You scan the pages, reading a few entries that catch your eye.

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xx/xx/xx93

They've brought in a new subject, a panther Hybrid this time. I've been assigned to him, and...

Never in my entire life have I seen a creature so beautiful.

My days working in this dreary, joyless place just got a tiny bit more interesting.

xx/xx/xx93

I had to do some overtime today, and was the last one left in the lab.

The panther Hybrid... talked to me.

His voice was very deep and... surprisingly warm, full of humor, even in such a place, so devoid of warmth and happiness.

He introduced himself as Taegeun. Then he smiled at me, a big, blocky smile. Charming.

Handsome.

How he still manages to smile under these circumstances, I can not know.

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'Is this Taegeun... Taehyung's father?'

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xx/xx/xx93

I stayed late at the lab again, but on purpose, this time... so I can talk to Taegeun once more.

His amber eyes twinkled as he told me about his childhood, mouth stretching into that blocky smile that's quickly becoming familiar.

Could it be that he's using some sort of Hybrid ability on me? An ability that casts a spell of sorts, one that puts you under the Hybrid's thrall?

For how else could I explain how utterly charmed I am by this panther Hybrid--- no, by Taegeun.

But then again, it matters not. Hybrid ability or not... I am captivated.

xx/xx/xx93

There was so much blood today. And the screams...

I don't know how much longer I can keep doing this... All in the name of "science"???

How can I continue to stand by as Taegeun suffers?

I might slowly be going insane...

xx/xx/xx94

By this time tomorrow, we will finally be free of that wretched place!

We'll go somewhere really far and start anew, far away from this living hell.

I hope everything goes according to plan...

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'Obviously their escape was successful... right?'

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30/12/xx95

Today, we were blessed with a beautiful baby boy: our precious Taehyung, light of our lives, our little bundle of joy.

I never knew it was possible to experience such happiness. This is... euphoria.

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The next several entries are full of accounts of Taehyung's early years. They paint a portrait of a perfect family, of days filled with love and pure bliss.

'This much happiness...'

Unease coils in your gut.

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xx/xx/xx99

I can hardly believe what I saw on the news today. "A sudden outcropping of senseless Hybrid violence"??? I'm certain Helix is behind this somehow... There's no other possible explanation.

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You gasp.

'This must be what Namjoon told us about.'

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xx/xx/xx99

No, this can't be... A mass extermination?

I feel like I'm wading through a waking nightmare. I keep praying that none of this is real.

My precious little Taetae... He doesn't deserve to grow up in such a cruel world.

xx/xx/xx00

It is no longer safe for us... but we can't just go in hiding. Taegeun and I need to stand by our brothers and sisters. We need to fight alongside them.

But our Taetae... We must keep him insulated from all this.

How, though?

xx/xx/xx00

This is breaking my heart, but it's for the best.  Even Taegeun agrees that this is the right thing to do. Taetae will be safer with my parents, away from all this... chaos. This violence.

One day, I hope he will understand why we had to do this.

...I truly hope so.

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You shut the journal, hands shaking.

Everything you've read sheds light on a lot of things... but doesn't really provide a clue on how you can find Taehyung.

You wonder now if it was really right for you to have read all that, something so personal to Taehyung's mother, a receptacle for all her private thoughts.

You place the journal gently on the bedside table and turn off the lamp. You burrow under the cheap motel sheets and finally, finally close your eyes. All of the day's exhaustion hits you like a brick, and your muscles immediately feel heavy and sore.

Tomorrow's going to be another long day.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The next morning, you all gather back at Yoongi's apartment to plan your next steps.

As Hobi distributes coffee he got from a nearby convenience store, you hear thumping coming from the door. They weren't quite knocks, sounding more like a palm slapping against the door rather than knuckles rapping on it.

You all look at one another in confusion, since all of you are already there in the living room. All of you, that is, except for---

Yoongi hurriedly gets up and throws the door open, and there stands Taehyung, looking dazed, barely conscious. He staggers a few steps forward, and collapses against Yoongi, who thankfully was prepared to catch him.

Namjoon and Jungkook quickly run over to help Yoongi carry Taehyung into the room.

"Is there a hospital in town?" Namjoon asks the cat Hybrid.

"A small one... more of a clinic, really," Yoongi answers, as they gently place Taehyung on the bed.

