Dunk's body trembled, his heart pounding so violently in his chest that he thought it might burst. His breath came in short, desperate gasps as he struggled against Jimâs grip, but Jim was far stronger than him.
Jim:
Tell me what magic you done to joong? To everyone?
Jimâs fingers dug into Dunkâs arm as he yanked him forward, dragging him closer to the bridgeâs railing. Dunk's feet scraped against the pavement, The iron railing pressed against Dunkâs lower back as Jim forced him against it
Dunk:
Jim, please! You donât have to do this! I swear I havenât done anything to Joong!
Jimâs grip tightened in anger. His other hand shot up, gripping Dunkâs hair harshly, yanking his head backward. Dunk whimpered at the pain, his scalp burning from the force.
Jim:
Shut up! Do you think Iâm an idiot? I saw what you did! The way you glow⦠the way Joong looks at you⦠You used some kind of magic to take him away from me!
Dunk shook his head frantically, tears streaming down his cheeks. His pendant, hanging against his chest, pulsed with an black glow, its eerie light flickering like a dying flame.
Dunk:
No! Jim, I love Joong! He chose me because he loves me too!
Jim let out a bitter laugh, his expression twisting into one of pure hatred. He jerked Dunk forward roughly, leaning in so close that Dunk could see the madness in his eyes.
Jim:
You? Joong loves you?
His voice was laced with disgust. He suddenly shoved Dunk backward again, making him stumble against the railing. Dunk barely caught himself, his hands gripping the cold iron bars tightly.
Jimâs lips curled into a cruel smirk.
Jim:
You donât deserve him
With a sharp push, Jim slammed Dunkâs body against the railing, his upper body tilting dangerously over the edge.
Dunkâs breath hitched as he felt his balance waver. The world seemed to slow, his stomach twisting in terror as he saw the dark water raging below. If he fellâ¦
His entire body started trembling violently.
Dunk:
Please, Jim⦠I donât want to die. Joong needs me⦠I need himâ¦
Jimâs fingers wrapped around the collar of Dunkâs shirt, yanking him back just to shove him again.
Jim:
You want to live? Then tell me exactly what you are
Dunk gulped, his lips quivering. He knew he couldnât lie anymore.
Dunk:
I⦠Iâm the Moon Prince. Joong is my soulmate
Jimâs eyes widened for a moment in disbelief before he scoffed.
Jim:
Moon Prince? Are you kidding me? What kind of fairytale bullshit is this?
He turned to his men, motioning toward the bridgeâs edge.
Jim:
Throw him off.
Dunkâs heart nearly stopped. His entire body seized in horror.
Dunk:
NO! HELP ME JOONG!!!
Two of Jimâs men grabbed Dunkâs arms. They lifted him toward the edge, his feet barely touching the ground.
His pendant pulsed violently, as if fighting against fate.
Meanwhileâ¦
Gemini and Fourth rushed toward the restroom, their hearts pounding with panic.
Gemini:
Phi Joong! Phi Dunk! Where are you?
Fourth shoved open the restroom door, his breath catching when he spotted Joong slumped against the wall. His usually sharp eyes were hazy, his forehead bleeding slightly from where he had been hit.
Fourth:
Phi Joong!!
Gemini grabbed a handful of cold water and splashed it on Joongâs face.
Joong groaned softly, his eyelids fluttering open. As soon as he regained some clarity, his body tensed.
His mind registered only one thing.
Dunk wasnât here.
His heart clenched with dread, the pain in his head forgotten.
He forced himself upright, nearly falling over.
Joong:
Dunk-whereâs Dunk? They took him! I have to find him!!
He stumbled toward the door, but Fourth and Gemini caught his arms.
Fourth:
Phi Joong, wait! Youâre hurt! Letâs get the staff, theyâll help us find Phi Dunk
Gemini:
Yes, letâs not rush, phi. Weâll gather people to look for him properly.
But Joong barely heard them. His body trembled, his hands clenching into fists.
His heart was pounding too fast, too erratic.
Something was wrong.
Dunk needed him.
Now.
His instincts screamed at him to run.
Joong:
No⦠I canât wait.
Without another word, he shoved past them, staggering toward the exit. His vision swayed, but his body moved on its own.
His bond with Dunk⦠it was pulling him.
Guiding him.
Joong:
My Dunk is in danger⦠I can feel it
And with that, he ran blindly into the streets, following only his heart.
He had to find him.
Before it was too late.
The night air was cold, but Joong barely noticed it. His heart pounded against his ribcage, each beat echoing in his ears like a war drum. His breathing was ragged as he ran through the empty streets, searching.
Joong:
Where are you, Dunk?
A sudden glimmer caught his eye.
A butterfly.
Its wings shimmered under the streetlights, glowing faintly. Joongâs breath hitched.
It wasnât an ordinary butterfly.
It glowed, just like Dunkâs pendant.
Joong clenched his fists.
Was this⦠leading him somewhere?
The butterfly flapped its wings gently, hovering in front of him before drifting forward.
Without hesitation, Joong followed.
Then
The butterfly vanished.
Joong came to an abrupt halt. His eyes darted around frantically.
And thatâs when he saw it.
The bridge.
And
Joong:
DUNK!!!
His voice tore through the silence, raw and filled with terror.
Dunk gasped as Jimâs foot collided with his stomach, sending a sharp pain shooting through his ribs. His fingers gripped the cold iron railing tightly, his knuckles turning white.
Jim loomed over him, his eyes dark with rage.
Jim:
You stole everything from me. Joong should have been mine....if you haven't come, he would have been forced to work with me
Dunk coughed, struggling to catch his breath.
Dunk:
Joong⦠chose me
Jimâs face twisted in fury.
Jim:
SHUT UP!
With one final, merciless kick to Dunkâs chest, Jim sent him over the railing.
Dunkâs eyes widened.
Time seemed to freeze as he tilted backward, the world blurring around him.
His fingers slipped from the railing.
A choked sob escaped his lips.
Dunk:
Joongâ¦
And then
He fell.
Joongâs blood ran cold as he watched Dunkâs body plummet into the dark, merciless waters below.
His heart stopped.
Everything inside him screamed.
Joong:
NO!!! DUNK!!!
Tears streamed down his face as he bolted toward the railing, his mind blank with panic.
By the time he reached the edge, Dunk was already gone, swallowed by the inky blackness.
His hands trembled violently. His chest tightened.
Joong:
No. No. No.
Without thinking-without caring Joong climbed over the railing and jumped.
The freezing water struck him like a thousand knives, slicing through his skin, stealing the air from his lungs.
The world above disappeared.
His arms and legs kicked desperately against the current.
Joong:
Where is he? Where is he?!
The water was too dark. Too deep.
His chest burned, his lungs screaming for air, but he couldnât stop.
Then
A faint glow.
Joongâs heart lurched.
There floating lifelessly in the water was Dunk.
His pendant flickered weakly,
Joong propelled himself forward with everything he had left.
Joong:
(No! Stay with me! Donât leave me!)
His fingers brushed against Dunkâs arm.
And then