The first crack of the whip broke the skin on Taehyung's back. He tried not to show his pain, but he bit his lip, causing it to bleed. 

He watched as you walked away from the marketplace and the main gazebo in the center. Your head was in your hands and he knew you were crying. But, Tae couldn't imagine watching you in his place, the whip coming down on your back. He was afraid with one solid hit, it would shatter you. 

It wasn't that he thought you were weak, everyone else was so strong and took any opportunity to get rid of those they deemed weak. It wasn't just the Piper that took the weakest souls from the village.

Taehyung wasn't strong. Not like you viewed him to be anyway. He knew the way you watched him when was shooting archery. Your eyes roaming over his toned body. While he was physically strong, it always broke him to see you cry. 

As the second crack of the whip came down, he remembered as you'd watched your father receive the same punishment just a few years before. Tae looked down at his knees, seeing the blood begin to pool. He wasn't going to die. He wouldn't allow himself to suffer the same fate as your father. It would destroy you.

xXx

"I love you too," Taehyung said. His eyes met your eyes, that were red and still spewing tears. He wanted nothing more than to reach up and wipe them off your cheeks. He felt a sob rising in his own throat and despite wanting to tell you that you deserved the world, quickly moved one of his feet down to the next branch. 

He was on the ground before he knew it. His wound had reopened and he felt the warm blood pouring out of them. Taehyung pulled his shirt firmly against his back. While it stained the back with blood, it would hopefully put a stop to the bleeding by the time he reached home.

Taehyung thought he always loved you, he just hadn't noticed it until that moment. Hearing you confess, did something to him. His chest contracting and feeling his knees go weak. Taehyung realized you were more important to him than anything else in the world.

xXx

Taehyung sat in the gazebo on Piper night. He crossed his legs and situated himself so he was facing the meadow the victims always disappeared into, he would either meet the Piper first, or prevent you from going. 

Everyone was betting it was going to be you, and Taehyung wasn't sure he could stand to give the village the satisfaction.

The wounds in Taehyung's back ached with the first crack of lightning as it scared the ground. The bolts of electricity like the leather whip that scarred his back. 

It was nearing the early hours of the morning and Taehyung still hadn't heard the flute. He'd begun to worry that he'd missed all the action, you already stolen by the mysterious musician. He stood from his  position in the gazebo and looked out into the storm, unsure if anyone could hear anything over the rumbling of the thunder.

Taehyung eventually made out a form in the darkness, yet, heard no sound. It was the Piper no doubt. But, the Pipers eyes were set somewhere off in the darkness, his lips pressed against the flute. 

Taehyung followed the Piper's gaze and recognized it as the the path that led towards your home. The electricity scorched his insides as he tried not to feel so powerless. He balled his fists and screamed as loud as he possibly could. 

"Piiiiipppppeeeerrrr!"

The Piper didn't stop. Ice formed in the Piper's footprint and Taehung couldn't help but feel the cool air pass over him and the gazebo as the Piper passed.

"No! I'm not letting you take her!" 

Taehyung jumped from the gazebo and landed on top of the Piper, who looked up at him, his eyes wide and blank. His face flaking away at Taehyung's touch. The Piper pushed him off and attempted to follow the same path towards you. 

Taehyung let out one final scream that pierced even the thunder. Lightning struck the gazebo, catching the wood aflame. The embers leaped from the gazebo and onto Taehyung's clothes. His flesh burned and his wounds cauterized into two jagged edges on his back, protruding like the scars of ripped off wings.

The Piper stopped and looked back at the burning boy who had tried so hard to grab his attention, but with the lightning strike it seemed that Taehyung truly might be the weakest. Only the weakest caused coincidences like the one he had just witnessed. 

Taehyung ran for the lake at the edge of the village. When he reached it, he flung himself in the flames extinguishing in the water and Taehyung's breath severed in his lungs as they ached to breath. 

When he finally came to the surface, he gasped for air and threw his hair off his face. He attempted to move out of the water, and while his limbs moved through the cold water, his shoulders and neck were stalled. The very surface of the lake was frozen. 

"It seems," the Piper said, standing at the edge of the lake. His hand outward and his very form crumbling as the ice became more solid. "You are the one I'm here to take."

The Piper walked onto the frozen lake and pulled Taehyung from it and helped him onto shore. He brought the flute to his lips and played. 

xXx

Taehyung smiled as the sweet sounding music reached his ears. He'd done it. He'd managed to save you. Even if it was just for another year, even if it meant sacrificing his own livelihood or life, it didn't matter to Taehyung. He would fight for you. Even if it meant he would never see you again.

He was alone now. He had the Piper and no one else. It was a lonely existence. A singular one. An existence he didn't regret choosing as he stepped into the cave and looked into the eyes of a god.

THE END

vVv

A/N: I'm actually almost in tears as I write this note. I can't believe that the Follower Trilogy is 2/3 over. I love this universe so much and while I've loved the time I've spent in it, I'm excited for it to come to an end in Outro: Paradise. 

I need to thank @ThePianoManiac and @Marili_Cruz for being there from day one and supporting these books. It really means so much to me and this second book little would not exist without you two. Thank you, I honestly can't repay you enough.

The Follower Trilogy will continue in Outro: Paradise, the third and final installment. Outro: Paradise's Prologue coming July 2018!

Follow the sound of the flute~

Alyce