"Wouldn't it be better to just make the two-hour drive back to the city?" Hobi suggests, "I know a good Hybrid specialist we can take him to."

"Can we afford to do that, though?" Jimin asks, looking extremely worried, "Two hours..."

"Yeah," Jungkook agrees, "Doesn't Tae-hyungie need immediate care?"

"We're already wasting time trying to decide, as it is," Seokjin huffs, shaking his head.

As the boys continue to argue, you turn away from them to observe Taehyung. His face is extremely pale, the dark half-circles under his eyes standing out in stark contrast, as well as the dirt streaked on his cheeks. His fingernails look jagged, like they've been clawed against rough surfaces, over and over.

'Taehyung, where have you gone? What did you do?'

Then, without warning, in the midst of all the bickering happening in the background, Taehyung's fingers twitch. His eyelids slowly flutter open, and... he gets up.

"Uhm, guys..." you call to the others without taking your eyes off of Taehyung, "he's awake."

All discussions cease and six heads swivel around, almost as one. There might have even been a gasp or two.

In a flash, Jimin is at Taehyung's side, making him drink a glass of water. Yoongi seemingly conjures bread out of thin air, pushing a slice into the other Hybrid's hands.

"Eat," he orders.

Taehyung immediately munches on the bread and sips at the water. But his movements almost seem... robotic. Like he's on autopilot.

"Uhm, Tae?" you ask softly, hesitantly, "How are you feeling?"

He only glances up at you briefly... then proceeds to go back to eating. You and Yoongi exchange a worried look. Suddenly, Hobi pushes forward between the two of you. He checks Taehyung's vitals to the best of his ability, given that he doesn't have any equipment.

"He's stable right now," Hobi states, "Since Taehyung isn't in imminent danger, I think we can afford to drive all the way to the city."

"Better do it quick," Yoongi says, "we don't know how long he'll remain in this state."

At Yoongi's words, your mind flashes back to the night before: Taehyung's eyes, glowing golden in the darkness, somehow managing to look simultaneously flat, yet piercing. His sharp canines, glinting in the moonlight, right before he---

"L-let's hurry, please!" you cry, wringing your hands together. You can't even bear to think of what could happen if--- 'No, what happened last night can not, must not happen again.'

Namjoon nods decisively, picking up his jacket and heading towards the door.

"Let's go."

As everyone starts filing out, with Hobi and Jungkook herding out an impassive Taehyung, you turn back towards Yoongi, who stands motionless in the middle of the living room, simply watching everyone leave.

"Yoongi-si, would you like to come with us?"

Yoongi looks surprised at your invitation, and you feel a tug at your heart. Even in the brief time you've known him, you've come to understand that he's not one for displays of emotion, so you add, "Just... in case you wanted to know what happens to Taehyung."

"Of course," Yoongi breathes, snapping into action, scurrying over to his closet to shove a few items into an overnight bag, "I won't leave my brother's side at the time he needs me the most." He pauses, then adds, in a quieter voice, "I have no one keeping me here anyway... Taehyung is the only family I have left."

"Not anymore," you say, and his head snaps up in surprise, vari-colored gaze finding yours. You smile at him gently. "You have us now, too. We're all family here, Yoongi."

"Th-thanks," Yoongi says. Then, he clears his throat and hurries past you out the door... but not before you see twin spots of red bloom on his porcelain cheeks.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

During the drive back, you sit beside Taehyung, who just stares listlessly out the window at the passing scenery, though you suspect he doesn't truly see it. His eyes are still vacant, expressionless. It's a wonder he was able to find his way back to you, in his current state. It was nothing short of a miracle.

Jungkook and Jimin try their level best to engage Taehyung, but fail to get any response.

"Hyungie! Taehyungie-hyung!" the maknae cries, waving a pack of shrimp crackers at Taehyung, "Do you want some snacks?"

"Does anyone want to play a game?" Jimin asks, looking hopefully at his best friend, "How about a round song?" He starts singing, his beautiful voice tinged with desperation, "Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream..."

Seokjin, unfortunately sandwiched between the two, looks about ready to jump out of a moving vehicle. Namjoon stays focused on driving, just barely staying under the speed limit, while Hobi is attempting to contact his Hybrid specialist friend.

