1: Genesis (1/1)

Taehyung was never sure how Jungkook managed to get into his bedroom. After all, every room in their small apartment had a lock on it for safety purposes. It was a decision the two of them had made a long time ago, after things started going downhill, and it was a rule that all doors remained locked during night time hours.Regardless, he never questioned Jungkook as he slipped through the door, closing and locking it behind him.Taehyung kept his eyes closed as Jungkook padded his way across the floor. It was hardwood and laid with loose boards, another safety measure, but Jungkook knew how to maneuver around them.Within seconds, the bed dipped slightly and Taehyung rolled over, facing his younger brother who had a worried expression on his face.“I can’t sleep,” Jungkook whispered, “There are lots of gunshots outside tonight.”Taehyung nodded and lifted the covers, allowing him to slide under.Jungkook was right, Taehyung thought, there were more gunshots than usual.He wondered briefly if things could get any worse than they were, but soon shook the thought out of his head. It wasn’t possible, this was absolute hell.“Taehyung?” Jungkook asked, voice laced with hesitance, “Can I go out with you tomorrow… to the store, I mean?”Taehyung raised his eyebrows, crossing his arms behind his head, “Are you sure you’re ready for that? I mean we’re safe up here yet every night you crawl into my bed. What makes you sure you’ll be okay out there?”Jungkook frowned, a hurt expression taking over his features.“I’ll have you, won’t I? You always know what to do, plus I think it’s finally time I learn how to protect myself.” Jungkook pleaded, and Taehyung felt sorry for the laughter that escaped from his mouth.“You think it’s finally time?” Taehyung sneered, “Whatever. I guess.”He usually wasn’t this mean, but tonight Jungkook was pissing him off.  Taehyung opened his eyes and let out a sigh. He couldn’t remember what time he fell asleep, but it was most definitely not a peaceful rest.To his left, lay Jungkook, hugging his pillow close to his body.He watched his brother sleep, observing how calm he seemed.He was young and fragile, seemingly unaware of what it was like to truly have to fight for survival. Taehyung on the other hand, had to learn the hard way. He was seven when it began; when the world started falling apart.He remembered how every news station was in shock over how fast crime and unemployment rates were climbing. He knew what this meant, because his parents were unemployed as well. He also knew in the back of his mind, that no work led to desperation, and desperation to violence.He remembered how the anchormen broadcasted safety tips on how to protect yourself against robberies and home invasions. They warned people to not take the broadcasts lightly, because the information they were giving would truly be lifesaving.He also remembered how all of that was bullshit.Because his family had been smart and followed every step every day, but that didn’t stop the men from breaking in.It didn’t stop them from tying up their family and robbing them of everything they had. They took the television, they took the food in their fridge and anything of value. They smashed anything that was breakable, finding a stash of money in the process.That’s when their curiosity had kicked in; that’s when they started asking questions.  “Mr. and Mrs. Kim, is it?” One of the men asked, counting the cash in his hands, “You’ve got quite a stash here for an unemployed husband and wife.”“Please,” Taehyung’s mother begged, “That’s all we have left you have to understand! We have two kids we need that.”“Yeah well guess what, Mrs. Kim,” the other masked man interrupted, dragging his knife along So Jin’s neck, “You’re doing a lot better than us, so I don’t really care. I could help you though, if you want?”So Jin’s eyes widened, nearly sparkling, “You’d help us?!” She exclaimed. She turned to her husband, a smile stretched wide across her face.“Of course,” the armed and masked man cooed. Taehyung could swear the man was smirking, “I’m sure the cost of living is high for a family of four.”The masked man’s grip tightened on his blade, and Taehyung’s eyes went wide. The masked man leaned in close, his accomplice watching his movements with a stance that exuded pride. “So let me help you out a bit.” But before Taehyung’s mother could answer, there was a knife plunged into her side.She began to scream in terror, body twisting in the seat. Taehyung’s eyes remained glued to the scene despite his own will.“I’m gonna fucking kill you!” Taehyung’s father screamed, “I’ll fucking kill you pieces of shit!”Taehyung watched in slow motion; his father thrashing about while the man removed the blade from his mother’s stomach, proceeding to send it straight into her jugular. Blood began to spurt from the artery, the proud man began to laugh, and Taehyung’s father continued to scream.Chaos.When the one man finished with his mother, he began to stab his father as well. There was blood everywhere.The proud one kneeled before Taehyung and said something, but the words didn’t register. His ears were ringing and he was in shock. He watched the man stand for a moment, before he brought his hand to his mouth. It was then, that a whistle snapped him back to reality.