All I Want

2

"No! This can't be right! What- I-"

"Mai calm down, please-"

"This doesn't make any sense!"

"Mai!" Jace yelled, cupping his hands around my worried face. "Sit down, I'll explain everything."

My body trembled as I sat back down on the couch.

"I know you just read it but, yes, Kim Taehyung is alive, and missing."

"That can't be right! I shot him three times!! I saw him die!"

"He- he was rushed away in an ambulance that day and brought into surgery. His injuries were nearly fatal but somehow that bastard found the will to live. After that, they locked him away in a correction facility especially made for criminals-"

"You knew?" I interrupted, my eyes filling with tears.

"Mai, I-"

"You knew he was alive and never told me." I felt light headed; not only was the psychopath that obsessed over me alive and roaming around the streets, but the one man I loved and trusted never informed me about it.

"I wanted to tell you, believe me I did. But you were so happy and free from him that I didn't want to ruin it; I didn't want you to be scared again."

I stood up quickly, stumbling back slightly, "what- what if he found me, what if he had taken me and it could have been prevented if I knew he was out there, if I knew he was alive, Jace?!"

"Stop over thinking this, Mai! He's been locked up this entire time, I swear! You're scared, I get it, but you gotta trust me-"

"No, no you don't get it! You don't understand where I'm coming from; I'm the only thing that monster wants in this world and I thought that was made clear when he tried to kill you!... I can't trust you, not now; keeping something this huge from me has it's consequences." I scoffed sorrowfully then left the apartment.

Although I've known Jace for four years, it felt like everything he's ever told me was a lie. Deep down, I knew I was being a bit too harsh on him but, I was just so, so shocked. I know he was only trying to protect me, but with Taehyung alive and loose, Jace wouldn't stand a chance.

I decided to walk outside of the building to get some fresh air; after everything that's happened, I needed a break.

As I strolled slowly and kicked some icy slush on the ground with my foot, memories of when I was held captive by a deranged sociopath flooded my brain. It was almost impossible to accept that the man I thought I killed was somewhere walking on his own two feet, alive and breathing.

Continuing down the sidewalk, I happened to glance at the dumpsters, and my mind became distracted. The flowers I had thrown away earlier had started to freeze against the winter air.

I pondered at the sight of them, thinking how specific and ironic it was that the only flower Jace was highly allergic to ended up on our door step; they definitely weren't in season, and our neighbors didn't care much for house plants. But then, I remembered the card...

"I can't wait to see you again."

My eyes grew in horror as the pieces started to come together. Of course, of course it had to be Taehyung; if anyone would go through the trouble of finding a bouquet of out-of-season flowers that could potentially kill Jace, kill the only competition between him and I, it would be Kim Taehyung.

I quickly ran back inside and into Jace's arms.

"Mai! What- what is it? What's wrong?"

"It's him! He knows where I am!"

"What? How would-"

"The flowers Jace! Why would anyone send you something that would kill you?! It has to be him!" 

"Mai, listen to yourself! Doesn't this sound a little far fetched, babe?"

I felt around in my pant pocket for the card that was attached to the bouquet. "Read this and tell me this doesn't sound like him."

Jace took the card from my hand. I knew he still doubted me, but the small piece of cardboard convinced him enough for us to go live with his parents up state for awhile, or at least until the police found Taehyung.