Shadows In The Ashes

Taehyung’s breath came fast.

Minjun’s hand was still outstretched. His eyes were warm, familiar—everything Taehyung had lost.

“Come with me.”

The Hollow Man’s words echoed in his mind.

One door leads home.
One door leads deeper.

Taehyung’s fingers twitched.

He wanted this to be real.

But he wasn’t a fool.

His grip tightened into a fist.

And then, instead of taking Minjun’s hand—he stepped back.

---

Minjun’s smile froze.

Then—his face twisted.

The warmth in his eyes vanished, replaced by something hollow. Something wrong.

“You were supposed to choose me.”

Taehyung’s stomach turned.

The world around him shuddered. The golden light dimmed, the sky splitting open like torn fabric. The field rippled—and suddenly, it was nothing.

Just a void.

An illusion.

A trap.

The fake Minjun lunged.

But Taehyung was ready.

He ripped his hand back before their fingers could touch.

The figure collapsed into shadows.

And behind it—

A single door remained.

---

Taehyung exhaled sharply.

His pulse was racing, but he forced himself to focus.

He had one chance.

One door.

He didn’t hesitate.

He grabbed the handle and pushed.

---

On the other side, Jungkook was running out of time.

Minjun had regained consciousness, but he was weak, barely holding himself up. The shattered mirror still pulsed with dark energy, flickering between the real world and whatever hell Taehyung was trapped in.

Jungkook pressed his hands against the glass.

“Come on,” he whispered. “Come back.”

But nothing happened.

His heart pounded. His mind raced.

There had to be a way to pull him through.

And then—he saw it.

The locket.

The one Taehyung had taken from the chest.

It had been a key before. Maybe—it was still one now.

Jungkook grabbed it.

And the second his fingers closed around the silver—the mirror shook.

A deep, resounding crack split through the glass.

And then—Taehyung fell through.

--

Jungkook caught him before he hit the ground.

Taehyung’s body was ice cold. His breathing was ragged.

Jungkook shook him. “Taehyung—wake up.”

For a second, nothing.

Then—his fingers twitched.

His eyes fluttered open.

And when he saw Jungkook, something in his expression broke.

“…You idiot,” Taehyung rasped.

Jungkook let out a shaky laugh. “Takes one to know one.”

Taehyung exhaled.

And for the first time in days, he wasn’t trapped anymore.

---

But before Jungkook could help him up—

A voice whispered from the broken mirror.

Low. Amused.

“This isn’t over.”

Jungkook stiffened.

And in the shattered reflection—the Hollow Man was still smiling.

---

This chapter finally reunites Jungkook and Taehyung—but the Hollow Man isn’t done with them yet.