, it is. But with this in mind, investigating the Beast as literally as I have could put me in the line of fire. For all I know, the Beast is already targeting me. But it's only a theory, I could always be wrong about the whole 'cleaning his tracks' thing. I take the page and pin it up on the wall sighing with fulfilment, at least I got a little more brainstorming done. "Well, I think I'm done for tonight," I declare carrying my empty cup in my hand and walking to the sink. Taehyung exhales loudly resting his head back, "Oh, finally! I thought you'd never sleep," And stands as well to bring his cup. I finish cleaning out my cup and placing it on the table to dry out, Taehyung mirrors my actions. I walk back to the table before the wall and start tidying it up a little, though I really couldn't do much. Taehyung strolls to the window and glimpses out at the clear night sky. The room is mute apart from the flapping of papers and tension between multiple pencils in my hand at once, it was rather pleasant to have a little calmness after the evening I've had. Although it was kind of unusual to hear Taehyung being so tight-lipped, he must've been really captivated by the sky. I eye over the little cleaning I'd gotten done and run my hand through my hair, untangling multiple twists that I'd collected from the day. I look up and discover Taehyung still standing at the window, as I stare up at him his infatuation of the night draws me closer-until I'm standing close enough to breathe in his cologne. He lets out a deep devastating sigh, he's probably so tired of all this, I sympathize so much for him. I take my arm under his to hold onto his shoulder, resting my chin on my fingers to savour what was left of our silence. His shoulder slumped down relaxing onto me as he turns his head around. When I thought the silence would end, it only grew from what I saw. His irises appeared to be gleaming a faint firey orange, almost clear yet so bold. They're beautiful. It's like gold as opposed to his regular murky brown eyes. I just couldn't bring myself to look away from them, so hypnotic... It must be the glare of the full moon creating his silhouette. "I think I should go home..." He hums, gently shifting away from me. I step back dropping my arm and shrugging my shoulders, "I'd honestly feel a lot better if you stayed, there's still a Beast out there." Very subtle I know. He tilts his head as he analyzed his options, obviously aware that I wanted him to stay because I like his company. "I call dibs on the couch," Right, because the couch is somehow a million times more comfortable than my concrete bed. I shake my head snickering, "Whatever, good night Taehyung." And with that, I twirl on my heel and step off to my bedroom. Kicking off my faded slip ons, I climb into bed and nestle into a ball for warmth against the bitter air. I've been meaning to get my walls replastered, the cracks in them allow the cold climate to seep in... It felt like minutes before I drifted off into a deep slumber, which only meant the arrival of my crazy dreams. I dream every single night, sometimes even during the day. I always seem to have the biggest epiphanies because of them, I wonder what they have in store for me this time. It starts out all black before a single light invites me in. I'm standing in the town's square, everyone is there. Strange, so are the Beasts departed victims. One by one, they start to disappear with shrieking howls, blood stains their final places as they withered into dust. They cried out to me, "Help me!" "Please help me!" I covered my ears anxiously to keep the noises out, but somehow they still made it through. Even after I started screaming, they only got louder. Everything's quiet and the setting is black once again. This time, the scene grows on its own opening up to my home. Taehyung is there as he always is, settling across from me with a cup of tea in front of him. The 'dream me' clenches onto his hand, "Taehyung, I'm so sorry about your mother," Oh, I remember this. This is a memory from about a month ago when the Hammington Estate was attacked by the Beast, Taehyungs mother stayed there. "I'm truly sorry about your brother," And another one, this happened a week before his mother. "I'm sorry about Stacy," They just keep on coming, each and every one of these events occurred during the time of last month. "Taehyung, I'm sorry" "I'm sorry," They're all coming back to me at once. "I'm sorry," "Your father," "Your cousin," "Your friend," "Your partner," "I'm sorry the Beast had to take them," "Take them," "The Beast," "What sort of danger lies in the truth?" "He couldn't risk anyone finding out," "I'd say you're protecting the Beast," "That he comes in peace?" "He can't risk," "It's good to know your enemy," "What he was." "The Beast," "Taehyung..." "Taehyung is, the Beast!" My body jolts awake. Sweat is riding out of my pores and my heart is racing over cliffs, I hold a hand to my chest as I attempt to control my breathing. A nightmare, I haven't had a nightmare that horrendous since I believed in the boogeyman when I was six years old. Except, the only part about this dream was how it roamed through my memories and provided me with the answer. The answer to everything. I throw the coverings off of me and sprint out of my room and to my wall, I light the torch and grab a blank piece of paper. My pencil operates on its own, drawing, writing, and scribbling. Eventually, one page turned into numerous. I run around frantically pinning pieces up and pulling them down, it all makes sense now. Taehyung, the Beast, lost so many loved ones, he took them down because they figured it out. They knew that it was their son, brother, partner, and