All I Want

8

"Mai, is everything alright? You've been in there for awhile." Taehyung said through the bathroom door.

My mind came back to reality when I heard him knock. I had been in the shower for so long that the water ran cold and my fingers were pruned.

"Mai-"

"I'm fine." I answered quickly, knowing if I didn't respond to his annoying voice he'd probably come in after me.

"Hurry out then, it's time for bed." He said rather annoyed.

I dried myself off with a towel and dressed myself in a pair of pajamas Taehyung picked out for me. I was surprised to find that it wasn't a skimpy night gown like before, but rather a pair of plaid pants with a matching top.

I stepped out of the bathroom, my hair dripping with water. Taehyung was already in bed, shirtless with only a pair of sweat pants on. He lifted his eyes from his book and over to me.

"Never thought I'd prefer you in that over a night gown; you look adorable." He smiled softly at me.

I brushed my damp hair behind my ear, a little embarrassed by his comment.

"Come here, you must be exhausted." He said, patting the empty space next to him.

I moved slowly towards the bed, my arms crossed over my chest. When I crawled under the covers, I couldn't help but remember how I lost my virginity, although that experience was more violent than this current situation, I was still sleeping next to the same murderer and psychopath.

Taehyung slid his body further down the blankets so that he was face to face with me. He pulled the covers over my exposed shoulder. Why was he being so gentle? Perhaps this was his other personality?

"Can I see your hand, darling?" He asked.

I pulled my left arm up slowly, bringing my hand close to him; my fingers began trembling. But suddenly, he took my hand in his and brought it to his lips, putting my index finger in his mouth.

"You don't need to be afraid of me, Mai." He muttered, sucking on each digit as if to cleanse them of fear, but he stopped on my ring finger.

My heart sank when I realized my engagement ring was still there. Oh no! Earlier he accused me of cheating on him, so how would he react to this??

"Wow, such beautiful diamonds to match any even more beautiful woman." He cooed.

Was he being serious? I couldn't tell if that calm expression he had would quickly shift into a furious rage or not. He was so unpredictable.

"I've missed you so much, Mai. I can't even begin to explain it." He looked at me with his big brown eyes. He began to lean in for a kiss-

"I'm- really tired." I interrupted just in time.

He looked at me with disappoinment and a little bit of anger.

"Alright, but first-" he reached up to the bed's head board and pulled down a chain that was bolted to it, a pair of handcuffs dangling from the end.

Instead of metal cuffs, they were leather with a patted interior; I guess he figured they would be more comfortable to sleep in, how kind.

"Taehyung, please-"

"Don't do that. You know I can't change my mind about this. But, after some time, if you prove to me that you understand why you're here and obey like a good girl, I won't need to use these anymore or the cage." He assured while fastening the restraints on my wrists.

If I understood why I was here? Of course I understood that! I'm here because he's mentally unstable and obsessed with me; I'm here because he's selfish and only cares about satisfying himself through me; I'm here because, some how, in that deranged head of his, he thinks he owns me.

"Goodnight, my love." He kissed my forehead then turned to his other side, falling fast asleep.

Throughout the night, I contemplated how difficult it would be to escape this time. I also thought about this house; where was I? How far from civilization did he take me? It was probably sometime in the morning, three maybe four-ish, when I finally fell asleep.

~

When I opened my eyes later that morning, Taehyung wasn't in the room and the cuffs had been unbuckled from my hands, a red intent still in my skin from how tight they were. The smell of bacon and eggs flooded the house. I made my way to the door, my eyes still adjusting to the light and my hair slightly tangled. When I got to the kitchen, Taehyung was standing at the stove, flipping pancakes and still shirtless.

"Good morning, love!" He cheered. "I was going to get you up in just a few minutes after the pancakes were ready; you know how much I love your sleeping face."

I took a seat at the table, bringing one of my knees to my chest and hugging my arms around it. As my eyes wondered the floor, I glanced at the front door again, at the lock. I was still confused by it; I had never seen a lock like that before.

"Can I ask you a question?" I suddenly spoke.

"Of course." Taehyung smiled.

"Wh-what kind of lock is that?" I continued hesitantly.

"Why? So you can figure out how to leave again?" He glared at me from the stove.

Crap! Why did I have to ask?! I could feel a large gulp slide down my throat.

"It's called a scan lock." He said as he continued to flip more pancakes. "Get this, it only locks and unlocks by my fingerprint, isn't that cool? Technology these days, am I right?"

My stomach dropped. If that was the case, how the hell am I supposed to escape?!

"I've learned my lesson with you from our last home. You're a clever girl, Mai; it's one of the many things that I love about you. Now, the lock isn't there to scare you, although that seems to be a bonus, it's simply a precaution. I'm sure you haven't forgotten the last time you left, I know I haven't." He said, turning towards me.

It was then that I actually looked at his body. There were three prominent scares, one on his shoulder, one on his side, and a slightly larger one to the upper right of his belly button.

"Come here." He commanded.

I got up and walked toward him, my head down, avoiding eye contact. Taehyung took my hand and placed it on the scare on his stomach.

"You almost killed me, did you know that?"

My hand shook under his. My mouth was dry and I prepared myself for a slap to the face.

"I spent weeks in a hospital, strapped to a bed as I fought for my life. After that, I was thrown into a psychiatric facility designed for criminals. I was tortured daily, all because I loved you too much, Mai."

"Taehyung I'm-"

"Shh." He hushed me sternly, then continued. "While I was there, I was so angry with you, Mai; angry, and hurt. Every night I'd think to myself, 'why would the woman I love do this to me after everything I've done for her? I gave my life to her; risked everything for her,' and then I realized, that there was no way it was you that shot me, like, truly you. I knew that your mind had been corrupted by the outside world, and now, I can fix it." He lifted his hand to my cheek and cupped it with a gentle yet tight grip. "You're everything to me, and I will do whatever it takes to make you understand that, even if it means hurting you."

Tears streamed from my eyes. I knew he was insane before but this time I really felt it. Taehyung wiped a tear from my cheek and licked it off his thumb.

"Now, have a seat, breakfast is ready."