A Heart Too Human || Jungkook x Reader || Prologue
Summary: In a city that never slows down, a girl with a fading future meets a man who never changes. He wasn’t supposed to feel. She wasn’t supposed to stay.
genre: fantasy romance, mythology, slow burn
Prologue
The moon didn’t stop for anyone. But tonight, it felt like it was waiting.
You’re used to walking home alone.
That’s what you tell yourself every night, that the city is too loud for silence and too fast for fear. That you’ve done this route a hundred times. That if you keep your head down and your steps steady, nothing will happen.
But tonight is different.
The air is heavier. The streets are emptier. And when you glance behind you, there's someone there. Not close enough to scream, not far enough to ignore.
You tighten your grip on your bag. Your phone is almost dead. Of course it is. The night presses in like it knows something you don’t.
You cross the street. So does he. You turn down the alley behind the laundromat. His steps follow.
You start to run.
You don’t make it far.
You wake up to darkness. Not city-dark, like real dark. Forest dark.
Cold air fills your lungs. Your wrists burn. Your mouth is taped shut. You’re tied to a tree in a place that feels ancient and forgotten.
He’s there.
Shoveling.
Humming.
Your heart slams in your chest like it’s trying to break free. You scream or try to, but it comes out muffled and raw.
He sees you. Smiles like it’s a game.
“Don’t worry,” he says, crouching beside you. “It’ll be quick. After I’m done having fun.”
You thrash against the ropes. The bark scrapes your skin. Tears blur your vision, but you fight harder. He laughs and grabs your face roughly, muttering something vile as he rips the tape halfway off your mouth.
“Scream if you want. No one’s coming.”
You feel your pulse in your throat. Your voice breaks free in a hoarse sob, but not for help. Not for anyone who can hear.
You remember your grandma's voice. “Call to the Dragon God. If your heart is true, he’ll send someone.”
So you pray. Not with words, but with your whole being. You scream with your soul. You beg for life, for mercy, for anyone.
The man doesn’t care. He grabs your jaw again. Your scream turns into a full-blown fight. You knee him. You kick wildly. He curses and slaps you hard across the cheek, and your head snaps back against the tree.
You’re dizzy. Everything rings.
But then…
The air shifts.
A gust of wind that isn’t wind tears through the clearing.
The man freezes. The shovel falls from his hand.
Snap.
A branch breaks in the woods behind him.
He turns slowly, then stumbles back like something invisible just struck him in the chest.
Out of the shadows steps a figure.
Tall. Calm. Drenched in moonlight.
You blink hard. Blood’s in your eyes. You can barely breathe. But you see him.
His eyes glow faint gold, inhuman and sharp. His skin catches the moon like polished stone. And when he speaks, it’s not loud, but the forest holds its breath to listen.
“Touch her again. I dare you.”
The man snarls and rushes at him, but it’s over in a blink.
The other person doesn’t even flinch. One movement. One strike. The man hits the ground hard and stays there, unconscious.
You gasp as your bindings suddenly loosen. You fall forward, but before your knees can hit the ground, he's there.
He catches you.
You should be afraid, he’s not like anyone you’ve ever seen. But somehow… you feel safe.
“You prayed,” he murmurs, brushing a shaking hand from your face. “And I heard you.”
Your vision blurs again, but you manage to breathe one word. "Imugi..."
He smiles. Softly. Like he’s been waiting a long time to be seen.