friend that was the Beast. I've known Taehyung for years but I guess I didn't pay as much special attention to him as they did, they likely took one look at him and just knew. I drop my pencil to the floor and walk with the conclusive piece of paper in my hand. After I pin it up I take steps back, grabbing my hair anxiously as I examine what I've unearthed. I'm both thrilled and terrified, who knows what Taehyung will do to me when he finds out that I know. For all I know, he's only been sticking around to 'help' me and showed up to council meetings so that whoever I told would be killed. Which would eventually leave one remaining witness... Me. I hold my head between both of my hands and lower to my knees. "No, no, no," I echo as softly as I could, but the cries got caught in my throat and whimpers filled the air. I don't know what I'm so scared for, I don't have anyone to protect but myself but what purpose do I have if it isn't dying in the end. A large hand unexpectedly takes my shoulder, I didn't even have the stability to get up and run. What's the point? I bet everyone he killed tried that too. "Vanah, what's the matter?" Taehyung rasps, not a peep comes out of me unless it were a wail. He couches down beside me and envelopes me into his embrace, petting my head gradually as he admired the wall. He glows pridefully, "Well done, I knew you'd figure it out." I struggle to get away only to suffer his arms growing stronger around me, "Now, now, there's no need to be afraid." His voice becomes darker as he speaks on, "But anyone you tell will have good reason to be." I cover my mouth in order to suppress my cries, though I am already helpless, I cry when I'm at my weakest and I will not give him that advantage. "What'll you d-do to me?" I could fight the whines but I couldn't fight the stutters. He hushes me and purrs against my head, "Nothing you don't already know." A devilish cackle husks in his throat. "Taehyung," I blow out, "D-Don't hurt anyone else, please." Barely audible, but I know he heeded me. He gnaws his lip as he always does when he's thinking, "I won't have a choice if they're as inquisitive as you." He hums in my ear. I propel against his chest with all the power I could sum up, "Taehyung, p-please." My fists ball as my fear of confinement starts to kick in, and the hostility slowly begins to simmer in me "Kill me already, kill me and leave these people alone!" He eases his grasp only to heave me to the floor and crawl on top of me, "If you were patient enough to figure out who the Beast was, then you'll be just fine as I take my time to kill you." A pummeling pain forms on my biceps, forcing a scream to erupt out of me. He quietens me with a malicious smirk as his claws dig deeper into my skin, "You and then the rest of these lowlives." I scoff, "So what, because you're a Beast you're superior? Everyone deserves to live, you don't get to choose whether we do or don't!" I feel my confidence growing, more so because I'm in distress. "What's the prize!?" He sighs with irritation rolling his eyes, "Surviving, I'll be hunted if they find out what I am. And keeping my secret, everyone I've killed are excellent examples that mankind isn't ready to accept me." He killed them because they were petrified when he could've just left on his own, no one had it coming because they were afraid. "What will make you leave?" My voice stammers nervously. I braced myself at the sight of him bringing his one-inch talons above my midsection. I wriggle to free myself but he's bound me between his body weight at the foundation, and when his claws penetrated my sides, I was paralyzed by the pain. He draws his claws up to his lips and licks my blood off, he sighs with enjoyment and bows down. Stopping millimetres away from my face, "No witnesses, no Beast." He answers. My body aches but I keep a grim expression on my face, "Wait but that's me I'm the only witness." He looks down at me with just his eyes as I continue, "No one else was unusual about the Beast but me." I indicate though it seems fairly obvious. He glimpses up as he appears to ponder for a time, after a while, he finds my eyes again and his demeanour grows dark. "You're right, you're the only one I need to take care of." I feel a sense of relief fall over me. If this means he'll get rid of me and leave the rest of the town alone, then I'll die for them. No one in this town deserves to mourn any longer. "I guess," He proceeds, looking over me. "You're coming with me," He closes standing and yanking me up into his arms. I don't have time to respond, in fact, we're stepping towards the window in no time. "What are you doing? Hell, I'll be going with you!" I protest hitting his chest. Taehyung halts and huffs, I swear I saw steam leave his nostrils. He whirls his head and just by the deathly tinge in his eyes, I stop moving. "Either you come with me or these streets run red with blood starting with your precious council leader." My jaw hangs open and my heart aches at the idea, but more so at the individual I'm glaring at. All this time I believed Taehyung was my best friend, the only person to look after me apart from the council leader. The council leader has been a fatherly figure for me ever since my father died, I don't even recall my mother, my father was all I had. And now the Beast dares to threaten my only source of love remaining... I freeze stunned in his arms, "I hate you..." I shudder softer than a whisper. I wish I could've said those words more passionately, giving that I wish he was dead. But if I must abide whatever misery he has to bring me in order to keep my town protected, then so be it. I'll impale him in the back when he least anticipates it...