You feel the tension in Yoongi's entire posture as he sits by your other side. You don't miss all the worried glances he directs towards Taehyung, and almost wish Taehyung were the one sitting in the middle instead of you.

You, on the other hand, are just trying your best to keep the tears at bay. You feel like you've had enough breakdowns this weekend. You need to be strong for Taehyung right now.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Everyone is visibly on edge as you await the Hybrid specialist's diagnosis. After what seems like hours, he finally emerges from the double doors that still hold Taehyung behind them. You all stand up from the waiting room chairs to receive the news, good or bad it may be.

"He's suffering from fatigue and mild dehydration," the doctor says, "Other than that, nothing seems to be out of order. I have every reason to believe that his 'episode' is an isolated one, triggered by a specific stimulus. As long as he is not exposed to the trigger again, I don't think you would have to worry about this happening again. Right now, he is in a stable state of mind."

You all breathe a collective sigh of relief.

 The doctor turns to you.

"I recommend bed rest and plenty of fluid intake," he instructs, "Monitor his condition for the next 24 hours. You have my number if anything goes awry." He then turns to Hobi. "Hoseok, feel free to call me as well if something comes up."

"I will, hyung," Hobi responds, bowing, "Thank you."

You all convene at the lobby while the doctor finishes up with Taehyung.

"Well," Hobi says, "I guess there's nothing left to do but let Taehyung rest."

"Keep us updated on his condition, please?" Namjoon asks you.

"Of course," you assure him.

"And let us know if you need anything," Jimin adds," like maybe some mochi..."

"Or hired muscle!" Jungkook chimes in, "Uhm... for free!" He scratches his head thoughtfully. "Which is... just muscle, I guess..."

"Yoongi-ssi," Hobi tells the cat Hybrid, standing off to one corner, just outside the circle you've all unwittingly formed, "you can stay over at my place if you want. I live alone anyway."

Once again, Yoongi looks surprised, and you wonder just how very seldom people extend him even the smallest of kindnesses. It saddens you that acts of kindness appear to be such a rarity in his life.

"Thank you. I..." Yoongi falters, "Thanks, Hobi-ssi."

Then, remembering that you have your own guest too, you turn to your best friend.

"Seokjin-ah, will you be staying over at mine again?"

Seokjin shakes his head.

"No, I actually came prepared this time. I have a room at a hotel downtown." Somehow, you feel a stab of disappointment. "But call me if you need my help," he adds, "It's only 10 minutes away from your apartment building."

You smile at this, comforted by the thought that Seokjin is just a call and short ride away.

"I will, thank you!"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

You and Taehyung are the first ones to be dropped off. Once more, everyone makes you promise to call if anything happens. You reassure them as you and Taehyung step out of the car.

Once you've settled Taehyung in the living room, you go to the kitchen and throw together a few simple sandwiches for lunch. Taehyung eats dutifully... but he's still somewhere you can't reach, somewhere you're unable to follow him to.

You can't help but worry if perhaps... he's never coming back from that place.

You shake your head.

'No. I can't think this way. I need to remain hopeful.'

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

After lunch, you lead Taehyung into your bedroom for the prescribed bed rest. A part of you hopes that his current state is just due to exhaustion, that after some rest, he'll be back to normal... whatever 'normal' may be.

You help Taehyung get ready for bed, and he simply... lets you. Almost like he's a marionette and you, the puppet master. Your heart aches, but you have no time for a breakdown, no space for self-pity. There is work to be done, a panther Hybrid to be taken care of.

Taehyung falls asleep as soon as his head touches the pillow, looking peaceful, for once. Your hearts aches anew.

As you listen to his soft, steady breathing, the only sound in the room... your eyelids start growing heavier, your limbs feeling weighted with lead. You are worn out too, after all.

You lean your forehead on the writing desk that you've pulled close to your bedside... and follow Taehyung into the dreaming.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

When you come to, it's already dark, and you're lying in your own bed. You turn your head to bury your face into the pillow, fully intending to go back to sleep... when the events of the day come rushing back in, causing your eyes to snap open.

You sit up, panic creeping in from the edges of your consciousness.

'Why am I the one in bed? Taehyung... Taehyung's the one who's supposed to be here!'

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 A/N: So many revelations! Was there anything that took you by surprise?

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