“Let’s go.” The proud man said as he walked to the door. The man with the knife stopped stabbing his father and looked disappointed by the command.Savages.As he passed Taehyung, he used his bloody hand to ruffle Taehyung’s already messy hair.“Here you go, kid.” The man said, leaving the knife on Taehyung’s lap, “You’ll need it.”And then they were gone.After several minutes, Taehyung took a deep, shaky breath, and began to cry. He wept until he was drained of his tears and stared at the two bodies of his parents that hung limp, still tied to their chairs.He watched them continue to bleed until it made him throw up. Then he spent an hour cutting his rope off, fresh tears mixing with the blood that had splattered his pants.When he was free of his restraints, the first thing he did was call 9-1-1. He explained what happened through choked sobs, until he was sure that the woman must have hung up on him.“I’m so, so, sorry,” the dispatcher said, “every officer in this unit is responding to an emergency right now. I don’t know how long it will take them to get to you.”Taehyung stopped crying and narrowed his eyes, staying quiet as the woman continued.“Have someone help you move the bodies outside, and I’ll notify an ambulance to come pick up them up. That way they aren’t in your house while you wait. After that I’m going to need you to lock yourself in and sit tight until and officer arrives, do you understand sweetey?”“Yes.” He replied blankly, and hung up.It took Taehyung a decent amount of time to move his parent’s bodies. He kept them tied to their chairs; it was easier to get them outside that way. After that, he locked the front and back door, and every window on the first floor.He went upstairs where a clueless, two year old Jungkook sat, waving a children’s book in his hand.The toddler looked at him as if there was no blood on him at all. Taehyung began to cry again, and the child continued to play with his book.Day eventually turned to night, and night to day. When Taehyung woke up, there was still no sign of an officer.Walking to the window, he peered down at their front stoop to see that the bodies had indeed been picked up. Taehyung started at the dried blood that remained on his clothes and skin. As if flipping a switch, his sorrow turned to anger. He hated what the world had become.  It had been twelve years since that day. Twelve years since Taehyung learned how vicious the world really was; twelve years since Taehyung had turned into an adult.That day had become his motivation. It was also the day that Taehyung started going against his morals.He was no murderer, but he did rob stores. He found that police response was rare, making it easier for him to get away with these things.After two years, things were no longer in control of the police.The government released a statement saying that when things first started getting out of control, they had begun building communities and towns within walls. These places weren’t occupied yet, but people could apply or pay for a spot in these safe fortresses.Though there was no time to apply; within a few days these homes were purchased by the rich, who left the crumbling society behind to live in peace.That was also when emergency services were no longer provided for those outside of the walls.Taehyung thought about breaking into one of the homes left behind, but he decided that would be too much work to protect for a nine year old and his brother.So Taehyung stole a gun and robbed a bank. He robbed as many houses as he could and broke into an apartment complex where he and his brother would live.It had been ten years since then.  Taehyung still didn’t tell his brother what he did when he left the house, but he was sure Jungkook knew.In a way, Taehyung envied Jungkook; for he didn’t remember the events of the day their parents were killed, or of when social order collapsed. He didn’t have memories of the past; memories of what once was.Jungkook was able to live with his older brother as a protector and a provider; someone who looked over him with an immense sense of protectiveness.Taehyung had lost two of the three people he cared for before his very eyes, and it resulted in the awakening of a monster.Jungkook, on the other hand, did not know what true sorrow felt like. He did not know desperation. To Jungkook, the world had always been what he saw now, only he had someone brave standing before him as a literal shield.Jungkook was naïve and ignorant to the world that was right in front of him.Yes, Taehyung envied his brother, but at the same time he pitied him; especially at the thought of the day when Jungkook would have to deal with these things, most likely on his own, because Taehyung was no superman and he sure as hell wouldn’t be able to protect him forever. a/n: This story is somewhat of an experiment. It came to mind while I was talking to my dad about the future and what would happen if our society went through a social and political collapse. These sorts of things really interest me, especially with how this past year I took a course studying human morality and how easily it can be compromised. So this story will explore a lot of that. I'm really excited to write this, and I'm even more excited to use Bangtan members to it huahaha~Anyway, as always, comments are appreciated (especially with this this story. In fact, I highly encourage comments, because this is something somewhat plausible and I'd like to know what you guys would think if something like this actually happened)See you next update~